Alex stirred, his consciousness gradually returning. The world around him felt fuzzy and distant, like he was emerging from a deep, dark tunnel. His body ached, and there was a dull throb in his head. The first thing he noticed was the cold. Something was wrapped around him but despite it, a chill had seeped into his bones. His head pounded, and his mouth felt dry and metallic, a bitter aftertaste lingering.
With a groan, he tried to move, but his body felt heavy and sluggish. As he was trying to blink his eyes open, he saw the dim, enclosed space around him. He could hear the murmur of voices around him, slowly becoming clearer as he came to. As his mind caught up, he noticed he was leaning against something and someone had their arms wrapped around him, restricting his movements.
Alex reacted with instinct, but even as he started to jab his elbow to the person behind him, he could feel that his body didn't want to obey him. The movement was lazy, aggravating his wrist that were locked in handcuffs.
"Alex, calm down! It's me, Viper." a familiar voice said behind him. "I needed to keep you off the floor. Do you think you can sit up on your own yet?"
Alex tried to speak, but his throat was too dry. He managed a weak nod, his eyes darting around to take in his surroundings. Alex's mind raced as the events before he lost consciousness came flooding back. Walker, the sedative, his classmates' terrified faces. Alex started to sit up, trying his best to hold in a wince that escaped his lips as pain shot through his body. Apparently, he had not been treated with kid gloves while he was out. He could feel some evidence of rough handling like an ache on his shoulders accompanied by a dull pain on his arms, sides and back.
"Okay, take it easy. You've been out for a while. There's no rush. Lean back, I'll support you for a while", Viper said. Alex wanted to protest, not wanting to appear weak, but his body betrayed him, and he sank back into Viper's hold. "You're safe for now. Just breathe."
Alex hadn't realized he was holding his breath and let it out. "Good", Viper said approvingly.
Ellie, who had been sitting nearby, let out a relieved sob. "Alex, thank God you're awake!"
Alex's gaze shifted to her, then to the rest of the group that included his classmates and a teacher. He could see the fear and relief in their eyes, a mirror of his own emotions. Then he noticed the three other soldiers separated from them by bars. He recognized Snake so the other two had to be the missing recruits. Outside their current cells, two guards were sitting beside a desk a few meters away. One of them held a radio in front of his mouth and looked straight at Alex. Alex sifted his gaze towards the others that were captured with him.
"W-what... happened?" he croaked out, his voice barely above a whisper.
Viper exchanged a glance with Snake before answering. "After you lost consciousness they brought us here. Nobody has come to see us yet. We've been trying to keep you warm and safe while we waited for you to wake up."
Alex tried to sit up again, but the effort was too much. Viper gently pushed him back down. "Not yet. You need to rest."
Mr. Donovan, standing a little further back, stepped closer. "Alex, we were so worried. How are you feeling?"
"Like I've been hit by a truck," Alex muttered, his voice gaining a bit more strength. "So, where exactly are we?"
"We are still in Brecon Beacons. I guess this used to be some kind of holiday resort. I saw multiple buildings when we arrived here, we are in one of them. It's located near the center of this place" Viper explained.
Alex nodded weakly, his mind racing. "Anything else you saw?"
"Well, there was a whole lot of people on this area. We didn't get to see much unfortunately", Viper answered.
"But there is definitely some operation taking place. A group of their men spend whole last night carrying those crates here", Snake said and gestured towards the wall of wooden crates stacked against the opposite wall from them. Alex turned to look and noticed that there was indeed a whole lot of boxes in the room.
"What's in them? Do you know?" Alex asked. "No idea", Snake answered shortly.
Alex tried to get his thoughts in order. He still felt tired and was aching all over. If this truly was Scorpia, what was hidden in those crates couldn't be anything good. Memories of viruses and weapons was filling his mind. He wondered what Scorpia's motive was this time. They always had a plan, always had a goal. Was it revenge? Was it another grand scheme to disrupt global order?
His mind raced through possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. He felt a surge of frustration and anger—anger at himself for getting caught, and at Walker and Scorpia for putting his classmates in danger and dragging him in the middle of this again.
