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 52: 24 Hours Later; Where's Fernando?
7:30 AM, the following day.
Claes enters Fernando's room to take care of the cat's needs. Upon entering the room, she finds Juanita still in his bed after having cried herself to sleep. Though she tries to be quiet about entering the room, Juanita turns out to be a light sleeper and an early riser. Juanita happens to take cat naps during the day and night, especially when she is pregnant. Today is no exception to the rule. She wakes up when Claes puts the cat food to the electric can opener.
Juanita: What is with all the loud noise?
Claes (as she finishes opening the can of cat food): Sorry for waking you ma'am, but I don't recall you having permission to be here. This is Fernando's room and only he, Rachel and I have a key to be here.
Juanita: I know, but I was told to stay here until we resolve our differences.
Claes (putting that cat food into the food bowl): Well, since he is not around then it seems that such resolution is a moot point.
Juanita: No it is not. If you are to ever hope and dream that you can be more than what you are, then the point is not moot.
Claes: I'm just a cyborg. Designed and built for the purpose of serving this country's government extermination policy and to advance cyborgnetic implants for those patients in need of such technologies.
Juanita: Listen to me- you are more than just a cyborg. You are a person, not a robot. You can think and feel and do things just like anyone else can, perhaps even better since your implants give you a little more in terms of ability.
Claes: I am programmed and conditioned to be what I am. I am not a normal little girl like some like to think their cyborgs are. I am a killing machine. Nothing more.
Juanita: Then why are you here feeding the cat?
Claes: I…
Juanita: Well?
Claes: Its part of what I do.
Juanita: You just don't remember anymore, do you?
Claes does not answer.
Juanita: You don't remember that you made a deal with somebody to take care of this animal during his absence because it can not fend for itself.
Claes: Meeshie can fend for itself.
Juanita: I would like to see her open up a can of cat food on her own.
Claes: She's a cat, she cant do that.
Juanita: Then she cant fend for herself and needs us to get her food.
Claes: I would have to disagree. Besides, you don't belong here.
Juanita: I have to wait until Fernando returns. Until then, I will remain here.
Claes: Then I'm going to have to inform my handler and Fratello Supervisor of you being here.
Juanita: Go do what you want. I was doing fine here by myself anyways.
Voice at the door: She does not have to do that.
Juanita: Ferro, why are you here?
Ferro: I was checking upon Fernando, clearing up any rumors of him being missing. Hmmm… Apparently, he is.
Juanita: He is not missing.
Ferro: Then where is he?
Juanita: He left last night.
Ferro: Left for where?
Juanita: I don't know.
Ferro: Then he's missing.
Juanita: He not gone, he'll be back!
Ferro: What makes you say that?
Juanita: I seen him through this before…
Ferro (interrupting her): I bet you have.
Juanita: I mean it! He did not take his things, he did not take his cat or Rachel with him… He'll be back!
Ferro: And until then?
Juanita: We just wait.
Ferro: Listen very carefully. I can not have some rogue agent stomping around Rome or the better half of Italy on some emotional tantrum because of what happened last night. He better be back before midday or else I am to be forced to take countermeasures to insure this city and this nation's safety. Do you get my meaning of this?!!
Juanita: Yes…
Ferro: Then get to your room, get dressed and get ready to work. You and your partner better be at my office within the next 1/2 hour, if not sooner!
Juanita: But…
Ferro: No Butts! Go Do! NOW!!!
Juanita: Yes… ma'am.
Claes and Ferro watch as Juanita gets up and leaves the room. Then Ferro turns to Claes.
Ferro: Are you done here?
Claes: Not quite.
Ferro: Then finish up and leave. Shower up, get dressed and armed up in case he does not return. Make sure to eat breakfast before you return to join me.
Claes: Yes Ma'am…
Claes finishes up taking care of the cat's needs (filling its water bowl) and then leaves. Ferro stays behind for a moment, fixing up his bed since there was nothing else to do. She then walks out of the room and locks the door behind her. Before leaving the area, she leans against the door, and takes out her blackberry, typing out an email message:
"To all Fratello Teams,
Be on the look out for Fratello Handler Fernando G. Notify me if you find him, but do not apprehend. Keep your distance from him and observe him. Do not make contact.
-Ferro."
Ferro then continues on her way. She walks out of the building to head to the cafeteria for a small meal, for this is doing to be a long day.
Juanita sits on her bed, looking over towards Katherine who was deep in her sleep cycle. She gets up and walks over to Katherine, and nudges her to wake up. She refuses to wake up, at least from the light nudges being given. Juanita tries hard, which only gets a verbal response from who knows where…
Katherine (turning over and covering herself with the blanket): Go screw some acorns you crazy squirrel…!
Frustrated, Juanita reached under Katherine's head and yanks the pillow from underneath, then gives her have it in a rapid fire series about her upper body.
Juanita (while hitting Katherine with the pillow): WILL YOU WAKE UP ALREADY?!!!
Katherine could do little to defend herself, eventually taking cover at where the bed meets the wall and manages to grab the pillow from her.
Katherine: Hey! HEY! WHAT'S GOING ON HERE!
Juanita stops the assault, then answers.
Juanita: we have to get dressed and ready for a meeting with Ferro this morning.
Katherine: What about?
Juanita: I don't know, but I guess its something about Fernando being missing.
Katherine: Fernando? Missing?
Juanita: Don't play games with me, Kathy. You know I had to see him, and when I did, he did not like what I had to say, so he left.
Katherine: What did you told him that mad him so angry?
Juanita: Kathy!
Katherine: What?!!
Juanita: I told him that I was pregnant!
Katherine: You are?
Juanita: Don't tell me they did something to you too…
Katherine: Who or what are you talking about?
Juanita: OK… OK… Kathy- where are we?
Katherine: We're in our dorm room in the SWA compound.
Juanita: Why are we here?
Katherine: To over see Fernando's activities within the SWA.
Juanita: OK… uhm… What did we eat for dinner last night?
Katherine: Uhm… Lets see… Uhm…
Juanita: You don't remember?
Katherine: I can see it, I just cant describe it…
Juanita: We did not had dinner yesterday!
Katherine: Yes we did. We had that, uhm… its like ravioli but its round… with white cheese sauce.
Juanita: That's tortellini! And we did not have that!
Katherine: Then what did we have?
Juanita: We did not eat!
Katherine: Then what about that torty-thingy?
Juanita: We were drugged up and interrogated! Don't you remember any of it?
Katherine: Uhm… I think you should lay in bed and rest. I'll tell Ferro that you're sick.
Juanita: You don't remember any of this! Do You!
Katherine: I'll get washed up and dressed, and I'll see Ferro, and tell you that you're not doing well. You just stay in bed. OK?
Juanita just sighs.
Rachel wakes up, though does not want too. At least in the privacy of her dorm, she can take her time and strut around in her underwear while she gathers things to wear and washes up. Within the next 1/2 hour, she was on her way to get breakfast. At the cafeteria, she gets a small meal, similar to what her god-father usually takes, but smaller. She takes it to the usual table, but notices that Ferro was already there. She then decides to take another table, but then hears Ferro's voice calling to her as she tries to walk away.
Rachel (to herself): Next time I'll take this to go…
Like it or not, Rachel turns around and heads to the usual table and sits herself across from Ferro. Pretending to fix her skirt, she checks for her gun and not finding it on her. She curses herself out mentally for forgetting it.
Ferro: I'm glad you decided to sit with me. I need to talk to you.
Rachel: About?
Ferro: Your God Father.
Rachel: Again?
Ferro: He's missing.
Rachel: So?
Ferro: It does not concern you?
Rachel: Nope.
Ferro: Why not?
Rachel: I know he would not abandon me and Meeshie for one. I know that he will eventually return… eventually. Three- unless he makes it my business, it is not my business if he decides to get up and go anytime he wants. Maybe he stepped out to go to the bar and pickup 1/2 a dozen hookers and hoes and have his way with them all in some dark hotel room.
Ferro drops her jaw at the last statement.
Rachel: What? You think my father is some celibate priest? Face it lady, even the pope screws around, for all men do. That's why they are men. And if my father is out there getting some… action, well, its none of my business. Maybe if you would have given him some hot nookie action, he would not have left like he did.
Ferro: Why I swear…
Rachel: Swear what? You think that he would be fine if you brought in his friends here to work with him? I don't think so. They are or were married and with children. They are sloppy seconds as far as he in concerned, and he's not into somebody else's leftovers. Furthermore, all this primadonna games everyone is pulling here is getting me sick. And if I am sick of it- I can assure you that he has been sick of it for a long time. What you did last night was uncalled for.
Ferro: What did I do?
Rachel: You tried to drive a wedge into Francesca's conditioning and her emotions. Don't you dare think that I did not picked it up, because I did. And if my father does end up screwing that dolled up dingy redhead, more power to him! I swear, how would you like it if it was done to your boyfriend or lover?
Ferro: You don't know what you are talking about?
Rachel: Yes I do. I might be young in my years, but I know more than enough about emotions and relationships, and you tried to sabotage what little Fernando has with Francesca. Face if Ferro- she was just hatched out of the egg a couple of days ago, and the med-techs thought it would be funny to pair her up with him because he found her? Ha! Ha!
Ferro: Francesca was paired up with Fernando because he did find her, but he was the only one which she connected too. It made conditioning and reprogramming easy for them.
