Final chapter. Everybody is ready to play their part in this little theater.
Benito watched in terror as Adam strolled through the halls on the monitors in the surveillance room. They were right. He couldn't be trusted. Watching on, he began to shake fiercely as the cyborg they kidnapped hurried up the halls, the screens showing her silently dispatching one man after the next. Soon after, he heard footsteps and tried to look who was coming. He got his answer quickly as the jingling of boot spurs echoed on and on. After a brief pause, Adam strolled into the room, looking pleased with himself. After stepping in, Adam surveyed his work, seeing the man he bound and gagged to the chair was finally awake.
"So, how much of the show did you see?" Adam asked in his trademark sneer. Benito jerked away at the thick tape, trying in vain to free himself, grunting loudly through the tape around his face. Adam smiled wickedly and stepped gingerly to his captive, who began to struggle, if possibly, more violently. As he came beside Benito, Adam pulled a pineapple grenade from his pocket, causing Benito to shriek (though it was vastly muffled) in terror. Adam, however, put his hand on the bound man's shoulder, as if he were comforting him.
"Just chill, Benny." he chortled as he reclined the seat and began taping the bomb to his captive's chest (much to Benito's horror). Pulling the key, Adam left the trigger in the bomb and turned to leave. "If you remain calm, you will live. Just make sure that trigger doesn't fall out, okay?" With that, Adam paraded from the room, twirling his revolver, the jingling spurs echoing through the halls. Benito was smart enough to know this was true. Steadying his breathing as best as he could, he closed his eyes, not wanting to see whatever would be unfolding on the monitors. The minutes dragged on and on, Benito keeping his breathing a steady flow, the only sound he heard in his prison. Just as it seemed he had completely calmed, a shot rang out, shattering the silence, Benito jerking as the smell of burning powder filled the small area. Barely a second later, however, he heard it. The clang of a small metal object hitting the floor. He instantly began to jerk and cry out in terror, knowing his time had come.
Adam stepped slowly up behind Benito as he looked about the wine storage. Benito was the only one with enough sense to be able to really pose any threat to the Agency (they would be there soon after all, Jean was certain to take the tip off). Drawing his revolver, he brought it crashing down on Benito's head, knocking him unconscious instantly. Looking around, he saw nobody, add so he hurried, carrying the man over his shoulders to the surveillance room. It didn't seem a place anyone would come to anytime soon, or at least not during the shuffle that was fast approaching. Flopping him into the grungy recliner that sat before the screens, he pulled a thick roll of duct tape from his side pouch and quickly rapped Benito to the seat, taping up his mouth soon after. Leaving the unconscious man alone, Adam made his way to their break room (of sorts), and looked at the four men seated around the coffee table. Three of them had their guns strapped close by while the fourth had a knife at his side. They all turned to see Adam as he stepped through the door.
"Adam?" the first asked. "I thought you were s'posed to be watchin' the kid... Adam?" Finally, the young gunman broke the silence. Quick-drawing, the crack of the bullet echoed as the victim shuddered, blood dripping from the hole in his forehead as he flopped back into his seat. As the other's looked on in shock, he drew his second gun quickly as the other two drew theirs and fired, hitting the second in the head and the third in the hand, the bullet tearing through and burying into his left leg. Slinging one firearm, Adam readied himself as the fourth charged, knife drawn, swinging wildly. Adam, however, calmly dodged the swinging blade and brought his other gun crashing into the attacker's face, knocking him to the floor. Slightly dazed, he stared up at the traitor. Adam, a savage smile unfolding across his face, swung his booted heel down, the spur piercing into the side of the downed man's neck. Smirking and stepping to the man he shot in the hand, Adam wrenched his other hand down on the table, placed his gun upon it and fired, a large burn surrounding the hole in the screaming man's hand. With that, Adam left, jerking the knob from the door and tossing them to the man, slamming the door shut a moment later. The man struggled to the broken doorknob and managed to pick it up (the searing pain in his hands was almost unbearable) and he hurried to the door, trying to force it in. He had to fix up his leg before he bled to death. However, he couldn't force the knob in the door properly. Every time he tried to get a better grip on the knob, the pain in his hands became too much and the knob fell out of the door. Crying out in terror, he knew it would be only a matter of time before his gushing blood would become too much. Stepping off, Adam made his way to the surveillance room to see if Benito had awoken yet, smiling at the dying man's hopeless screams. Adam strolled into the room, looking pleased with himself. After stepping in, he surveyed his work, seeing the man he bound and gagged to the chair was finally awake.
"So, how much of the show did you see?" Adam asked in his trademark sneer. Benito jerked away at the thick tape, trying in vain to free himself, grunting loudly through the tape around his face. Adam smiled wickedly and stepped gingerly to his captive, who began to struggle, if possibly, more violently. As he came beside Benito, Adam pulled a pineapple grenade from his pocket, causing Benito to shriek (though it was vastly muffled) in terror. Adam, however, put his hand on the bound man's shoulder, as if he were comforting him.
