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[Matt O'S oo4]

As she walks away.

...I...LIKE...the color of that robe...very fetching

As are you, my lady.

[Joyce Carrington]

Originally posted by Matt O'S. (oo4)
..like the color of that robe...very fetching

It's crimson red, of course.

[Xenobia]

*Molly turns to 002*

M: I'm sorry I ran for you. I wasn't sure what would happen.

X: I wasn't either, but luckily 004 does occasionally know what he is doing. Since Joyce didn't shoot Matt, that tells me she is alright, for the moment.

M: And longer. Once you have been brainwashed, and cleaned up, the brain muscle gets stronger, and it is harder to condition you again.

X: Let's hope so. Speaking of hope, I had hoped to compare notes with Bryce. Have you seen him?

M: No. But if I do....

X: You won't. I'll find him.

-- Xenobia

[Joyce Carrington]

*finishes getting dressed*

*sighs*

*forces smile on her face*

*opens door*

004: Ready?

009: Let's go.

[Matt O'S oo4]

After a scrumptious meal and visiting a dozen shoppes, buying Joyce about ten dresses, six pairs of shoes, various other garments to compliment her new clothing, Matt drive her across the channel for coffee. He remarks that there is no place in the world like this coffee shop. She agress that the coffee is some of the best she has tasted.

Matthew lets Joyce drive his car back over the channel. She does it very well. They have an excellent time.

But, something is wrong. Then comes that unusual silence at the end of a "date" as they pull up to Joyces's flat.

Are you okay? Did you have a good time?

Trust me.

Tell me.......please.

[Joyce Carrington]

*another forced smile*

I had a GREAT time. Thank you.

*kisses him*

Goodnight.

*gets out of the car*

[Matt O'S oo4]

Grabs her firmly but gently by the arm and pulls her back in.

Look at me.

Please.

[Joyce Carrington]

*turns her eyes away*

009: Matt - not now. Please. I don't want to talk about it, alright?

*gets out of the car again*

009: I'll see you in the morning.

[Matt O'S oo4]

Gets out of the car and catches her, restraining her in a hugging embrace.

Then listen if you can't look.

What happens in our line of work happens. The trick is learning how to throw it away and move on.

If what I feel for you, scares you - TOUGH. One thing about who and what I...I will NOT dissapear.

If you are afraid of me - say so. If you are afraid of commitment - I understand - better than most.

Now Look into my eyes.

009 slowly looks up.

I am going to leave now. We have work to do...we both understand that. I will ALWAYS be there to support you.

AND, we ARE going to find these that that did this to you.

*Matthew kisses Joyce. It almost doesn't end.*

Don't forget one very basic this, 009.

I am your friend as well.

004 goes back to his car, watches 009 go into her flat and drives away.

I wish I could understand that lady. Boy, am I stupid. How am I going to get this lady to trust me?

[Joyce Carrington]

The next morning...

004 and 009 meet each other in the corridor on the fifth floor. There is an awkward silence.

004: So... how are you?

009: Well...

004: Not good?

009: Sleepy. It got pretty late last night.

*004 frowns suspiciously*

009: Well, first I cried for about two hours... and then I stuffed myself with cherries... and then I drank a whole bottle of scotch... *with a guilty tone* blended scotch...

*004's eyes widen*

009: ... and then I threw up...

004: Ah.

009: Yeah. But um... I want to apologise.

004: You don't have to...

009: You really love me, don't you?

*004 blinks*

009: You could have died. Seriously. I could have killed you. I WOULD have. I felt nothing but hate against you at that moment. It was... just some sort of necessity: you had to die.

004: Joyce...

009: And you never - not for ONE second - stopped loving me?

*long pause*

004: Never.

*009 looks him in the eyes*

009: Do I really deserve that?

004: Yes. You do.

*009 smiles sadly*

009: I feel like I don't. But I want a chance to earn it. So that's why I'll tell you this: we're not going to have lunch together today.

*004 wants to protest, but 009 holds up her hand*

009: The only thing I'll tell you is this: Seven o'clock. My place. Don't bring ANYTHING.

