There was a really bad typo in my last doc, so here's a better(sorta)edit. Sorry about that!(aaaaand an added disclaimer!)
Disclaimer: Dear Anthony Horowitz,
We(the writers on fanfiction) plan to kidnap Alex, Yassen, Tulip(Where did you come up with that idiotic fool's name? I want to know!)and basically every character except Sabina(and Herod Sayle, whom I do not fancy) if you refuse our demands.
For your silence, you can keep Sabina and write a series called, "Sabina Pleasure", about a girl who is brutally murdered by Yassen in multiple ways(IF I allow you to borrow Yassen for a book or two, MWAUAHAHA.)
There is no need to panic. Do not contact the police. Hand over the character rights(particularly the ever awesome Yassen)to us writers and NO ONE will be harmed(no hard feelings. It's for the best).
Much Love,
DRoA 3
See? I have already written a letter to resolve the whole, "disclaimer" problem. Now wasn't that considerate of me? :D
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"Strauss here", The soldier man said as soon as his call was answered. He remained rigidly still as an unintelligible voice buzzed out from the other side. Alex watched him listen intently and noted the name he gave.
The man hang up and cocked his head to the side, deep in thought. Alex interrupted him.
"Is that your real name?" He questioned, not too loudly for fear of angering the man. Fortunately, he caught an amused grin on the face in front of him.
"Let that slip out easily enough, did I?" He smiled halfheartedly, then resumed a remorseful glance. Alex caught him shifting his slick ebony boots uncomfortably, but made no move to speak.
"Look, Alex. This wasn't my idea...I think you should not be taken accountable for the affairs of reckless others. They choose their own lives, and should not control yours-"
"-Does this have something to do with the phone call?"
Soldier man-...Strauss remained blank. "Yassen Gregorovich wants to see you."
"He's-" Alex started.
"-not dead," finished Strauss impatiently.
'...look closer next time you watch someone die...'
"Don't listen to anything he says, and, don't tell him anything about where you have been after Air Force One. Especially not your father."
"What does my father have to do with this? He died fourteen years ago!"
The young spy saw a spark of dispute in Strauss's eyes, but the man did not disagree. He said simply, "Yassen Gregorovich hates liars more than anything else in life. His father lied to him about his job and his mother about his father. It resulted in their own deaths along with his infant sister. It destroyed nearly all the life he had in him. If you tell him about John, it could turn him into an entirely different person. Do not feed the flame. Heaven forbid, you don't want to see the dark side of Yassen Gregorovich."
He felt his eyes fill up with liquid and shut them briefly to spare the expense of crying in front of this man. Alex could do that much at least.
"I don't understand! Even if you are telling me the truth; how could he have survived that?"
"Miracles do happen, Alex. Even to people who don't deserve them."
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"Don't leave me alone again!" The younger boy shouted. His light brown hair was messy and his eyes red with heated tears. John had to admit that Ian looked pitiful when he pouted. But there was a time to grow-up and get over it.
And honestly, he was getting on John's last nerve.
"You're sixteen years old! You can take care of yourself. If you can even remember, I was only seventeen when I had to take care of you."
"That wasn't my fault," Ian spat out. John could already see the hurt clouding in his eyes.
"I'm not blaming you, but can't you give me some credit? Do you want to live in a foster home or orphanage while I'm gone? Because if you don't shut up about this then that's where you're going! Nobody's making me raise you Ian. I could abandon you forever in a second."
He realized that he had obviously made a huge mistake when the sound of a slammed door echoed throughout the apartment.
Why had he been so stupid? He didn't want to isolate the only living person he cared about. John knew exactly why his mood always changed unceremoniously around Ian. He was jealous and bitter about being a parent around his kid brother. Simple as that.
...but at twenty seven years old, he was an adult now. And Ian was still a child. He had his parents for most of his childhood, but Ian has lost them at only six years old.
"Great going, John," He said to himself and walked over to Ian's door.
"Ian?" He called out softly.
"Go away! I hate you!" A small voice managed to yell through the wood.
Luckily John had never been keen on the whole, 'personal space' concept and therefore Ian didn't have a lock on his door.
...which was just another way he had screwed up as a big brother.
"Ian?" He called gently as he awkwardly stepped through the doorway.
