Chapter 11
While Jack was busy confirming that there were in fact three working surveillance camera's in the area, Felix received a text from Q directing them to an address in Amsterdam.
"Boss!" said Felix in a rather excited tone "We've got to go"
"Yeah, yeah in a minute, I need to finish briefing the team on…"
"No, NOW!" shouted Felix "Q has figured out what the numbers mean and it's all hands on deck. We're needed in Amsterdam. You can finish briefing these guys from your phone while we head to the airport."
"Yeah, and what about the server? we still need to know where the signals are being sent don't we?" snapped Jack
"Amsterdam" replied Felix "Everything leads to Amsterdam so that's where we need to concentrate our efforts"
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Bond and Q hit Amsterdam as fast as possible. The overwhelming feeling of running out of time spurring them onward.
Q is very worried about the box Jack and Felix found. It was counting down to something.
London sent word that the tables in question that have been popping up in all the storage lockers were made in a warehouse outside the city. They are replicas of the antique table that M had in her flat. That is their first destination and Jack and Felix are on the way to meet them.
The old man managed to get three of the cyberterrorists so there are only two more that they saw on camera left to apprehend somewhere.
Bond cautiously slides up to the warehouse door with Q remaining at a safe distance. Bond left the boy genius in the car...he does not want the lad to get hurt. Not to mention, Moneypenny will kill him if anything happens to Q.
Bond wishes Felix and Jack were already here but proceeds to peek around the corner of the building. It is not a massive facility but large enough that it will take some time for him to get the complete lay out.
The smell of wood permeates the building as Bond slips in the door. There are only three delivery vans outside.
Bond eases into the shadowy corners out of the way. From the upper levels a woman steps out of an office. Bond snaps a picture. She is followed by five men and seems to be the leader of the group.
Bond watches as they descend and move to a work table. They begin putting on assault gear...picking up guns. Bond moves closer to try to hear the conversation.
The tallest man speaks fist, "MI6 and the CIA are on our tails….the CIA got Dav, Carlos and Pilipe in Berlin."
"What's our next move?" The bald man questions.
The woman speaks, "guard the merchandize."
"Lise...I wanna know when and how we are getting paid...we haven't even sold any of the information yet." The tall man asks.
"Gerald...it will be later...Silva left instructions that if we accomplished these two things….we will be led to treasures he left for his lost love."
The tall man Gerald frowns as they continue to work out their plan. Bond is recording what he can with his phone.
"Silva was insane and Dav told me that when he doubled back in Venice that some woman was in a locker across from ours and it was full of stuff that could make us enough to live comfortably for a while."
Lise frowns at him. "What of it?"
"Dav said that after she left, a CIA and MI6 agent posing as Interpol took an interest in the same locker and then examined ours. Tell me that wasn't Silva's treasure...right under our damn noses!"
"Perhaps it was but we will not receive the information until we have accomplished our task...then and only then information will come from London giving us our reward." Lise instructs them.
"Fine let's do this….how long until activation?"
"The feed went live 2 hours ago so we have 10 hours until initiation." The bald man says.
Bond has heard enough and goes back to the back door he used to get in. He quickly moves to the vehicles parked outside and attaches tracers to each one.
Bond runs back to Q in the car and tosses him his phone. Q taps away as images pop up on the screen.
"They are guarding something...watch for the location of the vehicles because that where they will be. Tell M there is a connection somewhere in London. Someone is feeding them these orders and we need to find out who."
"What do you think they are guarding?"
"It seems that the cyber terrorism is secondary to the plan to follow this plan of Silva's. They have not sold anything yet and the warehouse likely has their equipment so have MI6 get a team here ASAP."
"Where are we going?"
"We will go get Jack and Felix at the airport and then each find one of those vans."
The two of them see three of the delivery vans head out the gated area of the warehouse. There are two people in each and Bond notes the marker of the one carrying Lise...the leader. He will deal with her later.
Bond starts the rental car and begins heading towards the airport. The faster Jack and Felix get here the faster they can find out what Silva's little army is guarding.
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"Christ Jack, could you be any slower." Grumbled Felix as he stormed off the plane and headed toward the concourse.
