Viper's heart sank as he watched Alex collapse into the mud, unconscious from the injection with cuffs on his wrists. His instincts screamed at him to take action, but with Sam's life in immediate danger, he had to think tactically. He shot a look at Walker, who was grinning with satisfaction, looking at the unconscious boy lying in the mud. Walker was still holding Sam firmly in his grip.

"Alright," Viper said, his voice steady despite the anger boiling inside him. "You got what you wanted. Now let the boy go."

Walker laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think this is about just taking Rider? No, we need you all to come with us. Insurance, you see."

Viper clenched his fists but kept his face neutral. His eyes scanned the surroundings, noting the positions of the other operatives. The odds were heavily against them, and any rash move could result in casualties.

Mr. Donovan, his face pale, looked at Viper with wide eyes. "What is happening?" he whispered.

"Stay calm," Viper replied quietly. "We'll get out of this. Just follow my lead."

Will, Liam, and Ellie were visibly shaken, their eyes darting around in fear. Viper caught their gazes and gave them a reassuring nod. "Stick together and do what they tell you."

Walker nodded to his men, who began to move in, their guns trained on the group. "Everyone, on your knees. Hands behind your heads."

The students hesitated, but Viper nodded at them to comply. They knelt in the mud, their faces a mix of fear and confusion. Viper followed suit, his mind racing with possible escape plans.

"You, soldier," Walker said, "you're going to help us get Rider out of here safely. If you don't, I'll start with the boy and then go through each one of them. Understood?"

Viper's jaw tightened, but he remained outwardly calm. Any sign of aggression now could trigger a disaster. Viper met Walker's gaze, his eyes hard. "Understood."

As Walker's men secured the group, Viper's mind continued to work. He needed to find a way to turn the situation to their advantage. The students were tied together, bound from their wrists to the others beside them. Walker finally let Sam go just to attach him to the line of the students. Each one of them still had gun pointing at their direction.

Ellie felt tears streaming down her face, trying her best to suppress the sobs that wanted to make themselves known. Sam's eyes were swollen and red, he was shaking from the aftermath of being held with gun against his head. Liam was staring at Alex, who was lying on the ground unmoving. Will had his eyes closed and was muttering something under his breath. Mr. Donovan was attached at the other end of the line that the students now formed, still kneeling on the ground and secured to each other by harsh ropes. Viper was still separated from the others keeping his hands behind his head.

"I'll check him. Keep an eye on the others", Walker said to the man beside him and approached Alex's unconscious body. Viper thought that the man would check Alex's pulse and other vitals but instead he rolled Alex on his back and looked into the boy's mouth. After that he checked each of Alex's fingernails until he lifted both eyelids and pointed a bright light into them. Then he turned Alex's head from side to side and looked into his ears.

Viper felt dread on his stomach as he watched Walker search the boy that remained oblivious to the world surrounding them. Then Walker, apparently satisfied with the results of his check, lifted his gaze and looked straight at Viper.

"You, carry him", Walker commanded nodding at Alex. "And no funny business or not all of you will make it out of this forest."

Viper felt anger burn inside him, but he just nodded curtly. Walker straightened his position.

"Right then, we're moving out," Walker announced. "Keep up and don't try anything stupid."

Viper got up from his knees as they were dragged up to start their journey. He approached Alex's unconscious form under Walker's watchful gaze. He grabbed Alex's limp body and hoisted him over his shoulder. The kid felt lighter than he had anticipated, and Viper was starkly reminded that the teenager he was now carrying was just that, a kid.

Viper clenched his jaw and felt determined to figure someway out from this situation. He just had to come up with a way to do it while ensuring everyone's safety.

The group was marched deeper into the forest, the rain still pouring down. Viper noted every detail of their path, every potential escape route. He needed a plan, and he needed one fast.

"Where are you taking us?" Viper demanded.

"Someplace secure," Walker replied. "Let's just say, you're going to be our guests for a little while."

Viper knew better than to expect mercy from these men. He glanced at the students, their faces pale and eyes wide. He needed to keep them calm, focused.

As they walked, Viper caught sight of a slight opening in the trees ahead. His mind raced, calculating distances and angles. Viper surveyed their captors. There were six operatives, including Walker, all heavily armed. Taking them down wouldn't be easy, especially with the students' safety at stake. Viper had to abandon any thoughts about straight attack.

They continued marching through the forest, the tension thick in the air. Viper knew he had to act soon. Every second they delayed increased the risk to Alex and the others.

Then Walker's radio crackled to life. "Base to Walker. Status update."

Walker grabbed his radio, his eyes still on Viper. "We have Rider and his group. Heading to extraction point. ETA ten minutes."

Viper's mind raced. Ten minutes. That was all the time he had to come up with a plan. He glanced at the students, their faces a mix of fear and confusion. They didn't belong in this kind of situation. Having armed men surrounding them with one of their classmates unconscious, getting dragged through the mud and rain to unknown location. Viper felt a pang of responsibility. How could they have messed up so badly?

