Chapter Three

Rock walked upstairs, and into the room, which was pitch black. That surprised him, as usually, they were all still up and drinking, and he was sure that at least Revy would still be up to interrogate him about his date. When he turned on the light, though, he found out what had happened.

*POP! POP!*

Revy, Dutch, and Benny all set off firecrackers, scaring Rock something awful, nearly causing him to lose balance. However, he steadied himself, and looked back at his comrades with a rather sheepish smile.

"So, Romeo… How was your date with Miss Leatherface?" Revy asked. Rock could immediately tell that she was more than a little bit drunk. Rock sighed, and took Revy's hand off of his shoulder, and looked at her reproachfully.

"It's 'Frederica', not 'Miss Leatherface'. And it went really well. We saw Carrie in the theaters, and went to dinner. Actually, you'd be amazed at the appetite that girl has." Rock said with a slight laugh.

Obviously, Revy could not but take this the wrong way, and she punched Rock in the arm so hard that he was sure he heard his bone break. But as he moved his arm to test that theory, he found that his arm was fully intact.

"You dog… I guess you aren't as big a square as I thought you were… But really… You could've chosen any woman in Roanapur to chase, and you choose the psychotic one with a chainsaw as big as she is? You got guts…" Revy said with a laugh

Rock sighed discontentedly as Dutch and Benny raised their beers to this, and nodded in agreement.

"That's not quite what I meant. I really meant that she could eat a lot. She had a large popcorn at the movie theater and a soda, and then ate a large steak before finishing her meal off with ice cream… I've never seen anyone eat so much…" Rock said with a sigh. Revy, Dutch, and Benny all began laughing at this.

"Yeah… I've heard about her ability to eat her way through the room. It seems she held back on your date… Probably because you were paying for everything. So…" Dutch said. Rock was surprised at what came out of Dutch's mouth next. He had always seemed like the most diplomatic of the three of his teammates, so it didn't seem like something he'd say.

"Sawyer has always been kind of creepy… You know, with her mechanical voice and all. Is her personality any better?" He asked. For a moment, Rock couldn't answer. Finally, he got his voice back, though.

"Yes, actually. She's a pretty nice girl… Well… Relatively speaking. At least she isn't the type to pull out her chainsaw at the slightest insult like some people I could mention…" Rock said, turning to Revy with a smirk. Revy blanched at this observation.

"Damn right I get angry when some dickhead insults me! Why shouldn't I!?"

"Well, she did get kind of peeved when we talked about what I should call her… I had been calling her Frederica-san up to then, and I suppose she was slightly offended that I was addressing her so formally on what was supposed to be a date.

She was the one who told me to find a different way to call her. So I suggested a few names, including using the –chan suffix. I thought that was too cutesy, though, so I also suggested Freddy, though… Apparently that really made her mad because she thought I was making a reference to Nightmare on Elm Street."

Hearing this, the others laughed, and nodded. It was true. They could see Frederica being mad at being referred to like Krueger.

"So what did you finally decide to call her, Rock?" Dutch asked with a hint of humor in his voice. Rock sighed.

"I just called her Frederica. It seemed the easiest."

"But you didn't answer my question. What's her personality like?" Dutch asked, seeming interested, now. Rock sighed again. He never thought he would be interrogated by the whole company.

"Well, it's nothing like what you'd think. She comes across as callous, and even sadistic most of the time, but she does have a nice side to her, and I was surprised that she seemed so normal tonight. Though, she is only 19 years old, so, I suppose it's to be expected that she's still a little bit normal…"

This last statement seemed to really give the company pause.

"Sh-she's only nineteen? I admit she looks young, but to think she's so young, and doing a job like that!" Revy said, seeming truly struck silent by Rock's declaration.

"So…" Benny said, speaking for the first time. "When is the sequel going to come out?" He asked, referring to their second date. Rock shrugged and shook his head.

"She knows we're both busy, and on irregular schedules. It could be in three days. It could be in three weeks. By the way… Revy, you can have my cigarettes. I tried to quit years ago when I was with this girl who had severe Synesthesia.

"But, we broke up, and I guess I fell back into the habit."

"Whatever… Am I even supposed to know what Synesthesis is?" Revy asked, standing up, and snatching the cigarettes from Rock's hand. Dutch sighed.

