Hey everyone! I can't believe how many reviews I received for the last chapter! I know that is cliché for authors to write that but it reminded me how much I miss fanfiction…. So on that note, I believe that you all have earned another chapter (Hurray!)

Disclaimer: The offer still stands for anyone who is remotely like Alex Rider…anyone at all….oh well if I owned him I would be complete so it's safe to say he is still Anthony's character, as well as everyone else from his marvelous books.

Chapter 7

"He has refused our offer again?" Sarov's pleasant expression turned to one of anger as he regarded the assassin in front of his desk. "You obviously have not pushed him hard enough."

Yassen felt indignation well up at the thought that he was not doing his job. "I have pushed him as far as I could without breaking him per your orders," he replied dangerously, his face stony and void of the rage in his voice.

"You have failed in the one task I had entrusted to you. We still have no idea who Alex's contact is and he is completely uncooperative. "

The man accused smiled humorlessly back. "Alex was not as stealthy as he believed when conversing with his contact. They in turn showed their hand in contacting an MI6 operative in Magadan." The man strode smugly to the window to stand beside the general, his self-satisfied expression unusual for his normal countenance. Sarov just glared at the man, angry at the fact he had not been informed of this before.

"When were you going to tell me of this development, friend?" His voice was dangerous and his eyes sparked with rage.

"I was merely awaiting something more substantial to surface before bringing this to your attention. As I said, they were careful but not careful enough to avoid attracting my attention. Alex may feel like he has more independence but I know exactly where he is and with whom at all times. There was no chance he could escape."

"That was not the point!" The large Russian pounded his fist on the table, his face cherry red. "This was not something to keep from me, Yassen."

Though he did not appear to be taken aback by the man's outburst, the assassin did not think it was that serious. No harm had been done and he knew he had done what he knew needed to be done. Sarov had no voice when it came to his decisions.

The man did not reply to the apparent reprimand, but instead listened as the general continued. "I am going to remove him from your care effective immediately. I will appoint someone else to monitor him and rely on his unit to ensure his cooperation. You will be transferred to the other base near Okhotsk. That will be all." Sarov turned to walk to his desk but halted as Yassen spoke.

"No." His voice was firm and confident. "If you put this course of action into practice, I will be miles away with Alex in tow before you can stop me. It will be an easy enough task to get away as you know." Yassen did not smile or show any sort of triumph but he knew he had won. His own plans for Alex needed to be completed, the assassin planning on utilizing his unique talents for his own gain. No, he would not allow Sarov to ship him off without Alex; the boy had too many things to accomplish before he was ready.

The general's look was calculating, knowing full well Yassen intended to carry out his threat and knowing he would succeed. There was nothing in his power that would stop the assassin from taking Alex aside from killing the man. But he still needed him to carry out his own plans, no one having the experience or talent to sculpt Alex into the weapon he needed.

"You will remain here," he replied finally. "But, only under one condition."

"I do not play your games, Sarov."

"I'm sure you will like this one."

The assassin just raised his eyebrows, signaling that he would hear the man out. "He needs to be tried, put in the field so that he sees his potential. The thrill of the hunt, a successful kill, that is what he needs to feel." Sarov gazed thoughtfully out the window. "Take him to the city and take out Mr. Nanchung. The Triad member has been begging at our doors too long." Yassen turned to leave and prepare for a mission he knew would fail but was halted by the general's voice. "Don't tell him about Nanchung's Triad affiliation; fill his mind with the most despicable things you can imagine which I am positive you can manage. Push him to the edge. Then we will see if he is ready." With a nod, the man strolled from the library.

Alex could, would be the best but he did not believe the boy was ready to murder. He still held onto thoughts of morality. But the test will determine where he is. Yassen did not know which ending he hoped occurred.

ARARARARARARAR

He was pushing himself, hoping vainly to win some minute feelings of respect with Delta team. To this point, K-Units' leader had yet to make contact after a week of training. The teen figured that the harder he tried, the more likely he was to gain some respect. As of that moment, he was wrong.

Explosives, reconnaissance, stealth, poisons, even linguistics; he was never good enough for them. He had briefly contemplated just not trying but he knew it would only end in consequences not in his favor. Pain or isolation.

He knew what they were doing, pushing him in order to make him into something extraordinary, or so they thought. He did not want to become a weapon, something they would use with no regard to his personal being, but what choice did he have? Class after class, he was asked to let go of himself to a new level, learning things that he had no intention of using and yet found himself being forced into that role.

Presently, he turned his gaze to the ground as his teammates taunted and jeered at him. Above them all, Zeus could be heard, his booming voice echoing off of the mountain face in which he was attempting to free climb.

"Runt, hurry it up. Quite daydreaming and get up that mountain."

Earlier, Alex had been led to this domed room not unlike the first one he had entered with Delta Unit. The ceiling was painted to imitate the sky, a magnificent mountain range circling the room in purple and green majesty. The imitations, however, could not compare to the range the teen stared after out his window every morning nor the sky despite the close representation.

