Chapter 11

Back at the bunker Gina and Gem were having pleasure torturing their new companion as they tossed Fox several times to the wall throwing kicks at her face and bitting her neck for pleasure. They tag-teamed on her throwing her around the place making her weak and vulnerable, there was no need for guns they could break anyone in their grasp. They didn't give Leila a fighting chance to defend herself, the minute she stood up, Geminis picked her up and either threw their fists at her neck or grounded her face to the gravel, giving them a homicidal pleasure. They trashed her for the past ten minutes. After dealing with her they gave her a bite on her neck for fun. Fox could barely stand after they dented her, the bullet proof vest giving to her by Bond was slit opened by Gem using her combat knife as they gave her several cuts on her body, she was alive, but could barely move. She laid there paralyzed she tried to say something but she couldn't talk, her voice was shut.

Gem approached Fox as she clung onto her head whispering something into her ears.

"This is what happens to people who cross our paths." she said kissing her on her neck. As she was about to consume her oxygen, Gina told her that Croftnik wanted her brought to the hangar. Disappointed, she got off her tugging her collar to make her stand.

"Follow me." she said holding her against her will.

Bond watched as the poor woman was brought and tossed in front of the men.

He looked at the situation, he felt pain for Fox, she had been brutally assaulted by the femme fatales. What gave him little hope he had was, she was still alive.

Croftnik stared with shock on the damage, he looked at the two and stared at Fox.

"What they did to Bond, was nothing compared to her." commented Codiaeum.

"But if she's here then..."

"Bond is around." completed Croftnik as he revealed his pistol. "Show yourself 007, or your friend here might be in critical condition." he placed the barrel on top of her skull.

Bond emerged from his hiding place with his gun released. Two guards approached him and brought him towards Croftnik. The two men stared at each other eye to eye, Croftnik's eye met with Bond's red eye.

"What a pleasant surprise Mr Bond." said Croftnik in a calm tone.

"I guarantee that if you touch her, I'll make sure that not even my govt can protect you."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, it's a promise." he said.

"I thought your man took care of him." asked Decker.

"He has a way to live to fight another day." said Croftnik. The two guards that brought Bond shoved him to the ground near Fox as he held on to her. He felt a strong flare of emotions in him. She didn't deserve to die like this, she was alive he was relief of that, but she couldn't talk, it was only temporary hopefully.

"Can we take care of him Cyrus?" begged the twins.

"That's enough for today Gemini." he told them.

"Aw." moaned the twins.

"We'll let Mr Decker finish the job."

"Where are we going?" they asked excitedly.

"To make arrangements in the Pharaoh's tomb." they followed him leaving Croftnik and Decker to finish Bond.

Bond tried to get Leila's conscience but she couldn't talk but hopefully she could listen.

"Leila" whispered Bond. "We're getting out of here." she didn't move but he knew she was alive. He needed to get her to a hospital quick.

"Time to die, Mr Bond." said Decker. Bond remembered the bombs he set how many minutes were left? A couple of seconds left.

"No, time to go." he said. Suddenly, several explosions took place causing the Fort to shake, distracting both the General and Croftnik. It gave Bond the advantage to throw a blow at Croftnik and twist Decker's arm to the wall while placing his pistol at the back of his head.

"You're just a warning." said Bond, without hesitation pulled the trigger at Decker's skull. He wanted to kill Croftnik next, but realized it'll do him no good.

"This isn't over." said Bond carrying a fragile Leilani Fox out of the hanger forgetting the grenade launcher he stole.

Croftnik sent the soldiers to pilot the duplicates of the Griffin which he dubbed the 'Black Stallions.'

The fort was wrecked by multiple explosions, he clenched onto Fox tighter he wanted to feel her presence with him, there was no time to stop if they did she'll die. Soldiers spotted them from different direction. Bond killed them while protecting Fox from the bullets. He had to sustain her health, he gave her some respiration to sustain her, she manage to open her eyes but that was it.

"Hang on." he told her. She nodded her head in understanding. Feeling relieved he continued his way to the exit but a line up of soldiers barricaded the exits, two more soldiers drove a jeep towards the gate, which gave Bond the decision to hijack it. While the jeep passed the two agents, Bond jumped in the back and disposed of the two soldiers, as he paused to get Leila inside the jeep.

She rested there, while James drove the jeep to the gates, he checked for anything he could use, he found another grenade launcher. He approached the gates barricaded by soldiers. He revealed the launcher and blasted the barricade. Driving through the gates, reaching his Aston martin in time where he placed Fox. Time was against them he had to find a hospital fast to save her. He contacted Montgomery to aid him, in his search.

"...there should be a hospital somewhere around these locations 007, but you have to get her there as fast as you can."

