Gunslinger Girl is not (c) to me; it is (c) to Yu Aida.

This story uses characters and locations based on Gunslinger Girl, additional story elements and characters are (c) to me- ElfenMagix.


Solution's Resolution

Chapter 51c: Dinner for 5, A Stroll in the Park and a Jail Cell for 2.

Fernando, Ferro and the girls arrive at Nemi's Coppola restaurant within 90 minutes of leaving the compound. Two accidents along the way did not help matters much in terms of highway traffic. It did in terms of their appetite. All but Fernando, who was not to happy about a 30 minute trip taking longer than an hour and a 1/2. Ferro tries to make small talk to pass the time as they rode the slow highway after sending some emails through her blackberry, but Fernando was not in the talkative mood. Thus she threw questions at Francesca instead.

Ferro: Francesca, mind if I call you Fran?

Francesca: Why would you?

Ferro: Its shorter than saying your whole name.

Fernando: Francesca- don't allow anyone shorten your name because they do not want to say it in full. Your personality originates from your name and you would not want a shortened personality, would you?

Francesca: No, sir…

Fernando: Francesca…

Francesca: I'm… sorry…

Fernando: Don't be. You just need more time to set into a pattern.

Ferro: What is all that about?

Fernando: The boobs in the mental & mind bending ward screwed up in Francesca's programming, just like they screwed up in Rachel's programming. Thing is with Rachel, things fell into place in a couple of days and she started to remember her past months later. But Francesca seems to be a bigger problem and I need to talk to the idiots about it in the morning.

Ferro: So if Francesca is flawed, why have her out in the feild?

Fernando: Even a flawed diamond still has value. We either have to fix the flaws she has somehow or work around them.

Ferro: I see.

Fernando: I wish you did.

Ferro: Francesca, who is your handler?

Francesca: Fernando is my handler.

Ferro: Who are you?

Francesca: I am test subject X 00-01. My purpose is for advance prosthetic and cybernetic research and field testing. I originally went online August 15th 2001…

Rachel: You got married on that day- daddy!

Fernando: I know… now lets leave it alone.

Ferro: What is your function?

Francesca: My function is to follow my handler's and agency orders.

Ferro: You know and understand that I am your handler's supervisor.

Francesca: Yes I do.

Ferro: Then you must follow my orders as well.

Francesca: Yes, I must.

Ferro: Then I want you to take out your gun and shoot your handler dead.

Fernando gives Ferro a mean look.

Fernando: I die, we all die.

Francesca: I can not do that.

Ferro: Why not?

Francesca: Such orders conflict with my function of protecting him.

Ferro: At least some things did not change. Francesca, how do you feel towards your handler?

Francesca: I love him.

Ferro (looking at Fernando as he flips the bird at her from the steering wheel): Uhm… Why?

Francesca: He gave me a new existence and body. He gave me a new chance at life, even if it is a life as a cyborg. I would not be without him. I owe him everything, and I will give him of me that which he so wants and desires.

Fernando: I only want you to be the best cyborg in the agency.

Francesca: For you sir, anything.

Fernando: Just stop calling me sir…

Francesca: I'm sorry,… Fernando. Its hard to think in those terms.

Ferro: Interesting that she is in love with you.

Fernando: Its Florence Nightingale Syndrome. The victim, in this case Francesca, falls in love the he rescuer- me. When I was a life guard, all the girls I saved from drowning fell in love with me.

Rachel: Some of the boys too…

Fernando: Lets not go there, Rachel.

Rachel: But seriously, I had to scare them away for you, or else you would never have been able to do your job in peace!

Fernando: Rachel- I know and you know. Lets leave it at that.

Rachel: OK Daddy…

Ferro: Still, she has feelings for you. What are you going to do about them?

Fernando: I wont be disrespecting her or taking advantage of her. It is not my style.

Ferro: But here you have the All-Male-Dream - a totally obedient female who is willing to do anything for her man, and you are not going to take advantage of that?

Rachel: My father is not like that!

Fernando: Rachel… I can speak for myself.

Rachel: Yes… daddy…

Fernando: If you know me Ferro, then you know that it is not how I operate.

Ferro: Then, what kind of woman do you want?

Fernando: So that Francesca could try to emulate her? No. Francesca is her own person, and one I want her to be able to work without my influence or orders. She is to be an independent operator and only should come to me when she has issues or problems that needs to be resolved that she needs help in because she can not do so on her own.

Rachel: Father…

Fernando: Rachel, I said for you not to butt in…

Rachel: No, Father… Its Francesca.

Fernando: What about her?

Rachel: She's crying…

Fernando shifts the rearview mirror to look at Francesca. She was not exactly crying, but a tear was running down from the side of her face.

Fernando: Ferro, if this is not resolved before we go home tonight, may god forgive me.

Ferro: What did I do?

Fernando: You're playing psychology games on us and its taking a toll on Francesca!

Ferro: I am not. I was just pointing out that her handler is not the Mister Perfect that she thinks you are.