The presence of Walker could complicate things further. Walker wasn't just any operative; he was someone who knew Alex's capabilities and was familiar with him. It could make this whole thing more personal. Walker could know how to break him, how to push his limits. Alex had to be careful, he would have to stay one step ahead in this game now that he was in it. It felt so unfair, he had been perfectly happy and unaware of any terrorist grand schemes, just enjoying his field trip. But of course, faith had it that he would end up in the middle of some mess no matter where he went.
But it wasn't just about him anymore. His classmates were now caught in this too, and the guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders. He looked at their worried faces, saw the fear mingling in their eyes, and it tore at his heart. They didn't deserve this.
Alex's spiralling thoughts were finally interrupted by Will, who couldn't contain himself anymore and blurted out questions that were racing in his head. "Alex, what is going on? Who was that man in the forest? How do you know him? Why are we here?"
Alex took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Then he forced himself to sit up straighter, despite the lingering pain and exhaustion. He could feel Viper's hand support his back as he rose from his leaning position. The jacket around him shifted and Alex brought his hands up in an attempt to cover his chest. He looked at his classmates and knew that he would have to offer some explanation.
"I…" but before Alex got any further, sound of footsteps could be heard and the door to the space where they were held was opened. Alex's heart sank as the familiar figure of Walker appeared at the doorframe and walked to their direction; a smug smile plastered across his face. He looked every bit the predator, confident and menacing.
Walker stepped closer, his gaze locking onto Alex with an unsettling intensity. "Well, well, I heard you're awake," he sneered. "How are you feeling, Alex? You've lost some weight since Malagosto so the dosage kept you out a bit longer than we anticipated. But don't worry, you haven't missed any of the fun."
"What do you want?" Alex glared. He felt vulnerable, sitting there on the ground, wrapped in a jacket with his own shirt hanging from his cuffed hands that he held in a position that would offer him the most cover.
Walker's cold gaze swept over the cell, his lips curling into a smirk. "I just came to see how our star guest is doing. You've caused quite a stir, you know. I must say, Alex, it's almost nostalgic seeing you here. Like a reunion of sorts, getting to freshen up some memories."
Alex's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, well, you know what they say about bad memories. They always come back to haunt you."
Walker chuckled, the sound echoing off the damp walls. "Oh, I almost forgot, always the quick wit. But let's not pretend this isn't serious. You and your little friends here are in way over your heads."
Alex felt a surge of guilt and anger. "Leave them out of this. Whatever you want, take it up with me."
Walker took a step closer, his face inches from the bars. "Look at you Rider. Always the hero. But you should know by now that being a hero gets you nowhere. You're in Scorpia's hands now. And we don't play by the rules."
Alex forced himself to stand up from the ground. He was eternally grateful to notice that his legs weren't shaking.
"Is that supposed to scare me?" Alex shot back, his voice steady despite the pounding in his head. " You know, Walker, if Scorpia really needs to rely on kidnapping kids to make a point, then maybe you're not as powerful as you like to think. Seems like you've lost your edge. Wonder why."
Walker's smirk tightened and his eyes flashed with anger. "Careful, Alex. Behave, and your little friends here won't be harmed. How this plays out depends on how well you cooperate. You are under our command now."
Alex leaned forward slightly, his gaze unwavering. "And yet, here you are, wasting time gloating instead of doing anything useful. Maybe you're not as in control as you think."
Walker's smile faltered for a moment, then he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. "You always did have a mouth on you. But let's see how long that lasts when the real fun begins. You remember Malagosto, don't you? All those... lessons?"
Gruesome images from Dr. Three's lectures about torture and interrogation flashed before Alex's eyes. He forced them out of his mind. Alex swallowed hard and clenched his fists, forcing himself to stay calm. "Yeah, I remember. And I remember that in the end I beat you at your own game."
Walker straightened up, his eyes narrowing. "We'll see about that. You can't fool us anymore with your pathetic school kid act. Besides, you didn't exactly remain unscathed." Walker's eyes shifted towards the area that Alex was doing his best to cover. The place on his body that held the reminder of Scorpia's attempt on his life.
