Saga in Roanapur Three
"They tried to kidnap Erya?!" Visha growled out angrily, her and Tanya rousted out of bed once the emergency team got back.
"I'm fine!" Erya reassured her friend.
"STILL!" Visha yelled.
Tanya raised a hand, stilling the sudden meeting. "Do we know who it was that tried it?" she asked them, but mostly looking at Erya.
"No," Erya scowled. She did NOT like being caught by surprise by this sort of thing. It was a disgrace for a spymaster!
"We WILL find out," Visha said flatly.
"Who rescued you?" Tanya changed the subject a bit.
"Aya Iseshima, an enforcer for Hotel Moscow," Erya said. She frowned as she admitted, "I don't know what her agenda is."
"She may not have an agenda," Visha pointed out.
Erya gave Visha a wry look, "I sometimes find myself surprised at how innocent you remain. Everyone has an agenda."
"Either way, we owe her a debt," Tanya mused.
"Sorry," Erya said to Tanya, "I should have been more on guard."
Tanya just ignored that, "We'll find out who did tis. Then they'll pay."
Visha yawned, then Tanya followed, both looking sheepish.
Erya looked amused, "It's late. I'll see you in the morning, ma'am?"
"Right," Tanya agreed.
As they were going Erya added impishly, "Nice nightie, Visha. And nice boxers, ma'am."
A now fiercely blushing Visha hustled Tanya and her out of the room.
Erya felt a bit bad at interrupting their fun. Still, she hadn't been the one to barge in on them. Poor Grantz was in the dog house...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The attempted kidnapping was news all over Roanaput by morning.
"I am not happy," Balalaika noted flatly, sitting in her office puffing on a cigar.
"Ma'am," Boris stood at attention.
"If someone attempted to kidnap one of our troops, I would burn this town down finding them," Balalaika mused, "and I'm certain Degurechaff would do the same. And that kind of chaos is just bad for business." Balalaika smoked her cigar, brooding a bit.
Boris cleared his throat, "We have people looking into this, but apparently other than Miss Aya, there were few witnesses."
"Aya gave us a good description?" Balalaika asked.
"Yes, but they were generic foot soldiers. Street trash, with no real identifying marks," Boris admitted.
Balalaika grunted softly. "And I suspect they'll be floating in the bay in a few days," she added, "dead men tell no tales. Especially since they failed."
"Hmm," Boris agreed.
"Order our people to look into it," Balalaika ordered, "I want to know who ordered it. Ideally before the Germans decide to rampage."
"Yes ma'am," Boris saluted and left.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"BENNY!" Greenback Jane cried as she practically jumped the man.
"Aw fuck she's back again," Revy muttered.
Greenback Jane was a computer hacker and money forger, as well as Benny's girlfriend. They had first met her when she was on the run from a small army of hired killers. After THAT mess, they got tangled up again when Jane framed a fellow hacker, Peking Duck. Rock and Revy ended up hired to help protect Duck, and they successfully reversed the frame onto Jane herself. Hence her being away for awhile.
"YOU," Jane glared at Rock as she walked over to him.
'Ah, shit,' Rock braced himself.
"Nicely played," Jane clapped him on the shoulder, "well done. No hard feelings."
Rock blinked, "What."
"Oh, I was pissed off at first," Jane admitted, "but I'm a pro. And that was a nice piece of work you and Duck pulled off."
"Thanks. I think," Rock said, bemused.
"Now that I'm back after a few months... I WANNA GET LAID!" Jane cheered as she went back to Benny.
"Jane!" Benny blushed furiously.
"Too much information," Dutch noted, the tall man looking amused. He addressed Revy and Rock, "Why don't we hit the Yellow Flag and give these lovebirds some alone time?"
"Thanks, Dutch," Jane smiled warmly.
As they walked off Rock noticed Jane giving Revy a lingering look, who then looked away, blushing slightly.
"What was that about?" Rock asked Revy later, both of them drinking rum.
"Nothing," Revy said firmly.
Rock tossed back his drink, putting the glass down as he noted, "Oh, there was something. She actually looked kind of flirty."
Revy tossed back her own drink, then refilled her cup. "Well,,,." she sighed.
"Yeah?" Rock refilled his own drink.
"You remember the last time that Jane was here, and she went out with Benny on the boat?" Revy reminded him.
"Uh huh," Rock nodded.
"Well, she told me she wanted to invite you along too, for... well, you can guess," Revy said. She drank again, "I pretty much threatened her that is she tried that, I'd fuck her myself. So well that she'd never be satisfied with a guy again."
Rock looked at her blankly a moment as various mental images ran through his head. "That's kinda hot," he admitted.
Revy punched him in the shoulder.
"Sorry," Rock smiled wryly. He continued, "So... you think she wants to take you up on that?"
"Damn if I know...," Revy admitted.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Next morning, as predicted, several bodies were found floating in the bay.
"I think someone tried to weigh the bodies down, but fucked up," Chief Watsup muttered. Someone had cut their throats, but in a crude looking way.
A minion was sent, and not long after Erya and Aya were brought there.
"These the guys that tried to grab you?" he asked Erya.
"Other than being drowned, yes," Erya said dryly.
"That's them," Aya agreed.
"Did you two off 'em?" the Chief asked briskly.
"No!" Aya yelped.
"You're just asking us that?" Erya scowled at him. The Chief just shrugged. "No, we did not," Erya said.
"All right," Watsup continued, "we'll try to get them identified. Once we do, we'll let you know."
"Thank you," Erya sighed.
"I'll expect the usual payment for quick service from Degurechaff," the Chief added as he walked off.
"I forgot, everyone pays off the cops here," Erya muttered.
"It surprised me too, when I first arrived," Aya agreed.
Erya smiled at the younger asian woman, "Thank you, again. I hope your saving me didn't cause trouble for you."
"I got scolded, but I think Balalaika didn't actually mind," Aya said.
Erya made a mental note that the girl actually interacted with the head of Hotel Moscow. Interesting. Part of her was tempted to try pumping the girl for information, but... there was a wariness in her eyes. And a feel of betrayal. Best not to try that.
"I need to get back to work," Aya said, excusing herself.
"I would like to take you to dinner or something," Erya improvised quickly, "to thank you."
Aya gave her a thoughtful look, "We'll see."
To be continued...
Notes: Yes, Erya being in trouble interrupted Tanya/Visha sexy-times.
It is actually CANON in the manga that Revy is bi, AND basically threatened to fuck Jane into submission. Not kidding. Might do that as a side bit on Archive Of Our Own.
That is the ACTUAL Police Chief's name. I think it was meant as a joke, but...