Disclaimer: Still not mine…
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The SAS units moved into position to take over the compound, watching as the sun peaked over the mountains, wiping away the shadows. No movement besides the few guards could be seen. This was the day Sarov would fall for the second time.
Little did they know, Sarov was safely away, having gotten word that the SAS soldiers were on their way to attack the base. He had given orders for the majority of his soldiers to take their training to the compound in Malagosta, taking all the equipment possible with them and destroying the rest. He had left a skeleton crew to give the compound a look of normality. Causalities were necessary for the good of the whole.
He had come to realize that Yassen was indeed behind Alex's disappearance and the disappearance of four other recruits. He had known the assassin had his own plans for the boy. I should have killed him, he thought bitterly.
When the soldiers finally rushed the compound, they found that the halls were empty, void of everything; technology, decoration, life. The captives gave up nothing. The mission was a failure.
Mr. Blunt tried to remain composed as he listened to his secretary give the report on the mission. The result was not the desired outcome. It was quite unexpected actually. But at least the beacons for his best unit were still transmitting. Or at least K-Unit's was; Alex's continued to grow weaker with each passing hour as if running out of battery. If they did not reach him soon, he could be lost to Sarov and Yassen and there was nothing they could do.
"Any new orders, sir?" Her peppermint breath assaulted him as he looked at the official report and cringed again.
"Yes, hand me a peppermint."
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The dacha was lightly furnished with no personal belongings to be seen. Alex took in the clean but impersonal house with suspicion, expecting assassins to storm out of the rooms connected to the foyer. But no attack came.
Vicktor watched his charge closely as he made his way to the kitchen. Bringing out two bottles of water, he threw one to the teen's handcuffed hands. "Drink."
Seeing that the seal had not been broken, Alex drank greedily, not realizing how thirsty he was. He watched as Vicktor assumed a casual stance by the wall, sipping from his own bottle. Finishing the bottle with a pop of plastic, Alex studied the man.
He was tall, built like a dancer, just as Yassen did. His blonde hair was cropped short and the lines by his eyes indicated that he smiled much more than the men he had seen lately.
"It is rude not to say thank you, boy," rumbled Vicktor from his place by the wall.
"Why am I here?" Alex, try as he might, could not understand why Yassen would allow this man to take him so far away from the compound without any back-up. Surely Yassen did not believe he would just sit and wait for what was next?
"All in good time," was all that was said before silence once again reigned.
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The jeep bumped annoying along the dirt road, the cold countryside looming as far as the horizon. After accepting Yassen's terms, K-Unit was hustled to the back of the small jeep. The handcuffs that Yassen had provided chafed their wrists even as they questioned if they made the right move. There was no way to tell yet, but Alex deserved to be free and if their sacrifice could aid in that, they would do what was necessary. Even side with a heartless killer.
A single strand of light found its way through the flimsy canvas covering the top of the military vehicle. No other light could be seen besides the dim stars that illuminated the road with a hazy mist.
Brake lights flashed as the jeep slowed. Cutting the engine, Yassen came around to motion the four men out of the back, his face hard and dangerous in the low light.
A Russian voice called out to Yassen as the men made their way to the ground. The assassin's face lost some of its hardness and searched for the speaker.
"Prevet, friend. What have you brought?" A man of equally intimidating physique and demeanor approached K-Unit. The two Russians grasped forearms in a sign of greeting, the man's mouth curling into a small grin. "I am glad to see you unharmed, Ya."
"You as well, Vicktor. I have not heard that name in decades." They released their hold and stepped away from the SAS soldiers. "Did you get the package?"
"Da, of course. You doubt me?" A playful grin lightened his face as he motioned towards the dacha.
"No but I know what the package is capable of." Yassen started towards the small shack, eager to see for himself that Alex was indeed fine, leaving Vicktor with the SAS soldiers. Without a word, the mysterious man followed.
The SAS men were left standing in the night, handcuffed and confused. Wolf was the first to start walking towards the shack. Noticing the other's hesitating, he turned back to them.
"What are you waiting for, an invitation from two assassins?" At this, the four men walked cautiously into the dimly lit dacha.
Alex was sitting on an overstuffed paisley green chair, the high back looking uncomfortable. Yassen stood possessively behind him as Vicktor lounged against the opposite wall conversing freely with the assassin as if they were old friends.
The teen's face lit up at the sight of the SAS team and he attempted to get up before a hand from Yassen halted him.
"A few ground rules. I am in charge and you are my prisoners. Vicktor is just as able to deal with any issues as I am, so do not think that you will get any sympathy from him." K-Unit glanced at the man who had previously been smiling and relaxed to see it replaced by the gleam of a cold-hearted assassin. Just like Yassen. No wonder they were friends, thought Fox absentmindedly.
"Also, you will be here for the time being, but Alex's training must go on and despite the threats, you will try to conceive an escape plan. I still have the boy's remote in my possession. While yours," looking each member of K-Unit in the eye with a cold stare, "may be out of range of the compound, his was programmed to work when the remote itself was in range apart from the compound. Do not test me."
