In 3017, I, like many aspiring gentlemen of my generation, had moved to London in quest of status, fortune, and pleasure. However, in just under a month in London, I had realized that the frivolous pleasures of ordinary gentlemen do not suit me and I was in want of an extraordinary education. Luckily, I had recently obtained an inheritance from my late grandfather and I could afford entrance into the Academy. By 3025, I had completed my education at the Academy and secured a position as an agent for her majesty the Queen.

Of late, I have been under the guise of an American gentleman while living in a small apartment in New York City. Although my exact mission is not certain, it has been acknowledged that it pertains to recovering a stolen object of sorts.

Since my arrival in New York City, I have been attempting to communicate with my correspondents, but to no avail. Because the majority of them are incompetent, I've worked in solitude, only relying on myself.

One dismal and dreary morn, I straightened my bowtie and smoothed my dark brows, mentally reciting protocol. After holstering my pistol, I donned my mechanized bowler hat and disabled my robotic companion. I was not in need of an irritating piece of engineered metal and wire to follow me around.

Just hours before I had discovered the location of the much-sought after object, despite the fact that I still did not know exactly what it was. According to her majesty, I would know it when I saw it.

After I left my apartment, I summoned a taxi. I climbed into the bright yellow hover vehicle and told the driver where I wanted to go. It was about ten blocks away from my actual destination, but it would protect myself and those who weren't involved.

Whilst in the vehicle, I noticed that a suspicious vehicle, no matter which way the driver turned, was always within a meter's length behind us. I resolved to confront and engage the passengers only when the situation called for it.

When we reached the destination, I climbed out of the vehicle and brushed my gloved hand on the back of my neck. The vehicle had stopped just inches behind where the taxi had parked. I turned, crossing the street on my left. It was not where I was supposed to walk, but I could eventually make my way to where the object was.

As I walked away, I could hear a vehicle door slide shut. I clenched my hands into fists, walking as quickly as I could. Ignoring the whizzing of all hover vehicles, I listened for the sound of any close footsteps. If I was being pursued, I would hear it. I pushed on a pair of my sunglasses, which were connected to my bowler hat. Now I could see my pursuer. However, there was a throng of people behind me, so it was quite difficult for me to identify the person who was following me.

I turned several times, and went across many more blocks than I had intended. Finally, I could see my pursuer in my glasses.

He looked like a typical American man- he wore slightly shabby clothing and a 'five o'clock shadow' surrounded his mouth. I turned around to face him.

"Excuse me sir," I said in my best American accent. "Are you alright?"

The man nodded, as customary in America. He turned away and began to walk, but once I turned back onto my path I heard more of his footsteps.

Once I neared my final destination, I pulled my sweat-dampened gloves off, stuck them in my pocket, and brushed my hands against my trousers, pulling out my pistol as deftly as I could. I thus concealed it in the sleeve of my over-coat.

At last,  I reached the building, and I turned to see that the man who had been following me was no longer present. Good. I clicked another button on the side of my bowler hat, turning off all security measures that were inside of the tall structure. Glancing around one last time, I entered the building.

I looked up at the stairs. I had been told that the object was on the topmost floor, so I began to walk up the stairs silently so I did not risk being caught by humans. The robots and other security measures had already been taken care of, but my fellow humans are another matter altogether.

Once I reached the top floor, I saw it. It was not as big as I had imagined, but I almost instantly identified it as an atomic diffuser. The effects of such a device could be devastating if in the wrong hands.

"Came here for the diffuser?" a thickly accented voice asked just behind me. Russian.

I turned quickly, pulling my pistol out of my sleeve. It was the same man who had been following me earlier.

"How about we step away from the weapon of mass destruction and settle this like gentlemen?" the man asked slowly. It was almost difficult to understand what he was saying.

"How about no?"

The man pulled out a weapon of his own- and it was much deadlier than my small, durasteel pistol. Almost instantly, I ducked the moment I saw a flash from the front end of the weapon. As I did so, I accidentally pulled the trigger of my own pistol.

I opened my eyes as I stood back up. The man was now on the floor, but I could scarcely hear his screams due to the ringing in my own ears. I would have sworn out-loud, but I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to further alarm whoever was in the building.

I pulled a handkerchief out of my pocket, wrapping it around the man's mouth as quickly as I could. I grabbed the atomic diffuser, gave him a tip of my bowler hat, and dashed down the stairs and out of the building as quickly as I could.

I whipped my bowler cap off and pushed yet another button, and it transformed into my speeder bike. I climbed on top of it and flew away as quickly as I could possibly manage.

And that, my fair reader, is just one of the ordinary, everyday happenings of a gentleman spy.