Though the mess hall is also hyper modern, the food is just as dreadful as in the MI6 canteen. Truthfully, it should not have come as a surprise, considering that there are only very limited sources of nourishment left on earth which are all grown in greenhouses across the globe. Most animals have been extinct two decades ago, leaving meat substitute, vegetables and legumes our main source of nutrition.

I guess I had hoped that an agency primarily responsible to travel into the past to correct minor historic events also had ways to bring some of the former delicacies back into our world. Yet, my mistake becomes obvious as soon as Colin places a tray in front of me, the bland aroma of a soy burger with mushy peas killing my appetite. I start to take small bites, glancing around the cafeteria which is filled with light chatter, a slow version of 'She's On The Rag' by Steel Panther playing in the background.

When Rykar enters, most conversations around the room halt for a moment when she passes by the tables. Her lips are pressed together in a thin line as she steers towards the food counter.

"She looks mad," I comment, wondering what could have upset her.

Colin glances at her. "No, that's just the way she is around most people. She can be a little bit bitchy."

Who would have guessed? "What's up with her anyhow?" When Colin frowns, I decide to get more specific. "I mean, she is awfully young to be special operations director."

"Well, that." Colin avoids my gaze and squirts a red sauce on his potato mash that has the taste of former ketchup. "The head of the agency is her mentor and she has time jumped since she was sixteen. She actually is really good at what she does, though there is a nasty rumor that she was promoted because she's dating Patrick McCain. I wouldn't bring that up if I were you – she will probably take your head off if you do."

I let out a low whistle. "Patrick McCain as in the Global Security Advisor."

Colin gives me a pained smile.

My eyes drill into Rykar's back – she really is very pretty. Her long, honey brown hair falls in soft waives halfway down her back and her ass is just big enough for a man to easily cup their hands around it. Her waist is tiny, yet her body is toned with muscles that flex under her t-shirt. I would pay big bucks to see what's underneath.

She joins us at the table and starts picking at her food with as little enthusiasm as myself.

"I swear this grub gets worse by the day," she complains.

Colin smirks. "The day after tomorrow, you and JB will be able to feast on real food. Don't forget to bring me back a candy bar like you promised."

She shoots him a dark look. "You know we're not supposed to bring anything back. It's against agency regulations."

The evil eye he returns is just as vicious. "Since when are you a stickler for rules."

Her gaze lands on me. "Since the agency decided I needed a chaperon. I can't believe I am expected to babysit a rookie."

I gasp in protest. "Hey, I'm an experienced agent."

"Really, Mr. Bond?" Her voice drips with sarcasm. "Then why don't you tell me what you know about time travel?"

If she thinks she can ridicule me with lack of knowledge, she picked the wrong guy. "It started after the war as a way of correcting historic events. Founders soon found that the possibilities were actually very limited because of something they called the ripple effect. Every change in the past results in future changes, and if those changes are significant or uncontrollable, changing the event could actually endanger our way of life."

She claps softly. "Bravo, Mr. Bond. Any child can read that in a book. What I meant is what you know of the past? How did people act? What were their customs?" She leans back and cups her hands behind her head. "Do you even know what currency they used back then?"

I have no clue and search through my knowledge bank of history. "The Euro." It was a total guess but since half the world was using the Euro at some point, I could be in luck.

Her lips curl in disdain. "Dollars, Mr. Bond." She exhales with her eyes closed like she is gathering up all her patience. "Get him ready for the mission, Colin, or he'll have us exposed within an hour. I can't deal with him."

She gets on her feet but freezes when her eyes fall on a man who has just entered the mess hall. A smile is forced onto her lips as she sits back down. "There is Patrick. Let's just pretend we're having a great time, shall we?"

I had seen pictures of Patrick McCain before and have always found him kind of creepy. From his appearance, he was considered handsome though he certainly could benefit from exercise – he looked a little out of shape. His eyes are my main complaint, they are of that steely watery color that is just cold my nature and send a shiver down my spine. Considering that he is part of the war generation, he has the vibe of a cold hearted killer.

He pulls up a chair without glancing once at his girlfriend and beams at me. "You must be our British colleague. How was your trip?" His eyes cut into me like he is trying to read my mind.

"Fine, sir, thank you." I try to hide my animosity by giving him my most polite smile.

"Great." He turns his attention to Rykar, bending forward to blow a kiss on her cheek. "Hey, babe. I see you're still mad."

Her look is deadly.

I stifle a chuckle – trouble in paradise.

"How is the mission prep going?" Patrick asks, stealing a piece of cornbread off Rykar's plate. She sits there like a rigid statue, glaring at him.

"All on schedule, sir," Colin responds in her stead. "Mr. Bond will get a crash course tomorrow and will be ready."

"Good." A fork full with Rykar's food disappears in his mouth. "We can't afford any slip-ups."

Rykar finally decides to speak up. "That's why I'm going. It'll be fine."

Patrick frowns. "We talked about this and I thought we agreed that you would sit this one out."

She exhales with a huff. "You decided that. I told you I didn't agree."

"Rykar." He sucks in a deep breath and his eyes turn soft like he is talking to a small child. "I'm not going to discuss this. You're not going and that is final. If needs be, I get the president to sign an order that will prevent you from jumping. Please don't make this anymore difficult as it is."

Without a further word, Rykar tosses her napkin into the food and storms off.

Patrick clicks his tongue. "Sorry you had to witness this, Mr. Bond. Miss Devereux can be a bit...temperamental." He smiles at Colin. "Don't you have places to go, Agent Monroe?"

He is even a greater asshole than I thought.

Colin stuffs the last piece of food in his mouth and quickly swallows it. "I'll see you in the morning, JB. Wake up call is at six."

That is awfully early, but I know better than to complain. After the dollar fiasco, I could use the training, especially if Rykar isn't going. I am just about to excuse myself when Colin takes off, but Patrick stops me before I can push out a 'good night'.

"Mr. Bond, the government really appreciates you participating in this mission. It is so refreshing to have someone from another nation joining this team, even if only on a temporary basis."

I have never liked pleasantries and talking to him is turning into a drag. "Your president requested me specifically, so I didn't have much of a choice." I grin when I realize that he is maybe the one person who could spill the beans. My superiors had totally left me in the dark before I left England and Colin had equally been unhelpful when I quizzed him about the assignment earlier. "Could you maybe tell me a little bit about the mission?"

His smile turns thin. "Unfortunately, that's classified. You'll be briefed at the appropriate time."

I nod like I totally agree with him. "And why is Rykar not going? I was told she would lead the mission."

The smile is wiped off his face and his eyes go three shades colder, transforming the air around the table into an icebox. "That's personal." He dabs his lips with a clean napkin before rising to his feet. "Good night, Mr. Bond." For a second he studies me. "And if Rykar insists on going, I would consider it a personal favor if you could let me know."

"Will do, sir," I assure him with a straight face though I am not intending to keep my word. I might not like Rykar, but I truly despise him and there is no way I will turn into his snitch. I can't figure out what she sees in him – he is at least double her age with the emotional skills of a rat – but I hate to think that she is just using him to jump start her career. She has too much class for that.

When Patrick strolls off, I decide to play devil's advocate. It would be fun to stir the fire, maybe even break them up for good. Rykar is one of the few women who have not been open to my charm and it would be a fun challenge to seduce her. She was meant to be loved by someone like me.