Alex Rider: A Billionaires Paradise

Thermal Imaging

Alex glanced cautiosly over the railing. The man had burst through the door, and without slowing, had gone through the main doors. Alex hadn't had enough time to see, scrambling up the stairs and everything, but someone had his back. One of them, without a second of doubt, had gotten up, and ran through the doors, leaving them open, and attracting the eyes of the people seated nearby. As a result, the massive man ran through the doors, without hesitating. Alex breathed. That was close. His leg had begun to burn.

He took a minute to mentally recoup, in the only completely private location. As he stood in the cubicle, pacing as much as he could, in such an enclosed space. It was more of a continuous spinning, with his hand behind his head. His brain was moving in between ideas at an uncomfortable rate, and he realised that he was panicking. He had been sighted, but he still wanted to see what was in the boxes. Damn his curiosity. He ran his hands under a tap on his way out. He pulled his hood up over his head.
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He walked along another corridor. Then a left, and another corridor. There were signs, but he didn't stop to read them. If he knew where he was going, he wouldn't stop to read it. He somehow navigated his way to a locked door. He turned around. Another locked door. He sped up, and found his way to a fire exit. He burst through it, into a damp, shaded area. He was glad to hear that the fire alarm didn't go off. That would not have been fun. He snuck along the wall, peaking around the corner. He saw a group of security, standing un the car park, rapidly speaking into their radios. He could tell that they were confused. He pulled his head back around the corner. He checked his pocket making sure that he still had everything. He glanced down, and saw a rock. If he could break a car window, or make its alarm go off, their attention would be elsewhere, and he could make a dash to the nearest building. He was still considering the distances, when he felt himself pick up a relatively round rock. He glanced back around the corner. The gaurds were looking away now. He stepped out, and instinctively drew his arm back. He was about to throw, when he suddenly had a feeling that he was going to be to be just short. He mentally adjusted, and then in an explosive movement. Flinged the rock at the building opposite. He ducked back into cover, watching the rock as it sailed across the carpark. He had chosen to hit a cherry red, sleek looking vehicle. He lost sight of the rock, as it flew towards the target. A second later, there was a thud, and a spiderweb crack appeared in the front windshield. The guards swung around, and one appeared to grab a weapon in a holster under his arm. He knew just by the reaction speed that they definitely weren't ordinary guards. He ran out, circling around the gaurds. One of them had started to move towards the car, dodging in between the few vehicles that blocked them. He felt his leg twinging once again. So inconvenient.
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It had been an odd day for Blair. He organised an assassination. He'd also just been told that the person he'd killed wasn't dead.
"Em...Blair. We've just had a report of a suddenly damaged car in the carpark."
"Ok. Launch one of the drones."
"Right away."
"And get the feed onto that screen up there."
He pointed up at a large, curved screen, sitting in the corner of his office. The person walked out, speaking into his radio. He tipped his head back and cursed under his breath. Alex was being a real pain.
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Alex was standing just around a corner, hiding from the guards. He was waiting for the to either leave, or look away so that he could run through the door of the warehouse. He'd already dodged to this point, he was almost there. He slid back further round the corner, avoiding view. He was painfully aware of all of his surroundings. He could hear the gaurds talking and the radios replying. He could hear the alarm of the car, still blaring the harsh shrilling noise over and over. He could hear a gentle buzzing, likely from the other side of the wall he was standing against. He wondered if the warehouse had a fire exit. It would make sense, but he didn't want to take the risk that he'd been seen entering. The buzzing intensified, and he felt that it wasn't from inside. He looked around, searching for the source. A flittering movement caught his eye. A large drone was scanning the ground, with a large, complex looking camera that hung below the blades. The sun glinted off the lense, and he retreated further still into the shadows. Not long after he did, the drone swung around effortlessly, hovering over where he was only seconds before. He held his breath, rather pointlessly. The drone stayed above the spot. After what felt like hours, it flew on, still searching for him like an oversized bird of prey. He released the breath, thanking whatever instinct had told him to move. It had been a close call.
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