UN Resolution, by ElfenMagix
Gunslinger Girl and its characters are (c) Yu Aida.
UN Resolution and its characters are (c) ElfenMagix.
Special Thanks goes to Natchsider and Boomer Gonz for the use of their OCs Liesel and Alpha respectfully.
Special Thanks to Boomer Gonz for his help in making this chapter and past chapters.
Chapter 26: Long Train Home…
After a small meal to get the gears going and to knock off that sleepy fog that sometimes stays inside the head. Though disrupted by the adrenaline, it is slowly returning. Double cups of coffee make quick work of it. Alpha pays the cashier, leaving a healthy tip as Fernando gathers the 'On The Road Meal.'
They get home at Castrogiovanni's rent-a-room building in less than 10 minutes. They find Juanita and Rachel waiting in the room by the table. Fernando gives them 5 minutes to gather their belongings and weapons. While Alpha, Liesel, and Francesca were at the garage preparing the cars for battle once again. He tells them to take everything, including Francesca's belongings, downstairs where he will be waiting. He takes his time to go down the stairs.
He stands by the front of the building waiting for everyone to converge at his point. The Porsche arrives with the Alfa right behind its tail. Alpha gets out of the Porsche, Francesca and Liesel out of the Alfa behind him. For a moment they gather around Fernando. Alpha makes a comment and goes into the building and up the stairs. Liesel and Francesca follow.
Alpha: I'll be getting our stuff.
Francesca: I have to get my stuff too.
For the moment Fernando stands alone. From the store's doorway, Angelino stands there, with a broom in his hand, looking at him.
Angelino: Back so soon from seeing Mr. Denarianno?
Fernando: And, what is it of your concern?
Angelino: We had a deal.
Fernando: We had a deal until you disrespected a member of my team.
Angelino: But I apologized.
Fernando: Apologies from a bigot who won't change his way.
Angelino: What is it to you anyways? If anything, your team member should be the one angry with me, not you.
Fernando takes a step, drawing his .45 and places its muzzle to Angelino's forehead, pulling back on the trigger.
Fernando: I'm going to say this once. I was married once.
Angelino: But aren't you married to Francesca?
Fernando: Shut Up And Listen! Damn you old man… I swear. Francesca is my second wife. My first wife, who was of African Descent, though Albino, was killed because of such hatred and prejudices you harbor in your heart. People who thought because she was black, that she was worth less than they were. And they did just that; they killed her. Now understand Old Man that I harbor no hatred to no one except to those who harbor it and use it to take actions against me, my family, my friends, and my teammates. You took action against a woman who is not only my team member, but who was also my wife's best friend, and despite our differences, is my friend too. And because of that, I will guarantee that you will never see Francesca every again after the sun goes down and night comes in.
Fernando puts back on the trigger slowly and then pulls his gun from Angelino's forehead.
Fernando: Don't worry about me killing you. Others will do that; I will just refuse to come back to this shit hole of a neighborhood.
With the sounds of the others approaching the building's exit. They all gather around Fernando, and notice he was staring at Angelino. They all turn to him.
Francesca: Something wrong?
Angelino walks to Juanita.
Angelino: Excuse me miss. I am terribly sorry about what I said last night.
Juanita: You're forgiven.
Angelino: I am?
Fernando: You are with her, not with me. Unlike me she is an old fashion church girl; I am not. Therefore I am much less forgiving.
Fernando turns to the others and looks at them over.
Fernando: Pack up the cars. Alpha, Liesel, you are driving the Porsche. Rachel, you are with them and protect Juanita. I'll be in the Alfa with Francesca. First stop, the SWA compound and get refill medications for the girls.
Alpha (as he walks away to the cars): All right ladies, you heard the man.
Though Liesel and Rachel comply, Juanita and Francesca do not and stand by Fernando.
Juanita: That was uncalled for.
Fernando: I don't give a fuck anymore. Now pack up your things and get in the car before you see my temper go off like you did once before.
As much as she wanted to prove her point, Juanita follows his instructions. To keep things calm and quiet, she was willing to lose this argument for now. Without further instructions, she walks to the Porsche and takes a seat in the rear. Rachel soon follows, then Liesel. Alpha steps into the driver's door and turns to Fernando for final instructions.
