Chapter 7:
Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider.
A/N: Ready for another action packed chapter? I just finished the newest book and am all hyped up on adrenaline. So here goes.
No one would have heard the feeble protests coming from Alex's mouth as Cam placed a cloth with an acrid smelling substance to his mouth and nose. Alex reached up and tried to pry the cloth away but he couldn't in the short time it took for the chloroform to knock him out.
Wolf got the call about two hours after he had gotten into DC. They had secured Alex. He had gotten very close to escaping but one of the newer agents had found and restrained him. Wolf was now in a taxi heading to some place in DC to pick Alex up. He was sure the boy was not going to go easily. He had a tendency to completely ignore others in authority.
Max arrived at the meeting early. This was her first one and she was nervous. The colonel stood beside her telling her it would be okay. Suddenly her phone rang. She excused herself and went outside for privacy.
"Hello?" she asked into the phone.
"Max it's Cam, it looks like your friends didn't leave like you asked. One stayed behind. His companion is coming to get him."
Max had a vague sense whom had stayed behind.
"And you decide to tell me this now. I'll be over in a while. Let me tell the colonel," she answered and hung up without saying goodbye.
She sighed, when would this ever end? She opened the door and was met with a horrific sight. Everyone in the room at the time was lying where they stood. She immediately clasped her hand over her mouth and went into the room. Under the desk she found the panic button and hit it. Alarms started to sound as she slowly hobbled over to the door. The alarm had raised caution and armed trainees were finally getting there. When she made it to the door one of the men called for a medical team and caught her as she fell.
"Major, what happened?" asked the man.
"I don't know I came in and saw them like that," she answered.
The medical team soon came and gave her oxygen. The others were also being treated. She later found out that arsine, a highly toxic gas, had been released into the room as soon as she stepped out the door. It was luck she wasn't in the room. She was not going to meet up with Cam soon. She had to stay lying down to get most of the lethal stuff out of her system through breathing. The medical team transported everyone to the medical building.
Alex woke strapped to a bed. He was light headed but he knew he was in big trouble. He knew because a very angry Wolf was looking down at him. Alex diverted his eyes from the piercing stare the man gave him.
"What the hell did you think you were doing?" asked Wolf.
Alex didn't answer. Wolf slapped him hard across the face. Alex didn't so much as flinch. His cheek stung but what was worse was that his pride was damaged. He had been captured and had failed to escape. Even if this wasn't a normal mission he had been on so many that he felt like he failed miserably.
"What the hell were you thinking?" asked Wolf again.
Alex's other companions watched the goings on from afar but Alex knew they were there.
"Answer me!" shouted Wolf.
Alex stayed silent. It was unusual for him but he didn't want to lie to his friends. Turning his head Alex clamped his mouth tighter.
"Fine. You're coming home. Whether you like it or not," said Wolf angrily and he stalked out of the room.
As soon as Wolf was out of the room Alex started to struggle. The bonds were meant to keep someone tied down tight so that they wouldn't hurt themselves as they struggled. It was a weird feeling being in good hands but still tied down. He tried to move but he felt something against his leg. Somehow reaching into his pocket he pulled out a Swiss Army knife. It was one of the really good ones too. Alex had an idea. The straps that held him were leather not chains. The only problem was that he could only moves his arms only far enough not to be able to do much. There were four straps. One for his head, which wasn't being used, one was for his upper body, one was for his stomach, on was for his upper lower body, and the last was for his ankles. He could only get to the one on his stomach. Alex judged how long it would take for him to cut each of his bonds, because even though he could get his arms free the straps were locked and he didn't have a key, even his explosive ones.
Still he thought it was worth a try. After half an hour he had gotten through the first strap. He feverishly worked on the rest. After two hours of laboring no one had come for him or had seen him. He still had his other gadgets with him, even the gun. Slowly Alex climbed out of bed and out the door. In the hall he turned left and found himself in familiar territory, this was where Cam had found a bleeding and almost help less Alex after his first escape attempt. He heard voice up ahead and realized they were his friends; he snuck up behind a corner to listen.
"Why would Alex do such a thing?" asked Eagle.
"I don't know but if he keeps going like this it's not going to end too well. Something is wrong with him," stated Wolf.
"What are you talking about he's not hurt badly and he's not sick," said Snake.
"Mentally he's going through something," answered Wolf.
