Thank you for the reviews! Now unfortunately, I'm not going to be setting a quota for chapter length, story length, or expected time for updates, as I need to focus on studying and work. I own nothing and all credit goes to Rei Hiroe and all respective publishers of his works. This is a fanfiction and a transformative work that is not intended to infringe in any way on the original creator's and publishers' works. Rated M in case you missed it. Thanks for reading!

Chapter 2 Morning Glory Part 1

Rock was startled awake in the dark in the early hours of the morning, to the sound of an explosion in the distance. This didn't seem to cause Revy to stir even in the slightest, which brought Rock's attention to her.

She was pressed up against his side in her near completely nude form, with her arms wrapped around his right arm, head resting on his shoulder, and right leg draped over his. Rock turned a darker shade crimson when he realized her breasts were pressed into him. Blushing profusely in the dark, his attempt to shrink away from her embrace only earned him a tighter squeeze by Revy. She mumbled unintelligible curses under her breath and instinctually weaved her legs around his right leg, pressing her sex against his hip, tightening her hold on him.

This move made Rock forgo all the blushing, as the blood was running somewhere else instead. His thoughts were beginning to stray into forbidden territory.

I wonder what that would've been like, if I joined her in that shower back then during Roberta's last rampage. What things would be like now, between us. Would it have made any difference? He pondered these things as he began to tent his boxers.

A man can only be modest for so long. It's almost become mesmerizing to see this woman fly about blasting away foes like she does. Leaping around with these legs…

Rock used his free arm to slowly trace two fingers up Revy's scarred thigh, stopping at her hip when the bandages met his fingers.

Her leg seemed to have a mind of its own as it rubbed a path up across his groin and onto his lower abdomen. It brushed down over his hardening member, stopping to rest atop it.

Rock examined Revy's body from his position on the bed, taking his time as he eyed her head to toe. He savored the sight that he was sure could only happen in some twisted fantasy he had concocted on one of the many nights he's spent in Roanapur alone. He swallowed the saliva in his mouth, and tried hard to pry his eyes away from her.

That was when the snoring began. It was a kind of wheezing snore, grating on his ears like the sound of a big farm animal breathing heavy from stress.

This brought a soft smile to Rock's features, and brought his thoughts back down out of the clouds. Exercising a larger than usually needed amount of mental restraint, Rock remembered he needed to keep her at arm's length, physically, and emotionally if he can.

She is an extremely volatile and dangerous woman after all.

He knew the risky game he was playing with Revy wouldn't end in his favor if he made even a single wrong step. He also knew it was sick to do this to her in the state she was in, awake or not. Seeing how she reacts to his modest and professional demeanor, he could only imagine how she might react if she woke up now, being felt up while wrapped around him, looking like a needy sex kitten.

Her purr certainly doesn't match the picture, that's for sure.

Rock laid in bed with Revy for a good while longer, wearing a somber expression on his face, enjoying the creature comfort that he'll likely not get to share with her again.

Rock thought about how Revy had become his personal bodyguard while he goes about conducting business for the Lagoon Company.

I guess I've really come to rely on her presence to make things go smoothly as can be. And what a fine sight she's been, working on the job. I can't say I've ever had a fellow co-worker that looks like this. She's saved my life numerous times and gotten me out of many incredibly dangerous situations too, gunning down enemies with her own self-taught dance of death. I'm afraid to say it to her, but I'm starting to have garner an appreciation for her killing skills. The monster I've always thought she was, well, I guess she seems to be less and less menacing as time goes on.

After carefully and slowly extracting himself from her grasp, so that he wouldn't wake her, Rock let himself into her bathroom and took a quick, cold shower. He finished up by rinsing his mouth with a bottle of mouthwash he grabbed out of a cardboard box that contained most of Revy's hygiene products.

Wow, that is some strong mouthwash, now I swear I've used this brand before…

It just so happened to be a brand of mouthwash with an unusually high 35% alcohol content. Rock realized it was the same bottle as the one at the Lagoon Company office. Just another one of the many products they've imported into Roanapur in the past few weeks, along with the usual guns and contraband.

Rock thought out loud, "Ah, yeah, makes sense."

Leaving the bathroom, walking into the main room of Revy's flat, Rock stole a glance at Revy's sleeping form. The blanket, snaked around her body, had slipped down off her waistline, and the outline of the early dawn light shined around the closed curtains above her bed. It cast a faint glow over her shapely body.

