Chapter 3

...

James had just pulled into a free space at the Q-Park near Westminster when he saw Tanner approach his car dressed in a long black winter coat accompanied by a woolen scarf wrapped around his neck. Turning off the ignition, Bond got out his car and locked it behind him.

"It's nice to see you managed to make it on time for once, Bond."

"Good morning to you too, Tanner. Now why are we here, I thought Mallory wanted me to meet with Q?"

"He does. But you won't find him at Whitehall. Q doesn't trust his work to be around MI5 personnel or Denbigh when he likes to visit now and again."

James smirked, "I take it Q isn't a fan of the man either?"

"To put it simply, no, he isn't. He feels that Denbigh has an ulterior motive with the development of this Nine Eyes programme. I don't think he is too thrilled that Denbigh will have eyes and ears everywhere." Tanner replied and motioned Bond to walk with him. "It also means that Q's work and Q himself will be monitored around the clock."

"Along with the rest of us, it seems."

Tanner gave a nod in agreement at Bond's statement, "Denbigh and the Minister felt that a change was needed in order for secret intelligence agencies to get results."

James gave a scoff, "Yes because we haven't achieved anything over the past seventeen years. Agents losing their lives for Queen and Country to ensure that this country is safe obviously means nothing to them."

"It's not just about results, Bond. They feel that Olivia's leadership caused more harm than good."

James stopped in his tracks at hearing that piece of information, "You don't seriously buy that bullshit, Tanner."

"You know I don't Bond," Tanner told him, as they started to attract attention from people passing by. "Look, let's not discuss this here."

James reluctantly agreed as the two men walked along the embankment, before walking down a set of stairs that led them to the edge of the Thames where a small boat was waiting for them.

"So where is Q's new base of operations?"

"You'll find out soon enough, but to get there we'll need to take a short boat ride."

James stepped into the boat after Tanner as the man started it up before he started to steer them towards their destination. As the boat picked up speed, James pulled his coat collar up higher to try and keep warm.

"What about Olivia's leadership, Tanner?"

"They are looking into every mission and order she initiated during her time as M. They feel that her judgment on certain matters was clouded by favouritism and that her feelings had an impact on how she performed her job. Especially in regards to one agent in particular." Tanner gave Bond a sideways glance.

"The fact that she lied about your physical and psychological results during the Silva fiasco doesn't help her case."

"She's dead, Tanner. What more do they want?"

"They want you out of the service. If they find enough evidence in M's reports that show you are a liability they won't hesitate to get rid of you. They are already in the process of scrapping the Double-0 programme. I hate to say this Bond, but the only reason you're still an agent in this service and the Double-0 programme wasn't terminated years ago was mainly due to Olivia's influence. With her now gone, there is nothing to stand in their way of getting what they want. They believe Denbigh's new computer programme is the future for secret intelligence agencies around the world.

"And what do you think?"

"I think they are going to realise that they are making a huge mistake. If Olivia was still here, she would have put an end to this months ago. I doubt Denbigh's intelligence network would see the light of day if she was still in charge."

James knew Olivia would have probably succeeded, but he couldn't disclose the information of her survival to Tanner. Not yet. He didn't fully trust Denbigh, if he found out about Olivia, it could cause them, even more, problems. Not to mention the committee would no doubt want to interrogate her on her past conducts.

"We all miss her, Tanner."

"I know, Bond. It's funny because I still expect to see her in the mornings when I turn up at the office or hear her voice when she gave you a bollocking for not following her orders yet again." Tanner smiled fondly as he thought back on his memories of Olivia.

"You're not the only one Tanner." he replied looking over at the ruins of MI6.

Tanner gave a sad sigh, "Poor old girl, rigged for demolition in a week. Cheaper to knock her down than to rebuild. Still, time waits for no man and all that. Anyway, all the money is being spent on this-"

Bond looked to where Tanner was staring only to see a large building made completely from glass directly across from MI6. If Olivia was here with them now, she would look upon the building with disdain.

