Here I am again. Well, I'm not abandoning ship yet but I have no idea where this is going or if it will ever end so, just stick with me. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I'm really bad about getting back to people who review unless they have a blatant question that I can answer without giving away some of the story but I appreciate them so much! They are what keep me going. Hint hint.
Okay, so on with the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own AR in any way shape or form but if someone remotely like him is out there I call dibs.
Chapter 6
Wolf was jogging to his next class when he spotted Fox in a deserted hallway motioning for him to follow. The two men walked briskly through the pristinely white hallways, their steps echoing with each footfall. Other recruits passed without as much as a glance in their direction, making it easy for them to remain inconspicuous as they formulated a way to extract Cub.
"What happened yesterday? Grant told the guys at lunch about a boy strapped in the arcade room." Wolf glimpsed anger in his friend's eyes before once again watching the floor. Fox started to answer but paused as two men passed by them, too engaged in their conversation to notice them.
"Yassen was experimenting with the virtual lab in an effort to 'train' Alex in micro expressions and body language. He was there for more than the prescribed time." Wolf knew that Fox was extremely protective when it came to this kid and could hear the concern laced in his words. But they could not dwell on what was being done if they were to ever have a chance at breaking him out of the compound.
"We have to focus, here. Are there any ways out of the compound that we could sneak him away in the night? Any underground sewage drains or passages? There has to be something." Wolf felt the frustration rise, especially since their first attempt to save Alex had resulted in a planned recapture. Obviously, Sarov and Yassen knew Alex's tricks.
"He is under guard at all times; the only time he is not is in the lab with me or in his rooms that are completely airtight. The only thing would be to slip him something in my lab but that is risky and Yassen is smart enough to find it. If that happens then my cover is blown." His feet propelled him down the hallway with Wolf on his left, trying to think amongst the multitude of thoughts bombarding his mind. He slowed, causing Wolf to glance over in confusion. "What if," he began, "he was with the recruits? If I told Gregorovich that Alex needs to be around other people or he is going to snap, there might be a chance for the unit to have contact, maybe even be a training partner for him."
Wolf grinned his signature smirk. "Well, done, doctor, I think we have a plan."
ARARARARARARAR
Yassen strode into the dimly lit library, his meeting with Sarov completely unexpected. Alex was not completely broken yet and he was not to give another report until the next day. Alex would come to their side; it was inevitable. Between the constant isolation and his own continuous presence, Alex would soon wish to end his predicament.
Sarov sat sipping amber liquid from a glass goblet, his body turned to stare out onto the jagged mountain range. The rugged beauty was breathtaking but Yassen did not waste time on the view; he had a teenager to break.
"You wished to speak to me?" The bleak tone bespoke his dislike of this impromptu meeting.
"Yes," the man said simply, receiving a glare from the other man. He was not here to play games and wanted nothing more than to get this over with.
"And," prompted the assassin, his voice betraying his annoyance.
"Alex's specialist would like for us to incorporate the boy into the training of the other recruits. I wanted to propose his suggestion to you, his exact words being 'he will snap if he is kept away from other people much longer.'" The man swirled his drink, still facing the window.
"Are you ordering me to go along with his proposition? Because if not, I have business that needs my attention." Yassen turned to walk out the door when Sarov's voice stopped him.
"The leak might come to light if he were allowed contact." They both knew of the potential of MI6 or other agencies planting operatives in their compound and had suspected various members of such activities. If Alex knew anyone in the compound….
"They might try to help him escape," warned Yassen though he knew their attempts would be in vain. Alex would be the best operative they ever trained, just like his father. There was no way that he would allow some rival agents to escape with Alex. It was virtually impossible anyway.
"You might help him escape for all I know," countered Sarov, turning to glance at Yassen. "The point isn't if he tries to escape; we know with this new freedom he will do anything he can to leave. But finding any holes in our ranks and leading Alex to believe there is a chance at escape could be the break we need." Sarov placed his glass on the large mahogany desk before turning fully to look Yassen in the eyes. "You are his trainer; you decide what you do with the boy. But if he has a breakdown or becomes somehow useless to me and my cause, you will be to blame." With that, the director of SCORPIA stole from the room, leaving Yassen to ponder his choices.
The man knew he could still keep an eye on his charge should he choose to allow him contact with other recruits. Besides, he could calibrate a new watch and be Alex's shadow. Despite his unease with this new strategy, he knew it could lead to any contacts Alex knew within the compound. Yes, the risk was definitely worth it.
