Hey guys, thanks for the reviews! Chapter 9 is here! I'm so sorry about how long this one has taken, but it was one of the hardest chapters to write, and it took a lot of thinking and a lot of proofreading and changing!

Plus, I've had sooooo many assignments and tests over the last two weeks that I'm surprised I had time to write at all! But I luv this story, it's so fun to do, so I'll admit I put off homework every hour and then!

Ok, enough excuses, just read and review!

Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider.

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"Hello, Alex Rider, long time no see."

***

Jack waited anxiously by the phone. The footage of Alex had reassured her that he wasn't dead, sure, but who knows where he was now! Her stomach rumbled, but she ignored it. Sabina had gone out to get some sort of lunch. Sabina hadn't wanted to leave, but grudgingly agreed eventually. She'd been gone for about half an hour, and would be back soon.

Jack jumped as the phone rang, and heart thumping wildly, she grabbed it and held it to her ear breathlessly.

"Hello?" Jack breathed.

Jack froze when no one replied, but heard unsteady, tired breathing on the other side of the line, and knew who it was.

"Alex, is that you!" Jack cried, just able to get the words out. There was another short moment of silence, to long for Jack, when he heard a quiet but controlled voice say;

"Yea, Jack, it's me."

Hearing his voice sent excitement through her, before she remembered the situation.

"ALEX!!!!! Oh my g… I thought you were dead, but then MI6 had video footage of you, and, oh, that wasn't enough, he could have been taking you anywhere to….Alex, we've been going crazy, where are you!" Suddenly, a horrible thought occurred to Jack. "Has he still got you!" She finished frantically before Alex's exasperated voice sounded through the line.

'JACK! Calm down at let me talk!"

Jack, knowing that he probably couldn't stay in one place for long no matter what his situation, shut up, taking a deep breathe but staying quiet.

"Good." Alex said, and he quickly and calmly began to explain in an almost emotionless voice. Jack suppressed a sigh, sometimes he reminded her of Ian, always in control, never losing it.

"I've escaped, but I can't stay here for long," Alex continued, "Scorpia or MI6 might be on their way, and…"

At this, Jack interrupted him. ""Wait, MI6? Don't you want them to find you?" Jack said in confusion. Sure, MI6 didn't give a rat's ass about Alex on missions, but when it came to his safety outside, well, they wouldn't want their precious toy to stop working, would they? Alex seemed to think differently.

He was silent, before Jack got her reply.

"No, Jack, I don't want them to find me. They can't protect me anymore, and with Scorpia after me I don't want to put anymore agents in danger. I'm safer on my own. I just called to tell you…that I'm ok, and that I'll miss you two."

Jack felt her heart swell in sadness. She probably wouldn't be seeing him for a while now, and Jack could barely stand the thought of him out on his own, alone and hunted. How did this happen? He's only fourteen.

"Alex, I really miss you, where are you going to go?" Jack barely got the words out, but did not question his decision. Alex was a spy; he knew what was best for him. Alex replied immediately, probably having already thought it through carefully.

"Until M16 can insure my safety, make some sort of agreement with Scorpia, I'll have to go solo. It won't be long, hopefully. Tell Sabina, that I really miss her, where is she, by the way?"

Jack heard something like hurt in his voice. He disguised it well, but even as a super spy he couldn't hide all his feeling from the woman who'd lived with him for almost nine years. She quickly reassured him.

"She's gone out to get some lunch. She didn't want to leave, and she said she wasn't hungry, but we've hardly slept since you were kidnapped. Alex, you have no idea how relieved and happy I am to hear from you. I've been waiting by the phone since then!" Jack said, almost proud of herself.

"Thankyou Jack, for caring so much about me, it's a bit rare in this business," Alex sighed sadly, "But don't worry about me, I'll be f…"

Alex's voice stopped dead, and it was silent apart from Alex's slightly faster breathing. Jack gripped the phone so hard her knuckles turned white, and felt her stomach roll when Alex's breathe caught in horror. Jack couldn't stand it.

