1
*ALL DOCUMENTS SENT SUCCESSFULLY*
I nodded in satisfaction, removed the flash-drive from the small laptop, and pocketed it.
Typing in a few command codes, a new screen popped up.
*All DETONATORS SYNCED. INITIATE COUNTDOWN?*
I quickly typed in: YES.
*COUNTDOWN INITIATED. DETONATION IN MINUS 10:00*
As the numbers began counting down, I hid the laptop and exited the room.
Easily walking through the compound, I headed to the helipad. Arriving, I quickly shot the guard that tried to stop me and jogged to the helicopter.
Getting in, I started it up and got it into the air. Not too long after I started flying away, the compound exploded in a wave of fire and smoke.
For a moment I just watched the effects of my work. Then turning my attention to the controls, I flew to the rendezvous point.
Yet another mission completed successfully. So why do I feel disappointed and empty?
After being picked up at the rendezvous point, taking a long flight home, then the debriefing, I walked into my office. Closing the door, and grabbing the dossiers out of their slot holder next to it, I walked to my desk.
Sitting down, I pressed the hidden button that locked my office door. Placing the files on my desk, I leaned back in my chair and stared at the single photo frame that sat atop my desk.
It contained two photos. Both of people now dead, so there was no harm in having them if someone broke into my office.
The one on the left was of Jack Starbright, my sister, friend, and mother figure rolled into one. Six years later and her death still weighed heavy on my heart.
The one I stared at was the one on the right. It was of my uncle, Ian Rider. His death, a year before Jack’s, had catapulted me into the spy world when I was 14.
You secretly trained me for years to be a spy, Uncle Ian, without me ever knowing. I’m now doing what you had hoped I do. Yet…I feel something missing.
I sighed as I shook my head, leaned forward, and opened the first file. It was the mission report of my protégé, Agent Kira Grey. She was my age, recruited at age 18, and one of the three people I tolerated.
I had met her two years ago, when I’d been sent to the recruit training facility to train. I was outdoing the group of trainees I was placed with, and had become bored. Skipping a class, I had wandered around the facility and had come across her at the shooting range.
Seeing how her skills were okay and I had nothing to do, I began instructing her. At first she was irritated, but when I showed her my shooting compared to hers, she accepted the help. I unknowingly helped her pass to becoming an agent.
When it was revealed later that I was the one to help her, they put me in charge of her further training program. Her handler sent me her mission and training reports. I went over them and marked what she needed to improve and when I had the time, trained her in those areas.
It irked her that I was the same age as her and that I was the one training her, but she couldn’t deny the results. She was quickly starting to become a very competent and successful agent.
I went over her mission report and made notes of things I noticed needed possible improvement.
Quickly finishing all my paperwork, I went around to the offices and placed the files in their respective slots. Placing the last one I turned, and headed to the elevators.
Reaching them I pressed the down button, stepped back, and waited. Hearing and sensing a presence slowly coming closer to me, I spoke up, “If you are trying to sneak up on me Agent Grey, you have failed. I have to admit though, you have gotten closer.”
I heard a groan of frustration. She walked up to my side. I casually turned my head to look at her. She looked back, a slight scowl on her face. “How in the world do you sense me each time?” she asked with a note of frustration.
I smirked, “You walk with a slight sound and presence. I have a developed sense of things around me. You’ll get the same sense eventually as well.” I turned my head back to the elevator.
“If you say so,” she commented skeptically. She then asked, “Will you be available tomorrow for training?”
The doors opened as the elevator arrived. I answered as I walked through them, “No. I’m under orders to take a break. I gave some notes to your handler though.” Inside, I pressed the button to take me to the weapons and gadgets department. “Train well,” I told her as the doors slid shut.
The elevator slid down and opened to the correct floor. Exiting, I headed straight to the head of the department, Smithers. He was middle-aged man that had been my gadget person since I was 14. Reaching him, I casually sat down in a chair near his work area and spoke out, “So, what harmless object have you turned into a weapon today?”
“Ah!” he yelled and jumped. “Alex, don’t do that to me. I’m an old man,” He scolded dramatically.
I grinned at the man. He was one of the three that I tolerated. Though if I was forced to admit it, I liked him, but you’ll never hear me say it. I nodded, “Oh right. You are old.” Then I shook my head commenting, “For some reason I don’t believe that.”
“Oh quiet,” he waved a hand dismissively. “Now to answer your question, I weaponized nothing today. I do have some upgrades and resupplies for your current ones.” He brought out my gauntlet. “I improved the grappling hook and made the cord stronger, lighter, and longer. Plus, it now has a hidden compartment for one of your knives, and conceals it from any detector.” He then brought out a pack of gum, a small bag of coins, and a tube of zit cream. “Expanding gum, exploding coins, and of course your standard zit cream. You really go through that cream quickly.”
