At then end of the month, after I'd managed to get my best time on the assault course down to six minutes, out-shot all the recruits, taken on more units – alone – in paint-ball and won, pranked many other units with Eagle, Ben and Tom's help, become closer friends with the other teenagers, and kept my cover as a spy squared. I was shocked at how quickly the time had gone, and almost sad to leave. Almost. But, alas, it was time for me to go back to CHERUB. The ride back took about 6 hours. Fortunately, Crawley wasn't driving me. An unnamed MI5 agent was. I got a location for the campus this time, and texted Smithers it. I got joke back. I smiled.
"What you smiling at, kid?" The driver asked.
"My friend said something funny." I stated.
"Care to elaborate?"
"Inside joke." That was the first and last thing said for the entire car journey.
When I got back to the camp, and had dumped my stuff in my room, it was time for tea. I walked to the canteen, and got some food. God, I'd almost forgotten what real food looked like after a month of slop. I sat next to James. He didn't notice me, and anyone that did, I put my finger to my lips. James was getting to the end of his story.
"And that's when... Jesus CHRIST Alex! WHEN DID YOU GET BACK?" He yelled.
"What do you mean? I've been here the entire time."
"What? No, you were on a mission or something?"
"I haven't been on any missions yet." For CHERUB, anyway.
"Where were you this past month?"
"Here. Dude, I beat your ass at football last week. I know that's traumatic for you and everything, but you don't have to block me out of your memory. Some people might find it offensive." Kerry leant over and felt his forehead.
"He hasn't got a fever or anything. I wonder what's up with him?"
"Could be when he tripped over the ball earlier. He was out cold for a bit, wasn't he?" Someone added.
"Yeah, he missed your amazing winning goal Alex."
"Man that was cool."
"Where did you learn how to do that anyway?"
"It went straight in!" Everyone was talking now, confusing the hell out of James. He turned to me.
"I think I need to go to the doctors." Lauren stood up, and held out her arm.
"Come on dear brother. Lets get you out of here." After they'd left, everyone burst out laughing.
"So when did you get back?"
"About half an hour ago. I came straight to lunch."
"It took him that long to notice?" Scattered laughter.
"Where did you go?" A voice I recognised as Rat's asked.
"SAS camp."
"Seriously? That's so cool! How did you end up there?"
"I was sent there in the first place."
"What? Why?"
"I have no idea."
"Huh. Cool. So what was it like?" I spent the rest of lunch telling them all about the SAS camp.
After lunch, I had espionage, as it was a Tuesday. We had a lecture from an MI6 agent about different terrorist groups. I was expecting MI6 to send Ben, as MI6 were intent on sending anyone I knew. And I was right. However Ben acted as if he didn't know me, so that was alright. In fact, there was a something a bit ...off. My gut instinct was that this man wasn't Ben. He looked like him, but... there. Ben never did that hand movement. Or would describe that using those words. In fact, I wasn't even sure if he was from MI6. He definitely didn't have enough correct information on SCORPIA for him to be MI6. At least he did his research and got a proper agent's name. Or maybe it was a happy accident. I decided to wait till the end of the lesson to confront him. I walked up to him while he was sorting out his notes.
"Sir?" I asked
"Yes... What was your name again?"
"Alex Cub. I have a question."
"Ask away."
"Why would an MI6 agent know about this top secret organisation that only the top members of MI5 know about? Does MI6 even know CHERUB exists?" The man laughed.
"You know, after god knows how many years taking this class, no-one has ever asked me that. And you're right. How long ago did you come to CHERUB?"
"About... 5 and a half months ago." His face was the perfect mask of shock.
"5 and a half months?"
"3 and a bit for basic training, a month of lessons and a month-long stay at an SAS camp."
"Why were you at an SAS camp?"
"I was told to be."
"If I told you to jump off a cliff would you?"
"Depends on the conditions."
"What?"
"Well, if I were being shot at and the tide were in, and it were pretty likely that I wouldn't die, then yeah I'd jump. But I wouldn't jump off a 20 metre tall cliff without a parachute or abseiling equipment for fun." The man just looked incredulous.
"What if you were being shot at? Would you?"
"I'd try not to! Anyway don't you have a lesson now?"
"Yep. Though I can say I was talking to you."
"True." He said, with a laugh.
