Disclaimer- If you think I own Alex Rider, you're seriously touched in the head.


Tick, Tick, Tick

The sound haunted him. Aaron Sean Hammler constantly heard the ticking of a bomb. He hadn't even placed it yet. That would happen tomorrow. Right now, he had just left John and Helen's house. They had finished packing for their trip, but little Alex wasn't going. Aaron was slightly relieved. He already felt horrible for what he was doing. He didn't need the blood of an infant on his hands as well. Because tomorrow Aaron was planting a bomb on a plane, one that would kill his best friend and his wife.

Aaron sighed. How had he gotten into this? Oh, that's right, Scorpia and that creepy Major Yu bastard. They had offered him money. A lot. But that wasn't why he was doing this. Not entirely at least. He knew he was already too far in. After John had tricked Scorpia, they had been paranoid about undercover spies. They would have his records, they would know he had worked for MI6. If he pulled out, it would look suspicious. He would be dead in two days.

He should never have gone to them. And why had he? Because he had felt second best. Aaron had grown up with two brothers. His older brother, Josh was the star athlete, won trophies, got all the girls. His younger brother, Chris was always the baby of the family, spoiled beyond belief, not to mention he was on the Honor Roll, model student, always being awarded medals. And him? The middle child, forever looked over. He had good grades, could kick a ball as well as the next guy, but he didn't have that perfection everyone else seemed to. When he went into the army, his parents had finally been proud. And he had been hopeful. Maybe this was something he could be the best at. But, nope. John Rider took that award. First in the SAS, then in MI6. So when Alan Blunt had humiliated and degraded him, told him flat-out he was always going to be second best, he had snapped. He was furious and hateful. And what better way to relieve those feelings than by hurting the one person who has a constant reminder of his shortcomings?

Aaron stood at the window, eyes fixed on the Rider's plane. The bomb would go off at the same time the plane lifted off the runway. He couldn't look away. It felt like a dishonor to their memories. Or soon-to-be memories anyway.

The plane was rolling forward. Less than a minute.

He wondered if anyone would suspect him Ian, maybe? Or would he be too distraught over his brother and sister-in-law's deaths?

Thirty seconds.

Poor Alex. An orphan and not even a month old. He would hate him if he ever found out.

Liftoff.

The explosion was spectacular. A million pieces flying outward, flames rushing up toward the sky that was blocked out by the thick smoke. People screamed, security struggled to remember their emergency training. The police were called, along with MI6.

Aaron turned and ran. It wasn't that strange. All around him, people raced for the exits as the airport personnel tried to control the situation. Aaron made it out without being stopped. He ran the whole way to his small flat, sat on his couch, and cried.


So what do you think? This will be a two shot. Second half should come out pretty soon. Review!