Rachel: Yeah- too easy- they erased her mind and her memories! She's programmed to kill upon orders, but cant dress herself- what is wrong with that, Ferro! Not even I am that dumb.
Ferro: How do you know about that?
Rachel: When dad took us shopping, I showed her a nice pair of underwear and she asked me what were they for! You know- silk laced panties… Even a 4 year old knows where panties go on, but she does not? There's something wrong there!
Ferro: I see.
Rachel: I should hope so!
Ferro: So it does not bother you that he is not around?
Rachel: Why should it?
Ferro: Well, what if he gets hurt out there?
Rachel: My god-father, Fernando G., get hurt? You are joking, right?
Ferro: I'm quite serious.
Rachel: Lets see… Incident with his wife's killer- Agency 0, NYPD 0, rogue agent 0, Fernando 1. Incident with the agency trying to take me to force him to work for them- Agency 4 dead agents, Fernando wins, NY Times, Post and Daily News to print story if anything were to happen to us. They are still waiting for the word to print the story. Incident with Italian and Black Mafia turf war- Italian Mafia 3 dead goons, Black Mafia- 5 dead goons, Fernando gets his retirement. Face it- he has been through the best and worse thrown at him and yet he manages to win every single time. It is not something everyone can do but he does make it look so easy that those agents who try to copy him, get killed in the field. Now, as far as I see, there is nothing out there in the streets of Rome that would endanger my god father unless it endangers the city as a whole, like those bombs in the basement. So if I were you, stop worrying and sit back and wait for him to return. Until then, there is nothing to do.
Ferro: So you want me to just wait for his return?
Rachel: Yes. He will return, it is just a matter of when.
Ferro: So when he has done this before, how long does he take?
Rachel: No more than 2 days.
Ferro: 2 days… Hmmm…
Rachel: And when he returns, he should be left alone.
Ferro: Why? He has questions to answer.
Rachel: Like he's going to give state secrets away. Please. If he wanted to work for the other side, he would have done so a long time ago, and with what he knows, there would be no agency left after he is through. Be for real, Ferro. He's out blowing off a lot of steam you people forced onto him. Now you want him to blow upon you? Leave him alone.
Rachel gets up and starts to walk away from Ferro.
Ferro: Where are you going?
Rachel: My food suddenly got cold…
Rachel dumps her food into the trash and puts the plate and try into the recycler before walking out the door. She leaves the cafeteria building and heads to the dorms. Along the way she runs into Francesca, who has dressed up in a similar school girl outfit look that Rachel always wear. Rachel grabs her by the arm and literally drags Francesca back into the dorms. "Girl, you do not know how stupid you look like…"
In a couple of minutes, Rachel was playing dress up with Francesca being the doll, in hopes that she would learn something. After an hour of looking at, matching and switching articles of clothing, Rachel lays them all out on the bed.
Rachel: You and I are going to go out later today. Now pick something to wear that looks appropriate for a young adult like yourself and not a teeny teenager like me.
Francesca: Uhm…
Rachel: Look- nothing fancy, just something you would wear everyday. That gets rid of the business wear, and the party dresses. That also gets rid of the sweat suits and other dorm wear…
Francesca: What would Fernando like me to wear?
Rachel (to herself): Nothing, I swear.
Francesca: Nothing?
Rachel: Uh-boy… Nothing- as in he would want you to make those choices for yourself.
Francesca: Then why cant I wear what you're wearing?
Rachel: Because you would look ridiculously stupid, that's why… look, try on this black medium length skirt on and this nice blouse, and lets see… hmmm… Look- you see these shoes with the high heels- you cant wear those only expect in parties because you can not run in high heels when you have too. So you have to wear either low heel shoes or sneakers, and if you are wearing sneakers, ankle sox to go with them.
Francesca look at Rachel's feet and sees that she's wearing sneakers.
Francesca: You're wearing sneakers, so I cant dress like you, so I have to wear the shoes.
Rachel: Hold up girl… Shoes are the only exception. They are there to help and protect your feet. So if you see me wearing sneakers, its OK for you to wear them too. Shoes are not meant for running, but sneakers are, and sneakers are more comfortable then shoes.
Francesca: So, I should wear the sneakers too?
Rachel: I would recommend them.
Francesca: OK.
Rachel hands her the items of clothing for her to change into, putting the other items away. After a while, Francesca stands there, awaiting for Rachel's approval. Rachel looks and looks, and though things appear to be right, it seems as if there was something missing. Perhaps a couple of things that are missing.
Rachel: What are you wearing under that skirt?
Francesca: Uhm… Green and white stripe bikini cut panties.
Rachel: Uhm… spare me the details… Just panties, right?
Francesca: Yeah.
Rachel: No pantyhose, stockings or leggings?
Francesca: No.
Rachel sighs for a moment. Then she searches through Francesca's dresser and tosses a package of size A-A, nude-colored pantyhose.
Rachel: There, put those one.
Francesca takes to the package and opens it, pulling out the pantyhose inside. Rachel notices that Francesca is skipping one important step. Rachel slaps her forehead in disbelief, too frustrated to laugh.
Rachel: Francesca- it would be easier if you took off the skirt and socks first, put on the pantyhose and then put them back on.
Francesca: Oh… OK.
Francesca takes off her skirt and puts on the pantyhose, then the skirt again as prescribed by Rachel. Rachel continues to look for a couple of other items that would complete Francesca. She puts a dark grey button down sweater and a black purse on Francesca's bed. Francesca looks over the new items as she puts on the skirt once again.
Francesca: What are those for?
Rachel: The sweater is in case it is too cold for you. The purse is for your gun, since I doubt you have a clip-on holster like I do. Besides, women your age are suppose to carry a purse with them at all times for make up and girlie things.
Francesca: But it felt warm outside.
Rachel: Its Autumn, soon to be winter. How you cant feel the cold air is beyond me. Besides, if the sweater is too warm for you, tie the sleeves around your waist and cover your rear end with it so that men wont be looking at your ass all the time.
Francesca: Why would men be looking at my ass for?
Rachel (to herself): I'll pretend not to have heard that.
Francesca: Huh?
Rachel: Look, Francesca…? How can I explain this? Do you know where babies come from?
Francesca: From inside the womb when an egg gets fertilized by a sperm and it grows inside the mother for 9 months….
Rachel: OK… Enough…! At least you know that much. Now. Listen to me girl, how does that sperm gets inside you in the first place to fertilize your egg?
Francesca: Uhm… its something having to do with sex, right?
Rachel: Uhm… Right.
Francesca: What does that have to do with men looking at my ass?
Rachel: Men look at all women's asses to see if that would be the one that they would want to have sex with.
Francesca's jaw just drops.
Rachel: Look girl… men are nasty perverts who would want nothing more than to get into your vagina so that they can fertilize your eggs and then walk away from the responsibility. But we women play the game because some of us in one time or another would want to have a baby, so we decide with whom it will happen with and the men just have to keep on guessing. Until then, the game continues- we shake our asses, they look at it, we continue walking, they ask us out for a date, we say no. Those are the rules, unless you want to have a baby, and then you would say yes to a date.
Francesca: Uhm… I don't remember things being like that.
Rachel: Do you remember how you looked like before being rebuilt?
Francesca: Uhm….
Rachel (interrupting her): You were not the prettiest looking thing, in fact, you were quite deformed and your artificial limbs were too, how shall I say it, obvious. No man in his most drunken state of mind would have wanted to have sex with you in the condition you were in. But now that you are beautiful again, every man outside your door will want to have you. You understand what I mean?
Francesca: Uhm…
Rachel: Look… how does my father say it? Stay beautiful, and make every man want you, for they can not have you. Its your body, and only you can allow those that you want to be close to you get that close and intimate.
Francesca: I think I understand. But…
Rachel: But what?
Francesca: What about your father?
Rachel: Hmmmm…. Fernando is not interested in sex or relationships with women. The most one can have with him is to be his friend, and he wants that from you in the very least.
Francesca: Oh… But.
Rachel: But what?
Francesca: Doesn't he want sex? I mean, he is a man, and like you said, men like sex all the time.
Rachel: Look, we women have standards in what we like in men- appearance, smell, shape, size, the way he dresses… stuff like that… understand that?
Francesca: I think so, yeah.
Rachel: Well men have such standards too, even though for most it is 2 tits, a hole and a heart beats, and the heart beat is an option…. Well, what I'm trying to say, Francesca- is my father's standards in women are quite high. In fact, compared to a woman's standards- it is higher. With him, there is so much emotion involved, I just cant explain it.
Francesca: But with such high standards, it would be very hard for him to get sex, right? I mean- what if the woman he so chooses rejects him?
Rachel: That's her loss. Look, Francesca… My daddy was married along time ago, and she was lucky to have him. And the time they had together, was the best time any couple could have had.
Francesca: So where is his wife?
Rachel: Without going into details, she died.
Francesca: How long were they married?
Rachel: Less than a year. She was pregnant with his baby too, and it died with her.
Francesca: That is so sad.
Rachel sighs.
Rachel: Francesca…
Francesca: Yes?
Rachel: You are to never to speak to him about his wife or of the baby.
Francesca: Why?
Rachel: Because it upsets him.
Francesca: Oh… OK, I will never talk to him about his wife or of the baby.
Rachel: And if you hear others trying to talk to him about their past, do not give any input, for the same reasons.