"A new Center for National Security."

"So, that's C's new digs?"

"Met him have you?" Tanner asked sarcastically.

"Yesterday, what do we know about him?"

"Classic Whitehall mandarin. Wrote a dossier last year on how the Double-0 programme was obsolete. How drones could do all our dirty work abroad. He went to school with the Home Secretary."

"Of course, he did."

"This merger is just the start of it, Bond. In three days there is a security conference in Tokyo to decide the new world order. If C gets his way, he will have unlimited access to the combined intelligence streams of nine countries."

"Including us."

"Quite." Tanner agreed as he steered the boat to his left, pulling them into an abandoned stone tunnel.

"A lot has happened since you were away , Bond. Another train bombing in Hamburg and an industrial explosion in Tunisia. It's not great timing for us. We're rather playing into C's hands."

"Which is exactly what he no doubt wants, Tanner."

"Exactly, but I think Mallory is just finally realising how much Olivia had to deal with during her time as M. He is finally cracking under the pressure."

"Yes, I had noticed." Bond muttered as Tanner turned off the boat and got out.

"Now this way, 007. But be careful It's a tad slippery." Tanner held out his hand.

"I think I can manage." Bond replied in amusement as he ignored Tanner's hand and walked along the platform until he reached a stone corridor.

Following the pathway round, they stopped in front of a metal door.

"I hear Q has got something rather special planned for you," Tanner told him, as he opened the door waiting for Bond to enter.

"I can hardly wait."

Upon entering the room, Bond looked around at the vast space that was covered in various gadgets and vehicles that were currently being worked on by Q's assistants. Noticing the assault sniper rifle sitting on its stand in front of him, he gave a smirk and walked towards it.

"Ah, 007."

"Q." Bond replied as he picked up the gun and weighed it in his hands.

"Please excuse the mess, everything is a bit up in the air, what with the changes and all. A couple of things to get through."

Bond looked through the lens as he watched Q approach.

"Shall we get started?" Q questioned taking the gun from him Bond's hands so he wouldn't cause any damage to his prototypes.

Bond watched as Q placed the rifle back on its stand.

"I think that would be for the best."

"Right this way, 007."

Bond turned to look at Tanner who gave an amused smile in response before he started to follow after Q into one of the side rooms. The room itself contained three large monitors on the wall in front of him, along with one of Q's assistants dressed in a white lab coat, and a machine that looked all too familiar.

As soon as his eyes landed on it, he was transported back to eight years ago when Olivia and another assistant had used a similar machine to place a tracker chip in his arm in order to keep an eye on him during the Casino Royale mission. He could still recall the amusement in her eyes, as he tried not to flinch as he felt the machine puncture his arm.

"So you can keep an eye on me?" he muttered forgetting where he now was in that moment and time.

"I'm sorry 007 did you say something?" Q asked looking over at him.

James blinked a few times as the gazebo disappeared and he was back in the concrete room.

"No." he quickly denied taking off his coat, scarf, and suit jacket before placing them on the back of the chair that was next to the machine.

His simple statement that day was just the start of the many quips he and Olivia would give each other throughout the course of their relationship. Although he tried to make out the could manage, he silently thanked Olivia's insistence on having him tracked, otherwise, he would have succumbed to the poison that Le Chiffre had put in his drink and he wouldn't be here now.

"I think we're ready, 007. If you just take a seat, we will get this over with."

Rolling up his shirt sleeve, he sat down on the chair and placed his left arm on the metal stand on the table next to the chair as Q pulled over the top of the machine locking it in place. He thought Mallory would have learned that microchip trackers weren't foolproof. He could easily cut it out should he wish to remain hidden.

"Just relax."

James stared at the screen in front of him as an x-ray of his arm appeared.

"Now you may feel a small-" Q pressed down on the button causing the clear liquid to enter Bond's arm.

"Christ." Bond exclaimed through gritted teeth as he clenched his hand into a fist.

