"Director Potter?"

"Yes, Mulaney?"

"Here is the paperwork you requested. Will there be anything else, sir?"

"No, thank you. Ah! Is that the time?" I asked, looking down at my watch. "Go ahead and knock off early, Mike. I'll see you on Monday, yes?"

"Thank you, sir. You will, sir."

"Good lad." I smiled as my assistant scurried out of the office. Fourteen years I'd been at this job, the Director of the Magical Law Enforcement. Kingsley handed me the job on a silver platter the day I met him in his office. It was the fastest bloody interview I'd ever taken part in. Now that Mulaney (a nervous little titch that had just graduated Hogwarts recently) was off, I could finally relax. Well, relax as much as a Kingsman agent could. "Merlin?"

"Mordred, was thinking I wouldn't hear from you today?" The voice of my mentor said through the comms in my glasses.

"What with this business with Lancelot? Have we heard from him? It's not like him to not check in. I know Abi's been wound up tighter than a Swiss watch over it."

"Aye, the twelve have already assembled to see what they know. Care to join in?"

"Of course," I said, pouring a few fingers worth of Lagavulin scotch as I flipped through the papers, signing where I needed to, initialing in others, and applying my seal when it was really necessary. "Patch me through."

"I'll let you watch." Merlin said as his visuals appeared in my HUD.

"Sounds good," I said, leaning back as I swirled my Scotch while Merlin stepped into the meeting room. I blinked a few times as I saw what were in front of Arthur and Galahad: the Snifters and the Decanter.

That only meant one thing.

Lancelot was dead.

I cut the feed from Merlin and stood quickly but calmly as I drained the last of my whisky. With a flick of my wand, the glass cleaned itself as I replaced it on the shelf. I stuck my head out of my office, but there were only a few Aurors left in the bullpen for the night shift; even the Head Auror's office was dark. I locked the door as I shut off the lights, then tossed a handful of floo powder into the burning fireplace.

"Potter's," I barked, stepping into the dancing green flames and then out at home. "Abi!?"

"Harry!?"

"Living room!" I called, making my way through the house only to be bowled over by the sobbing woman. "Hey, hey, it's okay." I said quietly, running my fingers through her hair as she heaved into my chest and fisted the fabric of my coat desperately.

"No, it's not! James is dead! He's dead, Harry! Over a bloody rescue mission!"

"Woah, woah, slow down," I said, trying to keep up with what she was saying. "What happened?"

"He… He was investigating a group of mercenaries. I was his second on the mission. Our working theory was that this was a group of mercenaries or rogue scientists experimenting with bio-weapons," she said quietly, her voice wavering through the whole debrief. "In 2012, we found synthetic cathinones in a Ugandan guerilla base. It… It wasn't pretty. Rage, cannibalism, and I don't know how many people died. Then in 2013, we found Chechnyan insurgents who had turned against each other, violently. There were no survivors we could find and there were no chemicals found at the scene." I froze as I narrowed my eyes. "I… I should have been with him. If I had been-"

"No, you can't do that," I said, cupping her chin gently. "You can't blame yourself for this, Abi, it's not your fault. But it is someone's. We'll find these bastards."

"You're damn right we will." Abi growled, transforming the grief of Lancelot's passing into rage and determination. "His last transmission was that the man who had been kidnapped was professor Arnold."

"Who?"

"He works at the Imperial College, he's a climate change activist."

"Ah." I nodded as I tapped my glasses. "Merlin?"

"Yes, Mordred? I'm with Galahad and Arthur."

"Noted. I'm with Gawain. What can you tell me about professor Arnold?"

"We were just finishing with our conversation about him, but the short of it is this: he was at the bottom of the long line of high profile names to go missing recently… But he isn't actually missing."

"What?"

"I'm sending you and Gawain the feed now, this is him outside of Imperial College this morning."

"What are we doing about it?"

"I plan to have a chat with him very soon, Mordred," Galahad said. "Or would you prefer to take care of it?"

"Of course, Galahad. Arthur, when are the trials?"