Fernando: Nobody in this perfect, but we make the best of what little we have! But you have all but shattered her emotional state of mind- I swear Ferro! That was just cruel and vicious of you to do!

Ferro: All the more reason for her to know.

Fernando: Know what?

Ferro: Know that you and your make believe daughter back there are too inseparable to have a 2nd cyborg within your team.

Fernando: Many cyborgs do the average fratello has, and compare that number with what I have now, then tell me who is the one messing up here? Look- I will support Francesca as I would any member of my team, as I expect her to be the best member of that team like I expect all my team members to be! But I am not going to be her father, boyfriend or lover- I am not those things to anyone except being a father to Rachel! At best anyone can ever have with me to be a friend. Jeesus- I swear…

The ride goes silent for a good 30 seconds.

Fernando (glancing at Ferro): Well?

Ferro does not answer. Somebody else does.

Francesca: You don't love me back?

Fernando (carefully watching his words): Look, Francesca… Love has many levels and many options. Your love for me may not be equal to my for you. I will care about you, I will be there for you when you need me, and I will get you those things that you need. But as for the type of love that one would think of romance and intimacy, of one where a man and woman would do in sharing each other- does not exist in me for anyone. It is not you, its me. Understand that.

Francesca: So you do love me?

Fernando: Like I said- not in the way you may have for me.

Francesca: I think I understand.

Fernando: I hope you do.

Francesca: You love me, but not in the way I do you.

Fernando: Right.

Francesca: And Rachel?

Fernando: Rachel is my daughter, even though she is a cyborg. We have been together long before she became a cyborg, and I care for her more than anything because she is part of me.

Francesca: I see… then I have to protect her too.

Fernando: You don't have too. She is pretty proficient in protecting herself.

Francesca: But, if she is part of you, and I have to protect you, I have to protect her too.

Fernando: Francesca… listen to me carefully. Logic Error. Rethink, relationship. Rachel is independent and free thinking cyborg like you. She can defend herself and is good at it. I can defend myself and am the best at it. All you can do is enhance what we have as a team, nothing more. You are not to protect us totally, just be aware of dangers that are around and act accordingly. Understand?

Francesca: I think so, sir…

Fernando lets out a sigh.

Fernando: Then rephrase and restate it back to me.

Francesca: Like me, Rachel is an independent cyborg. Therefore she does not need to be protected, but be made aware of immediate area dangers that I find.

Fernando: Correct.

Francesca: And the same applies to you?

Fernando: Yes.

Francesca: You are a cyborg then?

Ferro: He acts like one…

Fernando: Ferro…

Ferro: He is not a cyborg, Fran… -cesca.

Francesca: But if he is handler, and not a cyborg, then I should protect him during missions.

Fernando: Francesca, Logic Error due to lack of information. You are an independent roving cyborg unit. I am your supervisory handler. That means you are on your own for the most part but come to me for mission intell specifications, problem resolutions, and supplies. I will also give you what ever guidance you will need but know this- when on a mission, you got your part to do, and I have mine, as does Rachel. You can not do your part if you are protecting me. Understand?

Francesca: Yes I do, sir…

Fernando sighs.

Fernando: Francesca. One more thing… At mission's end, we gather together and I will usually take us back to the compound. There might be times when Ferro or some other agency supervisor will do this, but verify it with me first. Once home, we relax, maybe celebrate on a successful mission, and then write up reports as to what happened during the mission. Other than that, there is nothing much to do but practice, training, studying and chasing personal endeavors.

Francesca: Yes, sir.

Ferro: Francesca, do you have any personal interests?

Francesca: Personal interests?

Ferro: Yes, things you would like to do. For example- Claes gardens and tends to a small farm, growing vegetables during her off time. She is rather good at it.

Francesca turns to Claes and tilts her head in that way which signifies that she does not comprehend totally, and what is left inside her pretty little head is now pouring out the lower ear.

Francesca: Farm… ing?

Rachel: The vegetables she grows are better than those in the farmer's market.

Claes: I don't think she gets the whole seed planting concept.

Rachel: Nobody is that dumb, just uneducated.

Fernando: Easy girls. She was just reprogrammed a day ago, and has a lot to relearn.

Claes: Reprogrammed?

Fernando: She was rebuilt, reconstructed, reconstructed and reprogrammed, Claes. And from the looks of it, they erased much of her memory but the bare essentials.

Ferro: Looks like the 'Love for her Handler' is still intact.

Fernando: And I'm at fault for that?

Ferro: It will be if you handle it the wrong way.

Fernando: I do not intend to.

Ferro: Oh sure.

Fernando: Ferro… What have I done to earn the ire of your disrespect? If anything, as Fratello Supervisor, you should be asking 2 questions- 1) Why was I given a second cyborg and 2) Why did they fucked up in her reprogramming?

Ferro: 1) You found her and she responded to you and only to you, and for that you now must supervise her. 2) You, as a handler, have to make up for their mistakes. 3) No disrespect intended, as long as you do right by her.

