Tales of Roanapur
Chapter 18
"Well, fuck me," Eda blinked, recognizing the brown haired woman.
Mary Sue was, thankfully, not looking at her. The gunslinger was walking with a group of the recently arrived Germans, away from them.
"You know her?" Revy asked, frowning at her.
"We've ran into each other," Eda admitted.
Revy looked curious and Eda just shook her head.
It had been back in the US, when Eda was working for her bosses in the CIA under a cover identity. As far as she knew, Mary hadn't known she was a spook, but she couldn't be certain of that. And Eda was DAMN sure Mary would be wondering why she was here! Just what she needed, another complication...
"When are we hitting those bastards in Bangkok, again?" Revy demanded.
"When we can hit them with overwhelming force," Eda replied flatly. "They are fucking paying for killing one of us."
"Damn right," Revy agreed.
The two entered the Yellow Flag, the bar jumping as usual. "Hey, Eda!" Bao called, "There were some idiots trying to kill you."
"What, again?" Eda asked dryly.
"Ha," Revy smirked.
Bao looked less than thrilled as he told them about the three gunmen who had burst into the bar. "Happened while you guys were out of town," he added.
"Hey, they didn't try to kill you this time," Eda teased Revy.
"Oh shut up. Rum me, Bao," Revy ordered.
"Yeah, yeah," Bao poured for her.
"So, no ID or stuff on 'em?" Eda confirmed.
"Totally clean. No random crap in the pockets, even," Bao noted.
That smelled a LOT like a pro hit. Or semi-pro, since they hadn't scouted out the place or realized she wasn't in town.
"You pissed someone off recently?" Revy wondered.
"No one new, recently," Eda admitted, scowling. Was this some more crap from her field ops, over the years...?
"Beer the woman," Revy ordered, nodding to Eda.
"Yeah, I could use a drink," Eda sighed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"I REALLY do not recommend you getting out of bed," the doctor complained.
"I'm fine," Aya said firmly, standing on her own and only slightly wincing, dressed in medical shirt and pajama pants.
"Uh huh," Balalaika said flatly. "Boris?" she waved.
The bear of a man grabbed at Aya, trying to take her by surprise. Gracefully she shifted, grabbed his arm and send him crashing to the floor.
"Ooof!" Boris grunted, flat on his back.
"As I said," Aya replied calmly, "I'm fine."
"Hold still," and Balalaika casually yanked up her medical shirt, examining the wound. It was red, still, but hadn't torn open and seemed fine.
"Usually people ASK before undressing me," Aya complained.
"Ha," Balalaika smiled.
"She really has recovered remarkably fast," the doctor muttered, impressed.
"All right," Balalaika conceded, "but take a week off. I don't want you risking ripping the wound open."
"Yes ma'am," Aya nodded meekly.
"And keep taking your antibiotics," the doctor reminded her before leaving. "We don't want to risk infection."
"Yes sir," Aya agreed.
"Get her some clothes," Balalaika ordered Boris, "she probably doesn't want to wander around in that."
"Thanks," Aya smiled wryly.
And soon, for the first time in weeks Aya strode out of Hotel Moscow headquarters, unaware that certain figures were watching...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Well done," Erich Rerugen noted, having arrived in town to check in on their operations.
"We're keeping an eye on the smuggling situation," Tanya noted, "no other shipments from us have been hit."
"We still don't know WHO did it though," Rerugen noted, frowning.
"No, we know they're a outlaw group," Erya corrected, "but financed by someone in the Thai government. Why, not so sure yet."
"Probably a higher up tired of all the illegal money pouring through Roanapur," Tanya observed cynically.
"Or they want a cut," Erya offered.
Rerugen nodded, "Well, the money men do NOT want you going to war with them. Not unless it's completely unavoidable."
"I don't like it, but understood," Tanya nodded.
"All right, I'll be back in a few weeks," Rerugen said as he got up. He frowned, "Where is Visha? I usually see her..."
"Ah. She's dealing with another problem," Tanya said mildly.
Seeing the look on Tanya's face, Rerugen decided he didn't want to know...
Meanwhile, in another part of the city...
"KEEP YOU HEAD DOWN!" Visha yelled as she and Mary exchanged weapon fire with several members of the Italian mob.
"Aieee!" the Asian woman yelped, ducking as ordered.
"You better be worth this," Mary growled, dropping one of the attackers with a well aimed shot.
Visha shot another, and the gangsters began to realize they might be outmatched. "Fuck this!" one guy yelled, turning to run.
"No witnesses, Mary," Visha said as she shot the fleeing man.
The two gunned down the remaining dudes, then the three hurried off.
"Did you have to kill them?" Xinlin asked, the hacker known as 'Peking Duck' following them as they left the alley where the fight happened.
"Yes, if you wanted to get away from them cleanly," Visha told her calmly as she and Mary shed their disguising wigs.
Xinlin had contacted them covertly. She wanted out of her deal with the Italian mob, and was willing to sell her services as a hacker. The German's were lacking such resources, and were willing to bargain with her. But her bosses were VERY possessive.
"Won't they figure out you rescued me?" Xinlin asked nervously.
"Anyone nearby saw us in those wigs," Mary shrugged, "and we planted evidence making them think you'd been killed."
"Ah," Xinlin blinked, hoping the German's weren't going to be worse bosses...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Ack," Aya grunted as she looked around her apartment. It was dusty as heck, and she could smell spoiled food, too.
"I'm very sorry," the old man apologized. "We should have checked your suite, while you were bed ridden."
"I'm just glad you didn't give it up to someone else," Aya noted.
He gave her a odd look. "You work for MISS BALALAIKA," he said dryly, "I would be a fool to do that."
"Ah. Point," Aya conceded.
After he left Aya got a garbage bag and started throwing out expired food. Sadly it looked like she'd need to empty the cooler...
There was a thumping on the door, then it was thrown open. "What are you doing up?!" Erya demanded, striding in.
"Hello to you too," Aya said mildly.
"Ah. Sorry," Erya looked sheepish, "I went to the Hotel and they told me you went home...," she explained, "I was worried."
Aya smiled, "Sorry. The doctor cleared me to go." Mentally she added, 'Reluctantly, but still.'
"Why do I get the feeling you pushed to go?" Erya nmoted wryly. She saw the half full trash bag and demanded, "What are you doing?"
"Cleaning up," Aya sighed.
"Well, let's get that done, then maybe we can get some dinner," Erya offered warmly.
Aya smiled back, "I'd like that."
To be continued...
