Agent Chetiri

Chapter 4

You always get a special kick on your fiest day, no matter how many you've gone through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.

-Joe DiMaggio

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Today was the day.

Yes, today was the day Alexa would officially begin her work at the MI6. It was only fair to say she was excited, having woken up on time for once. She rushed around her home, eating her breakfast and preparing for work. Alexa brushed her unruly mane behind her shoulders and pulled on a demure, light blue dress that flared past her knees, paired with black flats. She tossed her empty cup of coffee in the sink and headed to the bathroom, making ready to leave. Before she left home, she put on a necklace with a small, brass key on the chain. Alexa never left without it and although it was simple in its appearances, it was one of her most treasured possessions. It was the key to her home in Kodino and she always slipped it under the crease her dress made. She put on her coat and grabbed an umbrella, seeing that it was raining lightly outside.

Alexa soon left the house and walked to the Tube stop, where she headed back to the Barbican to get to the tunnels near Sheffield Market. She walked briskly down the street, unsure of what to expect today but was excited nonetheless.

Alexa headed to the security desk, where she received her permanent pass inside the building. She held it in her hand whilst going through the various checkpoints. Alexa finally made it past the last scanner and stood at the stair steps, attempting to remember where the Q-Branch was. She looked to her right and found herself feeling intimidated by the people around her. Alexa thought it would be completely juvenile to ask for directions and she racked her brain to remember where she had gone with Joy yesterday.

"Sorry, are you lost?" a voice said behind her. Alexa turned around to look into the eyes of a woman with curly brown hair and tanned skin. She was dressed elegantly and was taller than Alexa, in her high heels. The woman possessed sharp, striking features that complemented her fierce eyes but she still managed to keep a pleasant smile on her lips.

"Do you mind telling me where the Q-Branch is?" Alexa said, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment.

"No need to look so embarrassed! Here, I'll take you," she said as she led Alexa to the elevator. There was something about this woman that put Alexa at ease and she felt her initial discomfort disappearing. She found that it was nice to know that someone was actually nice enough to lead her to the Q-Branch.

"Thank you," Alexa said gratefully. The woman pressed the button for the fourth floor and turned back to face her.

"So, are you a friend of Q's?" she said curiously.

"Not really. He recently hired me. I took my final examinations yesterday and it's my first day today," Alexa explained.

"Oh, I see! You must be Alexa then. James told me about you yesterday. My name is Eve Moneypenny," she said, holding out her hand.

"Um, well, it's nice to meet you, Eve," Alexa said as she shook her hand. "What did he say about me?"

"He said you did incredibly well in shooting and that it's a shame that you have to work at that dreary old place," Eve said.

"The Q-Branch doesn't seem as dreary as he paints it to be," Alexa said.

"Well, that's James for you. It's not bad in the Q-Branch but he just hates going there, pretty much because he still owes Q money for wrecking his inventions," Eve chuckled. The doors opened with a loud ding and she stepped out into the hall with Eve. They advanced down the corridor and Alexa opened the door to the Q-Branch, where she saw Q already working on something. He turned to face her and she noted the stern expression on his face, which made her nervous.