Heya everyone! Okay, so I promise there is action in this one. I'm sorry for the preliminary and somewhat boring intro but I had to set the scene. Alex and K-Unit are in this one and YASSEN! I don't know if he will be Yassen-y but I tried. Anyway, on to the story.
And PLEASE, PLEASE review! I'm new at this and it lets me see what you guys are thinking and how to improve.
Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider but if he came to my school, I would date him.
Chapter 3-
An hour had passed, but gray was striving not to fidget, not knowing if she should leave and come back. She didn't even know why she was here!
Inevitably someone would come for her, right? She imagined the grey man sitting amongst mounds of paper, not even knowing she was in the building, and most importantly, not caring.
She had just started on a mission with James Bond recovering priceless secrets from a German military base when the double doors opened electronically, providing a view of a sparsely furnished office. Windows were only found on the opposite wall form the doorway channeling light to the desk's occupant; the man in grey. Two chairs sat facing the great mahogany contraption, nothing covering the surface but a laptop and a pen holder. Gray could only stare as she continued sitting on the bench.
"Come in," beckoned the man a little too congenially. He obviously knew who she was and that she had lied but he did not scold or yell at her, surprisingly enough. Gray forced herself to move as she made her way across the wide expanse to the desk. The man motioned for her to sit down and waited until she had complied to proceed.
"My name is Alan Blunt. I want to formally thank you for saving my life."
"I…uh….it was an accident of sorts…," she fumbled, not sure what was expected of her.
The man moved on as if attempts on his life meant nothing. "On to business." Blunt looked at her pointedly, assessing her, and making her uncomfortable under his scrutiny. Finally, he spoke. "What is your name, young lady?" His eyes warned her not to lie.
"You're not a banker, are you?"
He seemed to be taken aback by her question, not expecting her to not answer his past question. A mask of indifference quickly covered his face. "What makes you say that?" He grinned inwardly, congratulating himself on a job so easy. She was perfect.
"First of all, your office is too clean. There are no files to review, no phone besides a cell phone, and everything is too showy. Banks don't have antiques and famous paintings just lying around. Secondly-"
"You've made your point. Now, about your name?" He of course already knew what it was and had reviewed her file Mrs. Jones had acquired for him. It was just a test.
She looked suspiciously at him, her senses on alert and buzzing from tension. She didn't know this man. Knew nothing about him. And yet she had waltzed into his office like she owned the place and was in a very sticky predicament because of her stupidity. She didn't even tell anyone where she would be in case she didn't come home. Well, who would she have told…
Gray's thoughts were interrupted by the man's soft cough, an indication that she should answer the question. She thought about lying but decided the truth would be better….hopefully. "Trawson. Graylei Trawson. " Gray figured if he was a threat he wouldn't have bothered with all the small talk.
"Are you seventeen?" Why was he asking?
"No, but if you want to know about me, you can go get my file from the foster care people. It's all there." She didn't mean to be disrespectful, but she wanted to know why she was allowed in here.
The doors slid open and an older woman walked through carrying a large file. Her two piece dress suit was a navy blue, her brown hair twisted into a severe bun. Her face was business with a hint of kindness. Gray figured her to be around fifty. She laid the file on the desk in front of Mr. Blunt. She then sat in the other chair, taking a peppermint from her pocket to suck on.
"So Miss Trawson, you are sixteen with no living relatives?" He flipped absently through the file which seemed to contain Gray's information. But how?
"No." It didn't hurt anymore; she couldn't let it.
The man seemed to ponder something. After a few moments, he turned back to Gray. His next question took her completely off guard. "What do you think I do?" Gray looked questioningly at Blunt who sat back, awaiting her theories. She went back over everything she had seen, the unworried expression after almost being killed, all of the security in excess even for a bank, the office devoid of, well work. Some professions came to mind, most illegal and all highly unlikely. No one job stuck out as fitting to the clues.
"Do you flirt with the law or outlandishly mock it?"
"Politely said, but the answer is no." He waited a moment. "Do you give up?"
"The only other half decent theory is a spy, but that can't be true-" She stopped abruptly as Blunt, not one to show emotion, lifted his eyebrows in momentary shock before his stoic expression returned. "No way," Gray said, having noted his response. "NOWAY!"
"Miss Trawson, no matter the books you've read nor the movies you've watched, they cannot compare to the real job."
"So you admit it?" Her gaze was excited yet she had regained control after her brief outburst.
"Do I need to affirm your hypothesis?"
"Well, it would make me feel better."
"Very, well. I am Mr. Alan Blunt of the British special operations for MI6. Our sister agencies control different situations in relation to the UK. And you are going to help us."
