Alex Rider: Jedi Knight
Jedi Goat
Disclaimer: I don't own Alex Rider or Star Wars.
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Chapter 3: In Danger's Path
"Hello?"
"Alex." Mrs. Jones's crisp voice came over the line. "We need you to come to headquarters immediately."
"Why?"
"I can't tell you over the phone."
"Okay." Alex took a deep breath. "I'll be there." He shut off his phone and turned to Obi-Wan. "Can you take me to the Royal & General Bank?"
Obi-Wan nodded. He looked curious, but he did not inquire to as what was going on. He shifted the car into the leftmost lane and they turned off onto the next street.
A few minutes later the car pulled to a stop outside the gigantic brick building. Obi-Wan turned around to look at Alex. "Do you want us to come in?"
"Sure," Alex shrugged, not really caring one way or the other.
The three Jedi exited the car and Alex led them up the steps, past the two security guards, and into MI6's lobby.
"Alex!" Mrs. Jones was waiting for him. As he approached, Mrs. Jones's eyes widened. "What happened to you?"
Alex gingerly touched the purplish bruise around his eye. "Nothing."
Mrs. Jones stared at him worriedly for a moment. Then she smiled, noticing the other Jedi. "Hello, Obi-Wan, Anakin."
Obi-Wan bowed politely; Anakin nodded absent-mindedly, caught up in his observation of the building.
Mrs. Jones turned. "This way, please," she called behind her. The Jedi followed her into the elevator.
Alex watched in silence as the people walking below outside grew smaller and smaller and they became level with the upper floors of the other buildings crowding the street. He didn't know what to expect from MI6 this time; he didn't want another mission, when he had a job to do with the Jedi. Alex focused on his calm center, shielding his inner thoughts from the others and (he hoped) offering his 'game face'.
The elevator chimed on the sixteenth floor of MI6 headquarters. Alex knew very well where they were headed as Mrs. Jones guided them to room 1605.
She opened the door in front of them. Alex saw Alan Blunt already waiting, hands clasped on the desk in front of him.
"Please take a seat," requested Mrs. Jones in a clipped tone as she headed for her own spot beside Blunt.
Alex stopped in front of the desk; there was only one chair, and he didn't want to be rude. Instead the three Jedi stood.
Blunt raised his eyebrows, but did not comment. He nodded at Mrs. Jones to begin.
Mrs. Jones leaned forward. "Alex, I'm sure you think we're here to give you another mission. But this time, there is a matter of great importance that we must discuss with you. Around noon, we received a call from Jack Starbright."
Blunt removed a tape recorder from his pocket and set in on the desk. He flicked it on.
Instantly a shrill voice shrieked, "Help! HELP! Back off, you monster!" In the background there was a loud THUD.
Then there came a deep, hoarse laugh. "Heh heh heh heh. You are no match for me."
Alex heard the hum of a lightsaber and felt a shiver of fear. Jack!
"Help," Jack wailed, and then her voice arced into a scream.
Abruptly the sound died, and all was silent except for ragged breathing.
"Heh."
Then, click.
Alex stared down at the recorder, frozen in fear. A knot of worry had clenched in his stomach. His hands were gripped together, knuckles white, nails digging into his palms. He was lost in his thoughts, concerned about Jack.
"Alex?" Alex felt a hand on his shoulder and jerked up. Looking up, he saw Obi-Wan watching him worriedly. "Are you all right?"
Alex took several deep, shuddering breaths. "Yeah. I'm fine." He turned to Mrs. Jones. "Is Jack okay?"
"We don't know." The head of Special Operations seemed sad.
Alex shook his head, almost unable to believe this was happening. But that had definitely been Jack's voice. And the terror in it had been too real.
Finally Alex raised his head again. "Why?" he asked.
Mrs. Jones bit her lip. "That was not the only occurrence today. An MI6 agent caught this on tape."
Blunt picked up a remote and pointed it at the window behind him. Instantly the window changed into an image taken from high above London. The focus of the picture seemed to be a bus, headed down a side street.
Alex peered at the film, wondering what this was about.
The bus slid to a stop and the doors opened. A moment passed. Then a man dressed in a denim suit – presumably the bus driver – stepped out, approaching the doors to the nearest building. He cracked them open and gestured back to the bus.
A grayish figure appeared out of the bus, cradling something against his chest. The image zoomed in, and suddenly Alex gasped in horror.
"It's a robot," Anakin hissed, sounding astonished. The figure was made of metal and his robotic body was shaped in a humanoid form.
"It's General Grievous," Obi-Wan clarified.
"Not that." Alex swallowed hard. He glanced at Mrs. Jones. "That's Sabina, isn't it?"
Mrs. Jones nodded, looking sorry for him. "I'm afraid it is, Alex."
Blunt shut off the tape. "Someone is after those close to you, Alex."
Mrs. Jones continued, "We think it would be best if you disappear for a while. Go into hiding. We can track down whoever is doing this and stop them."
Obi-Wan nodded thoughtfully. "And if he were to go on a mission with us? He would be in good hands."
Mrs. Jones looked sideways at her superior. "There is still a danger," Blunt stated, "But it is still entirely possible."
"Let's go then," Anakin suggested.
"Be careful, Alex," Mrs. Jones warned.
Alex nodded. "I will."
Then he, Anakin and Obi-Wan exited the office.
Sabina woke a while later. She opened her eyes slowly, trying to figure out where she was. Why am I moving?
She gazed up and nearly screamed. She clamped her mouth shut and glanced away from the creepy robotic face above her. Now she could see that the robot was carrying her. In front of them walked the 'bus driver'. He was now dressed in black, flowing robes. With his dark clothing and pale face, he looked like a vampire. Sabina couldn't entirely dismiss the possibility that he was; after all, enough strange things were going on already.
Abruptly the man stopped outside a cage. It had been dug out of the wall, with three walls of soil inside and a barred front. The interior was dim as if it had lost its hope of getting out.
Sabina's heart leaped into her throat as the man unlocked the cage and opened the door.
The robot stepped up to the doorway. Sabina braced herself but it was not enough to block her rough fall.
Sabina landed on the concrete floor with a THUMP. The door clanged shut behind her, and the footsteps of the robot and the man faded into the distance. Sabina waited a moment, and then she groaned, rolling over and checking herself for injuries. There were two long scrapes down her forearms and two more on her knees. With another groan Sabina dragged herself across the cage to the wall. She slumped against it, exhausted and confused. Where am I? And how am I going to get out?
Her vision blurred together and suddenly tears were pouring down her face. Sabina tried to hold them back, but she felt so helpless and lost that it seemed the only thing she could do.
Sabina never realized there was another presence in the cave until she heard a voice near her ear.
"It's all right. Don't cry."
To be continued...
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