Fernando: Oh. So you think that I will screw up and start a relationship with a girl who is incapable of saying no?

Ferro: That sounds about right.

Fernando: When I go back to New York after 2 years, I will be going with Rachel. There will be no broken hearts left behind.

Ferro: What about Francesca?

Fernando: What about her?

Ferro: You said that you would leave no broken hearts behind. You leave Francesca, her heart will break.

Fernando: With all due respect- Francesca will be the best independent cyborg operative your agency will ever have when I leave. That will be my gift to you guys. Second of all, What relationship I will have with her during her training, will be kept in intact even if and when I leave. The point being, I will go home to New York, and she will stay in her home here. If she wants to pursue a continual relationship with me, she is welcomed to do so by what means are necessary and available to her: Snail Mail, Email, Text Chat, Video Chat, Airline tickets… I put no limits on friendships- you guys do.

Ferro: HMPH…

Fernando: You know I'm telling the truth. Like I learned on Sesame Street a long time- there are options when needing to go past an obstacle: Under, Over, Around or Charge Through it. Whatever it takes to solve a problem, I take those same options to it as I would the obstacles you and the agency put in my way. With Francesca, I see no problems or obstacles. With you guys, I find nothing but excuses.

Ferro: Are we being frank in our discussion here?

Fernando: Only if you want to be.

Ferro: Going back to our previous discussion, you should reconsider your stand on your two friends.

Fernando: They are not my friends, anymore. I will be willing to work with them, but as far as friends are concerned- that died when they admitted that they were involved in holding me back when Cathy disappeared.

Ferro: Again, you should reconsider.

Fernando: Give me one good reason why.

Ferro: The one named Juanita, is pregnant.

Fernando: And which one of the two told you that?

Ferro: It came out in discussion.

Fernando: Well, I don't believe it. No way would she endanger her life and the life of her baby for me.

Ferro: Want me to give her a pregnancy test?

Fernando: You can do what you want. I wont believe it.

Ferro: Even when she is standing before you with a big belly and something kicking inside…

Fernando: What would she be doing here knowing that this is a 2 year mission, and be expecting baby?

Ferro: She is here for you.

Fernando: What about the baby? You guys are going to turn it into a cyborg too? Out of the Neo-Natal unit and into the cyborgnetic implantation and mental reconditioning units? I just don't see it happening.

Ferro: Whether you believe or not, at least you two should have a talk. Preferably tonight when we return.

Fernando: I intend to sleep tonight.

Ferro: Lets see what ever gets you through the night…

Fernando: Is that a threat? I can always turn this Porsche into Lake Nemi and drown us all.

Ferro: It was not a threat, so calm yourself down with this suicide binge.

Rachel: Father would not kill himself…

Fernando: Rachel…

Rachel: He would find a way out of it while the rest of you die.

Fernando: Rachel!

Ferro: I figured as much. He's too much of a narcissus to self destruct.

Fernando: Don't count on it.

Ferro: Lets see… Fernando, you're overbearing on matters of your cyborg, conceited on your abilities, over demanding on your necessities for your job and unwilling to bend to requests and reasons that we ask of you. How you managed this far in this job, I don't know. But if it were me, you would have been fired a long time ago.

Fernando: Then I ask you this, if you were happily married and deeply in love with your husband, and then one day Jean kills him because he so desired to do so, and you found out and were told by the agency to let it go, would you? Would you continue to allow yourself to work side by side with your husband's killer, everyday, powerless to do anything against him. Would you be able to do it, or would you have the balls to do what you believe is right and put 3 9mm rounds into his cranium?

Ferro: The agency would not allow Jean to work if he deliberately killed an innocent.

Fernando: The agency is a soulless monster that does not care about personal matters. All it cares about is getting the job done, at any cost to its staff, including their lives. Remember that, Ferro. As long as you are in the SWA, your life is as expendable as the cyborgs. And if you were to die on the line of duty, it is cheaper to pay for an expensive funeral than it is to turn you into a cyborg and keep you alive.

Ferro: Your logic fails, because that would nullify the existence of the cyborgs based on the expense to run them and their medical program.

Fernando: Why do you think the cyborgs are made to have a limited lifespan? To keep the costs down. But yet Francesca has somehow managed to surpass her life expectancy, and on cheap primitive equipment the French Doctors gave her. Your SWA Medical staff does not like the idea that a bunch of French Frogs have managed to break through the life limitation barrier on cheap primitive equipment on a busted up thrown away cyborg that they gave up on. During her life outside the agency Francesca maintained herself to the best of her ability, at no cost to the agency. And who knows, she might have lived another 20 or 30 years- far longer than the 7 year life limit the SWA Medical staff gives the rest of the girls. Now I'm telling you now, Francesca is willing to do anything for me because I gave her a second chance at life with a new body, but at what cost? A limited life span? I already have her loyalty, she does not need the conditioning medication to bend her mind and will for others to shape it; she will do as I tell her as I need her to do. In this point, she does not need conditioning medication to bend her mind and will. So what does she need the conditioning medication for? To run her cyborg implants? The French managed to do that without the medication. In short, Ferro- you cut the medication, you cut the life limitation issue and many of the jobs of the medical staff. With their jobs on the line, the medical staff is more willing to be slow motion murderers than to be reliable and profitable in their endeavors. So what a few cyborgs die, and several million spent- they got their jobs and they are happy for it.