Snake, who was also standing in his own cell, glared at Walker and started to challenge him. "You're a coward. Using kids to get what you want. Why don't you face someone your own size for a change?"
Walker's expression darkened momentarily before he composed himself. "You're in no position to lecture me, soldier. You're just as helpless as the rest of them. Besides you don't hold any interest to us. If you so insist, I can remove you from this equation right now. Would be one less mouth to feed at least."
Alex knew that Walker was not joking around and would be able to get rid of Snake in multiple ways without too much effort.
"Snake!" Alex snapped as he saw the soldier open his mouth to retort something. Snake looked at him and shut his mouth. He saw that there was real fear in Alex's eyes.
"That's right Rider. Keep your soldiers in line. You are the senior field operative after all", Walker laughed as an insult, daring any of the SAS soldiers to jump to the bait.
"So, what's next? You've made your threats. Can we now move to the part where you tell me all about the grand plan you have going on so I can stop it and get back to school with my friends?" Alex mocked the assassin to get his attention back to himself and away from Snake.
Walker's eyes darkened, and for a moment, his mask of smug confidence slipped. "Keep talking, Rider. We'll see how confident you are when this is all over. This is just the beginning. We have plenty of time to... catch up. You and your friends should get comfortable. You're not going anywhere for a while."
The air grew thick with tension, the students were huddled together, fear in their eyes. Walker straightened up, his smile returning.
"I trust that we'll be seeing each other again very soon." Walker said and turned to leave.
As Walker disappeared out of the door the oppressive silence returned. Alex's mind raced, trying to come up with a plan. He knew Walker was right about one thing: Scorpia didn't play around. But he also knew that he couldn't let them win. He had to find a way to protect his friends and stop whatever Scorpia was planning.
"Stay strong," he told himself, a mantra he had repeated countless times before. "You've faced worse. You can handle this." But doubt lingered at the edges of his resolve. How many more times could he defy death? How many more battles could he win before the odds finally caught up with him? And how could he ensure that the others wouldn't get caught in the crossfire when, eventually, all the hell breaks loose?
Walker strode through the dimly lit corridors of the main building, his footsteps echoing off the cold, worn-down walls. His earlier encounter with Alex had left him seething, the brat was insufferable, but he forced himself to push the anger aside. He had a job to do, and reporting to Hawthorne, their client, was a crucial part of it.
Reaching the room that now functioned as Hawthorne's office, he knocked sharply on the old, wooden door. A gruff voice from inside beckoned him to enter. Walker pushed the door open and stepped into the room, the air was thick with the smell of dust.
Hawthorne sat behind a large wooden desk, that once had been impressive piece of furniture, but was now breaking apart and covered with dirt and marks of neglect. Hawthorne lifted his gaze from the laptop he had open on the desk and looked at Walker. He was imposing man with a stern face and a presence that demanded respect. He was sitting on a wheelchair, sleek black cane leaning against the desk beside him. His two bodyguards were standing near him, both imposing figures with professional air around them. Hawthorne's fingers drummed on the desk as he regarded Walker.
"Walker," Hawthorne said, his voice gravelly. "What news do you bring?"
"Sir," Walker began, standing straight. "Alex Rider is awake. He's showing signs of resilience, as expected. We had a... conversation."
Hawthorne raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "And how did our young guest react?"
"He tried to act tough, as usual," Walker replied, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.
Hawthorne leaned back in the chair, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Interesting. He is quite resilient. But I think his confidence can be used against him. Did he reveal anything useful?"
"Not directly, but he did show concern for his classmates," Walker said. "Typical Rider—always thinking about others before himself."
Hawthorne nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing. "Good. That means we can exploit his weaknesses. Use his concern for his friends to manipulate him. Break his spirit. Make him realize that resistance is futile. I'll pay him a visit this evening. When the time comes to start the interrogation, I want you to be in charge of that."
Walker nodded. He had though as much but was pleased all the same when his assignment was confirmed by their client.
"I don't mean any disrespect sir, but why wait? Surely the information he holds is crucial. I would be glad to start with the job already", Walker said.
