Chapter 7: Career Meetings

By: Valak

Alex reluctantly walked into the room with Yassen at his back. His latest attempt to run from the insanity that had become his life had been short-lived. Yassen had seen him sprinting away from the school as he pulled up for the career conference. A faked hug and the liberal application of pressure point torture had found him escorted into the overly full room and settled in a chair of honor between Yassen and Jack.

"Who the hell invited Joe Byrne?!" Ross demanded.

"Nobody, we're the CIA we have spies everywhere," the man shrugged simply from his place leaning by the door frame.

"Dammit, Walker!"

"It wasn't me!" The Texan protested but was unable to move further away from Gordon without putting himself closer to his former handler.

"Look, I hate all of you but can we at least chuck ASIS out of here?" Alex interrupted tiredly.

The room stilled.

"Why?"

"It's nothing, just a bit crowded and…"

"The hell did you do to make Alex Rider scared of you?"

"I'm not scared of them!" Alex protested "They just…" he trailed off maybe bringing up his problem with Brooke wasn't the brightest idea in a room full of overprotective assassins.

"They just, what, Alex?" Yassen's tone was dangerously calm. Oh, hell no he did not need this in his life.

"Nothing. It's fine, they can stay."

"You're not getting off that easy. You're in a room with SCORPIA, the CIA, MI6, and Yassen Gregorovich and the Aussies are the ones you have problems with?"

"Shut up, Ross. Can we just get this shit show going?" He snapped.

"Language, Alex."

"You're not my Dad, Yassen."

"You are fortunate that I am not." The man narrowed his eyes then turned to Brooke. "Since Little Alex is not forthcoming perhaps you would like to discuss the problem before I... remove you from the room."

There was the sound of a knife in a sheath.

"No knives!" He protested. "Nile isn't even here to enjoy it!" and Jack was here and, honestly, he did not need more blood on his hands.

"If you do not want blood spilled on your behalf then I suggest supplying the reason why you have an issue with Mr. Brooke."

"And how is that supposed to help?"

"Alex."

"Fine! He shoved me in an active minefield during a bombing and almost got me killed then recruited me to work with my Godfather."

"Wait...the guy I shot?"

"Yes, Ben 'the guy you shot'. Now can we please move on?"

"That doesn't make sense," Ross stated simply.

"Since when do intelligence agencies ever make sense?" Alex snapped.

"No, trying to get you killed as a recruiting pitch is pretty normal. What's your problem with working with your Godfather?"

"How about he was a fucking traitor and Brooke knew it and used to me to expose him because he was too incompetent to…" Alex's rant was cut off by a scream.

"Dammit, Yassen I said no. Fucking. Knives."

"I did not use a knife."

"Bladed weapons count too."

"Should have been more specific, little Alex." Yassen mocked as he wiped the blade off in Brooke's shirt.

"I think we can remove "attorney" from the list of potential career options." Walker offered helpfully.

Alex rounded on Yassen again. "Can't you kill him too?"

"No."

"Why the hell not?"

"Because he is useful in keeping an eye on you and he annoys Gordon."

"Can I kill him?"

Yassen arched an eyebrow. "Of course, Alex. Should you wish to finally declare your colors as an assassin it would save us all the trouble of this meeting.

"Be the best day of my life too," Gordon muttered from behind his flask.

Alex looked thoughtfully at the Texan. With his lack of sleep and annoyance at this meeting, the prospect was more tempting than he would ever admit to. "You would grade it, wouldn't you?"

"Of course, every opportunity is a learning opportunity." Dr. Three smiled serenely.

Alex sighed. "Congrats, you get to live another day, Walker."

"Bollocks!" Gordon cursed.

"Are all parties ready to move on now?" It was the first time Mr. Carson, the career counselor had spoken and it wasn't the terrified squeak of someone who had just witnessed a murder but the bored, put upon tone of someone who hated their job but it was too easy for them to bother looking for another.

"Yeah" Alex sighed slumping into his chair. "Let's get it over with."

"Alright, why don't we start with introductions? Your name, relationship to Alex, and maybe what you would like to see him pursue at the next level education or in the workforce?" The man looked to Blunt who was standing in the corner closest to him.

"Alan Blunt, Royal and General Bank…"

"Yassen just murdered a man and not a single one of you blinked. I think you can drop the 'banking' act." Alex said dryly.

"Right," he coughed, "Alan Blunt, head of MI6 I'm Alex's handler…" he was interrupted by several disapproving snorts and coughs.

"I swear to God! You're the adults, control yourselves I'd like to get this meeting over with while I'm still young!"

"Thank you, Alex," he grimaced, suddenly regretting saying anything, "I, of course, think Alex should continue his career as a spy. A degree in political science would help tremendously."

