Chapter 20
Angel watched in horror of what had taken place; she and Evelyn were hostages with several casualties as Lester brought Evelyn out of the aisle with him placing her on the ground.
"Is this some kind of joke?!" Mahoney protested.
"It's a rather funny one Patrick." He smirked. "You see; I secretly work for an organization bent on turning this country into a desolated area where we can rule and make our own."
"Why, you have every power in your business to make money…"
"It isn't just about money old friend; it's about power." He finally said pulling out his weapon. "We've waited for a chance like this and thanks to me we'll soon get it."
Lester escorted Mahoney down to the podium to join the other hostages while Blight brought Evelyn out on her knees as she faced his gun.
"Where's Bond?" he asked placing the barrel on her forehead. "Speak."
"Go to hell!" she snared as he was ready to wipe her to the floor.
"It's doesn't matter he'll show up." Lester countered placing Mahoney next to her.
"Are you alright sir?" Evelyn asked the governor who was in agony. He gritted his teeth feeling outraged by the betrayal brought upon him by his friend.
"I trusted you Isaac you were my friend." He lamented.
"I really didn't want to but I'm loyal to my organization."
"You don't really think you'll get away with this do you?" Evelyn snapped.
"We're armed with the most elite weapons we've managed to develop my dear no one can stop us."
Bond watched almost disheartened over the girls' situation; he contacted Riker to gather his troops and prepare the rescue mission for the hostages; he wasn't going to jeopardize any civilians' lives.
"What's going on?!" Riker asked unnerved.
"They're taking hostages; gather your troops don't use snipers I need you to storm in."
"But that'll risk the hostages!"
"Just do it Riker; it's the only way!" Bond concluded as he brought out his phone.
"Are you going to talk yet?" Blight asked now shoving the gun under Evelyn's chin as she still remained calm while Angel had to make sure no one was hurt; she looked at the panicking crowd; men women and children where here and if they didn't do anything, she could only imagine the worst.
"No huh?" he said shoving her aside. "Maybe your friend will." He aimed at the crowd as he signaled the second girl to come out. Angel revealed her pistol frightening the crowd more as she gently held it up and emerged from the crowd. Two men ceased it bringing her towards them as Blight observed her.
"I don't know who you are but I'm sure Mr. Bond is willing to make a trade for you two."
Out of nowhere Evelyn's phone rang; making the situation not only terrifying but awkward as she answered it only to identify it as James.
"Give the phone to Lester." He told her. She didn't ask questions just obeying and putting her fate in his hands.
"James Bond I presume?" Lester asked.
"In the flesh; even though we haven't met face to face."
"No but you're one of our organization's most wanted target."
"I'm here to make a deal." He said calmly.
"And what would that be?"
"I'm at the central park center; if you want me then you should come and get me."
"Do you obviously think I'll fall for such a trap?"
"I'm not going anywhere; send two of your men to get Me." he replied.
Lester decided to play along sending the two guards to eliminate him. Bond needed to stall while Riker rescued the hostages.
"They'll come and retrieve you Mr. Bond but if I were you I wouldn't try anything stupid."
"Don't worry I won't; I just want the hostages including the two girls to be set free while I'm in your grasp."
"What James; don't..!" Evelyn protested which she was silenced by a pistol whip as Angel ran to embrace her.
"You're in no position to make any deals." Lester replied. "Besides I have the winning hand in this situation."
Not for long; Bond whispered as the sound of the two men arrived signaling for Bond to follow them. He got up unarmed walking with the two men still talking to Lester cautiously.
"The girls are with you…let them stay with the hostages." Bond said.
"Like I said you are in no position to make any deals!"
"Then I suggest you check the coffins." Bond said finally hanging up.
Lester was puzzled but thought about it; he tampered with the coffins, no there was no way he would have had the time to act on that. He sent one of his soldiers to check the corpses.
As Bond was escorted to the barricaded center of the park; he only hoped that Evelyn and Angel were out of the firing zone with the hostages.
Bond arrived at the barricaded gates to see two sentinels standing by until they opened it letting the two men enter with their hostages. Bond was escorted to meet both Lester and Blight while passing the panicked crowd; there were times trying to say everything would be fine sounded like false prophecies to him; all he could do was hope there was no innocent blood on his hands right now.
"So we meet at last Mr. Bond." Lester said standing face to face with him.
"I've heard so much about you from our dossier we have on you.
Bond remained silent only looking at the girls.
"Let them go Lester you've got me."
