Chapter 19: Where The Bad Men Are

Strangely, the Task Force did not begin shooting from the outset, but they were standing in the open with their guns pointed at the trees currently being used as cover by one half of Lagoon Company. Revy had her Cutlasses at the ready but she couldn't risk coming out of hiding just yet. The three assailants would have her gunned down in no time, even with her talent for carnage. Dutch had his Magnum and could provide covering fire if needs be, but it was too early for that. They needed to get the makings of the 216 before engaging them. Though there had been an implied etiquette of hesitation due to the fact that killing the Task Force off was something they should realistically be avoiding, that was no longer the case. Whatever the domino effect of their demise, it was a survival situation, now.

"What's the plan here, Dutch?" Revy asked quietly. There were no footsteps, so the 216 were not getting any closer, but neither were they attacking. Revy became acutely aware of the fact that Rock and Benny were aboard the Lagoon still, with Jones between her and them. Something told her the 216 were not interested in them, though.

"Hell if I know," Dutch answered bluntly. "We're up against a wall, in case you hadn't noticed."

A shot was fired and the bullet crunched into the tree on the other side of Lagoon Company.

"Come on, now, Dutch," came Jones's erosive voice. "Ain't you sick of hiding? Why don't you join us in the open?"

"No thanks," Dutch called in response. "I'm just fine where I am."

"Aw, that's a real shame. Was hoping you might face your problems like a man. But we both know that ain't really your style, is it?" Dutch was becoming tense, but he turned to Revy and whispered his plan to her.

"I'll keep him talking. When he's distracted, you jump out and give them hell, got it?" It was better than any other ideas they had. "Can't say I really understand what it is you're hoping to get out of this," he said louder. "You've got bigger fish to fry than us."

"Oh, we ain't out here on business," Jones explained. "Call it pleasure. Just having a little fun before we clean house for real."

"Shit, you really are as crazy as you look. Wasting your own damn time coming after us."

"We both know it's you I got my eye on," Jones went on. "If there's one thing I can't stand, it's yellow bellied turncoats, and you sure got a lot of them in this city. Even found one working for the Chinese. Sweetest little bitch you ever did see."

"Alexis," Revy muttered under her breath, putting particular distasteful emphasis on the woman's name.

"And then we got you, big man. And that's just the tip of the iceberg." While Revy was not contributing to the conversation due to the fact that she was waiting for her cue to attack, she was listening attentively to every word that was being said. Jones was revealing a lot about his interest in Dutch, but the past of Lagoon's leader was not so much a secret as it was a trivial piece of information. The rest of Lagoon Company did not know the details save for the fact that Dutch had at one point been a soldier, but they had no interest in finding out about the life he had lead before coming to this city, either. Everyone had a past, and pasts were best left buried in Roanapur.

"I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish," Dutch told him condescendingly. "But this is only going to end one way for you."

"Is that so?"

"Sure is. Revy…show them why they call you Two-Hands."

"Love to, Dutch," Revy replied with a huge smile on her face. Before the Task Force could react, she was already after hopping up into a natural 'V' shape made by one of the trees. She used the vantage point to get some well-aimed shots in before leaping down to ground level. Chelsea managed to dodge out of the way just in time, but Davin took a bullet in the shoulder and was sent onto the ground. He recovered quickly, but that wound was something that could be exploited later. As soon as Revy's feet hit the ground, she took off running to the right, making a circling motion around the Task Force while using the trees as cover and letting off a shot every time there was an opportunity. Jones aimed his Volcanic pistol at her and fired a few times, but it was no use. His shots just hit the trees. As well as that, the 216 had let themselves become occupied with Revy and Dutch now popped out from behind cover, firing a shot of his own. Rather than go for the kill, he aimed for Chelsea's leg, but the shot might as well have been intended to end her life as her left thigh burst open with the power of the Magnum's bullet. She dropped her revolver and fell down on one knee, clutching the wound and screaming at the top of her lungs in pain.

Dutch went back in behind cover. Jones was angry, now. He needed to attend to Chelsea's injury or she would die from blood loss alone, but both he and Davin were surrounded as Revy got to the semicircle point of her run and kept on firing. Davin was quick to keep his weapon trained on her and return fire while also dodging out of the way when needed so that the other two could deal with Dutch. As Revy headed into the trees on the opposite side of the clearing to where she had been, Davin aimed his Smith and Wesson Model 59 at the earth a few yards ahead of her and let off two consecutive shots. Soil and sand flew up into the air, throwing Revy completely off and out of rhythm. As a result, she was sent tumbling to the ground. As Dutch heard the commotion, he readied his weapon and attempted to lean out from behind the trees, but Jones was already on him. The Task Force leader, having holstered his own gun, caught Dutch with an unexpected right hook. The black man dropped his Magnum and was sent reeling into another tree.

