Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider.

Chapter 33: Smithers


Unlike the last time, this excursion was going to be completed very carefully and there would be zero chance of Nico and the others finding him. If Alex had his way, there would be very little evidence that he had even gone out. It wasn't likely that Smithers would want to meet for longer than a handful of minutes. Too risky, after all.

It did make Alex wonder if Smithers had pulled some strings to get him back into the UK, but… that was almost too far-fetched. There was no way that whatever information was worth that much risk.

Or was it

Whatever the case, by the time Thursday afternoon rolled around, Alex was prepared. As far as the others were concerned, he was taking advantage of the confinement to power through papers and coursework for the science GCSE in the hopes of getting another exam out of the way before the summer officially ended. Since he was focusing, the others were unlikely to bother him. It gave him the perfect opportunity to put his plan into motion.

Alex plugged the USB into his computer and pulled up the minesweeper. It showed that everyone was right where they were supposed to be in the house and that the neighbors were out at work. If they were even there in the first place… It was just as likely that it was abandoned. Nico was off for the afternoon, Cameron and Mickey were down by the front of the house, and Jacobs was in the surveillance room.

Content that no one was about to come bursting in on him, Alex pulled up the specially installed calculator and set a radius of 10 feet for the signal jammer and started it running.

60… 59… 58…

He had tested it out the night before and no one had even noticed the monitors in his room blinking out of existence. The alarms didn't go off when they were disturbed and Alex had been able to successfully climb out of his window.

Which means that someone else could really do the exact same thing…

45… 44… 43…

He shrugged the thought off, grabbed his music player and shoved a hat on his head. Though it was a bit warm for long-sleeves, no one usually thought twice about a teenager in a hoodie. His goal was to be as inconspicuous as possible.

31… 30… 29…

Alex went over and stood by the window. If they had noticed anything, someone would be moving before a minute was up. If he got caught… he would just shrug it off as wanting some fresh air.

24… 23… 22…

He slid the window open, taking care not to disturb the sensors. Just because he had jammed the signal for now didn't mean that he was infallible or knew how the systems worked inside and out. Maybe they had some hardwired fail safe that wasn't susceptible to signal jamming…

9… 8… 7…

Alex cast one last glance around his room. He hoped that if they did come and check on him, it would be obvious that he was up to no good. Though them finding out was not a wanted option, it was probably better than them thinking he had been kidnapped or something.

3… 2… 1…

One full minute.

Alex slid out the window, onto the roof, and closed it behind himself. It was… eerily like what he had done months earlier. Escaping from them. He used the minesweeper app on the music player to detect any sensors that had been put in the adjoining house.

Nothing.

Just in case, he turned on the signal jamming from the player before crossing to the adjacent window. It only took a moment to force it open and slip into the house.

Empty as far as he could tell.

The stairs creaked as he crept down them, continuously scanning to make sure there were no traps. He wouldn't put it past the SAS unit to have something set up in an abandoned house. But… so far so good.

The front door faced the opposite direction of the safehouse they were in, so there was no chance of the unit seeing him come out. Though the possibility of camera surveillance wasn't completely ruled out. He would just have to hope that they were all pointed in a different direction, he was uninteresting enough, and that the signal jammer did its job. Which, Alex wasn't exactly sure cameras were within its job description…

Act natural.

Like any teenager, he put his earbuds in and pulled up a quick map of the area, before setting off on his way.

1:52.

Eight minutes to find Smithers. And he would be back before they even noticed him missing.


Being out in London was a very strange experience. It had been nearly eight months since he last wandered in an English-speaking country freely, and of a somewhat sound mind, on his own. Alex kept a wary eye on the people around him, but for the most part they fell into the category of non-threat. Nothing concerning. Nothing to send his paranoia into a tail-spin.

The park was only a handful of blocks away from the safehouse, meaning Alex was a few minutes early. There were plenty of other teenagers in the area, as school hadn't started back up yet, and there were even a few loners that made him look less conspicuous.

The GPS coordinates brought him to, as far as he could tell, the central statue of the park. He hoped it was actually where Smithers wanted to meet him, because trying to find him in the park would be… difficult.

2:00

His watch buzzed at him and Alex slowed his steps as he approached the statue. Of course, the last time he had seen Smithers… things hadn't been the best. There was the whole fat suit thing too… Alex wasn't sure if he was supposed to be looking for original Smithers or real Smithers.

"My dear boy! Right on time."

Alex barely kept from flinching as a hand patted his shoulder, feeling almost like an electric shock.

"Sorry, sorry." Smithers gave him a genial smile. "Thought you saw me coming."

It was Smithers. Well, as much of Smithers as it could be in his costume. Alex gave him a quick once over, but… he seemed to be normal.

"Feel up for a bit of a walk?" Smithers tilted his head toward the far side of the park. "Best to keep on the move, you know."