No reply.
Ian was sitting on his bed, staring out his window at the cloud sky. Then, as if right on cue, rain started pouring down and Ian half-jumped at a sudden thunder bolt.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of that," John said quietly.
"Yes, you did. You say it all the time."
"I-"
"Forget it John," Ian took a deep breath and continued,
You were right. A complete stranger would be better family than you. Send me away. I won't hold it against you. I promise."
John blinked. This wasn't what he expected. "But I don't want you to leave Ian. I-I just..."He struggled for the right words.
"You just don't want to be honest with me. And you only want to take care of me when you feel like it. Oh yeah, and you want to disappear for days at a time without explanation and act like that's what normal people do."
What was he supposed to do now? He couldn't just change the subject.
...but...why did he have to change it? Why did he have to lie?
"Okay Ian. If I tell you the truth, will you give me a second chance?"
It was the first time John went against MI6 policy.
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Nobody here knew the meaning of 'Guest Room', so Alex was, as always, handcuffed to a chair in a white washed room, the first place he had been in other than the cell.
He wondered if he was going to be interrogated here; white washed walls. a wood desk with two chairs, and a mirror(obviously two-way)gave off paranoid ambiance.
Or maybe they were just messing with his mind.
Then Strauss walked in with yet another nameless minion. And-
Definitely messing with my mind...
The last time Alex had seen Yassen, he had been in one of the most powerful planes in the world, bleeding to death. Then, he had seemed so sure of himself at triggering a dark piece to Alex's past. He had also been at his most human.
The cold blue eyes were as soulless as their first meeting on Sayle Tower. His air as threatening as always. But there was something that had changed about Yassen that Alex couldn't pinpoint.
Perhaps it was the fact that he had gone insane and Yassen was merely a figment of his mentally insecure mind...
It seemed likely.
"Here he is. Is this enough proof?" Strauss asked.
Not acknowledging Alex's presence Yassen replied, "Leave us alone."
"I can't-"Strauss started but then saw the murderous gaze of one of the most dangerous people in the world. He changed his mind all too quickly.
"Five minutes."
The other man in the back shot Strauss a look of doubt but was nodded off and they both left quickly.
That left him alone in a room with Yassen Gregorovich(assuming he could possibly be real), and Alex felt himself shake. He wasn't shivering because of the cold.
Yassen suddenly started moving around the room, checking for something. He scanned every corner of the walls the stopped at Alex and nodded, satisfied that somebody was not tapping into their conversation.
"Hello little Alex," He greeted calmly.
Alex tried to reply but found that he had tightened his lips together out of strain. He was scared.
"I see we both have explaining to do," Yassen continued, ignoring the fact that he had received no welcome. "But it appears that your present situation is more urgent. I assume you would like to get out of here?"
He managed to nod back. It was all he could do without sounding like a complete and total child.
It was his fear that gave him away though. Yassen turned closer to Alex and paused, searching the boy's face for deception. He found what he was looking for in the tense brow, shaking legs, and a bead of sweat rolling down Alex's head.
"Why are you so alarmed Alex?"
No reply.
"Why won't you answer me? Have they hurt you?" He asked with his voice raising slightly.
...you don't want to see the dark side of Yassen Gregorovich...
The menacing voice screamed through Alex's brain and he shook his head trying to get it out.
Yassen took his head shaking as an answer to the last question. He remained calm, but Alex could tell he was not as friendly as when he had first walked in.
It had been friendly for Yassen anyway. Alex knew no other hit men to compare him to.
What?!?
Alex jolted back in the chair he was bound to when Yassen leaned in dangerously close. He was close enough to-
-kill me without anyone else having to stop him! Alex realized with horror. He tried to jerk away, but Yassen pulled him back by holding on to a chair arm. He looked Alex in the eyes.
"I will get you out of here Alex," He started, then turned to the side and whispered in Alex's ear, "But after I save you, I would very much like to hear what you have been up to in my absence." The voice was smooth and threatening. Alex had never heard Yassen speak to him like that.
It must have look like Yassen was trying to strangle him because Strauss lit into the room like a bomb and had his gun already out. "GETYOURHANDSOFFOFHIM!"
Yassen stood up calmly and straightened himself. He looked bored. "Excuse me?"
