SWA Beginnings: Francesca, by ElfenMagix
Gunslinger Girl and its characters are (c) Yu Aida.
SWA Beginnings: Francesca and its characters are (c) ElfenMagix.
I would like to continue to thank Boomer_Gonzales for his loan of his characters and assistance with dialog and plot development
Alpha is by his creator, Boomer_Gonzales.
Creation of Francesca.
Part 11: Francesca's First Kill.
In a conference room next to Chief's Lorenzo's office, Felix, Ferro, Priscilla and Jean Croche, along with other members in Logistic and Support meet with the Director of section two. Tee hands out manuals to all of them to look over as Chief Lorenzo explains.
"Now is time for use to prove ourselves. The manuals you are receiving is your intended target: Vincent "Vinnie" Coleon. As you know, Vincent is the American Gangster accidentally caught when his entourage was busted on an assault of various victims in the world heavy weight fight, and weapons and drugs were found in his car. Though many of his pals took the possession wrap of the various items, the judge on the case and Magistrate Council decided to release them to American Authorities. We are here to make sure that he never makes it to America when he is released one week from today," Chief Lorenzo explains.
"Who are these other individuals?", Felix asks.
"They are his entourage," Chief Lorenzo answers. "Vincent is the main target, because he has had meetings with various mafia members during his stay here, even while being incarcerated. Deals were made, and apparently getting him released for home was one of them. The American Law Enforcement will never get him because he will elude them at the airport, and become a bigger problem in the future. With money and weapons coming in illegally from America, Italy will be in dire straits. We are to make sure the information inside his head, and the deals that were made never make back to America, so upon his release, in front of hundreds of witness and the news media, he will be terminated."
"How?" Felix asks.
"That is Francesca's job," Chief Lorenzo answers.
"Again, how?" Felix asks.
"That is on you. A sniper shot would be difficult to do and easy to spot due to how the buildings are situated around the court building. Police will be everywhere, but most have been ordered to look the other way when the event happens. A drive-by will also be difficult, so, Francesca will have to make her way through the crowd and get close to Vincent, assassinate him and then fight her way out to the getaway vehicle blocks away," Chief Lorenzo explains. "Support and Logistics are to help Francesca in her escape by being part of the media entourage, and crowd up her escape route. Felix, you will drive Francesca back to the agency. Jean, you have the nest up above and observe what happens. Any and all of Vincent's friends are open to termination if they put up a fight. Now Felix, is Francesca up to this task?"
"She has been trained to the best of my ability," Felix answers.
"This Is No Camera Shoot Mission. She will have to be able to fight off anyone, including police who may try to capture her during her escape," Chief Lorenzo explains.
"Her red hair will make her easy to spot," Priscilla explains.
Felix sighs and shakes his head.
"Then deal with it," Chief Lorenzo answers.
"How?" Priscilla asks.
"Dye it black," Chief Lorenzo states in a very cold tone.
"But…" Priscilla starts to say.
"It will be done, chief…" Ferro interrupts Priscilla.
"Make sure it's a perfect job," Chief Lorenzo says. "You all have your mission briefs. Study them. Then fulfill the mission."
Chief Lorenzo folds up his brief case and leaves the room.
"I will go get some temporary hair dye for Francesca," Ferro says as she closes her briefing manual before getting up and walks towards the door.
"I'll go with you…" Priscilla says going right after her.
As the two women leave, the rest of the room of men turn to face Felix.
"Hope your cyborg is up to the task," Jean states to him.
"She has not failed me yet," Felix tells him.
"First time for everything," Jean adds, "This is not some camera picture taking date."
Jean slowly gets up and leaves the room.
"Has she killed before?" the one named Alfonso asks.
"No," Felix stated.
"Can she?" Alfonso asks.
"She trained to take a life if ordered too. I taught her in hand to hand, firearms and knife fighting skills. She can defend herself when needed," Felix explains.
"Then let's put it to a test," Alfonso says.
"A test? What kind of test?" Felix asks.
"A walk in the park," Alfonso answers.
For the next several minutes, the men talk about how to stress test Francesca, coming up with the idea of having her walk through the park late at night on the rough side of town. The plan was simple- a simple nightly walk, and kill anyone who would attack her. This would determine her fighting and killing ability, as well as an aftermath psychology stress test. Position of support and logistics were discussed and at what point would Francesca require back up. The meeting ends when details were hammered out. Her test debuts tonight.