"What? Um, sir, I can't tell you how amazing it is that you are a spy but I think you are mistaken if you think I can help. I can't, um, well, I've never, I don't-"
"You will help us." His grey eyes stared unwaveringly at Gray, her heart banging annoyingly in her ears. This was no longer a game. He was serious; and she had to get out.
Alan Blunt knew she would bolt even before she had decided, her doe like eyes showing how innocent she was. She didn't fit in this world and yet she was perfect. For some reasons unknown to even him, she had to work with Alex. He had seen her blunder when she had saved his life, saw the curiosity alight in her eyes. She had a presence that could be useful in a fix; and might even bring the real Alex Rider back from the dead.
He made a quick phone call to his agents to apprehend Gray.
ARARARARARAR
Opting for the stairs instead of the lift, Gray cringed with every echoing footfall down the winding stairs. She silently patted herself on the back for the pain she had put herself through by riding her bike everywhere. After arriving on the second floor, Gary stopped, her breathing level easily going back to normal, heart thrumming in her ears with adrenaline. If she wasn't so scared, she would have laughed at her situation; running from spies! How she had dreamed of an adventure. Now one was in her lap and all she wanted to do was go home. How fickle she was!
Stepping cautiously onto the second floor landing, she located the lift and stepped casually up to the doors, noting the two cameras with views of the hallway and the lift. The ping of the doors opening gave Gray small relief but she was almost there. She figured since she had descended the stairs originally they would be combing the stairwells and not the lifts. She just hoped she was right.
The lift reached the ground floor as the doors behind her were opening to reveal a dull beige hallway. Berating herself for not seeing the alternate doors of the lift she had taken, she instantly scanned the lifeless hallway for any movement. Nothing. Little did she know those doors had opened by command.
Thinking a back way out might be to her advantage, she padded silently forward. She passed a high backed chair alongside a long narrow side table supporting a vase of synthetic pink flowers.
A man stepped out of an alcove a few paces in front of her. Her thoughts scrambled for something to defend herself and thought of one of the table legs. No time for that. The man was cautiously creeping forward but did not foresee a threat. The only other answer was the chair. She wanted a few more seconds, a few more steps- and reached for the chair, swinging it back behind her head with both arms, hoping to faze him enough to stop his advances.
A dull thud and a sharp intake of breath could be heard from behind her. Taken completely off guard, Gray turned and threw the chair behind her at the sight of another man lying on the floor, holding a bloody nose. She failed to register the grunt of surprise made from the first MI6 agent, for that was who they were, as he caught the chair in the chest.
Not knowing what to do, Gary knelt beside the young man on the floor when the first agent caught hold of her arms, pulling her up to stand as more men approached. Two men took her place by the wounded agent as one man walked purposefully towards her. She struggled viciously against her captor and almost wriggled free when the new agent pulled out a long tube. He proceeded to remove the rounded top to reveal a needle. The man gripped her arm and then she felt nothing.
ARARARARARAR
"What?! Are you freakn' kidding me?"
"Calm down, Wolf. It isn't that big of a deal. Think of it like when Cub was assigned to us a few years back," Fox faced Wolf, un-intimidated by his glares and infamous temper.
"Girls are NOT allowed in the SAS! I'm not going to be in charge of a wimpy, snooty, pampered girl!" His face was a deep shade of red and he clenched and unclenched his fists in frustration. How could MI6 do this to him? To his unit? Not only would they be the laughing stock in the compound, but HE was in charge of the little brat!
"Wolf, this is for Cub. It is to keep him safe from SCORPIA or to help him get to Sarov," said Snake, the peacemaker in the unit.
"Yeah," Eagle cut in. "It will be fun, like torturing a new recruit." He smiled with memories of 'fun' times they put some of the new recruits through.
"No, it can't be like that. She is not to be bullied like the boys but we aren't to baby her. None of your tricks, Eagle." Fox had been elected by the commander general to brief K-Unit as to what the protocol was.
"Anyway, Cub is responsible for her not you," said Fox to Wolf. "It'll be a piece of cake."
ARARARARARAR
Yassen Gregorovich had no time to lose. Having no firm allegiance, he had found that after his near death experience, money was no longer important. He had followed Alex Rider's movements after his recuperation in a SCORPIA funded hospital, explaining to himself it was his duty to John Rider, one of the only men he had ever allowed himself to care about. Even after he had surmised that John was not who he seemed, his respect could not be swayed. When he had met his son, Alex, he had felt an unquestionable bond and felt he needed to look after him as a sort of guardian.
He also had a duty to Sarov.
He picked his way through the subway station, careful of any cameras that could identify him. Not that he had to worry. To everyone outside of SCORPIA and a few MI6 agents, he was dead. Nothing could aid him more in his situation.
