Disclaimer: No I don't own him.
CHAPTER 9: The Key Word is Attempt
Jensen Collins was in a bad fix. He stood head bowed as Mackdun Hacker took out his anger on the room around him. Then he turned to Collins.
"You idiot! How! How did you get caught? It was simple! Just keep me posted on the whereabouts of Mackenzie Adams and Alex Rider!"
Jensen shook.
"I'm sorry sir. It wasn't purposefully done," he said, his voice trembling in fear, showing the coward he really was.
"You better hope on your life it wasn't purposefully done!"
"Sir, I-."
Mackdun Hacker struck him across the face. "Shut up!" he roared.
Jensen shut up.
Mackdun Hacker closed his eyes for a second. Then he opened them and smiled. Inwardly, Jensen shuddered. It was the smile of and evil man.
"You can redeem yourself Collins. All you have to do is one little thing," Mackdun grinned.
Mackenzie POV
"What's so bad about having me come along? I'm just going to be there."
"Exactly! You'll be there! You'll probably get killed and blow our whole mission."
"I will not! You're so negative!" I growled.
It was three days since Crawley came to us. We've been at it for hours. I think I've heard every excuse in the world on why I shouldn't be going.
"And it's not like your opinion matters anyway. You have to take orders from the higher ups," I said smugly.
Alex glared at me.
"Get up," he said suddenly.
I stared at him.
"What?" I eased back a bit into my chair.
"Get up!" He opened the door of the barrack and headed outside. After a moment hesitation, I followed. What is this guy up to?
Soldiers glared at me as I walked by. Feeling conspicuous in my sling and the scratches over my face (I did comb my hair and change my clothes, thank you very much), I scurried after Alex.
"Where are we going?" I hissed. He ignored me. I huffed. What a self-centered, cocky little-.
I gave a little squeak. He just entered the sergeant's office. I've never met the sergeant, but I've heard he's horrible. I reached out to grab Alex's shirt, but it was too late. He entered the sergeant's room without knocking. I gave another squeak and then entered, making sure I was directly behind him.
He was a medium sized man, the sergeant was. He was stocky and well-muscled with a hard, glaring face.
"What's up Sargent? Did you miss me?" Alex grinned.
The sergeant glared.
"I tried my hardest to make sure I wouldn't have to see your bratty face again. I can see I've failed."
"Eh. Well. It happens to everyone," Alex smiled.
I wanted to yell at him. Why was he being so rude?
Suddenly, Alex changed his stance and stood straight with his arms at his sides, staring straight ahead. I gaped.
"Sir. Permission to go to the shooting range and the combat ground with Ms. Adams, Sir? I would like to attempt to teach her to shoot and fight. I probably won't succeed Sir, seeing as we only have a few days. But I ask nevertheless."
The sergeant studied him.
"Why should I grant this request?"
"With all due respect Sir, you probably will never see Ms. Adams again. With this attempt at training, hopefully it will be because there's no need of it. Not because she's dead."
The sergeant studied Alex again and then he turned to me.
I stayed as still as possible and was going to look everywhere but at his face but thought better of it and looked him in the eyes. The room was silent and I held my breath.
"Permission granted Cub," he said.
Alex grinned at him and went back to his sarcastic self. He bowed and said, "I thank thee my good sir," and walked out. I stood still for a second and then realized I was alone with the sergeant. I ran out in a hurry.
"Teach me how to shoot! As in a gun?" I shrieked at him.
"Attempt. The key word is attempt. I doubt you'll learn, but hey. It's worth a try," he said nonchalantly.
I glared at him. "My arm is in a sling with a bullet hole you idiot."
"It's been three days, your arm can use some exercise."
I glared again, but stopped, when I realized we neared the shooting range. I just got shot, why would I want to shoot a gun?
"Alex…" I whispered.
"What."
"I really don't want to," I said quietly.
He stopped and turned to me.
"Nothing can happen to you here," he said quietly. "And trust me if anyone says a word I will unleash my wrath," he gave me a half smile. My stomach gave a little flutter feeling, but I pushed it aside. Alex was a jerk and there is and will never be any feelings there.
He cocked an eyebrow at my staring and I blushed.
"So are we going or not?" I growled. He rolled his eyes and walked on.
There were wolf whistles along with curses and insults thrown at us as we walked by the men. I wished I could hide, but what can I do. I kept my head up and a glare on my face. Alex chuckled beside me. I huffed and then took a step nearer to Alex when a man stepped in front of us, glaring.
"Well, well, well boys. I see we have us a couple of new recruits," he said mockingly. The men laughed.
"You know what we do to new recruits don't you?" he said to us.
Alex yawned. A giggle escaped from my mouth.
The man's face turned red. He wasn't much of a man anyway. Sure he had some muscles but he didn't look very experienced and was only about 20 years old or so.
"You think you're funny, ay?" he yelled.
"You know, you're wasting my time. Can you just move?" Alex asked him, politely.
"Who do you think you are coming in this camp like you own the place? You and your little girlfriend. I bet-"
"Oh shut up," I said.
His mouth opened slightly.
"What did you just say to me little girl?" He took a step forward, but so did Alex.
"Oh ho! What'cha gonna do little boy?"
Alex laughed right in his face. "You really don't know who you're dealing with do you?"
Some of the men laughed, probably the ones who knew who Alex was.
Angry, the guy swung his fist. Alex shook his head and with two rapid blows, the man was on the ground moaning in pain, holding his jaw and his stomach.
Alex sighed and we walked on.
"So are you going to teach me how to do that?"
He gave me a look. "Are you serious? Even if I did teach you, you couldn't do it. Hopefully you won't get near enough to anyone to even attempt it."
I scowled. What a moron.
Alex POV
I chuckled inwardly. Mackenzie really didn't like my sarcasm. I grabbed a MC51 assault rifle and handed it to Mackenzie.
"Don't worry it's not loaded. I'm not that stupid."
"Ok… What do I do," she said. I groaned. Why did I offer to do this? I'm not a very patient person. I sighed and showed her how to hold it. I also, showed her how to remove the percussion cap, cock the trigger and shoot.* Well, I didn't let her shoot. When she mastered that I took it from her and set it down.
"That's it?" she asked.
"That's it for the rifle," I said to her. "You're not going to shoot it anyway. It was just a precaution."
She glared at me.
"Don't give me that look." I picked up a Sig P228. It was lighter, easier to shoot, and for close quarters, which is what she, hopefully, won't need.
"I'm going to teach you how to use this. It's a Sig P228. It's for close quarters."
Some men had gathered around to watch and I sighed inwardly. There were bound to be questions.
"Just watch ok? Watch how I hold the gun." I cocked the trigger. Mackenzie flinched.
I looked at the targets, closed my eyes for a brief second and then opened them to shoot the bullets in a rapid succession.
There was silence as they stared at the targets. My bullets had hit the middle of every one.
Mackenzie's voice broke through the silence.
"You want me to do that? You gotta be kidding me."
* I don't know much about guns and how to use them and what not. Sorry if the little info that is there is wrong. I only know the names because I looked it up.
Lol. Sorry everyone. I know this chapter sucked. And it was a horrible place to end. = [
I'll do better next time I promise. I didn't reread this one. Let me know if there are any grammar mistakes.
Reviews are loved.