As Walker finished his transmission, Viper caught his eye. "You're making a big mistake. You know this won't end well for you."

Walker smirked. "We'll see about that. Now, keep moving."


The group finally arrived at the extraction point, a clearing in the forest where a familiar looking SAS vehicle and one black car awaited them. The rain had let up slightly, but the air was still thick with tension. Viper's mind was racing as he tried to come up with a plan to get everyone out safely. Any plan. But his mind was coming up empty.

As they approached the vehicles, Viper noticed two operatives, who looked visibly angry, waiting for them. One of them was nursing a bruised jaw, while the other had a dark scowl on his face.

Walker walked over to one of the operatives and handed him the gun that Alex had suddenly drawn out of his waistband before. "I believe this belongs to you," he said with a smirk. "Better keep a closer eye on your gear next time."

Now Viper knew where the boy had gotten the gun. It had been a surprise for him that Alex had been carrying one.

The operative snatched the gun back, glaring at Walker before turning his gaze to Alex, who was still hanging unconscious on Viper's shoulder. "I'll make sure to pay him back for that," he muttered.

"Well, you only have yourself to blame. I warned you not to get within the striking distance with Rider," Walker said.

The man with a bruise on his jaw had a poisonous look but refrained from saying anything else. Walker nodded and turned his attention back to Viper and the group. "Load them up."

The operatives began ushering the group they had as hostages toward the cars. Viper kept a close eye on everything, looking for any opportunity to turn the situation in their favour.

"Viper," Ellie whispered, her voice trembling. "What are we going to do?"

"Just stay calm," Viper said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Everything's going to be okay."

As they were being loaded into the two vehicles, Viper took note of the surroundings. The operatives were relaxed, confident in their superior numbers and the control they had over the situation. And Viper had to admit it, being unarmed, accompanied by civilians and carrying one unconscious boy, all the odds were against him.

Walker supervised the operation, his eyes never leaving Viper. "You can place Rider on the ground now. Don't worry, we'll see that he gets to our destination in one piece. Well, mostly at least."

Viper knew Walker was taunting him and didn't rise to the bait. He was sure that any show of defiance would only put the students in more danger. Instead, he lowered Alex on the forest floor with gentle moves. Viper looked at Alex's face and was startled to notice, how young the boy seemed now that he was not awake and continuously on high alert.

Viper stepped back and they watched as Alex was being roughly handled by one of the operatives. He would need to wake up soon if they were to have any chance of escaping. The doors of the car slammed shut, and the vehicles roared to life, speeding off into the forest.


Falcon paced anxiously, glancing at his watch for the sixth time in the past fifteen minutes. The rain had finally let up, but a heavy fog still hung in the air. He checked his watch again and frowned.

He had gotten back to the campsite with part of the group after one of the kid's hurt his ankle. Viper was supposed to do the minor route related to their navigation exercise and then head back. It had taken too long.

"They should have been back by now," he muttered to Bear who was sitting by his side. "Even if they would've gotten lost at some point, they should have made it back already. Viper wouldn't let them wander too far."

Tom, sitting nearby, overheard the conversation and looked up with a worried expression. "Do you think something might have happened to them?"

Falcon sighed and shook his head. "No, it's probably nothing. It's just not like Viper to be late without a reason but don't worry. I'm sure they're okay."

Tom's worry deepened, his thoughts immediately jumping to Alex. "Alex is with them, right?"

Falcon noticed the panic in Tom's eyes and tried to offer some reassurance for the boy who was worried about his friend. " It's possible they just got delayed, maybe took a wrong turn."

Tom bit his lip, clearly not convinced. "But what if something happened? What if there is some other reason that they're not back yet?"

Falcon and Bear glanced at each other. They both knew about one of the training units coming under attack yesterday. After all, it was all part of the reason why they were here now.

Falcon kept his voice steady as he said to Bear. "I'll go check on them. Stay here and let the others know what's happening."

Bear nodded, his expression grim. "Be careful, just in case."

Falcon grabbed his gear and set off in the direction Viper's group was supposed to have taken. He moved quickly, his SAS training kicking in as he scanned the surroundings for any signs of the group. The forest was eerily silent, and the fog made it hard to see far ahead.

As he reached the area where Viper's group was last known to be, Falcon saw no sign of them. The path was muddy and slippery, but there were no fresh footprints leading back to the camp. His heart sank as his concern turned into a gnawing fear. Something was definitely wrong.

He searched the area thoroughly, his anxiety mounting with each passing minute. The group was supposed to navigate a simple route and return, but there were no signs of them anywhere. Falcon decided it was time to report the situation.

He pulled out his radio and contacted Colonel Sanders. "Colonel Sanders, this is Falcon. We have a situation. Viper's group is missing. Over."

There was a brief pause before Colonel Sanders' voice crackled through the radio. "Falcon, this is Sanders. How long have they been overdue? Over."