He had to get to Alex. He couldn't let SCORPIA get their hands on him. No matter the friendship with Sarov, if Hanrich gained control of Alex, people would call for his blood for all the trouble he had caused. The organization was just getting back to its feet after years of rebuilding. Hanrich wouldn't kill Alex out of his ties to Sarov. No, but he would make his life miserable until Alex was handed over. Who knew, he might just make the boy disappear. Yassen just knew that Sarov had contacted him for one purpose; stop SCORPIA from getting to him.
Reports had shown that Alex had been lying low the last two years training with the SAS, becoming the most dangerous weapon. It was virtually impossible to breech the Welsh forests, but Yassen loved a challenge. He would not fail.
He strode calmly to the surface, London society still buzzing with activity at nine o'clock. The night sky was masked by grey clouds that threatened to release their burden on the city. He walked brusquely to the bus station catching the last one out for the day….to the Welsh countryside.
He would not fail.
ARARARARARAR
Her body was numb as her eyes fluttered open. She was met by white. White walls, white carpet, white ceiling. White. It was enough to intensify the headache that left her gasping in pain. She found herself lying on a single bed with white hospital sheets, the pillow smelling of too much sanitation. Two doors were possible exits and she took stock of how her body had faired her first brawl. The muscles that were not numb were taunt with pain, causing Gary to grimace. She decided to test herself with finding a bathroom to see if she looked as bad as she felt.
The first door was to her left and indeed led to the loo. She ran cold water over her face, relishing the feel of relief it brought. Striding into the room she had found herself, she saw a table with a bag resting on top and a chair folded clothes as well. The bag contained toiletries for her to use in the bathroom. The change of clothes was also welcome. She quickly placed the chair in front of the door before hurrying to the restroom.
She took her time in the warm shower, allowing the mist to ease the tense muscles in her body. She didn't know where she was but had a feeling it had to do with MI6 and Alan Blunt.
Twenty minutes later, Gray walked into the dull room, refreshed and apprehensive. What those men did was a federal offense not to mention dishonorable. But not knowing why is what concerned her the most.
Gray tried to door that should have led to freedom but a lock prevented escape. Was it ever that easy?
She settled down to wait but did not wait long when the dark haired woman from Mr. Blunt's office strode in, bringing the scent of peppermint in her wake.
"Hello, Graylei. My name is Mrs. Jones. Did Mr. Blunt brief you? I suppose not or you wouldn't still be here," she said more to herself than to Gray.
Gray couldn't help it; the door was open and plots for escape formed uncontrollably in her mind. Mrs. Jones was speaking of a plane and place called the Brecon Beacons in Wales but she wasn't really listening. Mrs. Jones moved far enough away from the doorway for a clean escape and Gray took it, cutting the woman off mid-sentence.
She rushed past to the open door and…ran directly into a large, rock solid object; it was a guard. He caught her arm easily and held it painfully as Mrs. Jones walked out, mildly upset.
"I truly am sorry, but Mr. Blunt will not change his mind. Please just hear me out. It will help so much if you know what is going on." Her voice almost sounded motherly, a sad smile on her lips. But Gray wasn't buying it.
"I'm being held against my will! I don't want to listen nor do I care what you have to say. I just want to go home." Gray stared beseechingly at the woman, forcing Tulip Jones to look away.
"I'm so sorry, dear. It can't be stopped now. Alex will have to fill you in." With that, she walked away.
Her guard moved to place her back in her room but became distracted with a radio call. Gray's struggles intensified until she was free. But only for a moment. A hand snaked around her middle, confining both arms to her sides.
"Stop struggling or I will be forced to bind you." The man's deep voice made her shiver but she couldn't give up. She would not go willingly.
She kicked backwards with all of her strength, finding the man's knee. He grunted in pain and placed her feet on the ground. Deftly turning her to face him, he produced a zip-tie to bind her hands in front of her.
"I have orders to bring you to the jet, but if you cause any more trouble, I have permission to knock you out." He pointed to a case in his belt that must have contained another needle. There was no hope for escape if she was unconscious so she nodded meekly and bid her time.
Through the twists and turns of a myriad of hallways, they finally approached a metal door with no marking or window. The man prodded Gray forward gently and she walked stiffly through the door.
Men scurried around seemingly aimlessly and a large jet consumed most of the hangar space. Steps led to the beast and there beside them stood Mr. Alan Blunt.
There is chapter 3. I'm trying to speed it up but it is really hard. It will start to be more actiony (if that's a word) hopefully in the next chapters. But please please review. It makes my day and helps me to know if it is a dud or not. Thanks.
Cailiean44