Just a quiet evening... Day 3/15
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"Tenchi Muyo!" and characters were created by Hiroki Hayashi and Masaki
Kajishima, and is the property of AIC/Nippon Television, Geneon Entertainment
and FUNimation Entertainment.
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Just a quiet evening... Day 3/15...
By Daferge...
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( Country side near YORK... )
The large, old mansion had been built on the site of an old castle, one of the first built by William the Bastard, better known as William the Conqueror for his invasion of the large island known as England, in 1066 AD...
The same family held the castle and the surrounding country side, until the end of the famed War of the Roses, when Henry the VII purged many who might later return to oppose his claim...
Henry had then used it to get away from the prying eye in London and enjoy the company of some of the females at court who'd caught his eye...
The old 'castle' had later been remodeled during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the 1st as a summer palace...
It had been a gift to the present owners as a reward for long service to the crown at the end of the 1920s...
It was also a wedding gift to Commander James M. Bond and his charming new bride, Alexandrea...
His Majesty, a good friend, thought the two would enjoy exploring all the secret passages and rooms that Henry the 8th had secretly put in...
Word had it that little Bond jr was conceived in an old bed found in one of the secret rooms...
The few who had heard the story doubted it...
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( A secret room... )
The room was one of several located around the old mansion...
It was also one of two that had been cleaned up and 'modernized'...
This one had a number of old recliners sitting before the open fire place, the original heating system for the room...
With the new upgrades to the house, fire places weren't needed, but the gas 'logs' gave the room a nice touch...
Once a 'bedroom', it was now the very private study of the lord of the mansion...
The other was at the other end of the mansion and was her ladyship's private study...
This one also had book cases, filing cabinets, a work desk and a large collection of painting and photographs covering the walls...
A good number were of people, one or more, even some group shots...
Others were of places, usually with people...
Like the one of soldiers standing on and around a large metal box with large rivets in rows...
Not many people would recognize it as one of the new weapons-of-war that had been created during the conflict that had become known as World War One...
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In an attempt to break the stalemate of trench warfare the conflict had become, the British began to work on a weapon it codenamed as 'tank'...
This was so any one would believe it had to do with 'water tanks' and the name would stuck...
Britain had various 'Mark' series 'tanks', some, with two 6-pound guns were referred to as 'male', while others, with only machineguns as 'females'...
The armoured box, armed with weapons, used long links of metal tracks to cross the shell torn area between the lines...
Once there, it's weapons would create chaos in the enemy trenches allowing Allied troops following them to take the trenches...
The new 'tank' did help the Allies capture various sections of the Germans lines, but due to poor use, it's effectiveness was wasted...
It didn't take long for the Germans to see the 'tank's' usefulness...
However, due to the urgent need of their own 'tank' the boxy A7V, with a single 57mm gun and 6 machine guns had been rushed into production...
Even so, only a handful of the A7Vs were built...
However, as it turned out, it was to be too little, too late and wasn't very successful...
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The picture was taken of the A7V named 'Mephisto' in July of 1918 after the A7V become trapped in a ditch and abandoned several months before during an earlier battle...
So members of the 26th Battalion of the Australian 7th Brigade, under Major J. , hatched a plan to remove the abandoned vehicle from 'no-man's-land'...
Thus, under cover of an artillery barrage, the Australians managed to drag the large hunk of metal all the way back to the Allied lines...
It would later become the only example of the German's first attempt to build a tank to survive...
In the photo is one non-Australian, one 2nd Lt. James M. Bond, who'd been attached to the unit and had been a volunteer on the attempt...
It was the beginning of a long career of adventures, most of which only a few would ever know about...
It was little wonder that he was among the first to be recruited for his majesty's secret service when it was formed...
It would be a career that his son and grandson would continue...
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At the moment 'Sr' had a difficult task ahead of him...
Sitting across from him in the small room was some one he hadn't seen in a while...
Some one who would likely be shot on sight if seen by a member of any of a number of organizations...
His daughter-in-law's father, James Moriarty, a well known rich and famous 'playboy' throughout Europe, but also known in some circles as Professor Moriarty...
One of the two top crime lords in Europe...
The two were sipping from small wine glasses, sampling a bottle said to have been once owned by Emperor Napoleon himself...
'Sr' was enjoying the wine and trying to think about how it might have found it's way to the table before him...