"Prick."

James took a few deep breaths as he stared at the screen to see an unknown liquid flow through his arm. It was nothing like the tracker he had received eight years ago.

"What is it?"

"New nano-gene technology. Smart blood." Q informed him, as he pulled back the machine and cleaned the wound with some cotton wool.

"The microchip is in your bloodstream. It allows us to track your movements in the field. It also means that it can't be removed."

"Well, isn't that marvelous," James muttered.

This was going to make his mission in Rome that much harder to accomplish if he was being monitored around the clock.

"I thought so. You see those readouts. We can monitor your vital signs from anywhere on the planet."

"Well aren't I the lucky one?"

"Call it a post-Mexico insurance policy, by direct order of M." Q told him, as he placed a plaster over the puncture wound.

James stood up and rolled down his sleeve as he looked over at the younger man. "I completely understand." he gave a smile.

"Good," Q replied feeling uneasy under his gaze.

James watched amused as Q quickly looked away from him as he removed his gloves and placed them on the metal tray.

"Right, well there is just one more thing then you can be on your way."

James put back on his suit jacket, scarf, and coat and followed Q back to the main bunker intrigued as to what Q would be giving him this time.

He was officially grounded by Mallory, and he certainly didn't know about his upcoming trip to Rome. If anything he would prefer to just head back home and to Olivia rather than have Q show him something that he knew he wouldn't be getting.

James came out of his thoughts when Q had stopped in front of a set of double metal doors wondering what it was they were hiding. He didn't have long to wait when Q pushed the button next to the door and they slowly started to open.

He tried to control his jealousy when he saw a new silver Aston Martin sitting on the platform.

"Magnificent isn't she?"

He walked towards it, and closely inspected the details. While it looked magnificent, he preferred the DBS Olivia had given him as well as his own DB5 that he had inherited from his late father. But that didn't mean that this current one wouldn't come in handy should a particular occasion arise.

"Zero to sixty in three point two seconds. Fully bulletproof, a few little tricks up her sleeve. It's a shame really. She was meant for you, but she's been reassigned to 009."

It took all of James' self-restraint not to roll his eyes at the lack of sympathy in Q's voice.

"But you can have this."

James looked down at the watch that Q held out for him to take.

"Does it do anything?" he asked through gritted teeth as he took the watch from his grasp.

"It tells the time."

James took a few deep breaths trying to dissipate the anger he could feel building up. He was in no mood for Q's attempt at humour.

"It can help you with your punctuality issues."

"M's idea?"

Bond turned on his heel and started to walk towards the exit not wanting to spend a moment longer in the dreary bunker.

"Precisely. Oh and one word of warning the alarm is really loud. If you get my meaning."

He couldn't help but smirk, "I think I do."

The three men were no more than halfway up the corridor when Bond saw another glint of silver causing him to stop in his tracks as he looked over at the empty shell of the DB5. He didn't think it was salvageable after Silva's men blew it up at Skyfall but he had Q retrieve it in the hopes he would be able to restore it to its former glory. It was the only thing he had left of his parents, especially his father. His family home was gone, along with his father's hunting rifle. Even Kincade had left. The last time he had spoken to the man was four months ago when he had told James he had decided to move overseas. He couldn't picture Kincade relaxing on a beach anywhere, which made him all that more curious as to what the man was up to these days.

"Oh yes, that old thing is taking quite a bit of time. Mind you there wasn't much left to work on. The old M would have had a fit if she ever found out, considering all that was left was the steering wheel. I believe I said bring the car back in one piece, not bring back one piece." Q gave a chuckle at his own joke.

James turned to look at Q unamused causing the young man's smile to fade.

"Need I remind you, Q that car was originally mine. I may have kept it under Q branch supervision, but what I do with my own car is my choice. Let's not also forget that this car was the only other line of defence against Silva and his men from trying to kill your ex-boss. Not that it mattered in the end because she still winded up dead. Do you still think it's amusing? If it were up to me, I would have traded that bloody steering wheel just to get Olivia back and I'm sure if she were here, she would be thinking the same!" James pointed out as he slowly approached Q, only to be stopped by Tanner intervening.

