Chapter 2

Geared Up

"Well Mr. Rider, Ms. Windsor. These are your weapons for the next mission." Dr. Slavic punched in a code and a table of all kinds of strange gadgets appeared. Alex reached forward and picked up a aerosole canister.

"We're going to the desert where thse things are likely to explode." Alex said as he held it up.

"Twist the bottom." Dr. Slavic said. Alex raised an eyebrow but did as the Doc said. He unscrewed the bottom and watched as a canister fell into his hand. "This is a self cooled storage device, suitable for transporting chemical. Which also doubles up as an anti-perspirant. There is one for Ms. Windsor as well. But a feminine version."

Elissa walked around the room examining some of the vehicles being tested. "Nice bike." She said as she saw a motorcycle resting on a stand.

"Please don't touch it. It's a prototype." Dr. Slavic said hastily before Elissa could step towards it. Elissa raised her hands and backed away slowly.

"Mr. Rider, Ms. Windsor, follow me please." Ms. Frost pointed towards a door leading off the room. "Dr. Slavic will fill your bags with items you are familiar with. In the meantime we will get your clothes."

Elissa walked a little ahead of Alex, they followed Ms. Frost into ther room and were surrounded by glass wardrobes full of different disguises and undercover clothing.

"Ok Mr. Rider. Your clothes are as follows: shirt, cargo pants and walking boots. Your shirt has two inner compartments suitable for storing your weapons. Your walking boots have a concealed compartment on the sole of the boot. Your pants have belt loops that are strong enough to hold your weight. And all of your clothes are designed to keep your body temperature under control whilst you are in the desert. Please change immediately." Veronica Frost handed him his clothes and he proceeded into a changing room. "Now Elissa. Your clohtes are all the same but you have cargo shorts instead of trousers. If you'd proceed to get changed as I expect you will recieve confirmation for you to leave." Elissa nodded and entered the changing room next to Alex's.

A few minutes later the two emmerged wearing their gear. Both looked each other over before heading after Ms. Frost. "Right please take your backpacks. They are complete with everything you will need whilst you are in the Sahara. The elevator will take you to your jet. Your ETA is four hours. Once you arrive in Africa you will meet your correspondant Mr. Leslie he will give you your instructions from there on. Good luck." Ms. Frost gestured to the glass elevator on their right. The teens nodded to show they understood and headed towards the lift. Silence intoxicated the air in the elevator until they reached the jet on the roof.

"Who will take their place if they don't do it?" Dr. Slavic said as he watched the elevator rising.

"In this line of work Dr. Slavic there is no room for 'if'." Veronica Frost replied and left the room.

Back in the jet, Elissa and Alex were still sat in silence. The two were not making eye contact let alone starting conversation, instead silence filled the cabin. "ETA one hour." The intercom crackled into life. A co-pilot enetered the cabin and handed them two parachutes.

"In forty-five minutes approximately the door will open and when this light turns green you will be given the go ahead to jump. As soon as you leave the craft you will land on the outskirts of the desert and meet your correspondant, Gracy's base is located somewhere in the heart. However, we don't know where exactly. We have the coordinates of a five mile radius but we are uncertain of the precise location of the headquarters." The co-pilot handed them each the coordinates and then proceeded back into the cockpit.

Elissa and Alex both stared out of the open door and waited for the green light. They heard someone callling from the cockpit. "3, 2, 1...GO!"

Alex leapt out of the plane ahead of Elissa and a few moments later she followed suit. They waited until they were at the correct height beofre releasing the chute, the two were dragged back up a little before they began to descend at a constant speed.

Alex still falling ahead of Elissa looked down and guided himself so that he had a good landing spot. As the gorund started drawing closer Alex positioned himself ready for landing, as soon as his feet hit the gorund he ran forwrad a little and un-clipped his parachute. He heard a crack behind and looked around to see Elissa's parachute in a palm tree. He could hear her cursing and walked over to help. "Of the few trees in the Sahara desert I just had to get stuck in one!" Elissa growled and continued her cursing.

"Do you need some help?" Alex said as he stood underneath her.

"It's fine!" She snapped. "The bimbo can take care of herself!" Elissa reached up and unclipped herself from the parachute. She flipped in mid air and landed on the sand with a thud. "Let's go." She said as she shrugged off the parachute case and wlaked a little way ahead.

"Look I'm sorry about what I said!" Alex called after her.

"Good for you." Elissa retorted.

"So is that a 'I'll forgive you'?" Alex asked.

"No it's a 'I'll think about forgiving you'!" Elissa replied.

Alex shook his head. "Girls." He muttered under his breath as he jogged a little to catch up with Elissa.

"Where are we meeting this Mr. Leslie?" Elissa said as they approached a road.

"No idea. But I'm sure Leslie's transportation might be able to give us a clue." Alex pointed over Elissa's shoulder to a small building with a wooden sign on the entrance.

"Let's go then."

Alex placed a hand on a bell on the reception counter. A small man came running out from a backroom at the soft tinkling noise. "Good Day! Welcome to Leslie's transportation where we cater for travelling needs-"

"Do you have a car that will be sufficient for a large agency." Alex interrupted.

"Mr. Rider, Ms. Windsor?" Leslie said nervously.

"That's us." Elissa replied.

"Please follow me. We must talk in private." Leslie gestured for them to enter the backroom. The pair walked through to see that this was no ordinary roadside shack, in the backroom was a small selection of some of the gadgets from MI6. "I take it you require your mission details."

"You are correct." Alex answered.

"Right. Here are your booking cards for the hotel in the city. Reed Gracy is reported to have been staying in the hotel across the street from your. Your window has a clear view of his hotel room. Also he has reservations at a restaraunt in the city centre to meet with the business company who are funding his scheme." Leslie handed them both the books and then he handed Elissa and Alex a bag each.

"Why have I got a bellydancing costume in here?" Elissa asked as she held it out in front of her.

"MI6 said that you were going to be the distraction whilst Alex gains any information needed. His disguise is in his bag." Leslie answered.

"A waitor?" Alex didn't sound impressed. "Why not a boss for a crime family who is willing to pay more than the company for his weapon?"

"Hey! What are you complaining about? I'll happily trade with you. Then you can go strut your stuff in front of a restaraunt of people." Elissa jumped in.

"MI6 wanted you to do the show as you have a history of dancing." Leslie interrupted.

"I knew that there was a downside of six years of dance classes." Elissa grumbled.