Chapter 2

Alex's POV

Damn, I knew this wasn't going to be a good idea! Why did I have to say that?

Blunt and Mrs. Jones just stared at me and than looked at each other before Blunt finally responded, "Alex I'm sorry can you repeat that? I did not hear the question."

My ass you didn't hear it. Oh well, I'm in this now might as well go along with it, "I said I want to go back into Scorpia."

But again my question with answered by silence before Mrs. Jones said, "I'm not surprised you've asked Alex, we knew this question wou…" She was interrupted by a loud 'pinging' noise from Blunt's computer.

The both looked semi grateful for the interruption and Blunt quickly began accessing files on his computer. He read over them fast but I new he was absorbing every word in those files. Mrs. Jones and I sat in silence for about 5 minutes before Blunt shook his head and mumbled, "No, no this can't be right," to himself and quickly started accessing more documents and reading more papers on who knows what. In another 8 minutes he finally looked away from his computer looking slightly drained. He took of his glasses and rubbed his eyes before settling the gun metal rimmed glasses back on his face and looking up at me.

"Well Alex it looks like we have come across a spot of troubling news," Blunt began, "We've been able to determine that Scorpia is up to something. But like earlier we just don't know what exactly they are planning on doing."

The office was silent (again) as I attempted to digest this information. Logically I knew I wasn't finished with Scorpia. I mean I've been expecting something to happen but with Scorpia's lack of movement I had thought I might have a little more time to prepare. But I wished I was so badly. They'd caused me phenomenal amounts of pain and suffering. Not to mention they'd killed my parents before I ever got the chance to actually know them and they most likely had some hand in killing my uncle. I don't regret getting involved with Scorpia because it was kind of like a part of self discovery or something, but I wanted to put it behind me. I'd kind of kept this information shoved in the back of my mind but it forced itself out now,

You'll never been done with Scorpia.

That hit hard, real hard.

"Alex? Are you okay?" Mrs. Jones's kind voice shattered through my thoughts.

"Oh yeah, I guess I'm just… surprised is all. I'd been hoping I had a bit more time."

"Well that's only natural seeing as the effects Scorpia has had on you." Mrs. Jones comforted me.

Suddenly Blunts (I don't know why but it feels more right to call him Blunt not Mr. Blunt, you know what I mean?) harsh voice interrupted Mrs. Jones's much warmer one, "Like I said we don't know what they are planning but it is defiantly something. We also, have no way of knowing whether or not it has something to do with you. With Scorpia it is impossible to know what they are planning."

So maybe, just maybe, this had nothing to do with me? It was a small hope but gave me a hope anyway. But, NO! If it wasn't me than who? Why? When? What? All questions I had but was lacking in the answers. I could… no, I can't do that. I don't want to ever willingly (though I'm pretty sure I just asked to do just that) go near Scorpia again, but… if I know Scorpia, and I'm pretty confident I do, they would hurt anybody, women, men, children, elderly, disabled, it didn't matter who or what they were, to Scorpia they were all the same. Operation Invisible Sword proved that.

"Let me go in, I can find out what they're doing."

"No Alex. We can't do that."

"But I can find out!"

"NO!" Blunt thundered, "We will not let you go to Scorpia. Scorpia are killers, they've killed countless numbers of people, and we won't let them add you to their list."

"They killed my parents! And probably my uncle too!"

"The loss of the Rider brothers has been one of the most significant in this agency, but we will not, I repeat will not, let them kill you to!" he rapped his fist against the hard wood surface of his desk twice at the words 'will not'.

"They'll just keep killing people! You have to stop them!"

By this point I had Blunt fuming and he seemed unable to answer me anymore so he gestured with his hand for Mrs. Jones to continue. "Alex, it is part of our job to prevent these things from happening, but we can't stop them all. We try, and any lose is always greater to us because we're supposed to prevent these things from happening in the first place. I hate to admit it, but no matter what we do there will always be a group like Scorpia in the world. We will try our hardest every day to bring down Scorpia but they are the world's most powerful terrorist organization. They are responsible for so many things that have happened, not just in this life time but so many others as well. If we succeed in destroying Scorpia then there will be another one ready to take its place, everyone more powerful than the last. You, just a 14-year-old boy, have already succeeded in taking down a small branch of Scorpia. Though minimal it's helped a great deal. You saved thousands, if not millions, of innocent children from being killed, and what for? Power and money. If not for you Alex, we would have lost our most powerful alli. The United States of America is the wealthiest country in the world with one of the strongest armed forces. They've helped us on numerous occasions."

