Gunslinger Girl is not (c) to me
This story uses characters and locations based on Gunslinger Girl, additional story elements and characters are (c) to me- ElfenMagix.
Solution's Resolution
Chapter 36: Same As It Ever Was
Fernando was already in the bathroom taking care of this personal needs as Claes enters the room to check on the cat at shortly around before 7am. Needing to wash out the food and water bowls but cant because Fernando was in the bathroom, she takes them next too to her former handler's room and uses the personal bathroom in there to clean them out. She returns rather quickly, putting the two bowls- the water bowl filled with fresh water, for Meeshie to have. She moves a chair from the table up against the shelf, where she stands on it and reaches for a can of cat food on the top shelf; Can #56: Tuna & Mackerel Medley.
Claes sat down on the chair she used to climb up to get the cat food, looking at Meeshie have her meal. As she looks, she think about how helpless this little creature is, for without them, it would have to fend for itself for food and a warm place to sleep in. Then the thought moves over to how the cyborgs are in a similar situation. She notices a 1/2 drunk mug of coffee on his desk. Fernando opens the door to the bathroom, nearly fully dressed in causal attire. He walks over to his bed, to the end that faces the door, needing to get by Claes to do so. He sits down on he edge and retrieves his shoes.
Fernando (to himself): That's the responsibility of having a pet.
Claes: Huh?
Fernando: Taking care of it. Feeding and water it. Giving it a warm home. Doing what you can for to make its life better then if it were alone.
Claes: How…?
Fernando: You think too loud. I heard talking to yourself.
Claes: I was?
Fernando: Either I heard you said it or I have telepathic abilities.
Claes: Hmmm…
Fernando: Well, thank you for helping out with her.
Claes: Well, I sort of enjoy taking care of her like I do with my gardening.
Fernando: I see. Are you ready for today's practice?
Claes: If I have too, I must.
Fernando looks over to the clock on the night stand as he reaches over to his glasses and watch. It said 7:45AM on it. He puts on his watch, but holds on to the glasses.
Fernando: She's late.
Claes (in Rachel's defense): Maybe she's getting dressed?
Fernando: All she has to wear is put on her sweat suit, bulletproof t-shirt, sox, sneakers and underwear. That's not much, and a lot less than what I have to wear.
Claes: Maybe she's taking a long shower?
Fernando: Tell me Claes, do you shower up before you get dressed to come over here?
Claes: Most of the time- it depends.
Fernando: Depends on?
Claes: Depends on whether I'm going out with you or Ferro, be with other handlers and cyborgs or do my gardening. I do if I have to meet up with others, I don't until after I do my gardening- and then I take a long bath afterwards. But I always take a shower before going to bed.
Fernando: I see. But…
Claes: But?
Fernando: Never mind. The thought escaped from my mental trap.
Claes: Oh.
Fernando: So you're ready for today then?
Claes: I guess so.
Fernando looks at Claes, but how that look appears to be could be disturbing to some.
Claes: Everything alright?
Fernando: Everything is fine. Why?
Claes: Because you're staring at me.
Fernando: Oh, sorry. Its one of those rare moments I have in taking in the world without my glasses-as long as the day remains overcast and cloudy like it is- I can see without them.
Claes walks over to him, and stand in front of him, placing her hand on his knees and leans over to a closer look into his eyes.
Claes: Brown? No, wait, Hazel?
Fernando: Actually Angelic Hazel Colour Shifting.
Claes: Huh?
Fernando: My irises- they change colour as per the mood or emotional state I'm in. It has something to do with the amount of blood flow into them and a hormonal response as well. But since they are covered by the glasses or dark contacts, nobody sees them. Except for Rachel, and a few others that know me that intimately.
Claes: Wow…
Fernando: Why wow?
Claes: Well, the eyes are the windows to a man's soul, but with you, the windows are always changing.
Fernando: Its more like the curtains around the windows that changes. But many has this ability.
In the hallway, the patter of running feet can be heard getting louder in Fernando's room. Soon, Rachel steps into the room and stand just past the door way, dressed in her sweat suit, staring at her god-father and Claes.
Fernando: You're late.
Rachel: I'm sorry!
Claes turns around to see her slightly panting for air.
Claes: You're tired already?
Rachel: I ran all the way!
Claes: But you're a cyborg- cyborgs don't get tired.
Rachel: I'm a Type 2- you're a Type 1. What ever the difference is, I don't know, but I'm tired… Wait a minute… What were you doing with my God Father?
Fernando: Rachel- enough. Since it's a nice cloudy overcast day, I can go without my glasses- so she noticed how my eyes look and wanted a closer look.
Rachel: Those crazy kaleidoscope eyes of yours?
Fernando: Yes- my crazy kaleidoscope eyes of mine.
Claes: Do they actually change color?
Rachel: Yes they do- Just hope they remain yellow and brown 'cause that means he's happy. But when he's angry, they turn red.
Fernando: Rachel…
Claes turns to Fernando, noticing the colour bands in his irises turn darker towards red.
Rachel: I'm sorry… but that's common knowledge though.
Fernando: That's common knowledge to a select few. You now just added Claes to that list.
Fernando closes his eyes and takes out a deep breathe, holding it before slowly letting it out. He opens them again, revealing that they were reverted to the yellow and brown combination.
Claes: Wow… you can control what color they change into?
Fernando: No. I control the emotional response- that controls the colour they are in.
Claes: Oh… so, control the emotions, and that controls the colours.
Fernando: Now you got it. (then he turns to Rachel) You ready to go?
Rachel: Yes sir.
Fernando: You got your mission weapon and not your personal weapon?
Rachel: Err…
Fernando gets up and walks over to his gun locker, opening it and taking out his mission weapon.
Fernando: Go get the mission weapon, and wait for me by the stairs.