"I'm coming!" Shouted Jack as he fumbled with his cell phone, desperately trying to read the text that had been sent to him.
"It's hard enough to read these damn small screens when you are standing still, let alone sprinting off a plane."
"I would hardly call what you are doing sprinting," replied Felix. "Who is texting you?"
"It's Q, and as near as I can figure out, he and James are waiting for us as soon as we clear customs."
"Shit, that will take forever! Can't you use some of your natural charm and if that doesn't work your clout as Head Field Agent for the CIA to speed things along?"
"That Clout as you put it only works in the States, but I will see what I can do." Said Jack with a wink, as he handed Felix his phone and began to make his way to the nearest security guard. "Excuse me," he said with a sickenly sweet smile, "but might I have a word."
"Sir, I am going to have to ask you to step back in line and wait your turn." Replied the guard in a rather unamused tone.
"I don't think you understand, you see I am with the CIA and my partner and I are here on urgent business and…"
"Well Sir, If you are the CIA, then I am the King of Siam, and you are currently in my kingdom and must follow my rules, so if you don't mind would you please step back in line."
"Look pal, We need to get through this line ASAP..."
"I am not going to warn you again!"
"If my partner and I are not out front in five minutes you will not only have just the CIA to deal with, but MI6 as well! And I'm not talking about some peon at the bottom of the list, I'm talking about the very tippy top of MI6."
"Right! Well since you put it that way, would you and your partner like to follow me," replied the guard as he motioned for Felix to follow them.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," quipped Felix as he joined Jack and the guard.
"Right this way gentlemen," he said as he escorted them thru a door to a small room and proceeded to shut and lock the door. "Please empty the contents of your pockets onto the table."
"What! Have you not been listening to what I said?"
"Oh I've been listening. You do realize that impersonating a Federal officer and threatening a guard is a serious offence and can be considered an act of terrorism."
"But that's why we are here!" shouted Jack. "To prevent an act of terrorism!"
"We'll see about that!" Replied the guard as he scooped up their identification and left the room.
"You do realize that if we had just waited in line we would most likely have cleared customs by now!" Snapped Felix, "so much for your natural charm!"
"Hey, It wasn't my idea to use my Clout remember?" Hissed Jack.
After several minutes, the guard returned along with his superior.
"Sorry for the delay gentlemen. You will be happy to know that your credentials have been verified. Now, what is the nature of your business in Amsterdam?" He asked, eyeing them both suspiciously.
"I'm afraid that is classified sir, but if you could see your way clear to let us get on with our business, it would be greatly appreciated," said Felix.
"I will flag your request up the chain of command," replied the superior as he turned to leave the room. "In the mean time, I suggest you make yourselves comfortable."
"Fantastic!" Snapped Jack, as he turned to see Felix tapping away on his phone. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Calling for some reinforcements. We do not have time for these knobheads to sort this out!" Said Felix as he hit send.
Within a few minutes the guard returned along with his superior and one highly unamused James Bond.
"Are these your agents?" Asked the guard.
"Yes," snapped James. "Believe me, they will both be reprimanded for not following proper procedure. I appreciate your assistance with this matter, and should you have any further questions, please direct them to my superior in London. His number is listed on the card I gave you."
"Thank you Commander Bond," he replied. "You two are free to go."
Jack and Felix gathered up their things and followed James out of the airport to the waiting car.
"How the hell did you manage to pull that off?" Asked Jack quizzically.
"Jack meet M," he said motioning to Q who sat in the front seat with a bit of a smirk on his face.
"What?"
"There was no time to contact the real M. We've got our hands full and I need you and Felix. We have a location of what we suspect is the hideout for the remaining members of this team and I don't have time for you two to be dilly dallying around at the airport!" Snapped James.
"Hold on to your britches there Bond...where are we going and what are we up against?"
Q hands a small device to Felix and Jack. "These are to locate the tracer on the vans used by the terrorist. Bond and I will follow the leader and you two find the other two."
"Now? Can't we settle into a hotel and clean up first?" Felix asks.
