Alex stared at the two people across from his in disbelief. They weren't being serious were they?

"Please tell me you're joking," he said. The gray man known as Alan Blunt only looked coldly at him. "Right," Alex went on, seeing only Blunt's face, "I forgot, you don't make jokes."

"Alex," Mrs. Jones, the women to Blunt's left spoke, "this is very important—"

"So is every bloody thing you send me on!" Alex exclaimed, "I'm not doing it!"

"Alex," Blunt said, "this is not a request; the CIA has already been informed of your coming."

Alex sighed in defeat as he threw himself into the chair. MI6 just couldn't leave him alone could they? What would they threaten this time? Alex didn't even want to know.

"When am I being shipped out?" Alex asked dully.

"Your plane leaves tomorrow morning at 9:45, a cab will pick you up at your house," Mrs. Jones told him.

"Where am I going?"

"California."

"Great," Alex mumbled.

"Please see Smithers before you leave," Mrs. Jones said. And with that Alex was dismissed from her office.

Casey, Chuck, and Sarah all stood around the TV.

"General," Sarah asked, "do we really need another spy to help us? I'm sure we can handle it."

"Agent Walker, the decision is mine and mine alone," General Beckman responded.

"Who even is this guy?" Casey asked, speaking up for the first time since General Beckman told the team that an agent from MI6 would be joining them.

"All I can tell you now is that the he is Agent Rider, and he has a 100% success rate with his missions."

"No way," Chuck said.

"Hard to believe, but true," Beckman replied. "Agent Rider will be staying with you Agent Casey, a key to the apartment has already been given to him. I'll be there tomorrow to explain everything; I don't want to have to repeat myself."

"What?" growled Casey.

"Good-bye team." General Beckman signed off.

Sarah, Casey and Chuck looked at each other.

"Beckman's coming here?" Chuck asked. "Wow this guys must be really important."

"Yes," Sarah muttered, "but who is he?"

"Wait, so you have no idea who this Rider dude is?" Chuck asked, "He's not an old war buddy friend or something?" he asked, turning to Casey

"No," Casey replied.

"Sarah?" Chuck asked and turned to where Sarah was at the computer. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to find Alex Rider's file. But I don't have enough clearance to view it. Everything's blocked by so many firewalls. Classified."

"So this man is like the best? Like a Secret weapon? Maybe's he's like James Bond!" Chuck babbled. "I don't know whether to be nervous or excited to meet him."

Casey groaned, "I doubt it. And I'm going to have to live with him Chuck, so please be quite."