Rachel grabs Claes by the wrist and hauls her out into the hallway. Rachel can be heard fading into the distance as she ran, "Will do godfather!"
Fernando goes about his room, gathering a few boxes of ammunition and magazines, putting them onto the desk. He then takes his mug of 1/2 drank coffee and pours a little more from the coffee pot before drinking it. He puts the coffee pot back on the coffee maker and turns it off. With a sigh, he holsters his mission gun and picks up the items from his desk, putting them into a small duffle bag before heading out with it.
Fernando makes the long distance to the staircase before Rachel and Claes steps out of her room. He puts on his glasses as they approach him. They stop in front of him, as if waiting for orders.
Fernando: Claes: you have your mission weapon with you?
Claes: Uhm…
Fernando: You were waiting for Ferro to give you that command, aren't you.
Claes: Uhm… Yes.
Fernando: Get your mission weapon and wait for me outside the administration offices. I'll go get Ferro. Rachel, stay with Claes.
Rachel: Yes, god-father.
Fernando starts to walk down the stairs as the girls walk into Claes' room. A word was barely heard as they walked in.
Claes: Is he always that demanding?
Rachel: No, he is not demanding.
Another knocks on the door before entering the room as Claes gets her weapon from her weapon's locker. "Is Triela up yet?"
Claes turns around to see Hillshire by the doorway. She then turns to their bed, seeing Triela buried under her blanket and pillow. She points to the bed. Hillshire walks over to the bed and sits next to her, trying to wake her up. Claes takes Rachel by the hand as she puts her clip on holster to the back of her belt of her pants, taking her outside to the staircase. Just in time too, since it sounds like Triela woke up in one or her 'leave me alone' moods. They walk down the stairs to the administration offices and wait by the doors. They can hear Fernando and Ferro as they walk out of the office.
Fernando: Well, what about breakfast before practice?
Ferro: That's all you ever think about- food?
Fernando: Well, that is on the top 5 of my list, so yeah!
Ferro: I swear- how could you have been married when you're such a mess in your priorities.
Fernando: I don't know what you're trying to get at but we were very compatible.
Ferro: Look- we Europeans have a 3 meal system- Breakfast and lunch are together later in the day, Then there is a lunch and dinner meal before a final meal of the day.
Fernando: I'm still used too my American Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Supper meals. I need my coffee and I need my sustenance, if you don't want to eat- fine, I'll eat with Rachel and meet you later at the range! Last thing I want is gunpowder in my food.
Ferro: Fine- go without me then. (Then she notices Claes and Rachel waiting by the door.) Oh. Claes- if you want breakfast-go with them. If not, I need you in my office for some work.
Claes: Will we eat later?
Ferro: Yes, later.
Claes starts to walk into the administration offices, towards Ferro's office.
Ferro: See, if one little cyborg can wait before her meal, so can you.
Fernando: I'll see you two at the range then. Rachel, lets go.
Fernando starts to step away from the administration offices and head down the hall with Rachel behind. It does not take them too long for them to be outside of the building, looking out at the military personnel going about their business. Fernando takes his cane and starts tapping it in front of him while Rachel takes his arm. Together they seem like a daughter helping her handicapped blind father for a stroll. But as the SWA had learned from the beginning, Fernando is not handicapped.
As they make it to the cafeteria, many stare at them as they walked across the courtyard, not believing what they are seeing. Others think that he maybe a high ranking personnel of the SWA with his daughter or niece, perhaps in research or intelligence- why else would a blind guy be among their midst. Very few think that this is one of the fratello teams, even though the visiting personnel have been told of them. But not a certain sergeant from the day's before whose path they may be crossing. In no time, Fernando and Rachel make it to the cafeteria, getting on line with the rest of the army personnel to get their food. Although the food was massed produced to feed the army, the kitchen staff does its best to provide a flavorful and meaningful meal. Fernando and Rachel take on a high-protein / low-carbohydrates meal of an egg-omelet, meat, toast and coffee. A little fruit is added to the side as a little dessert. They walk to their designated table at the rear corner of the cafeteria.
They sit and eat in relative peace. Hillshire and Triela join them about 10 minutes later. They were both having cereal and fruit with a bit of milk, and Hillshire was also having coffee. A few words are exchanged between them.
Hillshire: Good morning. Would you mind sharing the table?
Fernando: By all mean, sit down, relax, eat.
They sit across from each other, handler to handler, cyborg to cyborg. Rachel had to move her seat to accommodate Hillshire, and sat next to Fernando.
Hillshire (as he sat down): Going to the range later on?
Fernando: Yeah, immediately after we eat.
Hillshire: Before you go, drop by the administration office. There is a package for you there. I think its that funny ammunition you use; I recognize the box and address.
Fernando: I only get letters and packages from one person. And why was I not told, I was at Ferro's office.
Hillshire: Ah- that is your mistake. You have to check with the clerk behind the counter to get your mail.
Fernando: I'll get it after we're done on the range.
Hillshire: Fine by me, I was just letting you know that it is there.
Fernando: Thank you. You and Triela are going to the range too?
Hillshire: Considering that our current mission has been put on pause until we deal with this Yemenese Threat, there is nothing else to do. We will be there.
Fernando: How is she taking to the new undergarment?
Hillshire: Undergarment?… Oh, yes, the liner. (He looks at Triela for a moment) I think it fits well on her.
Triela: I don't like it.
Hillshire: Its for your protection.
Triela: I don't need further protection.
Hillshire: Triela…
Fernando: Victor… Triela may seem to be uncomfortable with it, but when she sees that it would be better for her to come back from missions with lesser damage, then she'll put it on more often. Until then- well, she is your sorella.
Hillshire: Triela, lets not argue about this.
Rachel is almost finished with her meal, though Fernando is still half way on his, which is unusual for him to eat so slow. Talking with Hillshire is not helping with him eating his meal any faster.
