Yassen Gregorovich sat with bated breath to see whether Doctor Three had been successful in restoring Alex Rider back to his former self. Outwardly he showed none of his emotions, however he couldn't deny that he was concerned. This was the fourth method that Doctor Three had tried in his attempt to bring Alex back to the surface. Yassen wasn't sure how many options were left. If they couldn't get him back, he knew that Doctor Three would be disappointed because Scorpia would have lost a 'valuable asset'. On the other hand, he was 'emotionally compromised' when it came to Alex. That would have been Doctor Three's assessment, if he found out the true extent (and the bond that he already knew of was too much for Yassen's liking) of Yassen's feelings, anyway. But if he admitted the truth to himself (and only to himself), Yassen knew that he would be devastated if he lost Alex. He would have failed to keep a promise that he had made, not just to himself, but to someone he had once considered family, a long time ago. And more than that, he would have failed Alex. He had offered Alex the option of going with him to Scorpia because he wanted him to survive. To have a life, even if it wasn't the life that he would have wanted. So if they failed... if Doctor Three couldn't bring Alex back and he remained as 'Elliot' for the rest of his life, Yassen would have failed in more ways than one. He forced himself to focus on his breathing, using meditation techniques that he had mastered before Alex had even been born, to bring himself back under control. Alex's eyes blinked slowly open and Yassen looked closely for any sign of recognition in their brown depths.

"Orion," Doctor Three said.

"Sir," was the automatic response. A glimmer of hope burned in Yassen's chest. The previous three times, 'Elliot' had still been in control of Alex's mind, and had either not responded to Doctor Three's greeting, or he had panicked. 'Sir' was the most Alex-like response that they had received so far.

"What is your name?"

"Alexander Rider, sir." Yassen breathed a slow sigh of relief. Alex was back.

"He's all yours," Doctor Three said to Yassen as he left the room.

"Thank you, Doctor Three. Orion, with me."

Alex had been trained well enough to follow most instructions without outwardly voicing any of his questions, especially when there were other people around and particularly if those people were one or more members of the Executive Board. And Doctor Three was certainly not someone that Alex would have wanted to show defiance in front of. Yassen could see that he was very confused and had a lot of questions at the moment, but it would be better to have the conversation somewhere more private. He led the way out of the room, down the corridor and into the underground carpark, with Alex obediently and silently at his side. Yassen unlocked his car and signalled for Alex to get into the passenger seat, whilst he took the driver's side.

"What is the last thing you remember doing before we left that building?"

"Sir?" Alex asked, plainly puzzled.

"Where were you before that building?"

"I was on assignment with Sagitta-"

"-No."

"I'm sorry, sir?"

"You have spent the last six weeks in the custody of MI6." Yassen glanced at Alex and saw disbelief etched on his face. Understandable. Before he could say anything, Yassen continued. "Alan Blunt trialled a new interrogation method in which your memories were replaced. He hoped that anything of importance would bleed through from your subconscious and you would share it with your handler. However, they did too thorough a job and you did not remember anything other than when I attempted to rescue you from their facility which you remembered in the form of a dream."

Alex sat silently as he took in the information that he was being told.

"They made me into a new person?"

"Yes."

Alex swore viciously. Yassen decided to let it slide on this occasion.

"How did they know about the operation?" he asked after a few moments spent composing himself.

"It was a trap. They wanted you back, so they waited until you entered the building - alone as you were small enough to gain access to let Sagitta in the back entrance - and ambushed you. Alan Blunt hoped to find out what you know about Scorpia's operations but also, I suspect, to eventually be able to use you for their own goals again."

"I see. And Sagitta?" Alex asked, a note of apprehension in his voice.

"Surprisingly, MI6 left them unharmed. You were their focus and taking Sagitta out would have compromised their ability to take you quickly enough to stop us intervening." It had been clear to Yassen from the start that Sagitta were not culpable for what had happened that night, but that had not prevented him from leaving them stewing over losing sight of Alex. They may have been on the operation as a unit, but Sagitta were still Orion's protection detail, whatever other circumstances they found themselves in, and Yassen did not pass up any teaching opportunities. From now on, they would take a lot more care in ensuring both Alex's safety and the security of their targets. "They are waiting, reluctantly," he added with the subtlest hint of satisfaction in his voice - Alex would pick up on it, even if no one else would have been able to (for just as he was better able to read Alex than anyone, with the exception of perhaps Miss Starbright, Yassen knew that Alex was the one person to whom he was not a completely closed book. Most of the Executive Board would have found such a strong bond with their second in command unacceptable. Yassen did not.) - "on Malagosto. I have also arranged for you to have a week's downtime with Miss Starbright. Understandably, she will also be extremely relieved to learn that you are safe."

"Thank you, sir." Alex opened his mouth as though to say something else but decided against it.

"Yes, Alex?" Yassen prompted, letting him know that this was not a conversation between Orion and Mr Gregorovich, one of the executives of Scorpia and his second in command, but between Alex Rider and his mentor.

"Why are Sagitta on Malagosto and not here?"

"Usually, their bond with you is an asset. On this occasion it would not have been. If MI6 had intercepted them or if something had gone wrong with your capture the situation could have escalated."

Alex nodded, able to read between the lines and understand what Yassen was not saying in his explanation.

"When you are back from your week's downtime, we can decide on the message we send back to MI6. For now, we can leave them to waste resources searching for you." With that, Yassen turned on the engine and drove away, heading for a private airfield where they would take his private plane back to Malagosto.

A/N: Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments along the way! I've loved reading them all, and I'm so glad you've enjoyed the story as much as I enjoyed writing it! 💖