"We lost Johnson," Joe Byrne sighed, the frustration evident in her voice. The Skeleton Key situation had been a persistent headache lately, with every agent they sent either vanishing without a trace or turning up dead. Cuba had tightened its security considerably, especially scrutinizing any Americans who entered the country.
Johnson was the second agent they had lost. The first, posing as a travel agent, had been compromised—likely because he spent too little time at the hotel he was supposed to be evaluating. Then they sent Johnson, a journalist, but he had fared even worse. No matter who they sent, the Cubans always seemed to uncover the truth.
"We need to find out what Sarov is up to," Joe declared, her tone serious. In other words, they had to send someone else.
"The majority of visitors Cuba has are families on holiday" their analysts pointed out, while they tried to send agents with covers related to tourism they had been unsuccessful, one person stood out to much. Perhaps it was the time they sent the real deal
"Families," she repeated, considering the idea.
"Yes, parents with children. Cuba is a popular destination for family vacations."
"Alright," she decided. "I want every file on our youngest agents. I need someone who could pass as a teenager, or at least close to that. I need a family." Her words sent the room into a flurry of activity as her team rushed to gather the requested information.
Two hours later, Joe sat at her desk, leafing through a small stack of files, only to be met with disappointment.
"What is this?" she asked her voice tinged with frustration.
"This is what you asked for, ma'am," one of her subordinates replied. "These are our youngest agents, fresh out of training."
"tell me do you think this looks like a teenager?" she asked flipping the filed photo " he has a face full of beard" she exclaimed "Are you telling me that we don't have anyone in this agency that looks young?"
"he's the youngest one" the agent responded.
Joe examined the photo again, but it was hopeless. Even if they shaved his beard, he would still look too out of place. They only had one more chance if she sent three more agents and they failed she couldn't spare more. She needed someone who could blend in seamlessly.
Her thoughts drifted to the Damian Cray operation and the kid who had shown up repeatedly—the one who had somehow managed to sneak onto Air Force One and stop the launch of nuclear missiles. She needed someone like that: young, capable, and fearless.
She opened a drawer that she always kept looked taking out a file stamped all over in red saying 'CLASSIFIED'. She opened revealing the face of Alex Rider, Alan Blunt of course hadn't revealed the boy's information not even his name, but of course she couldn't help but investigate who it was especially after the Pentagon told her that it had been a kid on Air Force one that talk to them.
She had come to learn that Alex rider had been involve on the Point Blanc operation and more recently with Scorpia, being the one responsible to stop Invisible sword that caused the terrorist organization to collapse.
She remembered the invisible sword operation, it almost taken out Alan Blunt, to the point he had to call her for back up. Apparently, the man had Alex Rider to thank for.
Yes, the kid was perfect for the job.
"Arrange me a flight to London" Joe instructed.
Upon her arrival in London, Tulip Jones was there to meet her, with Crawley standing close by.
"Congratulations on your promotion" Joe greeted, shaking Mrs. Jones's hand.
"Thank you. It was time for a change. What do owe your visit"
"straight to the point I see" Joe smiled briefly before her face took a serious expression "you remember the Damain Cray incident?" she began
"of course, he tried to launch a nuclear strike"
"Then I'm sure you also remembered the kid that keep showing up" Joe pressed, watching closely as Mrs. Jones's face fell. She noticed the quick exchange of glances between Jones and Crawley. "Who was he? One of your agents?" she pressed on
"he's nobody, like you said some kid" Mrs. Jones replied, her voice steady but guarded.
"I'll help you then" Joe said throwing the open file on top of the desk "Alex Rider, point Blanc, Damian Cray and now Scorpia. Pretty impressive for a kid, don't you think?"
Mrs. Jones sigh she knew that they had been caught "what do you want Joe?"
"I've got a situation in Cuba. I need to send three people undercover as a family. Unfortunately, none of my agents look young enough. I need you to lend me Alex Rider."
Mrs. Jones shook her head immediately. "No. I'm not Alan Blunt. Alex Rider is off-limits. You can't use him."
"The boy wouldn't be in any danger. He wouldn't even have to get out of the hotel. What I'm really offering is a two-week all-inclusive vacation. I'm sure a boy his age would love that" The American still tried to persuade but it was no use
"Let me talk to the boy then, I'll explained him everything. It's no risk really" she continued.
"The answer is final. Stay away from Alex Rider," Mrs. Jones said firmly as she stood up, Crawley following closely behind.
"Keep a close watch on her," Mrs. Jones instructed Crawley as they walked away. "If she gets anywhere near Alex, I want to know immediately."