"He didn't mean anything by it, Bond. We all miss her, but lashing out isn't going to help."

James felt himself deflate needing to remind himself that she was alive and that he hadn't lost her. He needed to see her now more than ever.

"I apologise 007, that remark was insensitive of me." Q told him in a soft voice.

"Apology accepted, Q."

"Well, enjoy your downtime, 007." Q quickly told him before walking away trying to hide his embarrassment.

Tanner narrowed his eyes, "Is there anything you want to tell me, Bond?"

"I'm afraid you've lost me, Tanner?"

"What exactly was the nature of your relationship with Olivia? The way you're acting you would think the two of you were lovers."

James looked away from Tanner's accusatory glare. "And if we were? It doesn't matter now, does it?"

"Doesn't matter?" Tanner asked incredulously. "Of course it bloody matters. If Denbigh or the committee ever finds out that the two of you were having a secret relationship, it will only strengthen their case that Olivia put one of her agents above that of Queen and Country. So I'll ask you again Bond, were you and Olivia in a sexual relationship?"

"No, as much as I wanted us to be, I knew she would never accept my feelings while she was still the head of MI6. I didn't want to jeopardise her career and neither did she. It was only when she was dying in my arms that I told her I loved her. That's all you need to know Tanner."

Tanner didn't know what to say. He guessed in a way that he'd always known that there was something more between James and Olivia, but to have Bond admit that he loved her caused his heart to break for the agent.

"I'm sorry, Bond."

"Don't be. It seems every woman I get close to ends up dead in the end. It's safe to say, I've gotten used to it over the years." James told him truthfully, "Now if you excuse me, there is something I need to discuss with Q, then I'm going to head home. Perhaps some downtime will do me the world of good for a change."

Tanner allowed Bond to pass and watched in sadness as he followed after Q. He wondered what Bond's life would be like if Olivia had survived. Would she have returned Bond's feelings, or would she have still denied herself the happiness she deserved? All he had to go on was speculation, but he suspected that in time Olivia would have come round to the idea. He had seen first hand her feelings towards Bond. She may have tried to hide them behind her usual cold facade, but he had worked closely with her over the years to suspect that she felt something more in regards to Bond other than an agent. Perhaps if she were still here now, then she would have been able to prevent the fiasco in Mexico.

Giving a sigh, he followed after Bond wondering what it was that he had to discuss with Q. He couldn't help but feel that Bond was hiding something. He wasn't sure just what that something was, but as long as kept him out of Denbigh's radar that was all that mattered in the end.

James could feel Tanner's eyes bore into his back with each step he took, he couldn't tell the man the full details about Olivia. It could put his life on the line should Denbigh ever find out about her survival. It was better for everyone involved that he remained oblivious to that minor detail for the time being until the right opportunity arose.

"Q, now you know exactly where I am all of the time would you do something for me?" James asked keeping his voice low so no one would overhear.

"What do you have in mind exactly?"

"Make me disappear," James answered looking down at the watch in his hands, before undoing the strap and fastened it around his right wrist .

"Um, may I remind you, I answer directly to M. I also have a mortgage and two cats to feed." Q stopped typing on his keyboard and looked up at Bond.

"Well then, I suggest you trust me- for the sake of the cats."

Q was about to answer when he saw Tanner approach and decided to move around to the other side of the table making himself look busy.

"Well, it's lovely to see you 007, lovely. Um, now I meant to tell you the smart blood programme is obviously still in its developmental stage so we may experience the odd drop in coverage during the first twenty-four hours…" Q exclaimed only to see Bond stare at him unimpressed. "Forty-eight hours after administration. But after that, it should work perfectly."

James gave him a smile, "I'll send you a postcard."

