Hey guys! Thanks for the reviews. I stand corrected on the dojo thing. Basically, use your imagination and understand that Alex Rider is smart! I know the last chapter was slightly rushed, I promise you that the rest will be less so. Enjoy!
Alex dumped his stuff in his room. He had his own LED 45' flat screen TV, a mini fridge stashed in one corner, and a bathroom off to the side. The room was cool and smelled new, but Alex found no comfort in it. He found the remote to the TV and flipped the news on.
He opened his suitcase and took out two photos: one of Jack, and one of Sabina and him. His heart panged. Sabina didn't live happily with him. He couldn't heal. Then, she died. And Jack-Jack was gone, too.
A knock interrupted him from his thoughts. He spun around, ready to fight.
"Hey," said the kid, leaning against the doorway. "New?"
"Yeah," said Alex, turning away.
"How'd you come here?"
"Parents killed in a plane crash. I was stuck in a boys' home and brought here." It wasn't a complete lie.
"Man, I'm sorry," said the boy. "I'm James by the way." James stuck out his hand. Alex hesitantly took it.
"Alex Wright." It was a new name, a new identity. But he was still Alex. He was the same Alex who was captured, tortured, and nearly killed on multiple occasions.
"Cool," said James. "You coming down? Our block's supposed to do a run every morning."
"Sure," said Alex dismissively.
"C'mon mate," said James, clapping him on the back. Alex glanced back into his new room before following James out. He wanted out. He wanted Jack, and he wanted to be free.
The run was easy. Training from Breacon Beacons kept Alex in shape outside of and during his missions. He was just slightly faster than the rest of the group, but he ran at the group's pace and even lagged to the back to avoid questions and socializing. Unfortunately, he wasn't allowed that luxury.
"Hard?" asked James, falling back with him.
"No."
"Guess your heart's not in it," suggested James, throwing a sidelong glance at the new boy he considered a new friend. "Don't worry, once you're on missions and after basic training, it'll get easier. Life on CHERUB is actually better than out there." James gestured outside the fence line.
"Missions?!" Alex stopped dead in surprise. James let out a small noise as he nearly bowled into him.
"Yeah, for MI5," enunciated James. "Didn't they tell you? That's the only condition for staying on campus."
"No! No! They do not own me!" shouted Alex suddenly. His expression was murderous.
"Calm down mate," said James, shocked at the boy's vehement protest.
"No!" But Alex made an effort to lower his tone of voice. "Where is Zara?"
"Probably in her office. Why?" asked James in confusion. "Alex!"
Alex had already spun around and sprinted towards the compound.
Hell, he's fast! thought James.
Zara was rather surprised to see the latest recruit burst into her office unannounced. Her secretary was spluttering in fury until Zara waved her away. James panted in a moment later.
"Put Mrs. Jones on the line!" He barked. Zara frowned.
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
"I'm not sure you heard me the first time," he said slowly. "I need to talk to Mrs. Jones NOW!" The polite boy was gone. In his place was helluva, angry, sixteen year old.
"I can't Alex. And I don't like your tone of voice," stated Zara coldly.
"Alex, don't be an ar-" James started, but backed up real fast when Alex glared bullets at him. James felt like Alex had a laser trained on him. He was furious, and clearly upset. But about what, James had no clue.
"No. No, I will not be used again," said Alex miserably.
"Alex, calm down," Zara ordered. "James, give us a moment, will you?" James nodded and happily escaped the office. He couldn't help but feel relieved and very sorry for his boss.
Zara turned to the recruit.
"Alex?" He was staring at her, his expression empty.
"It's all a game Alex."
"-deported to America-"
"Jack-no-Jack!"
"-keep your classmates safe-"
"Alex!"
He snapped out of it. "I will not be used," he said, yet again, sounding hollow.
"Used in what way?" asked Zara, attempting to placate the boy.
"Go on missions."