*walks away*

009: And now get back to work.

[Matt O'S oo4]

Grabbing a sizable mug of coffee, 004 process the inordinate stack of paperwork that had been generated over the past 72 hours.

Followed up by an hour in the mI6 gun range. A discussion with Q regarding his Lagonda and a few new features to be added and or updated.

Q: And, how are we today, Mr. O'shawnassey?

004, looking up, hearing the same old sarcastic voice: Oh....better, sir. I think...better, sir, thank you.

Q, walking slowly up to him: *sigh* I see that you still aren't fully recovered from your - *raising his eyebrows* sickness?

004, looking up at him: What make you think, that, sir?

Q: Call me sir again, and I'll have you reported as an imposter. That is not the 004 I remember.

They look at each for a moment. They both smile for a moment. Q shakes his head for a moment.

Q: Yes, Matthew, I do understand. Approve - noooo...*Q nods* but understand. Here try this. 007 enjoyed this little exercise.

Q hands 004 a pair of heavy glasses. Q: Place this on you belt, switch it on and follow me.

Q walks down to another section of Q-branch and, on the way, picks up a small leatherette case.

Q: Here we are. Take this. *Q opens the case and Hands 004 a Beretta 92F.* Don't understand why you favor this paticulat weapons, but.....then again.....I seldom seem to understand many of the 00's. Switch this on, and off you go. Enjoy yourself.

*Q walks out of the room and switches on the system. A momentary flicker, 004 is in another part of MI6.

Q voice: All right 004, here is the excercise. Pleaase holster your weapon to begin. There is a criminal elemnet in MI6. Sort it out. You have one hour.

004 looks at his watch. 4 PM. No problem. This is for my benefit??

One hour, eh. We'll see.

[Xenobia]

*Xenobia taps Q gently on the shoulder*

Q: For God's Sake....

X: SSSSH, Q! We need the element of surprise.

Q: Who is we?

X: We is me and the people I am trying to protect. Can you change the game once it is in play?

Q: It depends, what do you wish me to change?

X: The finale, the big bad guy.

Q: Do you have someone in mind.

*Xenobia holds up a disk*

X: Indeed I do. Let's see what Matt can do.

-- Xenobia

[Joyce Carrington]

*walks into Q Branch*

009: Q, I'm gonna need...

002 and Q: SSSHHHH!!!

*009 notices 004 in the VR shooting range*

009: (whispering) Sorry...

*stays to watch 004 playing*

[Genrewriter]

*G enters behind 009.*

G: Enjoying the show?

*002 glances over.*

X: where have you been?

G: Filling out insurance papers for the damage I caused. Nopw what's this?

X: Therapy.

[Joyce Carrington]

004 is standing at the coffeemachine on the first floor when suddenly he hears a loud scream coming from Dr. Warmflash's office.
Looking around him for anything out of the ordinary, he grabs his Beretta and makes sure the safety is off. The whole building seems to have gone quiet as he makes his way over to Molly's office.

Careful, Matt... careful...

The door to Molly's office is open and he waits two seconds, trying to hear what's inside. There's definetely someone in there - and it's not the doctor. 004 waits another two seconds.

Two... one...

He walks into the office, armed with the gun. Ugly goon #1 is standing at the late doctor's body. He's strangled her. 004 does not hesitate but fires. Ugly goon #1 is taken by surprise and drops to the ground. The portable radio on his suit comes to life almost instantly.

Radio: All units report to fourth floor. I repeat...

Not waiting to hear the whole message, 004 runs out of the office and heads over to the east stairwell.
At the door to the third floor, 002 is lying dead on the stairs. She's been shot in the head.

(002 to Q: Was that REALLY necessary?)
(009 and G: SSSHHH!!)

004 continues climbing the stairs. At the door to the fourth floor he stops to listen. There is definetely some activity going on in there.
He makes sure he's got enough ammo, takes a deep breath and...

