Disclaimer: I do not own any Alex Rider characters. Any mentioned that appear at any time in this story are the property of A.H. Any others are of my own making; and if there are any references outside of A.R series that are real, such as places or people, it is not intentional.
I would like to request a moment silence for the innocents of the Moscow bombing. There are many people in the world who do jobs more dangerous than Alex's to keep us all safe.
Товарищи, вы в наших сердцах и умах людей. Ты должен быть отомщена.
The sergeant looked at the men assembled before him. K Unit, two men from the ASIS, and a CIA agent. The best of the best. The Sergeant didn't trust the men, but there was no time for that now.
"Here it is men. One target, and you one week to capture him. You have all worked with him. He has been AWOL for two days now. Time is of the essence." The Sergeant sighed "You will bring him in with any means necessary."
The sergeant left the room. Texas opened his file first. "How do we know who he is? No photograph, no description. "
Ben rubbed his eyes. "It's Alex."
"The bloke from space?"
"The very one."
The CIA agent looked up. "Space?"
Texas nodded. "Yep. He was the one who blew up the Russian oil tycoon's space hotel."
The CIA agent nodded. "We picked him up half way through."
"And you sent him back!" Everyone was surprised by Snake's outburst.
"They sent him back at Point Blanc." Wolf said.
"They always sent him back." Texas muttered.
Eagle shook his head. "None of that matters now. He is a target that we need to retrieve."
Wolf pressed his mouth into a thin line. "Safely."
"By any means necessary." The room looked at the CIA agent.
"We can take no risks."
Jack crammed another Digestive into her mouth. Tom looked on with a detached expression and sighed. Jack swallowed loudly.
"So, any leads?"
It had been three days. Tom shook his head.
"No. But backup is coming, later tonight."
Jack shrugged. "right. Like backup will help. Like they ever help. All they do is act busy and get nothing done!"
"You yelling Jack."
"I don't care! They never help! He's gone now! Forever!"
Tom sighed again. It was going to be a long night.
Jack shoved in a Flake.
Alex walked into the burger bar. He ordered the cheapest item, grabbed the bag, and sat in a seat. He ate in silence for a few minutes. A group of giggly girls walked in. He ducked his head. Do not notice me. I am not here. He continued to think blank thoughts. The girls walked by. He relaxed. Another group walked in. Lord help me. He had no idea there were this many girls in this part of London. If he had, he never would have come.
"You look lonely." A girl stood before him.
Damn.
"I'm fine."
She looked pointedly at the empty chair across from him. "You get stood up?"
"No. I come here to eat alone, away from annoying questions."
The girl cocked her head. "Family problems?"
Alex looked at her. "When did nosing into people's personal problems become an acceptable past time for today's troubled youth?"
The girl blinked. "I'm Meg."
Alex did not bother with a response.
"When someone tell their name, you're supposed to tell yours."
"So I gathered. But I have no desire to tell you my name, or continue talking to you. You have wasted my time."
The girl, Meg, glared at him. "On the contrary, you have wasted my time. I'm trying to strike up a conversation."
"And you have failed."
Meg blinked.
Alex felt a slight tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Meg was in shock. Honestly, she was trying to be friendly to the guy. Unlike the oranges at the counter, she wasn't giggling or acting flirtatious in any way. And this stranger blocked every move she made, and now sat there smirking at her. She made a decision. She plopped in the chair. The stranger looked surprised. Meg smiled winningly at him. He looked shocked. One for me. She unwrapped her burger and bit into it.
"This is the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten!"
"But you come here often."
She froze mid-chew.
He gestured to her shirt. The burger bar's name was written across the front in neat block print.
Meg felt a blush rise to her face.
"Do you get a worker's discount?"
Meg glared at the guy. "I don't think that's any of you business."
"And my family life was yours?"
Touché.
She shrugged and took another bite. They ate in silence for a while.
"You're friends are leaving."
"Oh," Meg looked up.
It was true. They huddled at the door, waiting to leave. She looked at her best friend. Then she smiled, and winked. Her friend grinned, nodded, and ushered the rest of the posse put of the building.
"What was that about?"
She turned back to the guy. "Nothing."
"You are lying."
She blinked again. Meg grabbed the burger and bit off another mouthful.
"Why did you not go with your friends?"
"I wanted to finish my burger."
"Your friends took their food with them. A burger is simple thing to eat. It does not require anything but your hands and mouth."
"That's what she said."
Meg felt a blush creep up her face again. The guy looked blankly at her.
"I don't understand."
"Never mind."
The guy stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"More questions?"
Meg glared. "I don't know your name."
"And?"
"It's only polite. I ate with you after all."
He started toward the door. She quickly fell instep beside him. He looked at her. "You invited yourself."
"Still!"
They were outside now. The wind blew a crisps wrapper across the road. Meg turned her head to watch its movement. It skittered across the lane and into a gutter.
She turned back. "It's polite."
He nodded. "I'm Alex."
She shook the offered hand.
"Good. Now what do you want to do?"
Alex shrugged.
Meg grinned. "Let's go to a film!"
"It is six thirty on a Saturday night. Surely you have better things to do."
"I have a new friend. His name is Alex." Meg grabbed his arm. "And I am taking him to see a film."
I thank you all for favouring this story and author.
There is a poll on my page, for the next story. Sadly TBD is drawing to a close.
Please PM me with any personal comments. I will reply to all.
I have started a forum the collects information relevant to the AR fan-dom. Feel free to add factual information.
Fro those of you with out an account:
To vote, simply type VOTE: and the corresponding number in your review. If you pick 3, briefly describe.
To message me, type PM: and the message into your review.
Thank you all.