Felix arrives in Francesca's room, as she tends to her chores of keeping it neat. He takes her by the hand and walks her over to her bed and sits on it, signaling her to sit next to him.
"Francesca. We need to have one of those talks," Felix says to her.
"What kind of talk?" Francesca asks.
"The agency decided to put you through a termination mission," Felix started to explain.
"I have to kill somebody?" Francesca asks, interrupting him.
"Yes," as Felix bows his head.
"Show me who he is and I will kill them for you," Francesca says with no sign of fear or remorse in her voice. In fact it sounded too eager for anyone to be comfortable with.
"OK," as Felix turns to face her, He then hands her the mission briefing manual, explaining to her what she has to do as she goes through the pages, "The mission is in 1 week from today. You will have to go up to that person and shoot him in front of a large crowd and his body guards. You can kill the body guards if they get in the way of you killing your target or if they try to restrain you. Everyone else are innocents, and are to be left unhurt. Furthermore, there will be members of the agency hiding in the crowd to help you run away to the escape car 2 blocks away where I will drive us home. Is all that clear to you?"
"Yes. I'll do it. I'll do anything for you, Felix," Francesca answers.
"You have any issues about killing somebody in cold blood?" Felix asks.
"You taught me that those we are going to face have killed many innocents and deserve to die for their crimes. I have no problems in killing them," Francesca states to him.
"OK, there are 2 more things I have to tell you then," Felix adds.
"Anything, what?" Francesca asks.
"For that mission, all your hair will be dyed black," Felix answers.
"All my hair?" Francesca asks.
"You being a red-head; makes you stick out and be easy to spot and identify to be captured. It's going to be dyed black, but with a temporary dye so it can wash off after the mission and you have lovely red hair again," Felix explains.
"But all of it?" Francesca asks again.
"Yes, dear- all of it," Felix tells her.
"Including…" Francesca started to say as she lift up her skirt and points to her groin.
Felix takes Francesca's hand and slowly makes her lower her skirt, leans over to give her a kiss on the forehead, "No, just the hair on your head."
"Oh…" Francesca says, almost innocently.
"Ferro and Priscilla will take care of making you up for that mission. So don't worry about a thing," he tells her.
"I don't like those two," Francesca complains.
"But why? They're our friends and co-workers," Felix asks then says.
"I just don't," Francesca says. "You said that there were two things… what's the other?"
"Oh… How can I say this?" Felix started. "You are going to go through a mission test tonight to see how you can handle killing somebody. Though this is a test, you are going to have to actually kill someone in order to pass it."
"OK, I can do that. Who is he?" Francesca says and then asks.
"We don't know who. You are going to walk through the park and meet me on the other side. Along the way, somebody, we don't know who, will attack you. You are to kill that person or persons in self defense. You will continue to do this as you walk through the park until you meet me. Support will be hiding nearby in case you need help. Alright?" Felix explains.
"I can do that," Francesca says.
"Understand that if you can't handle a couple of street punks, then you won't be able to handle the mission," Felix says.
"I'll do it. I'll do anything for you… And I'll pass… you'll see…" Francesca says.
"Just remember your training and everything I taught you and you won't go wrong," Felix tells her.
"I won't forget!" Francesca says.
"Good… now dress up nice so we can go out for a bit before the mission," Felix tells her.
"Going out?" Francesca asks.
"Yeah, a movie perhaps? Or a museum trip. Then something to eat, then we see something else or go shopping if you like, then dinner and then the park mission," Felix answers.
She leans against his arm, "If you don't mind, I would prefer if we just stayed here…"
"Alright then. But only for a couple of hours. Then we go out and do those things and get you ready for tonight's test mission," Felix answers.
Francesca puts her arm around him and holds him closers as she continues to lean against him, "Thanks…"
Francesca wanted more but she took what was given to her, alone time with her handler. He treated her like a sister, daughter, even at times as a friend, but she wanted him as a lover. She was confused as to what love was, and between her hormones, the conditioning drugs and assorted reading material somebody kept leaving behind for her to read in her room, things were very confusing for her. But she believed that whatever she did for her handler, that he would give her that much more of himself to her. After the first hour had past, she was on the verge of tears. He noticed.
