highly unorthodox

[full_of_wrath]

Mallory is a man who is able to accomplish almost anything he sets his mind to. By all rights, stepping into her shoes, the whole office should have bucked the readjustment, some of the older agents in particular... but somehow they don't. They fall smoothly into line underneath him, and for one simple reason.

Mallory is incredibly good at reading, at soothing, at moving people the precise way he wants to, at achieving the desired result from resource after human resource. He has Bond twitching with loyalty, has Moneypenny working with focused devotion, and has Q happily ensconsed in a lab with almost free reign and near unlimited resources and enough supervision and oversight to give his days structure. Every one of them, and everyone else in the bureau besides, each so lovingly tailored into just the right spot, not only makes the transition smoothly but rapidly begins to thrive under his gentle touch.

Which is why it's unheard of, the request he makes of Q this afternoon, to meet him in his office, even more unheard of his request to take on a new trainee and manage him closely, report anything he sees out of the ordinary. But it's also why Q can be sure it's for a damn good reason.

John Harrison, the newest upheaval in his life, will be waiting for him down in his office when Mallory is done with him.

Comments

[queues]

"That would depend on what you need."

Q stands, adjusting his glasses.

"And if it involves anything out of the ordinary."

[full_of_wrath]

"I don't know what you boring little people call ordinary. Take a look over it and give me your thoughts."

Mouth curling in a sneer.

[queues]

"Get out of my office."

Calmly. He is definitely going to Mallory about this. Nobody can expect him to deal with this guy all day.

[full_of_wrath]

He hums and slips away.

Mallory informs Q in no uncertain terms that they are to try to work together, that Harrison is brilliant.

As a lure, he sends Q home with some of the other blueprints they have been provided.

[queues]

And Q is very unhappy with this whole thing because he doesn't care how brilliant Harrison is, just that he's suddenly treated like a pencil pusher when he's the head of Q branch, thank you very much.

But Harrison gets a call at ten o'clock at night. Unlisted number.

[full_of_wrath]

"He sent me home with a dossier of your work."

Khan answers, utterly without preamble. No one else has ever called him, and he knows a game like this when he sees one. Mallory will have worked them both.

"I'm looking at your palm print scanner, currently."

[queues]

"Oh?"

He doesn't his best to sound disinterested, but he has a fierce pride in his word.

"Yes, I intent to apply it to future devices, vehicles, motorcycle handles- it's proven to be very useful already."

[full_of_wrath]

"How do you plan to account for dirty hands? For scarring that occurs during battles, or agents using the technology in areas where they need to glove?"

He wants to know- it isn't hostile, just vaguely curious.

[queues]

"The technology is fine-tuned to accept up to an eighty percent match, which solves the dirt or scarring problem. If an agent needs to glove, then I can develop a hand covering that works with the gel and overrides the scanner- sort of an alternate key, if you will."

Q isn't entirely condescending when he says as much.

"Excessive blood will be a problem, but it would sully your aim using a regular gun anyway."

[full_of_wrath]

"Or a code to override, in a split second of necessity, good for a shot or two and something only the agent can set."

He answers, his own churlish attitude also diminished by the lure of the puzzle.

[queues]

"If they have a moment to think and remember the code. Otherwise, I'd have to put it in from my end, which could cause problems if I am not able to observe them, for whatever reason."

[full_of_wrath]

"Mmhm."

Agreeing, quietly.

"In all, I've seen much less elegant technology."

As close to a compliment as Q will get.

[queues]

"I suppose I'll take that as a compliment."

And then, quieter.

"Your papers. I've been looking through those as well."

[full_of_wrath]

"I'd be interested to know what you'd made of them."

Because it's quite the piecemeal, an interesting collection of lies and truths and grey bits in between.

[queues]

"...I've told you this before, but I'm certain that some of these theories don't actually exist."

That's not condescension in his tone, however.