"What's say we settle this the old fashioned way?" Jones asked, cracking his knuckles. Dutch went to retaliate, but Jones ducked just in time to avoid being knocked back and punched his opponent in the stomach. Dutch was caught off-guard, but he recovered through sheer willpower alone and kicked the Task Force leader into the tree he had been using for cover. This was followed by some heavy-handed hits that would have done some serious damage if Jones didn't have his arms raised to cushion the blows. There was no right moment to make a counterattack and Dutch continued to beat him down, finishing with a knee to the chest that forced the air from Jones's lungs and put him on the ground. He started coughing as Dutch advanced on him.

"Still got some fight in you from the old days, I see," he said mockingly, though there was a hint of respect there, too. "Never does leave you. Pity you're wasting away in this shithole."

"You sure do talk a lot," Dutch snapped, bringing his foot down to stamp on his foe's head. Jones rolled out of the way and came back to his feet.

The two men continued to talk in between trading blows with one another.

"You ain't nothing but a damn dirty runaway," Jones slighted him. "I used to skin boys like you alive for fun."

"You need a new hobby."

"Don't misjudge me, Dutch. My boys fought and died alongside me and they deserved a lot better than they got. But you didn't even stick around long enough for that." Dutch put particularly emphasised force behind his next punch, forcing Jones to lower the arm he had been using to block. Then, he caught the Task Force leader across the face.

"Shut your damn mouth, boy, or I'll shut it for you. Ain't no good going to come of digging up the past." Jones hunched over and rushed forward, shoving Dutch back. Then, he caught Lagoon's leader by the throat and pinned him to a tree. Dutch's sunglasses were knocked off in the process.

"Face it, Dutch, you're afraid of the past just as much as you're afraid of yourself. I've seen it time and time again, you deserting little shits are all the same." Dutch grabbed Jones's wrist to alleviate some of the pressure on his throat.

"You believe what you want," he said with some difficulty. "It doesn't make it true. I couldn't give a shit about you or your people, but I know the best way to remember the boys you served with isn't this. Take it from me…you're never going to be happy. Might as well bury all of that shit and move on. Roanapur would suit you just fine." Jones pulled his face into a growl like an injured dog being backed into a corner. After a few seconds, his expression softened and he seemed to consider Dutch with a mix of curiosity and comprehension. It was unclear if what had been said was sinking in, or if the whole situation was bringing some unaddressed feelings to the surface. Jones kept his hand around Dutch's throat, but his grip loosened considerably.

"You got those soldier's eyes," the white man said musingly. "I can see them, now. Just two of a damn pair, you and me, huh?"

They all heard a shot go off, followed by an eerie silence that filled them all with a horrible sense of dread for some reason. Jones turned to face the clearing and it became clear what had just happened. After Davin had incapacitated Revy, she scurried off into the trees to take cover and regroup while Davin went to attend to Chelsea's wound. Chelsea had been roaring in pain the entire time. But now she was dead silent, her skull blown open by the mystery shooter. Jones watched her lifeless body for a few seconds. Then, his grip once again began to tighten around Dutch's neck and he turned back to face him. Before he could do anything, though, he spotted the sunlight reflecting off of something small and metal a ways back into the trees. The first shot had come from the northwest, to the left of the clearing. The individual that Jones had just spotted, however, stood to the east. There was more than one of them. Without warning, the second stranger let off a shot that caught Jones in the arm and he went tumbling into the middle of the clearing. Davin raised his Model 59 to retaliate with but yet a third shooter from the south shot him in the hand, causing him to drop his weapon and come to his knees, clutching the fresh wound. Dutch quickly snapped up his sunglasses and put them back on while Revy returned to the clearing and retrieved her Cutlasses, which Davin had neglectfully left on the ground near the water. Lagoon may have been assisted, but they were none the wiser whether these mystery shooters were friend or foe.

(***)

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Clarissa screeched, getting up from the rock she had been sitting on to confront the assassin. Wolf's shot from the Winchester Model 70 had been right on target and, as intended, Chelsea was now dead.

"That was a mercy kill," the assassin explained. "Poor bitch was screaming like a gazelle in the savannah. She wasn't going to survive that wound."