The office was silent (again) as I digested this information. I had helped MI6 in bringing down Scorpia, but it wasn't enough! I wanted to do more! I wanted to make them pay for all they pain they have caused, not only to me but to the whole world to. Suddenly I was struck with a thought that I hadn't thought about in so many months.

"That picture in your apartment, of the 2 children and you at the beach, were they your children?"

Mrs. Jones just nodded and had such a pain filled expression on her face that I almost reconsidered what I was going to say next, "What happened to them?"

"They were kidnapped. My 2 babies, taken away from me," She sounded on the verge of tears. "They'd be about your age now Alex. I think this to be one of the reasons I am so fond of you, you provide me someone to treat like a son when I'll never see mine again."

"Were they killed?" You know, just for future references asking a mother if her children were killed? Yeah not such a hot idea. If the tear that escaped Mrs. Jones's eye was any indication.

She quickly brushed the tear away and replied quietly, "I don't know, they've been missing for just over 10 years now so I assume the worst. Their bodies were never found though; I don't think I could ever look at 2 little bodies that were once so full of life now empty."

"Scorpia… they've never been terribly fond of you, they might have had something to do with it! I could find ou…"

"That's very kind of you Alex but, I could never let you risk your life, even for the three I cared for most. I've just about given up all hope of ever finding them alive or ever finding them at all. Maybe it's better to just put them to rest and honor their spirits and lives, however short lived they were."

"But…"

"Alex just forget about it. You are wanted by Scorpia, by sending you in would be like sending you to your death. You are too valuable a field agent to do that. I can't send you into Scorpia Alex," Blunt was more calm now and maybe it was just me but he sounded a little sympathetic.

"I won't get caught an-,"

"There is no way to be sure of that Alex. Even the best agents get caught sometimes. If Scorpia ever catches you again, you will have about a one in a billion chance of getting out alive. They won't kill you this time, they'll torture you, make you wish you were dead. That's the Scorpia way Alex; they won't let you get away again."

I guess he does have a point, but I still want to go in. I could save all the innocent people that are being threatened by Scorpia's current plan, I know I could.

"Besides," Blunt began attempting to lighten the mood, "I won't send one of my best agents to his death like a prancing rabbit to a wolf. You'll be able to help us with other things Alex; you could go far and do great things for this world. You already have and you are but 14. But that brings us to another important matter, are you sure you want to continue working for us? We won't force you to continue, if you want to leave now and never see or hear from us again you can walk out of that door right now. It's your choice."

"I want to keep working for MI6," the answer was almost automatic. I remember when I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian or a lawyer or an architect, the list went on forever. My career choice was always changing, like the seasons change. I've never known for sure what I wanted to be, not like some people, being and agent for MI6 never even acknowledged itself as being an option to me until MI6 recruited me. Now it was my career. My uncle and my father worked for MI6 so it was in my blood. I don't know how to explain it but it just felt right.

"What are you going to do about Scorpia than?" I questioned.

"Well, we'll keep a close watch on them for anything out of the ordinary. Maybe we'll send an agent in but it's probably too risky. For the time being it is our job to watch and observe, nothing more until we have more facts."

I sighed, "I could help though!"

Blunt let out a soft groan, "You don't surrender easily do you Alex? I don't doubt that you could help, I'm sure you could. But aside from the danger of you not coming out alive you're not ready to go back into the field just yet. You've only been back at school for what? Four days? And yes you have recovered remarkably well and did complete a full month of SAS training so soon after the attempt on your life, which is not ordinary by any means. But the fact is it has only been three months. I'd prefer to send you on a simpler mission or two before throwing you into something so big."

Well he does have a point I guess, "But I did really good in training at 'camp'. Even The Sergeant said so, and I'm guessing he doesn't give out compliments like that often."

"There is no denying how well you did do Alex but that one month just isn't enough! You'd need maybe another month at the least." Mrs. Jones told me.

"How about I make a deal with you Alex: There are two weeks remaining until New Years Eve. On New Years Day you will be taken back to the SAS training camp for another month. If you succeeded in keeping up with Wolf while you are there we will consider sending you out on another mission." Wow, Blunt wants to make a deal with me? I get the feeling he doesn't do that much.

