Disclaimer: I do not own the Alex Rider series.

Okay, yet another attempt to cram another story onto the fandom before I leave for France in four days. Chances are I won't update until I get back three weeks later. Sorry. Just read this and tell me what you think.

Julia Rothman sat demurely in the soulless chain coffee house and calmly sipped at her ridiculously overly priced cappuccino. She had at least six bags of expensive, designer shopping which she had acquired that morning lying at her feet. Though she no longer worked she had no financial worries what-so-ever thanks to her huge savings and million euro equipped Swiss Bank Account.

She took another sip of her cappuccino and glanced subtly at the clock behind the counter. Once again she found herself questioning her judgement. Could she really risk this meeting? It had only been four months since her 'death'. If she was spotted now, all the careful work she'd been doing would be for nothing.

Julia pushed back the few hairs that had fallen out of place over her eyes and the nervousness that was twisting a knot in her stomach. Once again the question rolled through her head. Am I being set up? she asked herself.

But Christian had been so nice to her. He was charming and funny and full of confidence. He reminded her of John Rider so much that she'd agreed to meet with him for coffee. If she was still with Scorpia she wouldn't have been worried. But here she had no back up, no surveillance; nothing to protect her if things blew up in her face.

Stop thinking like that! she warned herself. Christian isn't a spy. He's just a normal man who actually likes you, despite all your very noticeable flaws.

Once again she scanned the coffee house. No Christian anywhere. Again her eyes flickered to the clock. It read exactly fourteen minutes past three. So he had ten more seconds before he was officially late.

"Hey gorgeous. What's a girl like you doing all by herself?" a voice asked flippantly. Julia could listen to that voice all day. It was deep and manly but soothing and calming. Can a man have a 'come to bed' voice?

"Waiting for her considerably less attractive acquaintance" she replied lightly. Christian chuckled and slipped into the seat opposite her, giving her one of his charming smiles.

"Acquaintance? Does that mean that what we did last night was impertinent? Inappropriate? Well sorry. I promise, it won't happen again" he teased carefully. Julia felt her cheeks warm. She was blushing! You haven't blushed since your first day of school! Stop it right now! her brain screeched. No. Why should I? her heart shot back.

Her eyes studied Christian's face while he read the menu. He was definitely handsome. He had black hair that stuck up at the front and olive skin, with dark brown eyes that glimmered softly and twinkled with mischief. He was toned and muscled and he was very tall, a head taller than Julia at least. He had well defined cheekbones and a finely etched face that suited him thoroughly.

"Julia, I do believe you are getting younger every single time I see you" Christian said, smiling at her. He tilted his head slightly to the left and watched her carefully, his eyes twinkling.

Julia shrugged and took another sip of her cappuccino. Christian's eyes flickered from the mug back to her face.

"Christian, what do you do for a living?" Julia asked. It was one of the main things that was bothering her about Christian. He changed the subject anytime she asked him that question.

"Why Julia dear, if I told you, I'd have to kill you" he replied with a wink. Julia brushed away her annoyance. She had to trust him a little more. She had to forget her old job and her mistrustful past. Christian was real. And he was perfect for her.

Too perfect. She ignored her instincts and smiled back at him.

"But, since you ask, you must be willing to run the risk. I kill people. For a living" he said, smiling again at her. Julia took another sip of her cappuccino. It was good that he had a sense of humour but he was being rather elusive. Still, best to play along for the time being.

"Really? What type of people?" Julia asked, humouring him.

Christian smiled wolfishly and winked at her again.

"Bad people. People who deserve it. Criminals. Drug dealers. Gang leaders. Triad members. High ranking Mafia. Corrupt politicians. Dictators. It's a varied line of trade. Never a dull day" Christian said, his smile widening.

Julia chuckled. Funny man. He had no idea how ironic it was for him to be telling that to her.

"I'm on a job at the minute" he said, his features straightening. A hint of mischief remained in his eyes. Julia chuckled again and took another sip of her cappuccino. It was good. Rich and tasty and was warming her up nicely.

"Really? And who, pray tell, are you going to kill now?" she asked with a grin.

Christian gripped her hand loosely and pressed it to his lips with a teasing smile. Even after the kiss he still held onto her hand delicately. His long fingers entwined around hers. Julia looked up at his face again.

His eyes darkened. All humour was gone now. His face was totally serious. His lip curled back in contempt and he sneered at Julia. He looked different. Contorted with hatred. Rage. A poisonous thirst for revenge.

"You" he whispered hoarsely. The bullet fired silently. The gun made no noise but it bucked slightly in Christian's concealed left hand. Julia's eyes widened in pain. Her eyes roamed his face, unable to find the energy to fill herself with rage. Unable to scream for help. Unable to slap him across the face.

"Christian?" she said, her voice hollow and broken. Christian's smile returned and he winked at her once more.

"No. Franz" he replied.

With that he got back to his feet and sauntered from the cafe. Julia watched him go. The wound was taxing on her. The whole world seemed to sway. She couldn't cry out in pain. She blinked sluggishly and saw his back disappear into the crowd. Dimly she was aware that she'd been foolish to trust him.

A tragic, tragic loss she assured herself. And as she slumped forward and her head hit the table hard, all she could think of was the look on Alex Rider's face when she'd showed him the tape of his father's 'death'. Total destruction. Just how she'd felt when she learned of John Rider's treachery.