"You don't fucking know that!" Clarissa spat. "We had a deal, Wolf. No harm was to come to my people."

"She was dead already," Wolf reiterated. "It's not my fault they blew their fucking loads and ran the Lagoon aground." There was another shot that sent Jones tumbling, followed shortly by a third that disarmed Davin while mangling his right hand.

"I knew this was a bad idea," Clarissa said, aggravated.

"If you fight like you fuck, I'd be real scared."

She approached Wolf and attempted to take the rifle from him. He struggled initially, resigning himself to being put in a position where he would have to put Clarissa down, but she took him completely by surprise when her fist came upwards and uppercut his jaw, knocking him into the dirt. He was lucky not to lose teeth. Despite his size and strength, Clarissa had easily taken him down. The Winchester fell from his grasp and she took it up eagerly, readying herself for what would be a tricky play. Presumably, she intended to save Jones and Davin by targeting Lagoon Company, although Emery was still in the care of Ashur to the south. He couldn't have been standing by idly while this happened. It was going to be a total bloodbath if they all ended up fighting with one another. Before she could act, Wolf managed to climb to his feet and had grabbed her ponytail with one hand. She felt the motion, but it was too late for her to avoid it.

"Cheap-fucking-shot, you cunt." He yanked on the ponytail and dragged her to the ground, taking the Winchester back into his own hands. It would not remain there indefinitely, however. Suffice it to say Clarissa was not an easy woman to put down, and now she was angry. She launched herself at the Wolf like a tiger going for the kill and the two of them went down together as they swung wildly at each other.

(***)

Revy and Dutch had their backs to one another as they both kept their guns to the south and northwest respectively, using the trees from earlier to block the line of sight from the third shooter that remained in the east. They paid no attention to Jones and Davin anymore, but the two men no longer seemed interested in Lagoon Company as the situation completely broke down and they found themselves in a heated discussion.

"That's it," Davin grumbled, clutching the wound in his right hand as blood poured out onto the ground. "That's fucking it! We need to end this now, Jones! I'm getting the fuck out of here. Time to whip Watsup into shape and pull the plug on this city once and for all!"

"You don't move a damn muscle!" Jones roared as the larger man attempted to flee into the trees and head back towards Roanapur.

"Are you fucking blind?! This has gone to shit, there's no way we're making it out alive if we stay here. We need to get back to the station!"

"I said stay where you are!" Jones said, becoming irritated. "We ain't done here, yet, you understand? We head back when I say so, not before."

"Fuck you, Jones," Davin hissed. "You want to spend the day picking off a bunch of soldier boy deserters, be my guest, but I'm not going to waste my damn time with this. We've got real work to do back in the city. It's too hot here, time to get down to business."

Davin attempted to shuffle off while the others were occupied with the issue at hand, but he was stopped in his tracks when he heard the gun being cocked. He turned his head and saw Jones, that golden Volcanic pistol pointed at his back. It took him a moment to compose himself, but he came to a conclusion about what was really going on shortly.

"Oh, I get it," he said, a disturbing smile on his face. He turned on the spot to face his boss. "I see what's got you so wound up all of a sudden. You're not playing the role of the hunter anymore, that ship has sailed. What that one said to you, the boat captain…must have really gotten in your head. You let him manipulate you, didn't you?"

"Careful," Jones warned.

"Well, that's it, right? You let him get inside your head, and now you're getting cold feet about the whole damn thing! I can't believe you're so fucking pathet-!" The Volcanic pistol let off a shot that hit Davin in the abdomen and he lost his footing, crashing to the ground. After a few seconds, he started coughing up blood. Jones walked over to him and watched as he struggled to remain calm in the face of death, blood pouring from multiple wounds now. His time was becoming shorter and shorter by the second. Dutch and Revy both turned their attention to what was going on, too, surprised by this development.

"You always were an insufferable piece of shit, you know that?" Jones mocked his former companion. "I thought Clarissa had a stick up her ass, but boy was I wrong because you're ten times worse. But you've got one hell of a mouth on you. Trouble is, you never did know when to shut it."

After he finished talking, he started furiously kicking Davin in the stomach, applying more stress and pressure on his wound. Eventually, the life started to leave him just like the blood that was pooling around him and soaking into the ground. When he was dead, Jones holstered the gun and sighed, unsure of how to proceed. He stretched out his arms and started to approach Lagoon Company, who trained their weapons on him just in case he got any ideas.