Fernando: Give her time, Victor.
Hillshire (trying to change the subject): Going to the range after breakfast?
Fernando: I though we already discussed that.
Hillshire: We will be there as well.
Fernando: You know, I've been thinking…
Hillshire: Of what?
Fernando: What if it is a set up?
Hillshire: Then we will deal with it.
Fernando: What is it is a set up against us is by the military?
Triela drops her fork unexpectantly. Hillshire looks up from his cereal bowl towards Fernando.
Hillshire: Explain.
Fernando: What if, these generals are so wanting to take our girls from us, that they set us up. We would be surrounded by the Italian army at all sides. Its just a few of us versus all of them.
Hillshire: Now that is a paranoid view of things you have there.
Fernando: Well excuse me for having that in mind, since my government has been wanting this body of mine for years and the only thing stopping them is its owner.
Hillshire: Why would they want you?
Fernando lowers his glasses a bit on his nose and stares at him through the top of the glasses.
Hillshire: I mean, besides the obvious.
Fernando pushes up on his glasses back onto his nose.
Fernando: It is for the obvious that they want this body of mine. The USA has been trying to create its own cyborg program for years and has failed on many levels, the same levels where Italy has done exceedingly well on. They think that some the secrets they are looking for are within the this body nature has created.
Hillshire: I see. And are you the only one with this…
Fernando: Come on, you can say it.
Hillshire: …mutation.
Fernando: No, not really.
Hillshire: Not really? Explain.
Fernando: Thanks to something that happened in Puerto Rico in the 1950s and 60's, a lot babies were being born with the mutation that I have. Thing is- they either ended up retarded or dead, because when you have these kids with super speed and super strength, and as they grew up- they were doing things that they were not supposed to be doing. So, I'm one of the few adult survivors with this mutation.
Hillshire: What were they doing?
Fernando: Well, I know that there was a camp opened in Puerto Rico for kids like me when I was a child- and in that camp, well, many died.
Hillshire: Died? How, why?
Fernando: Let me explain it with another known mutation some are born with: inability to feel pain. With these children, they have short lives because they do not know they are in danger until… well after it is too late. Similarly in my case- super strength and super speed makes one think that they are invulnerable to damage, and that is true to an extent. That is where the problem lies, and accidents happen that has killed others like me before. Like I said- I was one of the lucky ones. Besides, this mutation is an augmentation of another mutation that goes back 600 years or so in Spain, where boys related to the royal family were bred for super strength to be knights and defenders of the throne. I come from the royal blood line, if Queen Isabella did not leave the throne in 1863.
Hillshire: Interesting, but genetics was never my forte, unless its part of an investigation.
Fernando: You know, about 20 of genetic forensic lab tests come up wrong. It is not a perfect science and one day people will challenge it once they find out about it.
Hillshire: Not a perfect science? Much of those who are incarcerated are due to Genetic Evidence found!
Fernando: 99-percent of all genetic testing is done on the Mitochondrial DNA- which is passed from mother to child and does not change. Therefore, in a long line of relatives- all the females that were born to one another will produce genetically identical children when you look at M-DNA. So- anyone of my cousins and other relatives, can commit a crime and genetic evidence will point to all the known relatives - including me. With the courts oh-so blindly tied to Genetic Evidence, there is very little one can do to fight it. So, would you go to jail for a crime a relative did, and genetic evidence points to you as a highly possible suspect?
Hillshire does not answer.
Fernando: That is a scary thought. That is why I try to learn all that I could so if I find something wrong with it, I can challenge it on an intellectual level.
Hillshire tries to change the subject.
Hillshire: Any ideas on the mission?
Fernando: Nothing other than just going in and doing what we can. Anybody got the building plans?
Hillshire: Not that I know of.
Fernando: How about we get it ourselves?
Hillshire: That's intelligence and logistics' job to do.
Fernando: You willing to wait at the last minute to get the intell? I would not. I just don't know where to go.
Another try gets placed on the table.
Jean: What is this I hear- you two planning something?
Fernando: I was telling Hillshire that we should go get the building plans from what ever office they maybe in so we can get a heads up on the building's interior construct and look for secret passages and safe rooms. Waiting for Intelligence to do its job will leave us trying to figure all this out at the last minute.
Jean: Hmmm… you think too much, and don't trust the others from doing their jobs. I like that.
Fernando: What?
Jean: I said I liked that. It saids that you are willing to think out the box and look for problems before they can become problems. But it would also make you look bad in the eyes of others, and lose their trust in you. I would say do it- if you are up to it.
Fernando: I would not know where to go. If this were New York City- it would be simple: Department of Buildings and Construction, and pay a 5 research and copy fee and you get what you want in about an hour.
Jean: We have a similar agency here.
Fernando: But…
Jean: Priscilla had already left to get those papers.
Fernando: I see. How about getting copies from her when she returns. We do have copy machines in the administrative offices- right?
Jean: We do. And we can get copies of the material in question.
Fernando: But…
Jean: They have it, they will be studying it first.
Fernando: Alright, I give up.
Jean: You could have asked to be temporarily reassigned to Intelligence…
Fernando: And abandon Rachel? No way.
Jean: Giving up too easily I see.
Fernando: Not exactly giving up.
Jean: Oh?
Fernando: One thing I remember in Premedical Studies- there is more than one way to skin a cat.
Hillshire: As often as I heard that, I never understood it.
Jean: Same here.
Fernando: I'll give you a Pre Med Student's secret. Of all the things that we do, we dissect a lot of things- and cats being one of them. But their furs do get in the way of the dissection, so the cat has to be skinned before the dissection somehow. There are many ways to skin a cat- thus that is where the saying comes from; meaning that more often than not- there are several options to obtaining the same objective.