"Tomorrow. Will you be sending a candidate as well?" Arthur asked. I shook my head.

"Negative. One day, maybe, but I have yet to find someone worthy of becoming one of us."

"Understood, Mordred. Gawain? Have you a candidate?"

"I have someone in mind," she said, tapping her glasses. "This is the file I've compiled on him."

"A fine pedigree. Very well. I will see you when you bring him to the trials. Good day." Arthur said. I nodded and took my glasses off, slipping them inside my coat as Gawain did the same.

"Who's your candidate?"

"My nephew. He's a good lad with a good head on his shoulders. Now, shall we go see professor Arnold?"

"It's a bit late in the day for that, luv. We'll show up to his class before any of his students arrive tomorrow morning. Is Sophia still the assistant professor of law?"

"She is," Abi said, readjusting herself on my chest. "You want to get her opinion on Arnold?"

"It may be worth speaking to her."

"But if Arnold's being watched…"

"It could put her in danger."

"So we don't go in gung-ho, guns blazing."

"No, no, we have to have a softer touch." I smirked. "I'll make sure nothing electronic can transmit out of his classroom."

"That means our comms will be down while we're in there."

"True… But that's the price we pay. We'll be able to watch what happens later, though."

"Right. Okay, so what's our plan? Do we pay Sophia a visit or Arnold?"

"I say we keep Sophia out of this for as long as we can." I stroked my chin thoughtfully as Abi nodded.

"Right. But what if we have to bring her into the loop?"

"Well, it's a good thing she made it through most of training."

"Except the only test that matters."

"Right." I sighed, shaking my head. "We don't know if she'll squeal or not."

"So we avoid her until necessary?"

"Bingo."

"Different faces?"

"Without a doubt. I have a few doses of uncharged polyjuice ready to go."

"And those stretchy suits of yours?"

"Yes ma'am." I smirked. "Sorry they aren't bulletproof."

"Or that comfortable but they're as sharp as any Kingsman suit."

"And that's all that matters."

"This organization couldn't have chosen a more charming man to kidnap." Merlin grumbled as he pushed all the information he had on Arnold into my glasses while I walked up the stairs leading into Imperial College, wearing someone else's face. "He's a climate change activist and dead set on this thing called Gaia theory. He believes the Earth can heal itself. If you ask him about Anthropogenic force, you may just be able to get him talking."

"Of course, Merlin," I muttered as I found the man's classroom. The hair on the back of my neck stood to attention as a shudder passed over me. I paused for a second, glancing around the hallway as I pushed the door open and slipped my wand into my hand. I shook my head slightly, trying to shake off the feeling as I muttered: "I'm going dark. No signals will be able to enter or exit this room in five seconds."

"Roger that, Mordred. Good luck."

"Thank you, Merlin." I said, throwing spells at each corner of the room and watched as golden bands of light crisscrossed the walls. Satisfied, I folded my hands behind my back after I'd replaced my wand in my holster. Well, I had nothing better to do… I sighed and turned around, reading the professor's notes he still had scrawled across the chalkboard randomly.

"Oh! Hello…" I heard five minutes later. I smiled as I turned around to meet the man's eyes. He was a chubby fellow, grey-haired with all the makings of a career scholar. "Can I help you?"

"Professor Arnold, yes?"

"Yes, I am he."

"Excellent!" I grinned. "Hugo Ackeral. I had a question about Anthropogenic force."

"Oh!" His face lit up as he waddled to join me on stage, already reaching for the chalk. "It's quite fascinating, yes?" He grinned as he got within arm's reach. I slipped an inch of my wand into my palm.

"Indeed. Imperio." For a split second, he had the wherewithal to look confused before his face slackened completely and his eyes glazed over. "Tell me, professor, you were recently kidnapped, yes?"

"Yes, I was."

"Who was your captor?" I asked, folding my hands behind my back again as the door was kicked in. I whirled around, taking in the two men holding SMGs at their shoulders, ready to open fire. "Oh, goodness me, gentlemen, there's no need for all that. I believe you might have the wrong room."

