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Disclaimer: Don't own anything you recognize.
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Alex was bored as hell. There was no other way to put it, he simply was. MI6 had sent him here to crack the Triads right? Crack it with someone he didn't particularly trust. Awesome. Except she could be sleeping with the leader of the Triads. Which would make everything way more complicated.
So. MI6 instructions, gather enough information to send to us, we'll move in and arrest them, and try not to get killed. Not to be pessimistic or anything. He heard Kristen get back, and he knocked on her door again.
"Yeah?" she asked, opening it.
"What did you talk to the leader of the Triads about?" Alex asked, stepping in.
Kristen shrugged. "A lot. Not that you would care."
"Well I do care, seeing as it's the only thing we can talk about. What did you tell him?"
"Alex that's private."
"I'm private. I'm not even supposed to be here."
"Stop guilt tripping me."
"You owe me."
"No I don't. Don't you have a girlfriend you can be calling or worrying about right now?" she asked, shuffling some things away.
Something flashed in his eyes.
"So you do?" she asked shrewdly.
"Well, not exactly a girlfriend…" he said, thinking about Sabina.
"Yes well stop anno-" she broke off as her phone rang. Fuck!
Alex's eyes narrowed.
"Hello?" she said into the phone.
Sure as hell, Shen was the caller. "I have an idea."
"Then please say it, because I'm probably going to get ripped apart anyways."
"Get Alex Rider on the phone."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
Kristen shrugged and gave Alex the phone, shooting a glare at him as she did so.
"Hello?" Alex asked. "Who is this?"
"You may not like it, but it's Shen. I think Kristen's talked about me. Well, I have a plan, and since you work for MI6 it's perfect."
"Go on." He was getting slightly annoyed at everything he had to do.
"There's a ball at the second in command's hotel. Of course, he's the one with the lists of everyone in the Triads and their next operations. The ball is this Saturday." Today was Tuesday.
"And?"
"I, and Kristen need to be at the Ball. It leaves you to break into Feng's hotel room, steal the papers and scarper."
"And why are you doing that, if you're the leader of the Triads?"
"Because the Triads is simply business. I'm not going to throw my life away for it, like my father did." Shen's voice was neutral.
"I see."
"Maybe you don't. Anyways, you two had better come to my place tomorrow-Kristen will show you where it is-so we can work out the finer details. Alright?"
"Yeah."
"Then bye. And tell Kristen to keep her head on her," Shen said, a hint of humor in his voice.
"I will," Alex said, and shut the phone.
"And what was he talking to you about?" Kristen asked, staring at the ceiling from on her bed.
Alex shrugged. "Stealing Feng's papers."
Her head jerked up. "WHAT?!"
And so, Alex began the difficult task of relaying everything Shen had told him without sounding like he was crazy.
"So…I have to…wear a dress?!" Kristen looked horrified.
Alex snorted. "You can work for the Triads, walk into a room full of dangerous men with weapons, and be scared of wearing a dress?!"
"I hate dresses!!!"
"You'll have to wear one anyways, because they won't let you in without. Shen said he'll get a stylist and make up artist."
Kristen moaned. "Augh."
"Hey, you and Shen will have to look pretty and dance at the Ball. I have to cut through security and steal his papers."
Kristen looked very much as if she'd rather do that. "I can do that!"
"Yes, well, I don't look Asian and I will definetly NOT wear a dress!"
"Yeah, I know," she sighed.
"It won't be that bad," he said, trying to cheer her up.
"Yeah. I guess."
--
Two days later, Alex was decked out in a t-shirt too big for him, baggy jeans and a baseball cap that was turned sideways. All he needed was some bling and he'd be as good as gangsta, Kristen thought. Hah! Alex, gangster. Too funny.
He scowled. "Why do I have to dress like this again?"
"Because. Then you'll blen--…you'll be disguised."
"You were about to say blend in."
"Yeah, but then I realized that most people in China aren't in gangs."
He didn't reply, just followed her, scowling as he went.
--
A few minutes later, they were standing in front of Shen's apartment building. The receptionist barely glanced up as they took the elevator to the highest floor.
"He likes his suites huh?" Alex muttered.
Kristen shrugged. "When you have the ability to get the best, you would wouldn't you?"
"True."
Kristen rolled her eyes and knocked on Shen's door. He answered it and let them both in. Kristen could feel him scanning Alex up and down.
"Ok. So, are you two with me?" he asked casually.
"On destroying the Triads, of which you are leader of?" Alex said casually.
She rolled her eyes. "Alex, he's not actually leader. More like Fegghead's puppet."
