"Sparrow, you and your unit take them to the barracks. Now," a young Sanders ordered in an identically rough tone. He took that Wolf guy's word; things were seriously fucked up and he was certain that he did not want to know about it. Or anyone else for that matter, he made sure that everyone on site knew that this event never was to be forgotten if they wanted to live past their present ages.

Silence stalked the fourteen men cramped into a less than spacious hut. K-Unit watched their Cub tentatively. Seeing his response- and his current lack of one- as a serious hazard to everyone's health. All of the, ah... Old, Unit were staring at the kid. A few more covertly than the rest, they were seeing something that could only be explained as a ghost. Panther was a) incarcerated, b) over twenty five and most importantly c) a traitor.

"Who the hell are you?" The now unnaturally pale man that spoke in the Mess Hall.

"First off what do you want me to call you, and what language do you- alone- speak?" Cub demanded in a disembodied voice.

"Me llaman Hawk."

(Call me Hawk.)

Cub stepped closer to the elder man, and leant close enough to brush shoulders.

"Bien, yo soy de dieciséis años en el futuro-somos todos. ¿He tenido muchos nombres diferentes, pero a ti? Soy hijo de John Rider."

(Fine, I'm from sixteen years in the future- we all are. I've had many different names, but to you? I'm John Rider's son.)

He moved back, creating space between himself and Hawk. Faint emotions once again became visible as he readdressed the rest of Hawk's Unit.

"What's the date?"

In a manner that suggested his ignorance to the battle that raged inside the Spanish speaker's mind.

"February thirteenth," an Irishman answered.

"Thanks..."

"Badger." The athletically built man replied giving the remaining two members a suggestive glance.

"Weasel,"

"Sparrow, we're K-Unit."

"Nice to meet you." Eagle boisterously replied, completely missing the awkwardness existing that his childlike nature could only serve to embellish.

"Isn't Cub a little young to be SAS?" Sparrow asked as Cub began to look his age with Ben whispering in his ear.

"Don't ask," Wolf sighed, annoyed with the smirk he got back from the unofficial member. He redirected a reprimanding growl at Cub, "If you weren't so damn lucky you wouldn't be smirking right now."

The youth's eyes narrowed dangerously. The warm friendly mask of indifference had fallen faster than the winter's rain. Cossack and the man next to the blonde, both tensed. The black haired man sent the leader a furious glare.

The emotionless statue centered between them glided, his feet floated across the floor as though he was weightless. Everything that had made him human vanished; to the degree that even those who knew him questioned whether it had existed in the first place. Onlookers were so transfixed by his movement, they failed to notice his exit.

Present day:

Quite frankly, the normally dead, bland man encased in that forever grey suit was seething. The phone call had left him unnerved. Having his top Agent suddenly disappear was far from ideal- he certainly wasn't going to admit his worry stemmed from the fondness that had emerged with this young Rider. His spunky attitude no longer grated as it once did and had grown on him.

SCORPIA had the power to do this but wouldn't risk it right now, the CIA owed this kid and Bryne was too soft to implement such a thing. Only one other group was capable- or more accurately one man...

The cheerful man was solemn for once. No humor in his eyes nor spark of life and no energetic bounce in his wobbly stride. Seated opposite the head, both men automatically assessed each other while exchanging pleasantries.

"Why do you persist with that ridiculous suit?" Blunt asked with genuine feeling.

"It's fun, Alan don't tell me you haven't heard of that before?" The fat man chuckled half heartedly before dropping the pretense. "Now, what's all this business regarding young Alex?"

"Indeed, Lieutenant Colonel Williams had his best casting for hours and no track were found. Alex Rider simply vanished, taking two highly trained units with him."

"Most mysterious,"

Blunt gave a short cold bark of laughter (he couldn't openly show warmth now could he?), "Smithers, if you did this you'd do it to protect the boy; SCORPIA would do worse than just kill him, I just need to know if we should be looking for him."

"Mr Blunt, this is Alex. If I so much suspected that he was under threat , I would be among the first on your case about it."

The sincerity shone through in random with his accent.

1987:

Fox had relented in the unspoken argument he held with the Russian. Not because he was afraid or intimidated, but more simply because he had to talk to Wolf. Something he was afraid to let Yassen do. Even if Wolf respected and grudgingly liked the kid, he had a lot to learn about the little enigma giving he had the sensitivity and tact that a two by four to the head.

It was easy to find such a complicated person when he knew his Father. All he had to do was think 'up'. A faint smirk tugged at the assassin's lips as he was proved right by the faint silhouette on the highest section of the assault course.

Stealthily making his way up to, he was quietly impressed at little Alex's strength to mange this given the state of his injuries.

"How'd you find me?" Cub asked without turning.

Perhaps he wasn't as quiet as he thought he'd been.

"I didn't hear you, it's more like a feeling you know?"

Nodding to himself approvingly, Yassen took a seat next to the boy. Undeterred that that a child could read him so well.

"I came to the first place your Father would go." He admitted with a fond glance at the teenager. "You're more like him than you'd ever imagine."

The praise drew a weary smile over the blonde's face, but prompted no answer. Cossack place an arm around Alex's shoulders, smiling as he leant into the touch, and the two sat there and watched the sun set.

AN: I'm back:) hope this was worth the wait, huge thanks to all you super awesome reviews and amazing followers. Would love to hear any thoughts, questions or ideas!