For the past year, Alex's life had felt like it was spiraling out of his control, as though he were a mere puppet in his own existence, with invisible hands pulling the strings and dictating his every move. He had been a prisoner, first to Blunt, then to Scorpia, and then to the void that followed—each force pushing him in directions he never wanted to go. But now, for the first time, the strings had been cut. Alex was finally in control.
It was strange waking up to a life where danger didn't loom at every corner, where there were no more evil clones to outsmart, no more lunatics trying to start a war, and no more Scorpia or MI6 forcing him to put his life on the line. True to her word, Mrs. Jones had left him alone—no more agents at the door, no coded messages, just silence. So far, she had kept her promise, and Alex found solace in the newfound quiet.
With the chaos behind him, Alex managed to complete his last year of school in peace. It was almost unfamiliar, this ability to focus solely on his schoolwork, without having to split his attention between homework and international threats. The change was palpable, everyone noticing the immediate improvement, his teachers praised him for his hard work, and the once-distant dream of attending a decent university finally appear to be a realistic possibility again.
It wasn't just his academic life that was on the mend. His relationships, too, were healing. Tom no longer had to worry about being dragged into Alex's suicidal missions. They had time now, time to be the best friends they once were, with weekly movie nights filled with samurai films while they stuffed their faces full of greasy pizza. It was like old times, before everything had gone sideways.
His relationship with Kyra had also blossomed. The awkwardness that once hung between them had melted away, and with her still in London, they had even gone on a few dates. Alex gave her flowers no matter how she pretended to find that cheesy he knew that she enjoyed that. The way she smiled the first time gave her a flower a sunflower, not a rose, he didn't know why the choice, but it just felt right. He remembered the first time he gave her one, she had smiled shyly, her cheeks tinged with pink, even as she pretended to find it cheesy. Alex knew better, she couldn't hide how much she had liked it from him, especially after he spotted the flower in a glass with water sitting on her windowsill for days.
Like Alex, Kyra life also took a turn for the worst, losing her parents and then caring out the guilt wasn't easy for her, no matter how strained their family relationship had been, they were still her family. Alex knew that Kyra still hadn't completely healed she still kept her emotions locked away to herself, refusing to talk about it
Alex had offered his therapist contact, although he was sure that her services weren't actually open to the public, but if needed he was ready to cash in a favour with the department for her. He didn't need to do that since Kyra always refused to even admit she needed to go to therapy.
Jack was happier too, now that Alex wasn't risking his life every other minute. The stress that had weighed her down had lifted, and she could finally focus on her work.
"How was school" Jack greeted as soon he came home throwing his bag in the middle of the kitchen.
"Good, there is only a week left, so nothing really happens" in less than a week he would finally be given his diploma. Alex couldn't help but think how would Ian feel, Proud? Would he finally reveal his real job? Would he push Alex to follow the same career path?
"Do you know what you'll do next year?" Jack asked, closing her laptop. Alex recognized the shift in her tone; she wanted to have a serious conversation.
He opened the fridge taking out a coke "I applied to a few unis, I'm still waiting for a response"
She sighed, Alex was starting to get worried there was definitely something she wanted to talk about "what's wrong, is everything alright?"
"you're going to university next year, you're probably going to live on a dorm" Alex nodded waiting for her to continue "I received a job offer, a really good one."
"that's great Jack, why are you so worried?" Alex asked confused.
"it's back in the states."
"Oh," he said instinctively, immediately understanding the implications.
"It's near my hometown, I could finally see my parents again"
"No Jack, that's great, you should go, like you said I'm not going to be here anyways" Alex forced himself to say, he didn't want to be selfish Jack deserved a chance to succeed he shouldn't hold her back, he wouldn't, even if that hurt him.
"You can visit anytime Alex" she said smiling softly at him
Apparently, Jack wasn't the only one leaving. A couple of days later it was time for Tom to break the news.
"Do you remember our conversation in Malta?" Tom asked as they walked to school.
"Which one?"
"The one about working a nine to five in a cubicle. The one about me not jumping at the opportunity"
"yeah" Alex said frowning. He did remember it well.
"Well, I talked to my brother about being his video guy. I showed him some of my work, and he was impressed."
Alex stopped looking at his friend with a smile on his face "that's great Tom! I'm really proud of you" he said pulling his friend into a hug
"My parents weren't so happy, though. There goes their dream of any of their kids going to uni."
"What matters is that you're happy, they'll understand" Alex reassured him.