"Synesthesia is when a person's brain confuses two or more of their senses. It can take place between taste and smell, smell and vision, or any other sense. It usually only affects two senses, and can cause a person to 'smell colors', or 'see smells'. However, there are rare cases where more than two senses are confused. I think this is what Rock is referring to when he says his ex had 'severe synesthesia'."

"Wow. I'm impressed, Dutch. I never took you for an academic." Rock said, not intending to insult Dutch. Dutch laughed, though, and nodded.

"See, my mother and father both had Synesthesia, so there was a high probability that I also would have it. Ironically, I was blessedly free of the condition.

"My two sisters and three brothers all had it, though. You'd like my oldest sister. She's older than you, Rock, but she's definitely the diplomatic type, just like you, and is highly intelligent. She graduated from Harvard when she was sixteen with a doctorate in genetics, and went on to get degrees in Biology and Chemistry as well.

"She works in a laboratory, now, trying to cure genetic disorders that are thought to be incurable. Who knows? Maybe she'll become famous for finding the cure for Parkinson's, or Alzheimer's."

"I'm impressed. But yes… Frederica is much more than a chainsaw wielding psycho… Though, even I admit that the first time I met her, she came across as just that. When she was younger, apparently she was talented at singing."

"Singing!?" Revy snorted, breaking into hysterical laughter. Rock scowled at her.

"What a useless hobby! Unless you can screw enough people to get into the big leagues, singing won't get you anywhere… And look where it got her! Now she can't even sing!" Revy said through peals of rather mean laughter.

"Revy!? I've accepted that you're a sadistic, careless, violent, callous, narcissistic alcoholic! But don't you have any compassion? Do you have any idea how hard it is to lose the ability to do something you love?

"You probably don't because the only things you've ever loved are fighting, shooting people, drinking, and money!" Rock shouted angrily. Revy stood up rather abruptly upon hearing this, knocking over the table with her beer on it, and spilling it all over the floor.

"What did you say, you limpdick bastard!? Care to repeat that!?" She shouted, shoving Rock rather harder than she had meant to. She was angry, but she didn't really want to hurt him. But Rock stepped on a bottle, and slid. The entire crew winced as they watched his ankle twist, and heard it crack as he fell and hit his head on the floor, knocking himself out cold. Dutch looked at Revy rather helplessly.

"I get that he made you mad… But did you really have to cripple him? He is an important member of the crew…"

"Ah, we can get by without him… Give 'im a night of rest, and he'll be good as new by tomorrow…" Revy said dismissively.

"I dunno, Revy. Look at his foot, it's not even facing the right direction. It's broken pretty badly. We'd better get him to a doctor… Dunno where we'll find one this late at night, but we should at least try." Benny said. Then, he looked at Dutch, and grabbed his phone.

"Do you think any doctor in Roanapur is open at this hour, Dutch?"

"Dunno. I know a few doctors that keep weird hours, so they might be open. One of them is Balalaika's mob doctor. I dunno if he'd be willing to do a job for us, but I guess the worst that can happen is that Balalaika orders our disposal at the hands of Rock's cute girlfriend.

"Wouldn't that be ironic?" Dutch said with a rather morbid laugh. He grabbed the phone, and dialed Balalaika's number. He knew that it was after 2200h, but there was no harm in trying. If they got the answering machine, or woke up Balalaika, not that much could happen.

"Hello? Balalaika here. Speak fast…" Came a disgruntled voice on the other side of the phone.

"Hello, Balalaika. I know it's late, so I apologize if I woke you…"

"No, no, Dutch. I was up, anyway. You wouldn't believe the shit I have to deal with late at night. You wouldn't be calling if it wasn't important, so hurry it up…" She said, and Dutch was sure he practically heard her rolling her eyes.

"Well, you have a doctor that serves Hotel Moscow, right?"

"Of course. All the families in Roanapur do. You don't really need a doctor, do you? Did Revy get a bullet in her finally?"

"No, no… But I'll relay your concern to her. No. Rock tripped over a bottle on the floor, and broke his ankle. I wondered if you could have the doc look at him real quick."

"Ah, Rock. Is it true? Did he really go on a date with Sawyer the Cleaner?" Balalaika asked, laughing away from the speaker.

"Yes… Amazing, isn't it? Rock seems to have a strange magnetism for the women in this town. But his ankle is pretty bad, so if we could please see your doctor sooner rather than later?"

