Peshawar, Pakistan

The plane landed in an airfield near this border town of 2.5 million. Twenty years ago, it was a hotbed of the Afghan Mujihedeen's struggle against the Red Army. Today, it still heard the war drums beating but this time, the war refugees were Taliban as a result of losing power in the 2001 US invasion.

There was still sympathy for conservative ideology and thus, wanted men found sanctuary.

Mustafa obviously did as he stepped off the plane and was greeted by a minion. None of those waiting were on wanted posters as far as Gillian knew and there was a lot of activity as some of the crates were off loaded and put in a waiting truck with WORLD RELIEF PROGRAM etched in white on the doors.

Rebekka exited and stood beside Gillian, giving the spy a once over. "You will come with me." 004 walked in step behind the other woman, getting into a Mercedes sedan. As the car wove its way through the narrow roads, often honking its horn to part the numerous pedestrians, the German would glance at Gillian. There was no sign of recognition but it was becoming uncomfortable.

They were heading to a sympathizer's house where they would stay, discuss business, get some rest and continue on their way. Mustafa felt confident enough in his safety that he did not disguise himself. Being stalked by CIA assassins or a Predator from above did not worry him. Odd behavior after Abu Faraj al-Libbi was captured not long ago.

Gillian was halted by Rebekka. "A woman…One of Hasbroek's I suppose. You are to see me later." With that 004 was dismissed. She had to get the sample to MI-6.

"Are you still receiving?" She said into her transmitter.

"You've been traveling." Came Felix's voice.

"I have a sample of whatever they've been transporting." Gillian reported, keeping an eye out for anyone.

"If you can leave the compound, there's a green Land Rover near the market area, not far from where you are. Do you know it?"

"I've seen it on the way here." She ended transmission and headed for the servant's gate out back. Soon she was near the market. Her combat fatigues seemed to be a common sight so no one thought any differently as she strolled by. The green Rover slightly out of the way. With its windows tinted, she couldn't see the driver, not even a hint of a shape. When she was next to the driver's door, the window went down a peek.

"Get in."

Her eyes squinted in annoyance. 'Bond." She hissed. Looking around first and seeing no one paying attention to her, she jumped into the passenger side. 'Far cry from the Aston Martin."

Bond tapped a command from buttons inside his armrest and the dashboard flipped over to reveal a very high tech command center. "Your Service photo doesn't do you justice." He smiled.

"Save it, Bond. I know your reputation." She huffed. "You also are a bit of a legend in the field, by the stories; you think you were doing this sort of thing since Kennedy was in office." She took out the canteen. "Here's the sample."

He took it and poured the contents on an analyzer. As the computer broke it down on the molecular level, 007 turned to her. "Your Fred's replacement?"

"You knew Fred Warder well?"

"We've crossed paths. The last time was Gibraltar."

"The Koskov mission?" She inquired, having read the file brief.

He grew serious. "Yes. Fred was a good field man; deserved a better fate. Since you got his number now, I expect you not to sully it." Bond glanced at the computer, thoughts drifting to Alec, a friend who betrayed him, the Service and England.

"Like you, I plan to live forever. Now what are you doing here? M doesn't think I can pull this off without the infamous 007?"

"Mustafa Al-Sabai is a dangerous man, 004." He had to smile. Fred never looked this good. "M believes it's advantageous to have more players on the field. What have you learned?"

"They aren't a talkative bunch. Rebekka Engert is the best lead to whoever is financing this. She's been looking at me strangely but I don't think she's made me. Asked to see me later."

Bond grinned. "How far are you willing to go for Queen and Country? How can I say this delicately…Rebekka Engert can roll around with either Dick or Jane."

"Christ! Are you saying she likes me…?"

"Could be worse. Consider her an asset." Bond stopped as the analyzer finished and the chemical make up of the liquid appeared on the screen. "They've manipulated Ebola. How much do you think they've got?"

"Four truck loads. We're staying here overnight at Ghulam Khan's but I don't know where they plan to go after that. If it's a bio weapon, then we need to get a tactical team ready-."

"Not yet. We don't know who all the players are and if this is the only shipment." He tapped into his secure net server. "Ghulam Khan is a tribal leader in this region. Controls the Frontiers Corps, a local militia, here too. Many have Taliban sympathies. During the '79 -'89 Afghan War, he supported the Mujahideen."

"The Taliban was also a faction of the Mujahideen and bin Laden was with them too. We could net Al-Sabai." She insisted.

"True, but what if he leads us to his other partners or bin Laden himself. We snatch him, the others could run scared. We need to know what's going on."

"Fine. So what are you going to be doing?"

Bond didn't say anything. "Stay with them. Do you have a legend?"

She looked out the window as Bond let out a sigh. "You need something…" He tapped on the touch pad.

Gillian put her hand through her hair. "Engert thought I was one of Hasbroek's."

Miss Moneypenny appeared on the Plasma screen. "Hello James." Her smile disappeared and she became more professional once she realized there was another agent. "Gillian."

"Gillian needs a legend as a mercenary, a connection with Hasbroek, nothing to outlandish, just enough to be realistic. I'm also sending you data from a specimen 004 has acquired. Seems it's the latest bioweapon floating around."

"Will do James. Gillian, will have you in the Darfur region of the Sudan. It's a real mess and would be difficult for them to accredit you. It'll all be completed within a few minutes. Both of you take care."

"With you as my guardian angel, ma chéri, how could I possibly lose." After the communications ended, he noticed Gillian's disgust.

"You know, some of new blood in our Section look up to you, a living legend, a superhero of our age who took down 20 notorious bad guys and saved the world, not counting the dozens of others who met their demise by your hand. Bravo. I, for one, am not going to live in yours or Fred's shadow, Commander Bond."

"I hope you don't." Bond said. "Living in the shadows could make you deathly pale. Now go on before you're missed."

Gillian didn't want to admit that having Bond around was advantageous. The man was simply very lucky. She nodded and slipped out of the Rover. Once her feet touched the road, he was off.