Jean: That makes sense now. So what to do you have in mind?
Fernando: Nothing yet. Maybe later on I may have an idea or two.
Fernando starts wrapping up his meal, nodding to Rachel. She takes the trays to empty them in the nearby trash and put them in the recovery table where they will be picked up and washed for the next round of meals. She goes out on her own to the bathroom to wash up.
Jean: Where is your cyborg going out on her own?
Fernando turns around to see her leaving through the door.
Fernando: The bathroom more than likely, to wash up before we go.
Jean: You just let her do things on her own like that?
Fernando: Why not? She is a thinking and breathing person, right?
Jean: Your cyborg is not to leave your range of view.
Fernando: Rachel left my range of view when she pasted the edge of the table. Now, I cant sit here to argue titty-tat points, but for me Rachel functions as I need her. I'm sure that your cyborg does well by you. I don't question that, so don't question mine.
Jean: And what if something were to happen…
Fernando: Right now, she is armed and wanting to shoot some deserving jerk if he approaches her the wrong way. I doubt anything will happen to her. Just like I am… You know Jean- you're the one making it difficult for me to get used to the place. I just want to know- what have I done to you?
Another tray gets placed where Rachel sat at, and a female voice gives an answer, "You shown that you are better than he is."
Fernando: How so, Ferro?
Ferro: You nearly took his head off when he shown you the cyborg that was slated for you who turned out to be your god-daughter, for one. And everything that you seem to do seems to push the level the bar rests on and raise it to a point where the others can not achieve.
Fernando: Like… what?
Ferro: The paint ball challenge- you beat everyone single handedly in that one.
Fernando: Its easy, anyone of you can do it.
Ferro: I would like to know how you did it.
Fernando: If that is a call to another challenge, I'll teach you, and you can go up against everyone to win.
Ferro: Maybe after the mission.
Fernando: OK, maybe after the mission.
Rachel returns from her little trip, finds her seat occupied by Ferro. She stands between her and Fernando, giving Ferro a mean look before turning to him and gives him a hug.
Fernando: Everything alright, Raych?
Rachel just nods.
Fernando: Ready to go?
Again, Rachel just nods.
Fernando (to Rachel): Alright, lets go then. (then to the others) I will see you there later.
Fernando picks up his duffle bag filled with ammo, and together with Rachel, leaves for the shooting range. They get there in a couple of minutes, looking at the empty outdoor range, and listening to the very busy indoor range. He decides to take the empty outdoor range. He puts the duffle bag of their equipment on the table, looking at Rachel.
Fernando: Place needs a little fixing up.
Rachel nods at him before they jump over the stalls into the firing area. Together they tie down a few loose things and wrap up the enclosed curtain, which they stuff into a padded barrel. After clean up, Fernando sets up a few targets for them to practice on. Then they return to the stalls.
Both Fernando and Rachel put their guns on the stall tables and rack up on the loose ammunition clips from the duffle bag and a couple of boxes of ammunition each. They quietly prepared for their practice.
Fernando: Is everything alright Rachel?
Rachel: It is.
Fernando: Then why the silence?
Rachel: I don't know.
Fernando: You don't know? Is it that Ferro took your seat while you were gone?
Rachel: Maybe. I don't know.
Fernando: Well, it worries me that something is bothering you.
Rachel: Why? Because I wont perform my best on the field?
Fernando: No, because I care, Rachel. Don't ever forget that. Between you and I, I care… about you. I just wish I could do more for you.
Rachel puts down her gun and walks over to him.
Rachel: You do enough.
Fernando: Enough is not good enough. Tell me, if you need more than tell me what it is.
Rachel: I just can not sort out these feelings sometimes.
Fernando: Feelings of… a sexual nature?
Rachel: Its more than that… father.
Fernando: Father?
Rachel: Daddy.
Fernando: Daddy?
Rachel: I want you, but before when we were in New York, I wanted you because I wanted you. Now that things have changed, so have we, and I still want you but more so.
Fernando: Between you and I, I will always be there for you, no matter what. Just like I was there for you back in New York, and I will do what needs to be done for us, not for me.
Rachel: Could you explain to my why I get jealous when Ferro is around?
Fernando: I could say that it's the conditioning drug playing tricks on you, but I know there is more to it than just that. Look, Raych- you see her as a threat to what we have. Understand that she will never take away from us what we have- even if her and I start screwing around. She has no right to make demands against a father and his daughter, and I wont let her take away from what we have as father and daughter.
Rachel: Promise?
Fernando: Promise.
Rachel: What if… you know.
Fernando: We cant go there, not for a long while. OK?
Rachel: But…
Fernando: Being a horny teenager is not an easy thing, but we all dealt with it in our life times. Unfortunately for you, now is that time. And we will deal with it as it comes.
Rachel: Its more to it that just that.
Fernando: Oh? How so?
Rachel: I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want to see you die. And I definitely don't want Ferro around you. And I cant understand why I feel like that.
Fernando: I'm going to have to talk to Dr. Bianchi about your conditioning medication. I think its beginning to affect you. Anything else bothering you?
Rachel: Like you have been saying all this time, I feel like we are being set up.
Fernando: You feel like that too?
Rachel: Yes- Deeply.
Fernando: Then we are going to have to keep an eye out on what can happen and take actions against it, that's all.
Rachel: OK, God-Father.
After a brief moment of silence, they both take to their guns and stare down at their targets.
Fernando: You ready?
Rachel (nodding): Yes.
Fernando lets off one round, which strikes the furthest target on the head. Rachel releases a volley of shots the empties out her 10 round clip in less than 5 seconds, all striking the target at the head and chest area. Fernando puts his gun down, taking a step back to look at her.
Fernando: You missed.
Rachel: I did? No- I hit the target.
