A Spark in the Grandeur of Space
Complexity
Disclaimer: On the new book that just came out, did anyone see my name on it…no didn't think so.
A/N: My first Alex Rider story. It takes place right after Skeleton Key. Also there is a lot of bastardized scientific information throughout the story, though not in this chapter. I'm researching it, but will be stretching some things to the point of implausibility to those, who, um, know these things. To everyone else who don't have a masters in science, please let me know if it edges into insanity and I'll reel it back in. Please review with any comments, criticism, or suggestions. Thanks.
Summary: (AU after Skeleton Key)"Believe me," he said, "it would be better if we didn't meet again. Go back to school. Go back to your life. And the next time they ask you, say no. Killing is for grownups and you're still a child."
The double law of attraction and radiation or of sympathy and antipathy, of fixedness and movement, is the principle of Creation, and the perpetual cause of life." – Albert Pike
Alex had already suited up and was standing grimly by the outgoing truck by the time Ms. Jones walked outside with the group of men he was going to be leading into Sarov's compound. Then he saw who he would be leading into Sarov's compound.
Alex made a low noise of uneasiness. "Really now," he muttered. "Them?" he asked under his breath, not actually meaning to be heard.
Apparently, though, the SAS took classes in specialized hearing or something because while Ms. Jones didn't notice, the members of the K-unit, Wolf, Fox, Snake, and Eagle all looked at him curiously. Their faces were an impressive blank, though Wolf looked faintly annoyed.
As they reached the truck, Alex pushed himself off it and stood straight. Ms. Jones looked him over and nodded in approval. He was wearing all black with night-gear though he still didn't have a weapon. Alex couldn't even bring himself to be worked up over the injustice of that; this was too important.
"Alright," Ms. Jones said, "This truck is going to take you all to a private runway three miles east. A jet will take you to Cuba where you'll parachute into the compound under the cover of darkness. Alex, you'll brief the men on the compound beforehand. When you land, split up and bag anything of importance including hard copies and data chips. Alex, you'll be responsible for the camera. Take pictures of anything that looks important or of significance. Remember that we only have one chance to do this and the slightest mistake could cost lives." At this, Ms. Jones eyed Alex surreptitiously. Handing Alex a small, high powered camera, she continued, "Wolf has your extraction details. He's in charge." This was definitely said for Alex's benefit.
Alex nodded in acquiescence and following K-Unit's lead, he hopped into the truck, sitting on the hard wooden bench at the very end as far from the rest of K-Unit as he could. Ms. Jones frowned as she watched them arrange themselves and called Wolf over. They had a short discussion, mostly consisting of Ms. Jones talking and Wolf nodding and then Wolf hopped back into the truck and banged on the side to get the driver moving.
As they started down the bumpy road, Alex felt several eyes on him. He leaned his head back and breathed deeply. He hadn't truly rested for over a day now. First he was too worried about Sarov and then the bomb and now this…he couldn't be tired- if wasn't on top of his game, someone might get hurt.
Alex made himself open his eyes again. He could see the other members of the K-unit glance away as he looked at them. Frowning to himself, he resolutely closed his eyes. He wasn't going to let them annoy him.
Closing his eyes had been a bad idea.
When he finally opened them he was slumped against a plane side, subconsciously vibrating along with the moving plane. He could hear the wind rushing by the plane at a fast clip and when he blearily rubbed his eyes open wider, he saw that everyone was sitting on two wooden benches, readying their parachutes. Rubbing his dry throat, Alex stood up, wobbling slightly.
"Oh good, you're up," Fox said amiably, "We thought we're going to have to wake you."
"How did…" Alex started, unsure. He felt clammy and sweaty.
Fox gave him an embarrassed grin. "Snake carried you in. You looked so tired…we figured that it might be best to let you get a bit more sleep. Let me help you with your parachute. Once everyone's ready, we'll debrief."
Still overtired, Alex numbly let Fox strap his parachute on without saying or doing anything except moving his arms where Fox told him too and trying not to wince too much. He had no idea that he was so tired. Even his small injuries seemed to be hurting far more than before and his lower stomach, where he hadn't even been hit, was starting to cramp. Maybe he was nervous? This had never happened before.
"I feel," Alex started again, his tongue numb, "a little off." he slurred.
Fox finally looked at him and frowned. Alex's eyes were hazy and red-tinged. His face was oddly slack and body limp. Eyeing him, Fox called Wolf over.
Wolf and Fox conferred quietly for a few minutes before Wolf knelt in front of Alex, tilting his head towards the dim light. "Cub," he said, and then he said it again, a little more forcefully when Alex didn't respond. "Cub, are you alright?"
By now everyone else had heard and were crowding around Alex. "His eyes are dilated. Something's wrong." Eagle said, pursing his mouth. He lightly slapped Alex's cheek, but got no response.
Alex felt woozy and the words of the K-Unit were coming in like an out-of-tune radio. Every time he thought he heard and understood a question fired by a member of the K-unit and opened his mouth to respond, they had already moved on to another one. Finally Wolf shushed them all.
"Cub, did the medics give you anything for pain or some medication that might have made you sick?" Wolf asked.
Alex shook his head faintly. "I…no…wha-" he murmured. Finally he got out: "hurt…"
Wolf shook his head and helped lay Alex prone on the hard bench. Listening to Alex's harshening breaths, he said, "I think he's been poisoned." Wolf started searching for an injection point on his arms, but it was Eagle finally pointed it out.
"Here, look," he said softly, pulling down Alex's turtleneck sweater. "someone injected what ever it was right into his artery."
"Get the med kit," Wolf rasped, slipping off the parachute and pulling off Alex's shirt despite Alex's mumbled protests. "Get the fucking-"
Suddenly Alex groaned and clutched his lower stomach, greenish vomit spewing out off his mouth laced with blood. Wolf flinched and then stepped forward, and pulled Alex onto his side. Alex began moaning in pain and convulsing.
"WHERE'S THE-"
"Here," Fox said more calmly than he felt, "what do you think it is?"
"Something we have a cure for," Wolf said roughly. "Get me the Dimercaprol."
"That could make him worse if it's not arsenic!" Snake hissed.
"You got a better idea?" Wolf muttered, pulling the caps off two needles and grabbing Alex's arms. "Hold him still. This is painful enough without him shaking and making me miss the muscle."
Eagle, Fox, and Snake gathered around to hold Alex's convulsing form down. Wolf quickly injected the Dimercaprol into his arm muscle. Within a few minutes, Alex's convulsions slowed down to minute shudders. Slowly the members of the K-Unit let the small boy go. He moaned in pain and Fox reached out and stopped him from rolling into his own vomit.
Wolf stood up abruptly, wiping the vomit off his hands. "Monitor his blood pressure." he told Fox, "Make sure it doesn't spike too high. Give him another injection in fifteen minutes and if the convulsions start up again, every half-an-hour. I have to remap the plan. Cub can't come with us now."
As he strode away, Fox lifted a shivering Cub and moved him to another bench away from the mess and began taking his blood pressure. Meanwhile, Eagle caught up to Wolf who was sitting next to a table with several maps spread over it.
"So someone really doesn't want this kid talking, huh? They poisoned a little kid to keep him from showing us around Sarov's compound? This is bigger than we thought." Eagle muttered softly.
"The kid can handle himself." Wolf said dryly. "What worries me is that the arsenic could have only been injected by a few people: the people at the flight pad or…"
"One of us," Eagle muttered pensively.
"Yeah," Wolf said, staring at the maps but not really paying attention. "Yeah," he said again, "That's what worries me."
To Be Continued…