A/N: Always read the Author's Notes, it can help you to figure out what is going on. Hint: The name of the chapter is the song that is being used, and there might be hints of the song or title in the story. Look out for them. Also, most of the songs and so far all of them are by Simple Plan. It might change but not likely unless I can't think of a single song from Simple Plan that fits the chapter. I just became a fan of theirs because their songs fit into the Alex Rider world. This chapter is not as dramatic.
Chapter 4: What, no song?
Previously on The Alex Rider?: "I don't want to grow up. I just want to have fun."… This is who I am... Everyone groaned but Alex beamed… "Yes! A man of my kind!"… Matthew jumped out of his seat and danced… Charles stuck his head out from behind his seat and joined his brother… All three boys sang together… Alex did a back flip and then a split… Charles rolled and Matthew did a flip over him… Charles and Matthew did cartwheels simultaneously… Alex did a hand stand, walking down the aisle behind them… They ended back to back to back, arms folded… Then, the bus stopped… They were at Brecon Beacons.
"Well, it looks like we're here," said Alex.
Everyone started to get up and grab their stuff to get off the bus.
"Wait, hold up! Everybody stop moving and sit back down! I'll be back!" he ordered.
The adults didn't look happy to listen to a child but they complied except for a few.
"Why should we listen to you?" asked Kyle.
"You listen to me because I am in charge of you lot and if you want to test that, how about you call MI6 Headquarters and ask to speak to Blunt." He answered.
Kyle glared but said nothing. Alex nodded, satisfied.
"Thank you."
He started to walk out but stopped and pointed at Jack.
"Jack, come with me. I'll like to introduce you."
"Okay."
She grabbed her stuff and hopped out, not completely oblivious of the jealous or angry looks sent her way. She dragged her bag behind her. Alex stopped, turned around, hopped back into the bus, grabbed his load, and was on the ground outside again in 5 seconds flat. Jack sent him a questioning look.
"Left my pack in the bus," he explained.
She nodded and swept her head, telling him to lead the way. He looked over his shoulder. Faces were plastered against the windows of the bus. The driver looked impatient. Alex and Jack walked to the Sergeant's office's door and knocked.
"Come in!" said a muffled but gruff voice.
They opened the door and entered, closing it softly behind them. Alex snapped to attention, Jack looked at him. He nudged her when the Sergeant glared at her and she did the same. It wasn't perfect but it was close. They
"At ease soldiers! Now, what do you want?"
"Excuse me Sergeant, weren't you expecting us?"
"Why would I… oh, you're with the kids," he said. "Miss, are you in charge of the maggots?"
He addressed the question to Jack.
"No actually he is… Sir." she said uncertainly while pointing at Alex.
"It's Sergeant," Alex whispered to her.
She nodded in understanding.
"Him? He's one of them. He's a kid too."
"I am Agent Rider of Military Intelligence sector 6 Special Operations."
"You're kidding me. A boy as an agent? Not possible."
"Sir, you know me. I am Cub from months ago… Sergeant."
"Cub… Cub… I remember. I knew you looked familiar."
"Yes, yes, I have everyone in the bus still. What is the plan?"
"You are in charge of everyone but if you want some Units to help you can request them."
"I would like that, Sergeant."
"Okay, who do you need?"
"I want K Unit and maybe J Unit. How about you bring in L too?"
"Fine, I'll get them and bring the maggots and their parents and teachers to the center area. I will meet you there," he said. "And great job with the uniforms, that is two less to provide them."
"Yes Sergeant."
"You are dismissed."
"Thank you Sergeant."
"Go, get out of my sight."
"Yes Sergeant!"
They left. Alex sighed with relief and went back to the bus.
"Okay! People in the front of the first level out first, then back half! Same for the top when their done!" he ordered and stepped back out.
People milled out adults and kids alike. He waited for them to gather and group up. He did a mental count of the people. There were 57 of them, 19 adults and 38 kids. There were 8 female adults, 11 male adults, 21 female kids, and 17 male kids.