He mumbled, "If I had a type…"

Rock quietly scrounged around her cabinets in the main room, and found a dusty electric skillet. He decided that he would make some breakfast if he could find something remotely edible in her fridge. Not finding much anything of use, he finished dressing up and slipped out, taking a quick walk out to the nearest corner store where he knew he could get fresh eggs.

Letting himself back in quietly, and after stealing another glance at Revy, Rock began filling the hot skillet with cracked eggs, broken yolk. He found some salt and pepper shakers, and put some nearly stale bread in her toaster.

In a flash, Revy awoke in a start, throwing the blanket off and sitting up clasping her side with a panicked expression. Taking a gulp of air out of shock, she let out a guttural scream of pain. This caused Rock to fling the piece of fried egg he was flipping over, out the pan and onto the floor.

"AAWWWW FUCK! aww it HURTS!"

"Jeez Re.."

"GET ME A FUCKING DRINK RIGHT NOW ROCK! Oohhh Christ, MMMmmmm fuck fuck fuck FUUCK that hurrrts."

Revy clutched her wound, and curled up into a ball.

Rock approached with three prescription pain killers and a tall glass of water.

"Not a fucking glass of water YOU SHITHEAD! Get me some booze you motherfucker, ooohhh oowwwh."

When she got no response, she opened her eyes, and looked over to see Rock standing at her bedside. He had a frown on his face, and in his two outstretched hands he held the same items. Mumbling more curses in between groans of pain, she took the pills and drank the water.

Rock stated, "You do know you can't mix booze with these Revy."

Revy snapped, barking at him with a threatening tone, "NOOO SHIT! I fucking know Rock."

Luckily, Rock had prepared for this the night before, he knew he wouldn't be able to wake her up in the night and make her take the scheduled dose of pain meds. That idea might have ended up getting him shot. Instead, he had slipped out of bed after he was sure she was out cold, went downstairs for more water and ice, and made up some ice bags to put in the freezer. He anticipated something like this would happen.

Bringing three of them over to her, Rock looked her in the eye and said sternly, "One of these for your wound, one for your forehead, and one for the back of your neck."

Taking the ice, Revy retorted, "Oh, for FUCKS SAKE ROCK! What, do I need to call you mommy now?"

"Thankyou works nicely, Revy."

"Fuck you." Revy snapped, defeatedly.

Rock returned after cleaning up the mess with some fried eggs on toast for Revy. The two took their time and ate in relative silence, except for an occasional hiss from Revy, still dealing with serious pain while she was eating.

Even though he was beginning to get fed up with her outbursts, Rock felt the need to do all he could.

"You need to change the dressing on your wound Revy, would you like some help?"

Revy sat up, holding the ice bags on her neck and forehead in place. She spoke with a pained deadpan expression on her face, "Yes mommy."

Rock grabbed what he needed from her closet. Sitting down behind her on the bed, he took the icepacks from her and set them on her nightstand. He started at the top, and began the tedious process of unwrapping the compression bandage that spanned across her lower back and abdomen.

Rock asked politely, "Arms up please."

Revy complied without a word.

Revy remarked, "These painkillers sure hit you fast… whoa."

She swayed a bit while she sat upright.

"It's about time, I was afraid the doctor gave you sugar pills for a while there."

"Definitely the real deal."

Rock said plainly, "Yeah I went ahead and gave you one extra."

He removed the gauze covering her budget surgery job.

"Ooo, easy Rock, that shit still hurts when you do that, Fuck."

Revy blushed when Rock reached around her sides and continued unwrapping the compression bandage down to the top of her panties.

"Okay, panties off." Rock ordered.

He spoke in a tone of voice that was supposed to sound stern, but the words came out alittle meek instead.

"Ha! Don't get any ideas Rock, I'm not that easy you prick."

Rock replied, "I would never…"

"Oh shut up." Revy quipped.

She put her panties back on. Her face was in full blush, unbeknownst to Rock sitting behind her.

Rock began re-wrapping her wound, starting higher up than the doctor had thankfully. Revy tensed up slightly under his touch as he finished up the last pass, smoothing the end of the compression bandage over her navel with his hand. A reaction which she hoped Rock had not noticed.

Rock had noticed, he had noticed a lot more that he should have been while he was helping her out. He wanted to run his hands down her sides, and pull her back gently onto his chest, down onto the bed together and run his hands up her legs.

Shit, this is bad, oh dear!

A large case of morning glory was starting to come on again.

Rock nervously said, "Alright, all done!"

He got up quickly to clean up the makeshift kitchen he had going on her table.

"Fucks gotten into you Rock?" Revy asked with a raised brow.

He had his back to her as he worked.

"Nothing Revy. I just, I think we should call in to Dutch soon if you are up for it. You know, see what's going on after yesterday."

