Yassen Gregorovich
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Yassen Gregorovich is a contract killer in the Alex Rider series of novels, written by Anthony Horowitz.
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[edit] Background
Yassen Gregorovich was formerly a Russian-born contract killer, trained by and apparently working for the clandestine terrorist organisation SCORPIA. A superb assassin, Gregorovich was considered one of the world's best.
From his skills, Gregorovich is obviously best known for his assassination; throughout the series, his reputation seems to be one of a man who makes no mistakes, and is considered an active threat by MI6. It is suggested that his training was grounded in ninjutsu, including, as is demonstrated on a single occasion, basic psychological warfare. He was also supposedly an expert with conventional weaponry and terrorist technique, though both are demonstrated only once throughout the series before his death. He was also revealed to be fluent in 7 languages but is teaching himself to learn 9. He was learning Japanese at the time of his death.
Gregorovich was at least partially instructed by Alex Rider's late father, John Rider, who appeared to be working as an unspecified instructor (though certainly in some form of combat, considering that he was a weapons and martial arts expert) for SCORPIA on the Italian island of Malagosto. However, he was secretly working for MI6 under deep cover. Gregorovich is in debt to John Rider; during a joint assignment between the two, Rider saved his student's life; something which Gregorovich never forgot. Though Alex does not initially realize the reason, Gregorovich exhibits some care for the boy, on more than one occasion saving (or sparing) his life. At the time of his death aboard Air Force One in Eagle Strike (Aged 34) , Gregorovich actually tells Alex he loved both John Rider and Alex.
[edit] Early career
Having trained in a special assassin school in Italy, he killed his first man when he was 19 in the Amazon Jungle. His teammate and teacher, John Rider, the father of Alex Rider, had saved his life when a black widow climbed onto his throat. John shot a bullet, brushing past the spider (disintegrating it in the process) and the bullet went on to hit their target. The scar stayed on his neck forever.
Yassen Gregorovich became a professional and reliable contract killer and is employed by Scorpia. They sent him on numerous jobs throughout the world. Yassen died serving for Scorpia but at the time of his death he made a confession to Alex that changed Alex's life forever and his views till in the 5th book (Scorpia) he learns the truth.
[edit] Jobs
Considering Yassen's reputation and position, it is probable that his assassinations are numerous. Throughout the entire series however, only four of Yassen's assassinations are revealed:
- Assassination of "The Commander" with John Rider in the Amazon.
- Working for Herod Sayle in Stormbreaker, where he assassinated Ian Rider, Alex's uncle. He was posing as the head guardian for security enforcement on Sayle's property.
- Killing Herod Sayle after his plans are foiled by Alex.
- Working for Damian Cray during the events of Eagle Strike, involved in the bombing of a reporter's home in France.
[edit] Appearance
A Russian by birth, Yassen Gregorovich's was described to have blond hair, a body of a dancer, pale blue eyes, pale skin, distinctly chiselled lips, and "...almost feminine eyelashes". He also has a long, distinctive scar along his neck; the result of John Rider saving his life on an assignment in the Amazon. Almost certainly as a result of his extensive combat training by SCORPIA, Yassen's relaxed and graceful poise is often compared to that of a dancer's.
[edit] Trivia
- When Ian Rider discovered that Yassen was after him, he sent a message to MI6, which read "Y" for "Yassen."
- In the film version of the Stormbreaker novel, Yassen is seen to hang upside down from a helicopter and fire with two pistols as a signature assassination method.