Hawthorne gave him appraising look. "No, I think he needs some time to grasp the situation he's in. He gets to see the fear and hopelessness of his friends before we start. After all everyone has a breaking point, Walker. Even Alex Rider. We'll just have to find it. If your observations are true, it might be a threat to his friends. Now, I want you to be aware of everything regarding our prisoners. Get the reports from the guards hourly. If there are any changes in their behaviour, let me know immediately."
Walker nodded. "Understood, sir. I'll keep you updated."
"Good," Hawthorne said, dismissing him with a wave of his hand. "Now, go. We have much to prepare for."
Walker left the office and his thoughts swirled as he walked towards the room that he resided in. He could use this time to catch up with some much needed rest after being up the previous night. But his thoughts were occupied by Alex Rider. The kid who had somehow always managed to slip through Scorpia's grasp. The boy who had ruined meticulously laid plans and brought down seasoned operatives. It was maddening to think someone so young could cause so much trouble.
He remembered their time at Malagosto, the rigorous training, the brutal exercises, and the endless tests of endurance. Alex had always been resilient, it was a shame that the boy had chosen MI6 after everything and stabbed them in the back. As a revenge, Scorpia had tried to assassinate him, kidnapped him and murdered his guardian. Yet here he was, still defiant, still taunting.
He wanted nothing more than to see that confidence shattered, to watch Alex realize that Scorpia was not to be trifled with. This time, Alex Rider would learn that Scorpia was not to be underestimated.
Alex was standing with his back to his cellmates, his mind racing after the confrontation with Walker. He took a few deep breaths and closed his eyes, trying to steady himself. He heard someone moving behind him and felt a comforting hand on his shoulder. Alex opened his eyes to see Viper standing next to him.
"Are you okay?" Viper asked softly.
"Yeah, just...could you help me get my shirt back on?" Alex replied wanting to avoid the question about his feelings. And he had decided that despite his shirt being wet, nasty and covered in mud, he still preferred to wear it opposed to the current situation where the piece of clothing was just hanging from his wrists.
"Sure," Viper said quietly. He lifted his jacket off Alex. Alex swallowed a cry that tried to escape him as he manoeuvred to get his shirt on with Viper's help. His muscles were still aching, his wrists were sore and now that Walker had left, his composure started to crack, and he could feel his legs almost starting to shake.
"Thanks," Alex muttered after Viper let go of his shirt. He tried to adjust it as best as he could, but it was sticking to his skin and making him feel cold. Despite the shirt being damp and dirty, it provided a small comfort, a shield against the vulnerability Alex had felt. With a sigh he turned to face his classmates, who were watching him intently.
His movement seemed to break an unspoken agreement of silence. Instantly, the room filled with voices, echoing questions off the damp walls. The cacophony was too much for Alex's pounding head, and he closed his eyes, willing them to be silent again.
Viper noticed Alex's distress. "Hey, stop it!" he commanded and the voices subdued, but the tension lingered.
"Viper, the kid needs to explain at least something," it was Jaguar, the stress of their situation hanging over him, being dressed in clothes that were not his own and going without food since they got here didn't leave him in the best mood.
"I know", Alex sighed dragging his hand across his face. God, he was tired. Physically, emotionally and especially fed up with the damn cuffs that were hurting his wrists after being on for so long, biting down on his skin. "I know", he repeated and took a deep breath, steeling himself for the barrage of questions.
Jaguar was the first to ask his question. "Why the hell would you have been in Malagosto?"
"What is Malagosto?" Sam asked, confused.
All eyes landed on Alex, who shifted uncomfortably under their gazes. He wanted nothing more than to sit down and rest for a while before starting to wreck his brain with ways to escape from here. But Alex knew he wouldn't get a moment of silence before answering the burning questions in everybody's minds. And he didn't feel like doing it with everybody hovering over him, so he stood straight and tried to force the exhaustion out of his body.
Alex felt Viper land a hand on his shoulder again, "Alex, you promised that you would be honest when it counts. Well, I say, now it counts", Viper reminded him of their talk from the previous night.
Alex sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. Malagosto was a training facility. For Scorpia operatives."