"No, we don't. Who are you?"

"Hugo Ackeral. I just had a question for the good professor. Please, gentlemen, the guns aren't necessary."

"Professor?" The man on the right asked, his eyes twitching between the professor and me nervously. "Is that right?"

"It is." Arnold said as I crushed what little willpower he had. Thankfully the professor didn't show any tells of being under the Imperius at all. "He had a question about Anthropogenic force, I haven't even begun to explain yet."

"I see… I'm going to have to insist you come with us. Both of you." The man said. It wasn't a request. I felt my eyebrows shoot up but nodded.

"Of course, after you," I said. The man shook his head.

"No. You first."

"Alright, alright," I said with my hands up. "I'm not armed. You can put the guns down." The men looked at each other but I had already sent a duo of Obliviates directly at them. "Can I help you, gentlemen?" I asked as their unfocused eyes snapped back to me. "You seem to have the wrong room."

"No… We… We have the right room. Who are you?"

"Hugo Ackeral," I said once again.

"I'm going to have to insist you come with us," he said once again. Organization, standing orders, and a principal. Well, well, this may have been a bit bigger than an unruly band of mercenaries, after all.

"Alright. Where to?"

"Professor Arnold's office. We may have a bit more privacy there," the second man said. I nodded, stepping off the stage with Arnold in tow.

Then things went to Hell when Arnold stepped out of the dead zone.

I happened to be behind the professor when his neck began to glow. Through our link, I felt his pain and relinquished the Imperius' control over him. He screamed horribly, terribly, and I could only stare in horror. Then the guards stepped out with their guns raised but they clattered against the floor as they dropped their weapons while their necks began to glow. They clapped their hands to their necks and started screaming just as horrendously as Professor Arnold.

Then their heads exploded in unison.

"Mordred!? What the bloody Hell was that!?" Merlin asked as I wiped the brain matter, blood, and bits of bone from my glasses and face.

"Nothing good, Merlin." I muttered, staring down at the headless corpses in disgust. "Whatever we're dealing with? I think it's bigger than a few random mercenaries."

"Aye, you may be right… Galahad will be disappointed he didn't get to interrogate the good professor."

"And to think I was bringing him right to you," I said as I scourgified my suit as best I could. "Still want to pick his brain? I could bring it back in a bucket, if you'd like."

"That'd be the only way to bring it back." Merlin chuckled darkly as I walked away from the carnage. Let someone else bloody deal with it and the fact there was someone standing in the middle of them. "But self-exploding heads… Now I've seen it all." Merlin grumbled as I made my way onto the street and toward the cab that would take me back to the shop. I put my hand under the handle and let it scan my fingers. The latch clicked, and I ducked inside.

"The shop, please."

"Right away, sir." The driver said as he pulled into London's streets.

"What have you got, Merlin?"

"That glow you saw? It's not just random. Here's the best enhanced frame I have."

"A surgical scar?" I asked, zooming in on the glowing wires visible beneath the skin. "An implant blew their heads off?"

"It looks that way, Mordred. Gawain is already investigating some of the profiles who disappeared and reappeared. She has a lead but it's tenuous at best."

"Understood. I'm standing by for assistance."

"I doubt it will be necessary. Are you sure you don't want to submit an applicant? Even Galahad's found one."

"Really? Now this I have to see."

"He's in transit now, he's just freed his candidate from gaol and is headed toward the Black Prince pub."

"Where I met you?"

"One in the same, Mordred. You can beat him there but you'll have to make a detour."

"Change of plans, Ryan, think you can get me to the Black Prince?"

"But of course, sir." He said as my skin began to ripple and bubble until I was wearing my face again. "Ah, welcome back."

"Thank you, Ryan. Merlin?"

"Right. The lad's name is Gary Unwin, goes by Eggsy, if you can believe it. Previous gymnast of olympic level skill that could give you a run for your money and a- oh. You're not going to like this."

"What's that?"