Fernando: You hit that one target- you still got the others to deal with. If this were a real situation- those guys would be going after you while you spend time reloading.
Rachel: Oh.
Fernando: You wasted all your ammunition on one target. All you need is 1 hit- 2 at most to take down somebody. The keyword is take down.
Rachel: I understand.
Fernando: Good.
Rachel: But God Father…
Fernando: What?
Rachel: Uhm, but this is only target practice, isn't it?
Fernando: Its more than target practice. Its practice on counting your rounds so your gun does not empty out unexpectantly. Its multiple target practice. And its…
Fernando ends his sentence without finishing it.
Rachel: Its what, god-father?
Fernando: Its, it's a lot of things. All you have to get used to doing as fast as possible. Like reloading your gun- taking out the magazine and putting another in, in just a couple of seconds. Its aiming without using the sites- but using your hand and arm as a guide to shoot in the general area to hit the target.
Rachel: I got most of that down.
Fernando: You do, but you still have to keep those skills sharper than a razor's edge. Once you got that your next skill is to hit smaller targets.
Rachel: Smaller targets? Like children?
Fernando: No- I would never allow you into a mission to shoot at a child. I'm taking about taking out wall mounted control panels and video cameras. Attack dogs would be another small but fast moving target to hit. After that, I got some bigger guns for you to try out and other skills to learn.
Rachel: I do….. I meant – you do?
Fernando: We have 2 machine guns and 2 sniper rifles, which you were supposed to have started training with but that whole incident with Jean trying to shoot me and you getting hit instead got in the way. And now- this mission is getting in the as well. Plus I have other things for you to learn and enjoy.
Rachel: Wow… When can we start?
Fernando: Soon after this mission is over and things start to fall into place again.
Rachel: How long is that?
Fernando: I don't know. Maybe in 2 weeks, or less. Come on- get ready and lets start this again. Just remember- 2 shots per target at most.
Rachel just nods before going back to her stall and reloads her gun. Fernando takes his gun and fires another round into his target. Rachel starts firing, a bit more slowed down, as she moves from target to target. At least she hits 5 out of 5 targets, mostly double round head shots. She drops her magazine and replaces it, continuing her volley on the other targets she has yet to hit. Another 5 for 5, though the target hits were lower for the distance beginning to affect the bullet's path. Fernando takes a step back as watches her as she continues with another magazine, hitting another set of 5 targets. She then stops and looks out at the field of targets.
Fernando: Why you stopped?
Rachel: I hit them all.
Fernando: How many clips did you spent thus far?
Rachel looks down at the table, seeing 3 empty clips and 4 full clips.
Rachel: 4?
Fernando: You sure?
Rachel: Well, there are 3 here and 1 empty one in the gun- so that's 4.
Fernando: How many rounds did you spent?
Rachel: 40?
Fernando: Again, are you sure?
Rachel: There are 10 rounds per clip. 10 times 4 is 40.
Fernando: That maybe be true, but we are not practicing math here. We are practicing on your counting. So, go through what you did in your head and count each shout and them tell me how many bullets you fired.
Rachel takes sometime to do as she was told and then comes up with an answer.
Rachel: 40.
Fernando: You sure?
Rachel: Yes- absolutely sure.
Fernando: OK.
Rachel: What?
Fernando: Nothing. Now, I want you to use the next set of clips and do the targets you hit in reverse order. That means…
Rachel: I know, I shoot those out first and work my way back to the first one.
Fernando: Then do it.
Rachel lets out a sigh before she begins her reversed practice run. She takes her time to reload the gun, and places it on the table, letting out another sigh. Then she picks up the gun and starts her reversed practice run, doing it on under a minute to hit each target twice, and reload 3 more times. She then stops.
Fernando: What's wrong?
Rachel: No more bullets.
Fernando: Well, we cant let that happen. Not in a real world situation. Reload the clips, wipe down the gun and continue. This time, I want you to switch between the first the last targets, zig zagging your way to the middle target, and then do that in reverse order. Got that?
Rachel: I got it.
Rachel opens up one of the ammunition boxes and starts to reload the magazines. The first clip she reloads she puts into the gun, and leaves it on the table loaded as she works on the other clips. Fernando walks over to his stall and starts his practice run, hitting all the targets once, switching firing patterns as he goes along, finishing the practice run in less time than Rachel did. Rachel sees the results of his practice run.
Rachel: You only hit them once.
Fernando: So I did.
Rachel: Why?
Fernando: That's the way I was trained. Hit once- at the vital areas and keep going to the next target. In real life though, it would be hit once, look over for a second and then decide if another round or two is required. This way I'm not too preoccupied with making sure my target is dead, but should know that my hit is able to take him down so I can go to the next.
Rachel: How to you know that your hit would take him down?
Fernando: That's is a lesson for another day, but in short, anything that would hit the heart or the brain will kill. Problem it this- hitting the head does not insure a brain hit, which does not insure a kill. You have to hit the forehead and off to either left or right from center to hit the brain, then you know he's dead.
Rachel: But why not the center of the forehead?
Fernando: The brain is made up of 2 halves. The center of the forehead is where the 2 halves meet, and hitting there only separates the gap between the two brain halves- which does not make a brain kill. Hitting one of the two halves makes a brain kill.
Rachel: Oh…
Fernando: Understand?
Rachel: I think so.
Fernando: Little trick I learned to do that- shoot just above the eyebrow will make a brain hit and a brain kill. No where else in the face can that happen.
Rachel: OK… but why not?
Fernando: Hitting any place in the face or head does not guarantee hitting the brain.
Rachel: What about those people who shoot themselves by putting the gun into their mouth?
Fernando: They aim up when they do that, hitting the bottom of the brain, brainstem and spinal cord.
Rachel: What about from under the chin like in the movies?
