Chapter 5
Product testing was always a fun part of Violet’s job, and the prospect of shooting a few guns was starting to look rather appealing after the day that had just occurred. Three injuries due to incorrect handling of explosives, and another because they had been pissing around with the band saw.
So when 3pm rolled around, she was quite glad to take some of the new prototypes, the ones had had been safety tested and proven safe to shoot, out to the range for a round of testing. Of course they would have to be tested by other people as well, just to be sure, but she was a fair shot, so she was always willing to get stuck in.
Grabbing a pair of ear-protectors from the rack just inside the testing range, she made her way along to the end of the row, pressing the right combination of numbers to set it up for pistol testing. Then with a degree of care, she opened the box, taking the sleek black pistol from the padded casing and feeling the weight of it in her hand. It felt good, not too heavy, Violet thought, making note of the fact to put in her report, before pulling her hair back and slipping on the ear defenders.
She was on her 5th round of bullets when she noticed the figure seemingly waiting to get her attention out of the corner of her eye, and with a slightly irritated sigh took off the ear protectors, turning on her heels to speak.
“Leanne, we’ve already discussed this, it has to be the person injured that fills in the report, I just sign off. So we can’t tackle them until tomorrow, also It’s not my fault that proper safety protocols were not kept to, so its HR that fill in the insurance forms. “she said, not looking up as she lowered her gun arm as she spoke.
It wasn’t until she did look up a second later when there was a lack of response, that she noticed it wasn’t Leanne.
“Ah, 007,” Violet said, pushing her hair back from her face with the hand that was not holding the gun, before carefully laying the gun down on the nearby counter, “I apologise, you caught me unawares. “
“Completely fine Q,” Jane replied a hint of amusement in her tone, “Not the first time I’ve had a gun pointed at me, won’t be the last. M wants to speak to you, and all your juniors were all too afraid to come give you the message, “she added, wryly, “What have you done to traumatise them Q?”
Violet just shrugged in reply, “It’s not been the best day in here. I’ll head straight up there, just need to put this away.” She added, going to put away the gun, pausing when Jane held out a hand towards it.
“May I have a look?” She asked, violet simply passing it across, watching as Jane weighed it in her hand, before gripping it and holding it up into shooting position, before firing a shot into the target at the end of that part of the rage.
“Oh, I do like this!” Jane commented, lowering her arm, “This is certainly a sleek piece of work.” She added, a touch admiringly.
“The GC62, still inn testing, but we anticipate it being in circulation within a few months. It’s lightweight, and entirely made of plastics and polymers, and it can take a variety of ammunition, simply by switching the internal barrel and the muzzle.” Violet replied, her tone a little proud, as she was handed it back, and she carefully packed it away. Carefully she took the handles of the three boxes, carrying them out and packing them away into the testing shelves, before turning around, and spotting Jane still standing there.
“Oh, are you waiting for me?” she asked with some surprise when the older woman nodded, “Oh, I just need to grab my laptop.” She added, hurrying into her office to grab the slim machine, before following behind Jane as she headed out of R+D and along the corridors to M’s office.
The pair walked along in fairly comfortable silence. After 3 years of working with each other the pair had a healthy mutual respect for each other, even if sometimes it did wind violet up when none of her gadgets were returned in good working condition after a mission. Although there was not much knowledge of the other held by the other, as was standard with their job, but that had never made much of a difference.
Jane held the door to the office open for the other woman to pass through, which Violet did, murmuring a thanks as she did so, and shooting Eve a quick grin as she passed through and headed through the connecting door to M’s office, giving M a quick nod, as she sat down in one of the seats around the table, setting up her laptop swiftly and glancing up at M, waiting for him to start.
The meeting was none too interesting, but important none the less, mainly detailing some needed technological items and Bond’s input on specifics that would be useful. It certainly gave Violet some pause for thought, and a new project was always a welcome thing down in her department.
She made a few notes, making sure to clarify the essential points so she could be sure of what was needed- her brain already spinning with plans and ideas, before sitting back and listening to the brief amount of other business that was to be discussed, which luckily only took another few minutes and to which she really only had to contribute to minimally.
Violet glanced at her watch as she stood up, laptop under her arm. If she left now, she’d be home before 7, and be able to have dinner with Klaus and the girls, which she hadn’t in about a week. She had no other business to deal with that evening, so it wasn’t a long shot that she would make it. She excused herself, speed walking back to R+D, and grabbing her things and calling out a goodbye to the last few of the staff that were still working.
Her drive home was a relatively traffic free one, much to Violet’s delight and she managed to be pulling into the driveway at quarter to 7. Heading inside, she immediately heard the girls laughing in the kitchen, she poked her head around the doorframe, surprising Bea when she called out a hello. Sunny just grinned at Violet over her shoulder, and carried on chopping onions.
Violet peeped around the doorway of the library, spotting Klaus curled up in an armchair with a book as he generally was, and considered the option of snaking up on him. After a moment of consideration, she decided against it, he looked too comfortable for her to ruin his peace. She made her way back to the kitchen, content to watch Sunny and Bea bicker over the dinner as she just sat back in one of the seats at the table, occasionally adding her own little bit of input to the conversation.
. . . .
Jane opened the fridge, glancing at its contents with a touch of trepidation. Perhaps giving the housekeeper the week off and not having had time to buy food was not the best combination. The milk was out of date, and there was little else in there, giving her no real options about to eat.
She weighed up her options, nuke a ready meal, or go out. The latter involved putting proper clothing on, and she really did not feel like doing that. Retrieving a box from the freezer, she threw it into the microwave and headed into the front room, turning on the tv and flipping through the channels.
She cast an amused thought over the scores of those whom she had seduced over the past who would be amazed that she would ever have messy sofa evenings. She was human however, and everyone needed downtime, and if hers was the occasional slobby night watching crappy tv and a microwave macaroni cheese, she wasn’t doing too badly.
Back in the kitchen, the microwave pinged, and Jane tipped the contents into a bowl. Making her way back through to the front room, she settled down into the sofa, switching the channel to Man vs Food, and made herself comfortable.