Fox watched as Alex's face turned red, anger limiting his self-control. The soldier watched as the teen shifted to face Yassen who was still holding him in the chair. "Are you finished talking like I am not here?"
"You do not have a choice in the matter, Alex. There are things you are not aware of."
"You don't-" Pain shot up his arm as the tiny black remote came into view. K-Unit automatically stepped forward to protect the member of their team, but a menacing look from Vicktor told them to stay out of the way.
Wolf gave Fox a sideways glance, indicating what Fox had been scared of, that Wolf would try to take things into his own hands with or without the rest of the team as back up. Fox gave a slight shake of his head, but his hot headed teammate did not seem to heed his warning.
Lunging forward, Wolf attempted to reach Yassen and trying to out-maneuver Vicktor. But Vicktor had been prepared for an intervention as soon as Yassen started to punish the boy, had seen the silent communication between Fox and Wolf. With a fist in between the shoulder blades, Wolf fell down shy of his target, plunging headfirst into a side table. On the ground, Vicktor flipped Wolf onto his back so that he was facing the stoic Russian. In a fluid movement, Vicktor's fist collided with his prey's solar plexus, the air rushing out of his lungs in a whoosh.
Vicktor's steely gaze took in the rest of K-Unit, daring them to try to best him. They all looked back at him with anger but acceptance, knowing they had little chance against another Yassen, especially handcuffed. Yassen had since ceased using the remote on Alex and a thick tension filled the room as heavy breathing was the only sound.
The blonde assassin looked to his longtime friend. Without a word, Vicktor, took Alex's arm and led him into another room.
"Now, it is time to talk about your mission."
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"The beacons are getting weaker, sir. Should we move in on them? They seem to have converged at a single point."
Mr. Blunt did not like wrestling with himself; he prided himself on being very decisive. But when it came to Alex Rider, his decisiveness seemed to abandon him.
"Sir?"
"Send three teams. Have them scout out the point to see what we are up against. Since they knew about our attack on the compound, they may have simply moved to a different location. Do not move without my order." He turned back to his paperwork, hoping that one SAS team and a sixteen year old boy was worth putting so many men in jeopardy.
He grunted to himself. This was very uncharacteristic of him, indeed.
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Sarov looked out over the docks, the tide dragging pebbles and sand from the shore to its gray depths. There was unimaginable power in the sea. It was a beautiful enchantress and an unkind mistress in the same breath. He smiled.
His men worked to clear the docks or debris that had accumulated since his last visit years ago. Bitter memories of that day assaulted him. This time he would succeed in creating a better world, even though Alex was not here to share in the spoils of victory. Once his plan was executed, he would put every effort into finding his adopted son. Yassen would keep him safe until everything blew over and then he would be returned to his rightful place. It was his destiny.
Some men placed wooden crates under the pier that Sarov was standing on. He grinned to himself. Just some insurance to make sure his plot goes as planned this time. There would be no stopping him.
He strode back to a waiting vehicle. When the time comes, he would be eager to start the new world, whether the world was ready or not.
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Vicktor was not rough with Alex as the boy expected him to be. He simply led him to a back bedroom, lounging against the door nonchalantly as Alex settled on the bed stiffly.
When the silence became unbearable, Alex tried to converse with the blonde assassin. "What are they doing?"
"Briefing." Another long silence.
"Briefing for what?"
Vicktor looked pointedly at the boy, knowing that he was trying to build a rapport with him. "You ask a lot of questions. Yassen has not taught you how to be silent yet."
"Yet? He has tried to break me for a month and he has only proven to me why I am fighting not to be like you."
Instead of anger like Alex had intended, Vicktor only laughed and stayed in front of the door. "Oh, little Alex. You know so little of my tovarish. But you will learn."
"Are you here to help him 'train me?'" He asked with sarcasm, still trying to get a rise out of the relaxed man so that he would have a chance to get out the door.
"I am here simply as a favor for an old friend." He shrugged a shoulder. "When Yassen has no more use for me, I will go back to my life just as before. "
"Yeah, you've got some life. Killing innocent people for money seems like a great plan." Alex sneered at the large man, smiling inwardly as a flash of anger crossed his face before being replaced by the easy going look once again.
"You will have to do better than that, little Alex. You friends aren't going to be here to look out for you much longer, so I wouldn't make enemies of those who mean you no harm…yet."
Aren't going to be here…much longer? "What do you mean?" Alex thought back to when K-Unit had walked into the small house and remembered his surprise. Why would Yassen bring the SAS men here anyway? He knew they would want to help him escape and they would reinforce his ability to withstand Yassen's pull. And where was Sarov in all this?
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The four soldiers looked menacingly at Yassen, Wolf's mood worsened by his bruised rib and sore back. But the assassin just looked back calmly, not intimidated in the slightest by their animosity.
"It is time to talk about our arrangement."
"We are staying with Alex until-"
Icy blue eyes silenced Eagle who had spoken for the first time. The whole team was on edge after seeing two of their team members roughed up and was helpless to do anything about it. They were four SAS members that had trained at a SCORPIA facility for three months. They surely could take down one assassin.