Bond frowns, "is it common for the CIA to just lie around and wait for something bad to happen? I for one think anything to do with Silva must be eliminated as soon as humanly possible."
"Bond's right Felix...we need to get this over with...dead and buried at last."
"Alright...ok we will get going. Come on old man let's get a couple of rental cars. Which hotel James?"
"The airport Marriott. M wants this fiasco wrapped up but right now we still have more questions than answers."
"Jimmy...you still think the new M is hiding things from you?"
"Yes. Q here is going to get involved with uncovering what that exactly is when we get back. There must be some sort of trail...on our ghost. Q found a link to London through a phone code and the leader...a Lise said they were waiting on instructions from London."
"Strange...our bosses have been particularly silent during this case. Maybe M has been diverting their attention." Felix says.
Felix and Jack each get cars and they head out in separate directions to find who they are looking for.
Felix finds his van first and checks in with Q before snooping around. Within the hour they all have their marks and are watching the guards around three different sites.
Bond turns to Q, "now what?"
"I think this is where you're 00 training comes in and you go get them. Call me in once you are done."
"Thanks love...you are so helpful."
"I am looking forward to the end of this charade and home for some normalcy."
Bond smirks, "you call what we do normal?"
"Funny...you are not, Bond."
James leaves the car and carefully approached the guard. Bond takes the male out and ties down the female calling over Q.
Bond drags the body and then the woman into the near empty warehouse. The centre of the room contains a large crate. Within the open crate was a large missile...active...and ready.
"Q….get in here fast!"
Q arrives and adjusts his glasses in nervousness. "I will direct feed this to HQ."
Q pull over a couple of stools one for him and one for the computer.
"What is this...where is it going and what is your connection to Silva?"
The woman sneers at him as Bond hits her hard.
Q speaks up, "Bond Felix and Jack have found something similar...I think that the numbers from the lockers...are part of this. I have been running the numbers through my system and…
The missile suddenly moves...rotating and lighting up.
"Q...I think you need to find out quickly…and please tell me these aren't nuclear warheads."
"I know and I think they are! I am working as fast as I can!"
Bond's mobile goes off. "Q...link through to Jack and Felix"
"Done...hello...yes we all have the same situation...I am working...on...it...I GOT IT!"
Bond comes over…."what have you got?"
"The numbers...look here. These are the coordinate numbers...and the city codes...this missile is headed for Moscow. Jack's is headed for Barcelona and Felix's for Casablanca."
"What? Why? Those were not the cities on the map. This is the time for you to tell us Miss. I don't know if you are in this for secrets money or what but did you really plan to destroy millions in the process?"
"No...we were just told to guard the area...someone was to come and deliver us package from London...we are anarchists not mass murderers. We uncover the truth and give it to the masses."
"Well you have been duped...Silva lead you to the facilities to gather the information without telling you that right beside was a treasure trove of art and valuables."
"What?"
"Jack...you question yours?"
"Yeah...not my first rodeo Jimmy...they are idealists...cyber terrorist without a true clue what they are dealing with."
Felix speaks up, "mine too."
Jack's image frowns from Q's screen. "Now's your turn to earn your pay young man...how do we stop the darn blasted apocalypse? Why did that jumped up computer wiz start all this up? It don't make a lick of sense?"
"I am trying but I have to establish the right code for the right missile!"
Bond dumps Lise...on the ground and answers his mobile. It is M in a panic in operations with the feed from Q's computer echoed in front of him Tanner and Q branch.
"Yes...M, do you have anything? Well, we have no idea how it was triggered but it has...get them all working on it...CIA everyone...this is primary."
Jack is on his phone back to Virginia trying to get helpful information. The missiles are still beeping occasionally.
"Q...anything?"
"Bond...I am trying as fast as I can...they are activated I just need to find the numbers that we need."
The tension is agonizing. Q's computer is the main defence against the destruction of three cities.
"OK…..Felix….try entering this number….8642-5643-9753"
Felix enters the numbers…"nothing...Q and a timer just popped up...we only have 20 minutes!"
"Damn….Jack try those numbers on yours."