"Yeah I hate to say it but I'll be of little help if I can't walk let alone run. I'm gonna have to sit out whatever he's got goin on up the stream this time. Christ, I guess I'll be missing out on that paycheck after all." Revy stated, matter-of-factly.

I bet she hates being like this, like some disgruntled helpless case.

"I'm sure he'll be fine with it, all things considered. The company needs its prize gunman at her best anyways, so that is a good thing you're going to take it slow Revy." Rock said.

Revy stretched her arms out and pulled open the drapes above her bed.

"I'll probably get a hard time if I don't show up or call in soon though. They'll probably be needing me to help smooth over the deal that fell through for those guns with the Rip-off Church and Chang." Rock said.

She replied, "I'm sure they've got things under control Rock, don't get your panties in a twist." Rock smiled at that.

Revy got up out of her bed and walked into her bathroom to wash her hair and get dressed. At the same time, Rock did some more house cleaning around her flat. After the two were done, they found themselves sitting across from one another at her table. Revy's wall mounted AC was screaming its guts out trying to keep up with the murky Roanapur heat, ever-rising, as noon drew closer.

Letting out a sigh and checking his watch, Rock said, "Well I better give them a call, it's already 11:30."

The main line was busy, as was Dutch's cell phone, so Rock sat and waited with Revy. Deciding that he would call again in two minutes.

11:40 AM

On main street Roanapur, a Japanese man with jet-black hair, dressed in a white dress shirt and slacks, got up from his table in a crowded Italian restaurant, leaving a decent tip for the staff.

This man had left a large laptop bag under his table, knowing well that the staff had seen it. Also knowing nobody would bother to bring it out to him in this disgusting, stinking, and evil city he'd been assigned to several days ago.

The right person will find it soon, the man figured.

This brought a smile to his face.

He took his time walking down the busy street. After crossing it, the man waded through a crowd of pedestrians and ducked into a cheap hotel.

Meanwhile at the Lagoon Company office…

Dutch sat on the couch in the main room, massaging his temples under his glasses.

"This shit is madness Benny, I swear to god. All this time we've spent calling around and we haven't got a single lead on those assholes. I don't like it."

Benny pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He sat off to the side of the main seating room, busy at his desk. He was scrolling through a forum on his desktop.

He replied, "Yeahh Dutch, I'm in the same boat with you there. I'm really starting to get a bit antsy, I checked everywhere I could on my end. All I could find that could even be remotely related, after all the calls too, are these bullshit posts on a forum out of Taiwan about a shift in party politics, prostitution, and military strategy." Benny paused and scratched his head. "Just... nothing stands out."

Dutch said, "I highly doubt that has anything to do with our shit storm yesterday. Those guys slipped right under my nose. I saw them heading out the mouth of the river and thought nothing of it. Hell, one of the boats had nets on it hauling a catch of fish."

"Yeah I saw them on the instruments, I called it out, but I figured they were just a fishing party too. Huh, I suppose I wasn't wrong." Benny said.

"I should have seen that coming though, I've had that shit happen before back during 'Nam. Seriously, I should have seen that coming, Fuck man…" Dutch trailed off, remembering his close call in the Mekong Delta.

Benny said, "Well I guess they died hungry and we didn't, so the jokes on them in the end." He clicked his way onto another webpage. "We really haven't had any jobs go this bad in a while, and when one does go wrong, we're always able to get some scrap of info on our adversaries to go off of. Now that we can't, what do you think is the next best move Dutch?"

"Well, before we go there Benny, I'd say it's safe to say the blast we heard early this morning likely has nothing to do with those guys that ambushed us."

"Oh yeah?" Benny asked.

"Balalaika's conclusion came down to it being a bomb that Torchy sold to some Chinese guy. She said he kept going on cracked out of his mind, that it was that quiet fucker who doesn't fit in around this utopian moon base we cohabit in peacefully." Dutch said.

The two men got a good laugh in.

"Ha, what the hell." Benny said.

Dutch continued, "So basically, he thought it was Rock buying the bomb. Balalaika got a bit of amusement out of that herself."

Benny remarked, "Heh, yeah, give me whatever he's having."

Dutch agreed, "Yup, it'd be a cold day in hell if Rock ever fired a gun at his own will, let alone set off a bomb. Shit, I'm just glad we haven't gotten in a situation where we really needed another gunman yet."

Benny supposed, "I'm sure the day is coming."

Letting out a sigh, Dutch replied, "I thought it had yesterday, for a while there. That's why I want to get those damn guns for the Lagoon. An anti-tank rifle, RPG, and a bunch of small arms can only do so much."

