Chapter 1
The dingy hotel room smells of stale smoke and booze.
Decor reminiscent of something out of a late 1970's porno movie complete with velvet...can it even be considered a painting? No...it is more of a print.
Oranges, yellows and browns dominate the abysmal colour palette of the room.
James wouldn't bring his worst enemy to this place...well on second thought he might.
But a woman...never! Here is where he finds himself, trapped in America's dingiest dive with a woman...no a lady...a very important lady.
They are on the run...attempting to hide by blending in with...dare he say it, no but think it quietly to himself, yes...like Americans.
Americans are fascinating to Bond and always have been. They embody everything that is good in this world simultaneously with everything that is bad. They are walking talking contradictions.
The greatest people along side of some of the worst of the planet. Because they are the greatest economy they attract the scum of the planet. They are dreamers...the Brits...well we are phlegmatic...sturdy, steadfast realists...now. Perhaps 200 years ago it was different. We are an old country after all.
Bond supposes it is their turn...this is their time for empire but in a more open society, one that is fast to turn and admonish your faults openly for all the world to see.
Bond and his companion, the most frustrating woman he has ever meet, have discussed this at length during their harrowing escape and break neck pace to end up where they are.
Waiting...for contact from London...Tanner will have the drivers message by now and he burner mobile number.
Conversations revolve around their own faded Empire...comparisons can be made and they do compare the two countries.
Arguments...always arguments between them...the two of them thrive and exist with their arguments. Fighting is like breathing for the two of them. M's constant attacks make him become a better agent...inspire him to become a better man.
It is what sustains them and for him...at least, they are the most important part of his job...possibly his life.
After Quantum...he figured it out...one drunken night at the bottom of a bottle. Her face...the boss...M... a woman old enough to be his mother, owns his soul and she doesn't even realize it.
The old Q did...he is retiring soon...Tanner might but he is too damn scared of her to argue, or understand why Bond's continual arguments with M are the best part of his day...really she represents the best of all his adult relationships. James Bond is a man who thrives in, and on conflict.
The past...history of conflict, Empire...oh yes and that is what they are discussing in this dingy room as Bond sits by the curtain so that he can look out the window of this second floor room in the bloody Bate's motel.
"Bond, Britain's Empire was in a time of more homogeneous countries...immigration was small to European empires...but we spread out to the reaches of the globe with commerce and our preconceived English ideas. We dragged them kicking and screaming into what we deemed was modern civilized world...our world"
M continues absently as Bond looks out the window...her lecture acknowledged by the nodding of her wayward agent's head occasionally.
"Might is right...commerce and economic trade dominated the justification for Empire. This is still true today but then...we didn't have to deal with how the subjugated felt about it...until they revolted that is."
M sits on the bed, stopping her pacing the room and adds.
"Crushing rebellions was the evil part of English charm in the past. Creating puppet leaders from disjointed ethnic groups just to legally create economic institutions and governments that could be understood and dealt with by London...that was the goal and it worked for a long time...as long as you were entitled, white and English that is."
Bond looks back at her from his latest check for CIA agents. M continues with her historical musings.
M sees Bond frown at her.
"I know...In an odd sort of way we are still dealing with the mess that the Colonial office map makers from over 200 years in the past created. The double-edged sword of Empire and they all collapse in the end...that is what history teaches us."
Bond finds it amusing and surreal that he and M are currently hiding in this room...discussing the ends of Empire. How a country evolves after...the empire falls, for good or bad.
The end of Empire in what could be argued, is the beginning of the end...here in this culture less void. Be that as it may, M is showing signs of her imperial prejudices.
Bond lashes out. "That is the epitome of British superiority speaking."
"You think I'm wrong? Christ they even debate it of themselves….I don't have a right to agree with them? I do not think them beneath us. Honestly though, I am pissed about what we are going through and would love to crush them under my imperial boot if it were at all possible. Get me Dr. Who on the line and I will go back to 1814 and do more than burn down the bloody presidential palace. I will take Washington and bloody well keep it this time!"
Bond scoffs, "really...what will you call it M-land, United Empire of Britain or how about Queen's land."
"For christ sake it would just continue with what it was British North America and be called the Commonwealth of British North America or South Canada for all I care. Why do you continue to argue with me about everything? Including all my deluded revenge fantasies and alternate reality scenarios. Unrealistic scenarios that would save me from my current fate of residing on the top spot of the CIA's most wanted, hit list."
Bond smirks at her with his arms crossed across his chest.
