Chapter 1: With No One
Disclaimer: I don't own him. Yada yada yada.
Don't worry you guys. I'm still working on Safe or Not. I haven't abandoned it.
Alex Rider had managed to escape the clutches of Scorpia once again.
Well, almost. He was currently in the process of running for his life through the maze of hallways in the warehouse he had been kept in. Any minute now, Scorpia would be alerted that he had escaped. After all, he had killed the guards that had come to collect him. No way could they miss that.
Nothing should have halted his escape; he had accomplished his mission. But he did halt, he halted and listened.
It was the cry that stopped him, the pitiful cry of a child. Alex didn't hesitate. He ran toward the sound, halting in front of the cell it was coming from. Alex peered in through the bars and saw red. A little girl was lying on the floor, clad in nothing but a big T-shirt. There were bruises littering her body. She was more of a baby really, only about one and a half years old. Alex cursed Scorpia, angry. He brought up his silenced gun and shot off the lock. He was lucky they hadn't taken extra precautions and put better locks on the cell. He bent down and scooped her up, checking her little body for broken bones. There were none. Alex said a whisper of thanks to whatever god was up there.
He swore again as he heard shouts echoing through the building. He opened his jacket, put her in it and zipped it up halfway, keeping a hand around her body. In the other hand he held his gone, loose and ready for action. He ran through the maze of hallways and then pulled his phone out of his pocket. It was a special phone, designed by Smithers; but Alex didn't need any of the 'special affects' right now. He pressed a button and put it to his ear.
Ms. Jones picked up immediately.
"Jones speaking."
"This is Rider. I need backup. Or a ride rather. I have a child with me and I can't get very far with her."
"An SAS unit is stationed near the area. They're on their way. A 'copter will be sent too."
"Good."
"Have you placed the bomb?"
"Yes. Detonation in 4 minutes."
He hung up and glanced around as he reached the end of a hall. He sighed in resignation as he heard shouts behind him. There was only one way. He glanced out the window in front of him, and then he opened it and swung out. He latched on to the drain pipe and glanced down at the baby, who was startlingly quiet, making sure she was safe. Then he slid down, grimacing as his hands burned. Thank god it was only two floors down.
He glanced at his watch; two minutes, thirty seconds. He ran across the open lot of grass, thankful for the approaching darkness as the sun was almost set.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He picked up as he ran, huffing.
"What!"
"I'm transferring this call to the SAS unit," Ms. Jones said, ignoring his rudeness. "They will tell you their location and you'll tell them yours." She switched the line.
"D-Unit speaking."
"I doubt you can really tell me exactly where you are, and neither can I. There are no landmarks. Do you have a light that you can flash around?" Alex asked. One minute.
"Yes. Look around for the light."
Alex glanced around hurriedly and saw it almost immediately. He ran toward it and glanced at his watch again. Ten seconds. He dove in the jeep.
"Drive man, drive! The place is gonna blow!"
The soldier floored it, crashing through the brush. Five seconds. Alex wrapped his arms around the child and covered her ears as tight as he could. One second.
The explosion shook the jeep. Alex could feel the heat on his back and hugged the baby even tighter. He heard the roar of the chopper and glanced up, his eyes watering.
"Come on! Abandon the jeep! Get in the chopper!" a voice yelled from the helicopter.
They didn't hesitate, but ran in, leaving behind the smoldering ashes of the warehouse and the remains of the Scorpia agents.
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Alex hissed in pain as the doctor wrapped his arm in the bandages. The doctor made and apologetic face and went on.
Alec looked up as the sergeant came into the infirmary.
"When can we get out of here?"
"Hopefully by tomorrow - or today rather," he said glancing at the clock, which read 12:01 AM. "You'll spend the night here, along with the child and you'll be heading back in the chopper in the morning."
Alex glanced over at the half asleep baby, who was being administered to by a doctor.
"How is she?"
"Except for the minor bruises and her malnourishment, she's fine. We've managed to get some baby food and have fed her, but only a little since she hasn't eaten in a while," the doctor replied.
Alex nodded and turned to the sergeant.
"Have you found anything on her?"
"Nothing. MI6 is looking into it. We've faxed a picture of her to them. They've found nothing. "
Alex sighed, "Thank you, sir."
