UN Resolution, by ElfenMagix

Gunslinger Girl and its characters are (c) Yu Aida.

UN Resolution and its characters are (c) ElfenMagix.


Chapter 09: T minus 75 and Counting


I would like to continue to thank Boomer_Gonzales and Nachtsider for their loan of their characters and assistance with dialog and plot devleopment:

*Some of Alpha/Fernando dialog and some of Liesel/Rachel dialog by Boomer_Gonzales.

*Some of Liesel/Fernando dialog by Nachtsider.

Alpha is by his creator, Boomer_Gonzales.

Liesel is by her creater, Nachtsider.


Fernando rips the dash mounted GPS and tosses it to Rachel, then pulls out the cellphone to make a call to Francesca. As he negotiates the streets of Aosta, makes the call. Francesca answers by the third ring.

Francesca: Fernando?

Fernando: Where are you?

Francesca: Going to my hotel, like you said.

Fernando: Where is the hotel?

Francesca: Marriott Hotel in the tourist district…

Fernando: Where is your car?

Francesca: Its in the hotel garage…

Fernando: Good… Stay put when you get to your room. I'll be there within the hour.

Fernando hangs up the phone. Then he makes another call, this time to Alpha. He picks up the phone within the first ring.

Alpha: You're a bit late, I've been expecting you to call since this morning.

Fernando: We're in Aosta.

Alpha: I know that. You should check your rearview mirror once in a while. By the way, you need a mechanic?

Fernando: What for?

Alpha: I seen your escape from those UN Goons. You lost a lot of oil and your engine's smoking something fierce.

Fernando: That was a diversion.

Alpha: A diversion?

Fernando: Smoke screen and oil slick. No spy's car should be without them…

Alpha: Hmmm….

Fernando: Why do you think I take the Porsche everywhere?

Alpha: Nice…

Fernando: Look, Francesca is in the Marriot Hotel in the tourist district. They know my car, they might know of hers, so leaving town will not be easy.

Alpha: They would probably be waiting for us in Rome if we do.

Fernando: Leave that up to me.

Alpha: Mind telling me?

Fernando: Not until I get it confirmed first. I would suggest putting on the ear radios for the rest of our stay here.

Alpha: We are already have them on.

Fernando: We'll stay in touch then.

Fernando hangs up the phone then tells the girls to put on their ear radios as he puts on his. Rachel hands him the GPS unit with the Marriot Hotel information put in. He turns the car around as the GPS showed he was going the wrong way. Following the GPS, Fernando drives more cautiously as the number of UN Troops seem to increase as they enter the tourist district. It is not their numbers that are increasing, but their density.

Taking the back streets, Fernando manages to drive into the garage in the rear of the building without being seen. He drives about the structure until he spots a 1996 Alpha Romero Spyder in Black. With a parking space opposite to it, he backs the Porsche into it as too have the nose out and make it easy to drive away. He turns off the engine, and signals Rachel to take the driver's seat as he grabs for his cane. Leaving his keys behind, he pulls out another set of keys, pressing the button on a small plastic box that was with them. The lights on the Spyder flashes. He nods as he walks up to the car. He takes a look inside, displeased that she left it with the top down, but things seem to be unmolested inside. He continues to walk to the elevator as a voice enters his ear from the radio.

Alpha: You take the lobby, I'll get the garage.

Liesel (climbing off the motorcycle): Will do.

Fernando decides to answer them.

Fernando: I'm taking the elevator to the lobby, the cars are in the garage and the girls are safe guarding them.

Alpha: Good. I'll join them, out of sight and view.

Fernando gets on the elevator, and takes it to the lobby. Liesel was already in the lobby, taking off her full protection head gear, and opening up her riding jacket to cool off from her long ride with Alpha. Fernando notices that there are an unusually high number of men in suits, reading newspapers in the hotel lobby as he taps his cane across the floor on his way to the manager's desk. Liesel catches up with him as he arrives at the manager's desk. He places her picture upon the counter, where the hotel manager looks at it from the horizon of his nose.

Hotel Manager: Never seen her in all of my days.

Fernando: Funny. It seems that she is renting a room here.

Hotel Manager: I sign the guests in and assign them their rooms, and I never saw her walk in here, much less rent out a room.

