Chapter 11
After a quick trip back to his warded MI6 closet, Harry stepped away from James, smiled at him, and said, "And now I'm Q. Please help me avoid dissociative identity disorder, will you?"
James laughed. "As long as you know who you are, you'll be fine." He stretched. "Well, I'm on leave. I have no equipment to return, Quartermaster. Do you need anything else from me?"
"Oh, many things, most of them inappropriate for work," Q quipped. "However, I need to go and check on 004-R is running her mission right now-and check new mission specs, as well as see what toys I have in my arsenal for a magical mission abroad. Meet me at M's office at 11:30 and we'll get set for our lunch meeting. I'll do a little research first."
"Sounds good," James said. "I need to start looking around at flats or something. I've been staying at hotels, but that gets old fast."
"Your things are in storage here, James," Q said. "Feel free to use mine as a base while you're looking. You know how to pick the locks. And the wards will recognize you."
"You've got wards?"
"Of course I do. You're right about the child-with-a-lock-pick thing. They're intention-based."
"Meaning?"
"If you'd intended me harm, you would have been bounced to a cell at the Ministry of Magic for interrogation," Q grinned at him. "I'd have been alerted, and I'd probably have checked to see who it was at some point. Maybe. If I was feeling generous."
"Handy," James observed.
"Yes, very. So let yourself in, peruse the paper or whatever. Grab a shower. There's fresh towels there somewhere," Q assured him. "We'll get your more permanent digs sorted eventually."
"Thanks, Q," James said, stroking his cheek. He leaned down a bit to kiss the shorter man thoroughly. "Now, are you ready to come out of this closet with me?"
Q rolled his eyes. "Of course that's what you were thinking earlier. How did I miss that?" He lay a hand on the door. "All clear."
They stepped out into the empty hallway, and James looked at Q. "I'll be back. Have a good morning," he said.
"You, too."
And they split up to their assigned tasks.
Fresh and pressed into a deep gray Tom Ford suit, Bond stepped off the lift at M's landing to flirt with Moneypenney a bit while he waited for Q.
"There's trouble," Eve said, eying him up.
"Oh, you like trouble, Eve," Bond responded with a wink. "You know you do."
"Mmmm-hmmmmm," Eve hummed. "You and Q looked like double trouble earlier today."
"A phenomenon you'll probably see more of," James admitted with a grin.
"Really?" Eve hummed again. "I think I could see that. Our Quartermaster doesn't seem to get out much, but when he does …" Eve shuddered. "I've heard stories."
"Oh, do tell," James purred, propping himself up on her desk.
"Belay that, Moneypenny." Q's voice sounded from the direction of the stairwell. "I want him to discover everything on his own."
Eve pouted as the Quartermaster came into view. "But I have stories."
"Let me share my stories with him in my own time, Eve, and I'll make it worth your while," Q said teasingly.
"How?" Eve asked coyly.
Q dangled a new smartphone in front of her. "Does everything but your laundry, lovely."
"Oh, gimme," she said, making grabby hands gestures at the shiny new toy.
Q laughed. "Your word, lovely."
Eve pouted again. "Fine, I promise to let 007 learn all your wild stories directly from you." Q handed her the phone with a grin.
"There's a readme app on the main screen that will take you through a quick tutorial in how to use it, but I'm sure you'll manage just fine. Plus, hey, Chippendales wallpaper. Where did that come from?"
"You do know me well, boffin," Eve said. "M will be right with you, boys."
"So, my Q is a wild man, is he?" James asked with a smirk.
"You'll find out," Q flirted back.
M stepped through to his waiting area. "Ready, gentlemen?"
"Yes, sir," the pair said in unison.
M nodded. "Then let's be off."
The trio made their way down to the garages, having determined that it was less conspicuous for them to drive to the Leaky Cauldron. Though James was officially on administrative leave, he still held his 00 status, and served admirably as a bodyguard for the director and the quartermaster of MI6. The fact that the quartermaster could hold his own among magicals and that the director was former military also played a role in their decision to avoid an entourage.
Bond drove, approaching the corner smoothly, and parking in a street-level spot a block away. Though M had difficulty spotting the aged pub, Bond had no trouble directing him, Snape's spell still in good working order.
Q spotted Kingsley and Snape, dressed in identical black suits, at the bar. "This way, gentlemen," he said softly to M and Bond, and shook his hair down over his eyes to hide both scar and coloring. He led them over to the bar, as well, cast a wandless silencing bubble, and made introductions.
"M, this is Kingsley Shacklebolt, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and Severus Snape, magical intelligence consultant," Q said. If Snape was surprised by his introduction, he made no outward sign of the fact. "Kingsley, Severus, this is M, the head of MI6, Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Agent 007, here as our bodyguard."
"Pleasure to meet you, M," Kingsley said. "Call me Kingsley."
"And I'm Severus."
"Charmed," M said politely, shaking hands with each. "We've parked just down the street, and we have reservations at a vetted restaurant a few blocks south. Drive or walk?"
"Walking is fine," Kingsley said, and Snape nodded agreement, his obsidian eyes taking in everything from Bond's stylish suit, to Q's instinctive disguise, to M's resemblance to a familiar wizard. As the five walked out, Snape touched Q's elbow and drew him back into a smaller silencing bubble.
"Did you notice the resemblance of your superior to the former Dark Lord?" Snape asked quietly.