"Deal." To say Blunt looked shocked would be an understatement. I'm guessing he expected me to refuse the offer. Fat chance.

"You do know that Wolf is one of our best recruits, don't you?" How could I possibly not know that? I trained with him twice before and he'd helped me out on one mission. Anyway Wolf was like a brother to me, he'd help me out.

"I know but I accept your proposition." I said calmly.

"Okay," Blunt sighed, clearly defeated. But what could he do? I mean he had been the one to initiate the 'deal'.

"So there's a chance you might send me back into Scorpia?" I questioned hopefully.

"Yes Alex there is a chance."

"A slim chance though Alex. And don't be surprised if we let you go on a few other missions first. That is if we let you back into Scorpia at all. But a smaller mission or two would be preferred before such a big assignment." Mrs. Jones cut in.

"Okay, that's cool."

Blunt and Mrs. Jones just looked at each other and shook their heads slightly. They probably thought I was insane. Though sometimes I myself have to wonder if I am completely sane.

"Well see you tomorrow Alex, same time."

&

The next day at school: Lunch

"So Alex where were you… really?" My friend Ben asked me the next day at lunch. I was sitting at our usual table with my friends Tom, Kyle, Ty, Ben (guys) and Blake, Riley and Dylan (girls). We'd been best friends for ever and naturally they-like everyone else- wondered where I was always disappearing to. They'd been asking me since I got back.

"Yeah Alex, where do you keep disappearing to?" Riley inquired.

"I already told you guys…" I began but was cut off.

"Come on Alex, you can't be sick that much! Okay sure at first we could understand it but that was just after Ian died. But really, three weeks every other month or so? And now three months?" Riley interrupted me.

"And you're so active and eat all healthy and my god look at your body! No WAY are you some weak, sickly, little kid!" Blake said.

"Weeeeell… it's not totally a lie, I mean in ways I am sick or injured each time?" Hahaha what an understatement, 'injured' is not even the half of it. Oh, and big emphases on the 'ways'.

"Come on Alex were your best friends…" Ty began.

"You can tell us!" Kyle or 'Ky' as we call him finished for his twin. Ty and Ky were the school pranksters.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." I smirked evilly at them but glanced at Tom who in turn shook his head, Tom of course knew all about me since I had gone to Venice with him and him and his brother helped me get into Scorpia.

"Well did you do something illegal?" Dylan whined twisting her long, dark red hair around a finger.

"Uh…" Well something's probably had been illegal.

"Oh god you did something illegal!" Riley groaned and dropped her head onto Dylan's shoulder.

"Okay Rider spill," Ben ordered.

I just laughed at the show they were putting on. It was quite entertaining.

"Aw Alex what did you do?" Ky asked.

"Did you steal a car?" Ty asked.

"Rob a bank?"

"Steal something?"

"Kill someone?"

As the twins kept spilling out ideas I just laughed harder each time mainly because everything they said I had done, except rob a bank of course.

"I got it!" Ty slapped his forehead with his hand, "You illegally immigrated to Canada!"

Now that I have never done…

"You dug a hole to China!" Ky threw in.

Oh boy, here we go again.

"No actually I didn't do any of that." I said still laughing myself. In fact our whole table was laughing so loudly we were getting weird looks from some of the other people around us.

But Ty being who he is completely ignored the comment and seemed deep in thought about his brothers last idea, "You know I've always wondered something… if everybody else is digging the hole to China, than where do the people already in China dig to?"

"Wow you are so intelligent," Blake replied the sarcasm present in her voice.

"You know what Ty, that's a very good question!" Ky began but stopped at the glares from the others who were clearly not pleased with the change of topic. "But we can talk later… I know where you live!"

The two black haired, green eyed twins collapsed into a heap of hysterics. Everybody else just shook their heads and waited patiently for them to settle down; this event was not uncommon in our little group.

When they finally calmed down a little Tom asked, "Well none of the rumors are true are they?" Even though he knew perfectly well that they weren't.

"Nope," I responded shortly.

"So than where the hell were you?" Riley demanded.

"A building," love to keep the answers short and sweet.

"A building?" Dylan asked.

"Yep," I responded.

"Where was said building?" Ben inquired.