"At least an hour, sir. I've searched the area where they were supposed to be, but there's no sign of them. Over."

"Understood, Falcon. Get me information about who were part of that group. We'll organize a search party immediately. Over."

"Roger that, Colonel. I'm heading back now. Over and out."

Falcon turned back towards the campsite, his mind racing with possibilities. As he retraced his steps, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone terribly wrong.

Back at the camp, Tom waited anxiously, his eyes fixed on the path. When Falcon emerged from the trees, Tom instantly ran up to him. "Did you find them?"

Falcon shook his head, his expression serious. "No, but I contacted Colonel Sanders and he is organizing a search party. They couldn't have gotten far. Don't worry."

Tom nodded, but the fear in his eyes remained. Falcon put a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll find them."


Colonel Sanders sat at his desk in the command centre, the soft hum of equipment and the quiet chatter of his team serving as a backdrop to his deepening frustration. Reports and maps were spread out before him, all related to the ongoing search for the three missing soldiers—Snake, Jaguar, and Raven.

He rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the headache that was forming. The forest was vast, and the foggy, rainy weather wasn't helping their efforts. The grid search had continued non-stop day and night, but they had found nothing.

Suddenly Colonel's radio crackled to life. He picked it up hoping for some good news for a change. "Colonel Sanders, this is Falcon. We have a situation. Viper's group is missing. Over."

Colonel Sanders closed his eyes. They had got be kidding him. Now there was a group of missing school children added in the mix. "Bloody hell", the Colonel muttered before responding. "Falcon, this is Sanders. How long have they been overdue? Over."

The situation had already been dire, and now, with Falcon's latest report, it had taken a turn for the worse.

Even as Colonel Sanders asked Falcon to send the information of who belonged to the group, he knew for certain, that Cub was going to be one of the missing kids. When the brief conversation between Falcon and Colonel came to an end, Sanders set the radio down looking at the map again. He clenched his fist, a wave of frustration washing over him.

He knew Viper was experienced and cautious, which made their disappearance even more alarming. The fact that this was happening so soon after the three soldiers went missing, added a layer of complexity and urgency. How was the enemy able to make their moves in so fast pace?

Colonel studied the map and confirmed that the locations of both disappearances were in different parts of the park. They hadn't been able to find anything useful around the areas of the first attack. Colonel lifted his gaze from the map.

"Lieutenant," Sanders called out to his second-in-command, who was standing nearby.

"Yes, sir?" The lieutenant approached, sensing the gravity of the situation.

"Get a search party ready immediately. Viper's gone missing with a group of school children. Have another team continue the search for Snake, Jaguar, and Raven. Move the majority of our strength to the location of the latest disappearance." Sanders ordered, his voice firm.

"Right away, sir," the lieutenant responded, turning to relay the orders.

"And Lieutenant," Sanders added, "let's ensure the perimeter is secure and the roadblocks still active. I've received no reports of anyone suspicious having left or arrived in the area, which means that our missing people are still around the park somewhere. We need to find them."

The lieutenant nodded. "Yes, sir. But this area is vast. It could take days to cover it all thoroughly."

Sanders leaned back in his chair, staring at the map. He felt the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. These were his men, and it was his duty to bring them back safely. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more sinister at play. The enemy was able to attack too smoothly and in too convenient places, leaving no traces behind them. They had searched vigorously yet they had found no signs of the missing soldiers. Now a new group, including Cub and Viper, were lost and the stakes were higher.

He stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the forest beyond. The fog was lifting slightly, but the atmosphere remained tense. The rain had turned the ground into a muddy mess, complicating their search efforts even further. Sanders took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. And he knew that his options were limited. He would need to make a phone call to London, to Mrs. Jones, the new head of MI6.


The vehicles holding Scorpia operatives and their new hostages sped through the forest, leaving the muddy paths behind and transitioning onto a paved road. The journey seemed to drag on. The tension inside the cars was palpable. Mr. Donovan with Will, Liam and unconscious Alex in one car and Viper, Sam and Ellie in the other.

Eventually, they arrived at a remote compound. Multiple buildings were scattered across the area, each one in different state of decay. The air was damp and smelt of rain and forest floor and armed guards were patrolling around. Viper was looking out the window of the car, maintaining his calm exterior while his mind raced. The cars drove into the heart of the weary looking old holiday resort, stopping in front of a large building.

The operatives roughly pulled the captives out of the vehicles. Alex was still unconscious, his limp form being dragged by two of the guards. Viper, Mr. Donovan, and the students were pushed along, their captors pointing at them with guns.

They were led through a slippery yard towards one of the buildings. Once the door was opened, Viper could see a stack of crates beside one of the walls. The area was big and weary, the smell of decay and rust hitting his nose. On the other side of the room, he noticed a line of barred spaces, one of which was holding three figures that he immediately recognized.