The next few months passed quickly without much happening. I finished Hindu, and started Chinese. Corinne went, and then came back from a mission. It was just befriending someone, and hoping they accidentally gave away information. Apparently it went very successfully. I finally told James that I had been to an SAS camp. I only waited about a month, month and a half tops. He was very pissed for about a day or two. He didn't talk to me and just blanked me. I just ignored him in return. He obviously didn't like that, and it was quite funny to see how pissed off I could get him. The answer is extremely. He even resorted to challenging me to a fight in the dojo at the end of the two days. Safe to say, I pummelled him into the ground. Repeatedly. Almost 8 months after I'd joined CHERUB, I got my first mission. For MI6 that would have been saving the world... what, 6 or 7 times? I wasn't complaining or anything. It was nice not risking my life for the country constantly. I went to the mission preparation area. I scanned myself in and went up to the top floor. I walked into the room to my left. In there was Corinne, James, Kerry, Zara, Lauren, Rat and John. It looked like I was the last to arrive. I stood at the back of the room, beside a potted plant. Zara started talking.
"This mission isn't a normal CHERUB one. You will still have to integrate yourself into school, but you do not need to make specific friends. The school itself is the main target. It is being targeted by a criminal organisation known as SCORPIA." My head snapped up. I thought CHERUBS didn't do dangerous missions! The others seemed to have not heard of SCORPIA before. Zara carried on. "Although you may not have heard of them, SCORPIA are very dangerous. They have lost some of their reputation by being defeated by the same MI6 agent three times in a row, but they are still as deadly as they were before."
"Deadly?" John asked
"SCORPIA stands for Sabotage, Corruption, Intelligence and Assassination. They were extremely successful until they met the MI6 agent."
"Does the MI6 agent have a name?" I asked. I knew it. I wanted to know if anyone else did.
"He's just referred to as the agent in the reports we have." Ben would love that - me being 'the agent'. Zara had got out some folders that looked like mission statements. "These have all the information you will need for the mission." We each got separate folders. I opened mine up.
*** MISSION STATEMENT ***
THIS IS FOR THE EYES OF JAMES ADAMS, LAUREN ADAMS, KERRY CHANG, CORINNE POLITIK, GREG RATHBONE, JOHN SCHOTT, ALEX CUB AND AGENT BEN DANIELS.
SCORPIA, an international terrorist organisation have threatened a boarding school in Norfolk. The school in question, Wymondham College, is home to no known potential targets of SCORPIA.
Mission - infiltrate school, watch out for suspicious people, protect students if in danger, KEEP YOUR COVER UNLESS YOUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE.
Story – you're foster children from different places, though James and Lauren are siblings. You will all be registered under a last name of your choosing.
This mission is ranked at 'we really shouldn't let you do this. In fact it goes against every bone in my body but this really needs to be sorted out and MI6 won't touch it for some reason and you're really the only one who can do this'. CHERUBS are warned that this mission involves a terrorist organisation that train assassins, and encourage torture to get information. If you even suspect someone of being involved with SCORPIA, tell your handler immediately.
"Ben Daniels?" I asked "The real one or the one you get to do the terrorist talk?" Zara looked shocked.
"What?" She asked. I repeated my question
"How did you work it out? When did you work it out?"
"Well, I didn't see why an MI6 agent should know about a group of children who don't exist just to tell them about terrorism. And about 10 minutes into the lesson" Also I may or may not have met him numerous times before. Zara looked impressed.
"I see why everyone says you'll be good."
"What, for using common sense?"
"These lot didn't realise"
"To be honest, James and Rat aren't the best examples to use."
"Hey!" James glanced up from his folder. "So we're working with an MI6 agent?"
"Yes. He will be your mission controller."
"Why not one of you?" Kerry asked.
"If necessary, he will be able to get you out of any predicament you might get into. He'll also have the help of an SAS unit if needs be." Whooo. More K Unit.
After all questions had been answered, we were lead to the main building to meet 'Agent Daniels'. I stood at the back of the group trying not to be noticed. Fortunately, Ben didn't have much of a chance to get to know us as we had to pack and leave pretty quickly. When I checked my phone from Smithers, I found a message.
You know Ben's name & face from SAS camp. He'll report for you as well. Have fun. Smithers.
Well that was a relief. Now to just worry about how long before SCORPIA come and capture us...
Ben was waiting with K Unit in a minibus outside. We needed it. There were 5 adults and 7 children. As soon as we were all settled down, I pulled out a pack of cards.
"Anyone want a game of anything?"
Three hours later, after winning K Unit's money off them (twice) we arrived at the house. There were five bedrooms. The SAS and Ben got the largest room, leaving two to a room for the rest of us. I ended up with Rat, James with John, Kerry and Lauren, and Corinne went in the smallest room.
"Just like at home." She muttered.