"Of course. I'll send him over. He should be able to arrive within the hour. Don't worry about the cost. We can just work it out later. Good to hear from you, Dutch…" Balalaika said politely, hanging up. Dutch sighed.

"Revy… Rock may not be as strong as you or I, but you didn't need to break his ankle…"

"That bastard can just go die! Nobody insults the great Revy-sama and gets away with it! He'll rue the day he pushed my buttons!"

"Wow, Revy… I'm impressed…" Benny said with a grin.

"You mean that I'm such an amazing person?"

"No. I mean that you knew the word 'rue'." Benny said to appreciative laughter from Dutch.

"Go fuck yourself…" Revy snorted.

"H-hn? Ow… M-my ankle… My head… What happened?"

"You were on a date with Sawyer, and you just came back, and ended up inadvertently insulting Revy. She knocked you over, you broke your wrist and hit your head… I guess even your luck has to run out eventually." Benny said. Rock sighed and nodded.

At that moment, the doctor walked in, and smiled at Rock, helping him stand up and hop over to the couch.

"Let's see… Don't worry, Mr. Okajima…

"It's just a handheld X-ray… It looks like you just had a minor fracture. I take it Miss Revy got carried away again?" The doctor asked. Revy growled at him, and flipped him off. The doctor laughed, and took out a bucket of warm water, and a few rags.

"Admittedly, it would work better with plaster, but this will do… Probably. The water causes an exothermic reaction, so it will begin to feel warm after a few minutes. It won't burn. Just don't move your ankle, Mr. Okajima…"

"Just call me Rock. Everyone else does. I've… Sort of come to like it better than Rokuro Okajima…"

"I don't blame you. An office job would be torture for me, as well. Anyway, there you go. It's not exactly unbreakable plaster, but, given your job in Lagoon Company, it should suffice. Don't worry about the bill for now. We'll deal with it later. Hold on. This will hurt. I need to set your bone.

Fortunately, it's not broken too badly, but I need to set it, or you may never walk right again. One, two, three…" And the doctor twisted the ankle, causing Rock to shout in pain. The doctor nodded, and rolled Rock's pant leg up, and began wrapping the ankle up to about the knee. After maybe ten minutes of wrapping, and molding, the doctor nodded again, and finished up.

"Take these crutches, and wait for about ten minutes before standing up. Don't fall down stairs. And, see me again in six weeks. I wouldn't advise serious activity with Lagoon Company. Congratulations, though, on your date with Miss Sawyer…"

"Thanks… Does everyone know about that, now?" Rock asked. He was surprised that information travelled that fast.

"Well, everyone of import. Miss Sawyer lives with Mr. Lotton, and Miss Shenhua, so they both knew immediately. Then, you went to the movie theater. People saw you along the way. People saw you in the theater. Then you went to the restaurant. People again saw you on the way and saw you in the restaurant. Then, she walked you back here.

"I would be more surprised if people didn't pick up on it. Despite her short and slender stature, Miss Sawyer is a fairly distinctive figure in Roanapur. Many don't know what her real face looks like, given that she always wears a face mask, goggles, and a bandanna. But enough would know, that word would spread."

"Alright, alright… We get that Rock is about as clever as a rock. Now tell us what we owe you and get out!" Revy snapped. The doctor snorted irately.

"You would think that you'd be more grateful that I took time to come here for you.

"The bill is 150 dollars. It's cheap because I used makeshift materials. Pay now, or pay later. Miss Balalaika says I can trust you."

"Yes. Thank you, doctor…" Dutch said with a smile as the doctor waved carelessly, and walked out.

"Ohhh! Sawyer home! So? How you date with Rock go? He is very handsome, yes he is…" Shenhua said in her trademark way. Even as she smiled brightly, anyone could tell that she was a dangerous woman.

"Yes… Did Mr. Okajima treat you well on your first date?" Lotton asked. "He did not try to force you into anything, did he?" The man continued. Frederica smiled shyly, and shook her head.

"No. He did not do anything improper. He is a kinder man than any I have ever met. He even indulged my rather egregious eating habit. Even I must admit that he went above and beyond the call of duty for me." Sawyer said, blushing slightly.

"Why he do that…? I know Rock nice, but that just stupid, yes it is. He no should waste money like that." Shenhua said with a smirk. She was impressed, though that along with Sawyer's impressive physical skill, and appetite, she also seemed to have a pretty high charisma.