They stood there waiting as Alex assessed them. When he was satisfied, he cleared his throat and waited for them to quiet down themselves.
"Everyone this way pleased."
He led them, with Jack at his side, to the campfire or center area. There waiting was the Sergeant and the three units Alex requested to be there. Alex and Jack, who had learned by now what to do in this situation, snapped into attention for the second time that day within 10 minutes. The adults looked at them like they were crazy and the boys snickered. As the Sergeant walked down the line beginning at them, he nodded in approval though his expression changed when he reached the other.
"WHY ARE YOU NOT STANDING AT ATTENTION?"
They jumped and scrambled to obey.
"Thank you! These men are J, K, and L Unit! They will be working with Cub here! In the matter of Cub being in charge, he might as well be a Sergeant to him. So, treat him with RESPECT and OBEY EVERYTHING he says! You will address him as Cub or Sergeant Cub!
He walked away, leaving them. Alex looked at them sheepishly.
"Just call me Cub please."
He turned to address the units.
"Hello, I am Cub. Some of you may remember me from before or recognize me from recent times. I chose you all because I knew I could trust you. I hope I have made the right choices. The thing is I do not except you to obey everything I say but I do expect you to go along with things and help me out when help is needed. We should act like equals no more. I won't order you around and neither should you do it to me. I may be younger but I have the same maybe even more experience than you out in the field. So, do not underestimate me or you will figure out the consequences. I will ask of your opinions when I feel I need it but feel free to suggest anything. I will take you suggestions to mind and see the best course of action from there. You will not judge or question my decisions unless it directly endangers one of the trainees or any of you. You may put a stop to it. Last but not least, if I am not available, all of you are in charge of them and their training. Are we on the same page as each other?"
They looked at him first with raised eyebrows and then respect. They nodded.
"Good."
He shook their hands, sealing their agreement.
"Now that we are in agreement, I have seven questions. One, who are you? K Unit included for their benefit."
He meant the crowd of people standing there watching. One man stepped forward. He had an air of energy around him. He was around 35 years of age. He had a built but lean figure, black hair, piercing green eyes that were studying everyone, and an easy-going smile.
"Hello, I am Cheetah, the leader of J Unit. The man next to me is Monkey; he is the gun-specialist and a trained sniper. The next one is Hare, he is the medic. Last, there is Jaguar. He is the hacker and code breaker."
Monkey was a scrawny man. He had sand-colored hair and light, soft drown eyes. He was about 28. Hare had orange-red hair and hazel eyes; he was fit but not bulging. He looked like he was 32. And Jaguar had dirty-blond hair and intelligent, calculating blue eyes. He was also wiry, which meant he was not the strongest but fast enough to make up for it. He too looked young like Monkey.
Wolf step up next.
"I am Wolf, the leader of K Unit. Eagle is the sniper and gun expert, Snake is the medic, and Fox is the map- reader," he said, pointing to them in turn.
One more person stood. He was about 37 and muscular, but not too obvious. Everyone was strong but it was not shown fully in the muscles. He had scruffy, ginger hair and amber eyes.
"I am Hawk, leader of L Unit. My Unit members are Cougar, Falcon, and Cobra. Cougar is the map-reader and gun specialist, Falcon is the medic, and Cobra is the code-breaker and signal expert."
Cougar was about 34 with tan-colored hair and artic blue eyes. It was a weird but oddly fitting combo. Falcon had piercing, chestnut eyes and brown hair. He seemed around 29 years of age. Finally, there was Cobra. He was about 27, the youngest there. He had gray eyes that showed intelligence and had a cunning look to it. His smile was lop-sided but easy-going. His hair was jet-black too.
Alex turned to the "guests". He couldn't keep calling them that. He chose trainees. Alex turned to the trainees and Jack.