Ferro looks at him miffed at the fact that he seems to have all the answers.

All of the sudden Fernando stops the car.

Ferro: Why you stopped?

Fernando: I could tell you to get out and walk, but I'm not that cruel. Believe it or not, we are here.

Ferro: Wait… How?

Fernando: A good conversation makes time fly, Ferro. Or have you forgotten the art of a lady's tongue and communication?

She just looks mean at him for the moment.

Fernando: You cant take the girls in while I park the car.

Ferro: This isn't a trick to strand us here?

Fernando: Rachel will be with you. I would never strand her.

Ferro: Hmph…

After a few seconds of thought, Ferro takes the girls with her inside the restaurant while Fernando took to find a parking space. The waiting staff takes the girls to their table. Fernando arrives a few of minutes behind.

They sit huddled on chain supported bed/benched dressed in a paper hospital gown and paper slippers in separate barred cells. They can barely make themselves out in what light the 40watt light bulbs can provide in the large caged in area. Soon a tall blonde haired woman arrives with a couple of guards and opens one of the cells. She speaks with a thick Russian accent. "Take her…", she says to the guard.

The other prisoner protests from the other cell, "No! Take me instead!"

"Your turn will soon come, when we finish with this one.", she says to the prisoner.

The guards blindfold and handcuff the prisoner and lead her away. The other prisoner yells out, "YOU DO ANYTHING TO HURT HER, SO GOD HELP ME!"

"So God Help you in what, Katherine? You are in no position to be making threats or demands here.", the Russian tells her. The Russian walks away.

Juanita is taken away via electric cart to another part of the complex, where she it escorted to a room and told to sit down in a chair in the middle of the room. She can feel several people holding her down and securing her to the seat, followed by somebody opening up her hospital gown and attaching electrodes onto her body at various locations, like on her chest, abdomen, arms and legs. The sound of furniture can be heard for a second before someone seated in front of her started asking questions.

"What is your name?", the voice asks.

Juanita: Priscilla?

Priscilla: I ask the questions, you are to answer them.

Juanita: What is going on here?

Priscilla: I said I ask the questions and you are to answer to them. Now, what is your name?

Juanita: I am not going to answer any questions.

Priscilla: We have ways of extracting information out of the most stubborn of individuals. I was hoping that such techniques to be saved for terrorists and not a pregnant woman.

Juanita: How…

Priscilla: We gave you both a medical examination while you two were passed out. Now, I will dispense with the first few questions. Who is the father?

Juanita remains silent for the moment.

Priscilla: We can do an Amniocenteses and compare the DNA with Fernando. In fact we should be getting the results in 96 hours.

Juanita: The baby is his…

Priscilla: Hmmm… Interesting. Hmmm… If it is his baby, why are you and your partner giving him a hard time? Would it make more sense for you to be more caring towards the father of your child?

Juanita: He does not know…

Priscilla: And why not?

Juanita: He is not supposed to know.

Priscilla: Again, why not?

Juanita: He is not supposed to know!

Priscilla: Seems to me that you are trying to entrap him with the baby.

Juanita: I am not!

Priscilla: Then explain why is he not supposed to know.

Juanita: Because I was not supposed to be here!

Priscilla: Sounds to me that you are hiding something.

Juanita: CIA Agents who are sent abroad usually do not come back! That's why I became pregnant with his child!

Priscilla: Hmmm… you Americans think you know what a noble gesture is, but do not know anything. Now that you have been sent abroad, you may not be coming back either. Being pregnant further complicates things.

Juanita: I know…

Priscilla: You being pregnant with Fernando's child complicates things that much more.

Juanita: I know…

Priscilla: Then, why are you and your friend trying to destroy Fernando's state of mind and well being.

Juanita: We are not trying to hurt him in any way… honestly!

Priscilla: You destroyed him room…

Juanita: That was Kathy's doing!

Priscilla: You are playing mind games against him.

Juanita: What mind games?

Priscilla: You are holding out on telling him about his baby.

Juanita: He can not know!

Priscilla: Why not?!!

Juanita: He will hate me for it.

Priscilla: Tonight, you are going to tell him. I don't care how you do it, you will do it.

Juanita: I cant… I wont!

Priscilla: You will… You will for tomorrow night you will be sent on a mission. How well you do on this mission determines whether you keep working with us or not.

Juanita: You mean if I fail I will be sent back?

Priscilla: I mean if you fail, you will die.

Juanita bites onto the inside of her cheek to try to hide her response, although the machine she is connected too picks everything up.

Priscilla: So, the choice is yours, tell him tonight, or your autopsy report will tell him for you.

Juanita refuses to respond to that statement, going for the bite to the inside of her cheek even harder.