"You're welcome Cub. Head to the mess hall when you're through if you want something to eat." He paused and gave a little smile. "Don't scare any of my new recruits Cub."
Alex snorted. "I'll try."
The sergeant started walking out, and then turned around.
"By the way, today's June 1st," he said smirking.
Alex looked at him uncomprehendingly.
"Happy 19th," he said walking out.
Alex groaned. He heard the sergeant's laugh echoing down the hall.
The doctor looked at him. "What a birthday, kid."
"Yeah," Alex replied.
His stomach growled. He got up and glanced at the doctor.
"I guess I'm going to have to take her with me?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry, but there are other patients. Couple guys just came in with broken bones and a busted forehead."
Alex nodded and picked up the sleeping baby carefully. He looked at her while he walked. She was a cute little thing really. With white blonde hair and from what he remembered, big dark gray eyes. She was a little thin, but that could be fixed in a couple of weeks. They had managed to find her a little pair of sweat pants and a sweater. Alex zipped up the sweater a little more as the wind blew a slightly. Who would have thought that Alex Rider would be saddled with a baby for a day? He chuckled and ran his fingers through her wispy hair, fondly. Something in the back of his mind told him not to get too attached, but he shrugged it off.
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There were still a few soldiers sprawled across the benches around the mess hall when Alex entered. They looked up, continuing their conversations, but studying the familiar face and the child in his arms. He headed over to the kitchen and knocked on the open door.
"Hey there Jean. Think you can whip me up some of that slop?"
The cook turned around a smile on his round face.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't little Cub. Come back to cause some more ruckus in this camp?" he said smiling.
"Nah, just passin' through. I'm leaving in the morning."
Jean looked at the baby and raised his eye brow.
"Please don't tell me she's yours. You're what. Eighteen?"
"Nineteen. Today actually," Alex said grimacing. "But yeah. She's not mine. Found her on a mission. Don't know anything about her so far."
The cook smiled. "You better take care of her. She's a cute little thing. And happy birthday."
He turned around and got him a plate, slopping some mush on his plate.
"Enjoy," Jean said grinning. Alex rolled his eyes and walked out.
He sat down and shifted the baby in his arms, ignoring the speculative glances form the few soldiers. He glanced up as someone sat across from him. Eagle. Darn.
"Hullo Eagle," he said sighing.
"Hey Cub. Were you gonna leave tomorrow without saying hello?"
"That was my plan. But you just ruined it," Alex groaned.
"Oh, well. Who's the kid? Is it yours?"
"Does everyone think so lowly of me?" Alex shook his head, a mock glare on his face. "No, I didn't knock anyone up. She's not mine. I just came back from a mission. And no," Alex started as Eagle opened his mouth, "it's classified."
Eagle huffed. "Fine, fine." He paused. "How's Fox?"
Alex smiled. "He's doing well actually. Expect a wedding invitation soon."
Eagle's mouth dropped open. "He's popped the question?"
"Well, not yet. But he's going to. Don't tell anyone," Alex cautioned with a smirk, knowing full well by morning the whole camp would know. Not his problem.
"What about you?" Eagle asked grinning. "No girlfriend?"
Alex rolled his eyes. "Even if I did, what makes you think I would tell you?"
"Come on. There's got to be someone."
"No Eagle. There's no one. It's too dangerous," Alex said getting up and dumping his tray. The baby whimpered and Alex bounced her up and down gently.
Eagle sighed and shook his head. "You suck."
"Thanks man," Alex grinned. "Tell the others I said hey. I'm going to sleep."
"See ya Cub."
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Alex sank down onto the mattress, the baby next to him. He looked at her little body, her stomach rising and falling with each breath. He reached a finger over and put it in her open hand. Her finger closed around it subconsciously.
"I wonder where your parents are kid. Or are you like me? With no one." Alex closed his eyes and sighed. What was he doing, talking to a sleeping baby? He drifted off to sleep, one finger in her hand.
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Back in London, two dead bodies were drifting down the river, blood seeping out from the bullet holes in their chests. The next morning the news would be all over London. Anthony and Cherice Livington, found dead; their bodies floating down the Thames River.
Phew. First chapter done. Hope you guys like it! Lol. Ermm… I put an asterisk somewhere because I wanted to make a note about something. But I can't remember where I put it and what the note was going to be about. If you find it let me know and tell me exactly where it is. = ]