"Yeah. I'll be leaving this summer," Tom added, the excitement dimming slightly. "My brother is taking a break for a week or two, but then we're off to Portugal. Something about cliff diving."
And there it was, first Jack and now Tom. Alex already knew that Kyra wouldn't stay either, she still had a life she left behind in Singapore and Alex knew that she missed home.
It was a terrible felling knowing that he was going to be alone, his friends, his family all spread out across the world, sure it was only a matter of catching a plane but it wouldn't be the same.
Alex stayed behind as Tom entered the school, he looked at his friend disappearing inside of the building, he let out a small smile. In a few weeks everything would change and Alex wasn't sure if he was ready for that. No matter what it would happen he should enjoyed the moments while they last.
"Everything ok, mate?" Tom asked as he sat next to him just as the bell rang
"yeah, I had to pick my book from my locker" he lied at the same time their English teacher closed the door.
Alex tried to focus on the lesson, letting the teacher's voice and Tom's occasional comments draw him in, until the classroom door creaked open.
"Alex Rider?" a voice called out, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up, startled. "Can I have a word?"
Alex glanced at Tom, noticing the slight fear in his eyes, they both knew who it really was the last time he was called to the office, what that meant what chain of events had played after.
"Alex?" the voice repeated, snapping him back to reality. Everyone was staring at him, waiting as he failed to even acknowledge he was being called.
He stood up, moving on autopilot, scenarios passing through his mind of the possibility of seeing Mrs Jones, Crawley or Smithers in a room ready to tell him they needed him for a mission, waiting to drag him back into the world he thought he had left behind.
"what's going on?" he asked as soon he got out of the room.
"the headmasters wants to talk to you, don't worry you're not in trouble" the women reassured. Alex frowned the last time he wanted to talk was about his multiple absences and his slipping grades, that problem didn't exist now.
"Alex his here" the secretary announced opening the door for Alex to get in.
The headmaster was already waiting for him, gesturing silently to a chair for Alex to take a sit.
"how have you been Alex?" it wasn't hard to understand what he was referring to, his uncle death, unknowns to the man it was much more than that that pushed Alex further down the abyss.
"better know. The therapy sessions helped" it wasn't an entire lie, therapy did help, probably would have helped more if Alex continue to attend them, but after Cray and then Scorpia he just didn't find the will to pick up the phone to schedule them.
"good, I'm glad to hear that. I'm also pleased to see that you fixed your attendance issue and raised your grades" the man praised while looking at an open file sitting on top of his desk- presumably his own.
"I had to if I want to get into a decent university"
"it's curious you say that" the headmaster said opening his desk drawer and taking out an envelop passing it to Alex "this arrived addressed to you"
Alex took the piece of paper noticing the logo on the top before opening it, his eyes widened as he read the contents.
"the school contact us first, I got to say you must have had one good recommendation" the headmaster said.
Alex didn't took his eyes of the letter, it was a scholarship, a full ride in a university in America. He could go with Jack not fully separating from his family. He didn't know how this happened but it didn't matter it was a great opportunity, just for the monetary aspect of it. Fully covered.
Alex got out of the headmaster office closing the door behind him to find tom with his bag waiting for him. Tom's eyes flicked to the envelop Alex was holding a worried look crossing his face.
"You're good?" Tom asked handing him his stuff.
"everything his great. I'll tell you everything tonight" Alex said happily going on with his day.
Later in the evening the four of them sat at the dinner table waiting to ear what were the news Alex claimed to have.
"I'm going to America" Alex announced.
"What?" jack asked surprised.
"I got a full scholarship to attend a university" he explained.
"sweety I'm so proud of you" Jack said coming up to hug him.
In the corner of his eye he saw Kyra pick up the letter to read it "I didn't know you had applied to a university in America" she said looking at him with a mix of curiosity and concern.
"I didn't, they just offer me"
"And you don't find that a little strange" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"I mean a little, but it's a good opportunity, I can't just let it go because I'm suddenly paranoid about every little thing. And even if the department set it up maybe is just the payment for everything, I did for them"
Kyra still didn't look convinced, her brow furrowed with worry. Alex smiled at her concern "relax, I'll be out of England, we'll all be, they have nothing to blackmailed me. Mrs. Jones was clear, next time it will be my choice"
"And you'll say no if they show up in your dorm or something ?"
"I'll say no. I promise" he promised hugging her. If he had known how wrong he was he would have remained quiet, he would have remained in London, he would have known better. But he didn't know, consumed by the fear of being alone, he grabbed that offer with open arms and didn't read between the lines.
How naïve he had been.