"A place," I grinned at the blank looks I received from them and decided to continue, "Yep a place with trees."

"Oh the opens up so many possibilities." Blake complained.

"Who were you with?"

"People."

"What were you doing?"

"Stuff."

Questions continued on in this kind of mater and I of course would answer them in the most general sense possible.

"Ugh Rider your so… so… blah," Dylan said.

"Why can't you tell us?" Blake whined.

I moved my upper body closer to the middle of the table and gestured for them to come closer. When they eagerly did I whispered, "It's a secret!" and plopped back down into my chair.

They all groaned and Ky said, "Your such a fucking mystery Alex."

I smirked at them and said, "I know, it's part of the whole image."

&

Later that day at the 'bank'

When I got to the 'Royal & General' I quickly greeted the people at the front desk and made my way to the elevator.

When I reached the door to Blunt's office, I was surprised to see it open. Just like my uncle's old office the door was always locked, there was a special security system equipped with the door. There was a tiny video camera and x-ray thing so Blunt could see who was at the door and if they had any weapons on them. He could then press a little button on his desk to unlock the door if he wanted to see the person or to call the guards if it was an intruder.

I peered inside the office and was surprised to see Mrs. Jones placing a file on Blunt's desk. She turned around and caught sight of me, "Hello Alex. I was just dropping something of for Alan. He's not in the office today but would you like to come up to my office and chat?"

"If you're sure your not busy or anything?"

"I don't have anything else planned for the day and I did want to talk to you anyway." I like Mrs. Jones; she's really nice to me.

"Okay." I followed her out of the office and back to the elevator where we traveled up 2 more stories. When the doors finally 'dinged' open I followed Mrs. Jones down an identical hallway to the one below us. When we reached a mahogany door that said,

'T. JONES: DEPUTY HEAD'

on the front we stopped. Mrs. Jones put her hand on the touch screen and it quickly scanned her hand before I heard the door 'click' open and a slightly robotic voice say, "Welcome. Mrs. Jones."

The office was practically a clone of Blunt's, same rug, furniture, computer, window and such but I saw a few details that were different. There were a few framed photographs on the desk, a few more scenery paintings on the wall and one of those smallish potted trees and some flowers in front of the window. Though minimal, these things made the office feel more inviting than Blunt's.

"I like your office." I told Mrs. Jones.

"Ah yes thank you. If I'm going to spend all day in it I think it should feel a little more comfortable, don't you?" She sat in the chair located behind her desk.

I sank down into one of the chairs in front of the desk and almost sighed in pleasure, these chairs were just as good as the ones' in Blunt's office… whoops there I go again talking about my chairs. If I start it again feel free to hit me. "Yeah," I answered in return to her question.

"Now, tell me what's been happening in your life; does your chest still hurt?"

"Sometimes, but not as much as it used to. Just a tiny pain sometimes after a lot of work or something stressful."

"Ah good, good. Have you noticed anything strange going on?"

"No."

"Anything at school? Any teachers or students acting strange?"

"Well they were but its gradually starting to die down. And as for teachers… no. Well, just my history teacher, Mr. Jenkins, but he's never liked me much anyway."

"Why wouldn't he like you? You're a very nice, fun and smart boy Alex."

"Thanks, but I guess because I've missed so much school but that's about the only thing I can think of that I could have done." I saw something twitch on Mrs. Jones's face but ignored it, "So where's Mr. Blunt today?"

"Oh, he's on a personal day."

"Personal day?" I questioned. I didn't know Blunt had personal days. Heck I didn't even no he had any 'personal' things to do.

"Yes, he had some things that needed to be taken care off."

"Oh, he just doesn't seem like the kind of guy who has many 'personal' things to do."

I saw a soft smile on Mrs. Jones's face, "Yes, he didn't used to be like you know him to be now. He used to be fun loving and have a good sense of humor, but that's changed in the past 10 years or so." Hmmm…

"How? Did something happen?" I questioned.

"Yes something happened, but I'm not sure it's my place to tell you." Silence, "But I think you should know, you have the right to know, it might help you understand his decision on your request to go back into Scorpia." She took a deep breath and began, "Well you see Alex, Blunt had a wife, a son and a daughter."

"No way," I swear I felt my mouth hit the floor, I was that shocked.