Snake, Jaguar and Raven all stood up, looking through the bars of the space that contained them. They had worried expressions on their faces as they surveyed how the group of schoolkids, accompanied by Viper and one teacher, were guided to the old empty storage space that was next to theirs, separated by a barred wall.

"Get in and stand back", the man with a bruised jaw commanded and pointed his gun to the group. Will, Sam, Ellie and Liam hurried at the back of the space followed by Mr. Donovan. Viper stepped in and turned around to see how two guards, who were still holding Alex between them, dragged him in and dropped him on the ground with unnecessary force. Viper glared at the two men but refrained from saying anything while there was still operatives pointing their guns at the students behind him.

Walker stepped forward with a grin on his face and slammed the door of the storage space shut. It left echoing sound in the room, a stark reminder that for now, they were trapped. A sturdy lock appeared at their door clicking shut.

"Enjoy your stay", Walker said, casting one last victorious look at Alex who was still out of this world, laying on the cold floor in his wet and muddy clothes.

Finally, Walker and his team left, leaving only the two guards behind them to keep an eye on their prisoners.

Viper rushed immediately to Alex's side and checked his pulse, noting for his relief, that it was steady. The boy still had handcuffs on him and his skin was feeling cold against Viper's touch.

Viper tapped Alex's face firmly, his voice filled with masked anxiety. "Wake up. Come on, Alex. We need you to wake up."

"Viper", Snake's serious voice called him. "What happened? Where's the rest of your unit?"

Viper turned to look at the three other soldiers who were dressed in unfamiliar sweatpants and T-shirts, looking weary but unharmed.

"We were ambushed while we were separated from the rest of the group. They made Alex inject himself with something and he's been out cold since." Viper explained. He tried to keep his voice steady but could hear the worry he was feeling leaking into his voice.

Jaguar moved closer to the bars that separated them, his expression concerned. "Why would they do that?"

Viper met Snake's eye, they both knew the answer. Now they just had to decide how much to share. But before neither of them had a change to reply, Ellie asked with her voice trembling. "Why are we here? What do they want?"

The students were huddled together, looking scared and confused. Mr. Donovan was standing beside them looking lost and staring at Alex with unreadable expression.

Liam, his face pale, added, "What's wrong with Alex? Why won't he wake up?"

Viper, trying to reassure the others, replied, "It's most likely some kind of sedative. It'll wear off."

Sam, still shaken, looked at Alex with concern. "He looks really bad. Are you sure he's going to be okay?"

Ellie, tears brimming in her eyes, came forward and knelt beside Alex, gently touching his shoulder. "Alex, please wake up."

But Alex remained unresponsive, his breathing shallow and his face pale.

Will, his usual bravado gone, said in a small voice, "What if he doesn't wake up? What if something's really wrong with him? What happens to us then?"

Viper tried to reassure them, though his own worry was evident. "He's strong. He'll pull through."

Snake, standing close by, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we just need to give him some time. But you need to keep him warm. Viper, lift him off the ground. It would be best if you could take off that wet shirt of his and cover him with your jacket. That way he won't lose so much body heat while unconscious."

Viper nodded and stripped off his jacket. He looked at the students around him and they took the hint, turning around to give some privacy for their classmate. Then Viper started to take off Alex's soaking wet shirt. It was left stuck, hanging from his wrists, the handcuffs preventing Viper from removing the piece of clothing all the way. Viper noticed some bruises covering the boy's upper body. He must've gotten them in the fight with Tiger previous day. Viper grimaced at the sight and started to wrap his jacket around Alex when his eyes caught a round scar on the teen's chest.

Viper's eyes widened as he recognised the scar for what it was. At some point in time, the boy had gotten shot, straight to the heart.

"Shit", Viper whispered in shock. "What the hell happened to you?"

He finished wrapping his jacket over Alex, trying to get it cover as much of the skin as possible. It was hard with the boy's wrists attached together by the metal cuffs. Viper knew he wouldn't be able to get Alex's scar covered with the jacket this way. Viper glanced at Alex's classmates who still had their backs turned to them. Viper had a hunch that Alex wouldn't appreciate everyone seeing the marks of violence on his body.

"Is everything okay?" Snake asked. Apparently, Viper taking so long to finish with his task was somehow alarming in Snake's mind.

"Yeah, just a minute", Viper said and came to conclusion. He sat down, placing his back against the barred wall between the two storage spaces that now functioned as cells. Viper took a hold of Alex and placed the unconscious boy so that his back leaned against Viper's chest. Then Viper wrapped his arms around Alex holding the jacket's edges firmly in place so that it would give as much cover to the teenager than possible.

"Okay, I think I got it", Viper said as a sign for the others that they could turn around as much as a reassurance for himself that he got the situation, at least a little bit, under control. The students turned around, their eyes instantly falling on Alex who was now positioned to lean against the soldier, wrapped in a jacket with his wet hair clinging to his skin, trousers and socks stained with mud and a darkening bruise on his cheek. "This can't be happening", Will muttered with thick voice unable to move his eyes away from his unconscious classmate. "This can't be happening."


