DISCLAMER: When I become a famous author, I'll buy the copy writes of both these series from Robert Muchamore and Anthony Horrowitz. Until then, I'll just have to stick with writing fanfictions for these awesome series which I do not own.

The man walked into the building with purpose. The leather soles of his shoes hit the marble and he quickly nodded to the guard standing by the door. He had come here for a meeting and was quite excited for it. His name was Fredrick Jameson; Fred to his friends, and current leader of eco terrorist group Help Earth.

Until recently, Help Earth had been a stand-alone group of eco-friendly extremists. It had blackmailed thousands of businesses who were threatening the environment, blown up planes of executives of polluting companies and killed off anyone who was unfortunate enough to be classified as 'harmful to the environment.' Then, they had been contacted by Scorpia and a new partnership had aroused.

Fred Jameson entered the room and greeted the eight men at the table. They, the eight board members of Scorpia didn't greet him back-greetings were a waste of time. Fred was particularly irritated by the unspoken rules of the Scorpia board members. He knew that he wasn't like by them but they did ask for his help and he expected that they treat him with the respect they should give to their superiors.

"Good evening gentleman. I trust that you all are well."

The board members murmured their response. None of them liked Jameson merely because he wasn't Scorpia, The man was annoying and thought too much of himself. He thought that just because he was the leader of Help Earth he was now at the same level as King of the World or something. Jameson was a fool. Worse, he was now thinking that they needed the help of his amateurish organisation to the point that he was now thinking himself as project leader; earning many unattempted assassination plans concerning him from the real project leader, Zeljan Kurst.

"The final steps in our plan are being carried out now. As I speak, the executives of Morris Oils are being held hostage and tomorrow, the ransom note listing our demands and conditions concerning the hostages will be sent out to the CEO Matthew Morris. I expect that we shall get our demands fulfilled within the week."

"And what happens if it doesn't. Have you planned out measures if the plan goes wrong?"

The apprehension was voiced out by Brendan Chase. His laidback Australian accent masked his true nature as a ruthless and dangerous killer. During the cold war, he had killed hundreds of people because he felt like it while masking them as necessary kills.

"I assure you Mr Chase that this plan is fool proof. My men have planned out every minute detail. Help Earths' plans always work, unlike yours I should say. Help Earth do not make mistakes."

With ice in his voice, Zeljan Kurst stood up.

"If you say so, Mr Jameson. But we should warn you. We do not tolerate failure, especially from outsiders such as yourself. If your plan does not carry out according to plan and succeed beyond reasonable doubt, consider yourself, and your colleagues, affectively dead."

And on that cheerful note, Mr Kurst, and the nine Scorpia board members exited out of the room.

When summons from The Royal and General Bank come, naturally Alex ignores them. However, when they are resent in the form of four big suited men with sunglasses, guns and search warrants for one Alex Rider, it becomes more challenging to refuse.

Half an hour and one excellent display of martial arts later, Alex sat down in front of Mr Blunt and Mrs Jones. Unsurprisingly, Mrs Jones was sucking a peppermint.

In the silence, Alex wondered whether someone was spiking them with drugs or something to make her addicted to them. The woman should call a Quit Helpline or something, really. Then, Mr Blunt started speaking.

"Was it really necessary to assault my men Alex? You could have just come when we summoned you last. It would have saved all of us the trouble."

"Yes Mr Blunt, but really you should be thanking me. If I hadn't attacked you men, you would still be blind to their incompetent fighting skills without the use of guns." retorted Alex.

"If you don't mind, I'll like my thank you now please."

Seeing Blunt adequately annoyed, Alex proceeded to annoy him even more by putting his feet up on the desk. Close to enough to Blunt's nose for him to smell the stench coming from Alex's trainers.

Standing up and moving away from his desk, Blunt resumed talking.

"Alex we are not here to discuss the incompetence of my agents. Rather, I'm here to brief you on your new mission."

Alex stood up so that he was almost level to Mr Blunt.

"And what makes you think that I'll accept this mission?"

Alex would never go on these missions without a really good reason or if there was another option. As much as he knew that these missions may be life or death for millions of people, he wanted to be a normal school boy. He wanted to have his life back before MI6.

Blunt ignored the question and just continued talking.

"You will be working with agents from a special division of MI5 as protection. This mission was considered too dangerous for them to proceed with but was also rated, by their own agents no less, extremely vital to the safety of the world. Rather expectedly, I refused. The mission was a joke. Something I wouldn't even let my most junior assistant partake in- an absolute insult to our agency. Then, this letter came."