Fernando: Under the chin and up into the head will hit the brain, but it has a long way to go- through the tongue and roof of the mouth, through the nose and sinus, and then into the brain. Look, I'll teach anatomy another day and then we can practice on smaller target to guarantee kills with a single shot. Until then- you hit them at least twice.
Rachel: OK God-Father.
Fernando: You ready to start again?
Rachel nods, and commences firing, but taking all that was told to her into consideration, and starts to hit the targets left or right of the center of the foreheads. Fernando takes his time to reload the empty clips as Rachel continues on with her practice run. Several people start to arrive at the outdoor shooting range to watch. Hillshire and Jean are there with their cyborgs, and several military personnel were there. One sergeant in particular stood by and watched the practice run. Rachel drops her last magazine and begins to reload the clips.
As Rachel reloads, those who were watching approached them. Soon they were in circle around the two.
Jean: Why are you not in the indoor range?
Fernando: It was full.
Sergeant: There are two empty stalls now.
Fernando: Yeah, the two you and your buddy here just left.
Sergeant: So, Couldn't you just wait your turn?
Fernando: Look, I don't see a problem. I use the facilities, and when done, I will clean up the faculties.
Sergeant: The orders were for the outdoor range to remain closed.
Fernando: Really? I never received such an order. Did you Hillshire? Jean?
Jean: It was discussed that the outdoor range was to be closed down while the military was here.
Hillshire: But if the military is hogging up the practice stalls, then where are we and our cyborgs going to practice?
Jean: Exactly was my argument.
Fernando: So? I'll clean up my mess when I am done. Any body else who wants to use the outdoor range must also clean up after themselves. I see nothing wrong with that.
Sergeant: Orders are orders.
Fernando: Well, they don't seem to apply to me, now do they.
Sergeant: Why you little insubordinate panty waste.
Fernando: Lets get a couple of things straight- Me, insubordinate? Yes. Me, a panty waste? Maybe your panties, but definitely not any other woman on the planet!
The sergeant makes an attempt to slug Fernando in the face, only have his fist caught in mid air and have sight of Fernando's fist aimed at this jaw. Furthermore, Rachel stepped into the circle with her gun drawn at the sergeant. For a moment, everything remains frozen in time.
Fernando: Rachel- Stand Down!
It takes a second for Rachel to comply, but she does. Fernando slowly withdraws away from the sergeant.
Jean: Consider yourself lucky- if it were my cyborg- you would be on the ground dead by now.
Fernando: That's why I want my cyborg to think before acting. We cant let such mistakes happen.
Hillshire: All cyborgs have target identification programmed into them. But, given the situation, you're lucky that she did not dropped you, sir.
The sergeant starts to walk away, talking out loud to himself to be heard.
Sergeant: You all are just a bunch of patsies panty waste motherfuckers…
Rachel wanted to dash out to the sergeant and give him a piece of her mind with her fists, but Fernando looks at her sternly to keep her in her place.
Jean: Well, since you have broken orders about using the outdoor range…
Fernando (interrupting him): I never received such orders. And like I said- I'll clean up my mess when I am done.
Jean: You would do that?
Fernando: No, I'll just summon Tinkerbelle to do for me with her magic wand…
The others do their best to hold back from laughing.
Jean: You know, I was beginning to like you.
Fernando: Really? I thought you'd preferred me dead, burnt to ashes and buried in small glass jars so that I could not recombine again.
Jean: Your mess, you clean it up.
Jean starts to walk to the indoor range with Ricco following close behind.
Hillshire: You care to share the facilities?
Fernando: Go on, take an aisle. But you're going to have to clean up after yourselves when you're done.
Triela takes a medium sized canvas bag from Hillshire, putting it on the shelf of the firing lane, and taking out some filled magazine clips and a box of 9mm ammunition. The bag gets placed on the floor when she is done, waiting for Hillshire's orders.
Hillshire: You mind taking a few minutes off? I need to set up some targets.
Fernando looks at the empty clips on Rachel's firing lane shelf.
Fernando: Yeah, go ahead. We need to reload anyway.
Hillshire: You mind watching our stuff for a while?
Fernando: Go ahead. We'll be here.
Hillshire takes the canvas bag and jumps over an empty firing lane, walking to the rear of the target area to amount a few targets. He was done with his task in under a minute and headed back quickly. Soon he jumps over the empty firing lane one more time to the safety of the shooting area.
Hillshire: Triela- you got 6 targets, 2 stationary and 4 moveable.
Fernando: Movable?
Hillshire: Those empty cans I put back there are not for show. She hits it, it will move and she will have to find it and hit it again.
Fernando: Interesting. I got to try that one day.
Hillshire: Just don't feel sorry for the cans. That's what they are there for.
Fernando: Trust me, I wont. Rachel, are we almost done?
Rachel: Just two more clips.
Fernando: Good girl.
Hillshire continues to explain to Triela of her 'mission.'
Hillshire: The red cans are your target, the 4th one with the white label is an innocent. Keep shooting at the red cans without hitting the white one.
Triela nods and as soon as Hillshire steps away from her, she starts firing. Rachel puts down the last clip on the shelf and piles them up neatly. She takes to her gun, and checks if its armed with a freshly filled clip, and begins her firing run. Fernando takes his extra clips and places them by the pile Rachel had, adding to her ammunition. He then steps away from her and towards Hillshire.
Fernando: I see you have a hands off approach to teaching Triela.
Hillshire: She does better when I'm not in her way.
Fernando: Has she always been like that?
Hillshire: In the beginning she wasn't, but she's grown up a lot since then too.
Fernando: I see.
The two of them watch over their cyborgs as they do their practice runs. Triela runs out of ammunition and begins reloading her empty clips. Rachel continues on firing.
Hillshire: How many rounds has she fired before we got here?
Fernando: I don't know- Over 100 rounds, maybe 140 or 160.
