Mysteries
Co-authored by liz1967 who was so sweet to let me use CIA Agent Jack Ward for this story...I just love Jack!
Post Skyfall
Chapter 1
Bond sits in Moneypenny's office at 8 am waiting to see Mallory. New mission, and as far as he has been able to manipulate from Eve, he is to have a partner on this one.
Partners and James do not go well together as a rule and M….his…M, never usually made him do it. She understood that he worked best alone.
Mallory, on the other hand is a strict taskmaster but the higher ups like him…they invite him to clubs and golf…things that they never did for M...for her.
They were intimidated by her and she did not fit into their old boys club. Bond didn't realize how difficult it must have been for her to get things done until he could contrast her management struggles to Mallory's.
As an agent, Bond would not normally be aware of this information, but since Skyfall, and Olivia Mansfield's death Bond, Tanner, Eve and even the young Q have become closer.
Tanner and Eve have told him much more about what a hard time M had of it. All the ins and outs of M's relationship with the government. It infuriated him that Olivia had to work and live through so many blatant sexist attacks.
It is no wonder that M laughed off any of his attempts at flirtation with her over the years. It makes him feel ashamed that he even did flirt with her, after all the attention she tried to divert away from the fact that she was the highest ranked SIS in the country and a woman.
Certainly Mallory does not have to contend with such things...no he is respected by the military from having served, and by the others just because he is a man.
If only...Bond could travel back it time...things...well things would be different. Bond would punch the faces that spread malicious rumours about her just because she was a woman in a male dominated job.
Bond would smack the hands away from her ass and make sure they never pushed her that way again and he would have made damn sure Silva was dead in that Chinese prison.
It all started as just a meeting of remembrance every Thursday, Bond was not always in London but when he was, he met the three of them at the pub across the street.
They didn't always discuss her but when they did, it offered different insight into the way the top job at MI6 was done while she reigned.
Bond respects Mallory but still has a difficult time calling him M. At the pub…when he says M his three compatriots know who he's talking about.
Q has begun referring to Mallory in public as "he who cannot be named," so in the pub around civilian ears, that is what they call him.
Q enters the office and sits beside Bond removing Bond from his somber musings.
"Good morning James…are you here for the assignment too?"
"Yes I…wait…you…you are going on assignment?"
"Yes well, I have been asked as the computer specialist to assist on this one…in the field."
"No need to be nervous Q…I will be there."
"That is what makes me nervous."
Eve laughs from across her desk. "I made sure your insurance is up to date Q…do you want the same beneficiary as listed when you started work here?"
"Very funny Eve…and yes I do."
"No need to worry about insurance Q as long as Moneypenny is not coming, you are unlikely to be shot by friendly fire."
"You are never going to let me live that one down are you Bond?"
"I can think of a way that you could make it up to me Eve…dinner…late night dancing."
"Uhuh…I am immune to your flirtations Bond, much like M was."
Bond frowned as he looked at her.
"I never flirt with M…he is not my type."
"You know bloody well which M, I am referring to Bond and according to Mr. Tanner…"
"Tanner! What lies has Mr. Bill Tanner been telling you dear?"
"I have it on very good authority that you broke into her home on more than one occasion and hacked her personal file to find out everything about her."
Q looks shocked. "I had no idea you knew computers well enough to do that Bond…or was it your friendship with my predecessor that got you the information, because he knew her for longer than anyone else here."
"Both of you will find that I am full of surprises and so what if I broke into her home…I needed to give her important information….I was not stalking her…I was being a good employee."
Tanner exits M's office and overhears the last statement.
"Information that you could have phoned her with but you were likely just trying to catch her in her nightgown to throw her off guard."
Bond stands and shifts uncomfortably on his feet.
"I had know idea that you two have been talking behind my back or that she ever told you that Tanner."
"It makes security sense Bond. Olivia was concerned that you were going rogue and wanted me to know in case you killed her or something….oh...Christ I didn't mean it to come out like that. Oh... sorry Bond…It was only the first time...when Nigel was still alive. She mentioned the other visits...she was not concerned anymore…after the Quantum case. I will stop sticking my foot in my mouth and let you know that we are ready for the two of you now."
There is scowl on Bond's face after Tanner's slip. The realization that M had been scared for her own, or her husband's life because of him was like a slap in the face from beyond the grave.
Christ…Bond would have died to save her…he has been living in hell the last six months since Skyfall. The doctors cleared him after a months recovery, but he has taken enough psych evaluations before to know what they want to hear coming out of your mouth, in order to achieve a passing grade.
The only bright point has been that the four of them have become close friends because of their shared grief over Olivia's passing. Bond has never had close friends before…in this business it is difficult to do.
This is Bond's fourth mission since the Silva disaster that stole M from them. The four of them move into M's office to take the briefing.
"Good morning 007 and Q. Your mission is to find a group or maybe one person that is responsible for cyber-terrorist related information theft. They have been travelling around the continent stealing and transmitting government information in intense spurts and then go dark and move to another country and do it all again."
"This is why the boy wonder here needs to leave his lab and come out into the real world on this case."
"Yes, and because we need this solved fast and before any of the other agencies that are chasing this Silva like character."
A chill descends over the room with the mention of the man that killed M.
Bond asks. "Who else is looking?"
"The Americans are definitely looking, as are the Russians and the French. Most of the information stolen so far has been French, Ukrainian and American. The Americans are on their way by my invitation. Do be careful and do not get in the way of another agency or insult the CIA if they do find them first."