"Okay, Alex. I won't," said Zara simply, wondering how in the world she was going to do that. After all, that was the condition for being a member of CHERUB. Everyone contributed to the government in return for the CHERUB lifestyle. "Do you want to talk to anyone besides Mrs. Jones?"
"Why can't she talk to me? She's never refused to talk to me before," complained Alex, sounding like a teenager for a moment until the tough mask fell again. "Oh, I forgot. I must not be useful anymore."
"Don't say that," said Zara suddenly, horrified a kid could have such mentality. "Alex, do you want a counselor? Someone to talk to?"
Alex backed away, almost fearful, but remained firm in his resolve to reveal as little as possible. Zara sighed. She wasn't going to get more out of him at the moment.
"Alright Alex. If you need anything, let me know, but don't break my door down next time, please. That is totally unacceptable, and if you do, you'll be assigned to toilet duty, or dojo cleaning, or running laps until I think you've learned your lesson. Understood?"
Confidence returned to the teen's eyes and stance as he mumbled a quick, "Yes ma'am." And left.
Zara rubbed her eyes. That was a handful. The boy looked unstable and shaken up. She knew he needed help, but she needed more information.
She shuddered as she remembered how his muscles were taut with tension, and how the steely look in the teen's eyes. He looked haunted by his past and exhausted. In essence, he appeared old; older than any of the eldest kids at CHERUB: older than even some of the staff.
She snatched up her phone and dialed Mrs. Jones.
A/n: yay! I actually finished typing this! I've been typing this on an iPad and its bugging me because auto correct is interfering with my typing so it takes awhile. Done ranting. Sorry this chapter is so short, but I was kind of spewing out thoughts so I could get a story basis down, so I hope you enjoy!
Thank you to wolf 77 for her contribution! And thanks to Owltalon for your support even though you weren't sneak reading it in band!
Also, I would like to say very unhappily that it's finals week and I don't have time to post by next week so it could be a few weeks. I'm sorry! I promise you, I'll make the next chapter loooonger! Thanks for your patience!
For future reference, CHERUB is a highly secret organization and a Education: The T-Shirt System: CHERUB Characters: That's all for now. Some of these characters have not been introduced
branch of MI6.
Typical recruits are found in homes around England, but some are
orphaned because of a CHERUB mission in which, they test to become an
agent.
Every agent (except Alex Rider) is required to take basic training,
100 grueling days of living hell, before they become qualified agents.
From there, they go on highly classified missions around the world.
CHERUBS are offered some of the best education in the world. The
students are required to go to school Mondays through Saturdays.
Sundays are off. The agents are placed in classes according to skill
level, not age. Punishments are psycho if homework is not done.
Red T-Shirt: junior kids who are under the age of 10./kids who are
unqualified for missions and basic training.
Blue T-Shirt: trainee in basic training
Gray Shirt: finished basic training successfully and is qualified for missions
Navy blue: outstanding mission(s)!
Black: done extremely well on multiple missions
White: retired CHERUB Agent
James Adams: 17 years old. Recruited at 13 when his mom died from
Nebraska Home.
Lauren Adams: James' younger sister. Recruited while James was away
for basic training.
Kerry Chang: girlfriend of James' and speaks Japanese fluently. Her
weakness is centered in her knee from an earlier incident.
Dana: ex girlfriend of James' for cheating on him.
Gabriel: a good friend of James, Kerry, and Lauren. Bad blood with
Michael who cheated on her with Dana. upset her very much.
Michael: took care of Gabriel when she was stabbed in a gang war
mission until he decided he could have both Dana and Gabriel.
Zara Asker: head of CHERUB and possesses level one clearance for
almost everything. Shes also the first woman head. Wife of Ewart and
mother to Joshua.
Ewart: mission controller and known to be the hardest one.
Meryl Spencer: handler of the agents. She's the "foster" mother of them.
John Jones: mission controller and the nicest one.
Pike: new basic training instructor head.
yet, but they will eventually.