Chapter 1

"Again?!" That single word reverberated throughout the glass and marble halls and offices of the Royal & General Bank, also known as the headquarters of MI6 Special Operations Division.

Employees who had previously been working contently looked up at the sound of the muffled shout.

Standing up, obviously angered, was a boy of around fifteen or sixteen years of age. He appeared strong and athletic; his well moulded muscles could be seen slightly from beneath the sleeves of his casual t-shirt which fitted his form adequately.

He measured in at around six foot, give or take and inch, and had sandy brown hair which appeared to have been highlighted with blonde, it was short to medium in length and thickly spiked at a slight angle to the side. He had lightly tanned skin which contrasted against a pair of electric tanzanite blue eyes.

His eyes appeared to have seen too much for his age, too much hurt and devastation. They seemed to keep memories of events a teenage boy should not have had to have gone through.

His fists were clenched in anger, his voice was full of hatred and yet undertones of exasperation as he spoke to a much older and frailer looking man who sat behind a desk opposite him.

"Alex. I would appreciate it if you would kindly keep your voice down." The superior said calmly.

The boy slammed his hands down on the table in fury. "No! I am not doing anything for you again. Not after last time." At the last sentence his voice seemed to trail off into a tone no louder than a whisper.

At this outburst, the man behind the desk stood up sharply, rising above Alex who was bent over the table. "Alex!" He paused to compose himself. "Sit down." He added in an eerily low voice.

Seeing the more authorial figure loose his calm, Alex seemed to swallow his pride and reclaimed his seat. Once seated the man sunk slowly back into his own chair, his back remaining ram-rod straight as he looked at Alex trying to figure a way to crack his tough outer shell.

Eventually, the superior spoke again. "I know the events of the iTec mission hurt you Alex-"

"Stop Blunt! Just stop…before you go too far." Alex whispered in a voice devoid of any emotion.

"Look Alex. It's been almost a year now. I know your and Miss. Windsor were close-"

"-You don't know anything!" Alex shouted, his eyes starting to glisten with excess moisture. "You don't know anything…I'd rather not discuss it with you, or anyone for that matter. You called me in here because you wanted me to go undercover for you, well my answer is 'no'. So I'm leaving."

"Really? Are you sure that's your final answer?" Alan Blunt raised a curious eyebrow over the rims of his glasses.

From where Alex had been about to make his way to the door he paused and turned back to face Mr. Blunt. "Positive."

"Very well then. Veronica, could you give Alex Ms. Starbright's papers." Alan Blunt's eyes still remained focussed on Alex.

"Jack's papers?" Alex glared at him in question.

"Well yes Alex. Don't you remember? It was about two years ago we told you her visa had run out. Those are her deportation papers." Alan Blunt said casually whilst stirring his tea three swirls clockwise then three anticlockwise.

Alex pursed his lips and rolled his eyes in mockery. "Ahh! Here comes the good old blackmail. Well it's not going to work. Have Jack deported. I'll go with her and then we can get her visa sorted out in the states."

"I'd like to see you pay for your ticket considering we control your money." Alan Blunt replied raising his cup to his grey lips.

Alex's eyes widened in shock and he fought to keep calm. However, he failed and punched the doorframe. He gritted his teeth as firm as he could before turning back to face Blunt.

He walked over to Blunt's fireplace, placing one arm out and resting on the wall he dropped the envelope into the fire with the other. He watched as the paper wrinkled and danced in the heat as it turned to ashes, the reflection of the amber glow lighting up his stern features.

"I don't understand how you get agents like Bond to agree to this crap." Alex muttered before looking out of the corner of his eye at Blunt.

"That is a topic you and 007 can discuss between yourselves if you ever run into him." Blunt replied as he set his cup back down on the saucer. "Well? What is your answer?"

Alex exhaled and dropped his head whilst shaking it. Closing his eyes he uttered his response in a tired and nonchalant tone that made him seem like he couldn't care to argue anymore.

"What do I have to do?"