Fernando (grabbing the Hotel Manager's tie and bringing him closer as he leans towards him): Funny, her car is in the hotel garage. Now why would that be…

Hotel Manager: If she is not a guest here, it will be towed at the owner's expense.

Fernando: Listen little man…*

The Hotel Manager grabbed a black tape wrapped hand sized bully club from under the counter and gave Fernando a good thunk to the side of the head. The bully cub is bent where it is held at the hand. All Fernando does was snap his head about his neck for a moment and stares back at the Hotel Manager. The Hotel Manager begins to sweat as Fernando slowly grabs for more shirt and lifts him off his feet. Fernando then takes the cellphone out from his pocket and dials Francesca's number. She answers it almost immediately.

Francesca: Fernando?

Fernando: What room are you in?

Francesca: 1024.

Fernando hangs up the phone. And looks at the Hotel Manager.

Fernando: She is in room 1024.

The Hotel Manager nods.

Fernando: That is all you had to say, and not strike me with this… (looks at the Hotel Manager's hand hold the bully club) …thing.

Fernando takes the billy club from Hotel Manager, then smashes it against the partition desk that separates them both. The remaining tape just rips away exposing a hollow metal tube inside with a spring within. Then he tosses is it back to the manager's side of the area, letting it bounce to the wall. He then gently puts down the hotel manager back on the floor but still holding onto his neck tie and shirt, though he so desperately wanted to rip his head off and yell down his exposed neck.

Fernando: If you are to remember one thing in your life, remember this- because of what you did here today- if we are to ever meet again, you'll be dead, because I will kill you. Do I make myself clear?

The hotel manager nods nervously, before Fernando lets him go, gathering Francesca's picture from the counter.

Fernando slowly turned and headed to the elevator back with Liesel behind him. She tries to get his attention.

Liesel: Excuse me, Fernando?

Fernando freezes in his tracks. Then he turns to face Liesel in her riding attire. Though he has seen and known Liesel from the past, this is the first time he has seen her in her rebuilt and adjusted form that all SWA cyborgs now go through at least every 3 years until they reach adulthood.

Fernando: Liesel?

Liesel: Alpha is downstairs.

Fernando (mostly quietly to himself): Damn girl, you have grown…

Liesel: What was that, I did not hear you.

Fernando : I said, 'Lets go.'

They both turn around slowly, looking at the group of MIBs waiting about in the lobby, who have all turned to face them. Fernando starts to slowly walk to the elevator bank with Liesel right beside him. He presses both 'UP' and 'DOWN' buttons on the wall panel. Several of the MIBs have gotten up and started walking slowly towards them at the elevator bank.

Fernando: You and Alpha guard the basement, I will take care of the elevators.

Liesel: But… shouldn't I be with you, as back up?

Fernando: Its us versus them, where there are a few of us and a few thousands of them and all we got is a 1/2 baked plan to get a goal and a lot of hope to obtain it with. If we fail, Italy falls. So go do what you think has to be done for god and country because these idiots don't care.

Two of the three elevators stop together at the same time, with people leaving from them. Fernando signals to Liesel to take one down while he takes the other up. During their elevator ride, Fernando talks to her on the ear radios.

Fernando: You disable that elevator car at the basement. I'll take care of this one. Then we'll deal with those who take the remaining one. I don't want this to be bloody, but if we have too…

Liesel: I know.

Liesel thinks to herself, 'No wonder Alpha would consider him as a friend… He's too good, even for himself…'

Alpha: I'll meet you there.

Liesel finds Alpha by the elevator bank in his motorcycle, going through one of the luggage compartments. Pulling out a small tool bag, he tosses one of his batons at Liesel who catches it with relative ease. Using the baton to hold the elevator doors, the pair step inside. Extending his remaining baton, Alpha prods the elevator ceiling for a service hatch as Liesel prys open the elevator's control panel with a small pry bar from the tool bag. After enough prodding, Alpha collapses his baton in frustration.

Alpha: Damn, we have a problem.

Liesel(sighing at Alpha's comment): Make that two.

Alpha: What is it?

Liesel: This is a full remote junction, there is not a single collapsible circuit.

Alpha: Can't we use the magnet trick?