"You mean Scorpia assassins," Jaguar's hard tone interrupted, and Alex glared at him.
"Assassins?" Mr. Donovan's shocked voice overlapped with Liam's question, "What is Scorpia?"
Alex stared at Jaguar, who stared back with matching intensity. "I'm not the enemy here. If me being a prisoner with you isn't hint enough."
Jaguar stepped forward, his expression serious. "I'm not saying you're an enemy. Just pointing out the half-truth that you are trying to give. Don't downplay it, kid. Malagosto was a place where Scorpia trained their most promising recruits to become the perfect assassins. It's widely known that facing with Malagosto graduate means you're as good as dead if it comes down to it."
Alex was cursing in his mind. Laying it out like that made the whole thing sound so much worse in Alex's opinion.
The other students and Mr. Donovan stared at Alex with wide and fearful eyes after hearing Jaguar's words. Sam and Will exchanged nervous glances. The gravity of Jaguar's words hit them hard. They both remembered Alex's fight with Tiger back at the training facility. At the time, it had seemed impressive. Now, it painted a whole different picture.
Alex looked around him and noticed the bewildered looks. "I didn't exactly graduate," Alex muttered.
Jaguar opened his mouth to press the issue but Snake came to Alex's defence. "Come on Jaguar, let him explain before throwing him under a bus like that."
"And how do you two know each other exactly? This kid knew your code name before we even introduced ourselves," Jaguar demanded from Snake, clearly on edge and ready for a fight. Snake clenched his jaw, meeting Alex's eyes.
Viper, sensing the rising tension, intervened. "Okay Jaguar, calm down. Alex, maybe it would be best to start from the beginning."
Alex averted their gazes, looking down at his hands. Frustration and helplessness surged within him. How could he explain everything without revealing too much? He clenched his fists, the frustration bubbling up inside him.
"Look, it's complicated and mostly classified," Alex started, but Raven interrupted.
"What do you mean classified? Only people who say that are...are…no, it can't be. You're just a kid!"
"What? What happened? What does that mean?" Will asked, furrowing his brows and looking between Alex and Raven, who looked stunned.
Viper ignored the confused Will and looked at Jaguar and Raven, "Well, we all heard that Walker call him a senior field operative."
Raven processed Viper's words. "But he can't be old enough to even sign up yet. It's impossible. No one that young could be part of the SAS."
Jaguar wore a sour expression. "Well, if he's old enough to be trained by a terrorist organization…"
"SAS? Terrorists?" Mr. Donovan repeated still in some state of shock and denial. He couldn't believe they were talking about one of his students. A bright student at that. They all had wondered about the mysterious sicknesses and long absences from school. But never in his wildest dreams could he have thought that Alex would be somehow involved in any military or criminal activities no matter what the rumours about him were saying.
"I'm so confused", Liam muttered and glanced at Sam, Will and Ellie who also seemed to have a hard time following the bizarre conversation between Alex and the SAS soldiers.
Alex saw an opening and took it to clarify, "Well, not SAS, exactly."
"Come on, out with it!" Jaguar demanded, but Raven seemed to have a revelation. "SIS?"
A gasp came from Mr. Donovan, who looked at Alex with worry. "Tell me it isn't true," he whispered. "Alex, that would be extremely illegal."
Alex shrugged. "It's not like I had any choice."
"Wait," Snake said, and Alex turned to look at him. "What do you mean you didn't have any choice?"
Alex sighed, fed up with the constant questions and interruptions.
"Alright, let me just explain what I can," he started, hoping to get this over with so they could start to plan how to get out of this situation and not focus on the aspects of his life that he had wished to keep secret. Well, it was too late now. Walker had said too much and Alex was sure that more revelations about his doings would be spilled out before this whole thing was over, one way or another. "So, this whole thing started after my uncle died. I was approached by MI6. They needed someone young for a mission, someone who could blend in where an adult couldn't. I can't go into specifics, but I didn't really have a choice."
Mr. Donovan had thoughtful look on his face. "Why on earth would MI6 approach you?"
Alex looked at his teacher. "Let's just say that my uncle didn't work in a bank after all."