Alan Blunt massaged his temples wearily. He was tired. He was cranky. He was looking forward to going home. He'd already allowed his secretary to leave early. He was beginning to regret dutifully waiting for the day to officially end.

He got to his feet and was just about to leave, regardless of the time, when his office phone rang shrilly.

He picked it up instinctively. "Yes?" he growled. He'd been in a foul mood all day. He'd lost two young agents to a pipe bomb explosion and he was currently conducting the screening of the new intake of recruits. He had to check every single detail about them. It was exhausting.

"Mr. Blunt, there've been seven rather high profile deaths in the past hour. Synchronised. Took place all over the world" came the voice of his deputy, Tulip Jones.

Mr. Blunt bit back the urge to swear loudly. He was feeling uncharacteristically at odds with his profession. Usually he loved his job more than anything else on the planet.

"Who?" Blunt asked.

He pushed all thoughts of leaving early out of his mind. This was going to be a rather large assignment, he could tell that already. He would need his wits about him to deal with the situation.

"The Scorpia executive board. Every single one of them. Kurst, Rothman, Kroll, Mikato. Each and every one of them. Even the ones we were trying to hunt down" Mrs. Jones replied.

Blunt paused. It was no news to him that Rothman had been alive. He'd suspected it the past few months. But that she was dead was the news. And the rest of the Scorpia board. MI6 had been working with the CIA in an effort to pin down the Scorpia board for the last two years with no progress. He hadn't even been able to uncover the locations of the board members.

The incoming call light flashed and Blunt frowned. No doubt the Prime Minister looking for somebody to kick for his amusement. Alan Blunt was aware that the Prime Minister thought MI6 cost too much for what it gave.

"Could you hold that line for a minute Mrs. Jones? I have to take another call" Blunt asked.

He heard a noise of affirmation and he pushed onto the second line.

"Alan Blunt" he introduced himself politely.

"I know. Alan, I'd like you to sit down" a silky voice said down the line.

Alan bit back a gasp. He was being watched. And he had a feeling this was a call to take responsibility for the killings. His brain started whirling quickly, dismantling the situation and examining it piece by piece.

He took a seat and waited for the voice to continue.

"As I'm sure you've already guessed I'm calling you to 'fess up. Why don't you get a pen and a sheet of paper? Be ready to take this down" the voice said with an almost mocking undercurrent.

Alan picked up the expensive fountain pen his wife had bought him for Christmas and got ready to write.

"The remaining members of the Scorpia Board were put down for one reason. They were poison. They were scum. And now they are dead. Your people are frankly useless at ferreting out injustice. And some of us are fed up with your government's lacklustre performance. We are purging the world of evil as we speak. We are now waging a war against atrocities and I am giving you a one time only offer. Stay out of our way and we will overlook some of your less than, shall we say, humane projects".

Alan frowned. His wrist was starting to ache.

"You mean you're vigilantes" he volunteered. He was rewarded with a chuckle.

"Call us what you will. But remember that on our first operation we managed to get rid of seven of the worst people on this planet. What have you done is the last twenty four hours? I've made this planet the tiniest bit safer".

"You've just committed murder. And we will find you. And catch you. And then we'll imprison you. And the world will forget your crusade against the bogeymen of the planet" Alan retorted.

"The world doesn't need to know about us. In fact, we'd be happier to stay in the background. But we understand that that is not a realistic desire. Murder is a word too often thrown around these days. What we did was eradicate seven people who've committed more crimes than there are names for. And as for catching us, you won't. Don't worry yourself about things like that. And if you make a single attempt to blackmail us or protect the vermin we intend to exterminate, you'll find that word travels fast around London. Word that could destroy you".

Alan Blunt scowled. He didn't like this one bit. He'd have the call traced as soon as he finished.

"Two words in fact. Alex Rider. I can see the headlines now. 'Government manipulate and blackmail teenager into life threatening situations'".

The voice chuckled dryly and Alan clenched his teeth. He really didn't like this.

"You too will find a bullet. For what you've done to Alex Rider. For what you've done to innocent bystanders. But your bullet will be later. We have more pressing people to deal with".

Blunt sucked in a breath.

"Why are you calling me? What is the point of this conversation?" he asked.

"The following statement. Be sure to get it on paper. We are Libertas, an organization committed to bringing justice to the world. We intend to wipe out every single major criminal who has ever committed a crime against humanity. Drug dealers. Drug smugglers. Corrupt politicians. Mafia members. Murderers. Gang leaders. Snakeheads. We are going to rid the world of the scum that fuel petty crime. Anyone who opposes us will suffer the same fate. We are going to get rid of the foulest excuses for humans on the planet. We will get rid of the dictators who have enslaved their own people. The men who sexually exploit children. The filth who smuggle humans from country to country. They will all die. We have no sympathy for you. You have been in a position to change things and you have done nothing. Neither have any of your international counterparts. You are as much to blame for allowing these monsters to flourish and grow. We are Libertas, we are justice and we are going to succeed".

Alan Blunt listened as the dialling tone buzzed loudly in his ear. Terrific. Just what he needed. More idiots on a crusade for justice.

He was beginning to regret letting his secretary leave.

It wasn't the longest or best chapter ever written, I know. But the next chapter will be much better.