"Please don't." Q replied wondering what it was that Bond was up to.

"If you say so." James walked towards Tanner as the two of them left Q's base of operations and made their way back to the boat.

Getting in, Tanner started the ignition as they made the journey back towards the embankment that would take them back to the car park.

They were only a few minutes into the journey when Tanner decided to ask what had been playing on his mind since he overheard small snippets of the conversation between Bond and Q.

"What is it you're you up to exactly, Bond?"

"I don't know what you mean, Tanner."

Tanner gave him an unimpressed look, "We both know that the smart blood programme is long past its developmental stage. Now, why do you want Q to make you go off the radar for forty-eight hours?"

"It's nothing to concern yourself with, Tanner. I just need some time to myself."

"Bullshit. You're hiding something, and I want to know what it is. You can trust me."

James stared over at MI6, refusing to look at Tanner. "This isn't about trust, Tanner. If I told you, it could not only endanger your life but also put the risk of someone else's life on the line as well."

Tanner's ears picked up at that part, "who are we talking about here, Bond?"

"I've already told you too much. It's best you forget all about this conversation. For your own sake." James informed him truthfully.

"Just tell me already, Bond!"

"I can't. Not yet."

"It's Olivia isn't it." Tanner stared at him looking for confirmation that he was right.

"Tanner…"

"Christ, it is." Tanner's voice held disbelief. "That's why you were in Mexico wasn't it?"

James gave a sigh, knowing it was futile to try and hide it from Tanner any longer. "In part, yes. I was tracking down a man called Marco Sciarra on Olivia's orders. She had been tracking him for some time until she had to deal with the incident regarding the stolen hard drive. Olivia believes that Patrice was used as a diversion, perhaps because she was getting too close to uncovering the truth as to who Sciarra worked for. It's also a possibility that it may be the same organisation that is responsible for these attacks and sent Silva after her to ensure that she was no longer a threat."

To Tanner, It sounded plausible. "I take it you found a lead when you tacked down this Sciarra in Mexico?"

"Of sorts. He mentioned someone called the Pale King. I have Moneypenny looking into it for me, while I head to Rome to attend Sciarra's funeral. Hopefully, it will lead us to the answers we need to find this organisation and who is behind these attacks around the world."

"Where is Olivia now?"

"She has been staying in my flat since she was released from the hospital. I had to fake her death to ensure she remained safe and out of this organisation's radar."

"I understand, Bond. I'll make sure that this stays strictly between us. Though I would like to see her at some point." Tanner told him with a smile.

"I think she would be agreeable to that, Tanner. She tells me her secret intelligence days are over, but I can tell she misses her job now and again. Olivia was never one to sit on the sidelines." James informed him fondly.

"She certainly wasn't." Tanner agreed, recalling how she hated to be thrown out of the loop, especially when she thought Bond had gone rogue in Bolivia.

"There is one more thing I need to ask though Bond."

"Which is?" he narrowed his eyes wondering what else Tanner wanted from him.

"That comment you made when I asked the nature of your relationship with Olivia during her time as M. You said that you told her you loved her as she lay dying in your arms."

James smirked having a feeling he knew where Tanner was going with this. "Why don't you just ask what you're obviously dying to know, Tanner."

"All right, I guess what I'm trying to say is, did she reciprocate your feelings?"

"Yes, she did. In her eyes, she is officially dead and no longer the head of MI6 which was the only reason why she held back from starting a relationship between us. Now, there is no rules or politicians standing in our way and I would like to keep it that way, Tanner."

"I meant what I said Bond, you can trust me. Even if my job and life were on the line I still wouldn't risk Olivia's life. We worked side by side for years, Bond, you're not the only one that cares about her."

"I appreciate the sentiment Tanner, but hopefully, it won't come to you losing your life or your job, Olivia would kill me," James said, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

"Or she would bring me back, just to give me a bollocking then kill me again for recklessness." Tanner joked as he steered the boat back to the embankment.