Alex felt a flare of anger in his stomach. He turned and headed back the way he had come searching for an exit. He found one and silently slipped outside. Suddenly the alarm ripped through the air. Alex forgot about being silent and ran as hard as he could for the chain link fence that was near. He wasn't in a prison but the building was important enough to need fence protection. Alex climbed up then he saw the barbed wire. Men were searching outside. He didn't have time to climb back down and hide. He decided it was going to be bloody hands over not seeing Max again. He grabbed hold of the wire and swung himself over, the barbs cutting deeply into his hands. He winced but was soon safely on the other side of the fence and running away. Only when he was a good distance away did he realize he left a scent trail, but that didn't matter. He was in a forest but it looked familiar. Then he realized the fence didn't protect the building. It was perimeter fence for the base he had been heading to. He was where he needed to be after all. Smiling he ran forward.
Max was up and moving soon after the incident. She had told Cam that she was going to come and see him but as she left the mini-hospital her phone rang again.
"Hello," she said.
"Max, are you out of the meeting?" asked Cam.
"No, there was no meeting but more about that later. What is it?"
"Your friend escaped."
As soon as those words were spoken she saw Alex watching her from the trees. He was waiting for her to get out of public sight so he could talk to her. She sighed.
"All right. Try and find him," she said.
She hung the phone up and gestured to Alex in the trees. He was surprised but nodded. She walked to her office. Alex came in after a minute. She was standing with her back to him. He put a hand on her shoulder. But before he knew what was happening she had him in a simple submission hold. He was surprised and tried to get out of it but when Max twisted the right way he stopped. Today was not his day.
"Why didn't you just go home?" she asked.
Alex couldn't see her face but he could hear something wavering in her voice.
"Max, I…" he started but she twisted his hand again.
She didn't say anything for a while.
"Go home and stay there," she said in a monotone voice.
The door opened and Wolf and the others came in. She had somehow contacted them. Wolf came over and took over the hold. Max stepped behind her desk. Alex could see tears on her face but she wiped them away.
"Thank you Kitten," said Wolf using the codename.
"You're welcome Wolf," she said smiling a little, "Take care of him."
The man nodded and pushed Alex in front of him. The boy struggled, he needed to tell Max what he had learned and that he thought she was in danger. But Alex realized that Max had been gentle. He cried out as Wolf wrenched his hand.
"Come on Cub," said Eagle, "Let's go home."
"Yeah, Jack's probably worried about you," said Fox.
They were talking to him like he was a child.
"No," Alex protested, "She's in danger. Please, listen to me."
"Lies," said Wolf.
"No, I'm serious," said Alex in desperation, "Wolf, trust me. I've saved the world just about five times and all of them off of suspicions. Please."
Alex was jerked against a wall and his arm let go. Wolf stood in front of him. Alex sighed, there was hope.
"Cub, I hope you're right," said Wolf, "What's the situation?"
Alex looked around there was no one around and Alex realized all the tough love kind of attitude was an act. They were really here to help him.
"Her father was killed and she might be the next in line. We have to protect her," said Alex, "Plus there was something that I needed to check while I was here. Her father died of something but we were never told what it was."
"Alex, you're right on one front. Max has already been attacked but she survived and so did the others that were being targeted," said Wolf.
"What? What happened?" asked Alex but then thought better of it, "Tell me later. There is one thing I have to check."
"What?" asked Eagle.
"Well, I told you about her father and how we don't know how he died. He wasn't shot. The man we asked told us he was with the man when he died. He just keeled over. I have a clue as to what killed him," said Alex wanting to tell Max.
"Keep going," ordered Wolf.
"I was reading on my way over here and I saw a passage in a book that worried me. I'll show you when I see the book again," said Alex.
Wolf nodded.
"All right. Let's get to the hotel and see what we can do," said Wolf.
Alex smiled.
He saw the boy smiling and had overheard the conversation. He would be sure to eliminate the deceased colonel's daughter before they tried anything. He had the perfect plan for it too. She would be heading over to eat in a little while and he would meet her there. She would greet him and they would eat together. She would talk and smile at him. Then she would leave but not before desert. That's when he would strike. He would slip the chemical keeping the virus alive into her food. It didn't taste like anything and she would never see it coming. Then when the girl was out of the way he would kill the boy and the other agents one by one.
A/N: Well I'll stop there for now. It's not Alex's day. Enjoy the peace for now…