He was painfully aware of the two guards outside their cell listening in on the conversation. He didn't want to go too deep in the details regarding his employment. Even if Scorpia knew most of it already, he didn't want to offer any information for free.
"So, before the mission I trained here in Brecon Beacons for a few days with K-Unit. That's how I met with Snake." Alex continued, glancing at Snake.
A look of guilt crossed Snake's face. "We were hard on you," he admitted quietly. "I'm so sorry Cub. We didn't know...didn't understand why you were there. And it was in the middle of selection. We thought it was some joke to get us all binned."
Alex gave a small nod, acknowledging Snake's apology. "It's fine. I get it. Even if you were total assholes."
A small smile tugged on Snake's lips. "Yeah, I can admit that."
Alex smirked slightly. "Besides, I got my revenge after all."
For a second Snake looked confused. "What do you mean?"
Alex let out a laugh. "Oh, he didn't tell you. No surprise there I guess, but I kind of kicked Wolf out of the plane."
Snake was stunned for a moment but then erupted into laughter. "Oh shit Cub! I can't wait to get out of here and throw that into his face."
The mood lightened briefly as Snake sniggered at the thought of Wolf's face when he would reveale this little secret to the rest of their unit, but the reality of their situation quickly set back in. Alex took a deep breath, ready to continue his explanation. "Anyway, long story short, because of all of this I got mixed up with Scorpia at one point."
Alex decided to let out the part where he went to look for them himself because of the last words of dying assassin. That was another rabbit hole he wasn't ready to dive in right now.
"What is Scorpia?" Liam repeated his earlier question.
This time it was Viper who was ready to offer some explanation to get everyone on the same page. "It's an organization. The name comes from Sabotage, Corruption, Intelligence and Assassination. They were once responsible for a tenth of the world's terrorism. We all learned about Scorpia in SAS. They were everywhere so it was likely to encounter their operatives at some point. At least before we got the news that they were out of the picture and wouldn't be a threat anymore." Here Viper turned to look at Alex with curious expression.
Alex grimaced at Viper's words. "Yeah, that's what they told me too. Yet, it seems that they are just like cockroaches, always crawling back again from some dark hole to ruin the day."
The two Scorpia operatives watching them gave Alex a nasty look that he returned. "You better watch your mouth boy", one of them said with threatening voice. Alex glared at the man but decided to pick his battles and refrained from throwing anymore insults to their direction.
Liam's voice was edged with disbelief. "So, you were training with them. Were you undercover, like a spy? Was that your mission?"
Raven had concentrated look on his face, trying to make some sense of what he was hearing. "That doesn't add up. You said MI6 needed you for something that adult wouldn't be able to do. It couldn't have been infiltrating Scorpia. I think a schoolboy trying to join their ranks would actually raise more questions."
Will furrowed his brow, thinking back to all the times Alex had been absent from school and returned injured. "Wait, you kept talking about a mission, but you've been absent from school a lot, and you always came back hurt. There wasn't just one mission was there? More like ten."
"Ten?" the SAS soldiers said almost in unison.
After a brief, shocked silence Snake looked at Alex. "Well, that would explain Walker calling you senior operative. After all we were in the training at the same time. So, I have to admit I was wondering about that. But if we look at the number of the assignments then, yeah…Shit Cub. Even adult agents wouldn't do half of that amount of missions in a year."
Alex hesitated, looking at the worried faces of adults around him. "Well, not all of those times were a mission, in like, the traditional sense. Sometimes I just, kind of, got mixed up with stuff."
Viper remembered Alex's insistence that he hadn't been involved with MI6 for months when they had been in the Colonel's office at the camp. He looked at the teenager who was standing next to him, hands cuffed and in damp and muddy clothes, having just woken up a moment ago after being forced to sedate himself.
"Like now", Viper concluded.
"Like now", Alex repeated.
The room fell silent again, each person processing the information in their own way. Ellie broke the silence with unsure voice. "What did he mean you didn't remain unscathed?"
Memories flashed through Alex's mind. Him, laying in the ground after being shot, his parents appearing to him, Jack climbing on the Jeep that exploded, Alex himself pulling the trigger and shooting Julius. Alex could feel his pulse speeding up. He swallowed hard and drew in a breath.