The forest was eerily silent as members of K-Unit moved methodically through their assigned grid. The rain had slowed to a light drizzle, making the ground beneath them a treacherous mix of mud and slick leaves. They scanned the underbrush with practiced eyes, searching for any signs of their missing comrades.

"Anything?" Wolf asked, his voice low and tense, the weight of their current mission was clearly wearing on him.

"Negative," Eagle replied, shaking his head. "Not a trace."

Behind them, Coyote moved with equal vigilance, his eyes darting to every shadow and rustle. They had been searching for hours, and the growing frustration was palpable.

"This place is a damn maze," Coyote muttered, kicking a rock out of his way. "How are we supposed to find them if there's no sign at all?"

Eagle glanced at Coyote, then back to the forest. "We keep looking. They have to be out here somewhere."

Suddenly, Wolf's comms crackled to life. "K-Unit, this is Colonel Sanders. Report back to the camp immediately."

Wolf frowned, pressing the earpiece closer. "Colonel, we're still conducting our search. No sign of them yet."

"I understand, Wolf, but there's a new development. I received information that Viper and Cub are missing, as well as one teacher and four other schoolkids. I need your unit to regroup at the camp for a new strategy."

A heavy silence fell over K-Unit as they absorbed the news. Wolf felt anxiety and anger rising in his chest. First Snake and now Cub. Two of his unit members were missing and here they were, trekking through the forest on foot without finding anything useful.

"Copy that, Colonel," Wolf responded, his voice grim. "We're on our way."

He turned to the others, his expression hard. "You heard the man. Pack it up. We're heading back."

Eagle and Coyote exchanged worried glances but complied without question. As they made their way back through the forest, the reality of the situation sank in.

"What the hell is going on? What happened to Cub?" Eagle asked, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.

"Knowing him, he probably stumbled onto something big," Wolf replied. "Kid's got a knack for finding trouble." And he should know, he had taken a bullet for the kid once.

"Or trouble finds him," Eagle added thoughtfully. "And he was supposed to be here on a school trip. That kid must have the worst luck in the world."

"Or he knew something and didn't care to share for the rest of us", Coyote said.

"No, I don't believe he would risk his classmates or our soldiers lives by keeping something this important to himself. If he had been aware of any enemies in the area, he would have told us after Snake went missing with the two recruits", Wolf said with a stern voice.

Eagle glanced at Wolf. He had doubted Cub's honesty at first, but if Wolf was this eager to defend the teenager, he would trust his unit leader's opinion. After all, Wolf was only one of them who had been on a mission with the boy. Even if he had refused to share any details of the events.

They arrived at the camp to find a flurry of activity. Colonel was at the center, issuing orders and coordinating with other units. When he saw K-Unit, he gave a command for the others to move out and started to approach K-Unit.

"Let's go into my office", Colonel Sanders said and led the way.

When they were alone, Colonel turned sharply to face the members of K-Unit.

"Okay, so here's the situation," Colonel began, his tone brisk. "We haven't been able to find any signs of Snake, Jaguar or Raven, as you know. And now Viper, Cub and a group of kids have vanished as well. I've gotten reports from the roadblocks that no one suspicious has left or arrived in the area, which means they're still here somewhere. We're expanding the search grid and increasing patrols. I'm moving the most intense search to the site of the latest disappearance. We have a lot of ground to cover, and I need all hands on deck for this."

Wolf nodded, his expression resolute. "Understood, sir. What are our orders? "

Colonel looked at Wolf before he continued, his voice lowering slightly. "I contacted MI6 after I got the news of Cub's disappearance. They are denying knowing anything related to the current events, but the head of MI6 agreed to send a few of their agents to help us out. I'm sure you're pleased to hear that you'll get Fox, or Agent Daniels as he is known these days, to join your unit on this task."

Eagle's eyes widened slightly. "Fox? He's coming here?"

"Yes," Colonel confirmed. "I want you to go the campsite of Cub's class and help J-Unit evacuate them out of the area safely. I don't feel comfortable having them here with how the situation is escalating. I'll call the teachers to let them know. Once Daniels arrives, you'll get your grid assigned and can start the search near the area where the kids disappeared."

Wolf, Eagle and Coyote nodded, each understanding the gravity of the situation.

"Good, you're dismissed", Colonel Sanders said, and K-Unit saluted before heading out.

"It seems like we're getting a full-on K-Unit reunion," Eagle said as they walked towards the depot to get a vehicle to start their journey to the other part of Brecon Beacons where Cub's classmates and teachers were located.

"Yeah, we just have to find Snake and Cub first for it to actually happen", Wolf commented darkly.

"We'll find them Wolf. You heard the Colonel, even MI6 is sending resources to help us out", Coyote said, trying to stay optimistic.

They walked rest of the way in silence, each one deep in their own thoughts. The fate and lives of their unit members, two recruits and the missing children were at stake, and they were determined not to fail.