"Just chill, Benny." he chortled as he reclined the seat and began taping the bomb to his captive's chest (much to Benito's horror). Pulling the key, Adam left the trigger in the bomb and turned to leave. "If you remain calm, you will live. Just make sure that trigger doesn't fall out, okay?" With that, Adam paraded from the room, twirling his revolver, the jingling spurs echoing through the halls. Soon after, however, Adam heard gunfire, though he knew it couldn't be the Agency yet. Hurrying, he saw one of the faction terrorists holding Henrietta up. Creeping quietly (his spurs not even jingling), Adam quickly fired into his foe's back, the man plopping motionless on the ground. Adam slowly raised his eyes to me Henrietta.
"Remember, this weapon only has six bullets. Don't ever forget that." Adam smugly paraded off once more, knowing the cavalry would be here any moment now... but he was wrong. The gunfire coming from up the hall told all too well that the Agency was already here. Hurrying, he needed to let them know who's side he was truly on. Finding his way the the main hallway, he saw the Agency firing away blindly at the RF members. They needed his help. Drawing his guns, he began to blast away at the three who fired with SMGs, emptying his already half-full revolvers. Quickly emptying the shells, he spun the fixed cylinders and loaded quickly, hurrying to Jean (the only agent he knew by name), seeing him having trouble with one man who cased him behind an overturned pool table.
"You!" Adam screeched, both the gunner and Jean turning to him. As the gunner grinned and Jean looked in horror, Adam fired into the gunner's chest, Jean looking on in total awe as the man fell dead on the floor. "I won't have to save all your asses today, will I?" Chuckling darkly to himself, Adam hurried off, leaving Jean in shock.
"Do you think I'm a madman?" Adam asked. Henrietta remained silent as Adam tutted at the thought. "I don't think I am. I see myself as an artist, the beautiful tools I wield creating one work of art after the next." Henrietta merely thought he enjoyed hearing himself speak, but remained silent. "With these guns," he said, drawing another and holding them to the hanging lamp "I weave one tapestry after the next, of insanity, beauty, and desire, all decorated in gorgeous, flowing, crimson streams." Sighing to himself, he quickly slung one to his right side and twirled the other with ease. "Well," he began "I have business to attend to elsewhere." Twirling it to the side, he flipped it from his finger and caught it lazily, holding the handle to Henrietta. "It's a beautiful gun, but it can betray you. It has six shots and six shots only, and be extremely careful, it will ricochet off walls like these." Turning to leave after the cyborg took his gun, he placed a small box of bullets on her bed and walked off, leaving Henrietta dumbfounded. She took the gun, looking at it carefully. She had never used anything other than an automatic, but she didn't have much choice in these circumstances. Taking the pillow case from her bed, she poured the bullets into the sack and folded it quickly, hiding it in her pocket, taking the revolver the next moment. It was time for her to escape. Quietly, she began making her way up the spiraling steps, every shadow looking like a hostile and every echo sending a chill up her spine. As she came up to the ground level, she saw several men, each of them with their backs to her. Looking at the revolver, she wondered if she'd really be able to fight them off with such an unfamiliar weapon. She had no choice, though. Holding it up for the men, she squeezed the trigger, only to get an echoing CLICK, the men hearing it and turning to her. Wasting no time, they charged, drawing their guns and firing. Henrietta looked down at the gun. It didn't jam, but what was she missing? Looking down at it, she finally got it. Cocking the hammer, she fired blindly, the echo of the ricocheting bullet filling the hall, one of the enemies crying out as it hit them. Cocking back again, she fired again, the echo of the ricochet filling the hall, but she knew she couldn't rely on it. Stepping back into the shadows, she waited for a brief moment before they came for her. Firing four more shots, she glared, seeing one more left. Cocking the hammer once more, she fired, but no bullet came. It was empty! Stumbling back, she glared back as the Faction member step slowly toward her, glaring as well. A moment later, however, she saw Adam creeping up quietly (his spurs not even jingling), but a brief moment later, he fired into his foe's back, the man plopping motionless on the ground. Adam slowly raised his eyes to me Henrietta.
"Remember, this weapon only has six bullets. Don't ever forget that." Adam smugly paraded off once more, leaving Henrietta alone. Reaching into the pillow case, she pulled six bullets from it and slowly loaded the weapon (the fixed cylinder was still tricky for her) . Hurrying up the steps, she heard gunfire. Slowing as she reached the end of the stairs, she saw the Agency in the middle of a huge shootout, Adam picking off several Faction gunners along the way. Hurrying out, she saw Jose hurry up the stairs. Knowing he couldn't hear her over the sound of the crashing bullets, she hurried after him. The two found themselves alone in a hallway on the third floor. Henrietta stood at the doorway, watching Jose walk slowly through the corridor, gun at ready. She was willing to risk it.