Fernando: The food is in the center console. Feed them if they are hungry, otherwise first stop is the SWA Medical ward for medical updates and medicine refills.
Alpha: Gotcha boss.
Alpha gets in the Porsche and belts himself in after closing the door. The engine is turned and stays in place as Fernando walks to the Alfa. She takes a step closer to Angelino.
Francesca: I'll be back.
Angelino: Don't. Just go with your husband and do good by him.
Francesca: I always have…
The horn of the Alfa blares loudly, waking up the rest of the neighborhood that remained asleep. Francesca turns to see Fernando staring right at her, not happy about the delay. He signals to her to come. She hesitates but eventually complies. She walks around the Alfa and gets in the passenger side.
Fernando (turning on the engine): You are not seeing him or this shit hole of a neighborhood again.
Francesca: But… he's a friend, he helped us!
Fernando puts the car in gear and drives off. He takes the lead to their destination.
Fernando: That help came at a price several times higher than that if we were to have stayed in the Roma Hilton. You do not know how much was given to him in order to get us the basics, to leave us alone and to act like we were not there. In all, he failed us, he exposed us and all that work you did for him you were not paid for. If you think your work paid for our rooms, no. Alpha and I paid for the rooms and for the food we ate. We paid him enough to pay for his property taxes for the next 2 years. So if you think he helped us, think again. He used us. Until then I don't want to hear it.
The next 8 minutes of driving was spent in silence. Little trouble was given when the group approached the gate, and they continued onward to the medical building, where Fernando parks the Alfa right by the steps. Everyone gets out of the cars and gather by Fernando as he makes a call on his iPhone.
Fernando: Hello, Dr. Bianchi. Who else would it be ruining your day? No, in actuality I have the girls here, and I would like a very quick look over on them and a refill of the conditioning medications before we leave to finish this mission. It should take 15 – 20 minutes tops. Yeah – Rachel, Francesca and Liesel. I don't care if Lorenzo wants to see me, I'm hunting nukes and if any of them fail in mission, I'll be back to nuke your rear end- you got that?
Fernando hangs up the phone and looks at everyone.
Fernando: Dr. Bianchi is waiting for you.
For a moment they look at him, then at each other.
Fernando: Go…
The girls leave to enter the medical building, leaving Juanita and Alpha with him.
Alpha: Why do you want Liesel to be checked out? I could tell you she's fine.
Fernando: We've been on this rollercoaster mission for almost 3 weeks now. We are all reaching the breaking point so a little time out and examination should take the edge of things and set things straight. It's one thing for you to tell you you're alright, it's another thing for Dr. Bianchi to tell me the same thing. Either way, it's my judgment to make.
From the administration building a golf car makes its way to the medical building. In it were Lorenzo, Ferro, Tee and Claes, with Lorenzo driving. He approaches from the opposite side of the medical building, parking the golf cart in front of the Alfa. They step out and walk towards Fernando.
Lorenzo (pointing to Fernando): You and I need to talk.
Fernando: We can talk right here.
Lorenzo: What's the idea bringing a known criminal to this agency for support services?
Fernando: You sit down with him, you talk with him, you hear what he has to say.
Lorenzo: I already have. Now explain your involvement.
Fernando: Self Defense.
Lorenzo: Self Defense my ass.
Fernando: Look, his men, for what ever reason was hunting Francesca… once it was know that she had returned where she was for all these year, looking like a miracle happened to her. On more than one occasion, we were approached by men with guns and terminated them accordingly. Once I had a name who was hunting Francesca, I decided to confront him and find out why. In finding out why led to me calling the SWA and getting the medical staff involved and having Niccola talk to you for an exchange of services.
Lorenzo: Look, next time you run into this kind of situation, walk away from it. The public has the best medical care available to them.
Fernando: If that's the best, I would not want to see what the worst.
Lorenzo: What do you mean by that?
Fernando: A bed ridden girl with failed cybernetic prosthesis? The SWA is supposed to give such cybernetic technologies to help those who need them. But there is a girl with failed systems, unable to get out of bed. Tell me- what will her mental and emotional conditioning will be? Better yet- tells me- is that a successful patient based from the sharing of technologies to the public sector? What you do with Niccola and his girl is on you. But at least give her what is owed to her, some form of life outside of a bed in a dark room.
