Back to Hell

"What the hell was that?" The man bellowed in a tone that should never be used on any child mind one that had suffered such crippling loss as he had.

When the Pleasures had been killed, just two weeks after Jack's death, it had been enough to begin a downwards spiral. That was nearly a year ago. Now, he was literally in the middle of Hell. Who had the clever idea of sending him here? Oh, that's right. Mr Alan Blunt head of MI6.

Alex Rider, despite being just fifteen years old, had never be treated like a true teenager. Even when his Uncle was alive, it seemed that he was supposed to act with the maturity of someone with far more years under their belt. In truth, whenever he acted remotely like the child, he was scolded and told to be better. He had no doubt that his uncle loved and in his own weird way, he had only wanted him to be safe.

The man yelling was called Wolf. That wasn't his real name though. You didn't use your real names when you were in the SAS. Everyone had a code name and the man currently yelling at his code name was Wolf. It was rather ironic that he was called Cub because Wolf was a lot of things but paternal was not one of them.

He'd been back at the Brecon Beacons for nearly a week now and every day had been a miserable as the last time he had been there. Eagle and Snake were just as apathetic as he had remembered them. Snake had at least taken a little more interest in him than the others but once the medic was satisfied that he was physically fit they'd let him alone. Wolf and Falcon? They were the worse. Falcon was Fox's replacement. He was about thirty-five and had grey eyes that were the epitome of anger. He was Welsh and made Wolf seem like a teddy bear. Two were as thick as thieves and seemed to take delight in making his life hell.

They had just come back from the gun range. They were all supposed to fire a few shots at the target and Alex had been forced to show his skills. Apparently, the order that he was not allowed to even hold never mind shoot a gun had not reached the ears of the instructor who made him do fifty press-ups for insubordination. After he had completed the punishment, the instructor looked so angry that Alex had been legitimately scared for his own safety so took hold of the offered gun. Therein, lay the problem. Thanks to the tutelage of SCORPIA, he wasn't a bad shot. That was actually quite modest. He was a terrific shot. Every shot was on target. That was when the paper targets were just bullseye and not people. In that case, he missed every time. And that was what had gotten Wolf so angry.

"I asked you a question Cub. What the hell was that?!" He bellowed again, this time it was louder, and he stepped forward in a threatening manner. Everything about Wolf seemed threatening though, especially when Falcon was involved.

Alex dropped his gaze submissively. He hoped that by acting like the chastised and moderately scared child he was, he would placate Wolf by giving him the power kick he needed. It didn't work. As Wolf took another step towards him he took another step back. Alex opened his mouth and tried to respond but found that words failed him.

"Wolf asked a question, kid. It's in your best interests to answer him. He is your Unit leader. Respond."

He didn't need to look up to see who had said that. The scything tone of voice was just as a giveaway as the words themselves. Falcon always backed Wolf up when it came to his treatment of Alex.

"I-I-er…" He breathed out. His brain seemed incapable of sending his mouth the message to talk.

"You what?" Snapped Wolf. He could see that Cub was about to bolt but wasn't going to let that happen. Cub had good reflexes; he would begrudgingly admit that. But Wolf was better, more experienced and in his opinion far superior in every aspect. So, in a few fast and long strides he was within grabbing distance of the blonde. Before Cub had the chance to evaluate the situation, Wolf grabbed hold of his arm with one hand and raised his other.

Alex felt a grip on his arm and knew that it was Wolf. When had he approached him? There was no time to work that out though. Wolf's grip was bruising tight, and he was raising his other hand. That could only mean…

Alex flinched.

He raised his free hand above his head to defend his head from a blow he honestly thought was going to land.

He closed his eyes.

Nothing happened.

Wolf hadn't raised his hand to hit him. He raised it to take hold of Alex's shoulder to stop him from bolting off into the nearby woodlands. He didn't trust Wolf. He may have saved him at Point Blanc but other than that he hadn't given him any reason to trust him. So, when Alex had seen him raise his hand he hadn't thought for a second that Wolf was going to do anything but hurt him. Everything about his body language screamed anger and Alex, who had been hurt too much by an irrationally angry adult had not taken any chances with his safety.

