Hi again! Sorry about the short chapter! K-Unit will appear in the next one, I promise! Anyway, enjoy...

Arya was still pretending to be asleep when Nate came to fetch her, his face drawn and his eyes puffy and red from lack of sleep.

"Wake up, Arya," He said softly, pulling at her arm. "Come on, you're needed." She obeyed slowly, acting as if she was still half asleep, though she wondered if Nate would have noticed if she had been bursting with energy, he looked exhausted.

"What's going on?" She asked blearily as they made their way across to the trainer's hut.

"Some of your friends broke in and tried to get you out, but we found them before they got to you."

"My friends?" She asked, looking puzzled.

"Alex Rider and your father, Yassen Gregorovich." Nate pushed open the door of the trainer's hut without knocking; it was full of people, all of whom turned and stared at Arya, their gaze flickering between her and Yassen, who was tied tightly to one of two straight-backed wooden chairs in front of the desk with cable ties.

"Close the door," Said the trainer, gesturing to Nate. He did as he was ordered and then moved over to stand beside Arya. She found his presence strangely comforting, despite the fact that he was a member of SCORPIA, and therefore one of the 'bad guys'. "Arya, do you know these people?" she nodded slowly, looking curiously at Yassen.

"Yes, but I haven't met…Yassen before." He smiled slightly as she said his name, but she looked away as he tried to meet her gaze; she hadn't forgotten what he was, though it disturbed her less than it had when she had first arrived.

"They broke in here to rescue you apparently, have you had any contact with them while you've been here?" Arya felt Nate tense beside her as she shook her head.

"I haven't, I didn't know they were coming." The trainer nodded, satisfied that she was telling the truth.

"Ok, Healey, can you take her back to her room?" Arya felt her eyes widen, she had expected to be kept there in case they wanted her to confirm anything, but she turned obediently as Nate touched her arm and walked out of the hut straight-backed.

Alex watched her go with a sinking sensation in his stomach. She had hardly looked at him, she almost seemed to be scared of him; he cursed himself for not telling her the truth from the beginning, but there had been no need. He caught Yassen's eye and saw that the Russian was feeling just as anxious as he was.

"Now, how did you find us?" The voice was issuing from the tall black man standing by the desk, muscular arms folded and his face dark with anger. His eyes flickered over Alex's shoulder as the assassin, Healey, came back from walking Arya back to her hut.

"MI6 knew, they told us where you were." Yassen lied smoothly, his face inscrutable. Alex shrugged noncommittally, feeling something bang against his wrist as he did so. He knew instantly what it was: the knife that Yassen had given him. It was still strapped to his forearm and he had forgotten about it. He shifted his arm a little to make sure it was hidden and then returned his attention to the man in front of him.

"MI6 don't know where we are," He said, but his voice held a note of uncertainty. He shook his head quickly and shrugged. "But it wouldn't matter if they did, at least not to you. One of the executive board is coming down tomorrow to check on things, I believe you know him, Gregorovich, Levi Kroll?" Yassen's mouth tightened and his eyes burned savagely for a couple of seconds.

The trainer smiled viciously and continued. "I thought you knew him. Anyway, he's coming down tomorrow and I'm sure he'll think of a suitable punishment for you both. Take them to the bunker and don't let Arya near them, I'm not certain that she wants to stay."

It was Healey who obeyed, beckoning two of the guards to help him; he slit the cable ties with his knife, the blade flashing dangerously close to Alex and Yassen's bodies. Before they could react to their freedom, they were seized from behind and dragged from the room, neither of them fought.

"For God's sake, we can walk, you know. Honestly, where would we go?" Alex snapped as he stumbled yet again, his feet tangling with his captor's. The man shot Healey a look, he shrugged.

"Keep hold of them, but let them walk properly." He said and the two guards loosened their grips slightly, Alex felt the guard's hand brush against the knife as he shifted his hands and recoiled. The guard tightened his grip again, but then, seeing the warning look on Healey's face, he loosened it again and they walked in silence to a heavy metal door set in concrete. Healey opened it and led them down, flicking on a light switch and bare bulbs flickered into life along the length of the room.

"Sit," He ordered. Alex and Yassen shot each other looks as they were forced into seats. "Guard the door, you two," he added, looking at the guards. They left and Alex heard the door clang shut a few seconds later.

Healey turned back to them.

"Why did you want to take Arya away?" he asked; he didn't sound angry, just curious.

"She's my friend, and Yassen's daughter, we didn't want to lose her." Alex said instantly.

"She's my friend too." He said slowly, to glares from Alex.

"You kidnapped her," he spat. Healey looked as if he'd been slapped.

"I didn't want to get her, but I was overruled. But she's ok here with us, just leave her alone." He said coldly, walking out of the room. Yassen stood up instantly and was halfway up the steps before the door slammed shut and there was a click as it was locked. He came back down and leant against the wall, staring at Alex.

"Now what?" the teenager asked sulkily. Yassen rolled his eyes and slid slowly down the wall.

"Now we wait for your dad to call for back-up." He said, leaning his head back against the cool concrete.

"Right," Alex said, and then sat up straight again. "I have this." He added, pulling the knife out of his sleeve and tossing it towards Yassen. It landed with a metallic clatter at his feet and he picked it up, smiling slightly.

"It's better than nothing, I suppose," he said heavily, "But I can't see it being much use against all of that lot." Alex nodded, his face falling.

"I hope dad hurry's up and calls them quickly." He said dejectedly.

John checked his watch again; they had five minutes left until he called for help. He sat back against the car, then started forward as a brief cracking sounded at the entrance of the track. But it was only a small herd of deer, picking their way delicately through the deep mud. John sank back, disappointed and they fled, leaping lightly up the bank and vanishing.

"Time's up," He muttered. He pulled his phone from his pocket and pressed 1. Then he pushed the green button and lifted it to his ear.

"Alan, we need help."