"And I thought this city was a circus," he said calmly. "Guess I'm giving you guys a run for your money. Ah, well. Ain't shit to be done about it, now. So…tell me, what are we gonna do about our little situation here, Dutch? Another round of fisticuffs? Or…" He rested his hand on the handle of his pistol and smiled devilishly. "...a good old fashioned quick draw?"

"You need to have your fucking head checked," Revy growled. Jones chuckled before taking the gun in his hand and pointing it at Dutch.

"Only one way out now, huh?" Jones felt pain spread through his hand as a bullet sent the Volcanic pistol flying in the other direction. He looked around for the mystery shooter and a blonde woman stepped out from the trees to the east. After that, Clarissa was thrown into the clearing, having been beaten. Although, the man in the leather jacket that was with her looked like he had been, too, implying the two might have been fighting. Lastly, Emery was dragged by his ankles into the clearing by a tall black man with greying dreadlocks and the remaining members of the Task Force were reunited at last.

Emery and Clarissa came to their knees while Jones took in what was happening, the three mystery shooters with their own weapons aimed at them all.

"What the fuck are you guys doing here?" Dutch asked, relaxing now that he knew they were no longer in danger. The presence of Ashur, though, did nothing to lessen his discomfort.

"You want to fill us in, Wolfy?" Revy asked. "You here with Goldilocks and that other lunatic ain't exactly an everyday occurrence, you know?"

"Later," Wolf told her. "Right now, we've got work to do."

"On the ground," Ashur commanded Jones. There was a bruise under his eye, suggesting Emery landed a hit on him after Chelsea was killed before being restrained. Jones reluctantly obeyed and came to his knees between his two companions.

(***)

"Look at them, Benny," Rock said in a relaxed tone. The two other members of Lagoon Company stood on the boat's prow and watched the scene play out. Once they heard the first few shots, they decided they no longer needed to remain inside the boat and the 216 would have little interest in them. Now, they simply waited for the situation to play out. Rock had been hoping the 216 would survive. They needed to for his plan to work. The Trinity had been an unexpected speedbump, although they had served to keep the 216 from getting themselves killed. Or most of them, at least. The deaths of Davin and Chelsea had put a spanner in the works as well, but Rock believed he could salvage this situation. He didn't deem it necessary to step in before, even though it looked like he may have to intervene once or twice. Now, though, he was content to merely observe no longer. He had no idea what the Trinity were planning or how they intended to resolve this situation cleanly, but they were going to get in the way if they were allowed to continue.

"They're on their knees," Benny said simply. "Can't say I ever expected to see Andromeda again. Or Wolf and Ashur on the same side, for that matter."

"It's perfect," Rock said, framing the image with his fingers like one would frame a beautiful view of the scenery in preparation for taking a photograph.

"How's that?"

"I've got a plan, Benny," Rock admitted. They all assumed there was a reason he was here, but he hadn't told them anything. It seemed their suspicions were correct. "I know exactly what to do to solve this problem. There's no way this won't work."

"Sweet," Benny said with minimum enthusiasm. "But I wasn't sure you had any interest in what happened anymore, Rock. Something change in that respect? What's in this for you? Or are you just bored every day sitting alone in that apartment of yours?" Rock continued to watch the conversation between the 216 and the Trinity, paying attention for any sign of conflict or violence. If the situation got out of hand, he would have very limited time and capability to execute his plan.

"It never hurts to have a favour from the ruling factions in your back pocket," Rock bluffed. "Can't say there's much else of value in Roanapur these days. Why not do them a solid and earn their appreciation?"

"Is that really it? Come on, Rock, yo-"

"Benny," Rock interrupted him. "It's time. I need to finish this."

As he began walking forward, Benny's hand grabbed his shoulder and stopped him in his tracks.

"Wait, Rock. You don't have to do this. Maybe there isn't some cure-all fix for this. I'm sure whatever you've cooked up for the 216 will earn you some brownie points with Balalaika, but that doesn't mean this is the only way."

"It's alright, Benny."

"I don't know if you're doing this just to feel alive, but whatever it is, you can just turn your back on it. Hasn't there been enough death?" Rock did not answer. "Aren't you tired of serving the darkness?" A small grin appeared on Rock's face, brief but there. His eyes were shrouded and hidden as the sun began to go down, but there was an almost imperceptible glare to them that pierced through the shadows to look at Benny.

