Chapter Six: Toys Aren't Us

When Alex got back to the base Mrs. Jones was waiting for her. Jones was waiting in her usual gray suit. At first she didn't recognize Alex.

Her hair had been sheared off at a boy's mop, she was wearing a parachuting outfit, but most of all her face was pinched in exhaustion and irritation.

"Alex..."

Alex looked up at her but made no motion to respond. She looked like she had involuntarily responded to her name being called, already having no intention of answering.

"I'm the one who pulled you from the jump. I felt it was too risky. I hope you aren't too disappointed. Sit down, please." Jones said.

It wasn't a suggestion. Alex sat perched at the edge of her chair. Looking ready to flee at a moment's notice.

"I've brought you some toys that might cheer you up." Jones stated.

"I'm too old for toys." Alex rebutted slouching slightly but not leaning back in her chair.

"These aren't really toys." Jones said. And as if called by her last sentence the door opened and the fattest man Alex had ever seen in her life came through the door. When he sat down his bottom overflowed on either side of the chair. He set the metal tray he was holding on the table followed by a shopping bag that read Macy's. He was quite bald and had a large black mustache and several chins. He was wearing a pin striped suit that probably used enough fabric for a tent.

"Smithers." He stated. "Very nice to meet you, lass." The term of endearment didn't fit with his accent. Lass was a endearment usually used by the Irish or Scottish. His accent was London.

"Pleasure." Alex answered softly. After all, it wasn't his fault she was stuck doing this stupid mission.

"What have you got for her?" Jones demanded.

"Yes, of course." He said as if just remembering what he was there for. "First thing," he pulled the bag closer and pulled out a flesh colored bundle. "This is your body suit. It is completely anatomically correct, just in case," He stated seeing Alex's look. "when you put it on the suit will stop at your jawline. There's also some concealer, you just spread it over where the line would be and it will blend it completely. No one will be able to tell that you're anything but a boy. The only problem is during your mission you won't be able to take it off for anything so you're going to feel grimy after a while. It's made out of a blend of Kevlar and other materials. It is light weight and flame retardant, and has a cooling system." He went on for several more minutes on the benefits of the suit.

Finally he seemed to run out of things to say about the suit and moved on to other gadgets. There was a yo-yo that was actually a magnetically motorized with 30 yards of a special type of nylon string which could hold up to two hundred. Then there was zit cream which while harmless when touched with skin would melt a hold through solid steel. Finally there was a game boy color which had four games each with different abilities.

Nemesis turned the game boy into a fax/photocopier with a direct link to MI6. Exocet turned it into a X-ray device that can see through up to two inches and also had an audio function, when the earphones were plugged in. Speed Wars was a bug finder. And Bomber Boy was a smoke bomb that was activated by pressing start three times after leaving the cartridge anywhere in range. It was also possible to play all of the games.

"Thank you, Smithers." Jones said.

"My pleasure, Mrs. J." He returned as he stood up, his legs trembling to support his weight. "I hope I see you again Alex, I've never had to equip a teenage girl pretending to be a teenage boy. I'm sure I will be able to think up a whole host of delightful gadgets." He waddled off and disappeared through a door that clanged shut behind him.

Jones turned to face Alex. "You leave for Port Tallon tomorrow." she handed Alex a folder. "You're going as Felix Lester. The real Felix Lester is in Florida already. You'll find everything you need to know in there."

"I'll read it tonight." Alex assured.

"Good." Suddenly she was serious. Alex vaguely wondered if she was a mother. She would probably have a child her age if that was the case. Jones pulled out a black-and-white photo and laid it on the table facing Alex. The person in the photo was a man. He was wearing a white t-shirt, and jeans. He was in his late twenties, had close cropped light colored hair, a smooth face, and the body of a dancer. The photo was slightly blurred. Most likely taken from a distance with a hidden camera. 'He was very attractive.' Alex admitted to herself. Of course, she probably shouldn't be thinking that because Mrs. Jones wouldn't show her a picture of just anyone.

"I want you to look at this." Jones said needlessly, Alex was already looking.

"I'm looking."

"His name is Yassen Gregorovich. He was born in Russia but he now works for many other countries. He's been hired by Iraq, Serbia, Libya, China and many others."

"What does he do?"

"He's a contract killer. We believe he was the one to assassinate your uncle."

There was a long pause as Alex's stomach turned uncomfortably. She had almost managed to make herself believe this was going to be a simple thing. Play the spy for MI6 then go back to living her life with no more interference from them. But looking at the cold, handsome face (with its blank hooded eyes) of her uncle's possible killer it hit her; this wasn't going to be a simple game, if she lost she would lose more than the game- she would lose her life. She remembered her uncles car, shattered by bullets. A man like Gregorovich, a contract killer, would not hesitate to do the same to her. He wouldn't even blink, she was just another hit.

"This photograph was taken six months ago, in Cuba. It may have been a coincidence, but Herod Sayle was there at the same time. The two of them may have met. And there is something else..." She paused waiting for something. Then continued when she didn't receive the anticipated reaction. "Rider used a code in the last message he sent. A single letter. Y."

"Y for Yassen?" Alex asked wondering if that was what they had assumed.

"He must've seen Yassen somewhere in Port Tallon. He wanted us to know..."

"Why are you telling me now?" Alex asked her throat had grown mysteriously closed.

"Because if you see him, if Yassen is anywhere near Sayle Enterprises, I want you to contact us immediately."

"And then what?"

"We'll pull you out. It doesn't matter how old you are Alex, if Yassen finds out you're working for MI6, he'll kill you too."

She took the photograph back. Alex stood up.

"You leave here tomorrow morning at eight. Be careful Alex. And good luck." she added and Alex turned and walked away.

Alex heard the sound of a peppermint being unwrapped. She was always eating them, and it caused her breath to always smell faintly of mint. How many people had she sent to their deaths? Ian Rider and maybe dozens more. 'Maybe' Alex thought vaguely 'It was easier to live with if her breath was sweet.'

There was a movement ahead of Alex and she turned her attention back to what was in front of her. The parachutists had returned from their jump. They were walking towards her from out of the darkness with K unit and Wolf in the lead. Alex tried to step around them, bag with gadgets, body suit and dossier on Felix Lester in the Macy's bag, but Wolf was blocking her way.

"You're leaving." He stated. Somehow he must've heard Alex's training was over.

"Yes."

Silence prevailed for nearly a minute before Wolf spoke again. "What happened on the plane..."

"Forget it, Wolf. Nothing happened. You jumped, I didn't. That's all." Alex interrupted.

Wolf held out a hand. "I want you to know... I was wrong about you. You're all right. And maybe... one day it would be good to work with you."

Alex had the vague notion Wolf would take that sentence back if he found out she was, in fact, a girl. But instead she said "You never know."

They shook hands.

"Good luck, Cub." Alex realized it was one of the rare times he actually used her code name.

"Good bye, Wolf." She smiled at him slightly. He was all right for an asshole that had made her life hell for the last two weeks. Then she turned and walked out into the night.