"I told him that it was my first date. That I wanted to experience a date that a normal girl would go on…" Sawyer said. For a moment, Shenhua said nothing. Rather, she was stunned into silence. Then, she burst into peals of high pitched and nasally laughter.

"And he believe you? I no think Rock was so stupid, no I don't. It no could be you first date. What he think this is? Japanese middle school?"

By this time, Sawyer had turned a bright shade of magenta, and had lost the ability to speak, even with her ultravoice. After a moment, she got the ability back.

"I was not lying when I told him that. I have never been on a date before tonight. I was very young when I was discarded, and I suppose that when that time came, dating was still the last thing on my mind. Instead, I came to Roanapur, and made a business as a cleaner."

"O-oh… I sorry… I no think that a girl with much talent as you be short on dates, no I don't." Shenhua said, slightly embarrassed, now, that she had laughed at Sawyer.

"I, on the other hand, thought the exact opposite. Her business as a cleaner, a janitor, and as a bounty hunter would keep her busy. And unfortunately, despite her admittedly exquisite countenance…"

"What mean 'countenance'? Why you speak Gibberish, Lotton?" Shenhua asked. Frederica nodded. She wasn't sure that she wanted to know, though. What was he saying? What did 'exquisite countenance' mean?

"I am saying that she is pretty. Please allow me to finish. Despite her beautiful appearance, she is preceded by her fearsome reputation as a vicious cleaner and bounty hunter. Amongst other things, it stands to reason that she would not have a great deal of experience with romance.

"So tell me, Miss Sawyer… How did the date end?"

"He… Asked me if I would go on another date. I promised myself on my way home that I would not eat as much on our second date."

"You would have to limit. He would soon be broke, otherwise. I understand Rock good with finances. He… Do some job for company in Japan, yes he did. But he no able to keep up with you monstrous appetite no he not. What you eat anyway that made him take notice?"

"I had a large popcorn at the theater. Then I had a steak and a bowl of ice cream." Frederica said. Shenhua snorted at this.

"That no much food for you, Sawyer, no it isn't. He should see you at parties. Hahaha! You eat you way through party like garbage disposal, yes you do." Shenhua said with a laugh. Frederica blushed at this. It was true, though.

She never got to eat much when she was homeless, so, she ate well more than her fair share now that she was relatively rich, and affluent in Roanapur. She exercised a great deal to keep the weight off, and her rigorous exercise showed in how strong, agile, and durable she was.

Exercise, cleaning, and murder weren't what she really loved, though. She loved singing when she was a child, and now that she couldn't sing anymore, it sort of left a hole in her life. Rock had told her of an operation that could be performed to return her voice.

The idea scared her, though. She had never liked doctors in the first place, and despite the fact that she worked around blades all day every day, she didn't like the idea of being cut.

"You're hiding something, Miss Sawyer. Please don't hesitate to tell us. We are your friends." Lotton said. Frederica jumped slightly. She still wasn't used to how perceptive he was.

"You would laugh if I told you… I do not like being laughed at." Frederica said suspiciouly. Lotton sighed.

"You really know nothing about me. I won't laugh at you. I can't speak for Miss Shenhua… But if she is really your friend, she won't either."

"Rock told me tonight of an operation that might be able to restore my voice. It is experimental, though, and not necessarily reliable." Frederica said, blushing slightly, embarrassed that she was so concerned about her voice.

"Why you be concerned about getting voice back? You scarier with ultrasound, yes you are." Shenhua said. Frederica sighed, though it sounded more like a growl.

"When I was young, I was talented at singing. I do have other talents, now. But singing was my passion. It is hard to sing when your voice is entirely mechanical." Frederica said nervously. She also used to play violin a bit, and though her talent with it had waned, she was sure she could still play if she needed to.

"You were a singer when you were a child, Miss Sawyer? That is impressive. How old were you when you came to Roanapur?" Lotton asked quietly. Frederica scowled, but sat down next to him, and took up a game controller.

"Do not call me 'Miss Sawyer. We have been friends for months, now. Call me Frederica… I was thirteen when I came to Roanapur. It is actually a long story." Frederica said, not really wanting to discuss it.

"I am honored that you consider me your friend. And that's okay. I have all night. I haven't really got anywhere to go…" Lotton said. Frederica sighed, but began her story.

