Q

[0_0_7]

They'd flown to Beijing on a comercial flight, first class of course, and their regional agent had a car waiting for them. A few pleasantries over a fast meal and then they were on their way to their destination. Q had a veritable tech center packed up. Bond had guns and the agent on the ground had the car packed with explosives and thermite.

In theory the mission should go off without incident. Break in, set a bomb, get out. It was just a weapons warehouse- so they'd been told. A place where black market Soviet warheads came in and went out with regularity- so they'd been told.

"The air here is awful," Bond complained. "I hate Beijing."

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[quartermaster_q]

Q was currently stashed away at a nearby hotel, sitting cross-legged on the bed in his pyjamas. His laptop rested on his knees, and the tea in his mug was fresh and piping hot still.

Bond's voice was crisp and clear in his ear, and he smirked a little to himself as he put his tea down and began to tap away.

"Really? It's fine here in the hotel. Lovely filtering system they've got here," he replied, sounding cheerful enough. "I did suggest you wear a mask, it's what most of the locals do these days."

[0_0_7]

"I'm not wearing a mask," Bond replied, his petulant scowl making its way into his tone. "The sooner we get this done, the better."

[quartermaster_q]

"And here I was worrying that my tantrum about getting on the plane would be the most ridiculous part of our mission," Q replied blandly.

[0_0_7]

"I don't need your cheek," Bond replied, calm and dry as he drove through the haze. He said nothing of Q's scene before take off...he'd never use the man's fear as ammunition.

"I'm almost there. Get ready."

[quartermaster_q]

"I'm ready," he assured Bond, sitting up a tad straighter, and cracking his knuckles.

[0_0_7]

Bond pulled into a delivery lane that ran behind and between two large warehouses and up against a fence. He got out and first order of business was link cutters to get through the fence. He wasn't terribly worried about leaving his mark behind.

"Tell me where the security is," he said quietly to Q, looking around to keep an eye out for patrols. He'd learned that in China you could expect just about anything.

[quartermaster_q]

"I've taken care of the cameras, the guards seem to be moving in an irregular pattern though. No set paths for any of them. There are six total, fairly spread out- I suggest using the night vision glasses I supplied ou with," Q replied.

"I wont silence the alarm until you're near it. It can't be turned off for longer than sixty seconds."

[0_0_7]

"Are you watching me on CCTV or satellite?" he asked as he broke through and gathered the heavy bag of explosives to take inside.

Before Q could answer, the fence rattled and Bond added, "I'm in. Give me a few minutes to get to the door..."

[quartermaster_q]

"Satellite," Q replied. "less chance of being traced."

He tapped away for a moment, then switched to another satellite. "Do you know where you're heading?"

[0_0_7]

"Of course. THe report said the long building was the center of distribution and this is longer than the other. I'm in the right place," he said, that tartness to his voice he got when Q questioned him about things like this creeping in.

[quartermaster_q]

"I was just checking, no need to get snippy," Q replied lightly, pausing to sip his tea.

[0_0_7]

Bond ignored the retort and looked around. No sign of security. Good.

"Alright, cut the alarm," he said. "Once I'm inside this ought to be easy."

He may have jinxed himself by saying that, he knew it. But he couldn't take it back.

[quartermaster_q]

"Done, you've got sixty seconds starting now," Q replied, tapping away as he spoke.

[0_0_7]

Jerking open the door, Bond stepped inside before any of the guards saw him. Inside it smelled like explosives but he put that off to weapons. Gunpowder, god knew what else.

He passed wooden crates and paid no attention as he made his way to the center of the warehouse. Once there he found a gas line and made sure it was open, then e attached the explosives to the base of the pole and set the thermite charge. It was time delayed so he could get out of the building.

"How much longer?" he said. It was too dark to see his watch and he didn't want to waste time taking a peek.

[quartermaster_q]

"Thirty-seven seconds before the alarm is reactivated," Q replied calmly, flicking through feeds again as he spoke.