"He dropped out of training for the Marines."

"Voluntarily?"

"It certainly looks that way."

"Hm. I see," I said flatly, pulling up a picture of Unwin on my HUD. "What's Galahad's interest in him?"

"His father. Lee Unwin was the runner up for Lancelot's position in the last trials and gave his life to protect Galahad, myself, and Lancelot."

"Guilt. Got it. What do you make of him?"

"Rough around the edges, multiple drug trafficking charges but no evidence he ever used, and a string of thefts ranging from petty to grand auto. Ironically, Grand Theft Auto, destruction of property, and evading police officers is what Galahad's just sprung him for."

"Arthur's going to love Eggsy as much as I do, isn't he?"

"He's a good kid, Mordred, it's his stepfather that's the real piece of work. Dean Baker has a rap sheet so long that if you made it a scroll and unfurled it from where you're sitting, it would reach Edinburgh."

"Good Lord."

"Aye, with tiny font. Most of those charges are, you guessed it, drug and assault related. Unwin's had it rough."

"I don't like him on principle, Merlin."

"No, of course you don't," Merlin sighed. "If he makes it through training, give him a chance, yeah?"

"We'll see."

"We certainly will."

"Mr. Hart," I said as Galahad strolled into the pub with Eggsy. "Good day."

"And a good day to you, Major," Galahad said, a quirk of his eyebrows the only indication he was at all surprised to see me in the pub. "One Guiness, please."

"Sure. Whatchu want, Eggsy?"

"Budweiser for me, bruv." The young man with Galahad said as he narrowed his eyes at me. "And who're you?"

"Harry Potter. Mr. Hart's an old acquaintance," I said, sipping at my old-fashioned. "Besides, I've been coming to this bar for years."

"My step dad bought the place five years ago, why ain't I ever seen you 'round then?"

"Because it's been nearly fifteen since I last set foot here," I said calmly. Eggsy blinked.

"Is that right?"

"It is."

"Right then… Nice meeting you," Eggsy said as he tilted his head back. I nodded and turned back to Galahad who leveled me with a dry stare.

"Good day, Mr. Potter," Galahad said.

"Good day, Mr. Hart," I said, he nodded and crossed the room, easily sliding into a booth tucked against the wall. The barkeep came around with their drinks a few seconds after he and Eggsy sat down.

"Ah! Thank you, sir," Galahad said as he passed the man a few pounds. "Will this cover it?"

"It will, mate. Thanks." He said, pocketing the cash as he walked behind the bar and took up a mop. The two sat silently for a good little while, Galahad sipping the Guinness while Eggsy watched him.

"So before you was a tailor, was you in the army? Like an officer?" Eggsy finally got the ball rolling as he stared across the table at my fellow agent.

"Not quite. Though my friend there," Galahad tilted his head toward me and Eggsy glanced over, "was a Major with the Marines."

"Bloody Hell…" Eggsy muttered, flickering his eyes toward me, ducking his head slightly before he soldiered on. "So where was you posted? Iraq or something?"

"Sorry, Eggsy. Classified."

"But my dad saved your life, eh?" Eggsy grinned.

"The day your father died, I missed something," Galahad said calmly, but you could tell he was still shaken about that incident if you knew what to look for. "If it weren't for his courage, my mistake would have cost the lives of every man present. So I owe him. Your father was a brave man. A good man." Eggsy's smirk was plastered across his face now even as mine pulled at the corner of my lips. Here it comes… "And having read your files, I think he would be bitterly disappointed in the choices you've made." I snorted lightly even as Eggsy jerked backward like Galahad had reached across the table and slapped him.

"You can't talk to me like that!"

"Huge IQ, great performance at primary school, and it all went tits up." Eggsy slumped against the back of the booth as he crossed his arms and looked away from Galahad. "Drugs, petty crime, never had a job."

"Oh, you think there's a lot of jobs going around, do ya?"

"Doesn't explain why you gave up your hobbies. First prize regional under tens gymnastics two years in a row." I blinked as I processed that tidbit of information. "Your coach had you pegged as Olympic team material."