Lorenzo: Your heart bleeds too much for too many.
Fernando: If it didn't bleed at all, I would not be here helping with your Padania Terrorist problem.
For a moment they stare at each other. Lorenzo breaks the silence.
Lorenzo: Explain the extension of your mission.
Fernando: Didn't Ferro tell you?
Lorenzo: Ferro told me many things. I want to hear it from you.
Fernando: 21 nukes were found. I don't believe that those were all of them. Such an amount is too 'odd' if you know what I mean. Things are usually bought in 10s, 25s, 50s, and 100s count.
Alpha: Bulk rate discounts and all, you know.
Fernando: Alpha!
Alpha: What?
Fernando: 21 does not fit in that math, so there has to be a few left somewhere. I intend to find them.
Lorenzo: You have any leads?
Fernando: Maybe.
Lorenzo: Details.
Fernando: The group Francesca infiltrated were the ones who made the threat. Therefore they have nukes to do this, or they can get nukes. Either way, your government and mine will not allow the flow of nuclear weapons of mass destruction into the hands of illegal governments or private organizations. With or without your blessings, I'm taking my team to this mission's end.
Lorenzo: Why is your team here?
Fernando: I need them to be checked up and their conditioning medications refilled before we continue. If you have not noticed, it's been a very long time since we returned, and yet we are not finished.
Lorenzo: I want a mission request report on my desk before you go.
Fernando: You have it in your email in box.
Lorenzo: Not good enough.
Fernando: It's what I can give.
Lorenzo: Report to my office now.
Fernando: With all due regrets and apologizes, I refuse to follow that order.
Lorenzo: Why?
Fernando: What you have to say can be said here in front of the others.
Lorenzo: You are treading on very thin ice here.
Fernando: The more time we waste gives them more time to hide or move those nukes, sell them to others who will not hesitate in using them, and instead of Rome being a smoldering radioactive crater, it will be Milan, or Paris, or Munich, Vilnius or any target within 500 miles flying range because if they have nukes, they will have trucks or worse, planes to deliver them. They need to be found at all costs. Do I make myself clear or do I have to write a report to the UN and my American agency about Italy's failure to stop nuclear terrorism that involves the deaths of tens of thousands?
Lorenzo: You have 3 days to do this then.
Fernando: It's going to take 3 days to get to them.
Lorenzo: Why the delay?
Fernando: It's to reestablish contact with them, and give them time to set up for a sale through Lady Bianca, aka- Francesca. They know she is in Rome. They offered to pick her up by plane but she refused, so they know she will be driving back to Aosta.
Lorenzo: So, how much time?
Fernando: A week. Ten days max, and that is under the best of situations.
Lorenzo: With just your team?
Fernando: I already spoke with Ferro about having back up. Ferro?
Ferro: It's hard to ascertain what you need on what little you gave me.
Lorenzo: Give him the maximum available. I want all available fratelloes involved with him being the mission commander.
Fernando: Actually sir, Francesca is mission commander.
Lorenzo: What?
Fernando: This was her solo mission; she established contact and sales. She did everything within her mission parameters before this UN takeover took over. I'm giving it back to her, even though I have the power to override any decision she makes, we are her back up. I'm just second in command for now.
Lorenzo: Change that. You are mission commander. She is just an infiltrator, spy, and terminator.
Fernando: Why? Why take that away from her?
Lorenzo: Despite her age, looks and intelligence, Francesca is still a cyborg. Many in the handler ranks will not take orders from a cyborg.
Fernando: Why? Why take that away from her?
Lorenzo: Then there is that… what makes Francesca unique, no handler is going to take orders from someone they consider an airhead of a ditsy broad. Therefore, you are now mission commander.
Fernando: I see.
Lorenzo: I agree with your choice, she was doing well in her solo mission, but not everyone knows what she was doing.
Fernando's iPhone rings. He gets it out of his pocket and answers the call.
Fernando: Hello? What is it Dr. Bianchi? You won't release Francesca? Hold on.
Fernando hands the iPhone to Chief Lorenzo, explaining what he was told.
Fernando: Dr. Bianchi is not going to release Francesca in fear of having her injured again. He believes that she is not mission ready and needs time to heal.