He continued, "But you know, for Rock's sake Benny, I hope that day never comes. He's a good man, one of the few good ones here in this place. Though he can seriously do some damage in his own way. That shit he concocted back during the last rampage of the psycho maid, freaks me the fuck out, still, to this day."

Benny stated, "Yeah he's definitely the resident wolf in sheep's clothing here in Roanapur, I just don't think he knows it yet."

Dutch said, "He's even had one of the main players in this city, Balalaika, lean on him and rely on him, and then he goes and directly insults her judgement, right to her face, yet he lives. One moment the man has got balls of steel, the next, he's shitting a brick. Sometimes I think those balls are bigger than his brain, but he makes his own paycheck and then some with his contributions, especially so after that payday from Chang. So it's safe to say he's a bonafide asset for business, even when we're in the low like we are now."

Benny shrugged his shoulders and teased the idea, "That he is. So how about that next move Dutch? Now I know you really don't want me to peek inside that hard drive, but we miight just find a few answeerrs..." He eyed the hard drive that sat on the coffee table as he spoke.

"Ohh no you don't, we've been over that already Benny. Besides, I'm really just waiting on a response from Chang right now. I mean one would think the man would have called me back by now, or at least pick up his damn phone, that alone just doesn't bode well with me."

"Yep, I'm not liking it either boss."

"Well let's drink on it Benny boy, shall we?"

Dutch stood up and walked over to the fridge.

"Now that." Benny yawned and cracked his neck. "Sounds like a grand idea Dutch."

Benny shut down his work desktop, and rolled over to the seating area on his office chair.

Dutch asked Benny what brand he wanted and reached to the back of the fridge, grabbing four of the coldest ones. After turning around and tossing two towards Benny, Dutch kicked the fridge closed with the bottom of his boot as he started back towards the seating area.

At the exact moment the fridge door slammed closed, an explosion in the distance, sounding much like the one in the early morning, echoed throughout the port city of Roanapur.

Dutch looked down at his boot-clad foot. "Well shit."

Benny cracked one of his beers and spoke with a grin, "Uhhh, I really hope those bombs aren't related to our situation, now that you mention it Dutch."

Cracking his own beer and downing half the can, Dutch replied, "Me too Benny boy, me too."

They sat and drank.

After several minutes the two spent lost in thought, Dutch spoke up, "Benny, give Praiyachat a call for me would ya? Put in a carry out order for some boxes of 9x19 Parabellum, one box of .44 Magnum hollow points, and two boxes of 3-inch magnum buckshot. Get a few 3-inch rifled hollow point slugs for me too, uhhh and three dozen 40mm grenades and two RPG rounds for Revy."

"Whoa, that's a lotta damage, alrighty, you got it boss." Benny replied.

He rolled back over in his office chair, to the phone sitting on the desk.

Benny said, "Can't really go through the Rip-off church since that deal fell through on the armaments for the Lagoon, can you."

"Nope, I got quite the talking to from Sister Yolanda about that. Damn, I wish Chang would pick up is phone. Oh, while you're at it, call Rock first and update him, he's probably over at Revy's apartment still. I got a feeling he spent the night with her." Dutch said, cracking a grin.

Benny chuckled. "You don't really believe that he's spent the night there, do you?"

"Oh I don't know about that Benny boy, come on, are you tellin' me you really didn't see the way he was looking at her the other night? He also hasn't called in sharp and early like he does."

Benny smiled and shook his head in disbelief while Dutch spoke.

"Yeah I saw, but I doubt he's spent the night with her, I know they're in to eachother, but even then, I just don't see them there yet."

Dutch challenged with a point of his finger, "Ten bucks says he's there right now."

Benny anted up, "Deal."

Dutch got up, talking while he grabbed another beer to go, "I'm going to call Sister Yolanda once more, try to smooth that deal over with her again. Chang only paid for half of the arms up front, he told her if we were to succeed in our delivery that he would pay the rest. She can't get ahold of him either, so she wasn't exactly sharing god's grace with me earlier. Then I should give Balalaika another ring, wouldn't be bad to ask if she was speaking in a plural sense when she told me about that bomb. Maybe something there, maybe not."

"Man I hope not." Benny said.

"Tell Rock I said he should stay with Revy, if there's a new terrorist in town who looks like him, it's best he stays off the streets for now. I'll be out running a checkup on the Lagoon if you need me."

Dutch whipped his cell out of his pocket. He walked towards the door that opened to the stairs leading down into the workshop.

