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 21: 'This Is The End…'
[Entry in Francesca's diary: 11/27]
Dear Diary,
Today Felix and I will go to the Italian Alps in search of those political separatists who have formed various connections to mafia and other organized crime syndicates. We will infiltrate the group, offer them arms and cash, and once accepted into their inner circle- kill them all. It would be a 4 day drive to get there from Rome, but I would be ready for them…
-EOF (End Of File)
The drive was short, in actuality; the group packed up their things into a bullet train and headed off to Milan. Once in Milan, the group would gather for one last time, going over mission details and execution. After a night's rest, they drive cross country to a small village North of Aosta, near the Italian - French border. There the group would wait for Felix to return.
Felix and Francesca arrive at the Polanco's Villa on 12/2, expecting a small group of them to be there. They did not expect an army guarding the place with armed guards at every conceivable place the villa could hold. Felix parks the Alfa several feet to the main doorway of the villa, rear first. Both he and Francesca step out of the vehicle, standing to either side of its trunk. Several guards surround them, with a couple of them frisking them for weapons.
"Tell Johan that Felix has arrived with the goods", Felix tells the guards.
"Johan is not here," one guard says. "Best you go home."
Felix takes his car keys from his pocket and walks to open the trunk. He pulls out an AK-47 from the trunk and throws it at the guard who responded. "I have 30 more in there like that, plus ammo for them all, some C4, detonators and other goodies this little car could hold. Now if Johan is not here, I'll take my business elsewhere," Felix tells him as he looks over the machine gun handed to him.
Felix then takes the machine gun from the guard and puts it back in the trunk, going slowly as to allow the other guards look inside at its contents. Some nod to one another. For the moment, no one dared to speak.
"Come on Francesca, let's go home," Felix tells his little girl.
Francesca starts to walk to the passenger door, opening it.
"No, wait," the guard says. "I'll see if any of brothers are here, maybe they can talk business with you."
"I was expecting Johan. He told me to be here himself. Its Johan or nobody," Felix says.
The guard nods before going into the villa himself. Within seconds, Johan steps out with the guard, as he was waiting inside by the door hidden from view.
"Let's see what you got," Johan stated.
Felix opens the trunk of his Alfa once more, allowing Johan to look inside.
"Everything in there, except for the jack, spare tire and car tools are yours," Felix tells him. "In exchange I need several large anti-personnel bombs. I heard your people can build them into cell phones? I want something bigger- something that can fit inside a laptop."
"Pretty large order you're placing there," Johan stated.
"We got a pretty large area to take down- perhaps you heard of it- the Madrid Library in Spain?" Felix explained.
Johan nods. Then he signals to the guard to approach the car as he starts handing out weapons.
"If you need more C4s and laptops, I can supply the parts too," Felix stated.
"If you can supply the materials, why can't your people make it themselves?" Johan asks a bit annoyed.
"The last Anti-Basque raid on my people killed or arrested the last of our bomb builders. Those who have tried to take their place have either created duds or blown themselves up in accident. So, I need someone with experience," Felix says as he hands over a Spanish newspaper clipping stating of such a raid being successful. Johan looks over the newspaper clipping and hands it back.
"Bah. I can't read Spanish," Johan complains.
"It took me 3 months to learn Italian, just to get to meet you in hopes you would help us and make deals."
"Any more incentives?" Johan asks as he hands out the last of the weapons.
Felix snaps his fingers. Francesca reaches into the back of her seat, pulling out an aluminum suit case and brings it to the trunk of the car. She hands it over to Felix. Felix puts it in the trunk, and opens it. He gives a couple of 100-Euro bricks to Johan.
"1/2 million Euros, in assorted denominations," Felix says to Johan.
"Now, if you have this kind of money to throw around…" Johan started to say.
"Deal or no deal. I can always go to the Brotherhood of Islam if you don't. But I prefer not to go that route since they seem to be untrusting and disworthy to all but their own cause," Felix almost yells out.
"Alright, you made your point," Johan says to him. "Come inside so we can negotiate terms."
Francesca tugs on Felix's arm. He bends over to her where she whispers in her ear. Then he turns to Johan before looking at the house. Johan puts the bricks of Euros back into the suit case and takes it with him as he walked into the house.
"How about a bathroom for my little girl? You know it's been a long ride to get here… Unless you want her to pee onto your begonias," Felix stated.
"Follow me, there is one at the end of the hall," Johan says.
They walk inside, from a small hall to a large living room with fancy furniture. There was also some filming equipment at certain areas. The direction of the bathroom was pointed out to Francesca before they walked into the room. Inside, a pornographic movie was being made with a couple of young looking girls and boys with men. If they were not older than Francesca was, they would have seemed to have been younger. Felix looks at this in disgust but keeps his thoughts to himself. Thoughts of pulling the trigger on them himself.
"Brothers, this is Felix. I have told you about him…" Johan started to say.
The orgy scene slowly ends and the older males gather themselves, put on their clothes back on, and step up to Johan. The camera crews and other younger players leave the room through another door. Felix was wondering how Francesca would take to have watching a scene that has transpired in front of him.
Johan gives the suit case to the men, who put it on one of the chairs to open and inspect its contents. Another stands by him and watches.
"These are my brothers. That is Alfonse, and Dante counting the money. This is Romeo, and Julius," Johan started.
Felix nods, not wanting to extend a hand to shake to any of them. Francesca finds her way back to Felix and stands by his side.
"Who's the girl?" Romeo asks.
"That's my daughter, Francesca. She does not speak Italian," Felix answers.
"She does not have to speak Italian to get into business with us," Romeo says as a snide remark.
"Never get in between a father and his daughter; else you want to have a double barrel 12 gauge shoved up your ass and the trigger pulled."