I grabbed everything and put them into my backpack. “Of course I do. One, it keeps my face blemish free. Two, it eats through any metal. Who wouldn’t go through the stuff quickly?”
He just smirked. I glanced around his work area. Noticing one of his blueprints, I stared at them, a sense of longing flowing through me.
He noticed my stare. “Ah, I see you have noticed the plans for a jetpack with wings. It’s too bad we are scrapping it for now.” He looked crestfallen at that.
I felt disappointed as well. “Scrapping it? Why?”
“We can’t find a reliable power source. We tried using the standard VTOL engines, but the fuel tank is too small and burns through too quickly. Air time is minimal.” He shook his head and mumbled, “From what I can see, it would take a power source that doesn’t even exist.”
I stared at the plans for a moment longer. “If you are scrapping it, may I have the plans?” I inquired.
He looked at me for a long moment. “Don’t see why you would, but sure. That’s just a copy.”
“Thanks.” I got up and carefully unpinned it from his idea board and folded it up, slipping into a safe slot in my pack. Closing the pack, and putting it on, I nodded at Smithers and stated, “Well, I am on forced leave for a week. I’ll see you around. Take care.”
He nodded back and replied, “You take care as well, Alex.”
I waved and left for my house.
Arriving at the house, I parked my car in the carport. Turning the car off, I grabbed my bag and exited the car.
I looked up at the sky. Surprisingly the sky was clear and the stars shone brightly. For some reason it gave me a sense of calm.
Pulling myself together, I looked back down and walked to my door. I brought out my keys and unlocked the door. Pushing it open, I walked in.
My senses immediately went on alert. Someone else was in my house.
I had no friends and never worked with anyone on missions, and the three people I tolerated had no idea where I lived.
Carefully setting my bag down, I slipped my gun out of my side holster under my coat. Carefully walking down the hall and reaching my living room doorway, I cautiously looked inside.
What I saw sitting on the couch, greatly surprised me. A woman with alabaster skin and green-blue-pink striped hair. She was wearing a white gown with a sunburst on the side, and a golden necklace and crown.
Still with my gun ready to fire at any moment, I stepped into the room. “Well you’re not the normal assassin I get,” I commented. “That’s quite the get-up to try and kill me.”
She turned her head to look at me. Though I didn’t show it, I was startled. Her eyes were an unusual light purple.
She then spoke in a gentle regal tone, “Greetings, Alex Rider. I have come a long way. Not to kill you, but to offer you a deal.”
I raised an eyebrow and replied, “Well you seem to know who I am, but I have no idea who you are. I don’t do deals with strangers.”
She nodded, “Of course. Allow me to introduce myself.” She then stood up. “I am Princess Celestia, Raiser of the sun, and co-ruler of Equestria.”
Still holding my pistol loosely in my hand, I crossed my arms. “Forgive me if I don’t bow, but I don’t quite believe you. I’ve never heard of Equestria and I been around the world quite a few times, even to small countries.”
She sat back down. “No, you never would have heard of Equestria.” She then looked me straight in the eyes, “For Equestria is a country in a parallel world.”
I would have outright called her a liar and crazy, but I couldn’t. Time as a spy had given me a built-in lie detector, and she wasn’t lying. The only other option was crazy, but there was a regal air and authority to her that I couldn’t deny.
I decided to just play along for now. More would be revealed as she spoke. “So if you’re a princess from a parallel world…what are you doing in my house offering me a deal?”
“Please sit and put your weapon away. I promise I am not here to harm you,” she said earnestly.
I reluctantly put my pistol back into its holster and sat in a chair far from her, never taking my eyes off her.
Once I was settled she continued. “I am here, because I was given a short insight into the future of my most faithful student. I was shown two possibilities, one where she went down a dark path, and the other of light.” She paused and stared at her hands. “What startled me is that both showed a human guard by her side.” She looked at me as she said this.
I raised an eyebrow once more at her words. “And a human is startling because…?”
Her eyes widened. “Oh I can’t believe I forgot to explain my world.” She cleared her throat embarrassed. “Equestria is a country made up of sapient ponies. Not just any ponies, but ones with magic. We have Earth ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorns. I myself, since I am a princess, am an Alicorn.”
“I believe I understand the others, but what is an Alicorn?” I asked.
“An Alicorn is made of all three pony types. I am an Earth, Pegasi, and Unicorn combined into one,” she replied.
“And there is another like you? You mentioned being a co-ruler when you introduced yourself.”