Lorenzo: And your assessment?
Fernando: Injured or not, Francesca is the key to this mission. I need her to be there.
Chief Lorenzo put the iPhone to his ear.
Lorenzo: Dr. Bianchi, This is an order from me. Do what it takes to make Francesca Mission Ready. If she has to operate as an injured unit, then have her do so. She's an important part on this mission and is required to be an active part in it. Now make it so.
Chief Lorenzo hands the iPhone to Fernando, who pockets it.
Fernando: Thank you sir.
Lorenzo: Don't thank me… not just yet. I want results. You say that you believe there are more nukes out there in terrorists hands- I want those nukes and the dead terrorist bodies here for the Prime Minister to make a circus show of it.
The girls leave the medical building with Dr. Bianchi behind them. Dr. Belgonchi and Dr. Gilliani stay on the building's top step by the main entrance.
Fernando (looking at the girls walk towards him): I will do my best, sir.
Dr. Bianchi: I have to protest, sir.
Lorenzo: Protest? On what charge?
Dr. Bianchi: Francesca is not ready on any level.
Fernando (leaning towards him, being held back by Juanita): You were the asshole who released her from the hospital several days ago! She could have remained there healing!
Lorenzo: Calm yourself down, Fernando! Now, you, Doctor Fernando Bianchi… I usually respect the decisions of my medical staff but this time, it is of utmost importance that Francesca is part of this mission. If she is not, then there is a possibility of terrorist using nukes on our soil or our neighbor nation's soil. You want that to happen? Then you take Francesca back into the medical ward and keep her there until she is 100 percent. If not, you release her as is, mission ready under the supervision of her handler.
Dr. Belgonchi walks down the steps, approaching them.
Dr. Belgonchi: We give no guarantee on her abilities on the field in her condition then. If a fratello gets killed, it will be because of her inability to do what needs to be done.
Fernando: I'll be the judge of that. I'm the one in the field with her and she has yet to fail me and I doubt she will.
Dr. Belgonchi: Then I put the responsibility on your head then.
Alpha: Now listen here, Dr. Bitchass. I've seen Francesca in action, hurt or otherwise. She's able to function better than most I've seen out there. So cut the shit with the mental injections of doubt because her 65 percent is better than most at 100 percent.
Dr. Belgonchi: And who are you to talk to me like that?
Alpha: If you don't know who I am, then you must that stupid or simply not important enough to know. Fernando, lets go. We got a long ride ahead of us and it's starting to smell like old sausage in this mug.
Fernando: You're right. The air here has begun to smell badly.
Ferro: Wait? Where do you want back up to be?
Fernando: The Marriott Hotel in Aosta in 3 days. They can get there earlier to set up but we will be there in 3 days.
Ferro: I'll get that done for you.
Fernando: Thank you. People- into the cars. We're out of here.
Fernando walks to the Alfa and opened the door for Francesca to sit in the passenger seat. He walks to the driver's door, opens it and sits down. He signals to Alpha to drive ahead of him so he could back up and drive around the golf cart that blocked his way.
Once out of the gate, Fernando takes the lead once they hit the A90 highway. Once onto A1, their first leg of the trip to Aosta via Florence, Genoa, Turin and then Aosta begins. The trip takes 3 hours but not because of their speed but because of gas stations and bathroom breaks.
Arriving in Florence, Fernando drives to the Grand Hotel Mediterraneo on Lungarno del Tempio. The cars are parked across the street from the hotel. Their luck managed to get two angle parking spaces right next to each other. At the other corner of the hotel is the hotel's restaurant. Fernando points to it for Alpha to take the girls to, while he got the rooms for the group. He did not get them without problems.
His entrance does not go unnoticed as he walks through the lobby to the clerks' desk. His very appearance makes look as the oddest thing that has besets the eyes of locals and tourists alike; a tall man at about 2 meters in height, black suit and dark glasses as like his suit, tapping his cane in front of him as he makes his way. No one dares intercept him or assist him as he made his way. He folds the cane and puts it on the clerk's service area, slides his hand over the counter until it finds the bell not far away and rings it incessantly until somebody, a female clerk, puts their hand on his. They both stare at each other for a moment before she takes her hand off his.
