MI6 Proposition

Alex leaned against the armrest and sighed. He didn't know if he was doing the right thing. When he had moved to America it had been great to be out of the reach of MI6.

After the Ark Angel incident he had moved to Washington with his housekeeper, Jack Starbright. He lived there for four years while Jack got her British Citizenship. After four years they had decided to move back to London, as Alex was now eighteen and didn't need a legal guardian anymore and as Jack now had a British Citizenship, MI6 couldn't blackmail Alex into working for them.

Alex was shaken out of his thoughts when a booming voice came through the loudspeaker, "Please fasten your seatbelts as we are in the process of landing." Alex strapped his seatbelt on and tapped Jack on the shoulder. She woke up with a start.

"What is it?" she asked.

"We're landing. Fasten your seatbelt."

"Oh, ok."

"You know, I can't believe that MI6 actually made me agree to work for them. And that too they blackmailed me."

"Forget it Alex, they're out of your life. Lets hope that it remains like this forever."

"You know that that's impossible."

Jack sighed. "Were you always so pessimistic?" Alex cracked a smile and said, "Depends on how you look it."

Jack sighed and leaned back on her seat. She closed her eyes. Alex glanced out of the window and saw the massive city moving towards them. Four years…. Would he be able to handle it?

John Crawley stood quietly by the men's toilet, twiddling his thumbs. Blunt had sent him here on one of the most critical missions ever. Surprisingly, it wasn't dangerous. Not if he didn't say anything stupid to the teenager he was supposed to trail. He had seen eighteen-year-old Alex Rider enter the toilet and had nearly fainted at the moment.

Alex was about six feet tall, and must have weighed about a hundred and fifty pounds of pure muscle. Combined with the fact that he was now of age, and could use a gun, he could be MI6's most deadly operative. If he agreed, of course.

Alex came out, whistling quietly to himself. Crawley gulped and said, "Alex!"

Alex whirled around, his eyes shining. "You," he snarled. Crawley gulped again and said, "Alex, if you would just listen to me…" "Forget it!" snapped Alex. "MI6 ruined my old life and I won't let you'll ruin my new one too."

Crawley took a step forward and placed a hand on the teenager's shoulder, but fast as lightning, Alex grabbed his hand and pulled him close so that they were Seeing Eye to eye.

"Perhaps I didn't make myself clear," he said, his voice dripping venom. "If you come after me one more time, I will personally insure that unpleasant things happen to you." With that, Alex turned around and walked away.

"Alright," said Crawley. "I guess that you wouldn't want me to tell you that Sabina…"

Alex gasped. "Sabina!" Crawley sighed. "Yes. If you want to know, you'll have to come with me." Alex ignored him and grasped his collar, lifting him up and slamming him against the wall. People stopped and stared. "Tell me what you know," whispered Alex. "Right now."

Crawley raised a hand. Alex heard a clicking of rifles behind him and in a resigned sort of manner he dropped Crawley, who attempted to straighten his jacket and look slightly more dignified. There were three tall guards standing behind Alex. "C'mon, Alex," said Crawley quietly.

"I think it's time we had a little chat."

The five of them walked off, leaving everyone near the Gate staring at them.

Blunt sat on his chair, his fingers interlocked, his face resting against his thumbs. Sometimes he wondered if he was getting a wee bit old for this job. But he couldn't think like that. Not now. Mrs. Jones sat next to him, also deep in thought.

Blunt had never looked forward to moments like these. Meeting people like Alex Rider always irritated him. For one, the teenager had the ability to make a joke out of almost everything someone said, even if he didn't use it.

Secondly, he was a very proficient agent. Normally, this would have pleased the spymaster, but Blunt had realized that if Alex was such a skilled spy at fourteen, he would do the impossible when he grew up. Blunt shuddered to think what would happen if Alex was on the wrong side.

The third one was a reason that Blunt never revealed to anyone. He had never done it, had no plans for doing it, and would never do it. Let's leave it at that.

There was a knock on the door, and Blunt glanced at Mrs. Jones. He took a breath and said quietly, "Come in." The door opened, and in walked Crawley. Blunt didn't even glance at him. He stared at the boy, rather man, next to him.

Alex Rider had a kind of hidden anger that could be easily seen around him. His face was emotionless, and there was no movement by any part of his body. But for a man like Blunt, who had met more people than he could count, he could easily sense the anger that lingered around Alex. "Crawley," he gestured, without taking his eyes off Alex.

Crawley scurried out of the room, unable to take the tension. The door closed. "Alex," said Blunt quietly.

"Blunt," replied Alex coldly. Mrs. Jones broke the tension. "Sit down."