"I don't serve the darkness, Benny," he said proudly. "The darkness serves me. Just another string to pull." He hopped over the side of the Lagoon and continued onwards, the sound of raised voices becoming louder and louder as the situation grew heated. From the sounds of things, the Trinity could not all agree on how to proceed, with some suggestions of taking Jones and his people hostage being thrown around and others of just killing them and being done with it considering two of the 216 were already dead. Even Revy chimed in every now and then to demand an explanation for what was happening. Rock ignored them all and came to a stop in the clearing, several feet back from the others.

"Task Force 216!" he yelled, loosening his tie as he did so. The others all ceased their bickering and all eyes fell on Rock as he continued to speak. Jones and the others came to their feet so they could face the Japanese man and hear what he had to say. "You no longer have any reason or ability to continue your assignment here. Your friends are dead and if you continue with your mission, you will all end up the same way. You find yourselves at the mercy of some of the most dangerous killers Roanapur has to offer. One wrong move, and they will end you. It's all over for the 216. But I have a solution, one way out of this. The only way out."

"Not you again," Jones groaned. "Why not just kill us and be done with it? What do you have to lose, kid?"

"Nothing," Rock said sharply. "Not a damn thing. But you stand to gain everything. Killing you all would be too easy, a quick solution to a long lasting problem. I don't have time for easy. I bring a proposition from the leaders of this city. Stay here, continue with your assignment like you would have anyway, but do so on behalf of the Hong Kong Triad. You would be posted at the police station to keep Chief Watsup in check. An ongoing assignment."

"And if we refuse?" Jones asked. Rock smiled.

"Then we do things the easy way," he told them. "But I don't see why you'd want to do that. This seems like a perfect opportunity for you. Like I said before…you belong in this city. And I think you know that. This way, you get to stay here. A free man who answers to no one. As long as you follow the rules laid down by the Triad and keep out of their way."

"That ain't much of a choice, kid," Jones told him. "Even if we did want to stay here. And I don't think our superiors are gonna be too thrilled about the idea of letting us sit on our asses forever."

"You leave that to me," he said, brokering some confused and suspicious looks from the rest. What he really meant was leave it to Mister Chang, but they did not need to know about the Triad's leader and his situation. "If you accept, everything will be taken care of. Trust me on this…it's an offer you can't refuse!"

"It's nice to see a bit of optimism from you. But there is one glaring issue you haven't addressed. Say we manage to convince Jones of this, and I say 'we' because you most certainly have a part to play, even if you would rather sit this one out. Even if your plan works, Interpol will be wondering why their lovely little Task Force 216 have suddenly gone AWOL. After that, more will be sent to Roanapur to find out what happened and we'll be back to square one." Rock was silent, his head in his hand as he stared out the window like he had been this entire time. He seemed like he was deep in thought, but he knew exactly what to say next.

"Yeah. I kind of had an idea about that, too."

"Well, let's hear it, then," Chang said, becoming impatient and eager to hear the plan that would free Roanapur from the threat of the 216.

"When you've broken him, he'll realise that he's been lying to himself this whole time and it will become clear that he doesn't belong in that Task Force. Roanapur will be a fresh start, an escape from his old life, like it has been for so many others. He won't have any fight left in him. That's when you make him an offer he can't refuse."

"Didn't take you for a Godfather fan," Chang joked. "But you'll have to be more specific. What exactly am I offering him?"

"A chance at freedom. Allow the 216 to stay in the city on their assignment, as per their orders. The Task Force would have been posted here to keep the peace long term. If Jones's superiors agree to let him stay in the city, he could be the only thing between Roanapur and its destruction. If not…it was nice knowing you, Mister Chang." There was a brief silence as Rock intentionally let that sink in. "They can stay at the police station. That might actually make your position more secure. You could keep an eye on Watsup. The 216 won't be working for Interpol anymore, they'll be your eyes and ears. Informants for the Hong Kong Triad. That way, nobody else is going to come asking questions about why they haven't reported in, because the reports won't stop. But they will be filled with false information. Interpol will think everything is going according to plan and Jones will be yours."

Once again, Chang was impressed. It was an ingenious plan that could only have come from the mind of Rock. But, again, there were more holes in it than Chang would have liked.

"That's good," he said. "I'm not going to lie, I like it. But it's not exactly sustainable. After a while, Interpol are going to become suspicious about the 216's progress. Sooner or later, they'll realise they've been duped, and we'll be right back in the frying pan." Rock continued to stare out the window. He had an idea for that as well, but he needed to tread carefully, here, or all the work he had done would be for nothing.

"If this plan could be passed up the ladder," he began slowly, "there could be an arrangement to have that overlooked. Pull the right strings so the peace is preserved." Chang looked over the rim of his sunglasses as he tried to deduce what exactly Rock was hinting at.

