Chapter one: The dark man.

It was just after midnight and Alex Rider lay in his bed, thinking. Sabina Pleasure was now here for Christmas. Jack had happily agreed. So why was he so depressed? He hated it when he got like that. His last mission had been a success but he still felt MI6 would find him and make him go on another mission.

Just the thought of that made him shiver. When would they learn to leave him alone? Alex stood up and went into the kitchen. He turned on the kitchen light and slumped over to the fridge.

"Alex?" Alex heard a voice and slammed the door. He took up his fighting position. He lowered his fists as he saw that is was Sabina Pleasure. MI6 had also turned him into someone who never gets off guard. He cursed them for that as well.

"Yeah Sab?" Alex asked, using her nickname.

"Well I just wanted to see if you were ok." Sabina came over to him and hugged him. He hugged her back and grinned. That perfect moment made everything worth it. Alex swelled up inside himself and forgot all about MI6…until he saw it.

Outside of the kitchen window he saw a dark figure staring out at him. Alex let go of her and ducked. She followed suit. "What is it?" she asked.

"There's a man outside." Alex said. He crawled over to the door and forced himself out of the Doggy door. Although he never had a dog their house had a doggy door. Alex, for once want annoyed by it. Sabina meant to follow but Alex told her to go warn Jack. He hoped that this was just some nutcase hoping to steal a trinket instead of a man about to bring him back into his life of MI6.

The dark man turned around and Alex chased him. It started to rain but Alex didn't care. He just knew he had to catch the man. Alex got on his bike as the man got in his black truck. Alex sighed. He was almost too big for his bike.

The chase was on. Alex didn't have to twist and turn like he did when he was chasing Skoda for there was no traffic. The bike led him to an old factory. Alex climbed in through a small hole on the side. What he saw made him gasp.

Mr. Blunt was tied up to a chair. Alex thought he looked so out of place in this factory. Alex seldom saw Mr. Blunt outside of his office. Alex had half a mind to leave Blunt but he knew he had to help.

Once again a train of thought entered his head. Was Mr. Blunt on his way home from work to his loving family? Did he even have one? Alex guessed he never left his office other then special occasions. Alex snapped back to reality as the man stepped over to Mr. Blunt. Alex searched around for exits. He saw only one exit. The way the man entered. Alex would have to take out the man before he escaped with Blunt.

Alex also searched around for a weapon. He saw a lead pipe and picked it up. He charged out of the shadows and saw the man. He was an extremely thin man. He looked like he was about forty and he had a beard and spiked hair. The hair was grey, the only thing in his body showing oldness. His face was the face of a boy.

The man turned around. Alex smacked him across the face with the lead pipe. Mr. Blunt didn't look surprised at all to see Alex. Alex dropped the pipe and started to punch and kick the man. The man got up and started to choke Alex. Alex felt his feet leave the ground and he remembered no more…

Alex woke up and felt sunlight stream through his eyes. He was outside the factory and Sabina was leaning over him. He immediately stood up and ran to the factory to see if Mr. Blunt was still inside. He wasn't though and Alex knew he had to contact Mrs. Jones. He pulled out his cell phone and told her everything. She said to get to Liver Pool street immediately.

Alex arrived and told her everything again so she could write it on her pad of paper. When he described the man she immediately pulled out a file. She opened it up and Alex saw the same man.

"Dr. Fried. He was the one who kidnapped Mr. Blunt." Mrs. Jones said.

"Why though?"

"Well, that I don't know but I do know that Dr. Fried runs a music school in California. Maybe if you go under cover…"

"No, I said I wouldn't help again." Alex said.

"It isn't a music school." Mrs. Jones said as if Alex hadn't said anything. "It is a middle school in California and He teaches Music there. Please Alex, I promise this will be your last mission."

"How can you promise that?" Alex asked.

"Just trust me. Now go see Smithers."

Alex took Sabina's hand and led her to Mr. Smithers Desk.

"Oh Alex, I didn't expect to see you and your Girlfriend so soon." Smithers grinned.

Alex sighed. "Anyway You are going to go live in a normal house in Southern California and go to a middle school as a student." Smithers briefed.

"But Dr. Fried will recognize me." Alex said.

"And that is why you get your gadgets." Mr. Smithers grinned.

First he gave him a watch and whenever Alex pressed a button he changed his form to a freckly glasses wearing short nerd. Sabina mimicked barfing.

Next Mr. Smithers gave Alex a bow for his cello. Whenever he pressed a button the hair would expand and shoot out to tie around people.

"And last" Smithers took out a cello. It could shoot out its endpin and if Alex played a certain note it would knock anybody out except for the people who where watches.

"And I heard Miss Pleasure will be joining you on your mission." Mr. Smithers grinned.

He gave her the same gadgets as Alex but instead of a cello she got a Violin.

"Um, Mr. Smithers Dr. Fried saw me before he ran away."

"Well I guess We'll have to make another watch." Smithers grinned. "And now I have one more treat for both of you." Smithers grinned. He pulled out two tiny golden lockets.

"Lockets?" Alex asked.

"Yes and Sabina's has a picture of you and vice versa." Alex felt uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if he and Sabina were exactly a couple. "You two can communicate through them. Little walkie talkies."

Alex pocketed it but Sabina put hers on. "Come on Alex." Sabina said. "It'll be fun to pretend to be a couple."

"You mean you aren't a couple?" Smithers asked. This was an uncomfortable moment but eventually they got through it and left.

"So what do you mean pretend?" Alex asked as they walked home.

"Well I don't know. What do you think we are?"

"Well." Alex said.

"Ok, lets be boyfriend and girlfriend." Sabina said. Alex grinned. He would look forward to this mission after all.

A/n please review.