Thankyou, RandomGothicNinjaNerd for letting me use your name. 3

The man in the black suit crossed his legs as he sipped a cup of tea. Sydney Harbour sparkled brilliantly, and the Opera House gleamed brighter than teeth in a toothpaste ad. Tourists flocked about, holding up their huge-ass cameras to take panoramic shots. An Irish man was trying to take a photo of his wife, but a teenager kept pulling faces in the background.

He tossed his fair hair to the side and adjusted his sunglasses. It was already time. He should've met up with the agent from the ASIS, who would debrief him about his mission.

'Sir, if I may.' A waiter reached for the empty plate which had been occupied by a slice of banana bread.

The man looked at the greying waiter and dropped his cup of tea. 'You!' His hand automatically reached down to the gun holster in his belt.

Something close to an emotion flitted across the waiter's face. 'I presume you are the agent,' he said calmly.

The man stopped pulling his gun out, but didn't relax. 'Alan Blunt,' he hissed.

'That would be me,' said Blunt. 'I thought you already knew who your commanding agent for this mission was.'

'I was told I would recognise him,' said the man through gritted teeth.

Blunt's face remained stony. 'And so you do, Alex. Or should I say, Mr Rider.'

Alex pulled his sunglasses off. He let his arm droop in a place where it didn't look suspicious but could easily reach his gun if needed.

'What is my mission?' he asked coldly.

'There is a girl suspected of arms dealing, in a local school. Her name is RandomGothicNinjaNerd.'

Alex narrowed his eyes. 'And why am I needed for this... RandomGothicNinjaNerd mission?'

Blunt seemed to ignore him at first. 'That is the name used when she is dealing arms to her clients. Unfortunately, none of our agents are specialised in dealing with children as you are. Especially with a mere child of fourteen years.'

Fourteen years. That was the age when Alex's life had changed. In the space of a year, he had experienced what many people would never experience in a lifetime.

'Full details are in this folder.' Blunt held out a folder towards Alex, who took it begrudgingly. 'RandomGothicNinjaNerd is at school right now. It will be in your best interests if you start this mission as soon as possible.'

Alex stood up, a plan forming in his head already. He quickly checked the time - 9:45am - and started to walk towards his car.

'Mr Rider,' said Blunt. Alex stopped, but didn't turn around. 'Why did you return to this life?'

'I didn't know you cared,' he said. Then he faced Blunt. 'There's no escape from this. Spying is a lifetime job. Once you start, you can't help but satisfy those impulses that tell you to investigate that little thing... That tiny loose end that someone may have left. Spies never retire. They may get killed, but they will never retire. You should know, Alan. You dragged me into this in the first place.'

He walked away from Blunt for the last time, but didn't even stop when the greying man spoke again. 'Just remember, Alex. No one is ever too young to die.'

This is a one-shot... for the moment =P I'll need some (by this I mean LOTS) of encouragement to continue...