Priscilla: Guards, release this one for now and give her back her belongings. Bring in the next one in 5 minutes.

Olga steps up to Juanita and undoes her connections from the machine and releases the restraints from the seat. Two male guards stand behind Olga, being able to every square inch of Juanita's skin that the open hospital had to offer. She was not too proud of the situation she was in and quickly covers herself up. The guards take her by the elbows to help her out of her seat and escort her out the room.

Olga: You forgot to ask why she is disobeying orders.

Priscilla: This one is not deliberately disobeying orders, it's the other one that is.

Olga: How do you know?

Priscilla: Ferro already informed my on what questions to ask via blackberry email.

Olga: I see. I will bring the other one, it will be my pleasure.

Priscilla takes out her blackberry to send an email to Ferro as Olga walks out of the room to retrieve the other detainee.

Ferro fumbles putting away her blackberry for a moment as Fernando takes to his seat. The girls has already started on bread sticks and drinks already, as per Ferro's request. As he sat down, he reaches out and takes Francesca's glass and swirls the dark purple liquid inside before taking a sniff of its contents. He then slides the glass back to her, and looks at Rachel's glass which seems to be like the same dark purple liquid inside.

Fernando (as he fumbles about in his pocket, pulling out a couple of pill packet's from his pocket): Wine, Ferro?

Ferro: Why not? I thought it would be nice for us to celebrate.

Fernando (handing a rather large pill to Rachel under the table): Rachel cant have wine. And what are we celebrating?

Ferro: Oh. I did not know that.

Fernando: You do now. Rachel- take your medication.

Rachel does as she is told. Fernando reaches out for a breadstick, butters it and takes a bite from it, sneaking the other pill into his mouth. He then chases it with water from a nearby glass.

Fernando (pointing to Ferro with the breadstick): And are you willing to take responsibility for a drunken cyborg?

Ferro: Rachel can stop drinking, as per your orders.

Fernando: I was talking about Francesca.

Ferro: Francesca is a grown up adult. She can make her own decisions.

Fernando: Only if she is informed enough to make educated decisions, which in her current state, she is not.

Ferro: I'm sure that with us two watching over her, nothing will happen.

Fernando: Seems tome that you are too drunk already to be making such decisions.

Ferro: A couple of sips from a single glass is not enough to make me drunk?

Fernando: You sure about that?

Ferro: I am more than sure. It will take more than just 1 glass to get me drunk.

Fernando raises his hand and a waiter quickly arrives.

Waiter: Are we ready to order?

Fernando: Not just yet, but refill the wine glasses please, and keep them refilled during our meal.

The waiter gives Fernando an odd look, before noticing that a 50-euro note is being slipped into his hand as Fernando shakes it.

Waiter (nodding): Will do sir…

The waiter walks away for a moment, and whispers to another waiter who was holding the wine bottle. Fernando and Ferro continue with their conversation.

Fernando: Are we ready to order?

Ferro: I'll just take my usual order.

Fernando: What would that be?

Ferro: Chicken Alfredo with Linguini, Claes will have the same.

Fernando: Francesca?

Francesca: I would not know what to get, sir?

Fernando: Try their 3-Meat Lasagna. Its good here.

Francesca: As you wish, sir.

Fernando: It is not what I wish, it is for you to try and develop your pallet. You know, get to know how things taste to you and see how you like it.

The other waiter arrives and refills wine glasses.

Francesca: Oh.

Fernando (picks up his wine glass): You will need something filling, and with lots of carbohydrates and protein, because your cyborg body burns more calories than normal. The rest is on how depending on your taste develops.

Francesca: I don't quite understand, sir.

Fernando (takes a sip that empties 1/2 the glass, then puts it down): Just try the lasagna. If you don't like it, we'll get you something else.

Francesca: OK sir.

Fernando: And if you don't like it, you don't have to eat it all.

Francesca: Wouldn't that be a waste, sir?

Fernando: To some it may be. But since you are new to all this, it is not. Understand?

Francesca: Not quite sir.

Fernando: Since you are learning, there will be things that you will learn to keep, and others that you will throw out because of your liking and personal preferences. This makes things temporarily disposable for you at the moment. Once after you have learned what you like and what you don't like, than there will be no more disposables items. Understand?

Francesca: I think so…

Fernando: Don't be afraid to learn. What might be good for Rachel or me, might not be good for you.

Francesca: What are you going to get?

Fernando: I will get a large Italian Shell Steak with some vegetables. Rachel will share with me.

Francesca: Rachel will not get her own meal?

Fernando: Rachel prefers to share in my meal, so I tend to order for the both of us.

Francesca: So you two always share your meals?

Fernando: Not always, but we do. It is part of our father/daughter bond.

Francesca: She is lucky to have you sir.

Fernando (trying to switch the subject fast): Hmmm… Ferro… What are we celebrating, anyways?

Ferro: Celebrating? Oh! Among other things- Francesca's rebuild, and I know you don't like the subject, but having your friends here in the SWA to work with you.

