Chapter Six: The Past

Yassen walked at a brisk pace to the center of the camp where a big brick building stood. Alex quickened his pace, but still trailed a bit behind Yassen. He was busy looking at the new surroundings around him. They were walking on a nicely paved street lined with several sturdy houses. People lounged about, looking very relaxed. A few glanced at him, but didn't seem overly surprised that a teenage boy had walked into their midst.

Alex frowned. Perhaps they had known I was coming, he thought to himself. Or maybe they had been watching me all along. A few people waved to him. He awkwardly waved back. Were these people even part of Shadow?

He looked into the distance beyond the brick headquarters. It was familiar. The training compound looked similar to Brecon Beacons and the one on Malagosto. Familiarity was good. Too much of his life had been one surprise after another.

A bit unnerved, Alex sped up to catch up with the assassin. Yassen glanced amusedly at Alex. Gradually they reached the brick building and both of them went inside. Cold, air-conditioned air wafted over him. It felt nice after the walk under the hot sun and humid air outside. The inside of the building was decorated elegantly. The floor was gleaming marble as well as the counters at the receptionist desk. Fancy chandeliers hung from the ceiling.

The receptionist nodded at Yassen and said, "Welcome back Cossack. Oh and you have brought a guest."

Yassen replied, "Thank you. Yes, this is Azrael, my new ward. Is Hamid available?"

The lady tapped something into the computer and gave a cursory nod back and headed deeper into the builder with Alex hot on his heels.

"Who is Hamid?" asked Alex as their steps echoed down the empty hallway.

"He's the one who will make you disappear," anwered Yassen.

Alex thought wryly, sounds like they're going to kill me or something. Make me disappear literally. He wouldn't put it past them. However, he reckoned that wouldn't have gone to all that trouble to save him first if they were going to kill him.

Alex followed Yassen into a sophisticated office. The room was cluttered with papers and photos littered the floor. In the midst of this midst sat a middle-aged man. He looked to be about the same age as his principle at Brooklands was. The man had tight brown curls against his head and his skin was a healthy dark brown. Hamid was concentrating heavily on a advance computer sitting in front of him. His hands made quick deft strokes on the touch screen of the computer. Yassen gave a quiet cough.

The man looked up from his work and saw Yassen. His lips turned up into a slight smile.

"Cossack! What a pleasure!" said Hamid jovially. Alex decided Hamid at first glance reminded him of Smithers. Ah, poor Smithers, thought Alex morosely, I would miss the old chap. One of the few which actually seemed to care about my wellbeing.

Yassen stuck out his hand and shook Hamid's firmly. It was clear that they were good friends. Meanwhile Alex stood in the shadows near the door.

Yassen said to Hamid, "It looks like you are doing pretty well here. How's business?"

"Wonderful. I've had two orders from these rich Japanese businessmen. They wanted the full package," answered Hamid, his eyes sparkling. "But I know you. You don't just come visit me for fun often. What can I do for you today?"

Yassen gave a chuckle and gestured behind him. Hamid peered around Yassen and caught sight of Alex.

"Oh, your son?" asked Hamid innocently. Alex stiffened. Yassen's son? Did they look that much alike? Alex pulled on the fringe of his blond hair, restlessly.

Likewise, Yassen visibly tensed. He answered a bit cooly than before, "No, he's my new ward. Azrael."

Hamid had a knowing look in his eyes. His eyes flickered over Alex's features. Then his eyes widened.

"Is he…?" asked Hamid in a hushed voice. Alex snorted quietly to himself. Was he what? They were talking about him like he wasn't there. He crossed his arms. Yassen noticing his mutinous look told him to go wait outside. He said he had something private to discuss with this Hamid. Alex reluctantly complied.

Once outside, he pressed his ears to the door in a effort to listen in. He grumbled. It was futile, the door was obviously built so that eavesdroppers couldn't hear anything going on inside.

Alex paced in the corrider restlessly. His eyes landed on the opposite wall. The words SHADOW covered the whole wall. A small plaque was underneath the shining silver words. Curious, he went over and examined the bronze plaque. It held a quote from the Odyssey, "A hunter of shadows, himself a shade." Underneath the quote was a dedication, 'To those who have passed on into the shadows'.

"They are all dead now, you know," said a feminine voice behind him. Startled, Alex spun around, almost falling into a combat stance. He hadn't heard the woman approach at all. However, the woman behind was not startled at all at his violent reaction. It was as if this was a common occurrence to her. Her almond shaped brown eyes looked at him kindly.

She swung her straight black hair over her shoulder and continued to say, "The six of them who founded Shadow. Nobody really speak their real names. Just their code ones, Senka, Hunter, Ammon, Darnell, Ophion, Winter."

Alex's mind was in such a haze that he almost didn't catch the woman's next words. The name Hunter reverberated in his mind. It sounded familiar. Where had he heard it before? He was sure that he had heard it before, but where? He racked his brain.

"…..they embodied our aims. Their legacy lives on," said the woman, almost to herself. "SHADOW."

A door clicked nearby. Alex saw Yassen exiting Hamid's room. He noticed Alex standing next to the organization name and walked over.

"Fenghuang," said Yassen to the woman. She nodded back politely.

"Looks just like his father," said Fenghuang offhandly. Alex stared at her.

"You knew my father?" he asked in a disbelieving tone.

"Not personally, but everyone knows his name here. After all, he was one of the founding six," said the woman.

Alex's mouth opened in a 'o' of surprise. Wow today had been full of suprises. He had just been shot at, killed a man, rescued by a formally dead assassin, only to be brought to an organization his father had help found. He was reeling in shock. No wonder people looked at him strangely. They all probably thought he was his father come back from the dead since he was told he looked like his father.

Yassen sighed and said to Alex, "Well, I was hoping to tell you about Hunter later, in private."

"Tell him later? He would have found out sooner than that," said Fenghuang.

Alex rubbed his neck nervously. These people, these strangers, probably knew all about him. Every detail. Heck they have probably been watching him all his life. It was kind of creepy. Alex cleared his throat noisily.

Yassen ignored Fenghuang and looked back at Alex and said, "We should be heading to our quarters now. It has been a long day."

Yassen gave an odd look to the pretty Asian woman and departed.

Without another word, Yassen led Alex back out the brick headquarters and onto the street. Alex could feel Fenghuang's gaze boring into the back of his head as they walked away.

While walking, Alex asked Yassen, "So who is she, really?"

Yassen answered simply, "She's like me."

Soon they stopped in front of a small Victorian styled house. It looked like it came from a picture book with its neat little white picket fence and flowers underneath every window. In fact, the innocent appearence of the whole town belied its hidden nature.

Yassen inserted the key and turned the handle. Both men disappeared into the shadows.

AN: There you have it. I'm introducing a couple of new characters, but I still don't have that much of a major role for Hamid or Fenghuang yet. I'm still thinking. Finally, Alex gets some rest now though. He's had quite a long day. Umm…not much to say on this chapter. If you are wondering why I'm still not updating so fast, it's because I've been mainly reading Harry Potter fanfics at the moment. Hahahaha. Thank you all for you lovely reviews, keep it up! I hope to reach 100 reviews by the next chappie. *crosses fingers*

P.S. A huge thanks to 'I hate purple gorillas' for suggesting the wonderful SHADOW acronym idea to me. Thanks!