Dutch paused before he met the door, and talked over his shoulder, "Oh, and Benny? It might just be my close call with death talking, but I'm getting a bad feeling about this little mess we've gotten into. So stay alert, and keep busy."

Benny understood. "I gotcha Dutch, I'll leave the window open here, I'll holler if something comes up." He stood and opened said window, one that overlooked the workshop below, that housed the Lagoon.

Dutch made his way down the stairs behind the door, cell phone to his ear. Benny picked up the landline and dialed Rock's number.

12:01 PM

The two were burning through a pack of cigarettes together, relaxing in the cool airflow that was pumping out of the AC.

Rock spoke up out of anxiousness, "They've probably been at it all morning, damn, I hope they aren't too pissed about me not showing up."

"Oh, shut up Rock! They probably know you've been trying to get through to them. You've only tried calling six times already."

Rock's cell phone started ringing on the center of the table between them. He rushed to grab it, only to have Revy beat him to it. She snatched it up and flipped it open.

"Hello, and FUUCK YOUU for sending this dickhead home with me last night! I don't need a god damn suicide watch for fucks sake!"

She held Rock back with one arm. He kept trying to snatch his phone back.

"Oh reallly? So he did stay the night, damn." Benny said.

Holding the phone away from his head, Benny leaned over and shouted out the window, "You were right Dutch! Where do you want those ten bucks?"

Dutch had the Lagoon out of the water and suspended midair. He was inspecting the hull of the Lagoon, on hold for sister Yolanda when he heard Benny holler from the window above.

Chuckling, Dutch boomed up at the window from down on the workshop floor, "I told you so Benny boy! Put that ten dollars in my Ardbeg fund!"

Looking at the phone in her hand with an outraged expression, Revy shouted, "GO FUCK YOURSELF BENNY! YOU MOTHE..."

Rock pried the phone out of Revy's grasp. She kept on trying to shout more profane threats at Benny though, regardless of who was holding the phone.

Holding his hand over the receiver, Rock sat on Revy's bed and spoke into his cell, "So what's the deal Benny? I've been trying to get through to one of you guys, I'm sorry I didn't call earlier in the morning."

Revy quieted down and joined Rock sitting on the bed, she pressed herself into his side, cocking her head closer to his, in order to eavesdrop. Rock felt her hair, which she had yet to put up into her signature ponytail, spread across the back of his hand that held the phone, and settle around him. The scent of her hair overwhelmed his senses.

Rock thought, A feeling, a smell, a sensation, that I wouldn't mind getting used to.

"Heh, hey no problem Rock. Well, where to begin.. Dutch and I have been on and off the phones all morning making calls to all business and non-business contacts. I think he's on the phone with Sister Yolanda again, has been for awhile actually. She's pissed that we failed our job the other day cause Chang only paid half up front and would have paid the rest on completion, but we know how that went. We couldn't find a scrap of information on our attackers yesterday, which is not good at all. And Balalaika's been tracking the mad bomber that's on the loose apparently. And get this Rock, the guy is supposed to be Chinese, and he dresses the same as you."

Rock asked incredulously, "Really? Exactly like me?"

"I shit you not." Benny said.

"I heard another explosion a bit ago, it sounded like the one this morning. I had no idea the two were connected." Rock commented.

"Yeah that's what Dutch is going to find out, he's calling Balalaika too when he's done talking with the Rip-off Church. Really though, we're hoping those bombings aren't connected in any way to our attackers yesterday." Benny said.

Rock massaged his forehead nervously. "Yeah, I hope not."

"That isn't even the worst of it Rock."

Revy pressed her body alittle harder into Rock, inching her ear closer to his phone. Rock dreaded Benny's next words.

"Uhh from my perspective, I don't see what can be worse than what you've already told me Benny."

"Chang hasn't picked up his phone once when we've tried calling him. Not even when Dutch tried calling him using his cell."

Rock asked, "Dutch only calls the mob bosses on his cell during jobs and emergencies, right?"

"Yep. Me and Dutch are getting antsy over here, he's running a checkup on the Lagoon as we speak. I wouldn't be surprised if he decides to bug out of Roanapur for a short while. I'm all for it if he does, in fact, I'm putting in a suggestion for a company-wide vacation myself. This whole ordeal just doesn't set well." Benny said.

"No, no it doesn't, not one bit." Rock replied, worriedly. "Although that doesn't mean we should just high tail it out of here, we may be able to.."