Fernando: Would you have a multi-room or bed suite?
Female Clerk: How large is your party?
Fernando: Six; two males, including my self; and 4 females, including my daughter and wife. The rest are friends.
Female Clerk: How long is your stay?
Fernando: Overnight. We leave in the morning for a long drive to Aosta.
Female Clerk: I see. Hmmmm…
Fernando: Is there a problem?
Female Clerk: Might be.
Fernando: The people at the Bureau of Tourism in Rome told me that your establishment could help.
Female Clerk: Help? The Bureau of Tourism is nothing more than an ad agency for us.
Fernando (tapping to the side of his glasses): They told me that yours is a place that can help one with such an issue.
The female clerk stares at him for a moment.
Female Clerk (to herself): I bet they gave you a discount coupon too.
Fernando pulls out a black American Express card from his wallet and slides it her. She could only stare at it.
Fernando: That… is my discount card.
She stares at it, only to have Fernando put down a Black-World Elite MasterCard next to it. A crystal Sapphire Blue Visa card is placed next to that.
Fernando: Your establishment does accept credit, right?
She takes the American Express Black card.
Female Clerk: You have identification to verify the card's ownership.
Fernando pulls out his passport and slides it on the counter before taking his remaining cards and puts them into his wallet. She notices the picture inside has dark glasses like he currently is.
Female Clerk: You American?
Fernando: Puerto Rican American of Royal Spanish Descent. Where do you think my money comes from?
The female clerk just stares at him.
Fernando: Lady, even if I was a Blind Colombian Cocaine Dealer; there is no way I would have a Black American Express Card. Those things are given out to Royalty and those with Old Money. The obscenely rich can't get it; you have to be invited to have one.
She looks at the card one last time, and then looks at him.
Female Clerk (as she signals for a supervising manager to arrive): I'll need to get this verified. Just don't leave.
Fernando: Where am I going to go?
The female clerk meets up with some male manager and whisper among themselves. He takes the card and passport to a nearby PC and starts inputting some data on various inputs. They two of them look over screen and stares at what was imprinted on the glass before staring at each other.
The female clerk walks over to Fernando, giving him his card and passport back.
Female Clerk (handing him a set of electronic keys): You and your guests can have the Executive Top Floor for yourselves.
Fernando: No Room number?
Female Clerk: All the rooms in the Executive Top Floor are interconnected. Enter one and you enter them all.
Fernando: Oh. OK…
Female Clerk: Is there a problem?
Fernando: I was told that you guys would help. But never mind. I'll have my wife lead me around.
Gathering everything into his jacket pocket, Fernando starts to walk away, at first randomly but then makes a turn to the restaurant. Once in the restaurant, Fernando hides himself in within the lunchtime crowd and quickly finds his group before the female clerk realizes what he meant. He sits down with the others.
Fernando: Whatever they have, I'll take the lasagna.
Alpha (sliding a covered serving dish): We figured that, so we ordered it.
Rachel: Got a room for us?
Fernando: They gave me trouble and then treated me like some king. We got the executive top floor to ourselves.
Juanita: The whole floor?
Fernando: Asked for a multi-bed suite, they gave me the floor. Go figure.
Alpha: Hope they give room service.
Fernando: You figure that out and have them extend our stay for the next 4 days so we have a place to return too.
Juanita: We're coming back here?
Fernando: To discuss mission end and what to do afterwards. I'm not returning to the SWA without some Plan B as to where our futures are going to be along with getting the final reports written before sending it to them.
Alpha: Retiring?
Fernando (cutting a piece of lasagna): How many times will Superman rescue the world before getting sick of doing it? I'm already past that point.
Juanita: Superman would never get tired of the saving the world.
Fernando: You sure of that? He might be alien but he does have human traits. Patience and tolerance of a few of them. And as far as I am concerned, his patience would have run out after a long string of successes that won't amount to nothing much and people start to expect him to do a job that they should be doing themselves.
Before anyone could reply, Fernando shoves the piece of lasagna to his mouth and chews.
Juanita: You get paid for doing the job you do.
Fernando: At what costs? Even you started to doubt what we have been doing at the cost of friends and family.