"Before any of you make a move that you will regret, remember that Vicktor has Alex in the other room. Now, let talk about what it required of you."
"Sarov's plan for the recruits has been to finish what he started on that day when Alex ruined his attempt to blow up half the world. He has created a loyal army and safe houses around the world to keep him safe once he has set his plan in motion. You four are to stop it from occurring."
Silence reigned in the room as they looked at the assassin. He was giving them the plans of a mad man and the opportunity to stop him….
"Wait, so you, the cold-blooded assassin, are allowing us to save millions of lives? Why?" Snake spoke up this time, his curiosity peaked at the uncharacteristic mission.
"I do not owe you an explanation. You need only know I have given you the opportunity to save lives and you only have a week to do it. Your director will know the spot. Once you have stopped Sarov, you are free to live your lives and will not hear from me again."
They stood, stunned for a few minutes more, before Fox ventured to ask the question they all wanted to ask. "And what about Alex?"
"He will be safe with me, no matter the outcome."
"What if he wants to come back with us?"
"He does not have that option. I have vowed to train Alex and make him the best, and I will succeed. He may fight me now, but he cannot keep that up for long." Looking at each man in the eye, Yassen ended with Wolf, whose defiance could be felt rolling off him in waves. "Save the people you can. It is too late for Alex. Your week starts now." He turned but was stopped by Fox.
"Can we say goodbye?"
Yassen took out the little black remote.
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Without warning, stabbing pain caused Alex to double over.
"That's the signal," Vicktor said cheerily. He took Alex's arm as the pain subsided.
He saw that K-Unit's handcuffs had been removed and they each had a backpack as if they were going to travel.
"Are we going somewhere?" His innocent question was met with a prod from Vicktor towards the soldiers. The blonde assassin circled them and stood by the front door lazily as if he was waiting for tea to be served instead of an attack.
"What is going on, Fox," Alex asked his team member.
"We, um, have to complete a mission."
Alex looked from Fox to Yassen. Gesturing to the killer, he replied confused, "For him?"
"Sarov is continuing with his plans. We are going to stop him."
Alex began to understand. "So what is the plan?" His gaze fell on each SAS member, but when no one would look at him, he knew. Yassen was sending them away, away to freedom and he was still his prisoner.
"I'm sorry, Alex. But we have to stop Sarov. Once we get back to MI6, his movements will stick out like beacons and we can stop him. We can't let him kill millions of people." Alex thought his word choice was odd. Then when Wolf clapped Snake on the back, where their tracking beacons were located, Alex realized Fox was telling him not to give up hope because they still were transmitting a signal. Yassen had no idea that he had been implanted with a tracking beacon the last time he had gone into MI6 headquarters. How could he have forgotten? But no one had come yet. Maybe the better question was did the beacons even matter?
Watching them leave through the door after too many slaps on the back that almost knocked him on his face brought Alex a sense of hopelessness. He had relied on his team's strength to get his through Yassen's attempts to break him. Now he had two Yassen's and no one to help him remember who he was.
Once the sound of the car engine had been replaced by the night noises, Vicktor left his post by the door and Yassen went to the kitchen to get water.
"So what's next?" Alex decided to play along for right now. But the next chance he got, he would make a break for it.
"Now, you sleep. It has been 23 hours since you 'escaped' your mission and you will wish to be rested before continuing with training." Yassen's detached voice booked no argument, so Alex went back to the room Vicktor had taken him to. If he was going to escape two trained assassins, he would need to be rested. He was not giving up. And he was not going to be a killer. No matter what it took, he would not turn into a monster.
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The jeep pulled to a stop a few miles down the road from the dacha they had just left. The four men sat in silence for a few moments before Wolf angrily hit the steering wheel with a growl.
Before Wolf could explode, Fox interjected. "We have to stop Sarov from killing millions of people before we can think about Alex. Alex will be safe, Yassen will make sure of that. Our first priority is to get back to headquarters and tell them about the plan." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair in frustration and exhaustion.
"Fox's right, but it still doesn't feel right," came Eagle's voice from the back, anger at having to watch Alex's abuse the last few weeks still raw.
"Okay," stated Wolf, "first thing after we hunt down Sarov and throw him in a very dirty, cold cell, we are going after the kid. And if he is hurt, I will kill Gregorovich myself." The engine sputtered to life and the rest of the drive was in silence. Three SAS teams found them on the deserted road later on and they had to explain why they couldn't go back for their team member and why they had to be patched in to Mr. Blunt's office as soon as possible. Eventually they found themselves heading up the mission to catch Sarov. But their thoughts were still with a blonde teen being held by two assassins in a tiny dacha. Despite his strength, they knew he would be different the next time they saw him. He might possibly be the monster they were presently trying to defeat.
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The technician in charge of watching the monitor that had the five beacon's positions slurped obnoxiously at his coffee. Placing it by the computer screen, he swiveled around quickly to get some packets of sugar he kept in his coat pocket hanging on the wall behind him. When he faced the screen once again, only four dots remained. The fifth was no longer transmitting a signal.