A letter magically appeared in Blunt's hand and he handed it over to Alex for him to read. Secretly, Alex was tempted to ask Mr Blunt whether being a hireable kids' party magician was his night job and if he was available to do his next birthday party complete with balloon hats and disappearing rabbits. Instead, he swallowed* his temptations and read the letter.

Dear Mr Morris,

We are pretty sure you have heard about the recent kidnappings of the members of your executive board and are delighted to inform you that we are responsible for this. Your company has been threatening and polluting the environment for too long with your extraction of oil and selling them to the refineries.

We will hold the executives hostage until the end of the month when we will kill them unless you comply with this list of demands:

You will shut down you company and will not open up any oil related businesses.

You will pay for all the damages of the recent oil spill of your pipe line in the Gulf of Mexico.

You will announce your decision to use your fortune to invest into the replanting of trees in the Amazon and renewable energy such as solar energy.

Failure to do so will result in the deaths of your executive board members and greater consequences to come.

Yours sincerely

Help Earth (with partnership from Scorpia)

Blunt was quick to take away the piece of paper once Alex had finished with it and put it away (presumably in his hidden magical top hat no less). Alex sighed heavily before speaking again.

"Is this a joke? This letter can't be serious. Help Earth, what's that-a school club?"

Alex didn't think that Scorpia had any part in this plan; he didn't even believe that the threat was real. Firstly, the name- no self-respecting terrorist organisation will name themselves Help Earth. They were practically asking to be mocked and taunted by the entire criminal world. Also, the letter they sent had absolutely no formality and detail. If you were putting in the name of an organisation responsible for a tenth of the world's terrorism, at least have the decency to actually act like part of it. Honestly, some people just have no class these days.

Mrs Jones finished her peppermint and took another out of her pocket while talking.

"Alex, this letter is very serious. The executives have already been kidnapped for three days. These Help Earth people mean business. We're not sure of Scorpia's part in it or whether their name was only used to gain more importance but the point it that this is not a bluff."

Alex took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Okay then, who will I be working with."

"Well Alex, you're not exactly working with normal agents. In fact, they are quite extraordinary. Not as extraordinary as you are of course but quite talented agents…"Blunt trailed off.

"Just get to the point Mr Blunt." Alex cut in.

Blunt sighed.

"They people you will be working with, they are an organisation. Their name is CHERUB."

Alex scoffed "CHERUB, I've never heard of them. What a name though. Are they a division of MI-Angel?"

Blunt shook his head.

"CHERUB is quite a unique organisation. Not one-of-a-kind exactly in its ideology but close enough to be."

Mr Blunt paused and took a deep breath.

"CHERUB, Alex, is a school for spies."

Alex took some time to process his words before speaking again.

"Am I on one of those hidden camera shows but for people with clearance? You do realise how unbelievable that sounds don't you…."

"Is it more unbelievable than you being a teenage spy…no? I didn't think so." Said Mr Blunt, quite confident in the unbelievability of own teenage spy.

Alex said "Okay then….So when am I leaving to meet them?"

Mrs Jones spoke up this time.

"Ugh…., I'm not sure how to put this to you exactly Alex, but CHERUB is an extremely proud organisation who for some reason wants to test your spying abilities; quite odd considering the chairwoman has read your file. You will actually be leaving now, as they want to start the tests tomorrow with plenty of time to begin the mission well ahead of the deadline."

Two men in dark suits opened the door to escort him out, fortunately not the same ones who had 'convinced' him to come to the Royal and General Earlier this morning. In their hand was a large overnight bag, presumably full of his clothes and belongings.

Just as he was about to exit out of the door, Mr Blunt spoke.

"Alex, we know that you are very capable. We expect you to show these CHERUBs that you are better than them. Defend the prestige of MI6 or, since we know that you aren't too fond of us, your own personal pride. Good luck Alex. I expect to be hearing about your success very shortly."

And with that, the door closed and Alex Rider left with the two men for CHERUB.

*can you swallow temptations?

So glad when I finally finished this chapter. Hope my readers (if I have any) enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing this. Seriously, I wrote this through my exams so if I fail them, I have the knowledge that I at least wrote a chapter of my new fanfic. This is my first fanfiction (after many embarrassing months of having an account without any fanfics on it) so please be nice when you review (because you are going to).

I love reviews so if you have a second, please review.

Thanks so much for reading.

burnt-rose15