Now he was scared again but for another reason. He wasn't supposed to dodge. It was different when he was sparring – that was an exercise. This was not an exercise. Wolf was angry at him for messing up at the gun range. That the blow, that thankfully had not actually landed, was a reprimand. A punishment. You didn't try to dodge those. Agent Mason had taught him that. He had been his guardian since Jack and the Pleasure had died. It hadn't been great.

"Cub?"

He was suddenly aware of a voice talking to him and he flinched. The grip on his arm was still there but it was lighter. He noted the voice was softer than it was before. Alex opened his eyes and was surprised to see Wolf looking at him in a mixture of concern and surprise.

"S-sorry, sir." He apologised like he had been taught so many times before.

Wolf had not been expecting that. In all the time he had known Cub, he had never called him sir and he never flinched away from him. Now, he was adjusting his posture so that he was standing stiffly, practically at attention.

"I wasn't…" For once the leader of K-Unit was lost for words "I wasn't going to hit you Cub."

"You were angry, sir," Cub responded with too far too much blasé for Unit's liking.

Wolf sighed. That sounded as though Cub had fully expected to be beaten within the inch of his life. The way that he was standing, which suggested he was purposefully trying not to flinch also suggested that he still did.

"I wouldn't hit you." Wolf tried again. "I wouldn't hit a member of my Unit, not like that. Surely, you don't think I would?"

Alex was suddenly angry. After everything that happened the last time he was here, he had the nerve to say that? Wolf had pushed him over countless times. This visit had been no different. Wolf never have actually punched him, but he had already shown that he had no qualms about hurting him. He had no right to take the moral high ground and suggest that it was such an outlandish thing for Alex to believe Wolf might hit him.

"You've never given me a reason to think otherwise have you?" Alex snapped back. He glared down at the hand still holding his arm. The grip was still light but after the previous roughness he had experienced, it hurt. There would be bruising there tomorrow. Wolf saw his glare and let go of his arm.

Wolf's expression darkened slightly. He wasn't angry at Cub but himself. He opened his mouth to apologise and that was when Cub spoke again.

"Sorry sir, that was rude." Alex apologised. It had only been once Wolf let go of his arm and stepped back that he realised that he had just spoken disrespectfully towards a superior. His transgressions were becoming too numerous to count.

"I don't care about that. It was true." Wolf waved off the apology but froze when Alex once again, flinched away from him.

"I'm sorry, sir," Alex repeated and looked up at Wolf. He turned his head slightly so that Wolf could land the blow he thought he deserved.

"You can stop calling me that Cub. Call me Wolf, not sir. And stop acting like I'm going to hit you because I'm not. You will, however, explain what just happened in there. Where did you learn to shoot like that?"

The question that had started all of this was asked once more. Alex didn't want to answer it and he wasn't sure that he was allowed to at any rate. Both Blunt and his guardian had made it perfectly clear that he wasn't supposed to speak of it, and he wouldn't put it past them to hurt him or one of his friends if he broke that order.

"Classified." Alex gave his usual response to questions he couldn't or wouldn't answer. It seemed to anger Wolf once again. Before his Unit Leader could act and unleash his ire onto Alex, he risked further punishment by leaving without a dismissal.

Surprisingly, it was the Sargent that found him. Alex was sat in one of the many trees of the Brecon Beacons. He had long since learnt how to climb and it was often a skill that came in useful during missions. There wasn't a mission right now, but he needed the skill, nonetheless. It was peaceful and hidden. Or at least so he thought.

"Cub?" The Sargent shouted seeing the young boy about three quarters the way up a very tall tree. "Get down here! Now!"

The order was harsh and loud. That of course was expected from the Sargent, he was always bellowing orders particularly when it came to Alex. This one, unbeknownst to Alex, was given out of concern for the child's safety and out of anger born out of instinctual protectiveness over said child. Nonetheless, Alex quickly opened letting going and catching branches, swinging from them, and dropping down from the tree like a monkey. He bent his knees to cushion the blow but landed upright on both feet. He marched up to the Sargent and stood at attention.