Francesca: OK, I will never talk about his wife or of their past to anyone. Is there anything else?
Rachel: There are many things to learn, but we will learn them along the way. Go get your gun and a couple of filled magazines and put them in your purse. Then add in your SWA papers, ID, and other things and fold them neatly into the other chamber of the purse. Then we'll go to my room and then we leave the compound. Bring your agency cell phone too.
Francesca: Where are we going?
Rachel: Dad, I mean my father left the compound last night. We are going to look for him.
Francesca: But…
Rachel: But what?
Francesca: Isn't leaving the compound against the rules?
Rachel: You want to know if Fernando is safe and sound?
Francesca: Yes.
Rachel: The safety and well being of one's handler is a cyborg's most important directive to follow. We are going to follow that directive.
Francesca: Do you know where he is?
Rachel: No. But it does not mean that we cant look for him. meet me in my room when you are done getting your stuff together.
Francesca: OK.
Rachel leaves the room and walks the maze of hallways to her room. Once there, she readies her .32NAA mission weapon with 4 clips of ammunition. The gun gets put into her clip-on holster, and she puts it into the waistband of her skirt at the small of her back. The additional ammunition magazines are put into her purse. Then she sits down at her desk and accesses Google Maps, printing out areas of open spaces and public parks. There is one thing that she has learned from her god-father it is to hide in plain sight. She also prints out a listing of the city's hotels. Rachel takes the papers and folds them up into her tiny purse.
In a couple of minutes, Francesca walks into Rachel's room. Rachel was already hunched over her desk, looking over the internet map of Rome, saying to herself, "Now daddy, where could you be?" Francesca walks right up behind her.
Francesca: What you doing?
Rachel tries not to jump as she was caught with her mind some place else.
Rachel: Damn you, Francesca- don't be sneaking up on people like that!
Francesca: Huh?
Rachel: Never mind. You ready to go?
Francesca: I think so.
Rachel takes Francesca's purse and looks inside to its contents and give it back. She then goes onto her desk and opens an envelope that contained some cash in it, basically the sum of her allowance she has been saving up, especially since there is nowhere for her to spend it for one, and Fernando buys her everything- two. She pockets and handful of several euros of random denominations. She also takes an ATM card tied to Fernando's account, for 'just in case' reasons.
Rachel: Good. Lets go.
They walk out of the room, and out of the dorm section, heading out to the building and walk to the parking lot. Rachel stops by Fernando's parking spot, finding that it is empty and clean. Several feet away however on the exit path, there was a trail of stripped rubber laid on the pavement from the Porsche's rear tires. It was about 100 ft long before they suddenly stop. Rachel just looks at it for a moment, thinking, 'He must have been really pissed off last night.' She then starts to walk again towards the gate. The guard at the gate stops them.
Guard: Where are you two going?
Rachel: Going?
Guard: Cyborgs are not allowed to leave on their own.
Rachel: Yes we are! We're going to get some Chinese food from that place up the block!
Guard: We did not get such orders.
Rachel (making it up as best as she could): You did yesterday!
Guard: That was for yesterday.
Rachel: And today and the rest of the week too! You want to call up Ferro and verify with her! She's in an important meeting right now and I bet she would be very mad if you disturb her!
The guard hesitates for a moment.
Guard (signaling to the guard in the booth to lift the gate): Alright, go. Just don't tell her that we gave you a hard time.
Rachel: I wont, mister… see ya later! Come on Francesca!
Together they walked up the long private block that separates the SWA from the rest of Rome. Once they made the corner, they take a right and get lost in the crowd.
Francesca: Where too now?
Rachel: First, the Coliseum and search the area.
Francesca: Then after that?
Rachel: That staircase to Spain… I dont get it… Spain is 1000 miles away. That staircase goes nowhere near it.
Francesca: Oh. OK. Uhm… How we getting there?
Rachel: I don't know how the buses work here. Train maybe?
Francesca: The train station is far away from the Coliseum as I remember it.
Rachel: You remember?
Francesca looks around for a moment.
Francesca: I remember places.
Rachel: Interesting. Lets go take a cab.
Francesca: Take a cab?
Rachel: A taxi…
Francesca: Wouldn't that be expensive?
Rachel: I got some money.
Francesca: You do?
Rachel: Its an allowance I get.
Francesca: Are we going shopping then?
Rachel: We're looking for my father… you know, your handler…
Francesca: Oh. I almost forgot.
Rachel just sighs.
Rachel: Lets go.
Rachel steps off the curve and hails for a cab. One stops by near them almost immediately. They both get in, and Rachel tries to give directions as to where to go, but the cab driver played dumb. Francesca leaned over to the cab driver and tells him the directions in a very fluent Italian that would rival most native speakers:
Francesca: To the north side of the Coliseum, and no funny short cuts, I know the way over there.
Cab driver: Yes Ma'am!
The cab ride was short and quick, as the driver took as many liberties in mashing down the gas pedal as much as he can. The ride to get there was over 30 Euros, more than 1/2 the money that Rachel had. They step out of the curb, and looked about. The cab driver stepped out complaining about the lack of a tip. As they looked around, the cab driver steps up behind Francesca and taps her on the shoulder. Unfortunately for him, she has went into surveillance mode. He yells at her about the fair not being enough, only to be met with a SiG 239 planted at his mouth. Rachel also had her .32NAA out and pointed at his chin, slowly reaching for the money he had in his hands. She takes it and puts the money into her pocket, then the two of them take a couple of steps back, turn around and then continue to walk away. Their guns quickly hidden. The cab driver was left to his own devices and urine soaked pants.
Rachel reaches into her purse and pulls out a sheet of paper, which she had printed a map of Coliseum on it. She stops and looks at it. Francesca looks over her shoulder.
Francesca: What are you doing?
Rachel: Trying to figure out where we are and where is the park area with the benches.
Francesca: I know where they are that.
Rachel: You do? Go… take me there!
Francesca: Why would you want to go there?
Rachel: Its something that Fernando does. OK?
Francesca: Oh. You know him that well?
Rachel: I'm his daughter, I should know something about my own father.
They continue to walk around the large structure of the Coliseum until they reach a large open space of a park and pedestrian area. Benches dot the area, and does trees. Pigeons seen to out number the people here, most of them on the ground packing at what they can find as food. The two girls walk from bench to bench, looking for their intended target. Hiding in plain sight is easy and to be found requires a fine tooth comb, something Fernando has taught Rachel a long time ago.
Strangely enough they find Fernando before they reach the 10th bench, he was tossing nuts at the few squirrels who had gathered around the bench, scaring away the pigeons from his immediate area. The both lean over from behind the bench, looking at him.
Rachel: Feeding the squirrels again, Daddy?
Fernando: At least they don't spread diseases like pigeons.
Rachel: If I did not know better, I would say that you're one of them.
Fernando: Now that you found me, what's going on?
Rachel: The SWA is not happy with you leaving and think you are plotting to join the other side.
Fernando: You cant be serious.
Rachel: That's what Ferro told me.
Fernando pulls out his cell phone, but Rachel puts her hand over it.
Rachel: How about breakfast? Ferro sorta ruined mine earlier today.
Fernando: Ferro ruined dinner for me, but sit down for a second. You too Francesca.
The girls do as they are told, taking a seat to either side of him. He picks up a newspaper that he had beside him. He opens it to the classified ads, then points to and in the middle of the page.
"Government Protest Rally The Coliseum Tomorrow!
Be There If You Care About Your Money and Your Rights.
Picket Signs and Banners Welcomed.
Pizza Van Take Out Available."
Rachel: OK, I cant read none of it.
Francesca: "Government Protest Rally The Coliseum Tomorrow! Be There If You Care About Your Money and Your Rights. Picket Signs and Banners Welcomed. Pizza Van Take Out Available."
Fernando: That's what I thought it said.
Rachel: So? There is going to be a protest somewhere here tomorrow.
Fernando: The last sentence says Pizza Van Take Out Available.
Rachel: So?
Fernando: Protest rallies do not usually care about the minions being fed. They tend to target objects of their protest. Now if they are targeting the Pizza Vans…
Rachel: Oh…
Francesca: What?
Fernando: The protest rally main purpose is to find a pizza van and take it out. Of course no one in the SWA is not going to realize this until it is too late.
Francesca: Should we warn them?
Fernando: I will call them later. You ate?
Francesca: No.
Fernando: Why not?
Francesca: I did not had time.
Fernando: You should eat breakfast everyday before you leave the compound… Lets go eat.
Fernando gets up, followed by the girls. The three of them walk away from the bench and towards the streets for a restraint opened for business. They find a small hole in the wall place where they go in and enjoy a descent morning meal.
After getting washed up and dressed, Katherine heads out and returns from the cafeteria with a small take out breakfast for Juanita. Juanita has already cried herself to sleep again, totally not believing what was going on- first Fernando and now Katherine. It seems like a nightmare for her. Katherine leaves the bag containing the meal on the room's table before leaving. Her next stop- Ferro's Office.
Katherine knocks on the door of Ferro's office before entering. She takes a seat opposite from the desk
Ferro: Where is your partner?
Katherine: Who? Oh, her. She's not feeling well so she's in bed.
Ferro: Not… Feeling… Well…
Katherine: She thinks its morning sickness, but I don't see how…
Ferro: Never mind. I'll talk to her later.