She nodded. “Yes Princess Luna.” She smiled happily, “My sister. My most faithful student has reunited me with her and she has once more taken the duty of lowering and raising the moon.” A more sedate smile returned to her face, “Also there is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadance. She is the Princess of Love.”
Wow, either she is telling the truth or her mind is so deep into her made-up world she believes there is a whole nation made of ponies and she co-rules it. I stared at her for a long moment, and then spoke with skepticism in my voice, “So let me get this straight, there is a parallel world with a country of magical, talking ponies, and you rule it as the sun princess, with a lunar one, and a love one.”
She nodded, “That is correct.” She then stated, “You don’t believe me.”
I shrugged and leaned back in my seat. “Can you blame me?”
She shook her head. “No, I can’t.”
I sighed. “Since you clearly aren’t here to kill me, prove to me that you do come from another world, and I won’t throw you out or call someone,” I offered her.
She looked at her hands, and then held one up. A soft, yellow glow surrounded it. Above her palm, a soft white swirled around and with a pop, a book appeared.
Whoa, that’s no ordinary magic trick. I narrowed my eyes as she offered the book to me. I cautiously stood up, stepped forward, reached out and grabbed the book from her.
Warily taking my eyes off her, I read the title, “A Short Look at the History of Equestria.” I glanced up at Celestia, and then returned my attention to the book.
I opened it and looked at the Table of Contents. Flipping throughout the book I realized there were detailed maps, portraits of pony-like creatures, as well as few mythological ones as well.
I shook my head in amazement. “Say I do believe you, why do you think it’s me with her?”
“Both visions showed a young man, blonde hair and brown eyes. They had an accent specific to this area. Additionally, in one vision, she called the guard Alex. In the other, she called him Rider. There is only one Alex Rider who fits and has the capabilities to be a guard,” she stated with certainty.
I scoffed, “Anyone can learn to be a guard. Just because it’s my name, accent, and looks doesn’t mean it’s me.” I narrowed my eyes at her and leaned forward in my seat, putting the book on the table between us. “You seem convinced that I am the one, though. Why?”
She wouldn’t look at me. After a long silence, she spoke, “I used a spell. One now considered forbidden. It shows me the heart and soul, and therefore location of the one I am looking for. Even now that spell is at work and you are like a beacon to me.”
I reared back in alarm, “That is really creep and invasive. You do know that, right?”
“Of course I do!” she snapped at me. “It's the reason I forbid its further use.”
I raised an eyebrow. “And yet you’re using it now,” I remarked dryly.
“I’m desperate not to lose her!” she cried. “I lost my sister for a thousand years, because I was too blind and did nothing to help her plight, and she succumbed to dark magic. I don't want it to happen again with Twilight! Do you know the agony of being able to do nothing to help your family, except banish them to the moon?” she nearly shouted at me.
“Do you know the agony of watching your only family left be killed before your eyes and being able to do nothing but plead upon her killer’s deaf ears? At least you got your family back,” I shot back at her, cold anger flashing in my eyes.
She drew back, and seemed to shrink slightly. “I apologize. In my desperation, I failed to realize that you may have had your own tragedies in life.”
I tamped down my anger and asked, “Why are you so desperate? What is so special about your student, that you are willing to go to another world, and a stranger to prevent her fall?”
She took a deep breath then spoke, “She is one of the most powerful unicorns I’ve seen in a long time. She has the potential to ascend to being an Alicorn, which would promote her to a Princess.” She paused and her voice softened, “But most of all, she is like a daughter to me. With her becoming my student at such a young age, I partially raised her. I enjoy every moment I spend with her.” She stared into my eyes, “I can’t lose her, like I lost my sister for so long.”
I broke her gaze and stared at the book I had placed on the table. I think I have gone crazy. I want to help her. What happens here though if I go to her world? And is her world even real? I ran a hand tiredly over my face. That magic trick though, it wasn’t a normal illusion. And I really want to go.
I ran my hand over the book and stated, “I’m crazy.”
“Pardon?” her voice was laced with shock and confusion.
“Maybe it’s because I just came back from a long trip and I’m tired, or I just want to do something that’s fulfilling to me, but I want to help you.”
Her eyes lit up with hope and excitement.
“You’re either the best liar in the world, crazy as heck, or telling the truth. I’m either being duped completely, or maybe it’s real.” I then stared at her for long moment. “I am assuming you realize exactly who you are asking for help?”
She lifted her head and spoke with confidence and clarity, “I do know. You are Alex Rider, a 21 year old spy.”
I took a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Well looks like I’m crazy, but you student has a new guard,” I stated.
She gave a relieved smile as one thought ran through my mind, Let the crazy adventures begin.