Liesel: Not here, it's a complete wireless relay. All that we will do is prematurely trigger the emergency overide at the source.

Alpha: ...Old School it is then.

Liesel: That's not exactly silent.

Alpha: But it'll at least be fun.

Liesel can't help, but smirk as he pulls out some small explosives, which he places on the elevator car panel with a timer. Pulling out his baton, the elevator door closes and Alpha takes Liesel behind one of the building columns. The small explosion takes out the control panel of the elevator car as well as knocking it off its railings. For all intents and purposes, it has been disabled.

Alpha: See, what'd I tell you. Fun.

But the chatter in the ear radios could be heard even if they were turned off, as Fernando yelled from with his elevator car.

Fernando: WHO THE FUCK DID THAT?!! WHAT PART OF 'COVERT' IN 'COVERT OPERATIONS' DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?!! WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON DOWN THERE?!!…

Alpha walks over to the elevator doors and tried to pull them apart but couldn't. Liesel step up from behind and applies her Type 1 Cyborg strength to the doors and opens them with ease.

Voices can be heard as the MIBs argue about getting into the remaining elevator car. Alpha jogs to one of side emergency side stairways, opening the door, and pulling out a tube of crazy glue, which he applies to the doorknob, locking latch and hinges, before slamming the door shut. He then goes to the other emergency side stairway to do the same thing, but hears the clambering of steps running down the stairs. Alpha takes a grenade and tosses it up stairs, bouncing it off the wall to where it can be seen as he crazy glue the locks and slams the door shut. Voices can be heard in panic as they see the grenade. Alpha takes Liesel behind a support pillar and waits for a muffled explosion.

The elevator stops on the 10th floor as Fernndo shoves his lock disabling key into the Firemen's override switch. The tumbler pins inside sheer off, and he turns the switch to 'STOP.' Fernando makes it out onto the 10th floor as he removes the key from the switch and searches for room 24. He finds it 1/2 way down the long hallway. Finding the door locked, he knocks on the door. Nothing but dead silence comes from the other end. He takes out his cellphone and calls Francesca. He can hear the cell phone ringing in the room. She answers on the second ring.

Francesca: Fernando?

Fernando: I'm on the other side of your door. Please open it…

Francesca: Oh, OK… Hold on please.

Francesca puts the cell phone down on the bed and walks to the door to open it. Fernando walks into the room.

Francesca: Hold on. I got you on the cell phone.

Fernando (as Francesca goes to get her cellphone from the bed): …Uhm.

Francesca picks up the phone and talks on it.

Francesca: I got company, go to go- bye!

She then takes the phone and closes it shut, disconnecting the call. Fernando could only stare at her at what she had done, unsure what to make of it. Francesca has always shown an occasional loop out of reality once in a while but this one just took the cake. He disconnects the call from his end on his cell phone and pockets the device in a very slow and deliberation action. Francesca looks at him back.

Francesca: I got a lot of stuff to carry.

Fernando snaps out of the daze she had put him through.

Fernando: Look- just take a small bag of a change of clothes and your personal weapon. We can pick up the rest when we return for them.

Francesca: But…

Fernando: Francesca… No Butts…We have little time to do this and no time to spare. So get a small bag and fill it with enough minimal stuff like your underwear and toothbrush for a couple of days of travel. I'll take care of the rest. OK?

Francesca (looking for a small bag to put things in): OK…

In finding one, Francesca opens her luggage and removes a few intimate items from within and stuff it in the bag along with a few other items of need and a day's change of clothes. Last to go in was her 'lucky' hair brush- the hair brush Fernando gave her when she was assigned to him when he got her some new clothes and personal items for her to have. She has since to part with it and is not going to do so now, since its part of her 1000 nightly stroke regiment. She then takes her gun and a few ammunition clips and stuffs them into her purse. Fernando takes her by the wrist and runs her out of the room, slamming the door shut behind them. He hands her the ear radio, which she puts on.