Juanita: As long as I have you around, what ever has to be done will be worth doing as long as it saves people's lives.
Fernando: Consider this our last mission unless told otherwise from John G. And I don't want to hear it. Lets at least finish it and go home.
Fernando continues with the meal as everybody begins to finish theirs. The waiter comes by with dessert for the others. Another five minutes and Fernando was finishing his lasagna. The waiter comes to ask if anything else was needed. Fernando asks for the check, which the waiter quickly returns with it. Handing it to Fernando, Alpha snatches it from his hand.
Alpha: I'll take care of it. You paid for our rooms here and at Rome.
Fernando was miffed about the action, but allows it to happen. After a couple of minutes of paying for the bill, Fernando hands out the electronic keys given to him. Not expecting it, but in handing them out, he had a key for each person in the group. They get up out of their chairs heading to the hotel lobby and finding the elevator.
The elevator panel had a card slot instead of a button for the fifth floor. Alpha slides his card though the slot. The door closes and the elevator goes up. Stepping out to the door the group steps into a hall with 4 doors. Fernando walks to the closest one and tries his key against the electronic lock.
The door opens to a large entertainment area with halls to the left and right, connecting to other minor sitting places and doors denoting bedrooms. Three bathroom doors are in each separate sitting area. Fernando takes the one to the right, which leads to a bathroom to the left and a bedroom to the right. In the center room where they entered, two bedrooms are on each opposite walls. The last sitting area on the left was a mirror reflection of the one on the right.
The bedroom opens up to a large area with a king size bed in its center. The window was larger as there was a balcony on it. A PC system was on a desk at a corner next to a dresser. He walks to the window and opens the curtains, exposing the door behind to enter the balcony. He steps out onto the balcony and looks about the area.
Francesca waits by sitting on the bed looking out on the balcony. Rachel joins her and Juanita walks out onto the balcony to join him.
Fernando (looking at the cars): What do you want?
Juanita: Why must you think that I want something?
Fernando: When you want my attention usually means you want something from me.
Juanita: Not necessarily, but if you put it that way, we have the rest of the day to figure out what to do. So what's the plan?
Fernando: Rest. If you don't want to rest, this is Florence; there are museums and things to see. Do as you want but be back before 10pm, we got a long long drive tomorrow.
Juanita: Alright. I'll take the others out.
Fernando: Good. Anything else?
Juanita: Nope…
Fernando: Good. Now get out. And find a bedroom for yourself before everyone take one and there is nothing left.
Juanita starts to leave the bedroom. After everyone gathers themselves, they start to leave. Still on the balcony, Fernando notices them leave the hotel. After a while he steps back into the room and closes the balcony door. Kicking off his shoes, he takes off his suit jacket and places on the chair behind the desk with the PC before crawling into bed for a nap.
Liesel: We should spend our time wisely, checking our equipment and such.
Alpha: I know, but do you remember our little tradition before each assignment?
Liesel: Of course, but why…
Alpha: Well, that's not available to us at the moment, so we should use a suitable substitute.
Liesel: I see; very well, I beseech you to do your worst.
Taking this moment as a rare opportunity, Alpha went ahead and treated Liesel to a day in Florence where they visited the Uffizi admiring the various works and pieces therein. Then a show at the Odeon Cinema, before finishing off with a long and intimate dinner at Il Cibrèo.
At 6pm, Fernando goes down for dinner, since no one had returned. Pasta Primavera, with white wine and caramel custard for dessert both satisfied his palette as well as his stomach. Going upstairs to back to his room, Fernando lays own on the bed. Italian TV shows much of nothing other than the news and gossip shows.
Up to 9pm, Fernando spends time on his laptop. Looking over various routes and past entries, he tries to see if anything was left out. At 9:30 he was putting the laptop away and going to sleep. Not happy with the prospect that they were going to stay out as late as possible, Fernando figures that he would go off on them in the morning. Just in case, he sets the laptop on the desk by the PC on Surveillance Mode, and record who enters the room at what time.
They enter the room at 11:00pm, a little louder than they should be, but Fernando would sleep through the building collapsing about him on a 7.5 earthquake. Noticing how quiet it was, they went to check on Fernando who was still sleeping. It takes them a while to settle down, but they managed. They were asleep by midnight.