"Not that it's going to make a difference but so be it." He signaled the girls to return to the crowd but told Mahoney to stay with him.
Bond now felt secured that they were safe from the explosion range as Lester, Blight and himself were the only ones closer.
"Did you check the coffins?" he reminded him, prompting Lester to turn into a glare.
"You disabled my assault team." He said. "But you're still outnumbered!"
"Not for long," he countered grabbing his Rolex as he aimed at one of the coffins setting off a chain of explosions. The four men were thrown aback by the outburst;
Bond quickly checked on Mahoney to see if he was alright; he was breathing making him relieved while the two other men were trying to recuperate. Bond ushered Mahoney to stay with the hostages while he had the upper hand. He rushed up to Lester booting him to the ground while Blight got up in time armed with a dagger ready for Bond. A quick swift slash made Bond side step in time elbowing Blight at the back of the neck as he stumbled on Lester.
"KILL THEM ALL!!!" Lester roared signaling his men to arm themselves with the platinum weapons ready to fire. The out roar of a jeep broke into the scene crashing the gates with Riker on the passenger seat with the hostages taking advantage of their present freedom. Evelyn and Angel escorted them out while Riker and the others began their gunfight blasting at the soldiers who retaliated using the platinum guns. Bond observed briefly what those guns consisted of; one of the police was shot by it with his armor dissolving penetrating through his skin. He died a death shattering scream falling to his demise. Bond was mortified the platinum guns were not just diamond bullets but something more deadly.
Bond gripped onto the knife held by Blight and jumped on one of the shooters slitting his throat. He grabbed his weapon and used it on the other shooters aiding Riker and his team but to no prevail. Riker and Bond decided to retreat back in order to get a stand against those weapons.
"After them!" Blight roared as the remaining men gathered themselves and pursued the men.
They took cover around several sections reloading or catching their breaths.
"What the hell are those weapons?!" Riker asked out of revolt.
"The world's worst nightmare," Bond concluded. "We have to stand our ground."
"How many of those weapons do they have?" Riker asked unsteady.
"I don't know; but the real question is what are they made of?" he looked around his surroundings to see some of the spy glass miniatures placed by the girls.
"We might still have a fighting chance, Riker."
Riker looked at him thinking he had lost it. Their guns are no match for platinum guns what could be their advantage if they weren't sharpshooters?
The gunmen approached cautiously expecting any form of traps by them; their anticipation was half right as Bond sprung one wiping a quarter of the gunmen.
"Continue moving!" the leader ordered. They furthered their running as Bond led them where he wanted them to move. Chains of explosions erupted from several corners of the park wiping the gunmen to a small amount until they were surrounded.
Bond emerged standing beside Riker patting him on the shoulders. Riker still focused on his captive nodded at Bond in appreciation.
"Good work Riker, I'm going after Lester and Blight."
"Be careful Bond." He told him.
Outside of the park Evelyn and Angel help the governor while the rescue station sent out the ambulance at Riker's request. They supplied the crowd with oxygen including the mayor who was giving extra treatment.
"I hope you'll be alright sir." Angel stated while assisting him. The governor nodded and thanked her while Evelyn looked back wondering where Bond was she decided to go back to find him. She grabbed Angel's gone and dashed back.
"Evelyn what are you doing?" she called and decided to chase after her but needed to make sure all the hostages were safe. She shook her head in dismay looking at all the victims around her; it was just like the old saying: war is hell.
Evelyn had never used a gun before and had no idea how to handle it; the only thing she knew was point and fire but she didn't know anything else. She was opposed to weapons but had no idea how to use them. She hoped she could scare them into keeping away from her.
Bond was armed with his PPK ready for anything; he hoped he could still catch Blight and Lester before they escaped, there was no surrender like M said; take no prisoners. This wasn't a prompted execution; it was a message to the new league; they were ready for war.
Bond had taken on countless enemy syndicates all bent on the same goal world domination. He found it almost redundant and repulsive making him, think back to Evelyn's question: Will it ever stop?
Evelyn kept the gun in her belt hoping she didn't have to use it at all she wanted to find Bond and get away from Blight. She soon realized what Blight had been up to in the Alps; he had been working on a weapon that was more lethal than a bullet; aimed any where it could kill a person without any chance of surviving.
She was now reaching dangerous territories; she approached as cautiously as she could step by step as they do it.
Out of nowhere Blight emerged standing face to face with her. She looked in his sick cold blooded eyes taking a step backwards.
