Alex Rider: World Crisis

Chapter Six: Code Red

Alex Rider was up all night trying to make a decision. He was still torn between completing his mission or to pack up and return back to London and join Jack Starbright, his housekeeper. He gripped the British Airways air ticket tightly. He looks at the sleeping form of his American partner, Kristine. She looked so peaceful in her slumber. He sighed.

The sun began to rise and illuminate the whole suite through it vast glass windows. Alex looked at the rising sun. It was beautiful. He then turned around and decided to take a cold shower to think things over. Maybe it would help him make a decision. He got up from his seat which he had sat for so long and entered the bathroom.

Back in London…

He was here on a mission. He already knew his objectives and planned to complete it. Earlier, he had arrived in Heathrow airport through a private jet. He had been sent by Scorpia to destroy MI6 Headquarters. He was a professional and he knew it. He had experience in the field. He was called in when the Iraqis wanted to destroy the World Trade Centre. He was also requested by a terrorist group in Asia to destroy the hotel in Bali, Indonesia. His name was Dimitri Ivasanovich and he was paid a sum of €500,000 to finish the job.

Getting by the security in Heathrow was quite easy. It was like taking candy from a baby. That was one way to put it. He brought together with him enough explosives to destroy half of London but he knew that he only needed some of it. He grinned as he stepped into the building. MI6 cameras began to monitor every movement he made. He was dressed in a business suit and carried a briefcase. It had a VLF disruptor attached to it.

He just passed the receptionist and went straight to the elevator. He knew where Alan Blunt's office was and he was asked to permanently end his reign as the Head of MI6: Special Operations. He passed the metal detectors with ease and soon the lift brought him to Alan Blunt's office floor. He stepped out of the elevator. If the security had paid closer attention, they would realize that he was holding a pen in his palm. It was a second VLF disruptor, incase the attached disruptor failed. Dimitri walked towards Alan Blunt's secretary and gave her the purpose of his visit. Scorpia had anticipated for the secretary not to believe the Russian but he removed several documents which convinced her otherwise. "Go on in then…"she said as she turned back to her work. Dimitri smiled to himself. It was mistakes like these which made the security services of every country weak to its core. He entered the office and found the Head of Mi6 at his desk. He smiled to himself and looked at Alan Blunt.

"Dimitri, I presume…"Alan Blunt began.

"That is my name…"the Russian replied. His voice showed no hint of an accent as he would've passed off as a local anytime.

"I anticipated your arrival. However, I also know the purpose of your arrival," Alan Blunt continued.

"I'm sure. Then you know what I'm going to do after that…" the Russian replied, clearly taunting the MI6 Special Ops Chief.

"I have a notion, yes…"Alan Blunt said.

"Then you should know that I'm doing this then…"Dimitri said as he whipped out a gun and fired.

It was a PB / 6P9 silenced pistol. It was developed for the operatives of the KGB and Dimitri was certainly no newcomer in the field of handguns usage. The pistol had an attached silencer making it almost impossible for anyone to discover that a gun shot was fired. However, the Head of Mi6: Special Operations had other plans. As though by automatic reflexes, he activated an alarm, alerting the agents in the building. He also ducked to avoid the shot and took out his own handgun. A Swiss manufactured Sig-Sauer P220. It was dead efficient in close range combat. Dimitri was momentarily stunned when he saw Alan Blunt ducked the shot. He must be well prepared in dire situations like these. He then ducked for cover behind a sofa in the office. They were now waiting for the first shot to be fired for either man. Dimitri has initially locked the office door so that it would delay the agents momentarily from cutting their meeting short.

Alan Blunt was taking a moment to catch his breath from behind the sofa which acted as a shield. He had left the field a long time ago and wasn't used to the fast paced movements of Dimitri but he was still quite efficient and prepared in an assassination attempt. He looked at the surroundings of his office. He vaguely remembered Smithers building an elevator in his office, although he had never used it. The agents were now outside Alan Blunt's office, attempting to open the door. He then realized that the elevator was located in the bookshelf in front of him. He tried to recall the exact book which activated the elevator. Dimitri was beginning to get nervous and took cover from behind the desk of the Head of MI6 as he armed the bomb. If he was unable to kill the Head, the bomb was. He quickly activated it and left the briefcase on the desk before making his exit. The timer showed 00:00:30 as he leapt out of the window from the sixteenth floor of the Royal and Generals.

He managed to grab hold of a balcony down in the ninth floor and proceeded to make his escape there. Alan Blunt looked around and activated the elevator in his office. He turned around to find the time bomb on his desk. "Oh boy…"he stated as he entered the lift and closed the doors. "All MI6 agents, evacuate the sixteenth floor…There is a bomb in the building…"he said through his communicator. As though struck by lightning, the agents located outside the door fled across the hallway, towards the stairs, trying to make a quick escape. Thirteen seconds later, a huge explosion was heard throughout London. The sixteenth floor of British military intelligence and more importantly, the office of the Head of MI6 were destroyed. Several agents were killed in the incident and many badly injured.

Later that evening, Sir Graham Adair and Alan Blunt were having a meeting at his office. The fire brigade was still attempting to put the fire out at the Royal and Generals. "Terrible…"said the older male in the room. Alan Blunt looked at him without emotion. There was a knock on the door. "Come in," Sir Graham Adair said.

Mrs. Jones entered the room and looked at Alan Blunt and Sir Graham Adair. She had just return from Italy and was shocked to find the headquarters of MI6 destroyed. Alan Blunt looked up at his deputy and asked," So?"

She took a deep breath and said, "I've given him the tickets…but…I'm afraid he's not leaving."

Alan Blunt smiled and looked out of the window, as the evening sun was setting. Scorpia had declared war on them. It was pay back time and Alex Rider held the key to all his solutions.