Hey! I'm extremely sorry for the long time I've made all of you wait for the next installment of Operation: Rider 2. Life as been very busy— I'm sure all of you know what I mean. Hopefully you'll like this one and the ones following. Please review and tell me what you think. I'm really looking forward to inputs from all of you to help me make my story better. EEEnjoy :-)

-ZaneLover0511

Chapter 14- Mental Training

By the end of the day, Alex was the new owner of a brand new self-laoding Ruder .22 model k10/22-T gun. What he didn't know was that this was the same gun that had been used to shoot Alex twenty-something years earlier.. But that didn't matter. He was prepared and that's all he needed.

Hayden had just gotten her contacts and was learning how to use them. She was really starting to hit it off with Smithers. Their gregarious personalities truly matched.

According to Steve Maisson and the other training staff, Hayden was in great shape. Alex told himself that it was a genetic thing— and it probably was. Hayden told herself that it was the continuous back-flips that had given her the muscles. Either way, Hayden was ready and in perfect condition, too.

Sabina had also just called. Alex was sure he could hear the disappointment in her voice when Alex told her about how well Hayden was doing. One part of Sabina wanted to congratulate her daughter on her small learning curve—but she was a mother, and, as a mother, she could not support her daughter becoming a spy.

After the major feast dinner, everybody went over to the meeting room to learn more about the plan. Once everyone settled down, Alan Blunt took control—as expected—"From today's tests and training, we know that Hayden has the physical ability and is ready, to some extent, on that part. Now, we're going to make sure you don't have the same problem that your father did—we want to make sure you have the mental ability. Hayden—let me ask you a question: How do you feel about shooting?"

"Non-living objects wouldn't be that bad, I guess, but people—I don't think I could do that. It's not like I've ever picked up a gun and shot random things to see what it feels like. The closest I've ever got is water guns." Hayden was getting the idea as to where this meeting was going to go. She was going to start her shooting class soon and this was like the pre-course. The preparation course. She was pretty sure that MI6 was going to bring in random people and make her aim at them—so she was okay.

"I understand that but you have to realize one thing—Scorpia is going to make sure you can shoot people, and quite naturally, too. Every criminal organization wants a teenage assassin, so they will send you out to kill. We will take care of that situation if it arises but we need someone to go out there and feed us with information. Sending a man is the most obvious thing we can do and it's not and option at this stage of the game. We want to know every one of their actions—you can call it a live report. Scorpia is definitely working on something big now. All you need to do is give us clues to figure that out, follow—or pretend to follow—every one of Scorpia's plans, and play along."

Hayden was starting to get a lot more confident now that Blunt was putting everything blatantly. This whole deal wasn't seeming so big anymore. She really didn't know why her father was so bugged up about all of this when it was so easy.

Tom now took control. He knew about Blunt and how ruthless he could be. Tom wasn't like that he wanted Hayden to trust him. Anyway, it wasn't Blunt that Hayden was going to be working with while spying. "Hayden, whatever happens, you need to trust us and that's all I ask. If it all becomes too much for you, that's okay too. If anything goes wrong, just make sure you tell me or your father right away. Time is precious here, and trust is too."

"Of course I trust you. The shooting part is kind of scaring me now but from what I hear you say, I won't really have to shoot people. That's okay then. I don't see any reason why any of this should go wrong." Hayden was being overconfident and she knew it—but she couldn't help herself. Overconfident was how she felt.

Almost as if he read her mind, Tom replied—"I know, but things could go wrong anytime and we just want you to be prepared. That's all."

Hayden laughed. Unfortunately, no one else found the situation funny—"So much for making me feel better! The point is that now I know who to come for if I need help at anytime. I'm ready."

"Great, Hayden." While Alan Blunt talked, Alex couldn't help but notice how he had changed through the years. I mean, he actually complimented! Alex remembered how patronizing Blunt became when he came to see Alex in his house at New York . He kept trying to mollify Alex with his sweet talk on how amazing Alex was. Alex's sarcasm probably got him to stop. "Alex, are you okay with the methods of communication Mrs. Jones and Smithers worked out? It's involving contact lenses, am I right?" Without allowing any time for reply, Blunt went on—"Smithers never fails and I'm sure it'll turn out fine."

Alex was getting bored and it was late. Hayden was getting drowsy as well, and he just wanted to break off the meeting and leave as fast as possible. "It's all fine. As long as you all understand that I'll be inNew York where I have a life, and not here."

Mrs. Jones apparently had other plans for Alex.. "I'm sorry but I don't think that'll be the best choice. Think about it. You're a father and your daughter is going to be out there." She seemed a little sad while saying that and Alex couldn't help but remember how Mr. Blunt had once told him about her children. Weren't they taken away from her? It was sad. "It'll be difficult to track Hayden at all times from New York. We have all the proper equipment here to do that and you'll be in full control. We need you here at the island. And anyway, you'd be surprised at how normal life here at Tivoli could be."

"Sorry, but I don't thing being involved with MI6 could ever be normal. Anyway, Sabina and I can't relocate. We have jobs, if you didn't realize. Moving on a short notice is impossible. And even if it was possible, Sabina would resist."

Sadly, Sabina didn't mind moving at all. In fact, she was all for it. She was ready to do anything to keep closer to her daughter—even if it meant taking away from her life. Sabina and Hayden were always very close. Alex wanted Sabina to at least rent out the house before leaving—since mortgage was a killer in New York City , but Sabina insisted that there was no time. She really wanted to say bye to Hayden before she left, and that was soon. Renting a house was no easy task and realtors were a pain the ass.

Alex was also able to fax in an extended leave-of-absence application into his office and for Sabina, so that wasn't a big deal either. The whole process was very depressing and without telling each other, both of them hoped that whatever was going to happen in the near future would end fast. And happily.

The thing Alex had feared his entire life was now happening—he was working for MI6 again. He was employed and paid. Mrs. Jones was his boss and Mr. Blunt was his boss's boss. It was all logical—but not at the same time. Sabina was also employed by MI6. She was the nurse at the Tivoli Hospital. Both Riders had the very bad feeling that their lives were going to get rocky.

It was just a matter of time till Hayden was ready to leave Tivoli.

What'd you think? I've typed up about 4-5 chapters and I'm working on revisions so I'll probably get them up by Monday or Tuesday. Thanks.

-ZL0511