"You really think I would let you walk away from here alive if you killed him?!?"
"And why would you care whether this young man dies or not? You don't know him."
Strauss started to say something but stopped at the last minute and changed his comment. Speaking careful he answered, "If he dies, she'll kill me."
"Alex should fear death from your hand and not mine, sir," Yassen replied evenly.
"Y-You...said if we let you see him..." Strauss suddenly felt very small next to the other man. Unsure of himself.
"I keep my promises," Yassen replied, although it wasn't always true.
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Alex watched in horrified fascination. He was in this deeper than he thought and doubted even Yassen could get him out of here.
And, as much as he wanted to get out; He didn't want Yassen to force the truth out of him.
That venom in the assassin's voice... No one had ever spoken to Alex in such confident cruelty. Not like this. Not now.
He had to get out of here on his own.
And he had to get away from Yassen.
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Yassen hadn't meant to become so hostile toward Alex. He wasn't used to being around a child and Alex's fear only aroused his sixth sense. He could practically smell the deception dripping off of John Rider's son.
And he didn't like it one bit. He had cheated death and saved the life of this teenager twice. And now the same person-a child-was lying to him?
Though he doubted anyone knew it, Yassen hated liars.
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The bright eyes made him so content. He hadn't seen Ian happy in days...well, years actually. He had finally done something right as a brother.
John told Ian everything about MI6, his enemies, his allies, and people who didn't fit in a category, but rather were simply there in the moment.
"I can't believe this John." Ian smiled, entirely entranced by the world of secrecy.
"It's true. For once...it's true," John said, nearly smiling. Ian look up at him with admiration. He had never seemed proud of his brother before.
"I'm sorry John. I thought you...were just trying to get away from here because you hated me."
"It's all I know Ian. I had to do it. If you were me and had to watch mum and dad die the way I did-you would do the same."
"I love you John."Ian hugged John tightly, afraid he might disappear again. "And...I want to be just like you one day!"
John frowned." No Ian. You wouldn't like my life. You'll never have to leave for days at a time without notice or risk your life every second of the day. And you'd be a good parent. You won't make the same mistakes I do Ian."
He couldn't tell whether his brother was listening or not.
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She looked like she was in her mid forties. Older than him.
But not necessarily more experienced.
Ashen hair, vibrant eyes, and an darkly energized mood. He could see how this woman maintained a strong underworld career.
Or she could have just killed off someone else with an underworld and taken credit for it.
Frankly, he didn't care either way.
"Mr. Gregorovich." She paused, weighing the name up on her tongue. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Is it? And whom do I owe the pleasure?" He drew out his last word slowly for maximum effect.
"My name is Sierra Strauss. I think you've already met my brother."
"The pitiable young man that's playing guard? How very unfortunate for you. But then, we can't choose our family now, can we?"
A small fire lit up in her eyes, but it wasn't directed at Yassen. "He does his job," She said shortly. Sierra reached back to push a strip of her long hair out of her face. She wasn't young, but still had that youthful inferno that made her appear younger than she truly was. Yassen was not unlike her.
"And his job is kidnapping a teenager? How quaint. I suppose he couldn't handle anyone older?"
"You have this all wrong, Mr. Gregorovich. I'm not who you think I am; a criminal. I'm taking back what's rightfully mine. And I'm trying to help you."
"Help me? I wasn't aware I was in trouble," He smirked but kept a hand close to his pocketed gun.
"You have been lied to."
Yassen paused. She had his full attention.
"You have been lied to by John Rider."
Yassen would have laughed if only he had known how to. "John Rider is dead. The dead do not lie."
What does she hope to achieve by this?
"Actually, he is alive. Oh, and he should be here in no time at all. Spies are rather quick to find their destination you understand."
"You're crazy," Yassen observed.
"Oh no. Not at all. I just wanted to warn you ahead of time. I understand that you respect a little honesty, Yassen," Sierra purred out.
"I-how-...Why should I believe the word of a stranger?"
"Because I have the proof. I've been watching MI6 like a hawk. An otherwise very good agent forgot to file his report. I sent spies to check up on it. The MI6 agent and a doctor found him; John that is. Alive. Would you like to see John Rider again? I'm sure he has a lot of explaining to do."