Katherine: So, what is this about?
Ferro: Its about your work performance.
Katherine: What about it?
Ferro: It is not up to par.
Katherine: What do you mean by that?
Ferro: Exactly what I said. It takes you two longer to do a report than any one else in the administrative offices.
Katherine: I was told that we were here to decipher codes. I was not told anything of writing reports. Besides, I don't write in Italian.
Ferro: That's your prob…lem.
Ferro's blackberry cell phone starts ringing. She answers it
Ferro: Hello? Where the hell are you!! What do you mean you wont say?!! What was that? Oh… I get on it right away. In light of this I'm calling an emergency fratello meeting… What do you mean you are not going to be here?!! YOU BETTER BE HERE!! FERNANDO?!! FERNANDO!!! Damn Him!
Ferro puts down the cell phone on her desk.
Katherine: What was that about?
Ferro: That was your other partner…
Katherine: Who?
Ferro: Fernando…
Katherine: Oh, him.
Ferro: I see you're so eager to see him.
Katherine: Don't get this wrong, but things between us is not as great as it should be, mostly from his end and his refusal to open up.
Ferro: Oh… don't tell. So it isn't me after all.
Katherine: Look- between you and I, we can get any man we so wanted, right? But he makes it next to impossible to be accepting of female companionship. It is almost like he's gay or something.
Ferro: Hmmmm…
Katherine: Seriously. There is something wrong there.
Ferro: Maybe you should change your method of attack.
Katherine: Why?
Ferro: if you want him, and you sending him signals that are bringing the wrong type of reaction, you should change the signals and see how he responds.
Katherine: I just might do that…
Ferro: Just don't let me know about it. Now you and your upstairs friend got work to do. I expect it to get done before the end of the day.
Katherine: Yes Ma'am.
Ferro: That is all…
Katherine gets up out of her seat and leaves the office. Ferro sits at her desk, thinking, "If programming people were that easy… I swear…"
Ferro then goes back to her work, sending an electronic message for all fratellos to meet later in the afternoon. She then gets up from her desk and takes a short walk off the compound, picking up several copies of various newspapers to study. Once back in her office she quickly looks over classified ads as Fernando told her. She only finds the ad in question in 4 of the 7 newspapers. As it should be, the other newspapers are targeted towards financiers and trade unions.
But in even reading the Ferro does not make the connection. Protest rallies come and go, and often before, as they gather, there is a spike in business as protestors buy a last meal before doing the dirty deed. The Pizza Vans around the area be grateful for the added business and revenue generated.
Ferro calls Priscilla over to her office. She arrives within seconds of getting the call, and takes a seat across from Ferro's desk.
Priscilla: How are things?
Ferro: I wish they were better.
Priscilla: Found Fernando?
Ferro: Not really.
Priscilla: No? Need to call a search party for him?
Ferro: That wont be necessary. He called a few minutes ago, giving me some information I want you to look at.
Priscilla: What is it?
Ferro hands over one of the newspapers to her, with the ad circled. Priscilla reads it.
Priscilla: Hmmm… Another protest rally. Nice.
Ferro: Its the last sentence that Fernando pointed out.
Priscilla: Hmmm.. "Pizza Van Take Out Available." So what about it?
Ferro: Fernando thinks that the pizza van will be targeted.
Priscilla: How did he get that notion from?
Ferro: I don't know.
Priscilla: There are hundreds of pizza vans available all over Rome.
Ferro: Well, that is what he thinks.
Priscilla: What you think we should do?
Ferro: I need to confer with Marco and Jean about this before getting the others together.
Priscilla: I think Marco has already started on his mug-a-thug patrol but Jean is still in the compound.
Ferro: Go find Marco and tell him to return, I'll meet up with Jean later when he arrives.
Priscilla: Will do…
Ferro: Thanks.
Priscilla (as she gets up to leave): No problem….
Priscilla leaves the room, and goes about her way to find Marco.
Katherine walks over to Juanita's bed and sits down next to her, nudging her to wake her up.
Juanita (getting up slowly): What is it?
Katherine: I met with Ferro, and she said that she is not happy with our work output.
Juanita: Kathy… Do you remember what happened yesterday?
Katherine: Yeah, We… uhm… we deciphered those files for her. Apparently that was not enough.
Juanita: You remember you wrecking Fernando's room?
Katherine: We were never in Fernando's room…
Juanita: God… what have they done to you?
Katherine: What?!!
Juanita shakes her head for the moment.
Juanita: I hate doing this to you…
Katherine: Do what?
Juanita: 12-20 Blizzard Winds
Katherine sits up straight at attention, staring blankly straight at the opposite wall across the room.
Juanita: State your name.
Katherine: Katherine T.
Juanita: State my name.
Katherine: Juanita S.
Juanita: State our mission.
Katherine: To observe and retrieve agent Fernando G. and bring back home at any costs.
Juanita: State Mission Level and Directive:
Katherine: Personal, though the agency thinks they sent us, we modified the request list to be selected for observation mission.
Juanita: Good… let see if we can go further… Access memories from 48 hours ago, and fast forward to today. Stop at any blanks or modifications thereof.
Katherine: Accessing… memory alteration attempt around 10:30 PM via Sleep Program Injection. New instructions are as follows…
Juanita (interrupting her): Halt.
Katherine stops her recital.
Juanita: Delete Sleep Program Instructions and restore former memories.
Katherine: Working…. Found Sleep Program Instructions and Memory Alterations- Deleting. Restoring Memories… Done.
Juanita: Memory test. Why did you wrecked Fernando's room.
Katherine: Though I was looking for paper and ink for the printer, I was frustrated with him and his Mr. Cool Routine, not willing to give us the time of day or to acknowledge that we are there.
Juanita: Do you still love him?
Katherine: Very Much So.
Juanita: In 5 seconds, you will awaken with memories intact, including of this memory restoration by me. 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
Katherine snaps back into reality, angry.
Katherine: Why those dirty motherfuckers!
Juanita: I'm sorry I had to do that.
Katherine: Its OK. I understand that you had to do that. Grrr… I swear, I'm going to get even with who ever did this!
Juanita: You know you cant, so don't even think you can try.
Katherine: I can start with that Queen-Bee Bitch Ferro!
Juanita: You're just as Queen-Bee as she is. Now get your head straight and lets start thinking of a plan.
Katherine: So where's Fernando?
Juanita: I don't know.
Katherine: What do you mean you don't know?
Juanita: We argued last night and when I refused to leave, he left.
Katherine: He Left?!!
Juanita: I can still hear the screeching of his tires as he drove out of the parking lot.
Katherine: Oh swell, you cursed us to be here for sure!
Juanita: He'll be back!
Katherine: What makes you say that?
Juanita: He did not take his cat with him or his god-daughter.
Katherine: But until then, it could be days before he returns!
Juanita: I know. Until then…
Katherine: Wait! He did call Ferro while I was meeting with her. Something he told her is making her call for an emergency meeting of sorts, but he wont be there. But if we could be in that meeting…
Juanita: Now you're thinking. But how are we going to get into that meeting?
Katherine: I don't know… leave that to me. I'll figure something out.
Juanita: Last time you said that, you wrecked Fernando's room.
Katherine: I would not have wrecked it if he would have been nicer to us.
Juanita: I don't know, Kathy. We both sort of deserve his scorn with not being honest to him back in the beginning.
Katherine: That was my twin sister! Don't you think I feel any less pain that he does? I felt her die! There was no way that he- super powers or not- could get to her in time to save her!
Juanita: But he would have tried. And to him- trying is more important than actually succeeding. And we are the ones who stopped him from trying.
Katherine: I don't see how. Cathy was already dead when we found out. He has to get that through his thick skull.
Juanita: What about her funeral? He was not allowed to go, and was forced not to go. He does not even know where she is buried! Don't you think that tears at his heart from time to time?
Katherine: We cant let him know until Randal is at a place where he cannot be touched by him. You know if and when Randal gets released, there will be hell to pay!
Juanita: Randal is not going to be released.
Katherine: What if he does?
Juanita: Then we will deal with it.
Katherine: That's not good enough.
Juanita: You want Fernando to deal with it? You know how he will deal with it- POW! Bullet To The Head!
They both sit there in silence for the moment.
Juanita: Look… all this has to end, and it has to end from his point.
Katherine: But nothing is going to bring that other than his fingers wrapped tightly around the neck of Randal's dead body.
Juanita: Randal will die for what he did, but not by Fernando's actions. That is what we swore too, and that we can not fail… and don't you ever forget that!
Katherine: I know… It just, I swear…
Juanita: Swear what?
Katherine: Dealing with Fernando… Its like dealing with an overgrown baby.
Juanita: All men are overgrown babies. But we are dealing with a man who's emotional psyche has been shattered. Its not your fault nor is it mine, but we have to deal with it. OK?!!
Katherine: OK… OK…
Juanita: Now, about you getting us into that meeting.
Katherine: I'll see what I can do.
Juanita: Good, you go do that while I get washed up and dressed. We'll meet up later.
Katherine: Will that be all?
Juanita: Don't lead on that your memory has been restored. Be your nice and fully cooperative self.
Katherine: Don't be expecting miracles.
Juanita: Just do your best- will you!
Katherine: Alright… Where shall we meet?
Juanita: In the cafeteria, around noon for lunch.
