Watching
Some dialogue comes directly from the films and is in italics.
Chapter 1
May 2001
A group of recruits work out in the gym as M and her assistant, Villers observe from the elevated walkway.
"Any particular prospects you brought me to see Villers?"
"There are three from the Royal Navy that are worth noting. David Powell, Richard Lowe and James Bond."
"Well...point them out. There are 20 men down there I will need a few more specifics if I am to watch them."
"Bond is the blonde on the left, Powell the completely shaved one and Lowe the shorter man on the far right with dark hair."
They watch the practice for a while...M's eyes moving over the three candidates. Suddenly as if he could feel her watching the blonde...James Bond looks up and his eyes seem to meet hers.
Bond's mouth seems to smirk as his takes his current partner, adversary on the field and tosses him over on to the ground. He then dusts off his hands and straightens his shirt and hair all while looking up at her.
"Well that Bond is full of arrogance isn't he."
"Yes ma'am. Would you like him removed from contention?"
"No...no of course not...that is the type of man MI6 needs. If he survives the 3 months of training. I want a psychological evaluation on my desk shortly there after."
"Yes ma'am."
"If he passes to my expectations we will make him a junior agent."
"But I thought you were recruiting for 00's M?"
"Oh...I am but that arrogant whelp needs to learn his place and work for it first."
"You got that he is arrogant just from a glance?"
"Yes and I want his dossier on my desk this afternoon."
"Yes M. I will get right on it."
Of the three men she just watched fighting, Bond was the only one that struck her...there was something about that smirk...then going in for the kill.
That is what it takes to be a 00 and survive.
His looks out did any other on the field, and it is certainly not due to any predilection towards tall blond men. She always preferred the dark chestnut curls of her husband, but the intense allure of James Bond was palpable from even a distance.
M will keep a close watch on Mr. Bond and see what he makes of the chances she gives him.
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James Bond wants out of the Navy and into SIS. He has the skills he just needs the chance.
Rumour has it that the head of six will be coming to watch the recruits today.
Rumour also has it that M's a woman.
Bond has got this in the bag.
M is an older woman...married he hears but he would never stoop to seducing her to get the job. It doesn't hurt that he looks the part of a dashing secret agent.
Perhaps M will seduce him...as a test. That would be fine with him...he will go to any lengths to get this job.
Some of the others joke about her...saying that she is an attractive 50 something, battle-axe and cold as ice.
It doesn't take long for him to spot her on the observation platform. She looks at him then off to some others. Bond knows who the other two are that are up for it also.
The Royal Navy instructors pulled the three of them into the office to say that their names had been passed along.
Bond waits until her eyes hit his again...like an electric blue flash her eyes are like a cat's...very intense. He smirks and tosses Tom to the ground behind him.
That does it, she speaks to her lap dog and the mousy looking man writes down something as she purposefully walks off leaving the poor chap to catch up with her.
She is short and curvy...a short shock of blonde hair in the style of a much younger woman. M stands rigidly, very self important as she surveys the men.
Bond thinks she has a handsome face, startling eyes and very nice legs in that black power suit she wears. Not at all dowdy for one that is of the age of his mother... had she lived.
So this is the woman that will pull his strings if he impresses her enough to make the cut.
Somehow the thought of M as his boss, makes him smile. Charming the woman will be amusing. He will remain respectful...she earned that job somehow and he sincerely doubts that she earned it on her back.
Hell she may have been a 00 herself back in the cold war.
Picturing M at 25, small and unsuspecting...likely fluent in many languages and charming...he daydreams about what she was like.
Hopefully the call will come soon and he can put all this extra training to good use.
To be continued...