just_hex | Before the Crash

Bond had quite enjoyed his time on the station. He’d gotten to know the commander. The workings. The rhythm of life. He’d learned the comings and goings. What the protocols for a delegation of hostile ambassadors was versus what actually happened. What he couldn’t witness himself, he’d used his presence in Q branch to gain access to all the systems he could need.

He watched vids on repeat, watching. Waiting.

And in the mean time, he enjoyed Q. He romanced the droid, tested his limits, and enjoyed his body at every possible opportunity. It was a shame, what was to come. Q was doing so well here, and the station was so crowded. So many souls.

A shame, but never once had that stopped the Double-O.

The order came through in the night, waking him from a dreamless sleep. The tone was different from others and triggered something in Bond’s mind, demanding complusion and obedience. He sat up and stretched, then read the message.

Initiate Protocol 9

A simple statement that had Bond rise, dress, and arm himself. He slipped from his quarters and entered a Jeffries tube. The saboteur crawled through the guts of the station, setting charges at critical points. When the station failed, there would be time for evacuation.

By the time the station failed, they would be so deep into the quadrant that rescue could take time. Too much time. By the time the station failed, the only option may be the Omicron system. There may be a planet or moon close enough by then. By the time the station failed, Bond would have secured passage away, with Q, in a well appointed ship.

He wasn’t going down with the station. That wasn’t part of the protocol. He was going down on Q until the moment they needed to run.

* * *
Hex was oblivious when the agent emerged from the tube access near the med bay. People used them for all sorts of things. And since the agent was in a red shirt, Hex took no note. He was much more concerned with getting back to the nest he shared with Nyx. He’d secured a parcel from Risa, delicacies both sweet and tangy. He hoped Nyx was home, though he never really counted on it. The prince moved about as he pleased and Hex was honored every single time he was chosen.

The doors whooshed open and he held the box as he scanned the room for the prince.

“Nyx?” he called int the dim room.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

0_0_7

"Surely, they'll ask you to join me," he said. "The station is about to be attacked."

That was the official story. The station would be attacked when it neared the Omicron system, the Jem'Hadar blamed, war assured.

There was no way 6 would let the Q experiment end all the way out here...

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

Q went slightly pale.

We need to tell Harry," he said, before correcting himself. "The commander, I mean. We need to tell the commander."

From:

0_0_7

"The commander is aware," he assured him, though he knew it to be a lie.

"Evacuations will begin soon, but with advance notice from Six, you and I can leave ahead of the rush."

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

"I'm not leaving until I know my team is safe," Q replied, reaching to send the lift back up to Q branch.

From:

0_0_7

"So you're going to go back and set off a mass panic before the commander can issue any orders?" he asked mildly.

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

"They wouldn't panic," Q assured him. "Besides, we might be able to do something to protect the station. We can increase the shields... At the very least I can make sure they're all loaded into escape pods... Why are they delaying evacuation anyway? That's ridiculous."

From:

0_0_7

Bond reached out and smacked the panel to stop the lift, perhaps a bit harder than he should have.

They came to a sudden, jarring stop.

"They will panic, Q. That's what people do in space," he assured him with deadly calm. "Like you are. Now."

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

"This isn't panic, this is me protecting my team," Q said, finally sounding as annoyed as he felt. "I'm not running away and leaving them."

From:

0_0_7

"They need you to tell them how to leave?" he asked, mocking a bit. "You, above all others, know how to evacuate a space station? You, personally, must do this?"

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

"It's not a question of their competence, it's the principle of the matter. They're in my care, I'm their boss, it's my job not just to lead, but to care," Q replied, looking hurt. "The real question is why are you so against it?" He asked, beginning to grow suspicious.

From:

0_0_7

"Because it's stupid to waste time waiting to save anyone but yourself," he said, moving away from the panel so Q could start it again.

"I'll be leaving. Those are my orders," he said.

And he realized he, too, was stupid. Q wasn't mentioned anywhere in Bond's orders to evacuate.

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

Q restarted the lift, only for it to shudder to a stop again a moment later.

"What did you do?" he asked, certain Bond was somehow responsible.

From:

0_0_7

"You saw what I did," he said curtly. "It's probably a loose connection."

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

Q pulled off the panel and inspected everything inside. It seemed fine, meaning it was something outside the lift causing the issue. Tapping his communicator, he spoke to Tanner, letting him know where he was and what had happened.

"...And Tanner," he added. "Be on high alert, something isn't right here."

Closing the com line, he looked at James. "What else aren't you telling me?" he asked bluntly.

From:

0_0_7

"You don't have the clearance," he replied, the truth of it making him ache.

Bond paused.

"Q, please listen to what I am telling you. I want you to come with me," he nearly pleaded.

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

"I don't think either of us is going anywhere until the lift starts working again," Q pointed out, studying James' face as though searching for answers there.

From:

0_0_7

That news didn't sit well, but he didn't panic yet. There was time.

A little.

He tapped his communicator. It beeped twice, but didn't connect.

"Computer?" Bond asked the lift.

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

There was no response, but Q reconnected the panel and attempted to get into the system.

"Easier to repair from the outside," he noted. "And don't think I've not noticed that you haven't answered my question."

From:

just_hex

"I think getting moving us more pressing," he said, looking up to locate the access panel.

From:

qu4r73rm4573r

Q hummed, focused on his work now, but still a bit annoyed.

"You seem very worried. Just how bad is this attack supposed to be?"

From:

just_hex

"They rarely leave survivors, Q. It's expected to decimate the station. Even with defenses, even with escape pods, even with The Veritas en route..."

Even with all that, the charges Bond had placed would see to it the outrage over the fictional attack would be justified. The station would be destroyed.