Blight grinned again she just kept coming back for more pain; it was a waste Voinovich was dead he would have taken care of her. He took a step forward now marching towards her until she was backed up against a tree, she was now cornered.
"My dear you should have stayed back," he grinned now trapping her by the tree. "A lovely girl like you should never get involve with someone like Mr. Bond or us." He placed his hands on her neck while seeing the horror in her eyes. She looked mortified at how he put more pressure on it now resulting to strangling her.
"You never want to be around men like us." He smiled projecting a sadistic laugh that haunted her. She looked away trying not to witness her fate as he was slowly taking as much of her laugh away. She was brought to tears begging god to end the pain. She reached for his grip trying to release herself but wasn't strong enough.
No she wasn't going to let it end her by him; she soon remembered the weapon on her, struggling to reach it while preventing herself from near death she grabbed it and slammed it on the right side of his face knocking him aside creating a distance.
She was hesitant to hold it but got her grip; what did she know about guns only that they killed, was she going to be a killer?
"Stay back!" she ordered. Blight got up steadily and raised his hands.
"I surrender." He said mockingly studying the way she handled the gun; she was an amateur she probably didn't know how to shoot.
"I said stay back!" she stepped backwards still trembling with the gun in her hands.
He continued approaching her making her unsteady. "I won't hesitate!"
The haunting laugh continued echoing into the forest she could feel her hands trembling more, she wasn't a killer, she wasn't a murderer but she had to defend herself even her conscience knows that. He approached now with his arms down marching towards her.
It was at the moment a now or never motion; she looked away not to witness what was about to happen as he drew nearer to her. She trembled to pull the trigger now.
She pulled it only to hear the nightmares of the guns click; was it empty?
Blight ceased the gun from her grabbing her by the collar while projecting his menacing grin.
"You're mine." He smiled. She scratched him on his right as he released her taking the advantage to escape. He quickly recovered grabbing her by the neck and aiming the gun at her with a difference the safety catch was unlocked.
She closed her eyes feeling that dreadful feeling of death crawl upon her skin. She knew what her fate was now.
"Don't worry Evelyn, that's your name right?!" he asked shoving the gun on her temple. "Don't worry I'm not going to kill you."
"Kill me, you son of a bitch!" she snared. "I would rather die than serve you!"
He smiles leering towards her ears sending the chills of vibration to her soul.
"Not yet my dear,"
Bond stealthily retraced his steps back to the parks center making sure the element of surprise would be to his advantage. The day had reached noon it was now 12:01pm, he had to get moving a harshly as he could. Right now he's only obstacle was Blight and Lester at least there was no one to get in his way.
He reached his destination to find Lester trying to evade any authority with the capture of his men he was armed with only one platinum gun willing to fire at anyone including Blight, he had already fled for his life before Bond could get there. Out of nowhere Bond emerged as the two stood in a standoff.
"Game over Lester," Bond stated aiming his PPK at him.
Lester held the platinum weapon at Bond projecting a faint smile feeling weary of the situations that had occurred he was soon to be marked for death unless Bond was killed.
"It's far from over Bond this is just the beginning of the new danger."
Bond didn't reply he kept his aim at him.
"Do you really think your PPK is a match for this weapon?" Lester taunted. "You've seen its capabilities; the dawn of the new war will soon be upon us."
"There's a word for people like you Lester; I believe the Americans call it; whack job."
"Funny, Mr. Bond but you won't be laughing soon." He said ready to pull the trigger with Bond ready to reply.
Bond could hear the sounds of someone coming from behind him and possibly the sounds of the floor moving he could tell there were two in a struggling movement; Evelyn.
"Drop your gun Bond!" Blight said. "Or she dies!"
Bond remained emotionless not trying to give in to his conscience; sacrifices are always made that was his life.
"You should do as he says; surely a man in your situation is in no chance of making threats."
"I'm a man with a permission to kill." Bond countered.
"Don't be naïve; even you're not that cold." He stated. "And the weapon he has isn't one that could still make her face look pretty after death."
Lester lowered his gun while Bond still aimed it.
"I know you won't shoot me!"
"Why are you so certain?"
"If you do she dies." He gestured to her.
"James…" Evelyn whispered in pain. Bond could feel his regret as he lowered his gun till he threw it aside; even he was mortal and deep within that lethal nature was a human side.
Lester picked up his weapon aimed at Bond with the girl brought beside him.
"You see even the coldest weapon isn't that cold."