"Alex? Alex! What's wrong! What's happening?" Jack cried, hardly able to breath.

There was another excruciating moment of silence before she heard Alex take a deep, steadying breathe.

"Jack, listen, call M16, tell them to trace this call, and that I need help right away." Alex whispered urgently, his voice calm and controlled, as always.

Jack knew she should have hung up and called for help straight away, but she couldn't help it. She knew what this might mean; Yassen Gregorovich had found him. Tears sprang to my eyes at the thought.

"Alex, what is it? Is it him?" Jack knew she didn't have to whisper, but she did anyway.

Alex replied quickly. "No, it's Scorpia."

Jack felt what little blood that was left in her face rush out. Which one was worse, weren't they both the same?

Alex continued talking. "Yassen isn't who I'm worried about, in fact he…never mind." Alex said quickly. Jack wanted to question him on that cryptic remark, but knew there was no time.

Alex's voice was slightly more urgent than before, obviously desperate to be away. "I need to leave, Jack, I'll call you when I'm ok, or when I can." He finished in a voice that was meant to be reassuring, but all Jack could think about was waiting by the phone sick with worry until she received a call to say 'oh, yea, I'm not dead.' Jack shuddered.

"Please, Alex, be ok, ok?" Jack pleaded desperately. On the other side of the line, Alex laughed, though it was strained.

"Sure, Jack, bye."

Jack held the phone to her, listing to the dial tone, feeling the horror rush over her. She didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. With that, reality hit her. She didn't hang up the phone, in case MI6 wouldn't be able to trace the number, and instead took out her mobile and dialled a very special number.

It rang once, before a calm woman's voice answered.

"Miss Starbright."

"Mrs. Jones!" Jack could hardly keep the panic out of her voice.

"What is it?" She said emotionlessly, but Jack could hear something like fear in her voice, or maybe Jack had just imagined it.

"It's Alex." Jack said with a small sob. She could hardly think straight, let alone get the words she knew she had to get out quickly.

"What has happened?" Mrs. Jones said, and this time Jack was sure she heard panic there.

Just then, Sabina came through the door with two bags in her hand, looking glum. She closed the door and when she saw Jack's face, all colour left hers and her mouth dropped open. Jack saw her, but couldn't think about Sabina right then.

"He just called me!" She replied to Mrs. Jones, words gushing out and she realised she was crying. "He's got away from Gregorovich, but as we were talking, he stopped suddenly and then told me that Scorpia had found him and he needed to go but to get you to his position right away…" Jack trailed off with another sob.

There was a small pause, and Mrs. Jones said quickly. "We're tracing the call as we speak, K Unit are leaving now, as well as another two stand by units; I will accompany them, and we'll try to get to Alex before…before he has to fight anyone off himself."

Jack knew she was humouring her. She meant before he was killed. Jack closed her eyes, and said in a shaky voice. "Hurry."

Jack listened again to the dial tone on her phone, and hung up both phones she'd used in the last five minutes. She turned to Sabina, whose face was deathly white, and she was shaking.

"Jack," she whispered, horror in her voice. "What do we do?"

Jack stared at her in defeat for a moment.

"We wait."

***

Alex stared at the man who was now only a few metres away. Alex sighed, pushing back the fear of being trapped in an alleyway with four strong Scorpia assassins and smirked, acting like he always did in these situations.

"Hey Walker, long time no see, though I can't say I'm glad to…at all." Alex sneered, turning sideways so that he could see all of his attackers clearly.

He'd trained with Walker, who had been with the CIA for 5 years before deciding he'd get more money by working for the other side. And what he said was true. He really didn't like being reminded of his time with Scorpia, and it was extremely unpleasant to see any of his fellow trainees after betraying them.

It wasn't like Walker had been unpleasant. He was probably about twenty-five now, but unlike the SAS didn't seem to feel any aversion to Alex because of his age, in fact none of them did. But still, at the back of his mind, he always knew that behind their smiles, there was the knowledge that if they had been asked to kill Alex as an assignment, none of them would have hesitated.