"Seconded!" The room turned "Joe Byrne, CIA, we've worked with Alex before. Could not agree more but maybe with an agency that doesn't treat him like dog shit."

"All intelligence agencies are the same, Alex." Yassen counseled. "And a degree in political science is hardly useful in our field or the rest of the world for that matter."

"And who are you?"

"Yassen Gregorovich."

"And your relation to Alex?" The whole room tensed, waiting for an answer, even Alex was curious about what the assassin would come up with.

"Mentor." It was Jack, Alex looked over at her in betrayal. He wasn't the only one. "What? He's better than the rest of this lot. Besides, I don't want a repeat of that." She pointed to Brooke's still bleeding corpse.

"Thank you, Ms….?"

"Starbright, I'm Alex's guardian," Blunt coughed but she ignored him "I think Alex should have a nice, normal career. He wanted to be a footballer but, sweetie, you're smart enough to do anything." Alex flushed under the praise, ducking his head from the approving smiles of the assassins and intelligence agents around him. What was his life?

"I agree with Ms. Starbright," Yassen said smoothly, favoring her with a smile.

Was he…surely, he wasn't flirting with Jack. Please, God, no. He looked to Jack who was blushing lightly and smiling back at him. "You know he killed Ian, right? And threw me in a ring with a bull? And killed like a million other people?"

"A million is hardly a fair representation." Yassen frowned, Alex scowled back opening his mouth to respond but was interrupted by Mr. Carson.

"Alright, is there anyone else who would like to introduce themselves?"

"Jet, I am one of Alex's profes...teachers, and I believe he would have a bright future as a botanist."

"Hardly, my dear, Alex is not patient enough for such endeavors but a career in the sciences, maybe as a doctor would be ideal for him - fast-paced, requires critical thinking, plenty of adrenaline even if your life isn't the one on the line…" If it wasn't Dr. Three suggesting it, the idea might have merit.

"Don't be ridiculous? 8 years in classrooms would be a waste of Alex's potential." Blunt scoffed.

"Not in my classrooms." Three said with narrowed eyes.

"I'd rather go to Uni…" Alex interjected hesitantly.

"Quiet, Alex." Blunt and Three said at the same time and the room devolved into shouting.

"You know what, I changed my mind. I'm going to be a homeless bum."

"No, you're not." The entire room chorused.

Alex shut his mouth in shock. They had all agreed on something? MI6, SCORPIA, the CIA, Yassen Gregorovich, and Jack had all agreed on something. Hell had frozen over or maybe this meeting was hell? Definitely that one. He needed to escape. If he tried to walk out they would probably tie him up but if he had an excuse…his eyes landed on Brooke. That could work.

Gordon saw where he was going and held out a folded plastic sheet. He had come prepared. With good reason too. Alex ignored the arguments around him as he spread part of the sheet over Brooke then rolled the man onto the rest of it. Stealing binder clips to seal the edges.

"See, look at how efficient he is with handling a body. Clearly, the markings of a future doctor."

"Or a spy," Blunt countered.

"Or a garbage man," Alex shot back as he began pulling the body towards the door, "Since I'm hauling off your shit."

"Here I'll get the door for ya, kid," Ross said helpfully and Alex looked up at him with distrust but couldn't turn it down without getting in trouble with Jack.

Ross shut the door behind them "I'll give you a 5-minute head start before I bring up that you're missing.

"Only 5?!" He'd have to hide from his professors, two intelligence agencies, and Yassen. 5 minutes was not enough.

"You'd get 10 but Walker is still alive. Correct that and I'll see what I can do."

"If I 'correct that' Yassen's hauling me out to a cabin in Russia to make me into his clone. I'll pass, thanks.

Ross blanched, "Hell, kid, do us all a favor and pass on that. The last thing we need is two of Gregorovich running around."

"Thought so. So... you'll give me 10 minutes?"

"7 and a half and you have to take it to the dumpster first. I'll have someone pick it up from there." Alex flashed him a grateful smile "Less if you don't get going now." He hurriedly began dragging the body down the mercifully empty hallway.

10 minutes later a thoroughly unruffled Yassen took Alex's seat beside Jack who was clutching the arms of her chair in fear.

"He is fine, merely sleeping. I will bring him home once everything dies down if you would like to leave. I doubt there will be any more progress made as to Alex's future in this meeting."

Jack flashed him a relieved look "Thank you, Yassen. Would you, um...would you like to stay over for dinner?"

"Of course, I will ensure that Alex will be there. What time?"

"6, I, um...I'm not the best cook."

"Then perhaps we will cook together? I'm sure with Alex running around there's a lot to do at home. I'll bring the ingredients, just relax and enjoy yourself until then." He smiled.

Jack beamed at him and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek and flounced out of the room to get ready.