JOY OF JOYS

CHERUB is a product belonging to the masterful brain of Robert Muchamore.

The air was tense back at the CHERUB campus. Awkward glances were exchanged from one sullen face to another. The only person who seemed to be actually enjoying the atmosphere was James. He was ecstatic. When Lauren told him what happened with her and Bethany, he had nearly woken up the entire block with his shouts. The others, however, were struggling with the break up. Dante had decided that his loyalties were with Lauren and had comforted her when Bethany started rumors about her and when some of her other friends had ignored her. Rat, however, was less supportive.

Finally, Lauren took him aside and started to pour out all her feelings. ''I thought you loved me. I think you do love me. But every time I try and talk to you, it's like I'm boring or wrong! I just need you to understand that Bethany was a total bitch to me! So why are you still nice to her? I saw you helping her with homework. Why would you do that Rat?''

He rolled his eyes and shrugged. ''I don't know, Lauren. Maybe because you guys have fought before and then the next day you're best friends and all over each other again. Maybe because I don't think she was cruel to you. Maybe because I don't care? I don't want to get involved in this.'' After he had finished, Rat walked away- leaving Lauren, mouth open, to stand there.

''Could Lauren Adams please make her way over to the Mission Control room?'' Lauren looked up from the Russian quiz she had been struggling to complete for the last age of her life. Getting up, she couldn't help but wonder what her mission might be. No matter how many years she spent at CHERUB, Lauren always found herself walking a little quicker that usual when going to the mission controls room. She suspected this had more to do with the various punishments that could be handed out than it was too do with excitement about a new mission. But this time, Lauren jolted to a stop. Bethany. Her ex-best friend stood in the corridor, chatting happily with Rat. 'Traitor' she thought before Rat's brown eyes caught her own.

''Hey, Lauren. You on this mission too?'' How could he be so nonchalant when everyone else around them was so tense? ''You'd better stop scowling, Lauren. You'll ruin that pretty little face of yours.''

''Lay off, Bethany.'' Dante's voice startled Lauren as he came up behind her. Was he on the mission too? Looking at the three familiar faces around her, Lauren quickly came to the conclusion that it was a joke, thought up by James to torment her. Or maybe they had to apologize to each other like the red-shirts did when they were fighting? Either way, she couldn't be going on a mission with...her.

''Come in.'' Zara sat at the head of a long oak table, holding four identical booklets with the words 'Top Secret' written on each. ''I'm sure you've all figured it out by now, but you're being sent on a mission." There went all of Lauren's theories. "The reason you four have been chosen is due to your ability to work together, and Lauren's ability to speak Russian.''

''Wait. We're going to Russia? But the rest of us can't-''

''I am fully aware of each of your linguistics abilities. The mission is not for another month, and in that time, each of you will undergo rigorous training. If you choose to accept the mission, your schedules will be as so.'' Lauren looked at the piece of paper in front of her. As she did so, her heart sank.

Wake up: 7:00

Breakfast: 7:30

Russian: 8:00-9:30

Fitness: 9:35-10:35

Break: 10:40-11:00

Russian: 11:05-12:05

Lunch: 12:10-12:40

Russian: 12:45-14:00

Fitness: 14:05-16:00

Break: 16:05-16:30

Russian: 16:35-17:35

Homework and free time: 17:40-18:00

Dinner: 18:05-18:40

Russian: 18:45-19:30

Homework and free time: 19:30-22:25

Sleep: 22:30

Six hours of Russian per day? ''Now, I know all this may sound like a lot of hard work...''

''So you're saying it's not? That's good. For a minute I thought you were trying to work us like slaves. I guess that's not the case then. What a relief.'' Rat was sitting in his usual slack position, legs crossed and eyes closed as he tipped his chair back and forth.

''Very funny, Gregory Rathbone.'' Lauren couldn't help but smile when she saw him twitch with annoyance with his full name. ''Anyway'' Zara continued, ''You may think that there must be other CHERUBs more suited to this mission, but the friendship between you all will be vital when you're dealing with sub-zero temperatures and the Russian Mafia.''

''Russian Mafia?''

''If I could ask you all to read the summary...''

March 17th 1992

Martin Slatkin travels from Kotlas to Vorkuta carrying dangerous Class-A drugs and artillery. Over the last decade Slatkin had earned over 485,000,000 Russian Rubles by supplying guns, bombs and other weapons to the Russian Mafia. On that particular Tuesday, a meeting scheduled in Yakutsk was to be held by the most important people in the Mafia to discuss allies and enemies. Dmitri Belova, a 54-year-old sailor, was deemed a spy, and murdered during the meeting. Slatkin would find Belova's family and recruit his eldest son, Iakov, who was later reported missing after a drugs scandal. If any information on Iakov can be obtained, call Mission Controls immediately.

By using the desperation of the financially stricken Russian people, this particular group in the Russian Mafia had expanded from the four men who had started it all to hundreds. Over the next two decades, more than 1000 men, women and children were killed in events directly or indirectly organized by Slatkin. Today, he lives in a large estate with his third wife and five children.

