Chapter 3: Toys for Class
Once they had finished, Alex once again found himself seated in front of MI6 chief, Alan Blunt and Deputy, Mrs Jones, after a hasty "I'll think about it Mr Donovan," recounting the story once again.
"That's quite some adventure Alex," Mrs Jones said. "I think that you should accept the offer to study with Professor Eppes. There is a case that we want you to look into. Once again you will be working in the United States, but this time with the FBI."
Alex sighed, he was expecting this.
"What is it this time?"
Mr Blunt slid a folder across the desk towards Alex, while Mrs Jones unwrapped a peppermint and popped it in her mouth.
"CalSci College," Alan Blunt took up the narrative as Alex opened the file. "This is where Professor Charles Edward Eppes works. Recently, there have been teenage students who have been going there for extra lessons, and have disappeared into thin air, though only one at a time. The FBI are baffled and contacted the CIA to place a spy within the midst of the College, and they turned to us.
"Coincidentally, even though I don't believe in coincidences. The Fed in charge of this case is none other than Agent Donald Eppes, the Professor's brother. Another thing you should know, the two brothers are working together trying to solve this case. Professor Eppes trying to find a formula as to the pattern of times of disappearance, conditions of disappearance and so on.
"What you are to do is to infiltrate the college with your cover as Alex Rider the English Exchange Student, to study maths under Professor Charlie Eppes. Professor Eppes does not know that you will be involved in this case intermediately, nor do any of Agent Don Eppes' team for that matter. You will be reporting directly to Agent Eppes. Also, you will be staying with the Professor over your 3-month period as an exchange student.
"You will receive a more in depth briefing on this case once you arrive in New York, in about a week's time from now. See that you talk to Mr Donovan helping you catch up and advance you in the area of mathematics as much as possible during this week.
"One final thing, you will be picked up by the CIA when you arrive." Blunt finished.
"Ok, so basically I'm to infiltrate a College, rather like I did at Point Blanc Academy," Alex summarised.
"Yes, Alex, you hit the nail on the head," Mrs Jones said. "Now go to see Smithers, he should have some toys for you. Good Luck Cub."
Alex nodded and headed to Smithers' office.
Smithers sat behind his desk, straining to type on the computer in front of him. He looked up just as Alex walked in.
"Good you see you old Chap," he said.
"Hello, Mr Smithers."
"Right now, gadgets. I have a couple of them ready. Draws!" To Alex's amazement a draw from Smithers' chest of drawers behind him opened, and with it a black Swatch watch, a mobile camera phone, a pair of expensive Nike shoes, a hearing aid, a slim white laptop, a body spray and a student ID identical to the one Alex was carrying in his trouser pockets, appeared all propped up at an angle from the draw. 45 degrees Alex guessed.
"First up is this black swatch," Smithers explained, holding up the watch and handing it to Alex.
"I've always wanted one of those."
"Well you're in luck; the originally intended functions of this watch's predecessors have been specifically modified just for you. It is an audio transmitter, with a minuscule built-in microphone so you can get in contact with Agent Eppes if you can't us your mobile for some reason – which I'll get to shortly. See the time adjustment knob?" Alex nodded. "Just press that into the watch and hold for five seconds to activate, to deactivate, just press it again.
"Now, this hearing aid is useless should you be deaf, but it acts as a complementary piece to your new watch. It allows Agent Eppes to contact you should it be needed.
"The phone. As you can see Alex, it has a camera, we haven't done anything to modify that, however, what photos you take will be automatically transferred to Agent Eppes. It's also loaded with many goodies. The original phone has a built-in radio and MP3 player, but there have been modifications made to these. See the slight antennae? You point that at a door or window, and it will pick up the sound vibrations coming from that room. The MP3 program converts these vibes into speech. The earphones component is for listening to the converted speech. Dead useful for eavesdropping.
"Shoes. Time for new shoes Alex."
"I just got some."
"Well not like these. These shoes will change into rollerblades when you say 'blading away', they are programmed to recognise your voice, and so will only change if you say it.
"The body spray. Not saying that you stink or anything kiddo, is made of a substance that erupts as smoke upon contact with the air. The tube is fingerprint sensitive, so anyone other than you to use it will get an effect of a newly run out spray.
"Every student has one of these," Smithers said, handing Alex the ID card. "Well, not exactly one quite like this. On one hand, it is an ordinary Student ID card, but on the other, it is a blade and swipe card door opener. The edges are slightly tapering inwards to a shaper edge, the edge is then encased lightly with diamond edges, very sharp. There is a microchip processor integrated into the card, allowing entry to any swipe open doors.
"And finally our piece de resistance," Smithers said dramatically. Lifting up the slim, white laptop with reverence. "I would have worked on it more, but as it was only 4 days ago since we got the news. This baby is capable of hacking into any computer automatically, all you have to do is hook it up to the target computer or laptop, and run the spider solitaire program. It is fingerprint sensitive, with an additional feature Mr Blunt wouldn't be too happy with. If anyone other than yourself attempts to use it, the laptop sill detonate in their face, killing them instantly.
"That's it kid. Look after yourself Alex, old chap. Try not to get hurt too badly," Smithers concluded.
"Thanks Mr Smithers," Alex replied, and left through the door.