Bond found him exactly where he was expected, sat straight in the window of the old tea shop on Belamere Road. A little overdressed perhaps but nothing out of the ordinary in a new black coat as the English summer came pouring down.

Bond entered and sat opposite the man. He was Asian, thin and tired with his tea untouched in the middle of the table. "Chai?" Bond asked, laying his hat down on the chair next to him.

"It's the right time." His English was simple and clear. They recognised each other as the same profession. "I should leave a tip."

"If you can stump it."

The man nodded and began to reach into his pocket. Something caught the corner of his eye and he froze only for a moment. Bond didn't turn to look, but knew the signals as the man placed both hands flat on the table. "I could use something stronger."

"Of course" Bond replied with an exaggerated smile and both moved immediately for the door. "You've had a long journey. I know the place to go."

As soon as they left two men came out of the kitchen and stood looking at was left, the hat perched on it's seat. One reached for it. As soon as he gripped it there was an audible click and an explosion, blowing out the window and flooding the tea shop with choking gas. Bond and his contact walked quickly not once looking back until they reached the street corner where the Aston Martin. They got in and pulled away just as two more men burst from a building on the other side of the street. Machine gun fire peppered the car as it accelerated past, causing the man to duck in his seat even as the bullets bounced harmlessly off it's reinforced body.

"Don't worry" Bond assured him. "Our lab boys know a few tricks." The words were barely out of his mouth when a shard of rock pierced the rear wind shield, pieces of glass scattering all over as he swerved to regain control. Behind them a powerful little coupé roared in the pursuit, pistol fire flashing from the passenger window. That man ducked back to reload and behind him another, an Earthbender, already moulding another large pebble in hand. "Mother always said old tricks were the best tricks." Bond pulled hard right through an ally and back onto a main thoroughfare but still their pursuers were with them. Another sharp rock shard ricochet off the Aston and into the path of a bus which swerved violently and mounted the pavement as pedestrians scattered.

"Steady" the man shouted, and grabbed the rock rolling around on the back seat. Bond dared to hold the car straight as more pistol fire rang out, one shot finding it's way in and shattering the rear view mirror. Crawling in the back his contact squeezed it tight, bending it into and almost perfect spearhead with a flat bottom and with one quick slap sent it whistling at speed straight into the pursuing car's engine. There was a moment of a terrible grinding noise, a hiss and suddenly the vehicle erupted into flame as the engine's mechanics devoured themselves and it's liquids ignited. The vehicle swerved and careened into a shop front, pedestrians scattering as the policemen blew furiously on their whistles.

The Aston sped quickly on as the rain cleared, away from the commercial centre towards the industrial works and vehicle depots. An unbranded bus depot, newly built and almost empty save for a pair of broken looking London specimens. Men in overalls stood about, one waving him straight through into a garage in the back who's shutter slammed down behind as the battered car purred in. Bond switched off the engine and leaned back, glad to relax.

"I hope you don't think all England's like that old boy. Tomorrow I'll be happy to show you to a more reputable tea shop." There was no response. Bond twisted around to find his passenger dead, a horrid white pallor across his face and lips, a little blood dribbling from his nose and mouth. A small scratch across his cheek seemed his only injury. Bond grimaced and reached into the man's pocket. A small paisho piece was recovered, black with a ships wheel and some script around it's narrow edge. Bond turned it in his fingers for a moment and slipped it quickly into his own pocket. "Tip for the driver" he muttered and left as the men entered and began to clear up.