"Yeah, well when you grow up 'round someone like my stepdad you pick up new hobbies pretty quick." I frowned as I perused the mentioned man's rap sheet through my glasses. Damn, Merlin was right about how long it was…

"Oh, of course, always someone else's fault." Galahad shot back as the younger man looked away. "Who's to blame for you quitting the Marines? You were halfway through training, doing brilliantly but you gave up."

"Because my mum went mental!" My frown only deepened as Eggsy began his little diatribe. "Banging on about losing me as well as my dad." He leaned forward, uncrossing his arms as he stared at Galahad. "Didn't want me being cannon fodder for snobs like you, judging people like me from your ivory towers with no thought about why we do what we do. We ain't got much choice. You get me? And if we was born with the same silver spoon up our arses, we'd do just as well as you. If not better." I was about to open my mouth to say something when the doors squeaked open to admit a gaggle of goons.

"What the freak you doin' here? You takin' the piss?" The leader demanded, pointing directly at Eggsy. Even Galahad looked rightfully indignant for once.

"Oh, here we go." I muttered to the barkeep, who looked as much annoyed as he did confused. "Might want to go 'round back, mate. Things are about to get a bit messy on this end."

"Should I call the bobbies?" The older man asked nervously. I just shook my head as Galahad made a comment about a silver suppository.

"Nah, they'd just get in his way. Well, go on then, Mr. Hart will see to the raff," I said, laying a few bills on the bar while he nodded. He walked away as I stood up and took his place behind the bar. If there was one thing I learned at Kingsman, it was that if Galahad was about to brawl, you should take cover.

"After you nicked his car," the most rotund of the six said, pointing down at Eggsy, "Dean says you're fair game, and he don't give a stump what your mum says."

"Um, listen, boys," Galahad said as calmly as ever as the six all turned to look at him, "I've had a rather emotional day. So whatever your beef with Eggsy is, and I'm sure it's well founded-" And wasn't that the truth… "I'd appreciate it enormously if you could just leave us in peace until I've finished this lovely pint of Guinness." The three leaders of the little gang looked between each other before the tallest turned back to Galahad.

"You should get out of the way, granddad, or you'll get hurt and all," he said, surprisingly quietly. I snorted again as I cleaned a glass with a rag.

"He ain't joking, you should go," Eggsy said. Galahad pursed his lips and put down his pint.

"Excuse me, excuse me," he said as he stood up from the booth. For a second, I thought Galahad really was going to leave Eggsy to the dogs but then the fat one had to go and say:

"If you're looking for another rent boy, they're on the corner of Smith Street." Galahad stopped in front of the door as I winced.

"You may have just fucked up," I muttered, but fatso obviously heard me. He whipped around, staring at me in confusion, and opened his mouth - likely to demand who the Hell I was - but before he could say a word, Galahad made his move.

"Manners." The first lock slid to with a dull thump. The six turned to the Knight and then glanced between each other. One actually looked over at me but I just shrugged and kept cleaning the glass. "Maketh." The second lock thudded closed. "Man." He said as he bolted the door. The six turned their backs to Eggsy and started prowling toward Galahad. "Do you know what that means? Then let me teach you a lesson." Galahad hooked the end of his umbrella around the conveniently placed, half-empty mug and threw it full force into the tallest tosser's forehead. He fell like a tree until he lay spread eagle between the carpet and the hardwood. "Are we going to stand around here all day? Or are we going to fight?"

Then all Hell broke loose.

I knew Galahad had been wound tight as of late, but this? This was beyond anything I had seen from him. Typically, he did what was necessary when it was necessary – but a bloody bar fight?

Actually, a fight implied that the other side had a chance. But this? This was just a beatdown. He used his umbrella to redirect hits, push idiots back, or just strike, but not a single blow landed on him.

Then someone just had to go and pull a knife.