Katherine: Alright, see you then…
After a hug, Katherine gets up out of Juanita's bed and leaves the room. Juanita slowly gets up out of bed to start her already messed up day.
After a phone call and search, Priscilla finds Marco in the rough section of town shaking down some thugs with Angelica. She calls out to him as he roughs up the last one for information.
Marco (as he holds the beaten thug up a fist full of shirt): Tell Your Boss That He's Next!
Priscilla (approaching from behind): Marco!
Marco (as he shoves the thug against the wall): DON'T CALL OUT MY NAME!
Priscilla (stepping next to him as he lets go of the thug): How else am I to get your attention?
The thug falls on the ground, crawls a few steps and then runs away. Angelica takes a few steps towards his direction.
Marco: Angie! (she freezes in her steps) Let him go!
Angelica ends the pursuit and steps back to be at Marco's side.
Marco (giving a stern look): Now what is it, Priscilla.
Priscilla: You forgot why I called you?
Marco: Lets say I was busy with a few business associates.
Priscilla looks about at the couple of unconscious bodies that were lying about. Marco grabs her by the arm and takes her out the area, with Angelica following behind.
Marco: Lets leave the area. They seem not to have liked the business arrangements.
Priscilla: Wait a minute!
After walking about 1/2 a block away, they stop in a public place.
Marco: Now, what is it?
Priscilla: Like I explained to you over the phone, Ferro wants to verify some information between you and Jean.
Marco: And what is this information again?
Priscilla: Fernando believes that during the next protest rally, one of the pizza vans might be hit.
Marco: Really?
Priscilla: There is a classified ad for a protest rally tomorrow at the Coliseum. It said at the bottom "Pizza Van Take Out Available."
Marco: Interesting choice of words there.
Priscilla: Well?
Marco: Well, what?
Priscilla: We got to meet up with Ferro and Jean at her office.
The three of them start to leave the area.
Katherine looks over her and Juanita's assigned desks, seeing the pile of papers on it waiting to be processed.
Katherine (to herself): No freaking way…
She picks up the top sheet on the pile. The pink Post-It note attached to it says, "Translate and transcribe."
Katherine (to herself): I swear… I don't even know Italian!
A young guy comes along with a push cart, handing out the day's mail. He places a couple of envelopes on her desk. Katherine continues to think as to what to do, then suddenly an idea hits her. She picks up the piles of papers and places them into the mail clerk's cart, despite his complaining. She tries to be her best, sweet and innocent Katherine, pointing to the other agents who were doing their own work.
Katherine: Pleeeze…. Just give this to those strong men to take care of for me… (she leans over to him and puts her hand to his chest) I would be greatly indebted to you if you do this, and Ferro would greatly appreciate it too…
She leans over and gives him a peck on the cheek, before skipping out of the mini cubical complex where most of the administrative work is done. In a few seconds as she walked down the hall, the screams and yells various curse words can be heard from those within the administrative section. Katherine tries to hold back her giggles as best as she could. She continues to walk away from the area as innocently as she could.
Fernando and the girls go out into the park to which they had found him after a decent breakfast meal. Along the way the Fernando buys a couple of bags of nuts. They sit down at a bench near the middle of the park. Pigeon gather about until Fernando stomps his foot on the ground hard, making them fly away for the moment. Not far from their position was a couple of squirrels. Fernando tosses a shelled nut at them. They jump out of the way for the moment before going back to the nut. One of them picks it up and smells it before scurrying away with it. A couple of more nuts are tossed and several more squirrels join in. So do a few pigeons, but the squirrels do their best to fight them off.
Francesca: Why are we feeding squirrels?
Fernando: It's a reminder of being one.
Francesca: You were a squirrel, sir?
Fernando: That was a metaphor for a much simpler time in one's life where one did not had to worry about government political policies or of following orders, but rather doing what you can for that all important person in your life. You see… the squirrels take the nuts and take them to their families, where they try to hide it someplace safe for them to eat later on. And that is all they do. Eat nuts, huddle together for warm and safety and provide for one another. The rest of the world as far as it is concerned can go to hell as long as they have those things.
Francesca: But why are we feeding them?
Fernando: It makes it easier for them to do those things.
Francesca: But don't they spread diseases?
Fernando: They are not rats. And pigeons spread far more deadlier diseases like Tuberculosis and the flu to humans. Squirrels are rather clean of the wild animals. Look at their tails. It denotes their health status- the fuller, fluffier and cleaner the tail the healthier the squirrel. And from the looks of it, this bunch seem pretty healthy. So let them get close to you…
Fernando leans over to the ground with a nut between his fingers outstretched forward. After a while a few squirrels gather around but keep their distance. After several seconds, one of them, a rather small one, hops over to Fernando and grabs the nut from his fingers, then scurries away. Fernando just smiles before slowly getting up.
Rachel: Why didn't any of the big ones take it?
Fernando: They are conditioned to be wary of humans, no matter how nice. Squirrels don't see us as individuals, but as humans. So if old ladies come to feed them and young punks do mean things to them, then they will be afraid of all humans. Besides, that one was an immature female, not knowing of the ways of the squirrels, yet.
Francesca: How do you know it's a female?
Fernando: When it got up to take the nut, you can see the twin rows of nipples on its chest. Its size says that its not yet ready to mate, but I gather in about a year, if she survives, she will have her first litter.
The three of them continue to feed the squirrels into the passing couple of hours. When they reached the final few nuts in each bag, Fernando piled the remains onto the floor. The squirrels pounced onto the pile, and it was gone from view very quickly. The three of them slowly get up and walk away. They walk past the Coliseum, and continue onwards.
Francesca: Where are we going now?
Fernando: Well, I'm having my car looked over at the Porsche dealership, tune up, shocks, tires, stuff like that… but we got some time left in the day- right.
Francesca: Uhm…
Fernando: You need to learn to stop everything that you are doing and smell the roses, Francesca. You have to enjoy those little things in life that you would otherwise pass by. Now Rachel… I keep forgetting, winter is coming and you are going to need a coat and boots. You too Francesca. So lets go deal with that.
Rachel (grabbing his arm and holding tightly to her): Yes daddy.
The three of them walk from the historical section of Rome to the market mall area where the big department stores were. Fernando leads them into Macy's, as it is the only store he knows area, besides, Harold's window prices are too ridiculously expensive. After looking at the store map, Fernando takes the girls to the shoe department where they pick up a set of Uggs boots and a few pair of thermal socks each. Fernando was already prepared with his winter gear. From there, they walk over the women's coats. Neither Rachel or Fernando wanted her to be in child-like clothes, thus they choose items in Petite Size 0 for her. For coats, they both get a trench coat with wool and fur inserts, and a knee-length Shetland faux-fur coats. Gloves, scarves and hats were also in order for them, and as ladies in a shopping spree, take their time and go over the place. All Fernando could do was take a seat in one of the larger waiting areas and just wait until there are done. He did not expect Rachel to drag Francesca over in a Red & White Stripe Bikini holding a blue towel.
Rachel: Can she have it?
Fernando: What… why!
Rachel: For swimming class, and trips to the beach in the summer.
Fernando: Rachel…
Rachel: We'll also pick up a 1 piece dark blue Speedo for her too.
Fernando can only look at them and at the sales clerk who was with them with a big approving smile on her face, as if the sale would make her commissions for the rest of the season.
Fernando: Alright. She can have it… But no funny business between you two.
Francesca: What funny business?
Fernando: Rachel knows what I mean.
Rachel can only stand there biting on her lower lip.
Fernando: Now finish up you two. I got things to do, and you two need to return to the compound.
Rachel nods at the sales clerk before grabbing Francesca by the wrist, saying out loud, "Lets get them and get you dressed again!" Francesca could do little being dragged away other than to keep up with Rachel. The sales clerk follows them. Fernando just sighs as they leave, thinking to himself what would Ferro's reactions be when he submit the receipt as part of the cyborg expenses. Though the SWA would take care of the immediate brunt of the credit card expenses, seeing the bill when it comes in will be a bit of a horrific surprise within itself.
After the items were paid for and put into bags, Fernando takes them to the Porsche dealership. The girls were fascinated with the brand new cars there were there on display, including new the 2012 Porsche 928. As they oo'ed and ah'ed the cars, Fernando went into the mechanic's bay, seeing that his car was being taken off the lift. The mechanic drives it away to a staging area where it will be picked up. He quickly trots over to it as the mechanic leaves. He did managed to get his attention and bring him back to the car. Fernando opens the hood and starts inspecting the engine, pointing put various parts of the engine to the mechanic. The mechanic just nods at him. Fernando then takes the oil dipstick and grabs the droplet of oil on the end of it, rubbing it between his fingers. He then looks at it, sniffs it, and then licks it. After a couple of seconds of the mechanic looking at him in shock and awe, Fernando nods at him as he places the dip stick back in its place. Fernando then points at the wheels, and again mechanic nods. Not to his satisfaction, Fernando kneels down and looks over the tires himself. Taking just a few seconds per tire, Fernando then gets up and looks at the mechanic, nodding at him while showing off his credit card. The mechanic signals to him to wait while he went to get the sales rep to finalize the transaction. It only takes a few moments to get the deal done.
