Another chapter's up. Aiming for 5000 words total in the next one. Let me know what you think.
Warnings: Contains a little swearing in Russian (written with English characters to match the Russian Sounds). Nothing too bad.
Disclaimer: Don't own diddly. Or Alex Rider.
"K-Unit, you have a lecture to attend," the Sergeant called.
Wolf gave a terse nod before looking to the new members. "We'll talk as we go," he told them. Mikhail nodded and he and Dimitri started to follow Wolf. "We're K-Unit, and while you're staying here you're part of the unit. I'm Wolf, that's Cub, Snake, Fox, and Eagle," Wolf explained, gesticulating to each of them respectively. Mikhail nodded again.
"Wow, your parents must be loaded to send you here in a helicopter," Eagle said. K-Unit turned their attention to the brothers. The change was so slight you had to look to see it, but Mikhail tensed a little and his eyes flickered questioningly to his brother.
"You have not read our files?" He asked in surprise.
"They said we didn't have clearance," Fox said and Wolf gave an irritable huff.
"We have no parents," Mikhail said quietly. "Dimitri and I do well with our work."
"No bloody way you're telling me that two kids are so well off they can afford to just take a helicopter," Eagle muttered. Mikhail shrugged.
"Well, it's the truth," he replied tersely. Alex frowned. He thought that he'd heard a slight accent when the man was talking before, but when Mikhail became frustrated the accent was more pronounced. It was a familiar accent, but Alex couldn't place it. The unit reached the lecture hall in silence and filed in, just a few minutes too late. The instructor, Crocodile, glared at the unit, but mostly at the two new additions.
"It's a poor matter to be late on your first day," he said with a sneer. "Since you seem so confident that my class is not important, why don't you two new unit members come to the front and introduce yourself." His words were not a question but an order.
Mikhail glanced at Wolf. Wolf gave a helpless shrug and with that the two brothers walked to the front of the room.
"Tell us your name and favorite type of gun," Crocodile said. Mikhail gave Crocodile a long look then shrugged.
"I am Mikhail. My weapon of choice is the AK-47," Mikhail said with a cold smile to Crocodile. Dimitri stepped forward.
"Dimitri. Gyurza, model seven."
Alex frowned. It was not a make he was familiar with, but apparently the other men knew. Many looked at Dimitri with amusement and skeptical glances, but Crocodile looked outright angry.
"Don't sound so damn cocky, kid. Just because we don't teach about gyurzas until the end of the year. You probably never fired a gun in your life. If you're good enough to know what gun you like, why don't you tell us what you know about it."
"Why's he being so nasty?" Alex wondered aloud. Fox chuckled.
"Gyurzas are famously good guns. Model sevens aren't made anymore, but they do a lot of damage. Cost a fortune to buy, and are so rare you can't rent them."
"Well kid?" Crocodile asked.
Dimitri glanced cooly and Crocodile and opened his mouth.
"He shouldn't try to bluff his way through this," Fox said. "Always better to admit ignorance than piss of an instructor."
"He won't be bluffing." K-unit jumped when they heard Mikhail's low voice behind them. They exchanged uneasy expressions for none of them had heard him approach.
"What do you mean?" Wolf demanded.
"He's knows his stuff," Mikhail said with a non committal shrug. "Just watch."
"The Gyurza is a double action pistol. I prefer the caliber 9x21 mm with an overall length of 195 mm. These pistols weigh about 1180g when loaded and have an effective range of 200 meters with a velocity of 420 m/s. The magazine capacity is 18 rounds," Dimitri rattled off quickly.
"That all you got, kid?" Crocodile asked. Instead of answering the question Dimitri kept talking.
"This gun was originally made to meet the Russian Army requirements, and to achieve the needed characteristics the SP-10 (9x21) cartridge was developed with steel core bullets. Slight changes were made and the model seven, my personal favorite, was recently designed as a newer model of the SPS, Samozaryadnyj Pistolet Serdjukova-Serdyukov Self-loading pistol, but is still referred to by its original name "gyurza." It's a short locked breech pistol and my favorite model is made from steel. It is the choice weapon of top organizations but outlawed as an official government weapon. Most common in Russia, famous killings with the Gyurza include Saint James II, Pope Ferdinand III, and several presidents. Would you like me to continue?" Dimitri asked. Crocodile scowled at him.
"No, but I think I'll let you answer any questions the men have. Questions?" He barked.
"What makes this gun differ from others ones to make it such a clear favorite of yours?" One man asked. Dimitri sighed.
"The bullets, while expensive, have excellent bullet penetration. They're a guaranteed hit through over 30 layers of Kevlar from 100 meters. The model seven is small and compact that it makes executing a job with subtlety very easy."
"What kind of job are you talking about?" A man asked. Dimitri frowned.
"Not the kind you must worry over," he replied cooly. "Any other questions?"
"Have you ever shot one?" Bear, the shooting trainer asked. Dimitri nodded and turned to Crocodile.
"I believe that is all the questions," he said as he returned to K-unit and sat down next to Mikhail.
"Don't think this excuses being late," Crocodile said. "You and your unit are going to do an extra hour of exercises at the shooting range for tardiness."
"Mudak," Mikhail muttered with a scowl. "Sookin syn."
Dimitri gave a noncommittal nod but Mikhail wasn't done. They were going to the cabin for a short break and Mikhail was still ranting. After adding a few more swear words he let out a sigh.
"Should've just pulled a Yassen and broke his nose," he said. Alex stopped walking and Mikhail bumped into him.
"You okay, kid?" Mikhail asked.
"Yassen Gregorovitch?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, so?"
"How the hell do you know him?" Eagle asked in surprise. "What business do kids have with an assassin?"
"Be quiet Eagle," Alex snapped. "How well do you know him?"
"We are quite familiar," Mikhail said hesitantly.
"Were quite familiar," Alex corrected. Mikhail gave him a strange look.
"Last I heard he was still alive and killin."
"Yeah, well things changed. When did you last hear from him?" Alex asked, remembering the fateful day before his Scorpia mission when Yassen was shot.
"When did I last hear from him?" Mikhail asked with a chuckle. "I think you should be asking yourself that question. Dimitri and I just talked to him this morning before we got on the plane from Russia."
AN: The information on the Gyurza is all real except the model seven, which is a version I made up. I did feel really sketchy googling "best pistols" and visiting a bunch of gun websites. Apparently COD is a pretty good indicator of weapon strength because the Desert Eagle was quite common...
Reviews please!