"She probably would, Tanner. I wouldn't put it past her."

"I thought as much," Tanner replied as he watched Bond disembark.

"Oh before I go, there is two more favours I need to ask you, Tanner."

Tanner gave a weary sigh, "Which are?

"I need you to get me a boat back at this exact spot at midnight. I'm going to need that DB10."

"How are you going to smuggle that car out of the bloody country Bond?"

"I have my ways," James told him mysteriously.

Tanner didn't question him further, if he thought about how Bond did half the things he did, it would give him a headache.

"All right, but you can deal with Q when you get back. What's the other favour?"

"I need you to watch over Olivia for me while I'm gone. It should only be for a week at most if all goes according to plan."

"That won't be a problem, but I'm due to attend Denbigh's hearing in Tokyo in three days Bond. If I miss it, it may raise suspicion."

"I'm sure Moneypenny would be more than willing to go in your place."

"And what am I meant to tell her? She'll want to know the reason why I can't go myself, Bond."

"Leave it with me, Tanner. I'll take care of it. It just means that you will have to take over from Moneypenny and follow up on any leads I find."

"Very well, I'll leave it in your capable hands. Just be careful, Bond. Denbigh is watching our every move. If he finds out about your upcoming escapade in Rome, it will be all he needs to make you disappear for good this time."

"I'd like to see him try, Tanner. I'll be in contact soon."

Tanner watched as Bond walked away, he could feel his heart growing lighter as the news of Olivia's survival finally sunk in. It seemed she really was indestructible. She and Bond seemed to already make a fine pair.

With one last smile, he steered the boat from the embankment and headed back towards Q branch. If Bond planned to borrow the DB10, they would need to get another boat so as to not arouse suspicion. And he knew just the place where he could find one.

/*\*/*\

Once James had made it back to the car park, he looked at the time on the clock noticing it was going on 11:30am. He had been in Q branch for over two hours and all he had to show for it was a watch and some nano-gene technology. Olivia was going to have a field day when he told her all about Q's new tracker programme, but first, he had a few pit stops to make should he hope to make this plan of his work.

Reversing out of the car park he decided his first port of call was Moneypenny. He needed to try and convince her to go to Tokyo in Tanner's place. It shouldn't be too difficult to persuade her, but then again, she was already risking her career to help him track down a lead. If Mallory found out, he could just imagine the consequences they would be facing as well as the man's wrath.

Pulling out his mobile, he scrolled through his contacts until he reached Moneypenny and pressed call putting the phone on loud speaker. It wasn't long before the woman in questioned answered, as Bond had to suppress the smile wanting to break free, as he pictured the demure smile whenever he spoke with her.

"What can I do for you, James? I'm guessing this isn't a social call?"

"Perceptive as always, Moneypenny. I need a favour."

"Another one? I'm going to start charging you for these favours of yours, James. So what is it you need this time?"

"I need you to meet me. Tell Mallory you are taking an early lunch."

"James I have a conference to attend to with Mallory in an hour…"

"All the more reason to ask for an early lunch. Look I'll have you back in time. I'll meet you at the Clarence in ten minutes."

"Fine, but this had better be important James or I may save Denbigh the hassle and get rid of you myself."

"You always did have a way with words, Moneypenny. I'll see you in ten."

James hung up the call and quickly decided to make a call to Olivia just to let her know that he would be home soon. The smile slowly vanished from his face when the call rang out, going straight to voicemail. Ending the call, he tried again, but there was still no answer. Trying to contain his worry, he tried once more and let out a sigh of relief when he heard her voice.

"Hello."

"Are you all right? Where were you and why didn't you answer the first time I called?"

"First of you can relax, James. I'm fine. I was doing some housework, and I realised I left the phone in the kitchen."

"I thought something had happened to you."

"Other than being left to do the housework, I'm fine. Now, how did your meeting with, Q go?"

