Alex Rider: Mission Jedi

Jedi Goat

Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider or Star Wars.

Author's Note: This story occurs right after the book Stormbreaker and during The Phantom Menace. It includes spoilers for both of these.

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Chapter 1: First Blood

Alex Rider, fourteen-year-old spy to M16, walked casually down the street to a perfectly normal-looking building: Royal & General Bank. What was inside, however, was far from an average, boring business. The building was the headquarters for M16.

As Alex headed toward the spy agency, he looked up at the red brick walls and plain square windows, pondering the sudden changes M16 had brought to his life. It was hard to believe that just over a month ago he had been a typical teenager going to a normal school in England. That was before his uncle's mysterious death. Then he had been jerked into reality. His uncle had not been a banker, as Alex had thought. Ian Rider had been a secret agent for M16, on a mission to uproot the truth behind Sayle Enterprises' seemingly generous donation of Stormbreaker computers to schools across England. His enemies had found out and killed Alex's uncle.

M16 recruited Alex – against his will – to finish his uncle's mission. With the help of some spy gadgets Alex managed to uncover Sayle's secret plot to kill the schoolchildren with a virus implanted into the Stormbreaker computers.

After his mission, Alex was returned to school as if nothing had happened. That had been a week ago. Now Alex found himself in front of the brick building once more.

Alex sighed. To tell the truth, he wasn't even sure if he wanted to be a spy. Sure, he wanted to go on another mission and to be on an adventure. But actually dealing with M16 was something he wasn't looking forward to. Last time M16 had blackmailed him into working for them!

Alex looked at the door to the building again. There were two security guards in black standing at attention. He hesitated a moment longer. In that moment he felt something – a need to turn around and look behind him. Alex glanced back, his brown eyes scanning the street to see if anyone was following him. However, no one seemed out of place in the crowds surging by. Alex peered closely and saw, on the other side of the street, two burly men dragging another figure into an alley tucked between two tall buildings.

Alex instantly made his decision. A secret agent worked for his or her country. Surely helping a citizen who was being mobbed would fall under this rule.

He slipped through the throng to the other side. Now he paused, peering into the dark alley. The sounds of a scuffle could be heard.

Taking a deep breath, Alex strode down the alley. He could make out the two men in the very back, holding their prisoner against an overflowing dumpster as they punched the lights out of him.

"Hey!" Alex called, his voice echoing off the walls, "Leave him alone!"

One man stepped forward. His face shone ghastly pale in a stream of light that filtered down into the alley. He wore a black toque to conceal his scalp and his face was marred by a deep gash. His lips curled into a sneer as he looked Alex over. "What'cha gonna do about it, punk?"

Alex stared back defiantly. "This." And, without a warning, he lashed out with a vicious kick to the man's stomach. The thug crumbled back, gasping for breath. He nearly stumbled into his partner as the second man approached.

"This ain't no place for kids," the man rumbled. He was shorter and wider than the first man was. There was a click and Alex knew the gangster had cocked a gun.

Swiftly, Alex dived to the side, narrowly avoiding the first bullet. He stayed low and kicked again. His foot connected with the thug's shoulder. With a cry, the man dropped his weapon.

Alex reached down for the gun, hoping the gangsters would leave if they saw he was armed. However, his fingers only skimmed the smooth surface of the weapon as the first man kicked his legs out from under him.

Alex yelled as he fell to the dirty ground. His head banged against the ground and he winced against the pain in his temple. The thug grasped his feet and began to pull. He dragged Alex across the ground toward the dumpster.

As Alex scrabbled for a hold, he noticed the man he'd tried to save escaping down the alley. So this is how justice is served, he thought grimly. Alex jerked his right leg, freeing it from the gangster's grip. His leg hit the ground. Alex hauled himself to a standing position, balanced on one foot. The thug was too shocked to react in time.

WHAM! Alex's fist slammed into the side of the man's face. The thug fell to the ground, unconscious. Breathing hard, Alex turned around and stared straight down the barrel of a gun.

The second thug grinned with rotten teeth. "Say goodbye."

Alex dodged to the side and kicked blindly. The ruffian grunted in pain and Alex knew he'd hit his mark. Taking the earned moment to look around quickly, Alex clambered up the side of the dumpster and crouched on the rim, peering down at the now-recovered thug.

I need to get the gun away from him. As long as he has it, he's dangerous. Alex ducked low as the man stared wildly around through the darkness. Counting silently to ten in his head, Alex waited as the man drew near to his hiding place.

Then, Alex flung himself over the edge of the dumpster with an angry yell. He dropped directly on the thug, both feet hitting the man hard in the chest. The gun flew up into Alex's hand.

BANG!

The man fell to the floor, blood leaking out from his shirt. Alex stood over him, staring down at the weapon in his hand. He must have accidentally hit the trigger when he'd dropped. The thing was, Alex couldn't remember taking the gun from the man.

Alex got over his momentary shock and tossed the gun into the dumpster, disgusted with himself for shooting. The weapon hit the garbage with a whump.

Alex walked out of the alley slowly, unable to believe his own actions. When he'd agreed to work for M16, he'd never considered that he might have to actually kill someone. He knew he'd have to face and fight evil, but the truth that he might have to cause someone's death had never really hit him until now.

Up in an office in the M16 building, the head of the agency, Alan Blunt, watched the security screens depicting views of inside and around headquarters. He was a tall, thin man with balding hair and a straight, neat mustache. He wore a plain gray suit that seemed to summarize his dull, gray life.

Blunt folded his hands together beneath his chin as he observed Alex stepping out of the alley across the street. Alex's eyes were downcast as he made his way toward headquarters.

A dark-haired woman seated beside Blunt was watching Alex as well. She was Mrs. Jones, the head of Special Operations. She wore a mud-brown suit and sucked on a peppermint. Her eyes were watchful, much like a concerned mother's, while Blunt's gray gaze was disapproving.

"You know what he did in there," Mrs. Jones stated simply.

Blunt didn't nod nor show any sign he had heard her. "He is not a fully trained spy. He doesn't know the responsibilities that come with our line of work." Blunt swiveled his chair around so that he was facing his wooden desk. He picked up a beige folder. "That is why we are sending him on this next mission."

Mrs. Jones shook her head. "I trust your judgment, Alan, but I'm not sure this is a good idea."

Blunt laid a hand over the folder. "It will be good training. Alex Rider will learn what it is like to work alongside professionals."

At that moment, the intercom on Blunt's desk beeped. The cool male voice of his secretary announced, "Alex Rider is here to see you, sir."

Blunt pressed the response button. "Send him in." As always, the head of M16's voice was emotionless.

To be continued...

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Author's Note: This chapter didn't have any Star Wars in it. It's coming soon!