"Something wrong?" Felix asked.
"I just don't know," Francesca answered.
"Scared, maybe?" Felix asked.
"Of what?" she asks.
"Then… can you figure out what is bothering you?" Felix asks.
"I don't want you mad at me," Francesca says.
"I would never get mad at you," Felix responds.
"I want you," Francesca says without hesitation.
"Me?" Felix asks. "I mean, how, why?"
"I don't know how to say it, but I can never be a normal girl again. My mom and dad are gone, 1/2 of me is not even me anymore though Dr. Frankenstein says those replacement parts are better than what I had, I'm 1/2 a machine, but the other 1/2 of me that is still a girl wants something that only a guy can give me," Francesca explains.
"We talked about sex and love, right?" Felix asks.
Francesca nods.
"Then you know the differences, the expectations and the consequences of taking on such actions," Felix says.
"I do," Francesca answers. "But Felix, what if I fail?"
"You won't fail," Felix tries to reassure her.
"But…" Francesca interjects, "If I fail, even in the slightest, and get hurt, I do not want more parts to replace what's left of me. Furthermore, if I get raped, I would want to have you be the first one before anyone else could take away that part from me…"
"Uhm…" Felix tries to find an answer.
"Just, please… say yes. Be my boyfriend, be my lover, be my everything just this one time and I will never ask you again," Francesca almost asks.
"You're asking for a lot. Maybe too much," Felix says.
"I'm here all alone. I don't have a natural life anymore. I have no friends my age here. Not even a boyfriend. I want you to be that boyfriend for me because I care for you so much, I love you so much… so please… give me a normal life, give me love, and kisses and make me your girlfriend and I will do everything right by you…", Francesca pleads.
Felix sighs. Then hugs Francesca and gives her a kiss on the forehead.
"Look, Francesca. If I were to love you in that such of a way, it would be wrong," Felix begins to explain.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Francesca asks.
"No, not since leaving Spain," he answers.
"Do you want a girlfriend?" she continues to ask.
"Yes, but…" Felix started to answer.
"But what?" Francesca interrupts.
"Now is not the time to be having girlfriends," Felix answers.
"Why not?" Francesca asks.
"This is training. Whether in the military or the police or even in sports, you must work hard to be the best. You can not be the best when you're having sex," Felix explains.
Francesca continues to stare at Felix, biting on her lower lip as a tear starts to roll down her cheek. Felix takes her by the shoulders and holds her at arm's length from him.
"Look, Francesca. I love you. Really I do. And if you were older or I was younger, then maybe yes, we could be boyfriend and girlfriend. But right now as things are, it can't be. I do promise you that we can have some time alone together, like this. We can talk, and hold, and do things that only close friends would do. Maybe as boyfriend and girlfriend may do in our private moments together, but there will be certain lines that we will not cross. Understand me?" Felix explains.
Francesca nods and answers, "Yes Felix…"
Felix leans over to her and gives her another kiss on the forehead. Then he whispers in her ear, "Look, if in a couple of years, when you become 16, and I'm not seeing anyone seriously, then we can be boyfriend and girlfriend. OK?"
Francesca smiles through her tears and holds him tightly. After a several long seconds, he signals her to let him go.
"OK, girl. Inspection time. I need you to start getting ready for tonight's mission. Let's see what you got…" Felix tells her.
"What you want me to wear on this mission?" she asks.
"It might be a chilly spring night, but if you can put up wearing a short skirt, that would be fine…" Felix answers.
Francesca takes off her outer layers of clothes and runs around her room in just her underwear, throwing things on the bed to see if it passes Felix's approval. Slowly they gathered enough stuff to look like a lost Catholic School Girl in semi school uniform attire, with white tights and black Mary Jane shoes. A small purse will conceal a gun and a knife for her.
Once she is dressed and ready to go, Felix takes her by the arm and sits her n his lap. He looks into her eyes, giving her goose bumps and shivers, with runaway thought of 'will he take me? Here and now? Please let it be!' running through her head. He leans over to kiss her on the forehead, but she tilts her head back a bit, making him land on her lips instead. The kiss lasted longer than it should have, with a sudden break from Felix.
At first he was mad about it, but realizes that it was his mistake in doing so, dissipating his anger as quickly as possible. He then takes her purse and looks through it, finding the gun and knife neatly tucked away where it could not be seen. He then looks her over from head to toe and back to head again.