"Jose..." she said quietly. Instantly, the man froze and lowered his gun. Jose turned and saw Henrietta, dropping his gun and hurrying to her. As he flung his arms around her, the gun went off, but they didn't care. The moment the empty cylinder flew from the gun, someone could be heard crying out in a muffled yell in the room at the end of the hallway, both of them turning to see what it could be. A moment later, however, they heard a loud explosion, the muffled screams no more. The two hurried in to see a carcass bound to a recliner, charred from what looked like an explosion. A moment later, they saw the monitors and knew right away they were in the surveillance room. However, much to Jose's astonishment, they saw Adam hurrying up and down the halls, slaughtering every single Faction member he met with (Henrietta already aware of his turn against the Republican Faction). After watching the brutality, Jose shuddered away, unable to watch anymore as Adam began to torture the wounded he left around the building. Hurrying out, holding Henrietta's hand, Jose called into his comm-link, though Henrietta was too engrossed by her Handler to really care or even hear what he was saying. Rushing her out of the apartment, they come to a stop at the support truck. After a brief moment they shared to catch their breath, the two hugged each other tightly, Henrietta crying into Jose's shoulder, Jose wiping a stray tear from his eye. They were finally with one another again. All was well.
"If you're done getting tender with your Cyborg, Jose, it's time for you to leave."
"Say what you will, Jean. Say what you will..."
Jose and Henrietta made their way to the street corner, both on the look out for their taxi.
"The Agency has called a cab for you. Take it to the corner of Oro and 23rd. A support truck will pick you up soon after"
"Right. Thank you, Jean."
Sure enough, their cab pulled up, Jose and Henrietta climbing in at once.
"To the corner of Oro and 23rd, please" Jose said calmly.
"Oro and 23rd, got it." sneered Adam. Henrietta quickly drew the revolver Adam gave her, but Jose found himself staring down the glinting barrel of the single revolver Adam still had in his possession. He knew Henrietta wouldn't dare move if he were in danger. "Please, the fighting's over," Adam said smugly. "just lower the gun." Henrietta reluctantly did as she was told and Adam lowered his gun, though Jose saw that he did no sling it into it's holster. "Now, I still stand by what I said." Adam said slowly. "Nothing can replace a natural born warrior... that's why they have you." Jose saw Henrietta and Adam's eyes meeting in the rear view mirror. "Your little Agency should be thankful they have you... you're quite talented." Before they could respond, Adam slowed to a stop at their corner. "This is your stop." he sneered once more. "You two take it easy. Hey!" he called, seizing Jose's coat. "Pay the fare." Jose stared as Adam grinned his grin at him. Jose threw a handful of euros into the cab and hurried off with Henrietta.
"Jean! Jean!" Jose check his comm-link feverishly. He had to get Jean. Only him. "Jean! It's Jose! Adam, erm, the gunman is a cab right here!"
"What's the plate number? Can you tell me?" came Jean's voice over the static. Jose turned and spotted the cab (it was the only on in the plaza), and began to read the plate when the cab suddenly burst into a fiery blaze, Jose shouting out in shock.
"Jose! Jose, what the Hell happened!" thundered Jean. "The cab exploded..." Jose said slowly, still in shock. "Is he dead, Jose? JOSE! Jose, answer me!" Amid Jeans words, Jose looked in total awe as he and Henrietta saw Adam, completely unharmed, nodding at them from across the street. How could he have possibly escaped the cab, let alone make it that far away from it in such short time? Smirking, he slung his leg over a heavy motorcycle and road off into the afternoon traffic, weaving in and out of those looking on and screaming in terror at the blazing cab. "JOSE! Answer me, dammit! Is he dead!" "Yes, Jean..." Jose said slowly "Adam is dead..." With that, Jose turned off his comm-link, standing there at a total loss for words. He wondered if he would ever see Adan again...
Epilogue
Adam sat alone in the back of the private jet The Guild sent for him, enjoying a red wine aged to perfection and w vintage cigar he was saving for just the occasion. It was enjoyable, the whole affair. A job well done. Just then, the flight phone rang. After taking a quick puff, Adam took his call.
"Hello? Ah, Mr. President. It's nice to hear from you... yessir... I'm pleased to hear everything met your expectations... yessir... it was simple... The Republican Faction is virtually crippled... I doubt they'll see another five years... yessir... it's quite impressive, your little Agency... yessir... no one discovered my identity, my mission or The Guild... well, The Guild is dispatching me to China, so I could consider that a vacation... yessir, sorry to say, it does seem you're looking at a pretty steep bill. Then again, I'll see if I can't talk to The Big Guy... I had fun while I was here... I could see if I can have my cut of payment stricken from the invoice... no sir, money is not at all a problem for me, or anyone at The Guild for that matter... absolutely, sir... Italy... no better place to be... thank you, sir. Perhaps I'll be dispatched to Italy sometime again in the future... on behalf of The Guild, I was happy to be of service... Mr. President." With that, Adam hung the phone once more and returned to his wine and cigar. It couldn't possibly get any better for him. Life was sweet.
Well, what did you think? If you're wondering what Adam's mission really was or what this mysterious 'Guild' is, you'll find out both in my next story, the finale to my Gunslinger Girl trilogy; Occaso