He'd learned long ago not to ask questions about things he knew he didn't want the answer to...
Like where the huge antique Tutor bed, worth several million pounds, his son and wife had gotten as a wedding gift, had came from...
Word had it that it had once belonged to King Henry the 8th...
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Examining the color of the wine with the light of the fireplace, he spoke softly...
" What brings you to this part of Europe... "
This was indeed far from his usual 'haunts', the places where all the 'jet-setters' hung out, usually southern France...
Though known as a 'playboy' and 'jet-setter', there were enough who knew him as 'the professor' that being able to relax and not worry was a very rare treat...
" What?... I can't just drop by and say hi to my older daughter... "
He gently swirled the wine before taking a sip...
'Sr' tilted his head slightly but didn't say any thing, there was nothing to say...
'The professor' smiled and took another sip...
" I understand your latest namesake will be showing up, with his new partner!... "
'Sr' wasn't sure how that news had gotten around, but he nodded his head...
Both heads turned as a new voice spoke up...
" It should be interesting to see the famous Inspector Michelle K. Watson in person... Or will it be Micky Galore who shows?... "
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'Sr' closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them as a figure stepped into the light of the fire...
Lord Cesare Borgia, the other top crimelord in Europe smiled as he picked up a wine glass and poured himself some wine from the bottle...
Taking a sip, he savored it before swallowing it...
" An excellent flavor, but I prefer a slightly older vintage... "
With that he pulled out a bottle just like the one on the table, but with a slightly older label...
'The professor' smiled as he examined the label...
" So you were the one who out bid me on this one!... "
Lord Borgia smiled and the two were eying each other...
Taking another sip, 'Sr' spoke softly, but clearly...
" If you two are going to go at it, then take it out side... "
Lord Borgia turned to 'Sr' and smiled...
" Or what?... "
'Sr's' eyes narrowed as he smiled and replied...
" Or I'll tell your mom about it... "
Both males froze and stared at him until Lord Borgia managed to whispered...
" You wouldn't... "
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Both men quickly refilled their glasses and stood there calming down...
Looking at 'Sr', Lord Borgia mumbled...
" And WE'RE called evil... "
After refilling his glass 'Sr' said nothing for a while...
" How long has it been since ether of you talked to her?... "
The two looked at each other before 'The professor' answered...
" New Years... When she got tired of traveling around the world and returned to Paris to resume control of her Modeling agency... "
'Sr' smiled...
Lady A ran the most famous agency in the world, with the most beautiful models in the world and he should know, he'd met most of them, at one time of another...
However they hadn't been models then...
They'd been the top agents for many of the world powers around the world...
Russia, China, France, Italy, United Kingdom, America, to name just a few...
Models by day, body guards, etc, by night...
A most interesting agency, run by an even most interesting woman...
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Their separate thoughts were interrupted by a soft female voice...
" It seems we were correct... They ARE here... "
Three heads turned to watch as a tall female with short dark hair stepped out of the shadows...
'Sr' held up a hand as the other two male started to reach for something in their pockets...
The only reaction of the female was to swirl the drink in her glass...
" I do hope you three weren't planning on hiding out in here... "
It was Lord Borgia who replied...
" I thought you said that this room was off-limits?... "
The female smiled, her eyes glowing...
" Now uncle James, you're not doing that 'Boys Only Club' restriction again?... "
'Sr' turned to the other two and smiled...
" Actually, it's an unwritten 'Law'... "
He turned to the female...
" And what brings you to this out-of-the-way spot, MILAGROS?... "
THIS got a reaction from the female, narrowed eyes...
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" You KNOW I dislike being called that!... "
'Sr' smile and nodded his head...
" Gentlemen... May I introduce my niece, Milagros Holmes... "
The two stared at him, then her and back to him...
" Steven Y. Holmes' older sister!... "
Two very wide eyed males stared at the female...
" Better known as Mycroft Holmes of her Majesty's Government... "
'Sr' smiled as he saw her smile at the other two...
It was well known that her majesty's Government, as well as most of the European Governments, would like to have these two in prison...
Preferably a dungeon, a very deep and very dark dungeon...
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" I see you two haven't grown up... Still competing with each other... "
A new female spoke from the dark...
It had been a while since 'Sr' had last seen the tall, attractive female who stepped into the firelight, next to the other female...