The door slams open and three ugly goons look up when they see 004 standing in the doorway. Ugly goon #2 and #3 are shot almost instantly but Ugly goon #4 fires at 004.
Dropping on one knee, 004 dodges the bullet amd fires two bullets at Ugly goon #4.

From a room down the corridor, Ugly goon #5 steps out. 004 goes into bullet-time and...

(G: WOW! It has bullet-time? I've got to try this sometime..)
(009, 002 and Q: SSSHHH!!!)

...lungs forward, firing his gun. Ugly goon #5 screams and drops to the floor.

004 runs toward the room the goon came from and walks in.

(Q: Here we go...)
(009, 002 and G: SSSHHH!!!)

Suddenly, everything seems to go into slow motion. There are four people standing in the room: three ugly goons... and 009...

(009: Wait a minute...)
(002, Q and G: SSSHHH!!!)

In a reflex, 004's intention is to take out the goons and save her, but then she says, in a cold voice: Kill him.
The goons grab their guns, but 004 is faster.

Pivotting on his heels, he shoots both Ugly goon #6 and #7 and jumps behind the desk to take a shot at Ugly goon #8. He then jumps up, aiming his gun at 009, but she has her own gun already pointed at him.

(009, 002, G and Q hold their breath).

004's finger is on the trigger. He stares at the woman in front of him.

A sharp pain sears through his chest and he fires at her, hitting her right in the head. 009 drops to the floor.



The lights flick on. 004 takes the goggles off and looks at the four people standing around him.

Q: She got you first, Double-O Four. You would have been dead.

009: (quietly) You hesitated.

[Bryce (003)]

*Bryce pours cup of coffee in the background*

003: It's not the same in here...You KNOW it's a simulation....Still....Matt?

*sips coffee. Grimaces. Removes flask and adds "sweetener"*

(to 002): I'd be curious to see how quickly you'd drop the hammer on 007 in the same scenario.

[Matt O'S oo4]

Originally posted by JoyceCarrington
009: (quietly) You hesitated.

Not affected by it: I was taken by surprise to say the least. I wasn't going to hesitate., except.....your simulation of 009....its not the same. It's a mirror image. Drew my focus for a moment.

Q can we have a word. please??

Looks to 009: Hopefully we are still on for seven?

Q, ALONE, please.

004 and Q walk into his office and close the door.

A long silence. Q and 004 are heard...laughing?? Both men step out of Q's office and are trying to keep thier composure.

Q maintians a stiff upper lip. "Anyone else care to try?"

004 looks at Q with a smirk and back at the group.

Silence

[Bryce (003)]

*Bryce checks playback*

003: He's right. Look.

*Bryce points at freeze frame on monitor. 009 stands pointing a gun, but the part in her hair is reversed from the way she normally wears it*

003: Whoever loaded up her image forgot to render it for proper view. (looks to G) Go slap one of your techs...I don't care which one..or 006 at the least.

*offers mug of "sweetened" coffee to 004*

Here. Take your medicine.

[Xenobia]

Originally posted by Bryce (003)


(to 002): I'd be curious to see how quickly you'd drop the hammer on  
007 in the same scenario.

Cheap shot 003, and beneath you. I know where Bond has been, what he has been exposed to. If I had to, I would kill him.

*Turns to leave but turns back*

And I'd kill you to if I had to to stay alive. I'd kill anyone in that case. Never forget that.

-- Xenobia

[Xenobia]

002 and G walk out together.

G: Mirror image or not...

X: He still hestiated.

G: And 003 is in denial about it.

X: Also correct.

G: Do we tell M?

X: Yes.

G: Then what?

*Xen sighs*

X: She should take Matt off duty, and lock him down somewhere far away from 009, but then 003 might try to break them both out.

G: So we....

X: Let M figure it out. That what she gets paid the big bucks to do.

-- Xenobia

[Bryce (003)]

*looks to 004*

I guess that means the weekend in Bora Bora is off. So, I'm free. Golf this weekend? We'll go up to the castle.

[Matt O'S oo4]

Hmmmm.