They made it to the elevator bank, finding smoke bellowing from the cracks of the doors, signs of Alpha's handy work. Fernando glances over the Emergency Fire Exits Diagram, figuring out that in taking out the elevators, Alpha would have taken out the nearby stairs, as evident by the smoke seeping from the doorway cracks, but would have missed out of the Emergency Stairway at either end of the building or of the cargo/staff elevators near them. Fernando goes for the stair case because picking the lock for the cargo elevator would have taken too long. They made into the staircase as the MIBs make out of the smoky stairways by the elevators.

At the first floor staircase landing, Francesca breaks away from Fernando and runs out to the lobby and the manager's desk. Fernando continues to go for the basement until he heard the first floor door slam, forcing him to turn back after her. She get to the hotel manager and gets his attention. He gives her a folded package almost immediately, wondering where her husband was at. Some of the MIBs waiting at the elevator spot Francesca leaving the manager's desk and start running after her. Fernando, not happy of Francesca running off like that on him, sees her heading towards him with the package, and the MIBs running right after her. He also sees a 2-ton chandelier hanging by a thin chain with a safety cable back up. He pulls out his AA .45 and starts shooting at the chain's attachment to the ceiling, causing it to drop 1/2 way to the floor before the safety cable catches it. thus it now swings wildly around just inches from the floor between Francesca and the MIBs.

Fernando grabs Francesca by the wrist again and almost hauls her down the stairs, wanting to yell at her for breaking away but holds back on the urge to do so. They make it to the basement garage in just a few seconds from there.

Fernando (talking loud enough for his ear radio to pick up his voice): Rachel- program the GPS for The Coppola Restaurant in Nemi. Once its programmed- make a run for it!

Rachel: What About You, Daddy?!!

Fernando: Do as I say and Protect Juanita!

Alpha: Nemi?!! I thought we were going to Rome!

Fernando: They are expecting us to go to Rome! We'll go to Nemi and take a 24 hour rest there, and then enter Rome through the South. They'll be expecting us to make our move through the North. Being in Nemi puts us South of Rome… got it?!!

For a few seconds there was silence.

Liesel: We got it!

Fernando: Good… Now, Alpha-Liesel, Protect the Porsche and make sure it gets to Nemi.

Alpha: What about you and Francesca?

Fernando: Alpha- You ever heard of the GumBall Rally?

Alpha: Yes…

Fernando: Last one to Nemi pays for the bill!

Liesel locks in a carabiner harness as Alpha readies her SAR-21 and Glock 18 as well as his own Baretta 93R. Fernando and Francesca arrive at her Alpha Romero Spyder. Fernando points to the passenger seat for Francesca to get in on as he gets on the rear of the Porsche. He opens the hatch and takes the few remaining vests from rear trunk and tosses them across onto the hood of the Spyder. He takes a couple of 1911's and several magazines before closing the trunk. He starts communicating from the ear radios.

Fernando: Rachel, as soon as I sit down in Francesca's car- go! Alpha, follow her!

Alpha: Roger

Rachel: But, daddy…

Fernando: What?!!

Rachel: I love you…

Fernando: I love you too, and quit being so emotional- I need Focused and Determined Rachel- OK?!!

Rachel: OK… Father…

Liesel: Rachel, we can do this.

Fernando prepares the body amour vests to protect the seats, doors and gas tank of the Spyder. The guns and magazines go into the center console between the seats. Once done, he takes to the driver's seat, turning on the engine. Rachel puts the Porsche in gear and slowly starts to drive away from the garage. Alpha follows slowly as Liesel arms and posistions her SAR-21, like some WWII tail gunner on a B-27 Super Fortress Bomber. Soon in the distance of the corridors fill with sounds of the engines rev and the tires squeal. Once the segmented hard top was on in its place, Fernando put the Spyder into gear, focused and determined of getting to his destination unscathed. Once the garage gate was in view, Fernando stomps on the accelerator, fish tailing the Spyder onto the street. Alpha and Rachel were already a block ahead of them, but behind, the UN Agents pile into their Land Rovers and begin the chase.

Fernando pulls out his old Yaesu VX5 handheld agency radio and puts it on Francesca's lap.

Fernando: Scan around the 1.2 Band on narrow FM Digital Modulation.

Francesca: Huh?

Fernando: Oh, Gimme that thing…

Fernando grabs the radio from off her lap, turns it on and programs it to scan the selected frequencies and modulation. He then hands it back to her.