James gave a sigh, "I'll give you the long version later. Basically, he gave me this new tracker that is now apart of my bloodstream. Q calls it Smart blood. Apparently, it's new state of the art nano-gene technology, which means Q can track my every move. If I try to go off the radar, he will have my exact location within seconds."

"Shit. This may make your mission in Rome that much harder to accomplish."

"I asked Q to give me forty-eight hours so hopefully, that should be enough time to do what I have to do before they catch on."

"Let's hope you're right, James. Are you on your way back home?"

"Not yet, I need to meet with Moneypenny to try and convince her to go to a security conference in Tokyo with Mallory in Tanner's place."

"Why? What's Tanner up to?"

"I may have asked him to keep an eye on you until I return."

"You did what? Christ, I thought you said that no one could know about me being alive James!"

"And they can't, but we can trust Tanner, besides the man guessed all on his own. Though I guess me snapping at Q was kind of a giveaway."

"I hope you know what you are doing. You are putting that man's life on the line along with his career. And what do you mean you snapped at Q?"

"I'll explain later. But as for Tanner, he knows what's on the line and he's still willing to take the risk." James told her as he turned right, that would take him onto the road leading to Whitehall.

"He also informed me that Denbigh and the committee are looking into every order and mission you were apart of during your time as M. They think that your judgment was compromised due to favouritism in regards to me. They believe I'm a liability and the only reason I remained a Double-0 and the programme itself carried on for as long as it did was in part due to your influence."

"So they think by dragging my name through the mud, that they will get rid of you and the Double-0 programme?" Olivia gave a scoff, "They're bloody fools. Do they honestly think I was stupid enough to write in detail about all your little escapades over the years."

"Didn't you?" James asked in disbelief.

"James, those reports only contain what I wanted the minister and the committee to believe. They have nothing to go on. Well, other than their theory that computer intelligence would be a more subtle method to carry out attacks and put an end to terrorist threats rather than send in Double-0 agents to gather intel. I will admit that the death rate of agents may be significantly lower, but chances are that this intelligence network could completely backfire. All it takes is one mastermind to gain control of the network and use our own weapon against us."

"I do love it when you go into M mode," James smirked as he pulled into a parking space across from the Clarence. "I'll tell you more when I get back. I should be an hour at the most."

"All right, good luck on trying to convince Moneypenny about going to Tokyo."

"Thanks, I think I'll need it."

Olivia gave a chuckle in response, "I'll see you soon, James."

"See you soon," James replied hanging up the call.

Getting out the car, he saw Moneypenny across the road, standing outside the restaurant as she stared across at him unamused. Locking the car, he crossed the road and stood in front of her.

"Moneypenny."

"Let's get this over with, James," she said brushing past him not in the mood for pleasantries as she walked into the restaurant.

James watched her go, having a feeling that trying to convince Moneypenny of going to Tokyo was going to prove harder than he originally thought. Giving a sigh, he followed after her hoping that she wouldn't ask too many questions in regards to his request.

Getting lost in his thoughts, he was about to enter the restaurant when he felt himself collide with something hard causing him to stumble. When he looked up, he saw a man about the same age as himself, hurrying down the street.

Putting the incident to the back of his mind, he fixed his coat and entered the restaurant as if nothing had happened.

/*\*/*\

The man continued to hurry down the busy street before he turned a corner to his right and got into the passenger seat of a black BMW that was waiting for him.

"It's done." he informed the man next to him slightly out of breath.

"Excellent. Now, I think it's time we find out just what Mr Bond is currently up to." The man said with a smile, as he continued to look at the laptop, which showed the restaurants CCTV footage of Moneypenny and Bond, sitting at a table in the corner away from the other guests in the vicinity.

Increasing the volume on the laptop, Bond's voice filled the car through the speakers from the invisible mic that was attached to Bond's coat. It would only be a matter of time before they found out what secrets the Double-0 agent was currently hiding. If all went according to plan, it could provide them with the evidence they would need to ensure that Bond disappeared for good.