Chapter Eleven

The Meeting

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that belongs to Anthony Horrowitz.

This chapter is for everyone who stuck with me for this long (THANK YOU!), and for all those awesome betas that save the butts of authors more times than you can count. All your authors are probably drooling after you because of your awesomeness.

Really.

Actually drooling.

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0705 March 20th

"Touché," said Alistar. He did not want to show it, but the more he got to know Alex, the more intrigued he was. It seemed every answer that Alex gave just led to more questions.

Alex twitched his lips, giving Alistar a definite sign of his emotions. Alistar wasn't at all like any of the criminals he was used to. He wasn't crazy, deluded, or twisted. Alistar strongly reminded Alex of Yassen—another criminal that was...not crazy, deluded, or twisted.

Even though Alistar had a softer demeanour than most, no one could doubt the cunning intelligence in Alistar's eyes. If Alex wasn't wrong, Alistar was someone who got their way; not because of his ability to scare people into doing what he wanted, but by using his intelligence

"Do you really want to know why?" asked Alistar seriously.

Alex's gaze was steady as he replied. "If you've been in this business long enough, you know there's never really a choice."

Those intriguingly intelligent eyes stared at him. "Very well."

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0715 March 20th

Alex found himself led to a large meeting room, which was also fancy Victorian. The room was rectangular, but two opposing sides were rounded making it look almost oval. The walls were plastered with lush wallpaper, and the room was dominated by a large wooden oak table. There were no chairs. The room wasn't supposed to be welcoming. Two other women were there.

Alistar situated himself at the head of the table, with the two women on both sides like guardian gargoyles. Alex found it almost comical. Alex went and stood on the other end of the table across from Alistar. The two women-one was tall and blonde, the other shorter and brunette—looked at Alex with calculating expressions. They gave each other an unreadable glance, and then both looked at Alistar. They were both extremely beautiful.

To any other spy it might look innocent, but Alex having spent so much time among secondary school students knew it was the silent communications between people who really understood each other, like Alex and Tom. That was before—everything else, of course.

Slowly, Alex leaned on the table and laced his hands in front of him, giving his full attention to Alistar; and indicating that he should start. The knife on his thigh itched.

"Vladia and Miri, meet Alex Rider, the boy that has the entire intelligence world in a crisis. Alex, meet Vladia," he gestured at the blonde woman. "Vladia is my assistant and secretary. Miri," he gestured at the brunette, "is my personal bodyguard, among many things." She looked very buff, and had a glare worse than Wolf's, and that's saying something.

"Were either of you ever Miss France?" Alex tried fluttering his eyelashes, they were really beautiful, but was wondering why Alistar hired two women as his highest assistants.

"Miri was once Miss Germany for weightlifting. They both have quiet impressive legal records, and even more impressive illegal ones. I've also found that women tend to be underestimated in general, and especially in our business. Surprise can sometimes be the best weapon."

Alex agreed with both points. Surprise was often all he had on his side, and it saved him more times than he could count. He would never make the mistake of underestimating people just because of their gender; Miss Stellenbosch had surly taught him that. Alistar had answered his unspoken question.

"Have they approved of me?"

Alistair's eyes sparkled for a second, the way they do every time Alex's intelligence was shown.

"You are observant. They were trying to decide if you are an empty headed kid who just got lucky in your missions, or if you actually do have any talent."

Alex was starting to like Alistair's blunt sense of talking and quiet humour. "Why waste the brain cells; I'm as simple as dirt, and even more charming than dirt." Said Alex, wide eyed.

"From your files, you are a bit more complicated than dirt," said Vladia dryly.

"I think we can help each other, Alex," Said Alistar. It seemed like a strange echo of Smithers' last parting words.

Alex wiped the boyish look from his face, and put on his best business-spy face. His brown eyes instantly became cold. Each of the other three people in the room took notice of the change, and though did not show it outside, they were intrigued, and a bit impressed of the fourteen-year-old.

"What would you like me to do?" Stated Alex, blank faced.

"There is a man named General. He does not have a real name that anyone alive knows. We need you to find out that name." Said Alistar like they were talking about the weather.