ARARARARARAR
Alex strode from his quarters with a stoic Yassen following, the new watch on his arm tight. He had been told he was eating in the mess, completely surprising Alex. But he had no idea if this was a trap or if having human contact just fit the assassin's whim. He had already been briefed that he was to answer to Alex but was not to reveal his last name. He was to keep him mouth shut unless answering a question but even then he was to avoid any personal inquiries. Yassen did not want him to let the group know that he had been kidnapped, tortured, and forced to train in the compound, though Alex doubted the men would care. They were training to be killers.
There could be other reasons that he was being integrated into the normal routine but Alex had no time to ponder as he was prodded down the hallway. Neither spoke for a time, though Alex itched to question the motives for the sudden change in heart. One moment he was a secret, the next, he was rubbing elbows with the recruits.
After a few more moments of silence, Alex turned to glance back at the assassin. "Why are you doing this?"
One eyebrow rose with the question but he said nothing. To illustrate that he wanted answers, Alex stopped walking and faced the man squarely. "Why?"
"Why what, Alex? Why you were brought here? You already know the answer. Why you are being trained? Again, the answer is not a secret. Why am I training you? That is," he paused searching for the words but seemed to find none, "none of your business."
He motioned for Alex to continue, but the teen just stood there, glaring hotly at the man in front of him. "Why are you letting me train with the recruits, Yassen? It certainly wasn't your idea."
"You are right." Alex blinked, surprised. "Your specialist took his concerns to Sarov about contact with other trainees and he in turn passed them on."
"So you are saying that there is no hidden meaning, no reasons besides my health?" Dubious as he was, Alex could find no traces of lying in Yassen's face, though the man did make it a habit of lying convincingly to people.
"I think you will find, Alex, that when you are given a gift, it is rude to question its intent."
"In my world, it is never harmful to question the intentions of others," Alex retorted, realizing now, that there had to be another reason for Yassen's new angle of training. Deciding that eating with the trainees might be a trap of some kind, Alex drug his feet as Yassen propelled him down the hallway once more. "I'm not very hungry."
"I would not pass on a meal, Alex. It tends to weaken ones resolve."
"I want to go back to my room," Alex persisted.
"No," was the man's only response.
They continued on in silence until they came to two wide double doors. Deafening noise was Alex's indication that they had arrived, try as he might to turn around. Yassen had a death grip on his arm, removing any thoughts of turning back. He had to face this.
"The trays are to your left." Yassen let go of his arm and made no move to enter into the noisy environment.
"Aren't you coming?" asked Alex. He had not necessarily liked the assassin's constant presence but he felt safe compared to what he was about to do on his own.
"Are you not tired of my company?" the assassin asked, his knowing look saving Alex from answering.
Grumbling angrily, Alex took a tray and made his way through the line behind a burly man. He was at least a foot taller than the teen and had to weigh at least 250 pounds of pure muscle. Alex had no intention of starting trouble with anyone but he did not think that the man would be the ally he was looking for. Taking a glance at the door he had entered in, he spied Yassen resting against the frame, completely relaxed and not going anywhere. Sighing, Alex shuffled in line as it moved closer to the front.
Jostled from behind, Alex turned to stare into the recruit's eyes who had found him in the simulator room.
"Turn around and act like you didn't see me." Alex did as he was told, unknowing of what would happen next. A few moments later, he heard the man's voice again, close to his ear. "My name is Grant. Don't turn around, just keep walking. You were the one in the chair, weren't you?" Alex nodded slightly, having a feeling the trainee behind him was trying to save him from Yassen and was not a threat; at least not yet.
"Yassen has taken a special interest in you. He usually only interacts with the recruits during various simulations and to calibrate tests for us." The voice paused as if in thought. "How old are you, kid?"
"Sixteen." Alex had tried to speak quietly enough not to draw looks but also allow the man to hear him. It seemed he did as the man went on.
"You sign up for this or something?"
Alex was not sure how to respond, especially with Yassen so close by and having the uncanny ability to find out when Alex has done something against his rules. But the man did not seem like one who would run to Yassen with his betrayal, though Alex could tell he was afraid of the assassin. His voice held a note of awe and fear when he had spoken of him.
Obviously Alex did not answer quickly enough because Grant continued. "Are you his son?"
