It took a few minutes for Bond to regain a feeling of control and a sense of safety, before he even could begin to understand what Q was trying to tell him. At first it sounded like gibberish and once he began to understand the words he was sure that he had misheard. Q had to repeat what had happened several times, before Bond would accept his account. But the worst part was yet to come.

Q said a name. And Bond just froze in his steps, causing Holt to walk straight into him. Bond turned around to look at him.

"Are you sure?"

"He described her perfectly well. You need to question Frances. She must know something."

Q's voice turned dark.
"Use force if you have to. I want to get to the bottom of this and she is our best chance right now. No matter what, you and Holt are compromised anyway. They will probably start looking for him and Frances soon."

Bond shook his head. It didn't make sense.

"But how do they do it? I was paralysed, Q. I couldn't move. Just—panicked."

Bond swallowed. It wasn't easy to admit. But Holt had been there, had seen him. Dragged him back to safety, somehow.

"And why didn't it happen to Holt, Q? What is this?"

Q didn't have an answer and by now, Bond and Holt had returned to Frances. She looked as if she had just been waiting for them, but Bond was wary, when he helped her stand and took away the gag. She didn't try to run or scream, she just scowled at him and Holt, who stood back, arms crossed and frowning.

Bond was getting himself into the right mindset for a questioning that could turn violent, only to be surprised when Frances answered every question he had. She even seemed to urge him on.

"Look, Bond, this is not for fun. There will be people looking for me and Danny any time soon. He," she pointed an accusing finger at Holt. "He has the code."

Holt looked confused.

"What code?"

Bond wanted to ask the same question.

"More pointedly, what is this lab about? Why," Bond hesitated the slightest moment, "why is everybody afraid in there—except for Holt?"

Frances rolled her eyes.

"That's what this is all about. The whole estate is a trial run for world domination."

Bond smiled sarcastically, Holt just stood open mouthed.

"Imagine, Bond. Imagine, if this lab is expanded. To a city, maybe a small town to begin with. Inducing fear in people, even being able to adjust the level of fear."

Bond shuddered.
"Except, it didn't work on Holt."

He pointed out. Frances looked from Bond to Holt with a haughty smile.

"You really have no idea what you are dealing with, do you?"

She took a deep breath.

"Alis— Alex is working on a programme which examines people. The way they talk, behave, their routines, work, hobbies… everything. Every tiny little piece of knowledge, you can find in the world of data, online and off-line. Trawling through the Internet and CCTV, through classified files and childhood memories. Alex had ample data to work with. Ms Forger had files on every little child she sent away to work for the secret services of the Western world."

Bond paled when he heard the name. Q had been right. She was the leader of this place. And if Frances was telling the truth, she had been planning this for decades. Frances continued with a certain amount of glee.

"Imagine this little army of secret agents, turned into whimpering small babies whenever she pushes the right button."

"But, if this already works, what does she need Alex for?"

Holt had been listening in silence so far.

"The programme still needs tuning. So far, Ms Forger had been unable to automatically collect all the needed data. That's why you have been unaffected."

Frances looked down.

"What? There is more, isn't there?"

Holt challenged her.

"That's what I think. Alex wouldn't tell me. But," Frances looked at Holt again, assessing. "Ms Forger thinks he had programmed some kind of scrambling virus, which would take out the programme if it ever is released."

Holt took a step back, eyes widening.

"I knew it!"

Frances stepped forward, her arms crossed.

"You did find it, didn't you?"

Holt bid his lip and gave a small nod.

"Where is it? We need it. Here! Now! It would end all of this. We could take her down."

Frances hissed the last words.

"Is that all we need? How is the programme able to affect my mind?"

Bond broke in. He hoped, Q would have some clue about this thing.

"For now, she has set up small beacons all over the place. They are transferring the signals. If we manage to take down two of them and start Alex's programme, it should be enough to enable the virus to work."

Frances turned to Holt again.

"Where. Is. It?"

Holt swallowed and looked at Bond, who nodded.

"We'll need Scottie's help. He knows the place. And, and I still haven't figured out how to open the cylinder." Holt whispered helplessly.

Immediately, Bond told Q to get hold of Scottie and alert M. They had to make sure, Six knew what was going on. Everybody who had been at Forger's home might be compromised or even a mole. Q fell silent when he too realised the extent and implications. Bond hoped Q would be able to convince M and Scottie of the urgency. Right now, they had to take a decision. Wait till the cylinder was retrieved and Holt or Q figured out how to open it—or risk Frances changing sides again. Bond went a bit down the tunnel to discuss the matter with Q. Before they could agree on a plan, Holt came for Bond.

"Frances and I are going back in. I might be able to get Alex to tell me the combination needed for the cylinder. If you stay nearby, we could try and contact you tomorrow morning? Taking a walk in the labyrinth again?"

He looked at Frances. She nodded.

"Are you sure nothing will happen until morning? How close are they at getting this to work on a larger scale?"

Frances gave a terse smile.

"Alex is stalling them." She turned to Holt, looking directly at him. "He is risking his life, Danny. Ms Forger has threatened to put him back in that trunk and turn up the fear index."

Holt looked down, shoulders slumped.

"Okay," Bond told both of them. "Get out of here. Look as if you had a big row or something, but make up before you part tonight. You have to be believable to take that walk tomorrow."

Nobody came to meet them when Frances and Danny returned to the house. Danny was nervous but able to hide it behind his curiosity. Frances showed him Alex's old room and even took him back to the large living room, sitting in front of the fire, talking quietly about Alex and his childhood. Danny almost forgot about the danger they were in. Only when Alex returned and they had a quiet dinner—Danny keeping up his annoying habits, mostly for the sake of Charles, who seemed to be just an outsider with nothing to do except to disapprove of Alex and his friend.

When they finally were led back to their cell, Alex turned and embraced Danny as soon as the door was closed behind them. He just held on, trembling and crying, unable to speak. And Danny held him, pressing small kisses in his hair and whispering endearments. With gentle hands he started to undress them both, leading Alex to bed and tucking him in, before he laid down beside him.

Danny kept on caressing and soothing Alex as best he could. They didn't speak, and Danny was too concerned with Alex to even think about his task regarding the code for the cylinder. Alex relaxed little after little.

"You're the only one, Danny."

Alex was just about to fall asleep, when he mumbled the words and Danny kissed him chastely, softly stroking his cheek.

"I love you, Alex."

With that, he spooned Alex and kept him safe for the night.