Hillshire: Don't you think the gun will soon jam?
Fernando: Maybe, maybe not. We will have to see. But on every reload of her clips, she gives the gun a quickie wipe over, and I don't go out unless the guns are freshly oiled. So it should last for a while. Besides, these smaller rounds do not expel that much burnt gunpowder.
Hillshire: I thought they were .32 calibers on a .38 casing. A .38 is almost the same size as a 9mm.
Fernando: I'll just speculate that much of the burn it converted into energy and is taken by the bullet.
Hillshire: You know Europol would not allow such a weapon without stress testing it first.
Fernando: Unless we are outnumbered, I doubt we will ever be in a stress situation. I mean- what was the most opponents you have ever ran across on a mission?
Hillshire: That depends.
Fernando: What was the most?
Hillshire: 25, when we hit a Padania house once.
Fernando: And was it just you and her alone?
Hillshire: No, it was a team effort.
Fernando: So, lets see- 5 fratello teams versus 25 of the enemy. Yeah, it sounds unfair alright. Unfair to them!
Hillshire: We cant afford to lose anyone on the field.
Fernando: Or else what? They kill a handler and a cyborg? Rachel has my instructions to complete the mission if something were to happen to me. Then when she is done, to come back for me and not to leave my side until help arrives. The rest is on her after that.
Hillshire: That would be difficult to obtain if it happened for real.
Rachel approaches them, pointing the gun at her handler with her left hand.
Rachel (as she point to a semi crushed casing in the ejection chamber): God-father, I got a problem.
Fernando takes the gun from her and looks at it.
Fernando: Looks like you got a casing jamming the works.
Rachel: That's the second time it did that. I cleared out the first one, but this one is harder to take out.
Fernando: I see.
Fernando takes off his safety watch and gives it to Rachel along with his mission weapon. She give him her and puts on his, going back to her firing range.
Fernando (as she walks away): How many bullets before it jammed.
Rachel turns around for a moment to answer him.
Rachel: 200 and 27, there are 3 in the clip.
Fernando: OK, go ahead with my weapon then.
Rachel does as she is told, using his mission weapon on the targets. Fernando pockets the safety watch and holds onto the gun by its handle, examining it and disarming it by removing the clip with the remaining rounds which he also pockets.
Hillshire: 227 rounds? Not bad.
Fernando: Considering how fast she shoots, its not bad at all.
Hillshire: I think they all have that ability.
Ferro arrives with Claes behind her, with a small canvas bag. She stops by the two men.
Ferro: I thought the outdoor range was closed.
Fernando: The indoor range is too filled with those military people and I told Jean that I will clean up my mess when I'm done. Hillshire will clean up his mess.
Ferro: I see. Claes, set up by Rachel.
Claes takes the canvas bag to the shooting lane next to Rachel, and prepares her weapon. Ferro see Fernando holding a weapon.
Ferro: What do you have there?
Fernando: Its Rachel's mission weapon. Its jammed up pretty badly.
Ferro: Is it on safety lock?
Fernando: Its an electronic lock, so yes, its disarmed.
Ferro: May I?
Fernando: Sure.
Fernando hands over Rachel's gun to Ferro. She gives it a once over and tried to dislodge the bent shell casing from the ejection chamber, but cant.
Ferro: Our field techs would not like to deal with this cheap little gun.
Fernando: They don't have to deal with it, we will.
Ferro: What if it jams on a mission like this?
Fernando: Then she takes my mission weapon and then continues like she is now.
Ferro: Why take chances on such a chances on such a tiny gun?
Fernando pulls out the magazine fromhis pocket and removes one of the bullets to show it of.
Fernando: A .32 in a .38 casing comes out of the muzzle at supersonic speeds for one. It will penetrate light body amour and knock down anybody from the sheer force behind the bullet.
Ferro: Oddball ammunition too?
Fernando: I already had this argument with Jean. Look, I'm responsible for the guns and their upkeep and Rachel and I use.
Ferro: Why don't you two keep using the .45s instead?
Fernando: If you had spare parts for my gun, I would. Look- the .45s are personal weapons, and these .32/.38s are the mission weapons. There is a distinction between the two, and one she learned.
Ferro: Too much for such a simple task. My mission weapon is my personal weapon. And that is all there is to it.
Fernando: That might be fine by you, but its not for me.
Claes arrives with her HK-VP70 in hand.
Claes: I'm ready to begin, but there are no targets to shoot at.
Ferro: Hmmm…
Fernando whistles out loud and tells Rachel to rest up for a few. Hillshire tells Triela to do the same. This gives Ferro time to walk around the firing lanes and into the target area to set up a few targets for Claes. She returns from her task almost 5 minutes later. Soon the girls were back in their lanes firing again.
Fernando takes to a bench at the rear of the shooting area and takes a pocket screw driver from his pocket, beginning to partially dismantle Rachel's gun. He had a hard time to slide back the slider with the casing jammed inside, but he eventually gets it undone. Inside, he finds a hair like brass sliver bent against the rail of the gun's slider.
Fernando (to himself as he holds up the brass sliver): Well, look at that.
Hillshire comes over to take a closer look.
Hillshire: Interesting, goldy-locks got into the gun.
Fernando: Goldy-locks?
Hillshire: Never heard of Goldy-locks and the 3 bears?
Fernando: Yes I have, but what does that have to do with anything?
Hillshire: That brass sliver in known in the military circles as goldy-locks getting into your gun and jamming things up. Hmmm…. Its not a case of a cheap gun, but of cheap ammunition.
Fernando: These are cheap reloaded rounds.
Hillshire: Where did you get them?
Fernando (as he wipes down the gun and checks it for damage): I'll have a talk with my supplier about this.
Hillshire: You use reload rounds on missions?