"Perfect," he says to her.
"You really think so?" Francesca asks.
"Yes, I do", Felix replies.
Francesca smiles. Felix pushes her off his lap, taking her by the waist as she stood and positions her in front of him.
"Now Francesca… We need to go over how you will respond to being attacked," he tells her.
For the next 45 minutes, Felix goes through the various scenario possibilities of Francesca could be approached and attacked: from the front, the rear, the side, with a weapon, a purse snatching, attempted robbery, attempted rape; and the final solution for all is to eliminate the threat, first by hand, get some space and then by gun or knife. They practiced until he was sure that Francesca was more than capable in a fight, despite the martial arts training he had given her.
Once satisfied with her abilities, Felix makes her go through a cool down and wash up before dressing up and going out. He does the same as she goes through her routine. Their meeting place is by his car, a 1996 Red Alfa Romeo Spyder.
For the afternoon, Francesca and Felix take to some coffee and pastry, a movie, and then dinner. During dinner, he excuses himself to go to the bathroom where he makes a call to Ferro and the Logistical and Support Teams. Things were ready to go for Francesca's solo test run in the park. All he needed to do was spend another two hours with her before letting her go on her own.
He drives her about the perimeter of the park, showing her where she is going to enter, where she should come out of, and where he is going to be parked waiting for her. In this, she has to cross double set row of trees that line the perimeter of the park, several paths, and large grassy areas that are lined with bushes and benches at the paths that encircle them. In total, 400 meters, a considerable distance to walk, especially in the dark when it is hard to tell which direction one is going and can easily get off at the wrong exit. Thus the street signs are studied and memorized just in case she gets out the wrong way, she should be able to figure her way back to Felix and the Red Alpha Romeo Spyder.
At a quarter to ten, 15 minutes ahead of schedule, a pizza van parks by the park's entrance, behind Felix's Spyder. A couple of people in suits come out of it on the sidewalk side and approach the Alpha Romeo, as a couple of others step into the park. Felix already has them in view on his review mirrors. The woman in the business suit approaches Felix on the driver's side, bending down to speak to him while the male stands a few feet away from the passenger side.
A woman in business suit leans over to the driver window, "You're here early, Felix."
"So are you too, Ferro. Want to do this right away or wait?" Felix replies and asks.
Ferro looks out into the park for a moment.
"Let's go do this now," Ferro says.
Felix nods his head. He then turns to Francesca.
"You ready?" Felix asks Francesca.
"For you I am…" Francesca answers.
"Good. I'll drive to the other side while you walk through the park. Ferro and the Support team will be close by in case you need help," Felix explains as he turns on the car's ignition.
Francesca nods. Felix leans towards her and gives her a kiss on the forehead.
"Good luck, and go…" Felix tells her.
Francesca reaches over to the grab the door handle, opens the car door and starts to head into the park. Felix reaches into the glove box and pulls out an ear set to his two-way radio. The radio is turned on as Felix puts the car in gear and slowly pulls away. He gets to his destination on the other side of the park in a couple of minutes; Francesca is still passing by the first row of trees. She remains unmolested as she crosses paths and the fenced and bench lined grass areas. More than a third of her trip done and nothing, with another third being open space in front of her being devoid of anyone within sight of view. She walk as slowly as she could, trying to make herself as an easy target as possible. With each step she finds it frustrating that nothing is happening. She takes a seat at the second set of benches she comes across at the 2/3rd mark of her mission. Radio chatter fills the ears as observing SWA Support agents discuss her actions. Felix responds to them, "Leave her be but don't take her out of your sight…"
On the other side where Felix was parked at, a group of four drunken and high teenaged skin-head punks enter the park. They turn over garbage cans and breaking car windows along their walk before entering the park. How they managed to skip Felix's car was just luck. "Heads up everyone… a group might bite the hook Francesca had casted…" Felix says into the radio.
"Who are they?" Ferro asks from the pizza truck, signaling to Amedeo to drive to where Felix was at.
"Skin Head Punks.", Felix replies.
"Damn- they're going to massacre her…" an unknown male voice says in the radio.
"You assholes better cover for her if she gets into any trouble!" Felix yells back at them.
"I got her," says another young voice into the radio causing Felix to look at it curiously.
"Maybe we should call it off?" Ferro asks.
