Alex Rider is on a mission. This time he is not working for MI6; this time there is a job that he has to do for himself. Just a short time ago Alex was present when his old nemesis, Yassen Gregorovich died. Before he died Yassen told Alex that he and Alex’s father used to be comrades and if Alex wanted to know more about his father and his father’s life he must go to Venice where he should find Scorpia. Scorpia would help “find your destiny.” Alex does not even know what or who Scorpia is but he still goes to Italy and soon after he arrives he does indeed connect with Scorpia. He discovers that Scorpia is an organization whose members are blackmailers and assassins. The leader of this highly successful group tells Alex that his father used to be a member of Scorpia and that John Rider was killed by MI6 during a prisoner exchange. Furious, confused, and feeling as if he has no direction in life Alex decides to join Scorpia.