The next morning was hectic. I had been up, talking to Ben and K Unit for about half an hour, dressed and ready to go, and telling Ben about his doppelgänger, when the other boys crashed down the stairs. The girls walked behind them. They were ready to go, smartly dressed. I almost laughed at how dishevelled Rat looked.
"Come on" I said. "School's only down the road."
The school itself was quite large, with a swimming pool, music rooms and accommodation spread out everywhere. The uniforms was a sore point for Rat, as he'd never had to wear one before.
"How do you survive in these things?" He complained loudly on the way to reception.
"Were you home-schooled before this?" I asked him.
"Nope. Lived in a religious cult in Australia till I was picked up by James." I just looked at him.
"Which religion?"
"Christianity."
"What cult?"
"The Survivors."
"The one attacked by the ASIS?" I'd heard someone mention some thing about it at the ASIS camp.
"Yeah. Hey, how'd you know?"
"Uh... Internet?"
"Cool." We arrived at the receptionist's desk at this point.
"Hello" she said. "How may I help you?"
"We're new here." Kerry said.
"Can I have your names?"
"James Coates."
"Lauren Coates. I'm his sister."
"Corinne Strider."
"Kerry Oppel."
"Greg Muchamore
"John Horowitz."
"Alex Rider."
"...Thank you. Here are your timetables and a map." She handed us two pieces of paper each, then turned back to her work. The first bell rang, and people started walking everywhere. I followed my map to my form room. I shared it with Rat. We didn't get too lost... we were only 5 minutes late. The teacher introduced herself as Mrs Warnes. There were two seats, on different tables, one full of girls, the other full of boys. I sat on the table nearest the window, and left Rat to the girls table. He rolled his eyes, and dragged the chair over to the boys table.
"So, who are you then?" One of the boys asked. He was tall, and ginger.
"I'm Alex Rider. Who are you?"
"I'm Josh Butcher. Who's your friend?"
"Greg, but everyone calls him Rat."
"Rat? Why Rat?"
"To be honest, I have no idea." Josh laughed.
"Cool. What've you got first?" I pulled out my timetable.
"Maths, with Mr France."
"So do I! You can come with me for that."
"Thanks. So, what's he like?" I glanced over at Rat, who was staring at me. What? I mouthed. He just gave me a look that said 'I'll tell you later". I rolled my eyes at him, and turned my attention back to Josh.
Maths passed quickly. I was sat next to James, who finished the work ridiculously quickly and kept complaining about his form tutor, Mrs Robinson. Apparently, she was wide and ginger. I tuned him out for the most part, except when he was correcting my work. Break came as a relief. I was glad CHERUB had such good teachers – I wouldn't have been able to keep up if this were an MI6 job. Admittedly, I probably wouldn't be sitting in a school room.
In break I got to meet some of Josh's friends. There was Andrew Grant, a dark brown haired boy with a few spots; Abby Spaans, a girl who seemed permanently hyper; Gabby Booth, a girl obsessed with zombies; Ash Chilvers, just known as Chillie, Ruth Dirnt (no relation) and Toby Gibson, who was ever so slightly camp. It was a rather large, yet exclusive group. At the end of break, Rat caught up with me.
"I've never seen anyone make a friend so fast! How'd you do it?"
"Magic." I smirked at the look on Rats face. "No, you just have to be devilishly handsome and completely charismatic, like me. Have fun in your lesson!" I had my next lesson with Ruth, so I followed her to Biology.
After everyone got home from school, Ben made us talk about our days. Rat jumped in first, telling them how I made a friend right after sitting down. The CHERUBS looked impressed, Ben rolled his eyes and Jackdaw (the only member of K Unit present) raised an eyebrow. Rat continued with his day. I tuned then all out. Eventually, Ben turned to me.
"So, Alex, how did your day go?"
"I made friends, then hung out with them. Not much more than that."
"Notice anything suspicious?" I shook my head.
"Not yet. How was your day?"
"Fun. Shopping for 14 isn't easy!" I rolled my eyes. "Don't you have homework?" Ben asked. Rat jumped up, swore quite colourfully then ran to his bag. Ben raised his eyebrow. "I'll take that as a yes then."
"Hey, where's K Unit?" John asked.
"Um... I don't actually know." Ben answered.
"You lost K Unit?" James asked.
"Well, they probably know where they are..." At this point Ben's phone rang. He swiftly picked it up, then moved it away from his ear again. I bet even Rat could hear Wolf's shouting coming from the phone. Ben sighed as the phone cut off.
"I think you found them." John said.
"Yeah... Don't burn down the house or anything, I'm going to pick them up." When they got back, Wolf seemed to have calmed down, but was still pretty red in the face.