Fernando drives his 928 to the front of the dealership, then goes back in to get the girls. This took a bit of doing as Rachel had to be pried off a 1986 Porsche 911 Turbo 2+2 that they had on display, next to the new Porsche Carrera Turbo Sport. Rachel was as fond of the older cars as Fernando was, for he taught her everything he knows. Soon they were back to the compound, where Fernando dropped them off with their bags and then left on his own again.
Jean: I will ask again, what makes Fernando think that they will try to take out a pizza van?
Ferro: According to him, it's the wording of the statement. Take out the word 'Available', and it says Pizza Van Take Out, or grammatically correct- Take Out Pizza Van.
Hillshire: Taking out the 1 word to change the sentence is a very old code. I myself have not seen it done until now.
Marco: Do we give this matter any attention?
Jose: Has Fernando been wrong before? I mean, he has been here a short time and only on a few missions, not enough to accrue mistakes along the way like we all have.
Marco: Better to be safe than sorry.
Ferro: How?
Marco: Park the Pizza Van further away.
Ferro: That would make gathering you and your cyborgs up after the protest watch mission is over that much more harder.
Marco: Angie can walk.
Hillshire: Triela has no problem walking either.
Ferro: Jose?
Jose: Well… The extra mileage will give Henrietta some alone time with me. Yeah… I think she would like that.
Ernesto: I don't use the Pizza Van.
Bernardo: Bicci will be in the medical ward for her check up, so we'll be missing out on the fun.
Jean: Then its settled- Park the Pizza Van further away and we just walk to it when we're done.
Ferro: Any objections?
None was made by anyone.
Ferro (as she looked at the only two other women in the room): Ladies?
They both look at each other confused.
Katherine: Where are we going to be in all this?
Ferro: Inside one of the Pizza Vans.
Katherine: Why?
Ferro: Besides picking up the fratello teams, the pizza vans also do electronic surveillance of the area and maintains radio contact with the teams. You two will be conducting the surveillance part.
Juanita: But with the Pizza van out of range of the immediate area, how can we conduct surveillance?
Katherine: Surveillance is not even our strong point- we are code crackers!
Ferro: In this agency, you have to do a little of everything.
Juanita: You and your big mouth.
Katherine: Yeah right- it was not my idea to take on this mission.
Juanita: I did not see you argue about it at the time!
Ferro: Ladies…
Katherine: Keeping an eye on Fernando was one thing, doing another agency's job is another!
Ferro: LADIES!!!
They both turn to face Ferro. Jean started his little 'Welcome to the SWA' Speech before Ferro could tell them off.
Jean: Look ladies. If you are worried about pay or mission conflicts with your agency directives, I can assure you that those things wont be a problem. Along with free room and board, you will be financially compensated for your work here. Furthermore if you do more than expected, you will be rewarded for your efforts. All we ask is that you help us in getting a few bad guys-known terrorists to our way of living here.
Marco: So we can kill them.
Jean: Marco…
Marco: If they are going to work for us, they should be privy as to what we do here.
Juanita: Fernando already explained to us of your terrorist extermination program, and though we don't personally agree to it, this is an agency run program policy and the agency will deal with it. It just so happens that we are now part of this agency.
Katherine: besides, Ferro already explained to us about pay and benefits…
Juanita: Kathy…
Jean: Ferro… I'm supposed to give them the speech before you tell them about the benefits.
Ferro: At the time Jean, you were in the medical ward recovering from your injuries from your auto accident.
Jean: Oh… so you gave them the speech?
Ferro: It was well received.
Katherine (to herself): Yeah right it was. (Juanita kicks her from under the table) OW! What's the meaning…
Juanita (interrupting her): Remember what we talked about- accepting the responsibilities of their jobs so that we can do ours…
Katherine: Oh… But next time you don't kick me.
Juanita: I did not kicked you!
Katherine: Yes you did…
Juanita: I did not! Besides, I cant kick you- I'm pregnant.
Ferro: Ladies…
Katherine: What does that have to do with anything! Remember I was pregnant too- twice!
Juanita: Kicking you would involve too much stress that would harmful to the baby.
Ferro: LADIES!
Both of them suddenly turn to Ferro.
Juanita & Katherine: Yes Ma'am?
Ferro: I hope while two you are arguing, that your work is being done.
Katherine (smiling innocently): Oh… it is.
Juanita: What work?
Katherine: Oh don't you worry about that, I'm taking care of it- you just go back to bed and rest your preggo self.
Juanita: I think you just upset the baby…
Jean: Need to go to the medical ward? I can take you there.
Juanita: No… I think I'll rest up in my room for a bit and maybe feel better afterwards.
Jean: Need me to take you there at least? I don't want you or your baby get hurt along the way.
Marco: Well, if this meeting's over, I need to fill Angie on the details.
Hillshire: Same here.
Jose: Well, we can all go and tell our girls about tomorrow's mission.
Jean: Bro- you mind telling Ricco too while I clean up down here?
Jose: Sure, no problem.
Jean: Well, this meeting's dismissed. We will schedule a debriefing sometime after tomorrow.
With most agreeing, the handlers get up and leave the room. Jean helps Juanita out of her chair. Then he escorts her out the door, and up to her room.
Katherine: Hmph…
Ferro: Jealous?
Katherine: Jealous of what? Her being pregnant?
Ferro: Well, what ever personal differences you might have with each other, it better not affect your work.
Katherine: I can assure you, it wont.
Katherine gets up and starts to head to the door.
Ferro: Also, That work you two are transcribing, its to be sent to book-binding so it can be copied, bounded and sent to the other agencies we work with.
Katherine: Not to worry, I will get it done.
Katherine leaves the room, into the administrative section where the mini-cubicles are. Most of the transcribing and translating work has been done, as she quickly goes about gathering up the work done on the computer files, and gathers them into one big file. She programs a small script for the computer to continue gathering the transcribed and translated files into one. She then leaves to check on her friend upstairs.
Katherine goes upstairs to their room, seeing Juanita was already inside with Jean. She stands at the doorway as the two talked, Jean in chair at the room's table and Juanita on her bed.
Katherine: Ahem…
They both turn to face her.
Katherine: Still playing the role of Mata Hari? I thought you grew out of that…
Jean (putting his hand into his inside suit pocket): Mata Hari?!!
Juanita: I'm not a double agent and I'm definitely not an agency whore!
Jean: If you're a double agent, it would be a shame to kill you…
Katherine: Oh can it with your "Kill all the spies and terrorists" crap. I was just egging her on.
Jean: So you're not…
Juanita (interrupting him): No, I am not.
Katherine: Look Jean, no disrespect to you or your wanting some alone time with Ms Preggo-USA here, but her and I have to discuss some agency matter involving Fernando. You know how it is, we do have to report to others other than the precious SWA.
Jean: Hmmm… I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or as an insult.
Juanita: Take it as a compliment- it will hurt less.
Katherine: Hey!
Juanita: Its true- even the nicest of your words still contain poison in them.
Jean: Alright, I will leave you two be so you can get your agency work done. But, we will continue our conversation another time.
Jean leaves the room, continuing onward down the hall.
Katherine: I swear, if I did not know any better.
Juanita: What?
Katherine: I thought I was bad- but you take the cake sometimes.
Juanita: There is nothing going on between us. In fact he was telling me that Fernando saved both him and his cyborg's life from a horrible car accident.
Katherine: Well, if that's true, why isn't Fernando awarded some kind of medal or something?
Juanita: What do you mean by that?
Katherine: That was Jean Croche, SWA Section 2's second in command under Chief Lorenzo… If Fernando did save his life…
Juanita (interrupting her): You know how these agencies work- in the utmost of secrecy. Fernando may not get an award of some kind, but eventually he will get something. At least he got the utmost respect out of the agency's #2 guy!
Katherine: I don't know. Something smells fishy here.
Juanita: Maybe you should close your legs then.
Katherine: I'm not the one with a very hot bun in her oven…
Juanita: So it is always going to come down to that, isn't it?
Katherine: I'm not the one who went to Dr. Frankenstein and had something planted within me.
Juanita (beginning to cry, diving for her pillow): That is so unfair!
Katherine goes over to Juanita's bed and sits next to her, trying to hold her.
Katherine: Look Juanita, for what ever right reasons you thought you had to do this, they are definitely wrong by everybody else's. Didn't you think what Fernando would have thought about this?
Juanita (crying): I thought he would have wanted it…
Katherine: No he wouldn't. Now, why he have sperm stored away in the first place?
Juanita: I don't know…
Katherine: Maybe its because in some of the job he maybe sent too, he maybe exposed to something that would make him sterile. How much of his sperm was used anyways?
Juanita: I don't know…
Katherine: I hope there is something left.
Juanita: I did not ask.
Katherine: You better hope that he is not sterile, or that thing you got inside you will be his only child.
Juanita: He's not accepting it as his child.
Katherine: Can you blame him?
Juanita: Why you say that?
Katherine: In short, 'Nita… he did not boffed you in order to get you preggo with his kid. You stole from him something that was secretive and valuable to him. You basically raped him in order to have this child and the both of you did not even have sex! I swear- this must be a first in the record books somewhere.
Juanita cries harder into her pillow.
Katherine: Come on girl… every problem has a solution. We just have to figure this one out. OK?
Juanita continues to cry, but softer.
Katherine: Come on girl, I need you to be brave and strong for us, I cant do this alone.
Juanita: I tried and I failed.
Katherine: Then maybe together we will succeed where you left off.
Juanita: You think so?