"Fegghead?" Alex asked while Shen snorted.
"Inside joke," Shen said wryly.
Alex raised an eyebrow before asking, "So what's the plan?"
"Kristen and I, are going to the Ball, dance a bit, eat and listen to Feng talk about useless things like the newest model of guns and our recruit stats. But we can also sneak you in. Although it involves you dyeing your hair and eyebrows black."
"If I must," Alex said defeated. "Go on."
"We can sneak you in because of course, the guards trust the both of us and you can be a bellboy. There's going to be quite a few of maintenance men working on security. It'll be down for ten minutes, exactly the time they need to upgrade the system, and the time when you can sneak into Feng's suite. You'll go up in the elevator after the men. It's on the very top floor; penthouse suite."
"That seems to be common," Alex noted.
Shen smiled thinly. "You'll see why. It's the safest for…us. Then you'll go into his room with this card," Shen produced a thin room key. "It's the master key for all rooms. I swiped it from the cleaning ladies a few weeks back." He gave it to Alex.
"This is why I need to stay close to you. Without me you go crazy. Pick-pocketing!" Kristen muttered.
Alex rolled his eyes and asked Shen to continue.
"Then, in the living room where you'll enter, to the left there is a bookcase. Pull out the volume, War and PeaceBehind it, there going to be an extremely thin number pad, about half an inch wide. The number you need to punch in is '113'. After that, a card key slot will appear to the bottom of it. Insert the room key, and a safe will pop up. Dial 13, 13, 13. It'll open and then take the papers, close everything, and make sure they are the same as when you came," Shen stressed.
"Got it." Alex wasn't looking forward to this.
Shen rummaged around in his desk. "Then you'll have to put these pieces of papers in. Otherwise, the alarm would go off in half an hour, since the Triads never take more than one document out at a time."
"Then afterwards, come down. We'll be near the elevator, and we'll leave with you. And…that's the plan." Shen ended.
Kristen turned this all over in her mind.
"It's good," Alex said finally. "But is it foolproof?"
Shen grinned. "No. But what's the risk—where's the fun then?"
Kristen rolled her eyes again. "You're such a retard,' she laughed.
Alex couldn't help a small chuckle.
"Is that it?" Kristen asked, serious for a second.
"No. Umm I think you'll want to see your dress," Shen smirked.
"Where is it?" Kristen asked warily.
"In my room."
"Goddammit Shen it better not be something sluts wear!!" she bolted into his room.
"Wait for it…" Shen muttered.
Alex grinned. "Why does she hate…being a girl so much?"
"No she just hates dresses…'cause they almost killed her once," Shen said with a straight face.
"How?" Alex asked.
"Well, long story, but basically she almost fell down the extremely tall staircase because she tripped on the hem."
"SHEN! WHO PICKED THIS OUT?!" Kristen's voice could be heard.
He grinned. "At least she didn't swear," and went into his room. Alex followed.
The bathroom door was closed. Shen went over and said, "Kristen! Open the door, I want to see it!" he grinned.
"Damn you to hell," was heard in a muffled voice as the door opened.
She was wearing a strapless black dress that fell to just above her ankles. Kristen scowled and kept pulling the dress up. Shen grinned.
"OK I've worn it, we know how I'll look like, are we done?" she asked.
"It's a good thing you don't wear dresses otherwise I'd have my hands full on keeping you single," Shen smirked.
Kristen just closed the door and changed. Alex wondered if she'd ever dated before.
When she got back out, in jeans and a t-shirt, she said, "So. Plan's done. We'll see you in two days?" she asked Shen.
"Yeah. In two days. Try not to get killed," he flashed a look at Kristen that made her roll her eyes.
"Will do," she answered as they left the building.
Alex stayed silent, running through the plan again and again. They reached MI6's hotel and went up to their rooms without a problem.
"So, what are we doing tomorrow?" Kristen asked casually.
Alex shrugged. "Prepping?" The afternoon sun's rays were magnified through the window, causing the room to be brightly lit.
"Yeah I guess." They didn't say much after that; although they wouldn't admit it, they were both nervous as hell.
Alex said he would be in his room and Kristen nodded. Leaving, he wondered what could, and what would happen in two days.
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Wow I got a review!! Sorry guys but this is my hardest story to write so I'd really appreciate constructive criticism.
Review Reply:
SheWeapon1: Hello! Thanks for reviewing, and yes it did lift my spirits! This is a really hard fic to write so I'd love it if people reviewed more. I just figured out what 'stats' are and I was really surprised when I saw how many people alerted/favorited this!! Again, thanks for reviewing and hope you like this chapter!!