The following is a non-profit, fan work based off the respective works of Rei Hiroe and Christopher Nolan

All rights belong to the original creators, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., and Madhouse Inc.

The Bluefire Phoenix presents...

A File from Operation Dusk Hour...

Chapter IV: No Man's Land

Gotham City. It wasn't as impressive as I was led to believe. The place still had an atmosphere. The dull grey skyscrapers rose out of the ground like spires of despair. All of the various bridges seemed ward off the outside world. Even the clouds oppressively loomed over the city.

I just felt like I had seen it all before. Wait was I…homesick?

Two years ago, I'd have scoffed at the idea of Roanapur even being considered as my home. It was filthy. Every other person had the skill to kill you just for looking at them funny. The merchants only ripped you off.

Yet there I was thousands of miles away from that hellhole and I was missing it. Maybe I was glad deep down that my plan to bring the city into the world's view failed.

But now wasn't the time for that. I had to stay focused on the City of Rags and Riches, not Hell's Private Dominion. The salty sea air started to mix of the big city. Seagulls flew overhead and landed on the hanger for a moment. The large tanker began to maneuver into dock.

My first trip to America and I was being smuggled in by the Russian mob. For some reason it felt more boring than it sound. When you've been a smuggler, I guess some of the thrill just goes away.

Balalaika's ship docked on the south side of the city. The crew quickly disembarked. A series of cars were waiting. Groups of two or three would get into a car and it would drive off, disbursing into the city. A few minutes later the process repeated.

Some of the crew unloaded several crates from the ship's hold. Some contained weapons of war to be used against those that opposed the will of the mob. Others probably had drugs and pirated media for illicit disruption to remind the people on the street that the mob was still very much alive.

Just another day for Hotel Moscow.

Revy and I stepped onto the dock. I was loaded down with our suitcases. Sure it was just two bags, but I'm sure she might have left it on the ship by accident. She stretched her arms with a big yawn.

A small man in a suit and trench coat was waiting for us at the dock. He and Balalaika started to chat in Russian. They walked over to a waiting limo. She motioned for me and Revy to join them. The driver appeared and took our bags, placing them in the trunk.

We entered the car and sat across from Balalaika and the man. I got a better look at him. He had a thick handlebar mustache and a shaved head. His eyes were hidden under dark sunglasses. Dark tattoos peaked out from under his suit.

I felt his blue eyes dig into my skin. The hair on the back of my neck stood up. Even Revy tried to give him some space.

"Rock, Revy, this is Mikhail. He'll be the new boss once we're done here," Balalaika introduced us. I instinctively offered my hand. Mikhail didn't seem impressed with my gesture.

"I understand that you like that shithole backwater you call a city, but you didn't need to bring some natives with you," he spat. As much as I wanted to correct him and berate him over the insult, I was rather content with leaving my head intact. Revy rolled her eyes.

"Now, now Mikhail. Rock is Japanese. Please don't antagonize him, he's valuable," Balalaika condescendingly pointed. She crossed her legs.

Mikhail leaned back in his seat. "How valuable could he be?" he mocked.

"Because Rock is the man who is going to catch the Batman," Balalaika explained. Mikhail cocked his head back and laughed. It sent a shiver down my back.

"He's going to catch the Batman? Even if the bastard were still around, what makes you so sure this one could even do it?" Mikhail asked.

Balalaika smirked and shook her head. "I trust Rock can do it. Why don't I let him go over part of the plan?" she suggested. I quickly straightened up. The Russian woman lit up a cigar and nodded.

I adjusted my collar. My breath seemed to disappear. "Eh-hem," I cleared my throat.

"First off we need to threaten the Dent Act," I started. An evil grin curled onto Mikhail's face. That must have made his day. "That should catch his attention and bring him out of his retirement."

"Next we need to go after something more personal," I continued. Mikhail's eyebrow rose.

"Are you implying you know the identity of the Batman?" he asked. I felt my heart freeze up and I turned to Balalaika. She shook her head.

"Rock is not at liberty to discuss that at the moment," she said. Mikhail frowned a bit. Balalaika nodded for me to go on.

"Once we have secured the target, Batman will come after us, I guarantee it," I said. Mikhail's brow bristled. He slammed his fist against the door.

"Are you stupid or something? Having the Batman after you is never a good thing!" Mikhail growled.