"The story starts perhaps nine years ago… I lived in Berlin until I was ten. My father loved me very much. He enjoyed my singing. I had even learned to sing in multiple languages, and was getting good at singing opera. It is vital in Europe to be able to speak multiple languages, given the proximity of the European nations.

"But my mother… I do not know exactly why she hated me. Perhaps it was jealousy. She was his second wife, and not my birth mother. Perhaps I reminded her that she was not my father's one and only.

"But she picked me up at school one day, and drove me into Belgium, cut my throat, and dropped me off on a street corner, and drove away. I could not scream for help because my vocal chords had been severed.

"I lived in Belgium for about two and a half years as a homeless girl. The homeless, and especially the Romani, in Europe take care of each other. I often hitched rides with Gypsy troupes, and travelled through Europe for about two and a half years, stealing food and such. I cannot say that I ever became friends with the Gypsies. But we got along as well as we could.

"I became much stronger, and learned how to use a chainsaw, originally to cut down trees, but then, I practiced fighting with it. I also took classes in the appropriate topics, and modified the chainsaw so it could be used more easily on humans. After all, you must admit that it is not easy to use a typical chainsaw on living flesh.

"After a while, I decided to get on a ship and try my luck elsewhere. I did not know where I was going. But when the ship arrived, I was in Roanapur. And that is my story. It is not as exciting as you probably believed it would be."

"That is quite a sad story…" Lotton said, pulling Frederica into an embrace. "Just know that you always have family here."

Frederica scowled, and pushed Lotton away irately.

"I do not want your pity. If I was looking for that, I would have made my story more interesting. You asked what happened. I told you. Do not act like I am some poor helpless girl who just needs a hug. I am no better than anyone else in Roanapur." Frederica said coldly. Rock hadn't acted as though he pitied her.

She didn't expect pity from anyone else, either. Lotton shivered, and nodded, muttering an apology.

"Do not apologize. Put in Dance Dance Revolution. It is the only game at which you do not suck." Frederica said with a smirk.

Lotton nodded, and took out the disc, set up the mats, and used the controller to select a dance. Frederica stood up, and the two began to compete. Frederica had always been better than Lotton at DDR, but sometimes, he managed to surprise her with his talent. Lotton certainly didn't belong in Roanapur. He was too civilized, and mild mannered for Roanapur…

But then, Rock sort of defied description in a place like Roanapur as well. He was certainly an anomaly. He was well mannered, refined, and book smart. He had come from the business world, and had a way about him that didn't set people on edge. He was nonthreatening, and therefore, perfect as a diplomat. However, he had also gained an air about him of quiet, subtle, and understated danger.

He had proven how manipulative he could be when Roberta came around for the second time and Rock had manipulated the people and events to his own whims. He had even scared his own teammates with his cunning and efficiency. Frederica respected Rock's efficiency, and even his cunning manipulative abilities.

However, now was not the time to think about the man she so admired. She was faring poorly against Lotton in DDR, when she usually managed to beat him, even if it wasn't exactly wiping the floor with him as she managed to do in first person shooter games.

"Miss… Frederica, rather. You do not seem focused. Perhaps you'd prefer to go to bed?" Lotton asked politely. Frederica shook her head.

"I cannot go to bed yet. I must exercise, lift weights, and do some financial work for UG Pork. Then perhaps I can go to bed."

"You work too hard, Frederica, yes you do. You work out earlier today. You no need work out twice in one day…"

"You misunderstand, Shenhua. I cannot go to bed on a full stomach. If I do, it will all build up as fat. I learned this years ago. I usually work out after dinner. But tonight, my date with Rock prevented this.

"So please pardon me. I will only ride the stationary bike if you are truly so worried about my health." Frederica said, putting down the controller and heading to the stairs with a Kindle.

She usually read while she was riding the stationary bike. It gave her something to do so she wasn't just watching the miles go by. She usually did between fifteen and twenty miles in a day on the stationary.

If it was a nice day out, occasionally, she would ride through town on her street bike. She always made sure to bring a heavy chain with her, as she knew that the odds that it would be stolen if she left it unattended were high. Even if she did find who stole it and wreak her horrible, bloody revenge, she wouldn't likely get it back… Though the horrible, bloody revenge did have its perks.

As she thought this, she climbed onto the bike, putting the Kindle on the screen, and setting the resistance to 20 and the uphill rating to 10. She was going to burn calories like nobody's fucking business that night, or her name wasn't Frederica Sawyer.