Katherine: I know so. Now turn off the water works so we can concentrate on doing our job and then go home.
Juanita: But that wont be for at least 2 years- the length of his original mission.
Katherine: What was the original directives of his mission?
Juanita: I dont know- its all under a level 7 security access code.
Katherine: And of the 3 of us, only Fernando as a level 7 security access while we have level 6. Not to worry, I'll get it out of him.
Juanita: How are you going to do that?
Katherine: If I have to get him so drunk that he thinks he's still married to my sister, I'll get it.
Juanita: You may have to have sex with him if you do.
Katherine: I'll use birth control.
Juanita: He does not practice using birth control…
Katherine (to herself): Typical Latino Bastard…
Juanita: What was that?
Katherine: I said that I would use birth control.
Juanita: Then he'll know you're not Cathy.
Katherine: How would he know?
Juanita: During their time together, she never used birth control with him either.
Katherine: He wont know that I'll be using one.
Juanita: Unless you're on the pill, he'll know.
Katherine: How so?
Juanita: He has his ways.
Katherine: I would like to know how.
Juanita: He just does.
Katherine: How intimate were you with him anyways?
Juanita: Intimate enough to know better.
Katherine: But you said you two never…
Juanita: Just because I never did does not mean that I did not know. There are things that he, your late sister and I have shared that you do not know about, and unless he tells you, you never will. At least not from me.
Katherine: Alright- have it your way. But I'm telling you, it wont last long.
Juanita: I swear, Kathy. You let your imagination run away at times.
Katherine: It would not be running away if you were not scaring it away.
Juanita: It would not be scared away if it weren't such a fraidy cat!
Katherine: Who you calling a fraidy cat?!!
Juanita: If the shoe fits…
Katherine: Well they don't fit me!
Juanita: They don't fit me either…
Katherine: Yeah, nothing is going to fit those big swollen preggo feet of yours.
Juanita starts to cry again.
Katherine: Calm down, will ya! You were not this emotional during the last two pregnancies I saw you go through!
Juanita (between the tears): There was not as much emotional shit back then like there is now…
Katherine: Like I said, We'll get through this but I need you to be strong for us. I cant carry both our weight.
Juanita: It is not as easy as it may sound.
Katherine: Look, Juanita… how ever this may end, you still got me.
Juanita: Thanks, I think.
Katherine: Look, I'm not a lesbian or anything like that. I just love you as a friend.
Juanita: I know. Neither am I. Its just that whether you realize it or not, there is a lot of your sister in you. I mean it as a compliment.
Katherine: Of course- we were twins.
Juanita: Its not that- you two try to be as different as possible, but you two are one and the same at times. I mean… I don't know what I mean…
Katherine: I'll chalk it up to pregnancy hormones talking.
Juanita: Kathy, can I ask a question?
Katherine: You can ask anything.
Juanita: If you're up here with me, who's doing our work?
Katherine: Its being taken cared of.
Juanita: That's what I'm afraid off.
Katherine: Alright, I'll go check up on it.
Juanita: And I'll be here.
Katherine: You better not cry while I'm gone.
Juanita: I'm all cried out.
Katherine sighs before she gets up.
Katherine: I'll be back in about 10 minutes. Don't do anything foolish, stupid or crazy.
Juanita: I wont.
Katherine: Promise?
Juanita: Promise.
Katherine: You swear?
Juanita: I swear.
Katherine: You double swear?
Juanita: I double swear.
Katherine: You dirty dog double Fernando swear?
Juanita: KATHY!
Katherine: OK, I'm outting, I'm outting…
Katherine leaves the room and closes the door behind her. Juanita just laid on the bed in a semi fetal position, putting her hands on her womb, where she had bore life so many times before. But this time things would be different for her, and as her friend Katherine had said- she has to be strong. If not for herself, for each other.
After dividing up the goods with Francesca, Rachel is now in her room putting away her coats, boots, thermal socks, and other things her father had given her for the winter. She also puts away the black and red bikinis that she had snuck into Francesca's pile at the store. Devious thoughts run through her head of showing off what she had at the beach in order to win her god-father's interests during the next up coming summer as she closes her dresser's drawer. A knock at the door sends her immediately into reality. "COME IN!", she yells as she walks to the chairs by the table.
The door opens, with Francesca slowly entering the room.
Francesca: Can we talk?
Rachel: Uhm… Sure. What about?
Francesca: I mean, can we? You said that I should not talk about him or his past around him, but can I talk about him around you?
Rachel: By him, you mean my father?
Francesca just nods.
Rachel: No, not in public. Not in front of others.
Francesca: What about in private, between you and I, like here and now?
Rachel: Hmmm… Why?
Francesca: I just want to know him better. What he likes, what he dislikes, does he find me attractive?
Rachel: Francesca… What are you trying to tell me?
Francesca: Ferro got me all confused in asking those questions last night before dinner.
Rachel: Confused about?
Francesca: How I feel towards your father.
Rachel: How do you feel towards him?
Francesca: I know that I do love him, and in that it is greatly so.
Rachel: But…
Francesca: That's it, I do not know.
Rachel: You willing to… hmmm have sex with him?
Francesca: If he wants that, yes.
Rachel: Any and every time he so wishes?
Francesca: Yes.
Rachel: You feel empty inside when he is not around?
Francesca: Empty? More like incomplete.
Rachel: You got it bad then.
Francesca: Got what bad?
Rachel: What's your level of conditioning?
Francesca: Don't know, but its going to be changed when I see Dr. Bianchi again.
Rachel: Your conditioning meds are pushing you to have those feelings.
Francesca: How do you know?
Rachel: I go through such feelings too. I mean, yeah, I love my father to death, and would want to do things to him that I think would make him happy, including having sex with him…
Francesca: But you're his daughter…
Rachel: We're not really related, only on paper because he adopted me a long time ago. But he saved my life on several occasions before and after adopting me and I owe him everything I got- including what I got… But seriously Francesca… I keep those feelings under tight control but I can feel the conditioning medication pushing those feelings to make me want to take action. For his sake, I don't. And I think the same goes for you too.
Francesca: You mean…
Rachel: My father may have saved you, and that's fine. You maybe in love with him because he saved you, and that's normal too. But the conditioning medication pushing those feelings to be more than just feelings, that is not OK. You have to be aware of that, and take actions so that the conditioning medication does not take over. You have to be in control of your emotions.
Francesca: Can I ask, what makes your father happy?
Rachel: You can stop calling him sir, for once.
Francesca: That upsets him?
Rachel: I would not call it upsetting. More like unnerving, impersonal, not user friendly.
Francesca: I see.
Rachel: He wants things between you and him to be more personal and interactive. More fluid in action. He would want us to operate as a team with a single brain where we all operate separately but together at once. You have a lot to learn since from what I can tell, so much was taken away from your memories to where you just barely function as a person. In short Francesca, he wants a friend, and with him, being friends with him is something special. Believe me, despite our age difference, we were friends a long time before he adopted me.
Francesca: Then how do I be his friend?
Rachel: You have already taken the first few steps on a long road to get there. I'm not telling you what you should be doing, because that is on you but you should keep in mind that you should be doing things that help him in his work and his personal life. You should do things that will also make you a better person for him. You should be building upon that relationship that you two have.
Francesca: So you think I should have sex with him?
Rachel freezes before she could say a word, needing to rethink her answer for a moment.
Rachel: No!
Francesca: You don't want me to have sex with your father?
Rachel: Its not that! Jeeshus!
Francesca: Then what is it?
Rachel: Uhm… Let me put it to you this way, the same answer he gave me when he and I spoke of the subject… DO NOT CONFUSE SEX FOR LOVE!
Francesca: What do you mean?
Rachel: Sex and Love are not the same thing. Look Francesca- you can have sex for the sake of having sex, or get your jollies off, and not have any emotional attachment to whomever you are having sex with. You can also use sex as a tool to bid you power over others. Sex is a very dangerous thing in and of itself, and it is not what people think love is or supposed to be. In all seriousness, Francesca- if you put sex and love together as it being one in the same thing, you are going to be seriously hurt.
Francesca just looks at her blankly.
Rachel: Look, girl. You can have sex without love, and find it physically satisfying, but its emotionally empty. Believe me, I know.
Francesca: You do? But, You're…
Rachel: I'm 13. Been sexually active since 8 or so, but that's because I have been raped several times and now I take sex as something that I can get when I want it. But seriously, Francesca- Sex without that emotional attachment is hurtful to yourself even though while its happening it feels good. It is not a good feeling to have in the end.
Francesca: Have you had sex since becoming a cyborg?
Rachel: No.
Francesca: No? Why not?
Rachel: Because the one person I would want it from is my father. I mean, don't get me wrong, I could go out and screw 1/2 the guys in this shitty compound, but none of them will fill the emotional void within me that I want filled. With my father, I have that with or without the sex. And for now that is all I need, and I have it through him. No one else on this Earth does that for me.
Francesca: Then, can I ask a very personal favor?
Rachel: What would that be?
Francesca: Can I share in that emotional sharing you two have?
Rachel: That depends between you and him. As for us, we are as girls go and not one bit more. I don't know what your preference is, but I don't like girls as extreme interpersonal relationship partners.
Francesca: Huh?
Rachel: I like guys, not girls, in other words- I'm not a lesbian.
Francesca: Oh… I'm sorry… I just meant...