"Yes way, his wife's name was Helen, his son was named Paul and his daughter was named Jen. Paul was 6 and Jen was just about 5 months old."

"What happened to them? Were they…"

"No they weren't killed. Paul was about the same age as my son was; it was so cute how they would play together when they were little, they were like best friends. Anyway, it was about 10 years ago when my own 2 children and husband were kidnapped. Blunt noticed the pattern, first your parents, than my family and decided that he would have his family relocated, given new names and start a new life. It was the hardest decision he ever had to make, he loved his family with his whole heart and it broke his heart to send them away but he cared only for their safety."

"Wow, so does he ever see them?"

"No, it's too risky but he sends a big check to them every month."

"I never would have thought…" Wow, I felt bad for Allan; I know how much family can me to someone and how much it hurts when they're taken away from you.

"Most people wouldn't, I think he wants it that way."

"So his family was sent away at about the time you're family was taken?"

"Yes, I wish everyday I still had my husband and children with me but I'm glad that Alan was able to save his family."

"So their still alive?"

"Oh yes, their all fine, healthy and happy, we have agents living in the city where they are and they report to us. The former Mrs. Blunt, now the Ackerman's, never did re-marry though. She misses Allen as does her son Paul since he was old enough to remember his father at the time. But little Jen doesn't remember him, she was too young."

"So she doesn't know about the whole MI6 thing or any of that?"

"Helen's showed her pictures of Allen just so she'd know that she had a father but I think that's about it. Of course their not Helen, Paul and Jen anymore, they are now: Monica, John and Katie Ackerman."

"I feel bad for Mr. Blunt now."

"He wouldn't want your pity; he doesn't want anyone's pity. That's why he puts up the emotionless mask you always see. Sometime's I catch the act slipping when he's around you but he always catches it. I think you may remind him of his own children, though Paul is 2 years older than you and Jen is 4 years younger. He just doesn't want you to be hurt."

"Did Scorpia take your family?"

"I don't know it's possible though. I don't have much hope they are still alive, the bodies were never found, you know that though right?" She questioned me. I just nodded my head. I could tell it was hard for her to talk about her family but sometimes it was easier just to talk about it to someone instead of keeping it all inside, believe me I should know.

"How did it happen? I mean, when did they disappear?" I questioned her.

"Well, I had to work so Greg, he was my husband, stayed home to take care of my youngest daughter Lily, she was 13 months old at the time. My son, Matt, was in the 1st grade. I remember he called me when he got home from school, it was his first day and he was so excited. He told me all about it and about seeing all his friends again." Her voice wavered a bit and I noticed her eyes glistening, "He asked me when I was coming home, I had a meeting so I told him I'd be home after dinner. I spoke to Greg and asked about Lily, he told me she was fine and that she had learned another word, he got her to say the word into the phone, do you what she said? 'Kitty', it was the most adorable thing ever. That was the last I talked to them, if I had known what was going to happen I would have gone home right away and skipped the meeting. Anyway when I got home I found a note on the counter, it said 'We went out to get ice cream, be back soon. Love, Greg, Lily and Paul.' I still have that note to this very day. I waited for about an hour, that's when I knew something was wrong. But I waited a little longer and than called Greg's cell phone but I just got the dial tone. I called the office and they sent guys out searching the city. They searched for 3 years and found nothing, they turned practically the whole world inside out looking for them, I made sure of it. After 3 years hope died and searching slowed. 10 years later and there has not been a single trace of them found."

"I'm sorry," I was amazed at her composure; she managed to keep her tears from falling.

"I am too. Now its getting late, we should get you home." I looked at the watch on my wrist and was surprised to see it was almost 7:30 pm.

Oh Jack would be wondering where I was but she knows that I come here every day after school so she's probably not worrying that much. And besides its Friday night, lots of fun stuff planned!

&

Missmeliss4251: Thanks for reviewing! And I agree about the Alex getting a gun thing to, that's why I gave him one! I think I'm going to have some fun with said gun in the next chapter…

Was it good? This chapter is basically just two chapters from my other story changed a bit to accommodate a male Alex Rider. The friends' scene wasn't anything really I just needed a scene to put between the other two. I might go more into his friends later.

The next chapter is going to be Alex's fight with Jack, some fun with Alex's gun and possibly Jack being kidnapped. After that only new chapters! LOL! Next should be up by Friday.

-ASU2010