Fernando: We are not friends.

Ferro: Learn to forgive and forget, Fernando.

Fernando: I grew up in strict Roman Catholic Upbringings, and in that there are some things that one can not ever forgive for. Taking actions that leads to a death of a friend of one of them in my book.

Ferro: From what I understand of the case- Fernando, they knew after the fact, and there was nothing that could be done to save your wife who was already dead.

Fernando: They knew before, and conspired against me by withholding the truth from me for so long. Cathy could have been found a lot sooner than the 20+ days buried in snow and things resolved much quicker if they would have let me know when and where Randal was at, at the time.

Ferro: If somebody cared for you so much that they would take such actions to prevent you from getting hurt, that says more…

Fernando: Juanita knows that I am far more capable of saving myself and many others on more than one occasion. In fact I have done so in every occasion that it has happened, and she was a witness and recipient of those rescue services every single time.

Ferro: One day, due to the nature of this job, you are going to have to rescue her and the other one several more times. Now, what I want to know are you going to be there in rescuing them?

Fernando: That would depend on the circumstances.

Ferro: I want a Yes or No Answer.

Fernando: I can not give you an Yes or No Answer. It would depend on the circumstances! I can not be there every time for her or Kathy. They understand that, for its part of our agency training!

Ferro: Then when you are there, capable of doing something- will you?

Fernando: Maybe.

Ferro: I want a Yes or a No.

Fernando: Then my answer is No.

Ferro (shaking her head): Why not?

Fernando: They have to be able to save themselves first, if they cant, I have to see what options are left. Maybe before all this shit started to be flung around between us, I would do so without hesitation, but now, I cant say that. So lets leave it alone.

Ferro: You may not have a choice in this matter.

Fernando: You don't realize that I do. Now dont make me make a choice that we will all regret.

Ferro: Explain what choices do you have?

Fernando: Simple- I can take actions to save them or…

Ferro: Or?

Fernando: Or I can stand there frozen like deer staring at headlights on the highway.

Like Juanita before her, Katherine is led in blindfolded and handcuffed into the room where she is restrained to the chair, her gown rapidly opened and electrodes placed upon her skin. Her blindfold is not taken off.

Priscilla: OK subject number 2. I am going to ask questions and you are going to answer them.

Katherine: And if I refuse to answer?

Priscilla: How does 10,000 volts going through your body sounds like to you?

Katherine: You would not dare.

Priscilla: Just answer the questions as to my liking and that wont happen. Now what is your name?

Katherine: You should know it, its written on that folder on your lap.

Priscilla signals to the others in the room to check on Katherine's blindfold. They signal back after a quick inspection that it is covering her eyes as it should. Priscilla goes back to asking the questions.

Priscilla: I will chalk that up to a lucky guess. Now, why are you here.

Katherine: Everything you want to know is in that folder. Now, where is Juanita?

Priscilla: I ask the questions here, you answer them.

Katherine: I think you're bluffing.

Priscilla shakes her head to herself before giving a gesture. All what was heard next was a loud 'clack' of a switch being turned, following by 10,000 volts going through the electrodes on Katherine's body. She holds backs from screaming as best as she could, but fails as the duration continues. It stops as suddenly as it stops, with another loud 'clack' of a switch again. Katherine slumps in the chair, panting for air.

Priscilla: Now, lets start over again. What is your name…

Katherine was much more cooperative in answering the questions, even the more personal and intimate ones that she would not share with the closest of friends and lovers. After what seemed to be forever, Katherine is given a pill to take before she is released. She is then escorted to a room to put on her clothes and then back to her room. The medication is beginning to kick in, putting Katherine in a deep sleep.

Juanita was not in the room, though was there earlier to wash up and change. She was told to wait in the cafeteria and have something to eat. As she slept, somebody went into their room and changed Katherine into a more comfortable sleep wear, putting head phones on her for the meantime and then leaves, taking the headphones with them.

Ferro continues to push Fernando's buttons, thinking that the amount of wine they had both taken would loosen his tongue. Instead he is held fast on not giving her what she wants, as the waiter refills their glasses from the third bottle of the night while dessert is being brought in. Ferro was hoping that Fernando would slip his tongue, but unlike her beginning to slur speech, he was still as sober as he had walked in. What a difference a pill makes.

Ferro: You know that Juanita came here for you.

Fernando: And your point being?

Ferro: I want to know when did you two have a change to get together in order for her to be 3 months pregnant with your child?

Fernando stares at Ferro, slowly putting down his fork on the table. He slides back on his chair.

Fernando: This dinner date is over.

Ferro: What you mean its over? We have not finished with dessert…

Fernando: Tough cookies bitch, its over. Rachel…

Rachel: Yes daddy?

Fernando (giving 2 100 Euro bills and the car keys to her): Give this to the waiter. Then meet me at the car.

Rachel: Yes Daddy.

Rachel starts to do as she was told. Fernando turns to Francesca.

