Chapter 46: Change of mind

It was with trepidation that Wayland walked through the corridors of the new Q-branch. Not that anyone noticed it. All they saw was 009 prowling determinately through the building, heavily armed, and got the hell out of his way. But inside he was still a mess of indecision. Was he doing the right thing coming in? What had happened that 10 changed his story completely overnight? First he tells them to go to ground and not to come in. That they were being betrayed by their own government. And then today he sent the message that they were being disbanded tomorrow but to come covertly to Q-branch asap for a new mission. It made no sense. Eventually he had decided to just take the risk. He could always fight his way out. Security hadn't stopped him from entering or questioned him about the guns so that was a good sign at least. He had found the IT-department where the minions had calmly told him both Q and 10 were in Q's office and how to get there.

There were voices on the other side of the door as he approached. He poised to knock but then thought better of it and quietly opened the door and slipped in. Both 10 and Q were seated behind the computer, but for once Q wasn't typing. They seemed to be in an intense discussion.

"...your opinion. There is a time and a place of course but if we're alone like this you will always have my permission to express it. Especially you. You owe us nothing after what that bastard did." Q spat out. He looked sad and angry and a little hopeful to the other agent who seemed to… hesitate. Wayland's barely kept his mouth from falling open in shock. What the fuck. Who the hell was Q that he had the most independent and arrogant agent in MI6, who always argued with everyone and always won those arguments, hesitating to voice his opinion? 10 seemed almost angry with himself for staying silent but before he could open his mouth Q put his arguments on the table.

"We can manage without the information." He argued softly. "Not as well, I'll admit. The operation might not go as smoothly as it would if we had all the information Jordan could gather. But we'll manage. And I'll need Jordan with his sanity intact in the end." Jordan! Something had happened to Jordan. Damn it. He liked that kid. He was one of those people that seemed to attract chaos but somehow always managed to overcome every obstacle put in his way. It seemed his luck hadn't changed in the last few weeks.

"What the fuck has the kid done now?" He asked, drawing attention to himself. The other two in the room looked up at him lightning quick. Wayland snorted internally. 'Should've locked the door if you didn't want to be overheard,' he thought.

"Wasn't expecting you yet." 10 said with narrowed eyes. Wayland shrugged.

"Was mapping out the human trafficking routes to Europe and caught a ride along with the cargo when you put the first message out. Was laying low in Calais. Just slipped onto the ferry when you changed your mind." He answered. "Now what's going on with the kid?"

"Agent A53 is on an undercover assignment in the Joint Security Services IT department looking for information on Nine Eyes." Q informed him. Wayland's mouth dropped open. What the fuck.

"Who decided that? The kid was nowhere near ready for such an assignment or designation." He asked angrily.

"The mission came from the Director. I declared Jordan ready. He has the necessary skills for the designation even if he sorely lacks experience. Therefor I insisted we guide him intensely. There was no one else who had the necessary computer skills and training as an agent who wasn't under intense scrutiny so the mission went to him." 10 answered calmly. Wayland groaned and put his hand to his face.

"And had the kid made his decision yet about whether he wanted to be an agent or remain in Q-branch?" He asked while knowing the answer already. "No, of course he hadn't. Bloody indecisive brat. Is the strain getting to him yet?"

"Yes." Q answered quietly, clearly worried. "He had an anxiety attack, became paranoid and ran in front of a car. Luckily his injuries appear to be minor though he has yet to be examined."

"And now you want to extract him? Well I can safely say that's the worst thing you could do." He saw 10 pale, flinch and glance at Q as if he was going to go berserk. Wayland frowned. He knew he was crude and direct but not to the point where such looks were given, or why they would matter anyway. But 10 looked as though Q was about to order an execution.

Q however seemed to take it in his stride fortunately. He just cocked his head and asked. "How come?"

"The kid already feels like he's failing. If you pull him now it will only confirm his feelings. He just needs a wake-up call. He's not committed enough yet. Hasn't learned yet how to shut everything else out. Give him the chance to pull his head out of his ass and I'm sure he will be able to manage it." Q hesitated.

"You think he will be able to manage it? I don't want Jordan to end up dead or mentally scarred because we didn't pull him out in time. He is a valuable asset to Q-branch. One we can ill afford to lose right now." He argued back.

"No, he's not at the moment." Wayland argued. "You're making the same mistake as the kid is making. You see him as a Q-branch employee. He's not. He's an agent. He has a mission. THAT is the only thing that has to matter at the moment."

"It's one of the things agents learn as assignments get tougher and tougher."10, surprisingly, backed him up despite having flinched again when he accused Q of making a mistake. His tone was still a little timid, but the fact that he was speaking up was reassuring. "They learn just how much it takes to finish a mission. You have to dedicate yourself completely. Give up everything you have, everything you are for the sake of the mission. You have to do things that go against your principles, against your nature and you have to do them often enough that you'll gradually grow used to pushing yourself past your boundaries like that."

"That…sounds unhealthy." Q commented with a frown.

"Which is why we hate talking to the shrinks. They're always going on about how you should take care of yourself and shit." Wayland grouched. "It's annoying as fuck because you have to listen to them going on and on about it. But actually following their advice will get you killed. They have no idea what the fuck we're dealing with in the field."

"Hmmm." Q said and then pulled out his phone dialled and put it to his ear. "Arabella, I want a full review of the MI6 psych department once the crisis has passed. I want agents to get the care they need to operate efficiently, not have them be hindered by unsolicited advice that will get them killed. Coordinate with 0010 to know what to look for." He ordered and rang off. Suddenly he seemed to realize something because he startled minutely, which was telling of just how startled the master in disguise was, and looked up at 10. Q's expression was blank as he looked at the agent, the agent's face as unreadable as he looked back. Then 10 nodded minutely and Q's posture lost some carefully concealed tension.

"Thank you." The quartermaster said, still in his general's voice. "Now, about Jordan. Are you sure you'll be able to get him into the proper mindset?"

"Yes, sir." Wayland answered while 10 nodded.

"We'll keep him in the field then. I assume you need to talk to him in person? Which is going to be a problem as we can't contact him at the moment as the earpiece is what triggered the attack in the first place. So, we need an unknown to make a drop and arrange a meeting." He pulled out his phone again and started typing. "I'll arrange for the drop. Let me know when and where and I'll make it happen." And with that Q turned back to his computer and started typing with renewed vigour, dismissing them wordlessly. Wayland stood from where he was leaning against the wall beside the door and with a glance at 10, who remained seated and appeared to be completely lost in thought, slipped out of the room. He had definitely done the right thing coming in.