3
"Mr. President, hi, my name is Poppy Adams..."
The woman, Poppy, adjusted her large glasses on the tip of her nose and flashed a very animated smile at the camera. "I believe the UN has no teeth, so I've selected you as leader of the free world to receive this communication and invite you to begin negotiations on the largest scale hostage situation in history. A few weeks ago an engineered virus was released contained in all varieties of my product..."
"Is that Elton John?" cried Jules, noting the man in the frame behind Poppy. By the looks of it, he was locked in a glass cell. Well, there was one mystery solved.
However, his face was covered in a blue rash, like large dark veins slithering across his skin.
"First, you agree to end the war on drugs, once and for all. All classes of substances are legalized, paving the way to a new marketplace in which sales are regulated and taxed, as per alcohol. And second, my colleagues and I receive full legal immunity. Meet my terms and I look forward to keeping our beloved country great."
The commercial/threat ended with words across the screen: Save Lives, Legalize!
"The Golden Circle, that's what we're up against," said Eggsy.
"Shit. I gotta get this to my fellow agents," she said.
"So do we."
"Yeah, we'd better get back to HQ. No dou they'll have seen this over there," Jack decided. "Back to the truck." He picked up his bag.
"So much for the safe house," mumbled Eggsy, also retrieving his bag.
"Oh, our son is going to love this," Jules remarked upon seeing Jack's prized ride, his Bronco truck.
This made his moustache twitch with a grin. "You think?"
"Oh definitely."
"Well hop in, Darlin'. This is where the fun happens." He opened the door for her.
"Always the gentleman." She pecked his cheek as she got in. Look at that, reunited for a few minutes after ten long years, and they had already fallen back into how they had once been. it still seemed too good to be true, and neither wanted to waste a second, just in case.
Always just in case.
"Oh boy," mumbled Eggsy, now sitting in the back. "So who are you exactly?" he asked her as they drove back into the city.
"You're definitely Kingsman. Those glasses are a dead giveaway. Everything went apeshit when Kingsman fell, pulled me out of retirement. We operate deep underground and are fully international with agents embedded within each country around the world. We were founded post-World War II, after Her Majesty ascended the throne, hence the name. We're like you, only all female and very deep underground and international. I am sorry about it all. It's a terrible loss."
"Yeah, I lost a lot of friends."
"I can only imagine. It's awful. But you'll pick up the pieces and rebuild again, you'll see. And in the meantime, you have our help - well, my help."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm calling in a few favours. Technically I'm retired from the force - did that myself after I had Jack Jr. - but now with the mess I'm back in."
As they pulled into the Statesmen distillery, she opened up a picture on her phone.
"This is him," Jack breathed, taking his first look at his son.
"Yup. Looks like you. Got your smile."
"Aw, baby..." He took her hand and gave it a squeeze, his eyes never leaving the photo. "He's perfect."
"Yeah, he is."
"Where is he?"
"Back in the UK, with some of my fellow agents. Once we fix all this, you can meet him."
"I'd love that." Now he stared at her. "I can't believe this is real."
"Neither can I."
"Champ, this is my wife," Jack introduced.
The grey-haired man regarded her. "With all due respect Agent Whiskey, I thought your wife was dead."
"So did I, Sir."
Jules stepped forward extending her hand. "Agent Valkyrie with Queensfolk, Sir. I report back to Agent Athena."
"Well it's good to meet you, Agent Valkyrie. I'm Champagne." They shook hands, she stifling a smile.
"What?"
"I'm just thinking how we're named after goddesses, the Kingsmen are named after legends, and the Statesmen are named after alcohol. I find it amusing."
Now Champ gave a chuckle too. "Well, when you put it that way..."
"This is Harry, Galahad Sr.," Eggsy introduced.
"Why have you got the same name?"
"We thought he was dead, so I took over his position. Now we're Galahads Sr. and Jr."
"So I see." There seemed to be a lot of coming back from the dead happening within these agencies. She turned to her husband - her husband. Alive and well before her. "I would like to know how you've been alive these past ten years without me knowing."
"Ditto, Darlin'."
"I agree that that is important, but we are on a real time crunch here," Champ reminded them.
Right, soon the Golden Circle drug Victims would be transitioning into the next stage of affect: dancing.
"It's not like they broke the law - those victims are human beings," said Champ as they gathered around the table. "Tequila." He picked up a bottle of said liquor. "He's a great guy. A great agent. Right now, he's lyin' in deepfreeze waiting on our help."
"Can't make this personal, Sir," said Jack.
"It already is," Jules protested.
"Personal? Agent, we can't just stand by and let folks like him die," agreed Champ. "These people, we're their only hope. Now, we have to find that antidote."
"Poppy's stockpiles, they could be anywhere."
"Must have some on hand," said Harry. "Locate Poppy, and obtain a sample for analysis. Maybe it can be replicated."
"Sorry to cut-in guys," a female voice spoke over the intercom. "But Charlie's on the phone with his girlfriend, looping you in now."
"Thanks Ginger. All right, Italy it is," said Champ when the conversation was over. "Jet's ready. Whiskey, Galahad, get to this base."
Both Eggsy and Harry stood up at the same time.
"You two need to fix this codename thing," Jack said. "And with all due respect Sir, I don't think Galahad Sr.'s ready to return to field work."
"Oh well I did actually mean-" Champ pointed to Eggsy.
"Of course." Harry nodded and took his seat again.
Eggsy remained standing. "And with all due disrespect, I'm not going anywhere without him," he insisted, nodding to Harry. "We're a team, a package deal him and I. Brains-" He gestured to Harry. "-Skills-" He gestured to himself. Then he looked across the table to Jack. "And a skipping rope?"
"It's a lasso," Jack corrected, clearly not amused. Champ just laughed.
"And?" Now Eggsy looked to her.
"Don't worry. We at Queensfolk always have a trick up our sleeves. I'll be there."
"Good. Now go on then." Champ waved them on.
Jack got to his feet. "Yes Sir."
"And Agent Valkyrie, might I recommend you meeting with Ginger on your way out - she's got some Statesmen gadgets for you."
"Yes Sir."
I meant to mention this last time, but I know in the movie Jack says his son would be close to Eggsy's age if he were alive, but I've made it so that his son is younger here.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed ! :)