Episode 4 of Alex Rider's third season opens with a flashback, painting a vivid picture of John Rider and Yassen embroiled in a dangerous weapons deal with Don Andres, a notorious arms dealer. But their true objective was not a deal; it was a calculated assassination plot. Andres, however, sensed their ruse, leading to Yassen's capture in a tense standoff. John's swift thinking and courage were the only things that saved Yassen's life.
The scene shifts to the present, where Alex is undergoing rigorous training under the watchful eye of Yassen. Yassen's assessment is blunt: Alex is reckless, overconfident, and lacks the finesse required to be a top-tier Scorpia agent. A grueling challenge is issued - to wrestle a bottle from Yassen's grasp. Alex fails miserably, seemingly distracted by his unquenchable curiosity about his father's past rather than focusing on the task at hand.
Alex's shooting skills also fall short, and Yassen's rebuke is stark: in the real world, such mistakes could be fatal. There are no do-overs out there.
Meanwhile, in London, Smithers and Crawley attend Pritchard's funeral, a somber occasion that leaves Jones wracked with guilt. She fears Pritchard's death might be her fault, yet she finds solace in the knowledge that Alex is safe and far from harm's way. Blunt's warning is stark: until the mystery of the Invisible Sword weapon is solved, no one is truly safe, especially those who pose a threat to Scorpia.
Jones visits Jack Starbright, seeking information about Alex. She doesn't want to contact him or know his whereabouts; she just needs to know if he's okay. Deep down, she's heartbroken that Alex couldn't become a permanent fixture in MI6, but in a twisted way, she finds relief in the fact that it keeps him out of harm's way. Little does she know that, at this precise moment, Alex is deep within the tiger's den.
Kyra and Tom are also on the hunt for Alex, determined to find him. Following Tom's advice, Kyra delves into the call mast data, hoping to trace Alex's calls. Syl visits Alex in his room, attempting to boost his morale with encouraging words. She introduces him to other trainees like Alyona and Oleg, each with their own tragic pasts. Alyona was forcibly separated from her family and indoctrinated into Scorpia, specializing in stealth, while Oleg's parents perished in a drone strike.
However, the meeting is not as innocent as it seems. Their true intention is to bully Alex, branding him as a weak link who will drag them down if he doesn't improve. But Alex surprises Syl with his resilience and determination during their next two training rounds.
Julia learns that Max has begun liquidating his assets, a move that suggests he's planning an exit from the criminal underworld. Nile informs Julia that Kyra and Tom are still digging into the mystery and orders him to deal with them. Nile tracks them down at their apartment, delivering a chilling warning: stop snooping around, or he'll make sure Alex's status changes from alive to barely alive.
Nile orders them to return to London immediately, but they hesitate at the airport, their resolve wavering as they stand poised between boarding the plane and continuing their investigation.
