Alan Blunt read through the psychological report on Julius Grief. The boy was practically un usable, he was no Alex Rider, that was for sure. Ian had done an excellent job training his nephew. The Head of MI6 Special Operations wanted his perfect operative back under his control. His plans had been scuppered by a very legal adoption of the orphan Rider boy by Alexei Sarov. Only the Head of MI6 Special Operations held the wild card. He could not use the Grief clone as a replacement for Alex, but that abomination would make a perfect corpse. When he switched the two boys places. Alex would become the imprisoned Julius Grief, forever under the Bank's control and the Alex Rider doppelgänger, now Aleksandr Sarov, would have a cold grave in Moscow, when killed during a botched kidnapping.

...

Alex played a game of football Dimitry Ivanov, the orphaned son of General Victor Ivanov, in the warm spring sunshine. The air filled with the sound of laughter, shouting and the noise of two happy teenagers at play. Alexei tried to remember a time when Vladimir had been so happy and carefree. The General had been a part time father to his dead son, spending his time working, never devoting enough time to his darling Vladimir. His son had excelled in all things, like Aleksandr did. The two boys born a world apart were so alike.

At Christmas, Alex had sent of cards to the alumni of that school in France, happy in the knowledge that those boys had known the real Alex, the one used by MI6. He had written regularly to Dimitry since and had invited the orphan over to his fifteenth birthday celebration. The boys were close friends, who now enjoyed regular meetings, when their busy schedules allowed. This week Dimitry was on holiday from his boarding school in Ekaterinaburg, preferring to spend his holidays with his friend Alex, rather than distant relations who did not understand the horror and helplessness of his time at Point Blanc Academy, nor his guilt and grief over the murder of his father.

...

As a daring excursion, Alex and Dimitry dressed in the dark, well after lights out, and were planning on steeling out in the moonlight over to the woods, to sleep under the stars. The general knew of course and was joining them, to watch over them at a safe distance having already alerted his chief bodyguard that all three would likely be out for a few hours. The guards were also having a night time exercise tonight, all on high alert. The two boys, using stealthy tactics, slipped out of the house and across to the woods unobserved by the house guards to the place they had decided to camp. The boys pretending to be heroic partisans, evading Nazis. The general following, feeling like a schoolboy himself.

It was 4am, dark and cold, the witching hour, when it was darkest before dawn. Alex felt a hand around his mouth as he started away struggling at the intruder. If it was Dimitry, it was not funny.

The softest of whispers was barely audible to Alex as a familiar voice speaking in accent-less English spoke "Be quiet, Little Alex. We do not want to disturb your father, who has been called back to the house. I will stay and protect you and your friend."

Alex was quiet as the hand was removed. Yassen lay flat and motioned for Alex to do the same.

They lay still for for 20 minutes, when the short bark of gunfire could be heard from the direction of the dacha. Yassen rested his hand on Alex to keep him still and calm. The assassin was acting a silent protector.

Alex moved to silence Dimitry as he was woken by gunfire, using hand signals and touch to make the other boy aware to keep still, low and silent. The three listened to the ensuing battle.

...

There was a stiff firefight between the seven bodyguards, the chauffer, even the cook and tutor were proficient to handle firearms and to repel the intruders. The General was in his office on the phone when his line went dead. His first thought was for the boys in the woods, with no protection, no guns and no idea what was going on.

The team was six strong, four were ex-SAS, employed as they had all worked as mercenaries. Fox and Wolf were there to reassure and provide a positive identification of Cub, AKA Aleksandr Sarov. The seventh person was the ever smiling Cub lookalike. Wolf may have disliked the London schoolboy who had trained with K-unit, but he knew all about Grief's psychotic clones and had not allowed the switch any leeway.

"Fuck, I did not expect this! It was meant to be an easy in and out!" exclaimed Wolf.

"We cannot make a switch under these conditions. Abort, get back to the vehicles and split up. We will meet up in Zilupe."

Wolf then swore. "Grief's not here. Shit!"

Fox then made his decision. "Leave him to his fate. Get out now."

...

Julius stood in a bedroom that was neat, ordered and surprisingly bare. There was a single picture of what he supposed was General Alexei Sarov in his full dress uniform of the Red Army. The intruder looked through the drawers and closet. The games were stored on a single shelf, books were ordered by title. Not many, the teen touched them, unable to read the cyrillic. He then frowned, he spoke a few phrases of Russian. He had been reassured Alex spoke English and Spanish with his father, the general. Julius suddenly felt unprepared for this role. He had been so looking forward to finally fulfilling the grand plan. Maybe he could free his brothers, but that was not priority. Revenge on Alex Rider was.

The general heard the all clear and waited for his staff to check the house room by room. Only then could he make sure Alex and Dimitry were safe. The worry was nearly overwhelming.

The assassin had noted six attackers, had broken off and left. The camp area was now illuminated in the first light of dawn Yassen pulled up his gun as a stranger approached, but stopped by the second row of trees as if on guard and called softly in Russian. "Sasha, Dima stay where you are. There is a situation in the house.."

Alex could not stop himself "Lukyan...is the general OK..."

"Yes, but he is dealing with another... it is strange to explain. You but not you. The strange boy is fatter and shorter than you. You had a growth spurt last month. He is dressed in tee-shirt, trainers and jeans."

Alex knew immediately who the imposter was and accepted the hug from Dimitry, who was also suddenly and justifiably afraid, both had nightmares about the creepy clones that had almost stolen their futures. In that second the illusion of home, family and happiness was shattered for Alex. MI6 had sent his evil double to take his place. All Alex's insecurities surfaced "Do you trust me Dima?"

"Always, Alex." The Dark haired boy said, squeezing Alex's hand in reassurance.

"Please take us somewhere safe Yassen."

Lukyan moved forward "Is someone with you Aleksandr?... Sasha?" The guard moved forward but both boys were gone.