Viper held Alex close and he could feel the chill of the room seep into his own bones. The jacket he had wrapped around the boy was the only barrier against the cold, and he hoped it was enough. He could feel Alex's shallow breaths against his chest, each one a small reassurance that he was still hanging on.

The smell of damp and mold lingered in the air, making it difficult to breathe deeply. Metal bars separated the captives into two cells, the sound of water dripping somewhere in the background adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

The students, huddled together in one of the corners, tried to find comfort in each other's presence. Their minds were racing with questions and doubts.

Will couldn't shake the image of Alex confidently using military hand signals and pulling out a gun from his clothes. He had been spreading the rumours of Alex being involved in some criminal activity and at first, he had thought that he had been right. That the men who had threatened them were part of a gang that was pissed for Alex for some reason. But Alex's effortless way to work with Viper using military tactics made him doubt himself. But any explanations for the events that came through his mind just didn't make any sense.

Sam's eyes hadn't left Alex's face. He watched his classmate being held by Viper and felt a mix of dread and gratitude. The fear and helplessness he had felt in the moment where he had been held with gun against his head still gripped his stomach and he remembered Alex injecting himself with some substance just to keep him safe.

Liam tried to keep a brave face, and he sat next to Ellie having wrapped his arm around the girl's shoulder. Ellie, the most visibly shaken, kept glancing at the barred door, hoping for a miracle.

Snake, Jaguar and Raven were also sitting down on the ground, staying close to the bars that separated the two groups.

"How did you know that Alex would be able to use those hand signs in the woods?" Will suddenly blurted out to break the silence, looking at Viper. He had decided to get some insight to their current situation. All the other students also moved their gaze towards the soldier in their cell, curious looks in their eyes.

"I didn't", Viper lied and shifted his position. His legs and arms were feeling stiff after sitting on the hard ground holding a teenager for what felt like hours.

"Yes, you did. When Alex came back to the group and showed us to be quiet you started to sign to him. You knew he would understand", Liam jumped in on the conversation.

Viper felt uneasy. He didn't want to lie to these kids who were already scared and confused. But he wouldn't be able to tell the truth either. So he shrugged. "It came naturally to me as a part of my training. But I don't know where Alex has learned it."

"Don't think we are stupid. Alex managed to beat up one of your SAS recruits in a fight, stole a gun from one of the men in the forest, knew how to use it and he's obviously familiar with at least one of the men who took us", Will continued list the thoughts that had occupied his mind during their time here. He had defiant look in his eyes as he stared at Viper. "You must know at least something about this, and we deserve to know."

Viper stayed silent his mind racing for an answer that wouldn't reveal too much but he could understand that the kids wanted to get some information that would explain their situation. He could see Raven and Jaguar absorbing the information Will was babbling out. The two recruits furrowed their brows in confusion, shifting their gazes towards the unconscious teenager in his arms.

"You have to understand," Viper began, his voice steady but soft, "Sometimes, knowing too much can put you in danger. The less you know, the safer you are."

Will shook his head, frustration evident in his features. "We're already in danger. Knowing might actually help us understand what's happening and what we need to do."

"The best thing you can do right now is to stay calm and follow our lead. Trust us to get you out of here." Snake joined in on the conversation.

"Why would they make him leave some of his clothes behind?" Ellie piped up with a quiet voice. Seeing Alex being commanded around by an armed man had felt wrong and the things he made Alex do didn't make any sense in Ellie's mind.

Snake thought about that for a moment. "Well, it can be used as a tactic to disarm and humiliate."

Viper turned to look at his fellow soldiers who weren't wearing their uniforms anymore and he knew that they already had personal experience of that tactic during their time here.

"But that man referred to Alex's shoes, belt and watch as weapons", Sam commented looking at Alex's face with confused look in his eyes. "Please, someone tell us what's going on" he pleaded glancing between Viper and Snake.

Viper took a deep breath, trying to collect his thoughts. He could see the desperation and fear in the eyes of the kids, and he knew they had to tread carefully.

"I think it's best that we wait for Alex to wake up. It's no use to speculate anything right now. But we will keep you safe. You have to trust that", Viper said wanting to end the questionings for now. Snake nodded and moved himself closer to Viper and Alex before the kids would have an opportunity to come up with some new question.

"So, how's he doing?" Snake asked. "He's been out for quite a while."

"Yeah, I hope he wakes up soon. The pulse is steady and he's breathing although it's a little shallow." Viper said adjusting his hold on Alex.

"Do you know what they gave him?" Snake asked as he tried to get a look at the unconscious boy behind the barred wall.

"No idea. But I doubt it would be anything too dangerous or lethal. They went through a lot of trouble to get him here", Viper answered. He knew that in the wider scale of current events, it didn't necessary mean anything too good for the kid, but for now at least, it meant that they wanted him to stay alive.

