The relentless sun beat down, searing Evelyn Reed's eyelids even before they fully opened. Sand, warm and coarse, clung to her skin, and the distant, rhythmic crash of waves filled her ears. A wave of nausea, disorienting and profound, washed over her as she tried to push herself up. Her muscles screamed in protest, a dull ache radiating from every joint. She was naked, exposed, and utterly disoriented. Panic, cold and sharp, threatened to overwhelm her, but years of training kicked in, forcing her to compartmentalize the fear. Her eyes, still adjusting to the blinding light, scanned the unfamiliar expanse of white sand, lush green jungle, and an impossibly blue ocean.