Fernando: When you start to hear voices, it should be them. Press the yellow button to hold that frequency and give me back the radio.

Francesca: Uhm… OK.

Fernando: Look, Francesca… this is not the time to be an airhead. I need you to be focused and determined. You got that?

She turns to face him and nods. He remains focused on the road as they get on the highway. Fernando goes through the gears as their speed climb. He continues to remain far enough to give the other some space, and keep the pursuing Land Rovers at bay. Communications between Alpha and Liesel can be heard through the ear pieces.

Liesel: They're following us… Hot on Fernando's tail!

Alpha: Then take them out!

Fernando: Don't!

Alpha: Why not!

Fernando: Security is a state of mind! They think that they are in charge of the chase this early on, let them be confident! Once we hit the country side, we start taking them out! Then they will be stranded!

Alpha: You're too good at this, you know that!

Fernando: Its that I'm not good… Its that I know who I'm dealing with… These Are Weekend Warriors, Paid Mercenaries who have not seen action since the end of the war! They are itching for action, and action they will get!

Alpha: And if a tactic works once it'll work all the time. We're dealing with geniuses then.

They continue driving, midway to Torino they approach Chivare. Fernando gives the order to go South East past Chivare, onto a minor highways towards Asti, which would bring them to where Fernando wants them- the rural roads. Chatter on the UN frequency note the direction change made by them. Fernando inches across the double yellow road line to check his rear, and how many Land Rovers were following them. He can only count 4 on his rearview mirror before inching back into his lane.

For several minutes there has not been a cluster of houses or even a small town since being on the highway for more than a 1/2 hour. Fernando slowly make his move by slowing the Spyder to let the Land Rovers get closer.

Fernando (to his ear radio): This Is It- Keep Going And Ignore The Explosions!

Alpha: WAIT A MINUTE! WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?!!

Fernando: THIS!

Fernando slams on the brakes and clutch of the Spyder, bringing it to a crawl on the highway, down from the 120MPH speed they were driving. The first Land Rover steps on the brakes to avoid the Spyder, gets rear-ended by the one behind it. The third rear-ends the second, and the fourth tries to steer out the way, clipping the third on the right rear, knocking the third Land Rover on its side while tearing off its own front fender in the process and continues the chase. Fernando revs up the engine and goes through the gears as quickly as he could. The first Land Rover also starts chase but is going slower then before as its frame is bent and the wheels misaligned greatly, ends up behind the fourth Land Rover. The second and third Land Rovers are down and out of the chase. Liesel can only look at the car-nage and shake her head in disbelief. A message is heard over the ear radios.

Fernando: Everybody slow down so I can pass! Liesel, shoot at the chasing Land Rover's exposed wheel and linkages.

Rachel: Yes, Daddy…

Liesel: Roger!

Alpha just smiles as he puts the V-Max into neutral and coasts to allow Fernando to pass by. Fernando snaps Spyder around in front of the motorcycle as Alpha puts it back into gear, the Land Rover comes into view, exposed area and all. Liesel can see the expression of the Land Rover's driver go from determined anger to awe, shock and fear as he sees an assault rifle pointed to towards him despite being in an otherwise bulletproof vehicle. Liesel makes slight adjustments to her aim, and opens up on the exposed wheel area, practically emptying her clips for maximum damage. Though the tire goes flat, Run-Flat technology sets in and allows it to maintain a firm grip on the road. But for the rest of the internals: the brake line is severed, spraying brake fluid inside the hot engine compartment; the shock absorber begins to buckle from the hits of machine gun fire and sprays more oil into the hot engine compartment; and the ball joint linkages weaken until the wheel rips off from the vehicle. The drive shaft dislodges from the wheel as it flies off and spins wildly, striking the ground and digging in deep. The Land Rover nose dives to the left hard, and starts flipping about on its sides and roof until it comes to a sliding stop, then the engine compartment bursts into flames. The first Land Rover can do nothing more than stop, not being able to pass the burning wreck on the road. The three get away.

The group gather at a gas station at Asti, taking on food and fuel. Liesel rearms her guns, and Fernando goes into the Porsche and retrieves a few hand grenades and other items. Alpha talks to the gas station manager about what was going on, showing off his SWA ID and explaining of how the UN Forces were chasing them. With a signal from the gas station owner, the mechanics push the vehicles to the backside of the station, away from view. The electric display signs outside of the station turn on to say "No Fuel."