"Well at least the FBI doesn't want you...then we would be in trouble. The CIA is not supposed to be dealing with anything domestic...if we leave before we solve this...then you will be in trouble...they will have carte blanche to try to ice you then."
"Yes well, I do not see a solution about how I am going to extradite myself from this situation."
"Are you going to tell me what the hell you did to piss off director Cameron that badly...did you insult his mother...dog...make a snide comment about them taking a long bloody time to join the party during WWII...because that would be something I could picture you saying if he pissed you off enough."
"Bond...I don't want to discuss this...he issued a capture or kill order on me and that is all you need to know. Tanner is likely beside himself dealing with the PM and the Ambassador trying to understand the trumped-up, false charges against me, and now you in all likelihood."
"I think I need to know M...why will you not tell me? For christ sake woman...you bolted out the door of his home dragging me away as if you had just set fire to the place! Wait...you didn't did you?"
"No! I didn't abscond the bloody jewels of the Kennedy family either...I didn't do anything..."
Bond looks at her in confusion. "You didn't do anything and we bolted like Cameron's mum was coming home to catch us...wait a minute...M...what did he do?"
M turned away from him finding the bloody awful print of velvet as interesting as the Mona Lisa all of a sudden. Bond leaves his perch on the window frame to stand beside the far bed where M is perched.
"M...out with it. What happened? I deserve to know since I am on the hit list for this also,"
"It was a misunderstanding...I don't wish to discuss it."
"M...what kind of misunderstanding results in a capture and kill order on the head of an ally's SIS department head. I had one but I was going around killing CIA allies to protect their misguided oil interests...what did you do?"
"I told you 007 I DID NOT DO...anything!"
"Why will you not come clean about this? You are embarrassed about something...aren't you? Tell me M. It will not leave this...disgusting room if you don't want it to...I swear on the Queen."
M looks up into Bond's ice blue eyes. He won't tell, she knows that but he will find it amusing...likely laugh in her face at the absurdity, M's situation that led them to this place.
"FINE...stop looming over me like a bloody vulture. As you know, we arrived for meetings that we attended yesterday and today. Same old boring hobnobbing as usual when we do these things."
"Yes and what did you say to get us in this deep?"
"It was nothing I said...it was what I did and what I threatened to say."
Bond looks at her with confusion.
"M...please, get to the point before I actually become tired enough to want to crawl into that...disgusting excuse for a bed."
"Fine I will start at the beginning."
"Ok I do not need reports on the meetings yesterday and today...I was there as your guard and I witnessed at least part of the group meetings. Wait...did you know this was going to happen? Is that why you needed me to accompany you this trip?"
M rests her head against the headboard after pulling her legs off the floor. James insisted she take the one furthest from the door. Bond looks down at her.
"What?"
"Move over."
"Why?"
"So I can get in with you."
M's eyes widen in shock. "Why do you need to climb into mine?"
"So that I can be between you and the door... with my eyes on the door... while I listen to why we are sharing a hotel room anyway. No ulterior motives...I assure you. Although I wouldn't be opposed to the idea if you want to occupy our time…"
"BOND! Really...stop that."
"Stop what?"
"Stop your...flirting...it is highly inappropriate given the circumstances."
Bond gets on the bed beside M as she makes room for him and frowns again.
"What circumstances are those...what or who did you do to get us into this mess? Not that I mind sharing a bed with you?"
"Neither...both...I don't...just stop the act and I will tell you what I know."
"What act?"
"The one that goes on when any woman within ear shot of you."
"Hey...I only flirt with women that I find very attractive."
M looks up at him sitting beside her and harumphs.
"Really...this explains this how?"
"You don't think I find you attractive? Why do you think I flirt with you all the time?"
"That is what you call flirting? I thought you were just trying to throw me off my game...annoy the boss...divert my attention away from your epic shortcomings so I don't fire you. I didn't even consider it flirting."
"Epic shortcomings? Really...I thought you knew...being a smart and perceptive woman."
"Knew what?"
"That you are incredibly frustrating, but also incredibly sexy."
"What!"
"You heard me...Do I need to give you all the details on discussions in and around the pub at work about how sexy you are?"
"007...stop it...do you want the catastrophe that is this story or not?"
"I do...and I cannot believe you don't realize how attractive a woman you are."
Something crosses M's face...concern...worry...disbelief all at the same time.
"M...what happened between you and Douglas Cameron?"
The worry etched on M's face is now on Bond's as he watches her wring her hands and fiddle with the bedding with her fingers.
Bond thought it was political...no she would yell and rant about that openly...no this was more worrisome...this was personal.
"Christ M...he didn't…did he?"
To be continued...