Chapter 3:

Slipping into the back of the black taxi cab I ask the driver to take me to the tailors. There's no need for clarification as the car's engine hums to life and trundles forward. I melt back into the soft leather seat squeezing my eyes shut for a second a means of relieving the pressure I feel behind them.

Being a Kingsman agent wasn't all suits, umbrellas and fancy gadgets. It was dangerous, and one couldn't help feeling as if the weight of the world was on their shoulders. The job also came with an immense amount of pressure, this pressure manifested itself in many ways depending on the agent. For me it was a pressure behind my tired eyes and a gnarled, knotting tension between my shoulder blades. I must remind myself how vital the work I'm doing is no matter how unnoticed it goes.

I allow my mind to wonder back to my old life as I stare out at the window of the seemingly regular London cab. The only child of a single parent household doesn't sound ideal on paper, but my mother was the heiress of a property tycoon in the shape of my Grandfather, so we did well for ourselves. I have no tragic back story wrought with adversity I have no notions about myself and well I'd like to think I'm not spoiled.

My Mother was determined to raise me to know the value of money therefore I was made earn everything I wanted. We share everything me and my Mother. She doesn't know what I do mind you I can't tell her without endangering her life, so I keep my profession to myself. It's only fair we're both allowed our secrets mine is my job, hers is the identity of my Father. Despite all my pleading when I was younger she never revealed as much as a first name to me, eventually I stopped asking.

"We've arrived Miss" the gruff voice of my driver broke me from my thoughts. I smiled and thanked him stepping out of the cab onto to the quite street outside. It was dusk out and a chilling mid-October mist clung to paving slabs.

Eager to be out of the cold I quickly ascend the steps and press through the door into the newly rebuilt tailors. The tell-tale sound of the tinkling of the bell betrayed my arrival to the attendant behind the counter. He inclined his head to me as I head for the hidden entrance to H.Q.

As the dressing room descended Merlin's voice crisply rings out in my ears. "Ah Lancelot welcome back. Arthur is waiting for you in the conference room for a quick debrief. After that I'm going to need the microchip you've just recovered to being analysis."

The doors slid open to reveal agent Tequila waiting to leave for the day. He glanced up and smiled pushing off from the wall he was leaning on waiting for the elevator. A large man he stood blocking my exit arms crossed.

"Hey tiny! You back already?" Tequila quipped side stepping me as I exit the elevator and he enters it.

I smile at his use of my nickname and replied, "yeah just now actually. I can't wait for this day to be done". I don't bother going into detail about my disastrous mission as the elevator doors slide shut separating us once again.

Wanting nothing more than my one-bedroom apartment and to go get Milo from my Mums. She thinks I'm on a business trip and gladly took Milo in for the day. I took off at a brisk pace towards the conference room where Arthur waits for me.

When I reach the door, it stands slightly ajar I rap my knuckles on it until Arthur calls for me to enter. The Man in question sits dressed sharply as ever at the head of a heavily polished table his glasses in his hand as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

"You look tired Harry, if you want to leave this till tomorrow I'll understand" I say trying to end this monstrosity of a day as soon as possible. Harry look up at me eye open as he places his glasses back on his face the one blackened lens hiding his scarred eye from view.

"Bad day at the office Lancelot?" Harry said taking me in from over the table. I nod as Harry motioned for me to take a seat to at the table to the left of him.

"I got what you sent me for but it all went downhill after they blocked my contact with Merlin" I explained diving into the debrief with any further prompting from Harry. "A series of unfortunate events later I was corned by three guards and they forced my hand into neutralise them"

"You were not supposed to reveal yourself, now they're going to be on high alert it's going to be harder to shut them down" Harry said disapprovingly shaking his head. "Let's just hope they don't go underground again or the women and men they're trafficking won't have a chance at rescue" he continued before I could argue.

"I understand Harry and I'm sorry I made a stupid mistake" I apologise feeling worse than I had before I came in. I've been a Kingsman for 6 months and this is my first slip up and with so many lives on the line the gravity of the situation settled on my chest. I tried to hide this on Harry who I noticed was watch me.

"Never fear my dear Lancelot if were quick we'll still be able to catch them" he said picking on up on the shift in my body language. "Now you may go, get that microchip to Merlin and get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow".

I got up to leave watching my boss slump back into his seat returning to the paperwork. A glance at the paper on the table told me he was trying to decide on a new bunch of recruits. "Still trying to replace yourself as Galahad sir?" I asked lightly to the older man trying to leave this meeting on a better note.

"More or less" he replied raising his eyebrows and smiling. "I'm finding it particularly difficult you see; the previous Galahad is…difficult to replace" I got the sense that he meant more than then what he said but I decided it wasn't my business.

"Goodnight Arthur" I said pushing through the door and back out into the hallway.

I rush towards Merlin's office. However, cave might be a better way to describe it. Merlin sits in the centre of the room illuminated only by his many screens as he types furiously. A man in his late twenties Merlin was as unassuming as they come. One glance at him and you'd assume he was some trust fund, steroid enhanced Neanderthal. He was very much to the contrary he was the smartest man I'd ever met he was a bodybuilder moonlighting as a hacker before Harry had found him. He's been here for about eleven months now longer than I have and by all accounts a vital asset to our cause.

"Special delivery" I piped up loudly startling Merlin who hadn't heard me enter.

"Jesus Felicity! I'm no good to you if you've scared me to death" he smiled then, the sides of his eyes crinkled. "What have you got for me then? hand it over and get yourself home yeah?".

He held out his hand and I reach into my jacket pocket and deposit the tiny microchip into his palm. "I hope this tiny little thing is worth it after all the trouble its caused" I say trying to make light of the day I've had.

Not wanting to be rude I loiter in the room to see if Merlin wants to chat but as he gets frantically to work I slip out the door. I mechanically make my way out of the building and back once again into a black taxi cab.

As the driver takes me home I text my Mum to let her know I'll collect Milo tomorrow pretending to still be away on business. The rest of the drive is uneventful too tired to think I stare unseeing out the window and get out when the driver tells me I've arrived.

I go straight to bed and drift into a heavy sleep ready to let the day be over at last. Tomorrow is another day as the saying goes.