Snake nodded, but his concern was evident. "True. But whatever they used, it could have side effects. When he wakes up, he might be disoriented. We need to be ready for that. We can't be sure how he reacts."

Viper's grip tightened around Alex protectively. "I'll handle him."

Snake nodded and leaned in closer, dropping his voice barely above a whisper. "And keep an eye on his vitals. If his breathing gets worse or his pulse starts to drop, we need to act fast." Then he leaned back and Viper could sense the worry in the other man.

"Shit this is messed up", Snake sighed after a moment, running a hand through his hair. "I mean he's just a kid. None of them should be here."

Viper glanced at Alex's classmates, who were trying to listen into their conversation. "Yeah", he let out a breath. He felt the slight tremors of Alex's body against his own and silently willed the boy to wake up.


Tom watched nervously as the last drizzles of the rain turned into a heavy fog. The remaining students were gathered in a tight group, whispering in hushed tones. Alex, Viper, Mr. Donovan, and four other classmates had been missing for a long time, and no one knew what had happened to them. The tension was palpable, and Tom could feel his heart racing as he thought about his best friend in danger.

He couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible had happened. His concern for Alex gnawed at him, and he found himself constantly glancing around, hoping for a sign of his friend.

The sound of approaching vehicles snapped him out of his thoughts. Tom's heart raced as he saw a group of soldiers stepping out of the trucks. Wolf, Eagle, and Coyote moved with purpose, their faces set in grim determination. Tom's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the approaching soldiers.

Wolf approached the group of students, his authoritative presence calming the anxious murmurs. "We're here to help you out of the park," he announced. "Gather your things quickly. We need to move out."

Tom quickly grabbed his backpack and looked around at his classmates. Their faces looked confused and a little fearful in the presence of additional SAS unit. They all started to have a feeling that something else was going on here. It was weird that they would have to leave the area completely. The forest had been their haven of adventure, and now they were being forced to leave abruptly without any proper explanation.

As they started to organize, Tom overheard a conversation between boys in his class.

"This sucks," James muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. "We didn't even get to finish this field trip."

"Yeah," David agreed. "I was actually starting to enjoy this. And now we have to leave because of... what? Some kind of threat? Why else would these soldiers escort us out of here?"

"I'm betting this has something to do with Alex," Matt said bitterly. "It's always because of Alex. It can't be just a coincidence that it was his group that got lost."

Tom's heart sank at the mention of his best friend. He knew Alex wasn't to blame, but he couldn't say anything that would convince the others without compromising Alex's secret. He caught sight of Rachel, who was biting her lip, looking towards the direction where the group had disappeared.

"Alright, everyone," Wolf's voice called out, his voice commanding attention. "J-Unit and we are here to assist you in getting on the bus and out of the area. Let's move quickly and orderly. Stay close and follow our lead."

The members of J-Unit came to greet Wolf, Eagle and Coyote. They started to walk towards the place where a bus would pick them up and drive them away from the Brecon Beacons.

Tom fell in line with the others, his thoughts racing. He couldn't shake the worry for Alex. The soldiers led them through the forest path, moving swiftly but cautiously. Tom could see the tension in the soldiers faces, their eyes scanning the surroundings as for looking out for any signs of danger.

Tom walked behind Wolf and Bear and couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversation between the SAS members.

"Good to have you here Wolf. What a shit show. We're gonna need all the help we can get if we are going to search the area", Bear said with concern in his voice.

"Any sign of the missing?" Wolf asked.

"Not yet," Bear replied. "Some units are already in the area searching for them, but we have to prioritize getting the rest of these kids to safety."

Behind them Tom instantly knew which unit had arrived to help. K-Unit. He recognized Wolf's codename from Alex's tales regarding his training here. Tom decided that he would need to find a way to talk to Wolf in private before they would be transported back to London.

Suddenly, a voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "You okay?" it was one of soldiers, his tone surprisingly gentle.

Tom nodded, though he wasn't sure if he believed it himself. "Just worried about my friend."

"Was he part of the group that went missing?" the soldier asked to keep the conversation going.

"Yeah, Alex. What's your name?" Tom changed the topic suddenly. The soldier beside him had arrived with Wolf so he could potentially also be one of the soldiers that Alex trained with.

"Eagle", Eagle answered shortly, a little baffled by the sudden question.

"I need to talk to you about Alex", Tom said urgently dropping his voice. Wolf, Snake, Eagle and Fox. Those names Alex had given him when talking about his brief time with the SAS. The soldier next to him would understand his concern and need for information regarding Alex going missing.

Eagle just gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder taking a pity on the teenager who was obviously worried about his friend. "I know you worry about your friend. But we'll find him." Eagle tried to reassure Tom.

"No, I mean, I need to talk to you about…" Tom glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping in his conversation with the SAS soldier before finishing his sentence. "…Cub."

For a fracture of second, Eagles eyes widened and then he also checked that they were not heard by others. "Not here", he said shortly.