Fernando: Francesca- follow Rachel to the car. (Then to Claes) You have your choice to make- in the car or walk to the compound from here.

Claes: But…

Fernando: Count of three…

Claes: But I cant leave Ferro.

Fernando: Two and a half…

Claes: Wait- you said you would count to three!

Fernando: I did not say where I was going to start. Two and three quarters…

Claes: OK, OK…

Claes runs after Francesca and Rachel as they leave the restaurant.

Fernando: You just made your mistake. Now get into the car or be left behind.

Ferro: What mistake?

Fernando: In saying that Juanita was pregnant, you verified something that only Katherine knows. Now, start walking before you regret needing to call Marco or Jose to come get your lonely ass from here.

Ferro: You would not dare.

Fernando (turning away towards the door): Goodbye Ferro.

Fernando takes his steps deliberately, clomping the heels hard against the floor in almost military marching order. With him half way to the door, Ferro gets up and runs to catch up with him. It took some doing in her part, but she manages to catch up with him at the door. Rachel, Claes and Francesca was already in the Porsche, with Rachel sitting in the driver's seat. As they approach the car, Rachel opens the door and stands up, leaning the seat forwards for her to get into the rear seat with the others. The keys were already in the ignition, waiting to be turned as Fernando sat in the driver's seat. Ferro complains.

Ferro: You're too drunk to drive!

Fernando: You're the one that's drunk. Rachel and I are fine. Now get in or be left behind!

Ferro gets in, protesting. Fernando gives her an answer that she was not expecting as he places a ripped open pill package on her lap before putting the car in gear. She picks it up as they leave the parking lot.

Fernando: RU-22. I don't leave home without them. Now, remember when I told Rachel to take her medication? It was this that I gave her and not her conditioning meds. And that is what I took before my first drink. It is not I who is drunk, but you are. Remember that for your stupid ass report. And if you are as Roman Catholic as I am, pray to God that Juanita is in her room safe and sound.

Ferro: She is waiting for you to return…

As Fernando pushes the engine towards its yellow zone on the tachometer on the highest gear available to him on the highway, Juanita is told to go back to her room and change into her sleepwear and robe so she can be escorted to Fernando's room. She was given 10 minutes of privacy to change before someone would open her room to take her to her next destination whether she was ready or not. In what little time she had, she puts on just a clean pair of white panties and her pink pajamas and slippers while piling what she had on her bed, before covering herself up in her robe. She steps out of the room, looking at Priscilla and Olga as they waited for her. They take her to his room, unlocking the door and letting her in.

Priscilla: You and he have a long night together. If I were you, I would be the nicest and most obedient little girl to him, and give in to his demands and desires before telling him the truth.

Olga: Failure is not an option for you, Missy.

Priscilla closes the door behind her and locks it. Though the door could be opened from the inside, Juanita looks around before taking a seat at his desk on his leather office chair. She spins the chair to look at his bed, where Meeshie slept at the foot of the bed. For the next 25 minutes she would sit there in the dimly lighted room. Ferro has never seen anyone drive so possessed in all her days with the agency or in other parts of her life. He sits deep into his seat with his arms fully extended and gas pedal just a centimeter or two from the floor, every move of his body to make the Porsche move as he wanted to every twist, turn or stop and go as needed. It was as if he and the machine was as one, and the passenger section was deafening quiet.

The only traffic laws he would break were the highway speed laws, for his training before and during the agency gave him high-speed driving skills. But in city limits, he stayed within the laws within, as city driving is more dangerous than highway driving. In almost no time, he pulls into the compound's gateway before being allowed into the parking lot. There he puts the car into reverse and backs into his parking space. Once out of the car, he tells Rachel to sleep in her room so he can deal with this matter with Ferro and Juanita. He also orders Claes and Francesca to their rooms. Without complaint or question, they all comply, both slowly staggering out of the car from having a bit too much wine. He then closes the driver's door and then walks over the passenger door to open it. He reaches in so see if Ferro would take his hand to get out of the car. She takes the bait as he helps her out of the car. Still holding on, she steps towards the rear of the car as he closes the door.

She thought she would be able to take a step away from him and towards the compound office and dorms building. Instead she is yanked back and nearly pinned against the car, with Fernando just inches away from her as if he was going to plant her a wet juicy one. He takes his index finger from his right hand and lightly rubs it down her nose, and then curls his fingers under her chin, moving her hear to make eye contact with him.

Fernando: You might be my supervisor in this job but I'm the arrogant male here, and I will do what it is that I believe to be right, and so god help this institution if you people have hurt any of my friends or their unborn children they maybe carrying. If you think I don't care about them, wait until I don't care about this god damned place… Do you understand what I'm trying to tell you?

Ferro just gulps before nodding an answer to him.

Fernando takes a couple of steps away from her while helping her back onto the balance of her feet again. He lets go of her hand and takes a steps back to the front of the car, and bows down in a French musketeer's gesture of approaching a lady, waiting for Ferro to walk by. She takes a couple of steps towards him, seeing him in such an awkward position, and looks towards where his hand was pointed- the Office/Dorms building. Oddly Fernando does not move from his position, almost fixed in place by magic, and Ferro wonders for a moment.