Walker's face was cold as he raised his eyebrows, and smiled. "And where is your protector? I'd never thought Yassen Gregorovich as a traitor, but when Alex Rider is involved, you never know, do you?"

Alex said nothing, waiting for the first attack, tensed and ready, glaring at the man.

"Not talkative today, Alex?" suddenly his eyes were blazing. "You turned against Scorpia! You betrayed us! I will enjoy killing you, and then I will find Mr. Gregorovich and do the same!"

You have a gun, don't show them until you have to, because they'll take out their guns and you won't stand a chance. Look hopeless, look like a child… Alex thought, slumping his shoulders as if he felt defeated by what Walker was saying.

Walker sneered. "Yes, Rider, you should be very afraid, because I won't just shoot you, we'll beat you to death. After everything we did for you…" Walker shook his head, almost regretfully.

Alex felt the first twinges of fear as Walker signalled for the three men behind him to attack. Alex turned towards them, playing the part and cowering in fear. The man closest grinned evilly and swung a punch. Alex was ready.

Alex blocked upwards with his right arm, grabbing and twisting the man's hand around quickly until he heard it snap. The assassin howled in pain, and Alex quickly brought his fist around to the side of his head. The henchman crumbled to the ground and lay still. One down, three bulky, Scorpia trained, gun carrying men to go.

The remaining two attacked at the same time, not underestimating him now, realising his 'quivering' was just an act. One of them grabbed his shirt with two hands whilst the other one threw a punch to his head. Alex ducked the punch with some effort whilst in the other agent's grasp and the man's fist connected with his 'friends' arm.

The man's grip tightened in pain, and in anger threw Alex with as much force as possible into the alley wall. Alex groaned in pain as his shoulder dislocated and the back of his head began to bleed.

Out of the corner of Alex's eye, Walker was looking on with confident amusement, though his eyes flickered in anger at the unconscious assassin on the ground.

Alex didn't spend time waiting for someone to fuss over his injuries, because he knew no one would. He immediately went back into action. The two men were charging forward, and Alex jumped as high as he could, using one leg for each of them and kicking towards their abdomen. Alex landed skilfully on his feet as they doubled over in pain. Using their momentary lapse in concentration, he spun round in moroshi geri, roundhouse kick, contacting with the neck of the left assassin. He gasped in surprise, and sank to his knees. Alex followed with a backhand punch to the face and he crumpled to the ground too.

The third man looked at Alex with new eyes, fear on his face. Walker was staring with wide eyes at two of Scorpia's most talented assassins on the ground, wondering how a boy had brought two of them down. He'd been told about Alex, about his missions, and he'd even seen how skilled he was when he trained with him. Yet he really didn't think that Rider could take down that many almost unscathed. His hand twitched towards his gun. But he stopped. He wanted the brat's death to be painful, and the remaining assassin was good, the boy was injured and if by some miracle he won, M16's top spy didn't have a gun, and he did. He would shoot him. He smirked, watching the last fight.

Alex tensed himself, switching to defence, as this assassin was much larger than the others. The momentary fear on the man's face was gone, replaced with ignorant confidence. The boy's reputation preceded him, but now he knew what to expect. He was in pain, and looked forward to killing the spy.

The assassin brought down his fist to the boy's head. Alex crossed his hands upwards, knowing they would bruise as they took the blow. The man immediately followed with a kick to the groin, but Alex jumped to the side and used a hook punch to try and knock him out. Alex realised as he blocked it easily with his hand that he was facing a martial arts master. Following the block, he punched Alex in the face and the young spy stumbled backwards, spitting out blood. Alex felt for any missing teeth with his tongue, but everything appeared intact.

The spy swallowed in fear, and took another step back, preparing himself for the next attack. It came very quickly; the man spun round and kicked Alex in the side. Alex doubled over, the wind knocked out of him, but didn't stop and ran forward in his crouch, contacting with all his strength to the man's stomach. He gasped, and Alex kneed him in the groin, not waiting for him to recover. The man howled in pain, falling to his knees.