"I'm not sure I follow," he told his co-conspirator. He had a fair idea, of course, but he also had to tread cautiously, especially if Rock knew as much as it seemed he did. "Hong Kong won't have that kind of sway, and I'm not sure who would."

"If someone could come by this information," Rock said emphatically, attempting to say what he meant without actually saying it, "if the right people caught wind of this plan, they could use that to make sure Interpol don't cause any trouble." As he spoke, he had turned away from the window and now looked Chang in the eyes to hammer home his meaning. "I would think someone with that kind of influence could have the Task Force pulled out of the city altogether, but it's too late for that now. Besides, this benefits you much more. It would be in your interest to get this information to the right people, Mister Chang." The Triad's leader was frozen on the spot as he took those words in and for a moment the tension reached incredible heights. Rock was unsure if he had just singlehandedly pulled the greatest move towards preserving the peace and balance of power in Roanapur, or if he'd signed his own death warrant by revealing sensitive information.

After what felt like an eternity, Chang relaxed on the spot and Rock breathed a sigh of relief.

"I've got to hand it to you, Rock," he said, "they sure don't make them like you anymore. In fact, I'm not sure they ever did. You're one of a kind. I'll make sure to have any preparations in place before this goes down. But I want you there on the ground when it does." Rock looked away again.

"I don't want any part in this, Mister Chang. I just devised the most beneficial strategy, that's all. The rest is up to you."

"I'll pay any figure you ask," he said firmly. He was not going to let this go. "You'll be with the rest of Lagoon Company. As you said, you're the one who devised the plan so it should be you that makes this offer to Jones. He won't be able to resist. I'd think you'd want to be there, anyway, see it for yourself when the 216 are brought to heel." Rock did not respond, but there was no continued refusal so Chang took that to mean that he would go along with this. The Triad's leader made for the door.

"Let me ask you something," the Japanese man said suddenly, stopping Chang in his tracks.

"Of course."

"You've spent so long in this city. I'm willing to bet you've also had your fair share of experience with the darkness that lurks around every corner. After all is said and done…is any of it really worth saving?" Chang was taken aback by that, and he wasn't sure if he really had an answer.

"You tell me, Rock," he retorted. "You're more acquainted with this darkness than any of us, am I right? I don't know exactly what's gotten into you lately, but you once had a thirst for this kind of thing. Is it worth saving? I don't know. But it's all we've got. That's enough for me."

He opened the door and prepared to leave.

"As I said," he began, lingering in the open doorway as he spoke, "I'm willing to pay any figure you ask, so long as you accompany the rest of Lagoon Company when they pull this off. With any luck, we'll be out of this in no time. You see what you get done when you put that mind of yours to the test?" Rock did not answer, much to Chang's disappointment. "Alright, well…I'll keep you posted. You ought to pay Dutch a visit, Rock. It's not good for you to be cooped up in here all the time, away from the others."

"My whole damn life, I've spent chasing ghosts," Jones said to himself as his eyes fell on the setting sun. "Made a living of trying to destroy anything real. I guess I couldn't let go of the past. Might be some wisdom in what you were saying, Dutch. I don't know what it was all for. There ain't no road in front of me, anymore, just a dead end."

"So, start over," Rock told him. "Accept my offer, and you won't need to chase ghosts anymore. The past is the past…can't let it control you because it's never going to change." Wolf exchanged a look with Ashur, but only Rock seemed to notice. "But you could have a fresh start, here. That's what Mister Chang can offer you and what remains of the 216." Jones kept his eyes on the horizon, but Rock was almost certain that his mind was made up about this. He could almost relax knowing that it was coming to an end. Jones patted Clarissa and Emery on the back and the three Task Force members made for the PCF.

"You tell your boss when you see him," Jones said to Rock, "he ain't gotta worry about us no more. We'll be waiting around Pravat avenue. Just tell him to look for us." He turned towards Dutch before he followed his companions. "You let me know if you ever want to grab a beer sometime. Be interested to hear some of your stories."

"Ain't got many to tell," Dutch said enigmatically. "You take care of yourself. All of you." Jones nodded at him, then hopped back into the PCF and the 216 headed back towards Roanapur. There were many questions lingering in the air, namely why the Trinity were here, but nobody present seemed bothered with getting into all of that right now. All they wanted to do was relax. There would be time for explanations later. Lagoon all returned to the torpedo boat and headed for home, while the Trinity moved off to retrieve the three motorcycles they had used to get here. It had been a long day.