One Hell of a Reunion

The single most unnerving thing about the SAS was their wolf-stare.

This constant seemed to change after they all saw Alex and Nico kill Dr Three, torch his followers and light up what remained of Scorpia.

Now, the single most unnerving thing about the SAS was their silence.

Alex Rider and Nico di Angelo were still in the same spot as when they'd discovered the soldiers hiding in the bushes. They were both staring at the Sergeant, who was looking right back at them.

"I repeat, Devil, Cub," he growled, "what the fuck is going on."

The two exchanged a look.

"How much did you see?" Nico finally asked. The Sargent stalked towards him.

"What I saw was two of my best soldiers being strangled, setting buildings on fire, healing in a span of two minutes and killing a man in no plausible way!" He lectured, prodding Nico's chest at random intervals. "Explain this, now."

Nico glanced over the enraged man's shoulder to see K-Unit in the closest set of shrubbery. Wolf was making a go ahead, sign. Nico bit his lip and looked at Alex, having a silent conversation.

Tell him? He asked. Alex nodded.

May as well, he shrugged. Not much we can do about it.

"I'm getting old here!" Sanders yelled. Nico sighed and rubbed his forehead, his fingers and palm coming away even more stained with soot than before. He had no doubt he'd just smeared whatever was on his face even further across it.

"May we go back to camp, sir?" he asked. "I can explain it far easier there than here."

The Sargent looked about to object before the flaming building in front of him cracked dangerously and partly disintegrated.

"Fine," he growled. "But I want answers you hear? You're not getting out of this, Devil."

Nico could think of several ways he could easily get out of it, but he opted for none. Brecon was his new home and he'd be dammed if he wasn't going to let it accept him wholly.

"Of course, sir," he agreed. Allowing himself and Alex to be escorted away and into the front of a long line of Jeep's that had obviously brought the small army here, Nico sent a small smile at K-Unit as they passed. It plainly oozed, I know it was you that brought them here but I don't care much. He saw the four soldiers relax significantly. They weren't going to be mortally wounded today.

"Get in," Sanders ordered, holding the door open for Nico and Alex. They complied silently and sat down, not bothering to buckle up. Nico suddenly got a clenching feeling in his gut as the car moved off. It wasn't altogether unpleasant, but it was definitely telling him something was going to happen.

Beside him, Alex was being fussed over by about three medics. How they all managed to fit around the teen spy was an oddity, and Alex tolerating them was even stranger. He must have been really, really tired.

The snipping of bandages was the only sound inside the Jeep, and Nico, for the first time, was annoyed with the fact he couldn't just give Alex any nectar or ambrosia to heal him. His friend had been tortured and was in a lot of pain and he couldn't do anything about it besides sit and listen to people disinfect, stitch and wrap the wounds. Alex offered little explanation for the cuts and no one asked anything.

By the time the cars arrived back at Brecon, Nico had become closely acquainted with the gut feeling that something was off. He climbed out of the car with Alex, who looked like a half-wrapped mummy, and was immediately taken hold of by the Sargent, who put a hand on each boy's shoulder as though they'd make a break for it right in the middle of a military camp. Leading them off to his office, Sanders barked an order over his shoulder for K-Unit to follow too.

Nico felt the sensation in his stomach shift, like a compass pointing north. He turned towards the door of the Sargent's office and the feeling moved again to behind him. Sending a quick cursory glance over his shoulder, Nico allowed himself to be herded for the third time into the room where Sargent Sanders worked.

There were six chairs on one side of the desk and all of K-Unit sat down. Sanders took his spot behind the desk and steepled his fingers.

"Start," he ordered.

"Where?" Alex asked.

"From the bloody beginning!" the man snarled. He pointed a finger at Nico.

"I want to know how the fuck you do all the things you do, Devil! And if there are more of you, because plainly, even if I don't know the full story, I'm aware that this camp and anywhere else could be ants under your boot if you so desired. So talk."

Nico shifted in his chair to get comfortable.

"Well, "he started, "I'm not-"

Suddenly there was a gigantic explosion outside that rocked the whole hut. The door was thrown off its hinges and a small storm of dust followed in it. A blazing heat began outside and Nico leapt to his feet. He should have known. He should have known. That gut feeling was the same. The very same. He should have paid more attention to it. It happened every time they –

"Nico di Angelo!" a loud, angry and very familiar voice yelled. The words rolled all the way around Brecon Beacons. "Get your skinny Zombie Boy ass out here and face me like a fucking man!"

Nico sighed. He was in so deep if she was swearing already.

"Excuse me," he said wearily to the five men and Alex. "Duty calls."

Nico moved to the doorless entrance and stood in it, looking out. The dust had settled and he could plainly see ten people outside, all of varying heights, all armed, all dangerous, and angry as a charging bull. He felt K-Unit, Alex and the Sargent crowd behind him.

"What…" Sanders choked. "Who are they and how did they get in here?"

Nico rubbed his temple, closing his eyes.

"Their methods are simple," he replied. "And to answer your first question… "

"I see you, Death Breath!" the same person yelled. "Come over here right now!"

"… that's my family."

DUN DUN DUN! I'm so excited for this next bit. Can ya'll guess who came to kick Nico's ass?

See you all next time!

Jasmine Out!