A/N: So, yes, in case you're wondering. I'm feeling guilty for not updating. Also, I'm bored because my friend is making me watch CSI: Miami, so I'm suffering through an hour of over acting, stereotypical characters and ridiculous and overly convenient plot devices. Oh. Apparently we missed a documentary on the colossal squid, which is irritating simply because we know so little about them and they're all mysterious. Anyways. Yes, onto the chapter!
-o-O-o-
Hawk barely had time to pour himself a cup of coffee before the loud rapping started on the door. For a moment he simply stared in surprise – who would be calling at seven thirty in the morning, after all? – but he quickly shook his head and went to answer it.
He raised an eyebrow at the man on the other side. Seven thirty in the morning and the man was already wearing a suit.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"I'm here to speak with Alex Rider," said the man, his voice bland, flashing an ID that had only a picture, an identity number and the words "Military Intelligence 6" printed on it.
Hawk blinked dumbly at him for a moment, before, with his voice still thick with sleep, "Who?"
"Alex Rider," repeated the spook impatiently.
"I'm sorry, I don't-" began the soldier, before Jackal interrupted him from the hall.
"He means Jaguar," said the soldier, before trudging through to the kitchen after a longing glance at the steaming cup held in Hawk's hand.
"Right," said Hawk. "Right. Of course. I'll… Would you like to come in? I'll go and get him."
-o-O-o-
With the agent, who had introduced himself as John Crawley, firmly ensconced in the kitchen, Hawk went to fetch Alex. The sight that greeted him upon entering the Snug, however, stopped him dead in his tracks.
"What are you doing?" he asked incredulously, causing Alex, suspended halfway through the window to glance up in alarm and topple in slow motion onto the carpet with an 'oomph'. Moments later, the curtains, which Alex had desperately grabbed at to try and stave off the inevitable, landed on top of him.
"Bugger."
Really, mused Alex, it seemed the only fit response to the unfortunate series of events.
Hawk couldn't help but chuckle as he helped the young man extricate himself from the pile of hangings.
It was only when, between them, they had successfully managed the apparently-complex task that Hawk realised Jaguar was soaked through.
"So, unless you decided to take a shower fully clothed, I'm guessing you were coming in through the window?"
"I just figured that the shower would mean I could wash myself and my clothes at the same time!" protested Alex, feebly.
"Nice try," said Hawk flatly, grabbing Alex by the arm.
"You've got a visitor," he said, gruffly. "And Jackal will no doubt be very… interested to hear about your escapades last night."
Alex winced.
-o-O-o-
"Caught Jaguar climbing back in through the window," said Hawk, scowling as he half-led, half-dragged Alex into the kitchen. "Apparently he thought sneaking out last night was a good idea."
Alex glared at him and tugged his arm free. "Look," he began heatedly. "Yeah, I'm fifteen, but that doesn't mean you get to dictate my actions. I'm neither five years old nor a complete idiot and you are not my guardians. I really don't think it's any of your business if I sneak out."
He shifted, uncomfortably aware that he was a guest in this house and may just have crossed the line into rudeness. He hoped they wouldn't be offended – he genuinely liked B-Unit.
Jackal sighed. "I get where you're coming from," he said. Alex thought that he must have previous experience with teenagers – perhaps nieces or nephews or a younger sibling or something – because he was far too used to keeping his cool. "But seeing as you are only fifteen, currently without a guardian and I have volunteered to take charge of you – however unnecessary that may be-" he quickly added at Alex's scowl, "I would appreciate it if you would let me know if you needed to go out, and not sneak out in the middle of the night."
Alex blushed slightly, but made no indication of agreement. He knew only too well he might have to do it again.
"If you are quite finished," snapped the agent, his patience having expired.
Alex scowled at him.
"Morning Crawley," he said, coldly.
"I need to know if you completed the mission," said Crawley, completely ignoring Alex's rather half-hearted attempt at courtesy.
"It's done," said Alex, deliberately turning his back on the man as he added milk and sugar to the coffee Jackal had passed him. From the half-curious, half-pissed expressions on the soldiers' faces, he assumed they wanted details, but he was really hoping he wouldn't be made to give them.
"I need more than that," said Crawley.
"What do you want to know?" asked Alex, scowling.
"What happened to the men?"
"What was intended to happen to them," snarled Alex.
"Agent Rider," snapped Crawley. "I do not care, that you didn't like this mission. I do not care that you want to angst over it and pretend it didn't happen. I do, however, care that you are acting like an immature brat. You did the mission. You know why you did the mission and I will have the details right now."
"I figured the details would be classified," said Alex, quietly, carefully avoiding the curious eyes of Hawk and Jackal.
"Both Jackal and Hawk have signed the Official Secrets Act. Quit stalling."
"Stevens shot himself in the chin. His body should be found in the Thames in a couple of days. Jameson had a heart attack at his home in the early hours of the morning. Higham and Cole got in a fight last night and killed each other. Finnegan had a car crash about half an hour ago. His breaks malfunctioned."
Jackal and Hawk, who had started off looking vaguely confused now looked horrified as they pieced the puzzle together and realised exactly why Alex had snuck out the night before.
"And you are sure no one will realise the deaths are connected?"
"The gang will realise," said Alex. "I mean, what are the chances of their five commanders dying in the same night? But no one else. Only Higham and Cole were at all connected with criminals anyway, you told me. That's why I did those two together. There's nothing to link the other three together, in motive or method."
"Good work, Rider," said Crawley, rising to his feet as if to leave.
"The information?" asked Alex, jumping to his feet as well when Crawley didn't give any indication.
Crawley paused. "Of course," he said, after a moment's hesitation.
He set his briefcase on the table and unlocked it.
"I hardly need to tell you that the information must be destroyed once you have memorised it."
Alex nodded his understanding and took the file Crawley held out.
Quickly, Crawley relocked the briefcase and headed for the door as Alex flicked open the file.
His eyes scanned down. Basic information on the eight soldiers, their intended direction from the base, their handler for the mission, estimated time and location of disappearance and death. Nothing else.
Alex cursed.
"CRAWLEY!" he roared, launching himself into the hall after the agent. "Crawley, what the hell is the meaning of this? I could find out this information in the basic SAS records!"
Crawley smirked. "I'm afraid, since the… incident involving your removal from MI6, our relationship with the SAS has been rocky at best. This was all the information they were willing to give us."
"Fuck you," snarled Alex.
Crawley raised an eyebrow. "You've only yourself to blame, you realise. If you had never sought to leave us, we would have had no trouble gaining the information. Whatever happens to D-unit and K-Unit is entirely your fault."
Alex froze, staring at him in horror.
"Of course," continued Crawley. "I'm sure, if you were agree to help MI6 out a bit more, Mr Blunt would be amenable to trying more… persuasive tactics."
"I'm not an idiot," said Alex, coldly. "You didn't give me the information I needed first time. Why would you change your tactics now?"
"If you change your mind," said Crawley as he walked out, "You know where to find us."
-o-O-o-
A/N: So, how mean is MI6? :( Poor Alex. Oh, and who saw that coming when Alex snuck out of the window? Review and tell me what you thought?