Benny cut in, "Dutch ended up going with your plans last time because you gave him no choice Rock, remember what he told you back then, during Roberta's last rampage through here. Stick to the Lagoon Company policies or we are through with you. No more interfering with mob affairs in Roanapur Rock, whatever you were starting to think just now, do us a solid, and don't. Besides, you gave everyone quite the fright when you pulled that stunt."

Rock sighed as Benny told him what he already knew. He held his head low in his other hand as he listened.

"I know Benny, and I am sorry about that."

Benny said, "Hey it's all good now though, the payout at the end of that fiasco more than made up for it, really. You've been doing a fine job keeping things going smooth for the company ever since then, if you ask me. Dutch thinks so too, so don't stress it."

Deciding she'd heard enough, Revy got up and limped over to her fridge nearby, grabbing a bottle of diet cola to drink. Unaware the expiration date was well over a year, she twisted off the lid and began gulping it down, floating bits of gunk and all.

Rock saw the date printed under the bottle. He motioned to her not to drink it.

"Thank you, Benny. Is there anything else I need to know?"

She drank it anyways.

"Nope, that about sums it up. One hell of a predicament huh?" Benny said.

"Yeah, that's some mess, what can I do to help? I can be there at the office soon if you need me. Oh and I think Revy's gonna need some time off though, she's not exactly in fighting condition."

He noted the odd expression on Revy's face.

Benny replied, "That's not a problem at all, we both figured she wouldn't be. Also, the boss says you're to lay low for now, he's getting nervous, so I'd suggest taking his direction."

"Ok, will do. I definitely don't want to be mistaken for a serial bomber. So I guess just stay here and keep taking care of Revy?"

"For the thousandth fucking time Rock, I can take care.. UURRRPPFMM! MMM! MMMM!"

Holding back the vomit in her mouth, Revy stumbled into her bathroom to release her stomach's contents.

"Yeah speak of the devil, I'll catch you later Benny, thanks, uhh yeah, heh, you too, bye."

He hung up his phone and walked into the restroom behind her. Rock held her hair back as she continued to vomit, spit, and dry heave into the toilet.

"Revy, you had those sodas in there back when I first joined Lagoon Company. They were expired then, I think."

He helped her stand.

Revy warned, "You don't say Rock."

"Hey don't shoot the messenger Revy, here let me.."

CLICK went the hammer on Revy's cutlass.

She turned and pressed it into Rock's stomach, pinning him with a threatening gaze.

His eyes were wide from the surprise, ".. help you with your hair." Rock said, sheepishly.

Rock closed his eyes, took a breath, and calmly asked with a plain expression, "Where is your hair tie?"

Revy, holstering her cutlass, frowned as she stood in front of the cracked mirror above the sink. Rock stood behind her. She fingered a hair tie out of her back pocket, handing it off to him with her right hand, while putting most of her weight on the sink using her left arm.

Rock handled her hair gently, being careful not to pull all of it back behind her head into a ponytail, styling it exactly how she always wears it.

He left her bangs alone. They concealed her eyes in the mirror.

"Thanks." She said.

"Mhmm. You can handle the rest." Rock replied, plainly.

He looked away and walked out of the bathroom. Revy slammed the door right behind him, causing him to jump.

Rock eyed the door as he searched a pocket for a pack of cigarettes.

I still can't decide if I'm beginning to like it when she's violent like that. Well, I guess it sure keeps me on my toes.

Rock's was sitting at her table smoking, when his cell rang in his pocket. Instinctively, he pulled it out and pressed talk, "Rokuro Okajima of the Lagoon Company, how can I help you today?"

"Rokoreo? Who the fuck? Hey! You dumb motherfuckers, you gave me the wrong number! What? Nooo, he said is said name is Cockuroh or some fucking bullshit. Hey dipshit, what you say your name was again?"

Rock replied plainly, "Rokuro Okajima."

This wouldn't be the first time he's had to deal with a less than bright, two-bit criminal over the phone. This one sounded like a member of the Italian Mafia.

Rock listened to an argument through the phone, hearing more than one voice cussing out the guy on the phone for his stupidity. Eventually a different person took the phone away from the initial caller, by gunpoint it sounded like, to Rock's ears.

Rock heard what he thought was an older man with a thick Italian-American accent speak. "I apologize for our friend's poor attitude there buddy, I swear he means well, problem is he's just plain dumb as bricks, ya know?"

"No problem, I've dealt with worse customers."

Why are the Italians are calling me out of the blue, and not the main office instead?

"Right" The man cleared his throat and continued, "So If you could repeat your name again for me mister that would be great. Hey, you still there?"

As the man spoke, the hair on the back of Rock's neck stood up straight.