"No way to contact her…" Felix replies.
"They are making contact with her…" Nihal started to say as he interrupted Felix. "OH SHIT!"
"WHAT!" Felix yells into the radio.
He then tries to get out of the car, almost having Amedeo crash into his opening door as he angle parks the pizza truck onto the sidewalk by the park's entrance in front of the Spyder. He and Ferro run out of the pizza van and into the park, with Felix after them. In the distance gun fire can be heard going off in rapid succession. This made them run faster to the scene.
It was a grizzly scene that they had arrived too. Felix calls out Francesca's name, but she does not answer as she stands by one of the bodies she had pumped 6 rounds into. The other bodies laid dead, one had his abdomen ripped open from top to bottom, the knife still lodged inside. Another had his windpipe crushed from a blow to it, and had drowned in his own blood. A third had a broken arm and a bullet manually inserted into the side of his head. The last laid several yards away tried to run from the scene, had 6 rounds put in through his back, hitting every major organ. All the others could do was take note of the carnage, only the recorded video tape of the fight would reveal what really happened in those few short seconds.
Felix walks up to Francesca, calling out her name, "Francesca!…" She does not answer. She does not move. She just stands there looking down at the body. Her panting and heavy breathing had slowed down considerably. Felix slowly reaches out and touches her shoulder, calling for her. She spins around faster than anyone would have expected, knocking Felix's arm down, and putting the gun to his face. She pulls back on the hammer to release a quick shot to the head before she realizes it was her handler, and love of her life- Felix. She drops the gun and pounces on him for a tight hug.
"Felix! I'm Sorry! I'm So Sorry! Please Forgive me!", Francesca begins to beg.
"Alright! Alright, Just Let me Go! Will Ya?" Felix complained as she had pinned his arms to his side and had him held tighter than a Boa Constrictor would its lunch.
Eventually Francesca slowly lets him go. The blood that was splattered on Francesca's clothing was now on Felix's shirt. They both look at the stain as the others gathered about them.
"You two can't go back alone in your car, Felix," Ferro started to say. "You would have a lot of explaining to do if you get pulled over by the police."
Felix just nods. Ferro continues.
"Give me your car keys and I'll bring your Alpha home for you. Get into the pizza van so no one can see you," Ferro explains.
"Alright," Felix gives in as he hands over his car keys to Ferro.
Ferro calls Priscilla on the radio to get the rest of Logistics and Support to clean up the scene as orders Amadeo to takes Felix and Francesca back to the compound while she takes Felix's car to the compound as well. The trip home takes a longer than expected amount of time when one is a passenger in the back of a dark van, but it only took 20 minutes. Once back to the safety of the compound, Felix orders Francesca to wash up and go to bed. He then slowly walks to the dormitory where he currently lives.
Ferro trots up behind him, calling for him. Felix stops and turns around.
"Yes, Ferro?" Felix asks.
Ferro reaches out to him, handing back his car keys. She then stands there with her hands folded in front of her. "Thanks", Felix was all was he could say at the moment.
He slowly turns around to continue walking back to the dorms. "Wait!" Ferro says as they step into the archway between the parking lot and the building complex. Felix turns around to face her.
"Yes, Ferro?" Felix asks again.
She walks up to him, and stands in front of him, taking his hands. She lets out a sigh.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" he asks.
"Uhm…" she starts to say with hesitation, "Francesca did well today…"
"I don't know about that," Felix stated.
"Besides the mess… 4 grown men vs. one little girl, she did it," Ferro stated.
"I need to see the combat tape to evaluate her score," he replied.
"But… considering the odds, Felix. She did it," Ferro said holding back all excitement.
Felix sighs, then shakes his head. It takes a while for him to gather his words.
"She can't be so sloppy on a real mission," he tells her.
"We can practice for on that," Ferro answers.
"We have less than a week to practice," Felix explains.
"Not a problem," Ferro says. "We can start in the morning."
Felix just sighs. Ferro on the other hand, leans over and gives him a kiss on the cheek before stepping back and walking away from him. Felix rubs his cheek where Ferro had kissed him, wondering what had just transpired.
From within a row of trees, a young boy clicks shut the covers to the scope on his rifle.
"Not bad; rookie," Alpha says as he shoulders his rifle and jumps down from the tree. "Not bad at all."