"You will address me as Cub and them by their code names. Members in the SAS do not use their real names and I am considered an unofficial member. Is that understood?"
He didn't wait for them to answer.
"The second question is where will we be residing?"
"There are five extra cabins available," answered Monkey.
"Good. Next question, where are the uniforms?"
"What uniforms?" asked Mr. Drew, the maths teacher.
"Everyone is to wear uniforms like the ones Jack, the Units, and I are wearing."
"I don't do army," said Jessica Hamlet, a girly-girl.
"Well, you have to wear them, which leads back to the question."
"They are in the four cabins for the… trainees," said Cobra.
Alex nodded.
"When the uniforms are put on, they shall be neat and straight. Your beds shall always be in order and you SHALL awake on time. I will tell you the timetable later, once you are…settled. Forth question, when do we begin the training?"
"As so as possible," said Falcon.
"Ok, when do we leave?"
"Thank you. Now we have a good question coming out of your mouth," sneered Jake.
Alex spun and marched up with him, and they had a stare off. Both were refusing to back down but finally Jake looked away. Alex huffed in content and did a small victory dance.
"Obviously, you do NOT understand the meaning of respect Coleman," said Alex. "And I thought the Sergeant was being crystal clear. I think you need to get a dictionary and look it up sometime. It will help a lot and you might learn a few things if they do not go through one ear and out the other."
Alex stepped back and faced everyone again.
"I know I am around the same age as some of you and younger in some cases, but I will not demand but ask that I may have your respect. The thing is to survive this and possible future attacks, you need my experience and training. Whether you like it or not, is none of my business. Even though I bet some of you will not think twice to… express it."
Alex slapped his hands together and continued on.
"Are any of the other units expecting us?"
"No, not really, you did just plan this last night," said Fox. "The news did not spread, yet."
"I wonder what their reaction will be when they see a whole load of kids walk into the mess hall for breakfast," pondered Eagle, lost in his fantasy.
"That is a must see," said Jaguar.
"Agreed," Hawk said.
"The last question is for K Unit."
They perked up, listening to Alex.
"Alone," he drawled.
"Oh, oh," they said.
Alex led them to the side, looking over his shoulder. The others looked really curious.
"Does anyone know who I am?" he whispered.
"What do you mean?" asked Wolf.
"I mean do they know I am Alex Rider."
"Oh that, no. Do you want them to? I can arrange that," said Eagle, who looked like he was about to jump up and announce that.
"No, no, I do NOT want them to know that little fact, ok. Are we clear?"
"Yes," they chorused.
"Good."
"You really need to stop with the 'goods' and 'okays', it is getting annoying and weird."
"If saying those words repeatedly annoys all of you, that is good and okay with me. Good, okay."
Alex turned away and addressed everyone.
"K Unit can go and do what they would normally do. I would love to be acquainted with J and L a little more. Lead the way, please."
K Unit left rather gleefully, leaving everyone to head to the cabins. When they reached them, Alex started to assign.
"The first cabin goes to female adults, second female kids, third male adults, and forth male kids. Is that settled? Good, okay. Bathrooms are… wait bathrooms. Please tell me you have one for females."
"No, we do not but we will block off one for them specifically, is that okay?"
"Yes it is. Bathrooms are over there and I will give you the rest of the day to adjust and prepare for tomorrow. The last cabin will be housing Jack and I so if there are any problems, knock. I will be going now. Are you coming?"
"Yes," she said.
They turned to head to the cabin when someone called out.
"Cub!"
He turned.
"Yes."
"What no song?" asked Kailey Fargo.
"Nah, I'll give you guys a break from that."
"What does she mean by song?" asked Hare.
Alex ignored them.
"I suggest you go to bed early because I expect you bright and ready tomorrow 6 am or as they say 0600."
"What, 6 AM!" they yelled in complete utter shock, excluding the Units, for they were use to that already.
Alex just waved to them behind his back and disappeared into his cabin with Jack.