Hart made the knife wielder stab his own friends at least three times before the others drew knives of their own. The most rotund one picked up a bottle but Galahad used his mate as a shield and fired a stun bolo at his wrist. He stuck to the brass rail with the bottle still in his hand while blood flowed from his mouth.

Tables were smashed, bodies flew, and Eggsy watched it from the edge of his seat throughout it all.

Oh, he just made a pair of them headbutt each other. Suppose that was one way to take two out at one time.

Then the knife wielder popped back up and tried to stab Galahad. He bent the knife wielder's arm off to the side and shoved him toward the bar. Which meant Galahad threw an entire person at me. I frowned, raising an eyebrow at Galahad from over the rims of my glasses. Then we saw the tallest of the six move from where he was still lying on the floor.

His hand reached below his waistband as the light reflected off his revolver. I reached to draw my own weapon when Galahad expanded the Umbrella and knelt down under cover.

"You dirty! Freaking dirty- freaking dirty!" He yelled incoherently as he snapped off eight rounds from a gun I could have sworn only held six… Not that Galahad particularly cared as he smacked the tosser with a stun round right to the dome. He collapsed his umbrella and got back to his feet, looking at Eggsy calmly as he retook his seat and drained his beer in one go.

"Sorry about that. Needed to let off a little steam. Heard yesterday a friend of mine died. He knew your father too, actually. Now, I do apologize, Eggsy, I shouldn't have done this in front of you," Galahad said as he stood up and aimed his watch at Eggsy.

"No, please, I won't say nothing, I swear. If there's one thing I can do, it's keep my mouth shut."

"You won't tell a soul?"

"Ask the feds, I've never grassed anyone up."

"Is that a promise?"

"On my life!"

"Much appreciated, Eggsy. You're right about the snobs, but there, too, there are exceptions. Good luck with everything." Galahad said as I noted the bug he'd placed on Eggsy's vest.

"Hart, if you don't do something with these lot, I'll have to." I said, frowning at the serious breach of protocol.

"Come now, Potter, no need to be a stickler. Consider this… Phase zero?" Hart said as he walked to the door. "Good day."

"Bloody Hell…" Eggsy muttered as he glanced around the room at the havoc Galahad had unleashed.

"That was nothing, lad," I said quietly. "Go home, now. I'll sort this." I sighed as Eggsy nodded, standing up to follow Harry out of the bar. I folded my arms over my chest and waited for the idiots to come to while I was under the cover of a disillusionment charm. I tapped my fingers against my arm when finally the first man came to while groaning terribly.

"Wake up." He growled, shaking the others until they came too - including the tall one with a horrible goose egg directly on his forehead. The rotund one groaned and rubbed his head, stumbling behind the bar until he found the phone. He tapped the dial and brought it to his ear.

"Dean? Yeah, it's me. We've gots a problem," he groaned, rubbing his head. "Eggsy was just here – yeah, he was. Yes Dean, no, he wasn't alone. No, I don't know him, he was some old prick dressed real fancy. Yeah, some geezer, didn't get his name. There was another bloke here who acted like he knew him but he's gone too. Both 'em were wearin' real fancy suits. The older geezer beat the daylights out of us, I ain't never seen nothin' like it… Yeah. The pub's trashed. We'll get to work cleanin' up what we- Okay, we'll be right there," the rotund one said as he put down the phone. "Dean wants his at his place. Now."

"Sorry gents, but that just won't do," I said, releasing the disillusionment charm with my wand raised.

"What the- How'd you do that!?" The tallest one demanded.

"Magic. Unfortunately, you won't remember that. Stupefy," I snapped. The wave stunner had the five of them falling bonelessly to the floor, then I went over each of them and forced them all to forget my presence entirely and Galahad's face. I'd let them remember there was a fight and that they got their arses kicked but not a one of them would be able to describe Galahad if they wanted to - save that he wore a suit.

And if they didn't make it to Eggsy's place? Well, that was just a plus in my opinion. Galahad was up to something and I was pretty sure I knew what it was.

Not that I bloody liked it.

[A] - Long Italics: From Kingsman: The Secret Service.