Alex momentarily forgot himself as he turned to scowl at Grant. "No, I am-"
"Hello, Grant, may I step in here?" Yassen's cold voice penetrated both their awareness's, as the man slipped in between Grant and Alex. Whispering for Alex's ears only, Yassen's calm demeanor dropped. "Obviously I cannot leave you alone for very long, Alex." Subtle but throbbing pain erupted up his arm, not enough to cause him to cry out but enough to make him uncomfortable. "You have one more chance and then you go back to being isolated."
Fighting against the pain Alex glared at him. "I wasn't doing anything-"
"Before you lie further, I want to remind you that I can read lips." He purposely did not mention the listening device he had implanted in Alex's new watch as well.
The fierceness of his glare did not lessen but instead grew in intensity, but Alex did not continue on in his ruse. Yassen knew him too well to think he would just choose to not tell Grant about himself when he had a chance at making an ally. Alex couldn't blame Yassen for doing his job irritatingly well.
ARARARARARAR
Dinner was uneventful due to Yassen's presence at his side. No one around them would even look at him twice, the icy countenance of the assassin keeping their jokes at bay. He was by far the youngest one there and the only one who looked like he had run through a thorn patch and fallen continuously on his face. He knew that the sparring with Yassen had left marks but by the looks he received, it was worse than he had thought.
The trainees split into teams after dinner, Alex joined with delta team made up of six rough looking men per Yassen's instructions. They were all over 230 pounds of muscle, their clean jaws and cold eyes making them more than a little intimidating. He was forced to walk to their first class surrounded by them, one arm held by what seemed to be the unquestioned leader. The group itself was not unsettling as much as one particular group member. His dark eyes and features gave him a dangerous look though he was the slightest of them all. And Alex knew him by Wolf.
He never received a glance or a nod in way that the man recognized him but there was no doubt that Wolf was on this team. Somehow, that gave him some hope though what the man could do surrounded by five burly men just as large and dangerous as himself was relatively nothing. At least Yassen had deserted him to take care of what Alex presumed to be important business; that in itself gave him courage. But for Yassen to leave him alone with these men, they must have been forewarned and threatened, making them all, except Wolf, completely oblivious to Alex's plight.
They arrived at an unassuming door, the wood grain dull with years of use. One of the men opened the door, the man currently holding Alex's arm never losing his grip. Where Alex found himself at first made his heart leap with expectation but was dashed cruelly as he noticed it was not as it seemed. Grass flattened under his feet, the men pulling him into what appeared to be a large clearing. With further inspection however, it was real grass and trees but the ceiling was painted; it was an indoor room. Majestic mountains mocked the beauty outside the compound and the forests seemed to lack the life that thrived so abundantly outside these walls. It was a cruel deed, Yassen choosing for Alex to visit a room that appeared to offer freedom but yet turned out to be a joke.
Once the door was remotely shut, the man holding him released his arm. The rest of the men circled him, appraising him with cold eyes.
"We were told we would be escorting a brat to our classes from now on. We have real code names, not crap like yours," he growled, pointing at the back of Alex's shirt. "If you earn it, we will give you a name but for now you will be called Runt. I am Zeus, you don't need to know their names. You most likely won't be here long enough to have the guts to use them." He smiled, but it was more of a dangerous warning, no friendliness coming from his person. The men all seemed to take their cues from him, looking at Alex like he was nothing but trouble. None were as formidable as Wolf, though.
The group walked towards a tanned muscled man in the middle of the clearing, various boxes littering the ground beside him. Upon closer inspection, Alex realized that is was Eagle. He tried to keep the surprise from showing on his face, as Eagle had, and stared intently at his own shoes to keep from giving away his emotions.
"What do we have here, boys? A new lacky who thinks he can make it as an assassin?"
"He's our new runt," said Zeus, his eyes giving away his displeasure with this assignment.
"Well I hope our runt likes explosions," stated Eagle, a sadistic smile on his face.
"I'm sure he will adjust." The men's smiles grew, though Alex noted their expressions did not speak well of his fate. With that, Zeus stepped towards Eagle, discussing the drill today while the rest of the team either looked conspicuously away from Alex or leveled him with cold eyes. Finally, Wolf broke the tense silence.
"C'mon boys, we have work to do."
Wow, that was not my best work by a long shot…not much action at all. I'm not going to focus on training but more on his development in attitude and in the recreational aspects. Well, I hope you all liked it though it has been a long time coming. Please review and tell me what you want in the story. I have a few ideas but nothing substantial for the long run or even the next chapter. So, on that note….
Cailiean44