Disclaimer: I can't own people. It's illegal. Therefore, Alex Rider is not mine.

There's not going to be a ton of action for at least a couple of chapters. Alex has changed his appearance a bit. Blue contacts, hair more of a strawberry blonde than the dirty blonde we're all accustomed to reading about. I would've done black hair, but that's too hard to upkeep at an SAS camp.

This chapter is more about him and his feelings. I could've included more, but I thought it was long enough. And, holy crap, this is a really long AN.


"I've seen you run, kid." Alex resented being called 'kid'. Though, in this military world, he really was one. It had taken time for him to adapt a soldier's step, steady and heavy rather than the catlike, silent steps of a spook. Habits were hard to change, and the spook step had saved his life more than once.

"Frankly, I'm surprised you survived the SAS training." Everyone was surprised by everything he did. From the parkour moves to the amount of knowledge, he was always surprising the other soldiers. Of course, as Alex Rider, probably the only two people who hadn't underestimated him were the two people sending him on missions.

"You're short and skinny and just barely old enough to join." Eric Smith, according to his documents, was almost nineteen, compared to Alex's true age of eight months past fifteen. And, to be fair, he hadn't quite hit his growth spurt yet, though he was taller than he had been.

"Your code name is now Cheetah, and you'll be joining J-unit. One of their members is no longer able to be a soldier." The words every soldier dreaded to hear. Alex wasn't sure how he'd react, but he knew how Eric would. It was interesting to have a permanent cover. Though, after nearly four months, it was more like a mask he always wore. "After a month, we'll see what to do with your lot."

"Yes, sir!" Alex said, rigidly at attention.

"I'm sure you'll be able to find J-unit's hut. Dismissed."

After he left the room, Alex snorted. He knew his way around Breacons Beacons, sure enough. After all, he'd spent a week at the hellish place. Later on, he'd visited for another week after… her death, before everything was arranged.

Grief was a funny thing, he thought idly. Nearly five months had passed and he still couldn't say the name. He sauntered to a hut with a green 'J' on the door. Opening the door, he shifted the knapsack that was on one shoulder. Opening the door, he surveyed the room. It was a real pity that the only feasible exit was the door, since the windows were a little too small. A year ago, he would have fit through, but training had given him a bit more bulk, and he had grown enough that his shoulders were just a little too broad.

"I'm Cheetah." He drawled. "You all are?"

The members of J-unit stared, rather surprised by his obvious youth. Alex managed not to sigh, slipping into his Eric persona.

"You are...?" He said, prompting a response.

"Bear. Are you even old enough to be in the army."

Alex smirked. "You'll get my file in the near future. Until then..." he paused dramatically, "decide for yourselves."

"I'm Porcupine and the joker in the corner is Falcon, the medic. Try not to make him hate your guts, or getting patched up will be painful."

Alex snorted. "Yes, O mighty leader." Porcupine was definately the leader.

"Great. We've got a smartass." Bear grumbled. "So, Cheetah," he said with emphasis, "do tell us all about yourself."

"I'm married, with five kids and a dog." He said sarcastically. Three pairs of raised brows confronted him. "I'm nineteen, single, and the military is the only thing for me." He rolled his eyes. "Honestly, can nobody take a joke these days?"

Falcon snickered, breaking the ice.


Heya. Yeah, I added on to this chapter. For a certain reveiwer complaining about it ending abruptly, I hope this is a bit better. I may have a new chapter up by tomorrow. And thanks to all my reviewers - I've never had so much of a response to any of my stories! (But then, I haven't exactly been in the more popular fandoms.)