Bond leans forward in his chair. "Fantastic, I alway love a job that is a race against others that are suppose to be on our side."
"Yes well, it cannot be helped. We all agree to share the information found to a degree but what always matters is to be the first to see that information and disseminate as we see fit."
Q frowns. "So much for international cooperation in the world of espionage."
"I know it sounds abysmal but this is the way it has always been in this business. Q you already have the information on the sites of transmission have you come up with any pattern?"
"No and I would like to start by going to the last sight and work from there. Actually I would like to stay here in London and do it all from the lab. Bond and another agent would be able to do the leg work and I…"
"No Q. I know you dislike travel and Tanner arranged the trip entirely by train because of your fear regarding flight, but we need you in the field to assist Bond."
"Are Q and I travelling together or do you want me to fly in and get things ready while he takes the train."
"No since it is undercover you two will be travelling as a couple and stay together."
"A couple? Are you serious?"
"Yes, I am Bond and I should think you could pull it off."
"I can…I just don't know about Q."
"Bond…I can assure you that in my constant exasperation on this trip, it will be impossible for outsiders to assume we are anything but a bickering married couple. I think you and I bicker as much as you and M did…sorry M…I mean….you know…our former M….Ms. Mansfield."
Eve laughs, Tanner smiles and says. "Yes, but Q with you, Bond has least got a chance to win an argument."
M frowns at the bunch of them.
"Mr. Tanner do not besmirch the good name of my predecessor by calling her an argumentative shrew…I get enough of that at the club and Whitehall."
Bond's eyes narrow dangerously. "They speak of her? Who and what do they say?"
"Bond I am not about to tell you that, and it is not your prerogative to protect Olivia Mansfield. Now here are your documents, go get packed and leave for the mission by this afternoon. Q will be bringing anything you may need from Q branch…please Q try to keep everything in order."
Q looks terrified and still nervous about the mission. "I will do my best sir."
They all stand and gather their information and leave M's office. Bond appears to be distracted as they enter Eve's office.
"I will meet you at the station Q and then we will go on our little continental adventure."
"I do hope that it will not end up like most of your missions Bond…I cannot stand the idea of being shot at."
"Hold onto that thought Q…maybe your prayers will be answered and you will find the cyber-terrorists straight away and we can be back unscathed within a week."
Q shakes his head and leave Moneypenny's office. Moneypenny looks concerned.
"Bond. You will look after him won't you?"
"Of course I will Eve…I promise."
Tanner smiles. "I have faith in you Bond…I know it hasn't been easy what with Skyfall. I know you may have doubts…but."
"I'm fine Tanner…I have no doubts about managing this job…but what M said…it's bothering me."
"What Bond? About members of the government bad mouthing Olivia…that pissed me off too. I will look into who has been saying what if you like?"
"Yes…do that. It was the tense of what he said…never mind…it could have been a slip…easy enough to happen. I will be in contact later.
James leaves and Tanner turns in confusion to Moneypenny who is watching something on her computer with one earbud in.
"What do you think he meant Eve?"
"I am watching the recording of the meeting now…oh…maybe but. Shit! Bond's right…no it can't be?"
Tanner moves behind the desk with Eve and looks at the computer.
"What?"
Eve hands him an earbud and replays that portion of the conversation.
Bond I am not about to tell you that, and it is not your prerogative to protect Olivia Mansfield.
"It must be a mistake…he just forgot to add her memory or any longer. "
"It does sound strange though…it sounds like M is having to defend her often and is just getting fed up with people attacking her now that she is gone…listen."
Mr. Tanner do not besmirch the good name of my predecessor by calling her an argumentative shrew…I get enough of that at the club and Whitehall.
"Come on Eve. Let's go to lunch…we shouldn't be discussing this here."
The two of them walk across the street to the pub and Tanner gets them some drinks and orders some food.
Tanner frowns as he sits down at the table looking into his pint.
"So you think this is why James is out of sorts. It sounds like M's speaking about someone that still lives and more than anything in the world James Bond would like that to be true."
"I agree Bill. I never knew he stalked her until you told me yesterday…it all suddenly makes perfect sense."
"What does?"
"Come on Tanner…really? You cannot connect the dots on this one? Even Q mentioned that they bickered like a married couple."
"WHAT! You mean that…no…are you insane? They never…she never would…Nigel…the age difference…impossible. Ok maybe not….but highly improbable."
"Feelings are possible regardless of age Tanner. He did kidnap her from the committee meeting and take her to his childhood home."
"So what of it?"
"A man takes a woman to a place that he has not been since he was a child to save her from a man from her past that wants to kill her. A place that holds all the family demons, that in fact has the bodies of his parents. He never brought any other woman home to meet the parents…in a spiritual sense."
"But M?"
"M trusted him…more than anyone, and let him take her to Scotland to lure Silva away from populated areas."
"Eve I never took you for a conspiracy theorist."
"I never was much of one before."
"Don't let he who cannot be named, ever hear…I mean, if it could possibly be true, she would have had to have help. She was shot and injured and it was closed casket. No one saw her body but the evac team and himself."
"Yes…exactly."
"Christ…we cannot mention this to James…he will obsess over it and it could get violent between the two of them."
"But Tanner what if she is? I mean you know as well as I that he is not well since she died. The missions he has been on have almost been death wishes on his part."
"It would be nice if M was alive but it is just that, Eve…a wish. I don't think he who cannot be named is hiding M from us."
"It would be truly cruel if he was…he who cannot be named, knows full well that Bond has not been right since she died."
To be continued…