Yassen was unsure of what to say.
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Crawford had no plan to proceed with. John could be anywhere. Jack was still recovering. Alex was... He had no idea what had happened to Alex. Then, if MI6 found out about this, he would lose his job and, probably, go to jail.
Probably.
In his concentration, Crawford failed to notice David's movement. A quick, sharp hit to his head brought him back to earth. Or, rather brought him out of it.
I am turning completely senile...Crawford thought as his world faded to black.
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She had given him a pick for the handcuffs and David had used it when the agent wasn't looking. It had been simpler than he expected.
The doctor was easy to take down after that. It was so easy he felt guilty, actually. The computer was right in front of him, beckoning to be taken. David carefully slipped the flash drive out of his pocket and put it into a front outlet.
Clone all files?
Yes.- No.
He pressed 'Yes'.
5 seconds until download complete.
...Done.
He took the drive out and finished the job.
Erase all information stored?
Yes.- No.
With one final movement he cut off a million medical documentation's that scientists had worked their whole lives to discover.
Hopefully they were smart enough to have their own copies.
David would bring the files for her, let Gregorovich kill Rider, and then he would kill Gregorovich.
He had to admit it was a good plan.
John was, of course, on the right trail. This was mostly due to the fact that he had been trailing behind Yassen, and then he stopped at the old soap factory and overheard the two men:
"She won't let Alex go, if that's what you want."
It was all John needed to hear to understand what had happened. If he was lucky enough to have not been seen by Yassen-an older Yassen, he reminded himself, then he would have an even chance to follow them all the way to his son.
If it was his son.
If this wasn't a nightmare.
He privately hoped it was a nightmare.
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Yassen waited. The woman-he rarely called anyone by their name-left him to himself while he 'decided' on what to do.
He knew what he was going to do. He would break Alex out and leave. Quick and effective methods were best. They left little room for doubt. This woman was obviously mad to some extent, so there was no reason to listen.
His subconscious kept pointing toward the man in the alley and Sierra's crazed rants. He ignored it and scanned the area, counting the rooms and halls trying to sum up where they were keeping Alex.
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Alex noticed nothing unusual at first. Another guard came in to check on him. He didn't look different from the others really. In his twenties. Short hair. Plain attire. Something about the look he received put Alex off though. The man just walked in and stopped, as if he was in sudden pain.
Trying to get a better view of the man, Alex noticed something unusual that he couldn't place.
"You...are Alex?"
It came out as a small voice for such a lean man and surprised Alex.
"Well I'm not James Bond now, am I?" He said haughtily. Perhaps he was in an Asylum and some of the prisoners had escaped.
"Alex-I..." The fair haired man looked like he was about to say something, but stopped.
"Who are you?" Alex asked, noticing the nervous gaze scanning the room. The other man wasn't a guard. He wasn't supposed to be here.
"There's no time to explain. MI6 sent me. I'm here to get you out."
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"The two front posts didn't report this hour."
Sierra breathed deeply. He came sooner than she had expected.
"Of course. I'm sure they're very busy."
"But-"
"But nothing! Take a break. There's no need to become unsettled. It's under control." She then turned to the other man in the room and smiled. "Your part of the deal is ready Mr. Javenson. You can leave."
And he did.
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He saw Alex first. The boy looked good. He was not being pinned down by heartless criminals or interrogated with an Aztec labyrinth come alive. Yes, he looked good in Yassen's opinion.
And then a man appeared behind the teenager and Alex glanced back, not with any insecurity.
MI6 maybe?
They were closer now. Yassen was, after all, blocking an exit and Alex had not noticed him.
Never mind. The man had just seen him.
And a little too late at that. They were less than seven feet away.
"We don't want any trouble," The man said calmly, looking very much familiar to Yassen. He knew exactly whom he looked like, but Yassen would not give in to these mind games.
"Neither do I," He replied coolly and continued," You did your job and got Alex out, but I after all, did come here first, and used my valuable time at that to do it. I deserve to speak with him after my labor and your lies will no stop me." His last line was, of course, referring to the resemblance that kept Yassen not far from insanity.
The man blinked, clearly in doubt. "You know Alex?"