"Seriously...boy….you need to make sure because right now there ain't no timer on mine and there is no way I am going back to the office after allowing Barcelona to blow the hell up!"
"Jack...it is the right code for one of them...trust me. Bond...number 7436-2231-0053...Felix...6654-8890-2113."
Felix yelps in joy, "got it! Mine is off and powered down. The CIA bomb disposal is on it's way to help. Fantastic work Q."
Jack frowns. "Not so good here Junior...timer has been activated...did you mix James and mine up?"
"Maybe...Bond?"
"Shit! Ours is active...and spewing out information."
"Film it Bond!"
Bond pulls his mobile out and records the information flashing on the screen.
"Switch numbers! They have to work."
James enters the number Q gave to Jack. Jack did the same.
Jack smiles, "hot damn...boy you did good...the people of Spain, owe you a Spanish coffee Q."
"Q ours is doing something else."
A panel of the bomb opens and a small incendiary device falls to the floor. Bond's eyes go wide as he grabs Lise off the floor and Q by his collar as they run for the door.
Q barely managed to grab his laptop as he runs faster than he thought possible.
They clear the building and climb into the car and Bond takes off as the building explodes…
Jack and Felix are screaming into their phones….
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M is in operations as the final moment tensely comes to pass. It was far more than he assumed was going on...but he should have known.
Is this Silva chaos finally over?
There are too many questions and too many ghosts on this one. Bond and Q have to bring him the letters the evidence Bond was questioning...the information he claims to have seen already.
Q only managed to upload a few of them...not in a rush. He sent the two letters Bond found but not the bundle that was left at the hotel for them.
He hates being left in the dark. There is more going on and he needs answers.
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As the dust began to settle, James looked around checking to make sure that Q and Lise are beside him and in one piece.
"Everyone alright?" he asked
"Damn it Bond, A little warning would be nice the next time you intend to drag me out of a building" snapped Q as he cradled his laptop like a baby and checked for any damage
"Would you rather I left you in there?" he asked with a smirk.
"I would rather you left me home altogether." Was Q's answer "So what do we do with her?"
"Take her in for questioning," replied James as he searched around and managed to find his mobile on the floor under his foot. "Damn!" He said looking at the smashed screen, "and I just got this one."
"All things considered 007, at least it is still in working condition," said Q as he took the mobile and dials Jack.
"Q...What the hell happened?" shouted Jack.
"Let's just say that our attempt to enter our code failed and leave it at that."
"Is everyone alright?" asked Felix in the background.
"Fine, we're fine, but the building is a complete loss. Thanks to Q, the missile was disarmed before that bomb blew up or Amsterdam would be gone and us along with it. We are going to drop off our 'guest' and head to the hotel."
"We'll meet you there," said Jack as he disconnected the call.
"So do you think it's finally over?" Asked Q.
"It all depends on what SHE has to say," replied James as he nodded toward Lise.
Q points to a street that Bond turns down. There is a waiting van and two agents from six waiting to take the prisoner.
"Lise...are you sure you knew nothing of the nuclear weapons and how Silva got his hands on them?"
"I'm sure...I would never….we were not planning to destroy the world physically...we wanted the truth out there...about governments like the one you work for and how everyone is manipulated into believing that things are the way they are and have to be….all a load of shit!"
"Really...you think what Q just managed to do was a load of shit?"
"Well….no but don't try to push down that Silva was obsessed with MI6 and that is how this all came into being….someone there inspired him to action."
"And who exactly inspired you into action...you don't look like the type Silva would have taught and moulded into a cyber terrorist...you are too sane for that. Anyone that insane bastard got a hold of would have shared his vision….so who was it? There has to be someone else moving the pieces."
"Listen...all I know came through electronically, and whoever it was has unique knowledge, most of which he obviously did not share. All that treasure...just lying in wait…"
"That was for someone else...the one who began this chase and easily found out about your little band of computer geeks with delusions of grandeur."
"So did the architect of our plot know about the treasure lockers or not?"
Bond shot Q a glance...neither of them know the answer to that. Hopefully by the time they returned to London someone...with the single letter M for an identifier will have an answer for them.
To be continued...