[0_0_7]

He set the charge and hurried back to the door to make his escape. But outside he nearly ran into A security guard. He took advantage of the surprise to scramble and fight for a moment, then he broke the guard's neck. He ran then for the fence and was through it and to the car when two more guards came round to the jangling sound of the fence. The began to shoot at Bond who ducked behind his car.

"Q, we have a problem," he said. "They're going to alert all the guards..."

[quartermaster_q]

"I heard, I'm attempting to jam their communications, but I'd advise a brisk exit."

Q paused then, taking a moment to consider before speaking again.

"If you need to, are you able to detonate the device early?"

[0_0_7]

This time Bond did glance at his watch.

"It's set to go off in a minute. I need to get out of here," he said. "I don't have time to fight them off."

And the fence was in the way so he really didn't have a clear shot. The upside of that was neither did the guards and as they began to fire their bullets ricocheted off the chain link. Bond didn't have time for this. He turned and began to run, thinking at the very worst he could steal a vehicle. He needed to get away from the bomb.

He'd just gone round the corner of another building when the blast shook the very air. Bond knew immediately that it was too big. Much bigger than it should have been, even connected to the gas line. Far too big. Heat and force pushed him to the ground even around the building and the sound was literally deafening. Bond couldn't hear a thing.

And then a second, bigger explosion went off. It must be brilliant on satellite, he thought.

[quartermaster_q]

Sitting up straighter, Q was instantly on the satellites, scanning not just the damage, but for his agent.

"Bond? Bond, report. Bond? James!" he snapped, a hint of panic creeping into his voice as he activated the agent's tracker and attempted to zero in on his position.

He could see the smoke from the hotel window. ...For a moment, he was certain he felt his heart stop.

[0_0_7]

It took him a log few moments to shake off the concussion of the blast. His ears rang and he covered the ear with the device in it.

"Q? Q? Q, I can't hear anything. If you're there...there's so much smoke. I'm going to try to find my way back to the hotel. I'm on foot. Can you send directions to my phone? Q? Is this transmitting? I can't hear..."

[quartermaster_q]

Q could hear him, but since he knew Bond couldn't hear him he sent a message to the man's watch- Hoping it had survived the blast.

You're coming in clear.
Sending GPS coordinates to your phone.
Return immediately.

As he sent that, he also sent out a message to one of their local contacts, requesting discreet medical aid.

[0_0_7]

Bond felt his watch vibrate softly and he looked at it and smiled.

"I'll be back shortly," he said, confident now that Q could hear him. He looked at his phone and made his way well away from the blast zone before he looked for a cab. He caught a pedicab- the driver wore an industrial respirator- and Bond gave him the address.

Then he sat back and relaxed. It had only gone slightly pear shaped.

[quartermaster_q]

Q, on the other hand, was already on the phone with M, attempting to get them out of the country right away. ...M, however, feared that would only draw more attention to them.

"Besides, it's likely Bond will be unable to fly for a while anyway, Q. Rest up, I promise we;ll have you home soon enough," he'd said, while Q scowled on the other end of the line.

[0_0_7]

The pedicab brought him to the hotel and Bond paid with a precise tip- nothing memorable. He said thank you in English and then hurried inside.

Rather than take the lift he climbed the stairs. They'd been put on the fourth floor so it was no real bother and far more covert. Bond checked the hall and then dashed to the door. He knocked and then began to look for the key.

[quartermaster_q]

It wasn't Q who opened he door, but instead their contact, and local medic, Jiang.

Jiang was an odd one, their appearance and voice so gender neutral that Q honestly had no idea if they were a man or a woman. This was compounded by the fact that Jiang never used any gender specific pronouns in regard to themself or anyone else. ...Q suspected it was all very deliberate.

"Bond," Jiang greeted, stepping back to let the man into the room.

"He can't hear you," Q noted. "I meant to mention that. His ears will need looking at first."