The girls gather about a picnic table behind the service area with bags of food and drink, where customers could rest and have a meal. Fernando steps out of the men's room, where Alpha was waiting outside.

Alpha: We'll still going to Nemi as planned?

Fernando: After an hour's rest.

Alpha: Why so long?

Fernando: I need it. No doubt Juanita does too.

Alpha: What about our pursuers?

Fernando: That group chasing us is out. Now, if we stay off the main highway, where they expect us to be on, they will miss us entirely.

Alpha: What makes you say that?

Fernando: The UN does not have that many troops to be guarding every road in Italy. They will be guarding the cities' main entrances, especially the major ones like Rome. So, if we skip Rome, and wait it out in Nemi for a day, we enter Rome through the South during the early morning hours when they are more likely to be resting and guards at their minimum.

Alpha: Again, what makes you say that?

Fernando: Lets just say that Leon taught me a great many things about how military operations run.

Alpha: He's some teacher, isn't he…

Fernando ignore that remark as he goes to the Porsche and pulls out his laptop from under the driver's seat. Alpha follows him, taking note of his actions. He starts typing on it, accessing an email server. He sends a message to Ferro's black berry:

"Found Francesca. At Asti, being chased by UN Goons, Heading to Nemi for diversion. Rome ETA in 48 hours… Nemi ETA- 18 hours."

Fernando puts the laptop under the Porsche's driver seat.

Alpha: Notifying the others?

Fernando (as he gets out of the Porsche, walking back to the men's bathroom): Yeah.

Alpha: Mind if I ask a personal question?

Fernando: You can ask anything. Whether I answer it or how I answer it remains to be seen.

Alpha: Hmph…. (then takes a deep breathe) Are you OK?

Fernando: What do you mean by that?

Alpha: You are not your usual self.

Fernando: Usual self?

Alpha: From what I have seen and know- you are not that person.

Fernando: I'm…tired.

Alpha: Of?

Fernando: Personal things… involving those three.

Alpha: You mean Rachel, Juanita and Francesca? How so?

Fernando: You know that the goldfish is the only animal that will eat, drink and live in its own toilet bowl?

Alpha: Meaning…

Fernando: Its all personal shit we are going through and its all unnecessary.

Alpha: Two are your cyborgs.

Fernando: I don't own any of them.

Alpha: I know- I'm just saying… Two are your cyborgs, which one is your daughter and Francesca is enamored towards you. The human- Juanita is, or was a close friend. I can see the relationship is strained between you two.

Fernando: Its been like that for over a year.

Alpha: I noticed that Francesca is wearing a larger than necessary diamond on one of the two rings.

Fernando: That's what caused the strain.

Alpha: You and your cyborg married?

Fernando: Its only for our cover…

Alpha: And as such, you must maintain a married couple routine, including having her doing some wifely duties…

Fernando: I dont force her into committing herself to those duties.

Alpha: But you do as you must.

Fernando: I do as I can. Keeping those three from getting hurt by these actions, and keeping them off each other's throats, that's the problem.

Alpha: If you don't mind me saying- you should marry all three of them.

Fernando: Easier said than done. The truth is, as you may know from experience, the higher the stress in missions, the higher the affection levels in agent couples who are already in a relationship of friends. Sometimes it gets to a point where we end up sleeping together when we should not have.

Alpha: Which is why I have a rule against it, because it gets in the way.

Fernando: So you and Liesel?…

Alpha: Never… not on missions, and what happens between missions is not of anyone's concern.

Fernando: Point taken.

Alpha: So is that all?

Fernando: Yeah. I just need my rest.

Alpha (as he opens the door to the men's room): Go get something to eat, and we'll leave in a 1/2 hour.

Fernando: I'll need more time than that.

Alpha: Take what you can for now, We'll see about any further extensions…

Fernando: Since when have you been mission commander?

Alpha: Ever since you needed a rest. Now rest up… I don't like being the leader.

Alpha closes the door to the Men's Room to do his business.

For the meantime, they were safe.