Okay! Two chapters in one day! That's what happens when you have a day off from school and absolutely nothing to do. I don't really think i have anything else to say. this was more of a filler chapter then any real plot chapter, but i hope it came out well. I liked it...

Sooooo...DISCLAIMER TIME!!

Disclaimer: Well, basically, I'm Anthony Horowitz, so I do in fact own Alex Rider. (psst. In case you didn't get that, it was sarcasm wink wink)

Alex plodded down the marble stairs of the bank toward his bike. He felt the weight of the gadgets bouncing against his back. It had gotten a bit darker since Alex had last been outside. The sun was just beginning to set below the buildings and houses, and the air felt cooler against his skin. Alex looked around the city streets, now bereft of its people; all hustle and bustle put to a halt for the day. A sudden wind blew the red and brown leaves across Alex's path, a shiver ran up his back as he could smell the tell-tale scent of fall.

Just as Alex was about to flip up his kickstand, his mobile began to sing its recognizable song. He reached into his pocket, pulled it out, and flipped it open.

"Hello?"

"Alex!"

"Hey Tom." Alex smiled

"I was wondering if you wanted to come play football with me in the park. It's usually empty by now. Everyone's in eating dinner"

"Actually Tom," Alex muttered hesitantly, "I'm just about to leave work." He knew Tom would understand what he meant by 'work'.

"Really?" Tom asked, surprised, "For what? You never go there unless it's right before or right after one of your… jobs." He picked his words carefully. "But… wait; it's not either right now, is it? If it was right after, then you'd have been missing for the past few weeks, but if it was before then I wouldn't be talking to you. They'd have already sent you off to some distant, unheard of, remote little island; the bastards."

"Ummm…" Alex decided on how much to tell.

I suppose I could just tell him everything. After all, it involves him this time… sort of. He was just looking for excuses to tell Tom, and he knew it. And if he knows, then he could help me report anything suspicious… Umm... and… He could… He could… I can't think of anything else… Oh well.

"Alex?! Hey! Earth to Alex!" Tom's voice over the phone broke Alex from his muse. "Come on, mate, come back to reality, we miss you here."

"Oh, I missed you too, Tom. Kisses!" Alex retorted sarcastically.

"Funny, mate, funny. So what's the deal? You up for some football? Or are you on a jet plane headed for the Falkland Islands?"

"Ha ha. I'll tell you all about it after we kick the ball around. I'll meet you at the park in a bit. I've got to get home and check in with Jack first. And probably eat something, so say an hour?"

"Sounds good mate." Tom said happily. "See you in an hour!"

"Yeah, see you. Bye Tom." And Alex folded his phone shut, jamming it back into the confines of his pocket. He flipped his foot up; pushing the kickstand of his bike off the ground, and hopped onto the bike seat.

"Here we go again…" he mumbled to himself. And so he pushed his bicycle pedals forward and rode home against the wind.

--

"Jack?" Alex called, closing the front door behind him. "Jack, I'm home."

"Is that you Alex?" Jack called back from somewhere deeper in the house.

"Probably." Alex remarked sarcastically, walking into the kitchen to find his guardian washing dishes.

"Ha ha. Where'd you go anyway?"Jack asked, turning of the sink, and picking up a towel. She dried her hands and there it back onto the counter, leaning against the island in the center of the room.

"Ummm…" Alex hesitated. "I was… I was at work."

"Oh God." Jack sighed. She collapsed into the stool to her left and dropped her head into her hands. "What is it this time?" she looked up at him expectantly. "Where are they sending you now Alex?"

"About that… They're not really sending me anywhere. I'm ordered to stay here. The thing is- now don't freak out Jack-"

"Alex I've heard enough of the things you do to not freak out anymore, so spill."

"They think Scorpia's going to attack my school." No beating around the bush with this boy.

"They think WHAT?!" Jack jumped out of her chair and slammed the table.

"You said you wouldn't freak!"

"Alex! They're going to attack your school!!"

"Good call Jack. Thanks for letting me know."

"Oh, don't you get smart with me now."

"Just calm down, Jack. Everything will be fine. I promise." Alex reassured sincerely.

"You don't know that. Something could go terribly horribly wrong. What have they got, anyway? Are they sending people in? Like, maybe send a bunch of guys in as teachers or something. Are they closing the school down until this is all blown over?"

"No. And no, and no. They're just sending me. I've got some gadgets and something to call for backup if I need it."

"Are they serious?! Do you really think this is a good idea Alex?" Jack glared.

"To be honest, I'm not sure what to think. For one thing, I almost could have seen this coming. I knew they'd try something, I just didn't know what it was. I certainly didn't think they'd do anything to my school. But on the other hand, I don't really have to do anything crazy this time… Depending on how you want to use the word crazy that is. But what I mean by that is that I don't have to go undercover this time. I get to stay me, Alex, and I get to keep going to school and all. I don't have to put my life on halt for this is what I'm saying I guess."

"Well if that's how you feel about it, then…" Jack sighed again and rolled her eyes. "I don't know. Alex, I just don't know."

"Don't worry Jack. Just keep living like we normally would. You don't even have to think about it." Alex stated. He said it half because it was actually what they needed to do and half to calm down Jack. He wasn't sure what he dreaded more: Having Jack worry while he went away on mission, or dragging her in to one. They both seemed about even right then.

"Okay… Okay Alex. I'm going to go and let this sink in for a while. Maybe take a bath. You okay to get dinner for yourself?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. If I'm not here when you come back downstairs, I'm still at the park with Tom. We're going to play some football for a while. I'll have my mobile." He assured, opening the fridge to see what he had to work with.

"Okay. Have fun I guess. I'll see you later tonight. Be careful" She smiled warily and started towards the stairs.

"Okay Jack!" Alex called back to her across the house. "I will be!" He closed the refrigerator door, various vegetables taking the space in his hands.

"As if I'd be careless when I was out a night with my defenseless friend while a terrorist organization was out to kill me." He mumbled to no one in particular jokingly. Alex threw the contents of his arms onto the island in the middle of the kitchen, and began chopping them up to begin his chicken stir fry over brown rice.

So you want to know why Alex's dinner plans were pretty specific? Cause I'm hungry, that's why. And chicken stir fry over brown rice and steamed vegetables sounds delish right about now... Even though I'm a vegetarian. That's how hungry I am.

I believe Tom's going to be a big part of this story. He'll be with Alex a lot. Thoughts on that? Anyone? Reviewing is the perfect way to let me know!

Seriously. There were like six hundred something hits and thirteen reviews or something. I work off of reviews. They fuel me to keep going. Those and brownies... I work off of brownies too... Point is: I promise I will never ever become one of those people that abandons a story right in the middle of it; but I also will write better, sooner, and more enthusiastically ifi know people like what i'm writing. Or if they don't like what I'm writing. Just so long as i'm getting some thoughts.

My god, I am the worlds worst rambler. Sooo. Please review. And I'm sorry by the way if this whole thing under the line sounds really bratty, but I'm getting cranky cause I'm hungry.

Thanks to all readers, now I've gotta go!

P.S.- If anyone can come up with a better chapter title, that'd be cool.