Lauren Adams and Dante Welsh will enter the local school where twins Nina and Feodor and their younger sister Milena attend as half Russian, half English siblings, names Eva and Isaak respectively. Bethany Parker and Gregory Rathbone will join a school slightly further away to gain access to other Slatkin siblings. They will go by the names Alisa and Maxim, who will be half-Russian, half-American. Bethany Parker will act as Lauren and Dante's half-sister, along with Gregory Rathbone, who shares a similar skin and hair color. Dante Welsh will be Lauren Adams' twin brother. Elizabeth Donald, an FBI agent, will act as the four agents' mother, Larisa. She will be Rat and Bethany's real mother and a stepmother to the other agents. The family story will be as follows;

Karen Gordieva, an English woman who met Rurik during a business trip, was unable to become pregnant after several years. Rurik took on a concubine, Larisa, who concieved Maxim and then Alisa a year later. Still married to Karen, he took in Larisa and their two children, now one and two. Karen did all she could to become pregnant for fear that she would be divorced. After a few months of taking medication, she finally became pregnant with Eva and Isaak, twins, but passed away shortly after their second birthday. Karen's children have a relatively good relationship with Larisa despite their parents' history but the topic of illegitimate children and forced pregnancy causes disputes among the four children.

Lauren's job is to become Milena's best friend by protecting her from the bullies in her class and various members of Slatkin's gang and other gangs. Lauren must also try and become friends with the female twin; Nina, 15. Bethany will try and become 16 year old Vadik's girlfriend while Dante must befriend 15 year old twins Feodor and Nina. Rat will be placed in the same year and class as Roza, 17, and must attemp to beome part of her crowd at school and out of school. Both Roza and Vadik go to a different school to their three younger siblings so the CHERUB agents will be apart. It must be taken note that all children come from the second wife, and so do not have a very good relationship with their 29 year old stepmother, Evgeniya. Vadik and Roza do not have a good relationship with their twin siblings but Roza is very protective of Milena. Rat should thank should aim to exploit the older siblings' confidence by projecting themselves as superior to their own younger twin siblings. Yosyp Kazakov, who will be known as Rurik Gordieva, will try and secure Martins trust and will initiate trade between his gang and his 'gang' back in England. Slatkin will be keen to broaden his business, but will also be very suspicious so necessary cautions must be undergone. It is essential that all four agents are fully fluent in Russian, as they will have to deal with the new culture and be fully alert to any information that may be available. All agents are advised to avoid drugs and alcohol for safety reasons. Any agent caught taking Class-A drugs will be kicked out of CHERUB.

"I'm being put a year above?" Rat stated, eyes flicking up to catch Zara's.

"We feel as though you would be capable."

Rat smirked and shot an obnoxious glance to Dante, who was sulking about having to act a year younger than actual age. What made the situation even more degrading was that Rat was two years older.

Zara continued, addressing Rat and Betany; "Roza and Vadik go to a school slightly out of town. There are many bars and clubs near the school and the two siblings are often seen frequenting them. If either of you can get inside, be sure to place recording devices in case important business is discussed. There's one in particular that looks important."

Zara waved a lazy hand in Rat's general direction as she dug around in a drawer. After a couple of awkwardly silent seconds, she placed a file of photos on the table and passed them across. "About two hundred yards down from the school is a bar where people who are interested in either buying or selling drugs go to do business. The two siblings are often seen going in, and are treated like regulars. Rat, I want you to try and get a job there, as anything. It doesn't matter, as long as they trust you enough to allow you to wander around the place. Bethany, it may be too dangerous for you to work there, but try to accompany Vadik as much as possible. The two of you must be careful. An undercover FBI agent was murdered after he started acting a little too inquisitive."

"With all due respect, I doubt the FBI agent had the training and skills I have." Rat answered as Lauren skimmed over the details of the mission.

"How old is Milena?"

"She's fourteen." Zara answered. "She was put up a year due to her outstanding work and achievements. She gets bullied sometimes, so Lauren, I want you to make friends with her, and try to stop the bullying. I feel as if that is the best way to try and gain her trust."

"Why doesn't Dante do it, seeing that he's the guy?" Lauren shot a stern look at Bethany, who had her arm too close to Rat's leg for Lauren to be comfortable.

"Milena has a fear of men. She inherited her late mother's beauty but lacks Roza's confidence and fighting skills. When she was very young, a rival gang kidnapped her for a ransom. We don't have the details, but I'm sure you can all guess what happened." A shiver went down Lauren's spine as she thought what Milena had to go through when she was still so young.

"If everyone accepts the mission, the training will start immediately." Lauren looked around the room. She didn't have any technical reasons for refusing the mission, but a part of her was screaming that this was a bad idea. Especially since Bethany and Rat would be together most of the time.

"I'll do it." Lauren looked over at Rat, who was resting his head on his arms.

"Me too", Bethany added, smiling at Rat. Lauren winced slightly at the obvious flirting, but at least Rat didn't look like he was responding.

"I'll go." Lauren and Dante said, in perfect unison. The two of them looked at each other and began to laugh. "Perfect!" Zara replied, "And, if you go now, it looks like you'll all be in time for a Russian lesson."

Rat rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Joy of joys."