Chapter Two - Responsibility

Alex sat on his knees, waiting and watching intensely as the action happened before him. The two fighters were dressed in gleaming white suits, a coloured belt hanging loosely at their wastes. They continuously fought, occasionally making contact, but never to cause any damage. Their feet touched down lightly on the wooden floor in a flurry of excitement and adrenaline.

"Yame!" the sensai called. The students recognised the command, stopped, bowed to each other and knelt beside the wall of the Karate Dojo. "Tom, seen as though you're our newest member, we're going to see how you get along with Alex…" The sensai instructed, smiling.

Alex jumped up - his black belt flapping by his side - and jogged to the centre of the mat. Tom stood up, there was a slight sense of fear in his facial features, and as he walked to the mat he tightened his white belt. He stood in front of Alex and smiled. It was a smile, which Alex did not return. "Rei!" the instructor called, this meant 'bow' and that was what the two opponents did. The both raised their fists, parted their feet and prepared to do battle.

Tom was the first to attack. He lashed out with an open hand but Alex stepped back and deflected the blow with immense ease. Alex then retaliated with a snap-kick, he raised his knee and snapped the rest of his leg out, catching Tom in the rib. Even though he was tense, Tom didn't expect the blow, he stumbled left and tripped, falling off the mat. The fight was over quickly.

Alex was about to sit down when a bell sounded from the doorway. A small metal bell hung above the door, every time it opened, the tip of the door tapped the bell, causing it to ring. Alex looked to the doorway in time to see a strangely dressed man enter the room. "Oh hell…" Alex muttered, as he approached the man. It was John Crawley, and Alex was far from pleased to see him. "What do you want?" He muttered in disgust as he reached Crawley. "I told you, I'm not working for MI6 anymore."

Crawley looked offended. "Did I say we needed you? Can't a friend visit a friend every now and then?" He asked.

"I'm not your friend! I'd rather smash my own kneecaps and crawly around a car park than be your friend!" Alex stared at Crawley, ignoring his discomfort. "My life has been ruined by you and MI6! I have been shot, battered, kidnapped, attacked by sharks, you name it and I've done it! Can't you just leave me alone?" He shouted.

"I'm sorry you feel that way Alex… but we have an issue we need-"

"Stuff your issue!" Alex shouted. Every head turned to the dispute. Alex lifted his arms and pushed Crawley, who stumbled back.

"If I ever see you again Crawley, I'll kill you." His words were final. He grabbed his backpack that lay on the floor beside him, flung it over his shoulder and stormed out of the Dojo.


"He wouldn't listen," Crawley said to Blunt, "so what are we going to do?"

"There must be something. Unless somehow the President escapes, the U.S.A will hand over their nukes. And then we'll have an even bigger problem."

"A small extremist army, armed with 70 of the worlds nukes… a problem no one wants to deal with." Crawley muttered.

"We just have to hope…" Blunt replied, putting his head in his hands


Alex turned the key in the lock and stepped in quietly, trying not to alert Jack of his presence. "Alex, is that you?" A call from the living room. The TV must have been on, there was the sounds of a riot and gunshots.

"Damn."

"Alex! Come here a minute!" Jack called, a hint of excitement in her voice. Alex dropped his back by the stairs and entered the living room.

are calling favours in from all across the world. The UK has promised aid of some sort, but it is yet to arrive…

"The President of the U.S.A has been kidnapped! His plane crashed down and some rebels have caught him and holding him for ransom. No one knows what they want yet."

Alex slumped down on the couch and sighed. Jack knew that look. She had seen it a few times before. "MI6 want you again?" Alex did nothing but nod. "You don't think they want you to save the president do-" Alex cut her off with yet another nod. "Alex… that's a job even too big for you…" Alex sighed and stood up. He knew what he had to do. He had promised to never get involved with MI6 again, but… here he was. If he didn't do something, the outcome could affect the entire world. Jack simply nodded her head, she knew what he had to do also.

Alex left the house and head towards the Royal and General Bank.