"Good work, thank you Montgomery." he said. He ignited the engine, he had an objective and time was against them. He accelerated through the countryside following his directions, but he was hindered by the newly developed Griffins, the black Stallions as five of them swarm to the air bombarding their target. James swerved through the missiles launched at him. He revealed the machine guns leveling it at them as rapid shots were fired into the air, so far they missed his targets. He remembered what he told Croftnik about the jet. They have an EM-P that can disable any military systems, or electronic hardware around it. The DB5 ran on an electric field vulnerable to an EM-P he had to escape it before he loses

control of his car. He spun 360 to shoot the jets again to see if he could have an advantage this time. He revealed the machine guns leveling it to the jets before they released the electromagnetic pulse. The stallions released the blasts making Bond reverse and fire simultaneously, hitting the wing of the first stallion. Giving a chance to drive rapidly, the jets chased after the car leaving James to think of a new strategy to evade the jets. He revealed the missile launcher from the hood of the car all he needed was the perfect timing, the streets were cleared so he was safe from collateral damage, he was approaching a bridge fit enough to cover the car he felt the need to seize the moment, as he dashed through the bridge giving himself enough time to fire the missiles into jet 1 as it crashed in front of the bridge. That was one down four to take care of. The Stallions stormed the skies looking for their prey, Bond as he focused on driving to get Leila safe but with the Stallions behind him he had a problem, only four Stallions left, Q should have put a gadget in this type of situation. The Nos! He had to use it to evade them, he looked back at Fox, and concluded he had no other choice. He opened the lever and pressed the button as the engines picked up adrenaline, forcing Bond to boost out of harms way, the Stallions fired everything they had but couldn't reach the speed of the car leaving their ammo to deplete, this was an advantage for James as he revealed his missiles and fired at the second Stallion damaging it to crash right in front of the bridge as Bond drove further on. Three Stallions remained as they threw everything at the car from missiles to machine gun bullets and some bombs which tried to skid the car. He kept his balance, there had to be a way of eliminating the three remaining jets. He swerved several times but the blasts damaged the car more than before. He tried to find other arsenals to use but, the most of them were for land attacks and some available for underwater. While he was in thought he merged into the traffic lane where he was crowded by other cars. He realized that the jets can't attack him with civilians around which was the perfect advantage, if they tried to attack him they could risk attacking the other cars. But then he also remembered that the had the EM-P within their grasps which he felt was a big gamble to risk exposing the new jets and technology. He waited to see if they will strike, the Stallions froze in midair watching the traffic, Bond could feel his pulse

pounding faster, plus with Leila unconscious he was in a serious situation.

One of the pilots contacted their base and reported their status.

"This is Stallion 1 to base." he said.

"What's the situation?"

"Civilians around, should I execute?" the man in the communications paused for a moment then responded.

Bond watched through the rearview mirror, he saw the three remaining jets leave their location, why? But the question had to be ignored as the traffic started moving, he drove off to find the nearest hospital and contact M.

The jets returned back to the hangar, why was the attacked seized? Stallion 1 Had located the street where Bond was and had traced all the directions to the only place Bond needed, the Hospital. The Stallions were to be shipped to the buyer tonight, Djimouh Ezra. In the meantime Croftnik had left to Washington DC, where he was to see the veto did not go through, and he wanted to see Delila, he realized that Fisher was an interference with his desire for the woman and had second thoughts of keeping him alive, someone else could share his vision and become the next president but his decision was not yet made, the vice president could be manipulated and is willing to assist in their plan.

Vice President Victor Blake was a senate of the house for five years. He was voted vice president after the assassination of the first VP Dale Anderson, no one had uncovered the killer, Blake took over the office aiding Fisher in his term, but Blake seemed to have other ideas for the government involving military finances.

He was to meet someone for business he kept his schedule very secretive especially from the president who mainly focused on his current problem.

He got out of his house dressed in black overalls his hat covered his greying hair while he wore glasses hiding his dead blue eyes, the man was about fifty to sixty, not a war hero but had operated in the military. His division involved weapons developments, he drove in a black limousine driven by his personal driver. It was 10:00 pm when he left his house, driving to a very secretive location, a hanger where planes were parked, it consisted of several cars including one with an Israeli symbol at the antenna.

Once he got out he met with Several men, including the Egyptian, and his two secretaries, Thade and another man, probably his body guard and finally an Israeli, Ezra! Blake was the supplier for Ezra being in the US but why? After serving in the army, Blake started his military development business before joining the senate, he took under his wings a young troubled man and helped create his industry, Croft-tech, Blake was Croftnik's mentor, he inherited Blake's business after Blake ran for senate, Blake nearly didn't get the senate fearing that the country would fail to be the highest in intelligence in the world formed the Ceberus league giving leadership to Croftnik, as he recruited the list of people who could revolutionize the US. He first recruited Delila who had connections to the president and congress, she didn't know Blake , but Croftnik did. The second was Cyrus who had met Croftnik in Egypt after they discussed their projects. Thade was recruited by Blake who felt he had military control. From Croftnik to Delila to Codiaeum, the league's true members were revealed all under the supervision of Blake.

