Prologue

Vesper

I gasped. I dreamt that I was trapped inside a cage underwater. I couldn't get out, and damn I couldn't reach something. I wanted to, but something was stopping me. Guilt? Why? For what?

And then I woke up. And stared into a white ceiling. And stark lights. The smell of hospital permeates my nose. Why hospital? I try to remember something, anything, but I couldn't remember any. Trivial facts such as name, age and who is the current monarch of our dear country I can answer but not how I got here.

I try to raise my hand but it was covered in sterile tape and attached to an IV. A monitor beeps and a minute later, a doctor and a nurse comes in. The doctor looks like a generic American boy, all blond and blue eyes while the nurse was exotic. I guessed she was from the Southeast Asia or something.

"Good morning miss. I am Dr. Harper and this is your nurse, Nurse Agnes. Now young lady, I know you are a bit disoriented but that is fine miss. You have been in a medically induced coma for four months now because when we found you, you were literally dead. Your heart wasn't beating but thanks to some quick action, we were able to start it again." The doctor laughed, amused at his own joke. I didn't.

He cleared his throat, then said "Your body couldn't handle the stress it usually does and we were afraid that you would die again so we put you in a coma. How are we feeling?"

"I..I.. d-don't know-w" I stutter.

"Can you remember anything?"

I nodded, "B-but only trivial s-stuff,"

The doctor was silent for a moment then asked, "What is your name?"

"Vesper Lynd"

"What year is it?"

"2006."

"The prime minister of England?"

That one took a bit longer but I was able to answer Tony Blair.

"Well, Ms. Lynd, you are well physically but with some muscle atrophy that can easily be corrected. It appears though that you have retrograde amnesia."

"Wh-at?" I asked

"You can recall information sometime prior to your near drowning accident but I'm afraid that this is your body's way of protecting itself."

"Will I get be-better?

"I'm hopeful you will because my next news is not really for someone who cannot recall her immediate past."

"Wh-what do you m-mean?"

Dr. Harper and Nurse Agnes looked at each other before they looked at me. Then in a slightly accented voice, Nurse Agnes told me, "Vesper, you're pregnant."

James

Sweat drips down on my body but I still hit the bloody training dummy with fucking strong jabs and punches. Rhythm. That's what gets me through these days. Bloody fucking rhythm. I could lose myself in the routine of my days. Train, speak with M, verbal spar with Q, go on a mission, go home. Rinse. Repeat. With precision and stubbornness, I stick with my routine, never allowing my head to roam freely.

Because if it did, it only returns to her. That bitch.

I continue to demolish the dummy, trying to purge her out of my mind with pain from the ever increasing power I put behind my punches. One...Two...Three.. Repeat.

Her: Rolex?

James: Omega.

Her: Beautiful. Now, having just met you, I wouldn't go as far as calling you a cold-hearted bastard...

James: No, of course not.

Her: But it wouldn't be a stretch to imagine. You think of women as disposable pleasures, rather than meaningful pursuits. So as charming as you are, Mr. Bond, I will be keeping my eye on our government's money - and off your perfectly-formed arse.

James: You noticed?

Her: Even accountants have imagination. How was your lamb?

James: Skewered! One sympathizes.

Her: Good evening, Mr. Bond.

James: Good evening, Ms. Lynd.

With a final punch and kick, he sent the bloody dummy into two pieces. Breathing hard, he set upon the next dummy until he heard someone walking up behind him. "M." He acknowledged.

"If you would just answer that thrice damned phone of yours Bond, I wouldn't have to walk so far here." M huffed.

"We get our kicks where we can get them." He mused.

"No fun in waiting for an old woman to croak by giving her a heart attack with overly tedious walking Bond. I'd expect that you would find other creative ways to kill me than that. Pity." M said dryly.

He chuckled then asked. "Why are you here?

"Because I have a mission for you. Here." She gave him a thick folder. "All you need is in there. Good luck."

M left, and James opened the folder.

Vesper Lynd's face stared back at him.