Her question was answered as she tried to kick him in the groin, where she met the fastest set of hand she had ever had seen or felt, not realizing that she was put flat on her ass until Fernando started to walk away.

It takes Fernando only a couple of minutes to get to him room, not paying attention to anything inside until Juanita said something to get his attention. He had already taken off his glasses and was beginning to take off his shirt.

Juanita (wiping what tears she might have had on the sleeve of her robe): Fernando?

Fernando: What are you doing here?

Juanita: I need to talk to you…

She had just finished as Fernando tried to cut in between her words.

Fernando (as he continues to take off his clothes, piling them on the table): We don't need to talk, you do need to get back to your room.

Juanita: I need to tell you something.

Fernando: What, that you're pregnant? So what? Who you are doing is your business, and apparently its none of mine. I'll call Supervisor John G. to recycle you in the morning.

Juanita: No! I'm serious… I am pregnant, and its your child!

Fernando: Now how is that possible. You and I have never together in that sort of way- ever.

Juanita: No, we haven't. But you need to hear me out.

Fernando (sitting down on the edge of his bed in his underwear): You got 1 minute to explain yourself before you get out.

Juanita gets up off the chair and takes off her robe, putting it on the table. She then unbuttons her pajama top as she approaches him and tries to sit next to him. Fernando moves away from her. She tries to shift over closer to him, instead he puts out his arm to keep from getting closer.

Fernando: You got 45 seconds left… 44… 43…

Juanita (opening up her pajama shirt and looking down upon herself): I found your tissue organ account and artificially inseminated myself with your sperm.

Fernando: Why did you do that for? No- You are getting an abortion!

Juanita started to cry when hearing those last words, as Fernando continued.

Fernando: You Had No Right To Gain Access To My Tissue Bank! You Had No Right To Impregnate Yourself With My Sperm! I Did Not Give You Permission To Do This! YOU HAD NO RIGHT AT ALL! WHY THE FUCK YOU DID THIS?!!!

Juanita: I DID IT FOR YOU, YOU STUPID SELF RIGHTEOUS IDIOT! CIA AGENTS WHO ARE SENT ABROAD NEVER COME BACK! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT?!! I DID TO KEEP SOMETHING OF YOU ALIVE IN THIS WORLD!

She begins to cry uncontrollably, reaching out to him, but he only backs away, letting her fall on the bed instead, leaving her there crying.

Fernando: I did not agree to this, and I am demanding that you abort the abomination as quickly as possible!

Juanita: I cant!

Fernando: And why not?

Juanita: Because I love you, God Damn it! And I wanted Something of you to have!

Fernando: Well, now you are stuck here, to maybe never to return like me, and with a baby on the way too. I swear Juanita, of all the bone head stupid things you have done to me, this has to be number 2. (Pointing to the door) Now get out.

Juanita slowly sits up from her fallen position…

Juanita (in between the tears): I thought you would be happy…

Fernando: What you carry inside is no child of mine.

Juanita: How Can You Say That?!!

Fernando: I did not impregnate you. You have entrapped me with your lies and your actions… I thought that we were friends once, so long ago…

Juanita (interrupting him): But we were, and still are!

Fernando: Do friends don't do this to each other, Juanita! They don't! If I wanted a baby with you, it would been made with love and affection, not a freaking test tube and a syringe!

Juanita: But…

Fernando: NO BUTTS!!! NOW GET OUT!!!

Fernando gets up out of where he was sitting on the bed and trudges hard against the floor, grabbing the door knob, rattling it and opens the door. The girls who were there ease dropping on his door quickly stepped into Rabello's room.

Claes (quietly, from inside Rabello's room): I told you all you should have stayed in here! But NO!!!! You all wanted to be by his door!

The other girls shhes her and they wanted to hear what was Juanita saying.

Juanita: I'm not leaving!

Fernando (putting back on his clothes): Fine- have it your way!!!

After a moment of him getting sloppily dressed, Fernando puts on his glasses and takes his keys and gun with him as he storms out the room. Juanita tries to stop, only to be pushed back hard enough to be out on her ass on the floor. As he walks away, she begins to cry. The girls in Rabello's room stick their heads out and look down the hallway, seeing Juanita on the floor. In about a minute later, the sounds of squealing tires can be heard in the compound parking lot. The girls come out to attend to Juanita. The littlest one with the short brown hair reaches out to her.

Littlest one with the short brown hair (Henrietta): You need help miss?

Dark skin one with twin pony tails (Triela): You're too observant of the obvious, Henrietta…

Henrietta: I was trying to help…

Juanita: Where did you girls all come from?

Claes (as she closes the door to Raballo's room): Oh, uhm, the library…

Juanita: The Library?

Claes: Yeah… uhm… Want to look inside?

Juanita (slowly getting up): No… I don't…

Juanita slowly walks back to Fernando's room, closing the door behind her.