"Where's Mathias?" he asked after stepping out of the limo.

"He'll be here sir." assured Codiaeum. "We had some trouble with Bond."

"And...?!" demanded Blake impatiently.

"He's a hard man to kill." he replied.

"Mathias left you responsible Thade, what's your excuse?"

"Several attempts have failed woefully, from MI6 to Croft-tech to even, his hotel twice."

"Your attempts failed, Thade remember failure is not an option."

"Killing Bond, has not been easy for me so..."

"Killing Bond, has not been easy for any of us, but you are mostly responsible."

"You want my job Cyrus?!" shouted Thade. "Your little escorts didn't succeed either." Gem wanted to strike Thade but Cyrus stopped her.

"No, we'll let Croftnik decide."

"Just as well you keep them in their place." he said.

"Where's Decker?" asked the VP.

"Dead!" stated a voice, it was Croftnik approaching the men. "As you can see Bond has created a situation for us."

"Decker was my right hand man in the army Croftnik, how could you have let it happen?"

"Bond, that's how." he snapped "but maybe we have him cornered now."

"What do you mean?" Blake asked.

"After the escape, the Stallions tracked his destination..."

"So they work?" asked Ezra saying his first word in the conversation.

"Yes, and they've been giving a live test."

"How did they fare?"

"So far only three survived." Blake got more and more furious with the news of Bond's accomplishments, he's destroying their business which could soon flood the league out.

"Where is Bond now?" asked Blake.

"The only logical place he could be, at a hospital nearby."

"Should we finish the job?" asked the twins.

"No let Thade prove his value to the league."

"His right Thade, this is your last chance to prove you are worth something." warned Croftnik. "If Bond makes it to the embassy, then you are obsolete to us."

"Understood." he said. He had his objective given to him by Croftnik, the closest hospital there was Storms Medical Clinic. He left right away to complete them, this time he had to find the best assailant to get there, most of his assassins might have been detectable, he needed one that no one could have realized was within them, a chameleon.

Then he had a solution, he called his unknown assailant and gave the orders to where the target was. He knew the price for failure well enough but this time he mustn't fail or else the price was his head.

After Croftnik had finished his discussion with his associates, he noticed someone was missing, Delila. He decided to contact her and meet with her, to touch her once more was something he pondered, Fisher didn't deserve such a treasure yet he was willing to blow her away, fool. He thought to himself. Her phone rang several times until he got her voice message he left a message for her to call him back. Things needed to be discussed about her play toy Fisher then he wondered where he was.

Inside Tracy's inn a Honda jeep was parked at the parking lot, someone had stayed overnight, Fisher who was agreeing to his meet with Delila and finally put an end to the charade. But something happened that made him stay, he had giving himself to Delila, after one drink turned into something else. The risk had increased for him, she wanted the affair to last longer that, she extended her deal. He felt outraged having her in a strangled position. He lost his mind, after satisfying her. Storming out of the motel, he didn't head home but he went to a different motel. Delila was going to be a problem for him, which started making him think of taking drastic measures to keep her quiet even if it was permanent.

After the night, she picked up her phone and saw the message Croftnik left her leading to the response.

"Mathias its me."

"You were with him again." he noted in a very dark tone in a form of malice for Fisher.

"He tried to strangle me but knew better."

"Where are you?"

"I'm at a motel called Tracy's inn."

"I can find it." he said hanging up the phone. Talking to her more and hearing about Fisher could drive him to insanity, was Fisher worth his time? He had the one woman he wanted, yet she wanted Fisher. He calmed himself down, once their plan was complete Fisher was nothing to him and his death would lead to a man who shared his dream of a new order, Blake.

He arrived there and asked for Betty Spears, the manager was curious why she had so many visitors but Croftnik told him that he was her 'Uncle'. The man understood and directed him to room '342' . He knocked three times before Delila answered the door. As she opened it she saw Croftnik a little dim.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, she was in her nightgown, which was made out of silk. Croftnik admired it for a while until she let him in.

"Our plans have to be changed." he told her.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she took a seat.

"Bond has destroyed half of everything we've worked for, and if he makes it to the embassy, your boyfriend might have a change of heart."

"Why are you referring him to my boyfriend?" she asked.

"Isn't he?"

"Does it matter?" she said.

"Face it if Bond gets here then Fisher is no use to us."

"What happens to Fisher is up to me Mathias." she snapped back.

"I created the league, remember that, Delila without me you wouldn't have your way with him."

"Why are you bringing that up?" she shouted. "Without me you wouldn't even have had political connections!"

"Then why waste a talent like yours on Fisher?!" there was a pause. She realized what was bothering him, but she didn't share his passion that much, all she wanted was the President to leave his wife and had forgotten about their plan for controlling the country.

"Do you still share my dreams Delila?" he asked.

"I don't know." she said in a very confused state. He grabbed her into his clutches as they kissed, bedding each other, a desire that Croftnik had wanted from first time.