I. Prologue

Given the recent success of the Double-O program, the Government had decided they needed more super-agents like that in the team. Big part of the splendid results was credited to the new head of Q-Branch, the sixteen-year-old genius whose real name and family nobody knew but whom everyone loved like their own son/little brother. Never had he lost an agent or failed to complete an assignment ever since he had been made Department head. He also seemed to be untiring and to possess endless energy to develop and improve his division. The "minions" (as they liked to call themselves nowadays) adored him and Q-Branch had never been more efficient. Of course that had an effect on the morale of the whole MI6 and showed on their mission statistics. The agents had become more trusting of their gadgets and their Q-Branch handlers, actually being willing to cooperate (well, at least most of the time…); and M also had it easier with now having someone to issue more and more responsibilities to and not having to control everything himself.

Therefore, as to acknowledge the achievements of MI6, six new Double-O agents had been hired for a probation-period of three months to try and see whether they can fit into the already established elite group and eventually permanently join their ranks. They had been chosen from the best of MI5 agents and had undergone extensive training before, finally, having been introduced to M and MI6 around three weeks ago.

The six new agents were between the ages of 35 and 40 years, all men. All of them had many missions behind them previously by MI5 and were considered trustworthy and deserving for the title of Double-O agent. Upon joining MI6, they had to complete strict physical and psychological evaluations, so there was no way any of them could be unfit for the tasks awaiting them. The only problem was: one of them actually was unfit, at least concerning his personality.

Q never had had any problems with anyone outside of work or regarding his status as Head of Q-Branch. He could even get on (mostly) with his two brothers for God's sake, even though both of them (and especially Sherlock) were considered the most unbearable and insufferable people that anyone could have the misfortune to meet. Still, Q could spend time (preferably as rarely and briefly as possible but still…) with them and live to tell the tale.

The same could not be said about the new 0011 though.

The new 0011 was 35 years old, tall, muscular and – according to popular female opinions - quite handsome. He had the best MI5-mission record of all the new recruits and completed all his tests flawlessly. He was also arrogant, pompous and stuck-up, with slightly aggressive tendencies – the latter mostly directed at Q.

Ever since the new 0011 had joined MI6, Q hadn't had a moment of peace at work. The teenager found himself cornered by the agent-wannabe and his cronies (the new 0013 and 0014 who always seemed to be following him around just to do his bidding) at the most unexpected of times, in the most deserted places around HQ; he also found threatening messages all over his office and had to put up with teasing and taunts around the clock.

By the end of the third week Q was so very tired of it all that he was beginning to seriously consider doing something drastic about those three, especially 0011. (He figured the other two were only behaving that way because of their "leader's" influence.) He could take care of himself after all – he might look helpless but in reality he was very far from it. But something always held him back from defending himself… He was their Quartermaster! He outranked them, had to take care of them on missions, it was his job to prepare their equipment and guide them through their tasks… Getting into a war with them would be very unbecoming for him and surely not the way of solving the problem. He also would never go to anyone with this – it would be like admitting defeat and would make him look like a little boy running to mommy and daddy for help because of playground bullies…

It was all true and well said, but it didn't make his life any easier… Q sighed dejectedly and threw this week's third threatening letter into the trash can.