Why Walker wasn't shooting him? The realization made him feel sick; even if he won, he'd just be shot. Some of the energy drained out of him at the thought, the situation was hopeless; but he couldn't give up, he had to keep going.

Alex was about to deliver a punch to his head when the man in fury brought out a knife and slashed it across his stomach. It would have gone right in if Alex hadn't jumped back at the last second, and luckily it wasn't too deep, but did start to bleed immediately. The assassin stabbed him again; annoyed he'd missed, in the shoulder. Alex cried out in horror and pain and stumbled back to the wall, sliding to the ground and clutching his stomach, which was still bleeding and looking at the knife in his shoulder, feeling sick.

The man was still crouched in pain, but with effort he stood up, pure fury and triumph on his face. Alex felt defeated; the pain was excruciating, and his hoodie was already soaked with blood, the wounds having already soaked through the shirt.

"Well, Alex, it seems you have lost." Walker laughed.

Alex ignored him, and turned back to his attacker. "What, thought you couldn't beat me without any weapons; cowardly, but understandable, seeing as how you were losing." Alex smirked at the assassin mockingly, raising his eyebrows, but his voice had been strained in pain. The assassin's face twisted in fury, and looked like he would have wanted to kill Alex right there and then, but instead he turned towards Walker for instructions.

Alex wouldn't wait for that to happen. Ignoring the men, he gasped in pain as he took out the knife, and stood up shakily, holding it in his hand. He lunged forward weakly, and taking the man who had stabbed him by surprise slashed him in the arm. Alex was aiming for the chest, but the assassin was quick and moved to the side, but couldn't avoid the attack completely. He howled in pain, and spun his fist into Alex's chest.

Alex yelled, and despite himself crumbled to the ground, dropping the knife and clutching his chest. The assassin picked him up by his hair, and smashed his face into the wall. Alex groaned and felt blood trickling down his face and his lip split open. Up against the wall, Alex kicked his right leg behind him and contacted with the man's leg.

In pain the man's grip loosened, and Alex brought his hands up to the sides of his face, spinning round and grabbing the man's hands at the same time, twisting them and tried to break them like he did the other agent.

But unexpectedly the assassin head butted him, and Alex stumbled back, clutching his face. Stars exploded in front of his eyes, and dark spots clouded his vision. He sunk to the ground, all the fight drained out of him in pain.

Even if he won this fight, Walker, who was enjoying the show, would shoot him. He couldn't win, Alex thought in despair. Yet suddenly, he remembered something that gave him new hope.

The assassins face was consorted with fury. He picked the knife off the ground, and plunged forward. Alex knew he was about to pass out, but allowed himself one small twitch of his finger. Yassen's gun fired once through the fabric of his shirt, and the assassin stopped. His eyes widened, and he fell to his knees, dropping the knife. He clutched his stomach, and fell to the ground, unmoving.

Walker stared in shock, eyes wide, mouth open. The boy slumped lower on the ground, groaning, and gave a small gasp as the movement pulled at one of his injuries. He looked like he was second's away form passing out.

But in his hand, held limply, was a hand gun, ones mostly used amongst Scorpia agents. On the ground, his best assassin laid dead or dying, blood leaking around his hands. The other two were knocked out cold.

How did a boy beat three Scorpia assassins!? They had been warned to treat him as if he were an adult, that he was M16's most highly ranked agent. We didn't need telling twice, everyone hated him; he'd destroyed and humiliated Scorpia. Alex Rider; he was famous.

Any ordinary boy would have brought out the gun as soon as the men approached. But not Alex Rider, he kept it hidden, waiting for the right moment to use it, knowing that as soon as he revealed his hand, he would be shot. Walker snarled in anger and took his gun out. Enough games, the boy will die with a bullet in his chest.