"Is that a threat?" Romeo asks, walking up to Felix trying to stare him down.
"With me, it's a promise. Now you want in on my business, you listen to me or I walk out. And to show you how disgusted I am with the lot of you, I will walk out without taking back the money or the weapons. But consider this- this is the last of money and weapons you will ever get from anyone, because I will smear your names and reputations like I would dog shit off the bottom of my shoe," Felix tells him with a scowl.
A hand goes on Romeo's shoulder from behind.
"Hey 'Meo! I don't like him either, but that's enough. We're conducting business here, remember that," Julius says.
"My associate told me that I would be dealing with fellow terrorists, not child pornographers," Felix tells them.
"Terrorism comes on all levels. Not just blowing up things and killing people," Julius says as Romeo starts to walk away. "And if we are to have fun with what we are doing- that only makes pleasure as part of the business."
"How is child pornography terrorism…?" Felix asks.
"Those boys and girls are not children for one- we picked them up at the local raves and discos. If they claim that they are over 16, then they are fair game for what happens here. But to answer your question, you flood the market with child porn, parents are going to get scared and would want to be more protective of their little ones. Then rumors float about such and such girl or boy is missing in their area; that adds to the terror. People become scared," Julius explains. "Now, if you did not want your daughter to see this- why bring her here?"
"She is a killer like I am," Felix says. "She plants the bombs I get, and pulls the trigger on police officers when she has to make an escape. She knows what she is doing. And she does it for revenge of her government murdered mother- my wife," Felix tells him. "Over the years I have trained her well."
"Girls have their place in terrorism…" Romeo says as he sits down in one of the room's chairs. "Their legs spread open and me fucking their brains out."
"That's it. I'm out of here," Felix says. He spins Francesca about to leave the room.
"Hey- don't you want the money back…?" Romeo mocks.
Felix turns to face him. "I'll declare it as a loss. But 1/2 a million Euros is nothing compared to the billions of Euros you are going to lose out on," Felix says.
"Ha!" Romeo yells for Felix to hear as he leaves. "We are Polancos! We Already Are Billionaires! We Can Do The Fuck Anything We Want!"
Felix ignores the statement, but continues onward. Having planted the evidence was enough for him for now. They walk out, knowing that they are being followed as they leave. They get into the Alfa, the guards surround the front of the car with weapons drawn and aimed at them. Johan and Julius walk to Felix.
"You can't be a terrorist and still have morals," Julius says.
"I only target government installations and its workers. The general population is to be left alone for they are the innocent ones," Felix says without turning to face him.
"One day that line will blur and you will be killing innocents as well as government officials," Julius says. "If you don't get caught or killed along the way."
"I'll pray to god to have mercy on the innocents. Those are not my intended targets. Government is," Felix answers.
"How about we go back inside and continue to have a talk?" Johan says.
"I saw enough, I had enough. My associate will contact you if I want to resume negotiations. Until then- you people owe me one," Felix says as he revs the engine.
Julius gives a nod. The guards clear out the way from the front of the Alfa and put down their arms. Felix puts the Alfa in gear and slowly pulls out. They watch the Alfa disappear into the distance.
Romeo walks out with a sniper rifle slung over his shoulder, dressed in protective gear, pushing a motorcycle dirt bike. The brothers' nod at each other as Romeo puts on his helmet, and then gets on the motorcycle. He turns on the engine with the kick starter, and rides away up a dirt path, an obvious shortcut.
It's been over 90 minutes of silence in the Alfa. Francesca was getting a bit concerned about her handler as they traveled along the mountain highway. Ahead of them a long stretch of seeming straight road that hugs the mountain's side and a thin guard rail protecting the ledge that leads to a several hundred meter drop.
"Felix?" Francesca asks.
For a moment Felix does not answer.
"Felix…" Francesca calls to him again.
"Yes?" he finally answers, glancing at her for a moment.
"Is everything OK?" Francesca asks.
Felix sighs, and then answers her.
"Yeah… everything is fine," Felix says, keeping his eyes on the road.
A loud 'POW!' sound was barely audible over the revs of the Alfa's engine, the tire noise as they gripped pavement and rustling of the wind in the convertible's open cockpit. Felix lurches back before falling onto the steering wheel. He foot goes heavy against the gas pedal and the Alfa starts to pick up speed.
Francesca turns to Felix, yelling "Felix? FELIX!"
She undoes her seat belt to turn to him and check on him. She reaches to bring him towards her, needing to rip out his seatbelts with her cyborg strength. Putting her hand to the back of his head, she finds it wet and warm and he not responsive.
"NO! Felix, Wake Up!" she says as she tries to shake him to wake up.
The Alfa hits the guard rail, and bounces off back to the road. Francesca looks at her hand where she held Felix's head, finding it covered in red from his blood.
"NO! FELIX! Wake Up! Please!", Francesca continues. "NOOoo… Don't Be Dead! PLEASE!"
The Alfa hits the guard rail a couple of more time as a turn approaches. Then it hits it head on, going through it at its weakest point. The Alfa goes airborne for a moment before landing on the mountain side, continuing on its high speed, side swiping tree trunks and low hanging brush. Francesca holds on to the dash board and onto Felix at the same time, mustering every ounce of strength her cybernetics had to offer. The Alfa goes over a fallen tree and goes airborne again, Felix's body shifts from under Francesca. The Alfa lands a short distance, and then hits a stump of a dead tree stopping it dead in its tracks and crumpling up the front end. Felix and Francesca fly out of the cockpit of the Alfa, her arm being torn off as she flew over the windshield. The dashboard was partially ripped where she held on.
Felix would go down the mountain side for a few dozen yards until his body stops under a tree. Francesca would continue falling down the rest of the ravine.