Eagle left Tom's side to approach Wolf. Tom could see Eagle whisper something to Wolf who nodded sharply.

Once the bus appeared to their view, Tom found himself being guided by Wolf and Eagle a little away from the rest of the group, near the edge of the forest. The murmur of his classmates faded into the background, and Tom's heart was beating in his chest. Even when he knew that these soldiers were on his side and the good guys, their demeanour and presence was intimidating.

Wolf glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot before speaking. "Alright kid, what do you know about Cub?"

Tom took a deep breath, his eyes flicking between the two soldiers. He could feel his palms sweating. "I know he trained here with you and I know about his…job. He told me about his time with you guys, so I recognized your names. I just want to know why he is missing. Did you snatch him up for some stupid mission here? Did somebody attack them? What do you know?"

Eagle exchanged a look with Wolf before responding. "Look kid, we really don't know much about this. If we did, we'd be out there right now, bringing them back."

Tom clenched his fists, frustration bubbling up. "You expect me to believe that? You guys must know more. All I know is that a group went missing and we are sent away. Nobody has even confirmed if they were taken or got lost. But I know Alex wouldn't just get lost. Somebody has him and I know he's been on missions, dangerous ones. I'm worried. Please, just tell me the truth. Is he held by MI6? Is the group getting lost just some set up? Or did some enemy group attack them?"

Wolf's expression hardened. "Well, I can tell you that we are not behind this. Our own soldiers are also missing. But it's not that simple. Even if we knew more about the situation, we couldn't just tell you. It's classified. We can't discuss operational details. Just know that we're doing everything we can to find your friends."

Tom shook his head, desperation in his eyes. "I don't care about classified. Alex is my best friend. I need to know."

Eagle sighed, his face softening with empathy. "Look, kid. We understand you're worried. Hell, we're worried too. But there are rules. Protocols. We can't just break them."

Wolf placed a firm hand on Tom's shoulder. "We're doing everything we can to find him. You need to trust us. Focus on keeping yourself and the others safe. Cub wouldn't want you to stay around if there is any danger."

Tom's eyes flashed with determination. "But I want to help. You don't know him like I do. He's more than just a soldier or some agent. He's my friend."

Eagle nodded, understanding Tom's resolve but knowing their hands were tied. "We get it. We really do. But you have to let us do our job. The best thing you can do right now is to stay out of harm's way."

Tom wanted to argue, to demand more answers, but he could see the resolve in their eyes. These men were professionals, bound by their duty and the secrecy of their work. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside him.

"Fine," he said finally, his voice tinged with resignation. "But promise me you won't stop until you find him."

Wolf and Eagle exchanged a solemn look before Wolf spoke. "You have our word. We won't rest until we bring him back."

Tom nodded, feeling a small measure of comfort in their promise.

"Alright, let's keep it moving," Coyote's voice sounded from behind them instructing the group of school kids.

Eagle nodded to Tom in a gesture to join the others and they turned to make their way back to the rest of the group, Wolf trailing behind them. As they approached the bus, J-Unit members helped the students with their bags, urging them to get seated quickly. Tom noticed the tension in the air, the way the soldiers moved with a sense of urgency and purpose.

Eagle came to stand by the bus door and he caught Tom's eye while Tom was boarding the vehicle. "Don't worry, kid. We've got some of the best people looking for Alex and the others. He'll be alright. They'll all be alright."

Tom nodded, though the knot in his stomach didn't ease. He climbed onto the bus, finding a seat next to James, who was staring out the window, lost in thought. As Tom sat down, James turned to look at him.

"What were you talking about with those two soldiers? What did they tell you? Is this because of Alex?" James started to bomb him with questions.

"It was nothing, they just assured me that they are going to find everyone", Tom said feeling a flush of anger. He was pissed that it seemed like everyone was ready to pin this on his best friend who could be in life threatening situation even as they spoke.

"Why would they talk to you separately? Tom, come on, you can tell me." James probed but Tom remained quiet and crossed his arms, leaning back against the seat.

Outside, Wolf was coordinating with J-Unit, ensuring everyone was accounted for. "Once the bus is loaded, we head out immediately. We're going to escort the bus from the park just to be sure. Two men in the bus, and two in each vehicle accompanying it."

Falcon, Bear and Lynx nodded.

As the last of the students boarded, the bus engine roared to life. Tom took one last look at the forest, the place that was supposed to offer them a fun field trip full of activities but was now just a threatening entity, with his best friend facing danger again somewhere in it.

"All set?" Wolf asked, looking over the students in the bus.

"Yeah, we're ready," Falcon confirmed, closing the bus door.

As the bus pulled away, Tom couldn't shake the feeling of dread that settled over him. The trees blurred past the windows, and the conversations among the students were hushed and filled with worry. Two SAS vehicles accompanied the bus, one in front of it and other one in the back. They moved steadily towards safety, leaving behind the natural park that now buzzed with soldiers conducting their search for the missing people.