"I'd rather not go into it", he then said with a grave voice and, thankfully, the topic was left at that. But Alex could see Viper giving him a knowing look and he was sure, that the mark of Scorpia's ruthlessness on his chest hadn't gone unnoticed by the man who had wrapped him in a jacket while he was unconscious.
The tension in the room was palpable as the weight of Alex's words settled over them. From the way Alex refused to share what had happened between him and Scorpia they all knew it was something serious. Everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts, the gravity of the situation continuing to sink in. They all started to understand that they were captured by an organization that was not making empty threats.
The members of K-Unit watched the bus with Alex's classmates and teachers disappear down the forest road, its taillights glowing faintly through the dense fog. Wolf took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing with determination. They had escorted the bus out of the area with no disruptions.
"Alright, let's move out," he commanded. Eagle started the vehicle that they were all sitting in now and turned it around, all their faces were set in grim resolve. Another SAS vehicle holding the remaining members of J-Unit tailed them as they started their drive back.
The drive was quick and silent, each soldier lost in their own thoughts.
As they neared the campsite where the schoolchildren had been enjoying their field trip just a few hours ago, the sounds of soldiers searching for the missing group filled the air. Radios crackled with updates, and the low murmur of voices created a tense atmosphere. K-Unit moved with their eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of the missing group.
"Let's go over here," Wolf called, leading them to the center of the camp. He paused, looking around at the scene. The campsite was eerily quiet. The fire pit, now cold and lifeless, seemed to mock the urgency of their search.
Just then, a familiar voice broke through the tension. "Wolf! Eagle! Good to see you."
Wolf turned to see their former member, Fox, striding towards them.
"Fox," Wolf greeted, extending a hand. "Glad you could make it."
Fox shook his hand firmly. "Wouldn't miss it. I heard about the situation. Any updates?"
"Not much," Wolf admitted, frustration evident in his voice. "We've got a bunch of teams out searching, but no sign of them yet. We need to figure out what happened here."
Fox nodded, then shifted his eyes to Coyote. He offered his hand and Coyote took it. "Ben Daniels. Formerly known as Fox. More often Agent Daniels now a days but it seems so official so you can call me Ben if you're uncomfortable with me having a code name. I'm not SAS anymore after all."
"Nice to meet you…Fox." Coyote said with emphasis. Usually, code names were reserved for those who were in active duty with SAS. But Coyote had heard about the man who was part of the K-Unit before him and would be happy to use the man's former code name, protocol or not.
Fox gave a smile to Coyote. Then his face shifted to one more serious. "Alright, let's get to work then. We need to find any clues that might tell us where they went or who took them."
As they began to comb through the campsite, Fox moved with the precision and focus that had made him a valuable asset to MI6. He examined the ground, looking for tracks or signs of a struggle. Wolf, Eagle, and Coyote spread out, their trained eyes scanning for anything out of the ordinary.
Eagle couldn't resist a smirk as he watched Fox work. "So, how's the glamorous life of a spy treating you, Fox? Miss the mud and grime of the SAS yet?"
Fox chuckled, not taking his eyes off the ground. "You know, it's not all cocktail parties and tuxedos, Eagle. But I do miss the straightforward nature of the SAS. Less politics, more action."
Eagle snorted. "Yeah, but you do look good in a suit. Bet you had a hard time convincing the suits at MI6 you were the same guy who used to roll around in the mud with us."
Fox grinned. "It did take some getting used to, I'll admit. But it's all the same game, really. Just different playing fields."
Wolf rolled his eyes but couldn't help a small smile. Listening the two former unit mates banter brought back what he regarded as good memories. "Focus, you two. We need to find something, anything, that gives us a lead."
They continued their search, but the fog and setting darkness made it difficult to find any clear signs of what had happened. The ground was disturbed in places, but it was hard to tell if it was from the missing group or from the other searchers moving through the area.
After what felt like hours of fruitless searching, they regrouped near the cold fire pit. Wolf's frustration was evident in his clenched jaw and tense posture.