Fernando: Oh hell no- I use the Grade-A Federal Hollow Point stuff on missions. Reloads are only for target practice.
Hillshire: And it went through 227 reloaded rounds before it jammed. That is good.
Fernando puts together the gun once he finds no damage to its internal mechanisms. He goes through the firing motions, finding the weapon moving smoothly once again. He rearms it with the clip inside his pocket and takes out the safety locking device as well.
Fernando: I think it is.
Fernando whistles loudly once again, getting Rachel's attention. She turns to face him, as he holds out her gun to her. She slowly trots back to him.
Rachel: Yes, God-Father?
Fernando: Your mission weapon is fixed. Care to try it out?
Rachel nods. Fernando takes his gun and locking device from her before handing over her gun and locking device to hers. She runs back to the firing range with it and continues using it. Fernando checks on the rounds on the magazine of his gun before refilling it and putting it away in his holster.
Fernando: You guys decided what to have for lunch?
Ferro: There you go, thinking with your stomach again.
Fernando: I figure that we can go for a long drive before eating. Or you want to save that for tomarrow?
Ferro: Lets save it for after the mission.
Fernando: Awww…
Ferro: I'll get Claes to bake you a cake or something until then.
Fernando: You're no fun.
Ferro: I'm plenty fun, when the time is right. Now or anytime before this mission is not fun time.
Fernando: With the agency's permission, and after Rachel and I wash up, I'm taking her out. Maybe to the Coliseum or the Piazza di Spagna, get lost for a while, and act like tourists.
Ferro: Sure, do that. But not alone- take Hillshire or Jose with you.
Fernando: OK. Hillshire?
Hillshire: Hmmm… its pretty boring out there.
Fernando: Just for a bite to eat, let the girls be girls for once.
Hillshire: Easier said than done.
Fernando: What do you mean by that?
Hillshire: They need structure in their lives. Not randomness.
Fernando: Its better than being bored out of your mind sitting around in some dorm room.
Hillshire: I'll go, it you have some plan for them to do.
Fernando: OK, we'll go eat. Then walk around and take on the sites like tourists. After that, a little snack- maybe at the ice cream shop and then we go home.
Hillshire: Is that it?
Fernando: Yes, that is it.
Hillshire looks at him as if there was more to the plan.
Fernando: What?
Hillshire: Here I am thinking that there was more to this outing.
Fernando: Its just an outing. Both her and I need to know the city better, all we just know is the local area and how to get to the Piazza di Spagna.
Ferro: Maybe I should take you out more often.
Fernando: Look, I've only been on two missions, and one of them was in Naples.
Hillshire: You'll be on others soon enough.
Ferro: Not until we can trust you first.
Fernando: What do you want from me, Ferro? I'm giving my all to you guys.
Ferro: Maybe your all is not good enough.
Fernando: Then what do you want?
Ferro: You- totally.
For some reason, the firing stopped, and the girls turn around to the handlers.
Fernando: You wont have it.
Ferro: Then you cant be trusted.
Hillshire: Wait a minute… hasn't he proven himself enough?
Ferro: No. Its not good enough.
Fernando: You expect me to die for you or something? No- go fuck yourselves if you want that. Rachel- start cleaning up, we're out of here!
Rachel puts down her gun and starts cleaning up her area. Fernando goes into the shooting area to gather the targets and what bullet fragments he can gather. As he does so he can be heard taking to himself of the stupidity and idiocy of the demands being made.
Ferro: Claes- shoot him.
Hillshire: Claes- delay that order!
Claes holds onto her gun, unsure what to do with it. Rachel takes her gun and aims it at Claes. Fernando sees and hears what's going on from the firing target area but contines in cleaning. Just in case, he loosens his gun from the holster for a quick draw.
Rachel: Friends or not- raise that gun to my god-father and I'll floor- bitch.
Triela puts her gun to Rachel's temple.
Hillshire: What's going on here, Ferro? Some sort of Agency test? Look- he passed as far as I'm concerned.
Ferro: Its not an agency test, not for him, not for you.
Hillshire: Whatever it is, it ends now! Triela! Stand Down!
Triela: NO! Rachel has been deemed as a threat, and I'm acting upon that threat!
Hillshire: See what you have done- Ferro! The cyborgs are in conflict… TRIELA – STAND DOWN!
Triela: Not Until Rachel Stands Down First!
Hillshire: FINAL ORDERS- STAND DOWN TRIELA!
Fernando (from Rachel's Shooting Lane): RACHEL- STAND DOWN!
Rachel turns to see him, before lowering her gun. Triela then follows with the same action. Fernando jumps over the firing lane. He then walks over to Ferro and Hillshire, giving Ferro a mean stare.
Fernando: Order any cyborgs to take deadly action against me, even as a test- you better make sure that I have died, because I will put you into your grave if you don't.
Ferro: Yeah, like you would survive an attack from them.
Fernando: Don't push me Ferro- I don't know what is the cause of this shit this time, but I will soon find out.
Fernando walks over to Rachel, giving her a kiss on the forehead.
Fernando: Come on girl, lets go.
Together they leave the firing range and back to the dorms.
After a couple minutes of silence, as they watch Fernando and Rachel walk away.
Hillshire: You better explain yourself on this one, Ferro.
Ferro: I don't need to explain myself to any of you. Other than Jean- I am your supervisor. Don't you ever forget that.
Hillshire: If you want me to trust you as a colleague and fellow handler, you better explain yourself. We Fratello have to blindly trust each other whether it be on the field or here in the agency.
Ferro: You want me to trust you, you get me the reason why he is sending our secrets to his agency in the USA.
Hillshire: Wait- isn't he working for both us and them, and as such intell must be shared between the two?
Ferro: Mission intell, not technology intell.
Hillshire: You mean- his cyborg?
Ferro: Yes.