I nodded my head. He was right. The Batman struck fear in hearts of all of Gotham's criminals. Not hard I'd imagine with a freaking tank, bulletproof armor, and a terrifying mask. After all he mostly dealt with street toughs who probably dropped out of high school and were about as disciplined as the combats of a middle school food fight. Not men made of the sternest stuff.

But Balalaika brought a different breed to the battle. Her men were soldier of the highest caliber, forged in the sands of Afghanistan. They hadn't come to Gotham to be chased off by some nut in a bat suit.

Even so the Batman added too many variables to assume anything. You shouldn't discount a man who has the kind arsenal Batman had shown. "That's why we need to bait him into playing our game," I explained. Balalaika sent me a cold glare. I nodded. "And that's all I can say for now."

Mikhail nodded. "The Dent Act will be voted on next week, and it looks like it will pass without a fight," he pointed out. Balalaika pulled out a black book from her coat.

"I took the liberty of having your books examined. Set up a meeting with Raymond Alesci," Balalaika said. Marco twitched.

"You want me to just get you a meeting with Alesci? He's the city's most powerful union boss. He—"

Balalaika raised her hand. A chill rushed through the cabin. Even Revy perked up. "Do not test me Mikhail Moscow sent me to restore our presence in Gotham. If I tell them you are being uncooperative, they will send you straight to Vasili in Los Angeles," she bluntly threatened. Mikhail slunk back in his seat. His face was drained of color.

I saw our hotel come up. Thank god. The driver stopped at the building's front door. He let Ms. Balalaika, Revy, and me out before getting our bags. Balalaika leaned in before the driver shut the door. "I want results, Mikhail. I want to meet him at this location at the prescribed time," she calmly added. She slipped him a piece of paper.

She turned around and we entered the hotel. It belonged to a chain owned by a shell company controlled by the Russian Mob. I don't know what I was expecting.

But a well decorated hotel wasn't it. The place was probably the cleanest building I had been in since Tokyo. Even the staff was well dressed. That's mob money I guess.

Balalaika strode to the front desk. The man at the station recognized her and immediately brought out two keys. He handed them two the woman.

The three of us used the elevator to get to the top floor. Balalaika gave me the key to the room Revy and I shared.

Revy didn't have any qualms with the boarding situation. I guess I was too. Then again Revy's understanding of modesty was that it was something for other people.

That night the two of us were out on the balcony for a smoke. I couldn't help but notice how at ease Revy was. She was never this relaxed in Tokyo even though the jobs were similar enough. Hell she never looked that relaxed in Roanapur.

Her eyes had dulled over. The haze of her cigarette shrouded her face. Was she thinking of home? Preparing for the fight to come? Or perhaps she just zoned out to the sound of traffic?

I looked out over the city. Soon it would be dragged down back to where it was just a couple of years ago. All on the word of the woman next door.

My thoughts tried to drift off like Revy's. But every time I tried, the Batman pulled me back into focus. I didn't have anything against Wayne or Batman. In fact I'd applaud him if the circumstances were different.

But this was just business. I know the phrase was often the ironic last words of many characters. For me though, they were true. I was employed to trap him.

Yet the deeper I involved myself the more I cared less about the paycheck. I wanted to catch the Batman if only to say I did. Whether they called me a hero or villain didn't matter. I would have done something others deemed impossible.

My plan was set. Balalaika had made the necessary preparations. Revy was ready to do her part. All that was left was to bring the Batman into the game.

And the next morning, the first domino was ready to fall.

Mikhail arrived for breakfast. He and Balalaika quietly chatted in Russian. Revy and I enjoyed some eggs. We quietly made our way to the limo afterward.

We were driven deep into the city, arriving in the back of an apartment building. Some of Balalaika's men were waiting with the door open.

The room we ended up in had a good view of the surrounding buildings. There was a small telescope aimed down at the building across the street. I looked down the scope.

In the apartment it was aimed at was a woman tied to a chair. She was Cynthia Redding, the Dent Act's most vocal supporter. I knew that even if I wasn't going after Batman, Balalaika wouldn't have let her live. Her fate was sealed before we even set foot on shore. But her life still had some value. Her death had even more.

Balalaika took a seat on the large chair in the corner of the room. Mikhail sat on the nearby couch. He looked eager. Revy and I ended up on the other side of Balalaika.

It looked like a scene out straight out of The Godfather once Alesci came in. All it needed was an Italian string instrumental. Alesci was a plump Italian man, with frazzled black hair. Sweat poured from his brow. Balalaika offered him a seat with the wave of her hand.