Realizing his mistake when he connected the dots, he spoke nervously into his phone, "Ahh sir I believe you got the wrong number.."

The man insisted. "Nooo, noo I don't believe I do, I'm certain I got this number from a very reliable source. Now If you'd be so kind, could you please repeat your name for me?"

"Rokuro Okajima."

He dreaded what the man would say next.

The man politely asked, "I don't suppose you go by Rock do you?"

Beginning to panic a bit, he gulped, and answered. "Uhhm, I've had people call me that."

"Ahh, now how should I put this.. Uhhh now I know this gonna sound odd so pardon me mister, you're the Chinese man who works for Lagoon Company right? You dress like some fuckin office dickhead right?

"Uhhh.."

"You CHINK MOTHAFUCKAA! YOUR DEAD YOU HEAR ME?! I'M GONNA DRINK YOUR FUCKING BLOOD YOU LIMP DICKED PUSSY! YOU BLASTED AWAY MY FAMILY, SO WE'RE GONNA COME FUCKING MURDER YOU AND YOURS YA LITTLE FUCK!"

Rock heard what sounded like a room full of guys shouting, cheering the man on. Terrified, he hung up his cell before the man could continue further, and promptly dialed the Lagoon Company main line.

12:20 PM

Having already called Praiyachat, Benny sat back in his office chair with his feet up. He was drinking another beer while scouring the web for more leads, when the landline rang.

Snatching it up quick, in hopes it would be a callback, Benny spoke into the phone, "Lagoon Company main office, how can I help you?"

"WE'RE GONNA FUCKING MURD.."

"Wrong number." Benny said plainly, hanging up the phone.

The phone stayed silent for about six seconds, enough time for Benny to take two swigs of his beer and set it down. Picking it up when it rang again and holding away from his ear, the same screaming blared through the phone.

Benny hung it up again.

And again.

And again.

He reached his limit, when it rang again, he mashed talk on the handset.

Benny raised his voice, "Ohh here we go again. What in the hell do you want you drunken fool!?"

"Benny! It's Rock! I've been trying to get through to you, why'd you hang up on me!?" Rock asked, sounding panicked.

"Ohhhh, Ha! I'm sorry Rock, there's some drunk that was calling the main office screaming like a nutcase. You know, the usual wrong number."

Rock sounded quite upset. "Did he sound Italian?! The same guy called me and said he was going to kill us all! I answered my phone without thinking, shit!"

"Wait how'd they get your number Rock?"

"That doesn't matter right now Benny, they're going to attack the office!"

"Ok, damn, let me tell Dutch."

Benny stood up from his desk, and shuffled over to the window nearby, overlooking the shop below. Looking out onto the dock beside the Lagoon, that now sat in the water, he didn't see any sign of Dutch. What he did see, was two fishing boats floating in towards the Lagoon, flanking the company dock where she sat tied off to.

Two small fishing boats with four guys total. They were dressed like plain clothed civilian fishermen seen in the waters surrounding Roanapur. They were armed well. One of the two on the left was carrying a sawed-off M79 grenade launcher, with a fully loaded 40mm shell bandolier draped across his torso. The driver had what appeared to be an SKS-M slung over his shoulder.

The two guys in the boat on the right, who appeared to be either Taiwanese or Vietnamese, got out onto the pier. They began moving towards the Lagoon with their type 50 submachineguns raised.

Benny said, "Oh shit.."

Rock asked, "Are they already there?!"

"No, not them, oh shit, shitty shit shit, these look like those guys that attacked us yester.."

The driver shouted. "Lên đó!" Translates to: Up there!

A shot rang out. It shattered the open window above Benny's head, and the window behind him, across the room.

CRACK! Came a second round, just missing his head.

He dived for cover, ending up behind the mini fridge across the room.

"Benny! Are you okay?!"

Benny spoke into the phone, "Yeah still kicking, I'm gonna have to call you back Rock, stay put with Revy ok?!"

Benny hung up, and mumbled a small prayer as he sat shrunk up behind the mini fridge. A hail of bullets came ripping through the walls, one shattering the fluorescent lights that hung above the main room.

"SHIIIT!" Benny said in a panic.

Just then the shooting stopped, and Benny heard shouting.

"Có được người đàn ông da trắng lên đó, xem ra cho người đàn ông da đen quá, ông nguy hiểm một!" Shouted the driver of the boat on the left. Translates to: Get white man up there, watch out for black man too, he dangerous one!

Benny muttered to himself, crawling across the dimly lit room. "I think that's Vietnamese? That one sounds like the leader."