Alex, hearing the man's frustrated cry, turned his head pathetically towards him. The last standing assassin held the gun at his side and walked towards Alex until he was a metre away. His eyes were cold and furious.

"Well, Alex Rider, I must say I'm impressed. But even you won't survive a bullet."

Alex, without hesitation, brought Yassen's gun up, mustering all his remaining strength, and pointed it at Walker's head.

"If you so much as blink I'll shoot you." Alex snarled, but his voice was faint and showed the pain he felt. His shoulder and stomach wound was still bleeding a lot, and his dislocated shoulder was throbbing. Blood still trickled down from the cuts on his face, and the gash in the back of his head. He'd put up an amazing fight, and unlike his opponents he was still conscious. His eyes flickered towards to man he had shot, and he felt guilt course through him. I had to do it Alex thought.

Walker looked at him in amusement. "Will you shoot me, Alex? I don't think you can kill me, do you?"

"You thought wrong." The spy said angrily.

"Go ahead, then, shoot me, do it now. You know you must if you want to stay alive."

Alex stared at him, willing himself to pull the trigger, like he had a minuet ago with the other assassin. But he hadn't done that in cold blood like he was about too. He imagined the bullet firing out, bursting into the man's head. He hated him, but he couldn't do it.

Walker smiled. "You can't, can you?"

Alex snarled. "Of course I can. I was trained by Scorpia. I'm a good shot; this is what they trained me to do."

Walker shook his head, almost sympathetically. "You already feel guilty about him." He inclined his head toward the man on the ground.

"He was about to kill me."

"I'm about to kill you."

Alex stared at Walker. What was wrong with him, he was about to die yet he wouldn't kill an assassin who had already killed innocent people, and would do so in the future.

As Alex thought, to his shock, Walker brought up his gun quickly and fired Alex's own gun out of his hand. The force sprained his wrist, and he bit his lip, not wanting to show anymore weakness. But more importantly the gun flew off behind him, smacking against the alley wall. Alex stared at his empty hand, and then at the gun now pointing at his heart. He'd lost his chance. He'd been weak and stupid and now he was going to die for it.

"Well, Alex Rider, it seems your luck as run out."

Suddenly, all the energy Alex had, every last bit of hope and strength drained out of him. He slumped even lower to the ground, ignoring the pain and clutched his stomach, because that was all he had to hold on to, himself.

"FINE! Go ahead." Alex yelled at Walker. Alex wanted to live, of course, but he no longer had the will power to fight for his life. He just wanted to rest. Sure, he'd prefer a good sleep in his home with Jack there to look after him but that wasn't going to happen. Walker stared at him, surprise flickered in his eyes.

Alex sneered at him. "M16, you, Scorpia, you're only here to ruin my life! And I give up, all I ever wanted was to go to school, hang out with my friends, who by the way, think I'm a freak who takes drugs, and play football! And it would be nice not to have to worry about going on missions that will probably get me killed." Alex shook his head, feeling the dizziness again, and he could feel his consciousness slipping, and lay on the dirty alley floor, blinking, and his eyes grew heavy, and he waited for death.

Walker continued to stare at the boy, realising how much he'd just learnt about the fourteen year old spy. He was one of the best, John Rider's son indeed, but he was reluctant, he didn't want to be here, he didn't want to be a spy. He felt a small twinge of pity, before his slightly open mouth turned into a sneer. He should have thought about that long ago, the stupid brat has it coming. He brought up his gun, smirking.

"Any last words, Rider?"

Alex laughed mockingly, and his voice was hoarse. "What James Bond film did you steal that line from?" Alex laughed cruelly again, not looking up at the assassin or the cold barrel of the gun.

Walker's face consorted in fury, and he aimed the gun. "Goodbye Alex Rider."

A gun shot rang through the air.

Haha, hope you liked this chap, next one coming to a fan fiction near you! Lol. Thankyou to all my reviewers, you definitely inspired me to keep writing. Please review! And I'll get the next chapter out quicker.

Luv y'all

Bookworm rider