It was almost like night and day...
One dark haired, wearing a dark business suit, the other, light haired, wearing light colored top and skirt that seem to hug her body...
Stepping over to the females, 'Sr' took the light haired female's free hand ( the other had a half filled wine glass ) and lifted it, kissing the back of it, causing both females to smile...
Releasing her hand, he gave the dark haired female a quick peck on the cheek before he returned to his seat...
The light haired female chuckled...
" Still the smooth one, James... "
'Sr' managed to hide a smile as her replied...
" I bet you say that to all the James you meet... Moneypenny... "
That got a smile from both females...
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" I would ask you what brings you to this out of the way place... "
He looked at the other two males, who were eying the females...
" But I think I can guess... "
Moneypenny smiled...
" I came to see why these two were here... "
Her eyes narrowed a bit...
" And why they haven't kept in touch with mom?... "
'Sr' just managed to keep from laughing as two of the most feared crime lords in Europe pointed at each other as their little sister looked on...
Trying to save some pride 'Sr' spoke up...
" And how is your mother?... "
He heard a soft sigh from the two males as Moneypenny smiled and turned her attention back to 'Sr'...
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" She is well and sends her regards to her granddaughter and her family... "
Then her eyes narrowed and her smile widened...
" She was wondering when you might be back in Paris?... She hasn't seen you in a while and a number of the girls were inquiring about you and Jr... "
'Sr' now found himself the focus of four sets of eyes...
Clearing his throat, he managed to reply...
" Things have been keeping me around the castle of late... Repairs and such... "
He noted that both Milagros and Moneypenny smiled...
Between the two of them, they knew more about him than he did...
Some thing sent a chill up his spine as Moneypenny smiled at him before speaking...
" She was wondering when Jamie might be visiting the continent?... There are a couple of young females she'd like to introduce him to... "
She smiled as his eyes widened...
" They're not with the Agency... "
She seem to move closer before she continued...
" Do you think that could be a problem?... "
She batted her eyes at him with her most innocent look..
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'Sr' sighed as a his first thought passed through his mind as he considered the possible reaction of certain females...
Not if you want World War 3...
But he knew she wasn't expecting a reply...
He did, with a smile...
" That's a question you'd have to ask certain females down stairs!... "
Moneypenny smiled and Milagros spoke up...
" Speaking of certain females... They said to inform the three of you that hiding time was over... Time to face the music... 'Guests' will be arriving soon... "
She then turned an disappeared into the shadows...
Moneypenny followed, but stopped at the edge of the shadows...
" Mom did ask a strange question... She wanted me to see how her 'god-daughter' was doing?... "
Not only was she looking at him, but the two males too...
" What god-daughter?... "
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'Sr' sighed, it seem that another family secret would be dragged out into the sun light...
At the end of the first world war, two young females had met and formed a bond that had survived the ages...
Both were on the run from governmental agencies due to no fault of their own...
Velikaya Knyazhna Anastasiya Nikolayevna Romanova, the youngest daughter of the late Czar and sole survivor of the royal family...
And Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, a Dutch citizen wanted by the French government for spying for the germans...
They'd both met a young British officer who was willing to hid them both until he could get them to safety...
It had been hard and dangerous, but he succeeded...
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Anastasiya went on, as Lady A, to meet a number of powerful men and have their children...
The three of them stood in this room before him...
A cousin of 'Sr' meet Marge and they'd settled down to a quieter life...
Until ghost from her past came to visit...
'Sr' and Lady A hadn't arrived in time to save Marge, but they had saved her daughter and then dispatched her assassins...
Years later, they would find the one behind it all and close the matter...
'Sr' and Lady A had watched from the shadows as the daughter had made her way through life...
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'Sr' reached over and picked up a framed, signed picture off the desk...
He smiled as he held it so the other three could see it clearly...
It was a black and white picture of a young female wearing an exotic dancer's outfit...
He could see the same question on all their faces...
" This is Michelle K. Watson's mother... "
Three sets of eyes widened...
Then they stared at the writing on the picture and confusion appeared on their faces...
The likeness to the exotic dancer Micky Galore were obvious...
It was the writing that threw them...
To my Dearest James M. Bond, Love and Affection always... Mata Hari...1923...
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( to be continued?... )
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