Benny heard two pairs of footsteps rushing up the stairs. He got up and stumbled over to the stairwell door, locking it. Although it just so happened to be at the same time the attackers reached the top of the stairs behind the door. They tried the knob just as his hand left it.

Hearing a bolt get cocked back open, a cold shot of terror ran up Benny's spine, he knew what was about to happen. He looked away from the door he stood in front of and gulped, closing his eyes and preparing himself.

Suddenly, Benny heard the loud report of three shots, coming from a certain Smith & Wesson 629, followed by a, THUMP... BOOOOM!

Miraculously, Benny heard the footsteps thunder back down the stairs, letting out a groan of relief, he scurried over and crouched, peering above the edge of the busted window. He saw a new hole in the roof of the workshop.

And then he saw Dutch, who emerged from the engine compartment of the Lagoon. Firing his 629 revolver three more times center mass, into the leader. He dropped his SKS onto the deck, without even getting off a shot. The leader clutched his body as he knelt defeated, and vomited blood onto the deck of the Lagoon. Dutch stepped over the body of the grenadier laying on the deck, who was missing the top of his skull, and grabbed the leader by the face with one hand.

Dutch looked the dying man in the eye as he held him up, and boomed, "You stepped foot on the wrong fucking PT boat."

He walked over to the Lagoon's cab, and crushed the man's skull against the side of it. This produced an audible CRUNCH! That Benny could hear all the way up by the window.

Suddenly, Dutch dove into the water beside the Lagoon, narrowly avoiding the incoming fire of the last two henchmen.

BRRT! BRRRRT! BRRT! BRRRRRRRT! Was all that could be heard inside the walls of the Lagoon Company warehouse and office, as both of the henchmen sprayed the water, emptying magazine after magazine, hip firing their type 50 SMGs.

Benny saw bubbling coming from underneath the wooden pier, next to the Lagoon.

Thinking fast, Benny cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted at the two men, "HEY! ACTION MOVIE REJECTS, UP HERE!" He then dove back into cover behind the fridge, avoiding the rapid-fire rain of bullets that came ripping through the walls.

As soon as the gunfire was directed elsewhere, Dutch rose up slowly out of the water, nostrils flaring as he replenished his air, he aimed his 629 with an iron grip. Holding on to the side of the support beam under the pier, Dutch blasted four thundering shots at the backs of the gunmen.

The first round blasted the left arm of the skinny guy clean off, and the second shot entered through the back of his head, exploding his face from the inside out. The third and fourth shots ripped through the back and out the front of the other henchman's torso, leaving a large gore filled crater where his left lung and heart should've been. The two collapsed like ragdolls, blood gushing out of their missing parts onto the shop floor.

Benny shouted at him from the busted window above, "Dutch! We got a problem, you better get up here quick!"

Dutch shouted back, "Is there more coming?!"

He climbed up onto the Lagoon.

"YES! Get up here!" Benny shouted, clearly panicked.

Dutch reached down and grabbed his nickel plated 870, scooping it up from where he left it propped up inside the Lagoon below deck. With its carry sling attached, he slung it over his left shoulder, reloaded his 629, hopped onto the pier, and double timed it up to the office.

END Chapter 2

I Figured it was time for some action! Anyways, all of my chapters end up being edited heavily before posting, often while I write. I usually continue to edit a couple times more after posting. I apologize if there are a errors there Few and herE. I had to hack this one off, if I continued this action sequence and what happens after it, I'd be at 15 to 16,000 words for one chapter. I have authors notes for chapter three/pt.2 and beyond, that are a mile long. I also keep a spiral notebook with a ridiculous number of notes, chapter names, plot points, dialogue, and more. I fully intend to write this fanfiction to completion, but it will take quite some time. Part 2 will pick up right where I hacked this one off. I'll try to refrain from using this jarring method of chapter start/stop very often in the future, if I can help it. At least I ended it on a high note!

If you are wondering who Torchy is, if you blink during the OVA you'll miss him. He's the crackhead bomb maker that Revy interrogates when her and Rock are tracking down Roberta. Beware the DoppleRock... He is not the OC if you're worried about that, and neither are any of the Italians. Doppelgängers are a sign of bad luck though. I plan on pairing RockxEda, and RockxRevy down the road, but not yet. I look forward to writing Bao, that's another guy that just knows how the world works, but that still doesn't change his luck. Thanks for reading.

What I'm listening to while I write: Space Oddity (2015 Remaster) by David Bowie, Deep Fried Frenz by MF Doom, Duel Of The Iron Mic by GZA, It's Been a Long, Long Time by Kitty Kallen, and I Rep The West by Ice Cube.