His fingers found a handhold, his feet scrambling for any leverage. His fingers were sweating, threatening to slip from their hold, though a shrub plant was within his reach. He had learned early on that the plants were convincing fakes, any pressure sending them spiraling to the ground. It was a cruel trick but something that he should have expected.

Almost losing his hold, Alex took a quick breath, exhaling loudly as he found a safe notch. The teen was not afraid of heights, per say, but climbing without any safety gear and with no assurance on the ground besides a slim net that was to catch him should he fall did not put his mind at ease. No matter what he was trying to prove, it was not worth him dying to do it.

"C'mon, Runt, we need to get to lunch today." Zeus' endless cackling was starting to annoy him, but he pushed on, knowing if he stopped not only would he be ridiculed but the chance that he would be given back to Yassen went without saying. When threats needed to be issued, Delta Unit did not have to come up with anything original; Yassen was the ultimate motivator.

As he climbed higher, the boy went from one gash in the rock to the next, hoping that his unit did not use the watch remote that Yassen had so graciously given them.

ARARARARARARARARARARAR

The quaint pub's door opened with a slight twinge, the smoke filled air bitter to his nose. Grimy floor and walls met him as he strolled to a table in the far corner, an exit close by with a view of the whole establishment.

Lin Nanchung sat with his back to the wall, the table at which he was occupying having an equally good view of the patrons drowning their sorrows in vodka and whiskey or a mixture of both. It was early, only one o'clock, the usual customers still at work or sleeping off the previous night's fun.

The Triad member gazed briefly at the man as he took his seat, his eyes going back to the glass in front of him as he rubbed the condensation off the outside. Despite the rumors of carefulness, Nanchung obviously was off his game.

Yassen Gregorovich ordered one shot of vodka, indulging in one small bit of revelry, his job in no danger of being compromised from one drink. Growing up in the slums of Russia had its advantages.

Another man entered the pub, his burly form shielding the room from the light behind him. His shoulders touched the doorframe and his clothing reminded the assassin of a shadow, exactly what he needed.

"Prevet," the man grunted as he sat across from Yassen. His deep baritone did not carry to the others, the pub safe to speak freely.

The blond nodded his sentiment, conspicuously looking anywhere but at the man.

"You said you had a mission for me, old friend."

"Indeed." Cold blue eyes studied the hulk across the table, a small amount of trust the only reason for this meeting. Trust was hard to come by in his profession but it helped to keep some people who did not want you dead close by. He swirled his shot before throwing it down with ease, his throat burning with a familiar and comforting heat. "It concerns a certain boy."

ARARARARARARAR

Alex could not believe what Zeus was saying, his mind caught on one phrase. Time for your first mission… He wasn't ready, would never be ready to kill for hire like Yassen. He would never recover from the empty look or the blood seeping languidly from the bullet wound. He could never get used to that life.

His team leader had led him to a room packed with weaponry of every kind; bombs, guns, anti-tank weapons, grenades. Crates and wooden boxes of every length and size lined the walls as well as created a maze on the floor. There were gadgets that the teen could not even name as well as things that made his blood cold. There were poisons on shelves lining the room and other chemicals in a secured freezer.

"Don't touch anything or your mission will end before it has begun." He knew the threat was idle but he also knew for a fact that Zeus would not balk at roughing him up. He had certainly learned that the hard way. Despite the large protective umbrella that Yassen held over his head, it did not extend to 'training' him by force.

Delta's leader headed straight for a box in the far corner, the lid askew. "Your stuff is all ready for you, courtesy of your favorite assassin." His smile was humorless as he threw the contents of the box at Alex. Black shirt and pants, black backpack with a small first aid bad in case it was needed, cell phone with one preprogrammed number, and a handset to keep in touch without having to hold the phone in his hand all appeared from the box.

"I can't take this stuff," the teen said decisively. Zeus just laughed in response.

"I'm sure you know you have no choice in the matter. Take your gear and the boss man will brief you. Good luck tomorrow." With that statement he motioned Alex to leave the room, the door shutting and locking itself electronically.

"Take him to his room," Zeus ordered before tromping down the hallway in the opposite direction.

The teen looked into the eyes of one SAS soldier Wolf.

"C'mon," was the only word he uttered, roughly grabbing his arm in a vise-like grip. Other recruits passed with barely a look, used to seeing the almost assassin being manhandled anytime he was outside a locked room.

A deserted hallway lay before the pair, Wolf finally venturing at a conversation, hushed as it was.

"Kid, you have a lot of explaining to do."

"Me? You think I'm here because I want to be."

The man sighed. "No, it's just been a horrible challenge trying to get you off the compound with someone with you at all times." He checked his watch, anxiety rolling off him in waves.

Alex could sense there was something going on but had no idea what it was. "What is it? And why haven't you even said a word to me for the last two weeks?"