Yassen ignored his question and unconsciously went for his gun. "Leave. Tell MI6 that I used force. Leave now and I will let you live." His gun was out now, pointing toward the left, near the MI6 man.
"No Yassen."
The word shocked Yassen. It was said in such venom and the brown eyes of the other man looked hardened with force.
Yassen wanted nothing more than to kill him.
He twisted his gun handle and turned closer to the right angle, then pushed down, and started to fire the shot.
His movement was quick. The man would never see it coming.
"No!" Alex screamed suddenly speaking and confirming his near empty presence.
Bang! The shot fired, hitting a target without fail.
But the bullet did not come from Yassen's gun, and John Rider was not harmed.
He, instead, was looking in horror at his son's bleeding form on the floor.
The assassin moved faster than John. He took in Alex and spun, looking for the shooter.
Standing behind him was the American soldier who had tried to strangle him to death outside the metro. The man was staring at Alex.
"I-I didn't mean to shoot him! You turned at the last minute, I didn't see the boy!" He sobbed.
Yassen shot him in the arm without a second thought and pulled out a small but very sharp knife, wanting to make the death as painful as possible in case Alex did not survive.
He remembered the MI6 agent at the last minute and pocketed the knife once again. He didn't have the time for vengeance.
It could wait.
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His vision was blurry as light streamed through.
"Alex?"
He knew that voice. Ian had spoken to him in a tone like that when he was just a little child. But it wasn't Ian's voice.
"I know you. Who are you?" He asked, managing to slur the words a few syllables.
The man looked at him with eyes the same color of his own. There was no deception. No hate. No movement.
"I'm your father Alex. And I'm very sorry. For everything."
Alex didn't stay awake for the rest. And he didn't faint. He just went into a stunned state, somewhere between sleep and limbo.
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Yassen had heard him, but it was not in the tone his teacher had ever used. But still-
It was him.
"...John?" He said, meaning to say it as a fact, but ending up questioning himself.
"Yes," The other man said as confirmation, taking Yassen's comment as a question.
"You never died? You faked it all these years?"
"I didn't fake anything."
"What?-"Yassen started before he felt something hit his lower skull.
John started up with the site of another armed man, but stopped at the sight of a gun in his direction.
"I'm not going to hurt you John," Said the man.
"Of course," John replied with sarcasm, but was still annoyed to discover that yet another person knew his name.
"Don't you remember me? I was at your wedding."
He tried to place the face, but couldn't. His wedding had been small, but that was years ago. When he was happy and things were different.
"Peter Strauss, your brother-in-law. Or ex brother-in-law I should say. I've grown up . I was in my late teens when we last met."
"And you're working for big sister? You were the whole time, weren't you?"
"I was young and stupid then. I've changed."
John eyed the gun with distaste. "I can tell."
Peter didn't look offended. "I hid Alex from her after you...left. I knew where he was the entire time and never told her. I tried to save him from a different life."
"What do you mean, 'tried'?" John asked.
Peter shook his head in light defiance. "Ask your son. We're running out of time," He said while putting his arm down and shifting the gun away from John. "Alex is hurt. Take him before Gregorovich wakes up." He started to walk away.
"Where are you going?" John asked, his voice echoing through the empty halls.
"To...do something I should have a long time ago."
And then he was no longer there.
John glanced at the unconscious man he had once know before lifting a semi conscious Alex up and carrying him out of the building.
There's no way for me to explain. He thought.
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Yassen woke several hours later to a completely empty building. John and Alex were gone. The American was nowhere to be seen. And he wanted nothing more than to ring the neck of the man or woman who had struck him into the dark abyss.
A memory of his childhood suddenly filled Yassen. He wasn't sure why.
And he frowned, uttering a single pained sentence filled with cold recollections from years past,
"Never again."
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A/N-Whew! That was a long 5,000 words :) I'll have the epilogue up by the end of this week...which is the next two day really...
The sequel will be called, "On A Hiding To Nothing." Which is a phrase meaning; To be faced with a situation which is pointless, as a successful outcome is impossible."
You probably already knew that, but hey...
Let me know what you thought of this story(which is Part 1), and what characters/ideas you want to see? Also, what should the setting/s be? It has to be somewhere other than the UK(I'm sure you can't handle too much of my James Bond geography knowledge anyway, lol)
Review!