Moneypenny glanced up as a gray hat landed softly on the strong oak hat rack. Her face broke into a grin as James, his bright blue eyes staring out from his high cheekbones and tanned skin entered. She noted a faint scar almost healed, and barely visible under the tan, on his left cheek. He sat down on a corner of her desk, and to her quiet delight he lent forward and kissed her.

"James", she said, feeling his cheek, "How'd you get that one."

"Hello Moneypenny, my dear. I met a fellow, name of Jules. He didn't really take a shine to mine, But you look wonderful Moneypenny, darling. Any idea what the old man wants?" He nodded toward the door.

"Actually James..."

"Old man indeed James. Moneypenny, I told you to send him in at once," said M over the intercom. James glanced in amusement at Moneypenny gave her a quick peck on the cheek and walked into M's study. M, his desk covered with papers stood up and offered his hand.

"That was good work 007, but I'm afraid to tell you," he said sitting back down. "Jules was rescued while being transported to London. As far as your assassin is concerned, he is Lance Huffener, a personal bodyguard and heard of security for one Andres Mcleanor."

"Can't say I've had the pleasure to meet the chap."

"I wouldn't think so. He is fairly new but already a respected boss in the criminal underworld. Apparently Jules was his lieutenant, handling matters in Peru. A lucky catch I must say. Jules has set up a factory in Peru making a poisonous nerve agent, we believe Andres plans on holding several major cities more or less hostage with this nerve agent in less his demands are met." An icy silence filled the room after these grim words.

"Now, 007 pay attention, Andres owns a safe house in Ireland from which he has communicating with Peru. 007, you are to infiltrate the safe house and find the location of the factory in Peru. There is a special forces team standing by to take out the factory."

"Sounds interesting."

"I should think you would enjoy it." M opened a manila dossier, and pulled out several 4 by 6 inch pictures. M handed them to James who in turn studied each face closely, noting any peculiar marks. The first was the picture of a beautiful woman; oval shaped eyes stared out seductively. "That," said M, noting his slightly longer examination of the photo, "is Alessia Gapito. Or 'Alice.' She is twenty-two, daughter of a Chicago mobster and we believe overseeing a firearms sale between Andres and her uncle Carl Gapito. She is staying at the safe house, a guest of Andres, and is not scheduled to return to the states for another two weeks. Next is Lance Huffener, who you've already been acquainted with, and this is Andres."

Bond examined the photo; Andres had a shock of black curly hair, his face turned away slightly to the left over his shoulder. He was in good shape, but not muscular, he did not look out of the ordinary, he could be the guy sitting next to you in the pub. "So this is Andres, eh." Said Bond more to himself then to M.

"Sorry it's not a good picture 007, but it was the best our field team could manage," said M. "Now, then, the safe house is a large manor along the Irish coast. In fact a part of it is right on the water. Since they already know you Bond, looks like you'll be going in by boat. The grounds are crawling with security and surrounded by a wall. Since we really have no information that could stand up in court that traces Jules to Andres. I don't think I have to remind you, if you die then, well we can't go in after you."

"Quite all right, I'll manage. I always do"

"Right, then I believe Q wishes to have a word with you. Good luck 007."

"Thank you sir," said James.

A man punched in a telephone number inside a phone booth. An electronic camera read his face. The door suddenly latched shut. Flames rained down from a liquid oxygen canister installed in the roof of the phone booth, the flames melted the man's plastic features in a tenth of a second, and then they simply obliterated him. James watched in amusement as Q then pulled out the dummy and sprayed it in foam.

"Well Q, what have you made this time," asked James, reaching out to touch the dummy that was now cooling.

"Don't touch it, oh, James, its you. For your information James, this is our latest anti-terrorist device. We're still testing it; it takes a picture of the man and then searches our database comparing it to the faces of known terrorists. Unfortunately it's still got a few bugs," said Q as the telephone booth's doors began to open and close randomly. "James follow me and don't touch anything," said Q. His graying hair was combed over his head, he was slightly built but no one in the building messed with Q, except Bond, and that was because Bond was one of Q's close friends.

Q turned to face Bond. Next to him on a table stood an array of gadgets. Behind him another group of scientists fired a laser at a stonewall. "In order for you to communicate with HQ, you'll be equipped with a wrist watch walkie-talkie, and night vision glasses."

"Really Q, I was expecting something more," said James examining his equipment.

"Oh, I don't think I'll disappoint you," said Q. "The best for last. Follow me." Q activated a remote and a wall pulled back. "This," said Q, grinning proudly at his creation, "is the Shark, aka. WLTV X-01, for water and land transportation vehicle."

"I wonder how you ever came up with such an original name," said Bond dryly, but his eyes gave him away as he examined the machine. It was a black Jaguar convertiable except it had no doors, and the undercarriage was covered with an extra layer of material so it could work underwater, and for added protection.

"The car is capable of two hundred and ten miles per hour and forty knots by water.It's equipped with two front mounted 22. caliber machine guns and, and this is a most ingenious device, on the back we have an oil slicker, you've used 'em before. Remember use it sparingly. There is also a 30.ml canon with ten shots to take out heavier targets."

Bond looked inside examing the interior. He thumbed a switch and a cannon shell shot out, the file cabinets at the end of the hallway blew up, charred paper fluttered to the ground. One or two lab technicians picked themselves off the floor."Very impressive Q, I most say," said Bond.

"Really James!" fumed Q. "Must you be such a nuiscence? I suppose you always are. Please try to return the car in one piece, the last one I loaned you is rusting in a Moscow junkyard in a few hundred pieces."

"I try my best, I always do."

"To try to destroy it, I know." replied Q.