(Alex Rider Fanfiction) Floating in the Dark

Ten

"I can't believe this," one of the SAS soldiers exclaimed. He was thin, fair-haired, and spoke with an obvious Scottish accent. He was known as Snake. "There's no way that the kid would've done that! Are you sure -"

"You didn't see him," Jack broke in, her voice trembling. She looked at each of the soldiers in turn, meeting their gazes. "He's so different. . .so sad. . . Please, you've worked with him before. I'm just asking you to find him, and bring him back."

"Why us?" The shortest of the four soldiers grunted. He was compactly built, with a once-broken nose and cool brown eyes. He was Wolf.

"Alex is familiar with you," Algonthin stepped in. The thin man once again managed to speak without seeming to. "If unknown agents were to chase after him, he'd only run away. However, if you showed up, there's a chance that he would cooperate."

"If what you're saying is true – that he's killed two people," a third soldier said, "what makes you think he's going to listen to us?" He regarded Jack and Algonthin with serious blue eyes. He was Fox. "Killing is no simple thing. He's probably not the same Cub we knew."

The K-Unit exchanged uncertain glances with each other. Jack watched their display of doubt, and clenched her fists.

"He's just a child!" she cried. "Are you just going to sit there, and let a child destroy himself?! You should be ashamed – what kind of human being would stand by and watch a child go through something like this? I – I just - !" She covered her face and turned away from the group.

The soldiers looked properly ashamed. Three of them looked towards Wolf, waiting for his verdict. The gruff man grunted. "Fine."

Jack didn't turn around, but her voice drifted out to them. "Thank you."

Algonthin held out a thick file folder, and Wolf took it. "This contains everything you need to know," the deputy head said. "If you need anything, let me know. MI6 is at your service."

"Cool," the fourth soldier finally spoke up. Snake and Fox gave him a grim look, and the slightly dumb smile on his face faded quickly. Eagle sighed.

ARAR

"Hyaa!" The wiry man lunged forward, an open palm flying straight for Alex's face. Alex saw it coming, and silently ducked. The hand shot over his head, and he grabbed the man's wrist with both hands. A mere second later, the man was lying on his back, defeated.

Alex stared down at his opponent with empty eyes. Then he turned away, moving to walk off the mat.

"Wait!" The voice stopped him, and Alex turned to see a tall girl step onto the mat. She was May, a girl who had previously beaten him over and over again in these classes. She was one of the top students in the unarmed combat class. "Fight me," she said, a wicked smile curving her lips.

Alex stared at her. It doesn't matter. In two days, I will be in Washington. Nothing can change that, now. Wordlessly, he stepped forward, and settled into a low stance.

May's grin grew larger, and she started walking. She walked right around Alex in a large circle, watching him. Alex didn't move from his stance. He listened, letting her faint footsteps echo loudly inside his blank mind. Whenever she would come, he would be ready.

She came from behind, leaping up in a spectacular kick. Alex heard it - the moment her footfalls stopped, and her feet left the ground. He dove to the side, rolled, and got up in a crouch.

May was right there, her arm pulled back for a ferocious punch. He blocked it with a forearm, not even blinking at the impact. Alex watched her, and reacted without even thinking. He was like a machine, doing what it was supposed to, and nothing more.