Rachel (interrupting her): No- you are too empty headed to know any better, and its not your fault. They did this to you and my father is trying to fix it. Look, what happens between you and my father is between you two. But if you do anything to hurt him or try to get in between us, I will deal with you myself, and I will not forgive you for doing that.
Francesca: I'm…
Rachel (interrupting her and giving her a stern): I'm what, Francesca? I'm Sorry? For what? I can see what and where you are going with this. And I may have been wrong in trying to steer towards his direction, but you want to take this all the way- why? Because you want to have sex with him? Or you can not control the conditioning medication hold on your emotions? I'm telling you this here and now, Francesca… before you take any actions- good or bad in relations with my father, you better have total control of your emotions that the conditioning medication maybe twisting into an enhanced altered perverted state. Until then you are not to ever think of my father in those terms ever again!
Francesca bolts out of the door crying, and runs down the hall.
Rachel (to herself): Swell, now I got to fix that somehow before tomarrow's mission begins.
Rachel sits by her table and thinks as to what to say and do in order to fix what has been said and done without changing a word of it. But this will not be until later tonight when things have calmed down a bit through out the compound. Though Fernando is not there, she knows that she has to be ready for him for tomorrow's mission and Francesca has to be as ready as well. There can not be no room for emotions or let downs during a mission, so all this personal stuff has to be dealt with before or after, not during, the mission. Though just a few missions old herself, Rachel has learned this from the very beginning. It is Francesca that she is unsure of, and uncertainty is one thing that can not be allowed for one to have at the start of a mission.
The late afternoon hours fall into early evening, and most of the girls of SWA Section 2 has had their last main meal of the day or are about to. Rachel decides to take her meal from the compound's cafeteria to her dorm room. Rachel had a rather rough time with her meal. It seemed that it had too much guilt seasoning in it. She puts back the meal into its little carry boxes, and ties it up tightly before getting up and leaving her room. She walks the maze of halls that H-shaped building seems to be in at times, finding Francesca's room quickly at the opposite end. She knocks at the door, but there was no answer. She tries again, and there was no answer still. A twist of the doorknob opens the door, finding the room to be empty. 'Perhaps she was at the cafeteria', Rachel thought.
Rachel walks inside the room, turning on the light inside. With the room lit, she could see that Francesca's personal message pad was on the table. A short note was scribbled on it.
'I write this so the agency will not have to come looking for me as I venture out in my quest. There is no one I have to seek approval of except for the one who I must seek and find, for it is he who has all my answers and he who I must prove myself to him.'
Rachel (to herself): Girl, if daddy is not in trouble now, thanks to you he will be.
Rachel takes the note and stuffs it into her pocket, before running out of Francesca's room with the door slamming closed behind her. She makes her way to Claes and Triela's room. There she finds her target- Triela.
Rachel: Triela, give me your cell phone!
Triela (tending to her teddy bears): What for?
Rachel: I need to make an emergency phone call.
Triela: Then go use your room phone.
Rachel: I know that the room phones are bugged.
Triela: So is my cell phone.
Rachel (seeing the cell phone on the table): That is a chance I will have to take.
Rachel takes a couple of running steps towards the table. Triela tries to intercept and manages to grab Rachel's hand as she grabs the cellphone.
Triela: That's my cellphone!
Rachel: And I got an emergency call to make!
Triela: And I said NO!
Claes walks in from tending to Meeshie's needs.
Claes: What's going on here?
Triela: This little puttana wants to take my cellphone!
Claes: Rachel…
Rachel: I need to make an emergency phone call!
Triela: And I Told Her No!
Claes: Rachel! Put The Cellphone Down! NOW!
Outnumbered 2 to 1, Rachel does as she was told.
Claes: Now, why is it so important that you have to make this phone call and to who that you cant do it on your room phone.
Rachel: I know that the room phones are bugged.
Claes: So is Triela's cellphone. In fact all out going communications are monitored in case you forgot. Only way I see out of it is if one can sneak in a satellite communications access and use VoIP.
Rachel: VoIP?
Claes: You know- like Skype, Net2Phone, or MagicJack.
Rachel: Skype?
Claes: Yes, Skype.
Rachel: Alright then. Triela, I wont be needing your shitty cell phone after all.
Triela gives her a mean look. With a final goodbye, Rachel leaves their room and walks into her room. There she sits on the bed for a moment, carefully listening in on her neighbors across the hall.
Triela: The nerve of her, I swear!
Claes: Her handler spoils her too much. He's out probably getting drunk and picking up whores, and she wants to be in bed with him because of premission jitters.
Triela: Hillshire will not do that to me.
Claes: How would you know? You're not in bed with him to know what he does in bed…
Rachel then gets up and walks out of her room, and walks down the hall to the far end where her god-father's room was at. She lets herself in with her key and closes the door behind her. She locks it for added measure.
Once behind his desk, she turns on his computer, inputting the various passwords to get in that he had so given her so long ago. She stares at his desktop for the moment, looking at the various icons that were on it. She finds the Skype icon and double clicks it. In a second the program was running, with the words "No Network Connection Found." For a moment, Rachel sat there dumbstruck at the possibility of not being able to connect.
The fumbling at the door knob caught Rachel's attention even more. Considering that Fernando has a high alcohol tolerance and in most cases, he uses the RU-22 pill, it is doubtful that he would have 'came home' drunk. Even if he would have came home drunk, he would not be so clumsy in trying to open his own door. Rachel continued to stare at the door until it opened.
Rachel: Katherine, what are you doing here?!!
Katherine (pulling out her lock picks from the door's lock): I'm about to ask you the same question.
Rachel: I got keys, so I'm allowed to be in here.
Katherine: Oh, so you got keys… maybe I can barrow them?
Rachel: No. And again, what are you doing in here?
Katherine: I was trying to patch things up with your father and Juanita, but it seems he is not here… Now why are you here.
Rachel: I was trying to call him on Skype but this stupid computer said it has no network connection.
Katherine: You were going to call…
Rachel: don't get any funny ideas, I got an emergency that only he can to deal with.
Katherine: What kind of emergency?
Rachel: Its that new cyborg girl-Francesca. She ran away looking for him.
Katherine: Oh, that is a problem… look… I help you get a network connection, you don't tell your father that I broke into his room. Deal?
Rachel: Deal. But it cant be any of the compound networks, they are all monitored.
Katherine (looking over the computer screen): No problem… I'm sure your father told you that we CIA Agents have our own private network. It is just a matter of… lets see. You mind letting me sit so I can connect you?
Rachel gets out of the desk chair and lets Katherine to sit in it. Katherine starts going over the Network Preferences and manages to connect to one an old American Communications satellite relay. It uses an old code and slow relay but it will get the job done. Skype connects to the network.
Katherine: There you are.
Rachel hops to the desk and sees that the Skype window has "Connected To Network." on it.
Rachel: OK- Out.
Katherine: Out?
Rachel: We both promised that if you can connect me to a network so I can make this call, that I wont tell dad about you breaking into his room.
Katherine: But…
Rachel: Go sit on the bed so you cant see the screen.
Katherine (walking over to the bed): Damn, you are so paranoid.
Rachel (inputting account and password information, then makes the call): In this place you have to be.
The Skype software goes through its connections, bouncing several relays until Fernando's cellphone is reached.
Rachel (while Fernando's cellphone rings over the computer's speaker): Don't you dare say a word when he answers.
Katherine: What, you think I'm the type of person that would take advantage of the situation?
Rachel: Yes… Now Shut Up!
Katherine gives her a mean look, which she ignores. The cellphone answers on the 4th ring.
Rachel: Damn-that's his answering machine…
Katherine: How do you know?
Rachel: After the 4th ring, the answering machine picks up.
After the message plays its out, Rachel leaves a message.
Rachel: Daddy, Francesca ran away looking for you. I don't know where she went but my conditioning tells me she's probably at where we found you before. Find her and tell her that I'm sorry…
Rachel disconnects the call and quits the Skype program. She then tells the computer to shut down.
Rachel (to herself): I hope he gets it in time.
Katherine: Fernando never answers any of my calls.
Rachel: Maybe he does not want too.
Katherine: Why I never…
Rachel: Well, anyways, go so I can lock the door.
Katherine gets up out of the bed and walks to the door. Rachel gets up after her. Once outside the hall, Rachel locks the door and they both continue to walk down. But in just the few steps they took, Section 2 security guards block off the hallway at both ends. With weapons drawn, they surround the two of them.
"So I was stabbing this mudder fudder, plunging the blade into him again and again, but he was not bleeding! I must have stabbed him 20 or 30 times, and he would still not go down!"
"*BEEP!* *BEEP!* *BEEP!*"
"Excuse me, I have to get this."
"Sure… So like I was saying- thus mudder fudder would not go down! I swear I so hate dealing with drugged up felons!"
"To play your messages, press 1"
"*BEEP!*"
"Daddy, Francesca ran away looking for you. I don't know where she went but my conditioning tells me she's probably at where we found you before. Find her and tell her that I'm sorry…"
"Fucking shit… Sorry, fellas. I cant stay. Got to go home and beat up the wife and kids again"
"You sure you cant stay another minute?"
"Trust me… maybe next time."
"Alright. Smell you later!"
"Yeah-stinky, smell ya too!"
The screeching tires of a car trying to make a fast get away can be heard disappearing into the background.
