Hey Alex Rider fans!

In light of the premiere of Stormbreaker, I decided to post a new AR fic! Trust me, updates will be plentiful, but they will also be heavily reliant on the reviews I get, so please don't hesitate to review!

Boann xxx

The bitter cold wind blew mercilessly across the ice covered Lake Agnes. From his position amongst the mass of trees surrounding the giant lake, Alex Rider shuddered against it. Although he was wearing clothing designed to protect him from the cold, it seemed the wind knew just how to slip down every fold and crevasse to bite his skin.

On his stomach in the snow, he peered through the lenses of a pair of pocket binoculars and spied his target. It was a large compound surrounded by a high electric fence. Guards patrolled the boundary, some holding dogs on the end of leashes. Zooming in, Alex couldn't pretend not to see the AK-47''s strung over the guards' shoulders.

Yeah, 'just routine', he thought bitterly.

As much as he had tried to elude MI6, it seemed they were always on his back. This time it was Mrs Jones who found him. He didn't mind her so much, but he still hated her for pushing him into going on another mission. This one, she said, was just routine. Nothing dangerous. He was supposed to be investigating rumours of a weapons factory operating north of Manchester.

"Nothing needs to be done that will put you in any danger," Mrs Jones has assured. "We just need to know if these rumours are true. If they are, you need to report back to us and we'll take care of the rest."

Knowing he had no choice, Alex had agreed. Now he lay in three-inch deep snow, absolutely freezing. Dressed in thermal military gear, he was hardly visible from his position. He had travelled that morning from a small motel in a village about nine miles away. It had been a difficult journey, one that he hadn't dared attempt on foot. It was easy to get lost in this industrialised town, and the thick snow and harsh weather could be life threatening if that happened.

But now he faced a problem far greater than the journey here.

Lake Agnes was no puddle. It was a wide open area, one in which Alex would stand out like a sore thumb, even in camouflage. There was also another danger. Although it had been cold for a long time, Alex was uneasy about the reliability of the ice covering. It was hard to tell where it was safe to walk and if he fell into the below-zero water, there wouldn't be any chance of him making it back to the motel.

But after lying in the snow for a few hours, Alex had found a possible way in. Every hour, a truck with the name "Jacobson and Paul" written on the side would pass through the highly guarded gates of the compound. The inside of the truck was always searched and the drivers were always screened, but the underside of the truck was never touched. Alex just had to find out where the truck came from and if there was enough room under the truck to hide himself.

With his next move decided, Alex stood up, stretching his numb limbs to restore blood circulation. He snapped to attention when he heard a twig snap behind him. Whipping his head around, he scanned the area, but couldn't see any sign of movement.

Probably a rabbit, he thought.

Stowing his binoculars in his pocket for the moment, he decided to take a closer look. Lying back down, he commando crawled slowly out of his hiding place. He felt terribly exposed, but it seemed that, so far, nobody had noticed him.

It wasn't long before something else caught his attention. Grabbing his binoculars, he focused on where the truck that had just entered had stopped. Men were rushing around it, unloading boxes from it. The boxes looked heavy. Could they be filled with weapons? He needed to get closer.

Alex crawled further until he reached the edge of the lake. He stopped when he heard something behind him again. He blinked through the wind, but could see nothing. Turning his attention back to the compound, he continued to crawl. He was about one third of the way across the lake when he heard a groan. He knew the groan hadn't come from him; it had been the ice he was lying on.

Alex heart rate increased. He saw his mistake now; he should have stayed at the edge of the lake and worked his way around. The closer he got to the centre, the weaker the ice would become. He had been so focused on rushing and getting this over with; he'd nearly killed himself in the process.

Sighing, Alex carefully slid to the side and began to make his way to the bank. It was beginning to get darker and he knew that he had little time. This made him increase his speed. Suddenly he heard the dogs start barking and it was with dread he realised he had been spotted. The feeling was intensified by the whine of an engine. He froze. The engine was coming from behind him. He turned his head to see a shadow moving towards him. He raised a hand to shield his eyes to get a better look. Up ahead, the dogs were still barking and were let loose. But his attention was focused on what he could now see was a man on a jet ski. Jet ski's? In Manchester? That was something he'd never seen before. And the oddness of the situation increased the feeling he had that this wasn't friendly. It must be a patrolman.

Alex forced down the sheer panic threatening to explode within him. He got to his feet and ran the rest of the way towards the edge, back towards the trees. The ice groaned threateningly beneath him, but he ignored it. The Jet Ski was gaining on him; he could hear the rumble of the engine. It seemed the driver wasn't following him directly, aware that the Jet Ski would be too dangerous to ride on the ice. Instead he was following the edge of the lake, hoping to intercept Alex.

Alex ran harder. The dogs' barking was getting louder. The Jet Ski was only metres away on his right. He wasn't going to make it! He was trapped between the dogs and the patrolman.

Suddenly the driver called to him. "Alex!"

Alex stopped in his tracks, stunned. The Jet Ski was closing in, but Alex resisted the urge to run. He could see the man's face now…and he couldn't believe it.

"Yassen?" he exclaimed.

No! The man in front of him was dead! Alex had watched him die! What did this mean? Was Yassen working for this "Jacobson and Paul"?

"Alex!" Yassen called again.

Alex was trying to work out why he was still yelling. Then, the ground shifting underneath him explained why. He had stopped on soft ice and before he could move, it collapsed beneath his feet, plunging him into the icy water. The shock to his body caused him to inhale, drawing nothing but water into his lungs. He couldn't feel anything. He didn't know which way was up. His muscles refused to obey him. Spots danced in front of his eyes. As he gave in to the darkness that beckoned him, a pair of strong hands embraced him.