A truth that's told with bad intent

Beats all the lies you can invent

—William Blake


UNIVERSAL EXPORTS HEADQUARTERS

"I'm what?"

James Bond, his hands curled to pale fists, a voice screaming bloody murder in his head, straightened himself on his seat, holding the merciless gaze of the new M.

"You are suspended, Double-O Seven," Gareth Mallory said. "Temporarily prohibited from doing your job."

"I know what suspension is, sir."

"Effective immediately, your licence to kill is suspended, and I require you to hand over your weapon. Now. I need hardly remind you that you're still bound by the Official Secrets Act."

"What is the reason of my suspension, sir?"

"You have failed at everything."

"Everything."

"I mean that literally." They locked eyes. "Now I am going to ask you a series of questions. You will answer yes or no to all of them."

"Yes, sir."

"Did you arrive on time in Istanbul?"

"No."

"Did you save the dying agent there?"

"No."

"Did you retrieve the hard drive?"

"No."

"Did you save the politician in Shanghai from the assassin?"

"No."

"Did you get any information out of the assassin?"

"No."

"Did you protect Severine?"

"No."

"Did you prevent Silva from reaching the Parliament?"

"No."

"Did you intervene while Silva and his men killed the police guards in the Parliament?"

"No."

"Did you protect your family home?"

"No."

"Did you kill Silva?"

"Yes."

"Did M say she wanted Silva to rot in prison?"

"Yes."

"Did you do what she said?"

"No."

"Did you save her?"

"No."

"What have you done?"

"I've survived. I live."

"So does six billion human beings on Earth."

Mallory stood. Bond stood.

"Have I made myself clear?"

"As crystal, sir."

"A final note. I know I am not liked. I know I am not established like the previous M. I am a bureaucrat who do not get to travel round the world shooting at terrorists like you. Most important, in Hollywood or fanfiction, I am the character the audience hates because my job is to call out the heroes when they make a mistake."

"Sir, this has to do with my suspension how?

"I want you to understand. This is not Hollywood or fanfiction. This is reality. In reality there are consequences. In reality, when you fuck up in your job, you are suspended. Isn't that how it works in real-life, readers?"