Q's eyes widened and he looked up at M, studying him thoroughly for the first time. He actually hadn't, though there had been something … that had irked him. For no particular reason. "That explains the uneasiness," he muttered back. "But M definitely doesn't have magic. He was incredibly surprised by it, and his first thought was to use me as a weapon for MI6."
"It might be wise to pry a bit into his background," Snape observed.
"Yes," Q agreed, and made a note on his tablet.
Bond said nothing, but watched everything.
Lunch was a bit awkward. M clearly drew on deeply engrained social manners to keep up with the wizards, and was just as clearly uncomfortable with the whole concept of magic, though he tried to hide it. (Q's dressing down about race bias probably hadn't helped.)
"I fear I am ill equipped to deal with the magical world, gentleman," M finally admitted. "But I see that we have need to guard each other's backs in the international community."
"I think, if you have no objections, M, that you and I should meet monthly, at least," Kingsley said. "The old M and I had worked together for several years, and we met at least quarterly for lunch, right here."
"I think that would be wise, Kingsley," M said.
Q cleared his throat. "To that end, Kingsley, Severus, I have equipment for you." He reached into his bag and pulled out two more smart phones. "These are equipped with magical dampeners, and can be used in both magical and non-magical areas. They're phones, but they're also capable of multiple means of communication in a pinch." He smiled wryly. "I've yet to create a Patronus app, but you'll be able to reach any magical or non-magical with another phone. The numbers are programmed, and I've also included mine and M's numbers in the contacts."
Severus looked it over, and to Q's surprise, competently opened up contacts, verified Q's number, and called Kingsley's to confirm. Kingsley's rang, and Severus showed him where to tap the screen to respond.
"You're familiar with these, Severus?" Q asked.
"My business cannot rely on magical contacts alone, Q," Severus replied. "I have a cell phone for non-magical areas, but this will be most useful. Thank you."
"Yes, this will be useful, Q," Kingsley added.
"Good." Q drew out his own tablet, again, and brought up mission specs. "Now, to business. We have intelligence that an apparent paramilitary organization in Egypt is building and stockpiling magical weapons. From our testing, we've determined that these can be shut down with a simple dampening device. Disabling the weapons is a priority.
"That said, Kingsley, you said a new international dark threat has emerged and threatened magical Britain."
"Yes," Kingsley got right to the point. "It, too, is based out of Egypt, and we have this intelligence because one of our curse-breakers ran afoul of it. They call themselves the Ourobouros."
"That matches the symbols we saw embedded next to the runes on the bottom of the device," Q confirmed.
"So it appears to be the same group?" M asked.
"It appears so, sir," Q said.
"If I may," Snape interrupted. "The likelihood of the Ourobouros symbol being used to represent a group calling themselves Ourobouros is high; however, at this point it is supposition. You need more information before you can make that call."
"Your suggestion?" M asked.
Snape shrugged elegantly. "Reconnaissance of the Egyptian group, perhaps with a side of weapons disabling."
"007, your thoughts?" M directed.
"An agent could do both, but as it's likely there will be magical traps, the mission should include a magical agent, if possible."
"Agreed," Q said. "We haven't any magical double-ohs, to my knowledge."
"No," M said. "But we have a magical Quartermaster."
"If necessary, M, you know I will go out into the field. But it would probably be best if I managed the mission from ops, as per procedure. I can spot magical and non-magical traps from there and guide our agents through. I'm the only one available with that experience," Q offered.
"Perhaps I may be of assistance?" Snape suggested. "Unless Kingsley has an Auror with the level of experience in espionage and defense that would be required."
Kingsley shook his head. "I do not. You should know, M, that the magical world is still recovering from the last rise and threat. Our numbers are low and our law enforcement overworked. I helped recruit Q for MI6 with an eye toward seeing non-magical assistance in the face of future threats. Q was, is, literally our best."
Q shook his head. "Not true. When it comes to sheer volume of experience and expertise in espionage and defense, Severus is the best."
"Thank you, Q."
"Sir, given the secrecy required, it's probably best if you authorize a joint mission with Severus and MI6 for recon and weapons disabling," James said. "As I am the only 00 aware of the magical world, it's logical that I go."
"You remain on leave, 007. You haven't yet been cleared for active duty after recent events," M said firmly.
"He can go to psych and medical this afternoon, sir," Q said. "I'm afraid he's right. As the only 00 in the know, he's the logical choice."
M pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed out sharply. "Fine. 007, report to Psych and Medical this afternoon. If you pass, you'll report to Q-branch at 1900 hours for briefing and mission specs."
"Sir."
"Q, see to Severus' security clearance, find him a designation, and authorize him to use MI6 resources. We'll need to have him actively on payroll, as well. Make it happen."
"Sir."
Severus nodded to M. "I'll be glad to go."
"00 status, sir?" Q asked, already tapping into his tablet.
"I suppose he'll have to be, though there's no precedent for someone coming in as 00, is there?" M responded.
Q shrugged. "It doesn't happen often, but we've recruited agents from other branches of service who've come in as 00s. 007, for example, came through the Navy program."
"Do we have a designation available?"
Q tapped a few more keys. "002 turned in his resignation when MI6 blew up, sir."
"Severus, would you like a new job that pays extremely well, covers all your expenses, and allows you to live in a lap of luxury?"
Snape quirked an eyebrow. "The catch?"
"If you die, you die alone. And you might have to use your license to kill."
"As long as I can retire gracefully, I'll accept. At least for the duration of this mission."
"Very well," M said. "Q?"
Q smiled briefly. "Welcome to MI6, 002."
