Alex Rider sat on a bench in London. He had gotten back from Russia three hours ago. Having nothing else to do, Alex sat and watched the world. He had lost touch with Tom several years ago, his job didn't allow any time for friends. It didn't allow for a proper relationship either. Alex had no family or even a girlfriend. Not since Sabina. Alex sighed. She had been perfect, but, like everyone else he had loved or cared about she was killed. It was funny really, how simple people died. All it took was one bullet, one knife, and they were gone. Shouts caused Alex to tense and turn around, however it was just a group of fourteen year old boys kicking a football around. A touch of bitterness ran through him. However it soon faded. It was a reward really, to see all these younger children playing. Not realizing that there was always a price to be payed for freedom. A price that he would pay for them. They would never know, living in blissful obliviousness. Never having to see the hard and cruel side of the world that he lived in. The twenty-nine year old snorted as he realized retirement was coming up. That is, if he didn't die first, hazards of the job you see.