"I'll do it." was his prompt reply. "On two conditions," the quick answer startled the other three people in the room. "I want to know exactly how much information you know about me, and that you'll help me with a mission of my own."

"The first one can be done quite easily." Replied Alistar slowly, "What is your mission?"

"To attack MI6 headquarters in London and target Alan Blunt." said Alex, without hesitation.

For the umpteenth time, the three other people in the room were surprised. Alistar took a few seconds to ponder the new implications of this statement, while Vladia covered for him.

"The only way to get to Alan Blunt is to get into the real International headquarters of MI6. You know where that is? " Said Vladia.

"Yes." After a while, you simply got used to being surprised in Alex's presence.

"In my files about you, it only said that you went to a local branch to get your orders." Glared Miri.

"I once hacked into the MI6 database."

"Does MI6 know you hacked into their records?" Inquired Alistar.

"Yes, but they think I only had time to see my file before I was locked out again. You see, 'cause the codes change every few hours, and you need to hack in again." Alex's eyes danced.

"How much did you actually read?"

"Not that much," said Alex. "All you need to know is that I know where the International Headquarters of MI6 is located; and, how to get the information that you want about the General."

"Why shouldn't we just torture the information out of you?" Said Miri suspiciously.

A charming smile broke across Alex's emotionless face. "Because then you'll miss my good wit and charm." A small smirk graced Alistar's lips at the statement, however the gazes' of the unfaltering women caused him to improve on his already lacking statement. "Also because I don't have the information, MI6 does. You won't get answers from torturing me. You'll never get into MI6's headquarters alone. For that, you'll need me willingly. Plus, I'm very resistant to torture, and if you try, I'm useless to you dead."

"You're also useless to yourself, dead." pointed out Vladia.

Alex chose to ignore that statement. They wouldn't kill him when he could be so useful to them. He looked at Alistar who had remained quiet throughout the interrogation. "We can help each other." Alex repeated.

"How do we know it's not a trap?" Glared Miri.

"If your contacts are half as good as I think they are, you already know why I would never help MI6, ever again."

Vladia's face had no expression, but her eyes flicked from Alex to Miri to Alistar. Miri glared at Alex suspiciously. Alistar still had a contemplative face on, and he looked at Vladia for her opinion.

"From what I can see, he is truthful, at least at present; he will never work for MI6 again. He was lying when he said he did not know much of the information in the MI6 database; but he was being truthful about not having the information we need."

Alex had heard about agents trained specially in the detection of lies, but it seems today, he had met a master. "I didn't think it mattered how much other information I knew. I do not know the General's name, which is what you asked for. In order to find out, we really do need to get into the MI6 headquarters." There was a nod from Vladia, saying he was telling the truth. "Since the last time I breached their database from a local branch, they've made the database only accessible in the International headquarters, where we must go. The codes now change every hour instead of every five, so we don't have that much time."

"I'll help you, but you need to help me." Repeated Alex.

"I don't think we should trust him," was Miri's opinion. "But then again, I don't trust anyone." That was probably as close to a yes as it got.

"You've got yourself a deal, Alex." said Alistar. "When should we start?"

"Now. But first, I want to know exactly how much information you know about me."

"Vladia will show you all our files on you this afternoon. Let's talk about our specific plans over breakfast right now. I'm hungry." Suggested Alistar.

"Truthfully, so am I." Responded Alex, glad the meeting was over. He hopped he played the part well enough.

"Let's go eat." He then turned to Vladia, "Vladia, please have the files of Alex Rider and everything we have on MI6 headquarters you have on the table of my study. Also include any other files you find necessary." Turning to Miri, "You know what to do. But be polite to Pierre. Try, at least, for me."

Vladia and Miri nodded, though Miri gave him another glare.

All the people in the room emptied out, two going to the kitchen, one going to the office, and another to meet a certain Pierre guy...

I know! Finally an update! But I have excuses. BTW This story will DEFINITELY be finished. I've even finished writing the very last chapter. Just saying, I think you'll love it. I love it, but I might be just a tiny bit biased.

Anyway, I'll leave you with this interesting thought:

MACBETH rhymes with DEATH,

and

ROMEO rhymes with WOE.

Please review; if only because I took all the time to type all this.