"What the hell do you think this is? A playground?" The Sargent bellowed, right in his face.

Alex tried hard not to flinch and almost managed it. Then a piece of spit landed on his face and went right up his nose, so all bets were off. Thankfully, the Sargent either didn't notice it or decided it wasn't worth pointing out.

"No, sir."

"Your unit has been searching for you."

"Sorry, sir."

The Sargent examined his face for a few minutes. Then he let out a low growl. On the Imaginary Scale of Sargent's Growls or ISSG for short (Eagle was the one that came up with this and they all secretly loved it even Wolf), the growl was one of the less dangerous ones. It was somewhere between mild annoyance and moderate irritation. It showed by the next order he gave Cub.

"Drop and give me twenty."

So, for the second time that day, Alex found himself performing press-ups for an adult he had angered. It wasn't going well for him. The dirt of the forest floor meant he nearly lost his grip, and a few twigs were cutting into the palm of his hands. It stung slightly but he had only been given twenty. He would take push-ups over a beating any day of the week.

"Attention!" The Sargent ordered him when he had finished with the push-ups.

Alex remained silent. The Sargent always made him nervous, and he never liked to be alone with him, but he couldn't exactly leave. He hadn't been dismissed yet and anyway; it was clear that the Sargent was not done with him yet.

"You are not here because you are a member of the SAS. You are here because MI6 set you. Why they did is none of my concern. However, when you run off with permission or word to anyone, it is my concern. If you get hurt or get lost it will be my men that will suffer so you will not pull that stunt again or I will make your life a living hell. Is that understood?"

Alex only just managed to stutter out a 'yes sir' before he could be reprimanded for failing to give a verbal response.

"At ease." The Sargent ordered and finally, Alex allowed himself to relax.

There was a couple of seconds of silence before the Sargent spoke again.

"I heard what happened at the gun range. I had to inform Mr Blunt. He is not best pleased. After dinner, you will report to my office. Your guardian wishes to speak with you."

"Yes, sir," Alex replied but inside he was tearing himself apart. What was Agent Mason going to do to him? Whatever it was it wasn't good.

The Sargent debated whether or not he should speak to Cub further. He was a little concerned about him. Then again, MI6 and his superiors had made it perfectly clear. Cub was not one of his men. If anything, he should be called Rider, but the code name had stuck. He would keep an eye on the situation, but he would intervene just yet. Anyway, Cub's guardian would be here later today so he could speak with the boy.

"I have heard a few complaints about your conduct lately Cub. I hope this visit with Agent Mason will straighten that attitude out before I decide to deal with you myself. I can assure you if that happens, I shall make any punishment Agent gives you seem mild in comparison. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

"Dismissed."

Alex practically ran out of the forest clearing to where the K-Unit cabin. With any luck, it would be empty. It would be dinner soon, so it seemed unlikely. Alex found he had no appetite. Agent Mason was coming to see him and that never ended well for him. He couldn't help the fear that he was feeling in the pit of his stomach. That was probably why wasn't hungry. He didn't want to attend dinner but to avoid it would raise suspicion.

Thankfully, Alex wasn't considered to have the luck of the devil for nothing. The place was empty. So, he took his place on his lower bunk and tried to think about everything that had happened since he first arrived. None of it was good. As he huddled in on himself he considered what the Sargent had said. What complaints had been reported? He wasn't aware of anything he had done wrong since he arrived – at least nothing worth bringing to the attention of the Sargent, anyhow. What if they continued? Sargent said he would take Alex into his own hand and that it would make Mason's punishments seem mild. The thought made his mouth run dry. He hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Alex got off the bed and walked to the bathroom K-unit shared. He would have to wash up before dinner. His hands were filthy and sore, his face was stained with tears and his hair looked like he had been dragged through a hedge backwards. He hadn't. It was a tree. There were several leaves in his hair, and he removed them before brushing his hair. He needed to look presentable. It wouldn't do to get in further trouble.

More tears fell into the sink as he contemplated what would be waiting for him later.

Alex felt quite alone.