Looks at 009 in a loug wisper.

"Remind me never to go hunting with 002." *winks*

Q clears his throat: Well then if there are no takers, *ahem* I'll be getting back to reality.

004 hands the halo Berettea back to Q who leave with it.

004 looks at 009 for a moment and a smile creeps over his face.

009 is somewhat stunned. "Would you have really - "

004's smile fades a bit: "If this were real. Oh, yes. Of course I would have. Can"t say I would have enjoyed it, though."

009: Mirror image. It that what made you hesitate?

004 nods and his smile returns despite his attempts to conceal it.

009, looking at him suspiciously: "WHAT, gave it away. What was so different.

004 pulls her aside and wispers in her ear.

009 gasps and turns away from the few onlookers for a moment. 004 tries to maintain a serious demeanor.

009 turns on him with mock anger. "There not that different!!"

004 kisses her. "Like I care." And walks away. "See you ar seven."

About some coffee, Johnny??

[Bryce (003)]

*003 & 004 start towards elevators. 003 pauses, looks to 004 then to Q*

004 (nods, looks to Q) Oh, yes. Can I have a an A Bomb?

*elevator doors close on both men grinning*

[Matt O'S oo4]

Its good to be home.
Looks at 003
Got any more of that "sweetener?"

[Bryce (003)]

*takes out second flask*

003: Guess the magic ingredient and you can finish that one.

[Matt O'S oo4]

Ah. I just LOVE tests. Let;s see...

004 takes a healthy drink.

Without hesitation.

MacCallan 18....hmmmm, yummy, a VERY good year.

*raises flask*

[Xenobia]

*In M's office*

M: I'll need to see that playback.

G: You can look at it all you want M. It's just not clear that there was a significant difference between 009 and her mirror image.

M: So you agree with 002 that O'Shawnessey paused because of who it was, not what he saw.

G: With regret ma'am, yes, I concur with Xenobia.

*M buzzes her intercom*

M: Moneypenny, ask 004 to join me in my office. Alone.

P: Yes ma'am.

*M nods to the two agents*

M: When I said alone, I mean alone. If I feel 004 is not up for duty, you will be informed. Dismissed.

*Xenobia and G answer together*

X: Yes ma'am.
G: Yes ma'am.

*They leave the office and head for the lifts*

X: Let's take the stairs. I really don't feel like seeing Matt right now.

-- Xenobia

[Joyce Carrington]

009 walks into Xen and G in the stairwell.

*Xen and G look guilty*

009: You've spoken to M, haven't you?

*Xen and G look at each other*

*Then they start nodding*

*009 sighs*

X: Sorry. We felt it was necessary.

J: Don't be sorry. I... I don't know what to do anymore. I care for Matt, I care so much about him... and I want to believe what he said, but I'm afraid that he's denying... what's really going on.

*Xen and G look at each other again*

J: Oh well. I have a date with him tonight. We'll see.

*walks away*

[Genrewriter]

*X and G glance at each other.*

G: So, what do you think?

X: I think we should keep a good eye on them.

G: Yeah. You want to set up a stakeout?

X: No, it has to be something more subtle.

*G nods and heads to his office. He gets two bugs and heads down to the parking lot. Moving casually, he plants the bugs underneath 004's car and 009's car and heads back upstairs.*

*In the stairwell, G runs into 003.*

G: Hey, Bryce.

003: Hey. Problem?

G: No, just making sure my car was locked.

003: Well, yeah. I suppose after blowing up the office you'd be a bit nervous about the parking lot. They said repairs should take another week.

G: Good, good. Look, I think you really need to talk with 004.

003: Come on, you're imagining things.

G: Am I? Take a look at the tape from the training simulator. Trust me.

*003 shakes his head.*

003: Fine, you win. Let's go.

*003 and G head for Q-Branch. As they do, G passes 002 and nods subtly to her. She returns the gesture and waits until the two men are around the corner before following.*

[Matt O'S oo4]

004 receive a call from Monneypenny.

004: Yes

Monneypenny: Please report to M