"Quiet, we don't have much time." The teen finally noticed their utter solitude, no one having come their way in a few minutes.

"Time for-"

A large hand pulled him into an alcove leading to another side hallway, pulling Wolf with him. The husky SAS soldier did not react with the anger and attack the blonde boy had expected, but looked to almost have been waiting for that to happen. His next words confirmed his assessment.

"About time."

"Sorry, I had some trouble get away from a few physicals that were scheduled."

"Fox? What is this?"

"No, time for that, Alex, we have to move quickly. Yassen will be back at any moment and this may be our only chance."

"You breaking me out?" He tried to keep the hope from his tone but he couldn't help the almost pleading sound.

"No, we are trying see how long it takes for someone to notice you are gone. Of course we are breaking you out, or at least attempting to. With Sarov at the Okhotsk base and Yassen in Magadan, this was one of the only chances to slip away." He looked to Wolf. "You know what to do?" A curt nod affirmed what he already knew. "Okay, I'm heading back to the lab. Good luck." With that, he clapped his teammate on the back and walked away, passing a remote device to Wolf as he walked away. Alex didn't need to ask what it was; he knew.

"Wolf, you have to get it off-"

"Hello, Alex. Did you get your things for tomorrow?" The cold Russian voice caused the teen's stomach to drop to his knees, all hope gone entirely. "Wolf is it? SAS I presume." The muscles in Wolf's jaw clenched, anger rising by the minute.

"Come with me," Yassen commanded to the boy, his voice holding no room for rebellion, more soldiers pushing into the hallway. "The remote please, soldier." Clenching his fists, Wolf started to hand over the device but pressed the button that would release Alex first.

"Run, now, I'll hold them off," shouted K-Unit's leader, punching the nearest recruit in the solar plexus, the breath whooshing out violently. Holding his own, Wolf was able to take down three men before they registered what had happened. But Yassen was not a newbie. He took off after his charge, the blonde head bounding around the next corner before disappearing. Pulling out a gun, he reached the bend and without even aiming shot at the boy, hitting him in the back. A red feather stuck out from the gray shirt, the boy succumbing to the call of sleep. Picking up John Rider's son in his hands, he stalked back to the fight that was now at an end. The SAS man hung between two recruits, his face bloodied and his hands wretched behind his back to keep him from escaping.

"How nice of you to show yourself, Wolf." The pleasant tone to his voice was not one of friendliness, it was deadly. "Know that if you had succeeded, I would have hunted you down and killed you myself in an extremely painful way. Now, I may be able to use you to enhance Alex's training, his loyalty to you apparent. He listens to you, I can use that." He nodded to the men holding the man, their orders clear and predetermined.

ARARARARARARAR

Alex awoke to a white ceiling, finding himself in the lab. No one seemed to be about but he found his movements hindered seeing as how he was handcuffed to the gurney. What little trust he had gained was now lost, he knew with certainty. Yassen would have to resort to his previous methods, that thought causing the boy to shiver. Not much scared him, but an angry Yassen was enough to cause him to sweat.

The door glided open, the Russian appearing as if his thoughts had summoned him. "Hello, Alex."

The teen glared hotly at the man who had captured, tortured, and refused to release him, sticking him with men who tried to make his life utterly miserable and captured one of his only allies within the compound.

The man ignored the animosity emanating from the boy and instead went on. "As you may have concluded, Wolf is now a prisoner, my prisoner. His fate has not been decided but I will warn you that it does not look pleasant." He paused, coming to stand before the gurney. "His life may be spared, but that depends on you."

When he did not go on, Alex met his gaze with his own smoldering one. "And what would you need me to do?"

"Go on the mission. It is quite simple really. You complete your job and I will allow the man to return to England with no permanent damage."

"And if I don't?"

"You will eventually go on the mission, Alex. When depends on if you wish to save your friend or live with his death on your head for the rest of your life."

"And what about the person I will have to kill, Yassen? You think because I don't know the person it won't haunt me with the same urgency?"

"You will become immune to it in time."

"I don't want that!" He pulled angrily at the restraints, trying to free himself in a futile attempt.

"I'm not asking you to become heartless overnight, Alex. I'm asking you to save your friend and prove to Sarov you need more time to train." His tone had turned cold, his face showing his anger in a rare display of emotion. "This is your choice, Alex. I will give you one hour. If you come to a decision before that time, just signal and I will come back to hear your answer. Your hour starts now." The door opened with an electronic whir, shutting tightly as soon as he had exited.

Alex knew there was no hope of escape and that Wolf's life depended on his decision, but could he really kill someone in cold blood, taking away a father, mother, or child? He placed his head in his hands, hopelessness overcoming him. This would be a long hour.

ARARARARARARAR

Okay, so there you have it. I tried to make some action occur and I had a great idea in the middle of writing this so I'm good to go for the next few chapters hopefully. I hope you all liked it and will REVIEW!

Cailiean44