"You Ruskies have some guts. Once the Dent Act passes, you'll all be behind bars," he spat. Balalaika looked almost amused by his statement, her eyebrow cocking somewhat.

"Brave words, Mr. Alesci," she said.

"Yeah well, I don't have to be afraid of you anymore," Alesci shot back. The blonde woman's eyes rolled. I can imagine she get that a lot.

"And yet here you are, sitting there like a trained dog," Balalaika bluntly retorted.

"I'm just here to say fuck off and don't bother me no more," he said. He was about to stand up when Balalaika pulled out her black book.

"Unfortunately for you Mr. Alesci, Hotel Moscow doesn't just 'fuck off.' I'm sure you wouldn't want us to publish all these records we have on you," she menacingly purred. Even my spine went numb to the words. Balalaika opened the book. She flipped to a certain page and started to run her finger down it.

"I mean just look at all these lovely girls you doted on night after night. Does your wife know about them? Oh and look at this, you owe some of our lenders quite a bit of gambling money it seems. I guess union dues just aren't what they used to be," she mockingly added. Alesci started to tremble. He turned to Mikhail.

"You said there wouldn't be any evidence!" he shouted at the man. Mikhail shook his head.

"I only said the police wouldn't find any evidence," he answered.

Alesci clenched his fist. His body trembled. He then started to laugh. "You honestly think you can threaten me? You can't touch me. I run a third of this city," he arrogantly declared.

Balalaika chuckled. She pointed to the telescope. "That's apparently what our friend across the street said," she stated. Alesci looked through the telescope and frowned.

"Oh my god," he whispered.

"Yes, Ms. Redding refused to cooperate and now she must be disposed of," Balalaika said. She pulled out a detonator from her coat. Her thumb lazily pushed the button. Cynthia Redding's apartment ruptured in a plume of smoke and fire. Alesci collapsed back into his chair.

I watched the flames consume Cynthia Redding. A year ago I would have tried to talk Balalaika out of this course of action. But today I only felt a strange mix of excitement and dread. The game was on and there was no going back. A weary smile fell across my face.

"What do you want from me?" Alesci finally choked out.

"You will publicly withdraw your support for the Dent Act and then go on a two week vacation far from Gotham, can you do that?" Balalaika delivered her ultimatum. Alesci nodded and almost crawled out of the room, followed a few minutes later by Mikhail and Balalaika.

"Rock," Revy growled just before it was our time to leave. I turned to face her only to see her bulrush me and slam me against a wall. "What the fuck was that?"

To Be Continued...


A/N: I do hope that makes up for last week somewhat. I know its screwy when read after the last chapter, but I really wanted to see Rock's arrival to the city. That and I always like cuts where it looks like one character is making a move to benefit them, when in reality they are playing into their opponent's hands. See Code Geass for how to really do this really well.

Also don't think that "Oh okay, so every chapter from Rock's POV will just be recap and him going 'everything is going to plan.'" No this type of chapter will be a rare occurrence. I just needed the timeline to even up a bit and this seemed like a fun way to do that. Now we can really play ball with the insane plotting.

I listed before that Black Lagoon has a good supporting cast to throw against Batman. Chief reason being Balalaika. In a show where every woman can kick every ass, Balalaika I think is queen. Sure she doesn't do it a lot, but she doesn't have to. She has the loyalty of some of the worlds greatest warriors. You don't get that to that kind of position by being a pansy. She is not a woman to be underestimated. Balalaika also lacks the lofty ideals that defines just about every villain in the trilogy (yes that includes the Joker). Not saying that the villains are bad, mind you, just that she does everything in the mindset of a soldier unbound from a code of ethics.

No serious bitching about Bats today. Rock encapsulated some of my thoughts while going over part of his plan. And he's right, Batman on the most basic level deals with people who don't have a lot of higher education. And let's be honest, people who don't have a lot of knowledge on how the world works tend to rely on superstition to explain things. Just saying is all.

In other news, I'm running a Sailor Moon RP, Reborn Destiny, on this site and we could use some more players. Check it out here: forum/Reborn-Destiny/158981/

Send me a PM if you have any questions about it or are interested in joining. Yeah I know I should have put this in Destiny Sucks, but hey I'm not here to judge you or your tastes. But feel free to judge the hell out of me, so leave a review and tell me what you think.

Until next time, *Moves to take contact out of eye* Now you will- *poke* OH GOD THE PAIN {Seriously, how does he do that?}