Alex nodded, but was starting to regret his choice of sweatshirt. The temperature was warmer than he had thought and adding in more walking… it was going to get warm.

Smithers started shuffling away at a surprisingly rapid pace and Alex had to take some quick steps to not fall behind too much.

"Delightful to see you, old chap. That business in Spain was a bit much. Bad business, the lot of it." Smithers shook his head, casting a quick glance at Alex. "Though it seems you've had a spot of luck in the past couple of months. What's this I hear about passing two GCSEs?"

Alex blinked and shrugged. "Had a lot of time on my hands." He glanced down at his hand, which almost looked normal now.

Smithers gave him a serious nod that made his jowls wobble. How he could stand being in that hot suit? "I don't have good news for you, my dear boy. Jones is keeping all the information tight to her chest. No one quite knows why you were recalled. Those of us who know anything, that is."

On one hand, Jones being secretive meant that whatever mole was in MI6 would have a much harder time finding any information out. But if they knew the right strings to pull on…

"I'm afraid I've only got a few minutes. Have a demonstration for Jones – have those gadgets been useful?"

Alex blinked. "Ye-yeah. Got me out today. Even—" He broke off. There had been reasons they hadn't said anything back to MI6 about the device in his wrist. Even though Smithers was trustworthy… there was too much risk that it could somehow get back to the wrong person. Even just pondering about a mysterious implant could tip someone off. And since they still didn't know what or how it worked, that was too much of a risk. "Even helped when the others were being a little too overbearing."

Smithers chortled. "Got to keep them on their toes, dear boy."

Alex shrugged. It wasn't like he had actually used it for nefarious purposes.

Smithers nodded down a less traveled path, not even huffing at the impressive clip he was walking. "Best to keep your cards to your chest as well. Strange dealings are afoot. There have been rumors that agents are going missing, but I haven't been able to track down any solid information." He cast a glance over his shoulder at Alex. "Markus Fletch was the last confirmed missing agent, but that was almost a month ago. No calling card."

"And no one knows who wants me?" Alex shivered, even though he wasn't cold. It was hot.

Smithers veered toward an empty bench and sat down. "The motives are… unclear. Of course, some of this appears to tie back to your uncle."

"What?"

Smithers regarded him carefully, before gazing off into the distance. "There was a project in the 90s, headed up by Ian Rider for many a year. One of the greatest secrets of MI6. A project only spoken about in hushed stairwells. However, it seems that many of the files have just disappeared."

Project PRISM. It had to be. Alex opened his mouth to ask a question, but then thought better of it. Once again, Jones had no idea that he even knew about Project PRISM. And the last thing he needed was for the people coming after him to have any idea that he remembered bits and pieces of those missing files.

Because although he had been so certain that those memories in the house would never come back… some were reappearing. Fragments of names and places. Bolivia… some city named Ushuaia… a woman named Rocio… He shifted uncomfortably, feeling like the sun was blazing down on them. Aware of what he knew.

"Whatever that project was," Smithers continued, solemnly, "powerful people want to get their hands on that information."

Alex shuddered. And they would go to any length to do so, it appeared.

"It's bad business, this all is." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a packet of papers. "I'm afraid I don't have answers for you. My only advice is that you get out while you can. I don't know what's happening here, but I'll tell you this. It's got a very nasty smell. Leave it. Don't pick up the phone. You should forget about us all."

I don't know what's happening here… It was like a half-forgotten memory. Words he had heard before.

Smither pressed the papers into his hand. "That has everything you need so you can make a clean break. Go east. Or to Canada. You might be in hiding for the rest of your life, but you'd be alive."

Alex blinked down at the papers. A new start. It's what he had been wishing for, for almost a year. Just a way that he could be without having to always look over his shoulder. It was tempting.

But Nico…

If he left, that would take Nico and the others out of the equation. They could go back to their families, back to their normal lives. But… they would also all have targets on their backs.

Was it really fair to up and leave everyone else with the mess of a life that followed him around?

It wasn't his fault in the first place... but.

His breath caught in his chest as he contemplated the possibilities. Too many. And this only minutes-long meeting was making his head spin.

"Think about it. Though I recommend making your move before Jones calls you in."

And that was the kicker. Jones had brought him back to London for something. She was just as likely to manipulate him into doing something.

But it left the others unprotected…

"You look a bit warm, old chap." Smithers reached into his jacket once again and pulled out a bottle. "Water?"

Alex looked at it suspiciously, but it was hot.

Smithers gave him a rueful smile as he downed the bottle. "Shouldn't have opted for long-sleeves. At least, not if you don't have built in air-conditioning." He gave Alex a cheeky wink, then glanced down at his watch. "Well, I'm afraid our time is up. Jones will get suspicious if I'm late to our meeting. Keep your chin up and ears out."

Alex blinked at the abrupt ending. "Uh… thanks." He raised the papers, still not sure what he was going to do. "I… I will."

