Bond stood in front of M's secretary flirting shamelessly.

This woman must be a temporary secretary. He had never seen her before, so he might as well try his luck.

M absolutely hated it when he bedded her secretaries. She said it somehow tainted her view of them, that they were so easily duped by his charms.

Cold hearted woman.

Although...he had always wondered what he could do to...

Nah...that could never happen. In his mind M would never allow herself the pleasure he could provide. He had been made a 00 two years ago, and in that time M had only ever expressed exasperation for him. It was as if he were a wayward relative or...less. Much less on some days.

Bond never suffered under the illusion that he was an overly important tool in anyway. None of the 00's thought M was anything more than the coldest queen of ice they had ever met.

And yet...there was this twinkle of amusement in her deep blue eyes, that sometimes overcame her face before she could manage to hide it from him. It made him look for it on every meeting and strangely...it made him want to be a better agent. All just to see her eyes and face change from dissatisfied school headmistress to...oh...he...didn't...really...know.

Bond couldn't truly define it without delving into strange new territories of his subconscious mind.

Bond thoughts halted as the door to M's office opened, revealing Bill Tanner with a pile of files. Nothing new there, however as he stepped into the room he instantly missed the smell of M's perfume.

M was not here, nor had she been in a few days likely.

"Please sit down 007. I have a job for you. "Tanner slide Bond a folder across M's desk and Bond took in the room with a perplexed look.

"Where is she Tanner and what is this job?" Bond asked lifting the folder off M's desk and noticing that Tanner said I not we, have a job for you.

"It is a training mission 007 one that you should take very seriously. You were not my first choice but other agents have already been training the subject in the art of espionage, sleight of hand and some observational skills. The last is marksmanship close combat and seduction."

"A, or multiple 00 for this? Why are 004 and 005 doing this? It's a bit demeaning for our level and after all there is an academy that teaches all this, or military training basics covers it." Bond said not even trying to hide his arrogant dissatisfaction with the idea.

"Because time is of the essence and we need this individual's skills raised without notice and as soon as possible. It is not for you to question why, but to accomplish this task with the alacrity and the attention to detail that we expect of a 00 agent here at MI6."

"I really don't see the point but I do understand why you need me to teach the finer points of seduction." Bond added smirking in that oh so self satisfied way of his.

"Bond I chose you for a reason which will become apparent when you meet...the trainee."

"You chose me? What about M? What does she have to say about all of this?"

"M is on sabbatical."

"Sabbatical? You must be joking. That woman never takes her hand off the wheel! She isn't ill is she?" Bond asked with sudden concern.

"No and her family is well." Tanner added looking down at the desk.

Tanner was playing this strangely. What was going on?

"Out with it? You're hiding something. What is wrong with M? Where is she? I want to speak with her before I take this mission on. I mean it Tanner. Where is our intrepid boss?"

"Open the folder 007. Everything you need to concern yourself is within, if you would just do what a normal employee does and glance at it first and then ask questions. Christ...you would think you ran this place with all of your demands!"

"Alright...don't get your knickers in a twist." Bond opened the dossier and then dropped it on the floor between his knees. He ran his hands over his head, planting his elbows on his knees and closed his eyes as if in pain.

"Fuck...you have to be joking!?"