"Nothing," he muttered. "Not a damn thing."
Fox looked around, his mind working through possibilities. "They wouldn't have left without a trace unless they were taken by surprise or were forced to move quickly. We need to expand the search radius and look for any signs of movement away from the campsite."
Eagle nodded, his earlier levity replaced by a serious determination. "Agreed. We could cover more ground if we split up and follow different trails."
As they prepared to move out again, Fox glanced at Wolf. "We'll find them, Wolf. I know Cub is with them, he is resourceful. He'll leave a sign for us to follow."
Wolf nodded, his resolve hardening. "Let's get to it, then. Keep your radios on and report anything unusual immediately We're not leaving anyone behind."
Sylas Hawthorne leaned back in his chair, the dim light in the room casting long shadows across the floor. Sylas tapped his finger against the desk, lost in thought. MI6's awareness of the plans in action was a glaring flaw, an irritant that demanded his focus and personal involvement. Capturing Alex Rider was a significant development.
He looked at the computer screen front of him. There had been messages throughout the day relaying information about the current status of the operation and the latest developments from the teams around the world. Every message had been positive, no complications were reported. But still, Sylas couldn't help but think back to his decision to hire Scorpia. Their reputation had taken a hit in the last year, their once-unassailable operations marred by a series of high-profile failures. Yet, they had been affordable, and they had sworn to get the job done—whatever it took. Their promise of results, no matter the cost, had seemed appealing at the time. But now, with MI6 seemingly aware of his plans, he couldn't shake the feeling that somewhere along the line, Scorpia had messed up.
And out of all the chances in the world, the operative MI6 had decided to send to Brecon Beacons, one of the high targets in his list, was Alex Rider. The boy who was responsible for the downfall of some of the most ambitious plans. He glanced out the window, where the surface of a lake reflected the darkening sky, still covered with clouds after the rainy day. Sylas decided that the boy had simmered in his situation long enough. It was time to pay him a visit and meet the enigma that was MI6's teenage spy.
"Let's go see our guests", Sylas said to his bodyguards in the room. They both nodded, one of them took a hold of his wheelchair, directing it out of the room that was functioning as his office.
Once they reached the main door, Hawthorne stood up slowly, supporting himself with the black cane. His movements were deliberate, a testament to the pain that had become a constant companion. With the cane in hand, he made his way to the door, the sound of the rubber tip tapping against the floor with each step. His bodyguards, ever vigilant, flanked him as he moved to go outside and start their journey towards the building holding their prisoners. Hawthorne's presence was imposing, his cold, calculating eyes revealing nothing of the pain that accompanied each step.
As they passed Scorpia's operatives everyone gave him a nod of acknowledgement and respect. This was their client. Despite the obvious physical limitations, the man was a force to be reckoned with.
Hawthorne reached the building that used to be a rental shop, now repurposed to hold the most valuable assets for the success of this operation. The supplies delivered last night and the boy with the crucial information he desperately needed. The sun had nearly set, the darkening evening adding to the building's eerie atmosphere.
As he approached the door, he paused, leaning heavily on his cane for support. Taking a deep breath, he signaled his bodyguards to open it. The door creaked ominously, and he stepped inside, his eyes immediately locking onto Alex. The room fell silent, the air thick with tension as the prisoners turned their attention to the new arrival. The two guards inside instantly rouse to their feet on the presence of the man in charge.
Alex held Hawthorne's gaze with an unwavering intensity. He instantly knew that this man was the one pulling the strings. The air between them crackled with unspoken challenges, both of them assessing the other, looking for weaknesses. Hawthorne scrutinized Alex with a mixture of curiosity and malice. Alex's eyes narrowed slightly, as he took a look at the man between two burly bodyguards, leaning on a cane but still radiating power.
Alex knew that engaging too early could give away more than he intended. He had to be strategic, had to make sure that when the time came, the only person this man would want to hurt would be him. Only him. Whatever it took. The stakes were high, and Alex felt the weight of it pressing down on his shoulders.
The silence stretched, thick with anticipation. The two had their eyes locked, the challenge clear. The game was on, and Alex knew he had to be ready for whatever came next.