Smithers stood up, gave a jaunt little wave, and continued down the path. Alex just stared at him.

2:14

Not even fifteen minutes had passed.

Alex shoved the packet of papers into his hoodie pocket and pushed his one sleeve up. It was far too hot to be outside.

Which was strange.

It was London, but France had been hot too. And he could stand more than a few minutes out in the sun…

He shook his head. It had not even been half an hour since he left the house. Very unlikely that they had noticed he was gone. He could just slip back in and no one would be the wiser.

Just… ten more minutes.


It only took ten minutes for everything to go to hell.

Something was wrong.

Almost as soon as he had gotten up to start walking back, his neck had prickled. Like someone was watching him. He had hunkered down into his hoodie and started taking a circuitous route back to the safehouse.

It wouldn't do for anyone to follow him back, after all.

But despite his wandering, Alex couldn't shake the feeling that he was being followed. That there was someone or something there, just out of his sight. He had tried slipping into shops, pausing and acting like he was going to get onto the Underground, but nothing seemed to shake the feeling.

And the sun felt like it was blazing at a setting much higher than normal. Alex was almost tempted to shed the sweatshirt in hopes of making back to the safehouse not completely drenched in sweat.

But the freedom of being out of the sweatshirt would likely not surpass the attention it would draw toward him.

Not that he was doing well at not drawing attention.

Alex twitched and looked over his shoulder again. There was no one there. Not a soul. An empty street.

"Hey!"

A sudden squeal of tires pulled him from his momentary paranoia. Alex stumbled back from where he had just about stepped into the roadway.

"Watch where you're going!" The driver yelled at him as he passed.

The creeping sensation on the back of his neck increased, and Alex threw all caution to the wind.

Get back.

Of course. Why hadn't he considered it? Someone could have easily followed Smithers. They were so good at popping up and infiltrating anywhere, there was no saying what they could have done. He could be leading them right back to the others, but… at least the others had firepower.

Alex took off running, only catching glimpses of landmarks as he tried to find the most direct route back to the safehouse.

Faster.

They're coming.

He glanced over his shoulder, looking for his pursuers, but clearly, they were good at their job. No one in sight.

He didn't pretend that he had lost them.

Almost.

There.

The running practice had been good. But it hadn't prepared him for running under the blazing sun. Temperatures that felt ridiculous. He was gasping for breath. Felt like he hadn't run in months.

The safehouse was just around the corner.

Alex could still feel the pursuers. They were there. Somewhere.

The safehouse.

Alex didn't care about the old lady yelling at him as he sprinted past. There was one goal, and one goal only.

The front door.

He all but ran into it, no doubt alerting anyone within the house that there was something strange going on. He rattled the doorknob.

Locked.

He gasped for breath, trying unsuccessfully to catch it.

It shouldn't be so hard.

There were still other coming. They'd be here soon.

"Let me in, let… me-in," He pounded his fist on the door. Someone would come. They would. "They're coming… they're… coming." He spun around, still banging on the door, but scanning the streets. Looking for the person out of place. They had to be there.

The door opened abruptly behind him, knocking him off balance. "Alex? What?"

Alex stumbled into the entryway, still trying to catch his breath. "Comin'… Someone followed him…"

Cameron peered at him. "What? Who?" He glanced out the entryway, before slamming the door shut.

"Smith-Smithers…"

Cameron spun on him. "What the hell were you doing out there? What happened to trusting us before doing anything stupid?" His shouting was likely to rouse everyone in the house.

Good.

Safer.

"Someone… some…" Alex gasped. He wasn't out of shape. He wasn't. But it was so hot. And he felt like he hadn't had any water in days.

Mickey appeared in the doorway. Footsteps were thundering down the stairs. They were here.

The threat was outside.

A flash of concern crossed Mickey's face. "Hey, hey, what's going on? Are you okay?"

"'m… fine…" The room was starting to spin. Something was off.

Danger.

Danger.

Nico appeared. "What's going—Alex?"

"Just can't… can't… find my breath…" There were… more important things going on. "Not… not safe." Alex tried to take a step away from the entryway. Safer at the back of the house. But his legs didn't want to move. Sluggish. Heavy.

Alex swayed and then his legs gave out completely. He was so hot. And he couldn't breathe.

"Alex!"

He hit something before the floor, but he couldn't tell which way was up. Didn't know how to get across to them that they were in danger. Not when it felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on his chest.

"Hey, hey kid." Jacobs. When had he appeared? "You with me?"

Alex wanted to open his eyes. Wanted to tell them to get out of the entryway. But he couldn't breathe.

Sounds were getting further away.

Muffled.

Not good.

"—call… bosses… medical transport… won't have… kid to keep safe!"

Alex needed to warn them. But his tenuous grasp on everything just… slipped away.


A/N: Thoughts and predictions? What happened to Alex and were there really people following him?