Foreword: I do not own Black Lagoon or some elements of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell series. They belong to Rei Hiroe and Ubisoft Entertainment respectively.
Chapter 2: Welcome to Roanapur, Ghost! Part 2
"I don't have to pay for my dirty work to get done for me — I'll do it myself."
- Ted Nugent
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/
Rokurou looked up as he heard the engines winding down, followed by the door opening to reveal Revy in all her gun-toting glory. Which meant that they had arrived at Roanapur. Terrific.
"Let's go, dipshit." She said, gesturing with her pistol for him to head out the door. "Try anything and I'll fucking end you."
Rokurou only smiled at her, earning a twitching eyebrow from the woman. "Never dreamed of it."
With a muttered 'smartass' under her breath, she led him out onto the pier where the PT boat, which Rokurou had found out it was named the 'Black Lagoon', had docked and he could see the lights of the city in the distance. The smell of the stink of the city hadn't changed too, but that was all part of Roanapur's 'charm' — being the asshole of the world.
After getting off, Rokurou reached for his fanny pack while being watched by Revy to withdraw several stacks of cash which he passed it to Dutch, who counted it and confirmed the easy transaction with a nod of thanks. Rokurou promised the other fifty-grand after he had met his contact here in Roanapur.
"I'll hold you to that, Rock." Dutch replied, earning a raised eyebrow from Rokurou at his newly acquired nickname. "As thanks, how would you like to join us for a drink at Yellow Flags bar? Drinks are on me."
The newly named Rock nodded. "Sure, sounds pleasant. I wasn't planning on finding anyone till after I got settled in here," He turned to look at the disembarking Benny. "So… Rock?"
Dutch shrugged. "It's easier than saying Rokurou all the time."
"Touché," Rock agreed, chiding himself for having never thought of it until now. Then another thought hit him. "But wasn't Yellow Flags destroyed in a shootout last year? I've heard the damage was pretty bad."
To his surprise, Dutch and Benny laughed while Revy looked like she had swallowed a lemon. Rock raised an eyebrow at that — there had to be a story right there.
Dutch chuckled. "Revy got into a fight with a group of drug traffickers who wouldn't take no for an answer."
"And she took umbrage to that and filled them with bullets?" Rock predicted wryly.
"And she filled them with bullets."
Rock chuckled. "I wouldn't have guessed!"
"Watch it, dirt bag!" Revy hissed, pointing her gun at his direction. "Keep laughing and I'll kill you. Slowly."
Rock held up his hands in surrender, amusement twinkling in his brown eyes. "Gotcha."
As they piled into Dutch's red 1970 American Dodge Charger, Rock and Revy sat in the backseat before they drove off, with Revy electing to sit as far away as possible from the raven-haired Japanese man who looked out the window to see Roanapur's night life. Neon signs, prostitutes, beggars and drug users as far as the eye could see. Yup, this was Roanapur alright.
As they drove to their destination, Benny decided to strike up a conversation. "So Rock," he began, getting Rock's attention. "What brings you to the ass end of the world?"
Rock smiled. "Work."
"What kind?"
The question had come from Revy, who was still giving him a stink eye. Seeing no harm in telling them, he replied.
"A Japanese salaryman working for Asahi Industries—"
"Bullshit!" interrupted Revy as she drew her gun on him.
"—officially that is," Rock continued, smiling at the gun pointed at the middle of his head. Revy was pissed that it didn't even phase him. "Unofficially, I'm a private security contractor working undercover in Asahi Industries to ascertain and collect any evidence that supports that the company has violated international law."
There was silence in the car for a moment.
"… so that explains the skills you've shown on the ship," Dutch replied. "You sure don't look the type. No offence, but you're dressed too much like a typical businessman to take you seriously if you haven't already kicked our asses."
Rock shrugged. "It's part of my cover," He straightened out his shirt and tie for emphasis. "And hey — I kind of like it!"
"You're crazy, you know that dipshit?" Revy sighed, putting away her pistols. "Only someone with a screw loose in their heads would say something like that with a straight face."
Rock smirked. Oh, she just walked right into that one. "Pot, meet kettle."
"You wanna die, fucker?!"
Benny and Dutch just sighed as Revy continued her death threats to Rock while the man just parried her barbs like he dodged bullets, which was impressive as they had never seen Revy as engaged in a conversation (read, shouting match) as she did now, and they wondering if she was still in awe or attracted to the Japanese man, even though they knew she would never admit it.
Revy would never admit, not even to herself, that she found the Japanese man to be interesting. At first, she had been pissed and hated the man for getting the drop on her, twice, before it finally settled to a sort of admiration at the skills he possessed to keep up with her, the infamous Revy "Two-Hands". Not only did he keep up with her, he actually bested her — her and Dutch, at the same time.
She couldn't miss the way his muscles tensed powerfully in preparation for close quarters combat on that ship, nor could she miss the way his toned body responded to his will by instinct to any danger aimed at it. If she wasn't in her serious combat mode, she would've gawked at the way Rock effortlessly dodged every single one of her shots as if he were dancing, and she was the best shot in Roanapur by far!
And the man wasn't even half bad to look at either — raven dark hair swept with bangs to one side and intelligent brown eyes that seemed to bore into her soul. Strong chin and defined cheekbones clear of scars of any kind. Like Dutch had said, if he hadn't kicked their butts so thoroughly, she wouldn't have pegged him to be some sort of badass security contractor.
Revy finally tapered off after having exhausted her barbs at Rock, who hadn't lost the small smile he had on his face, as though he was enjoying their little banter. What a pain in the ass, she thought to herself as she settled in for the rest of the ride, left to her own emotions.
Benny finally found a place to park the car before they all got out to enter the establishment. Rock stopped to look at the bright neon signs that read "Yellow Flags", noting the old bullet holes and shrapnel from previous 'disagreements' littered throughout the bar, and this was just the outside!
Entering the building, Rock was assaulted with the familiar smells of alcohol, gunpowder, and cigarette smoke. There were also smells of cheap perfumes used by the various hookers sitting around the tables or in the laps of their client for the night. There were also several fistfights going on sporadically around the place, with patrons placing their bets on who would win while others kept complaining about the noise or some other disagreement.
One thing was common among the tables however — there was at least one pistol placed on each table, as if the patrons were expecting a gunfight to break out at any moment.
On second thought, perhaps they were expecting one. This was Roanapur after all.
Rock hummed as the four of them got settled on the stools at the bar, with Revy snarking at the owner who commented about how she was here and how she still owed him for the last time the bar got thrashed. He chuckled lowly at the glare Revy shot the owner named Bao at that.
"Oh, you've brought a new face with you," Bao asked with a noticeable Vietnamese accent. "That's new, even for you guys — what d'ya want?"
Rock thought about it, seeing Revy order Bacardi rum before turning back to Bao. "I'll have what she's having, please."
"Coming right up."
After serving up the rum, Rock took a few experimental sips before sighing at the pleasant buzz going down his throat. Deciding to just knock one back, he gestured for Bao to refill it before turning to Dutch who had just watched him knock back his drink.
"What?" Rock asked, slightly confused.
Dutch shook his head. "Nothing, at least your taste is good."
"Right…" Rock drawled, putting the man's odd behavior aside for now. "So, what's the deal with this place? It's got the feel of 'the bar at the end of the world' you see in western movies."
Dutch nodded. "Well you wouldn't be wrong," He said. "This place was started by South Vietnamese soldiers who fled or survived the Vietnam War. But then they also started taking in fugitive soldiers as well, and before you know it, this place just went straight to hell."
He turned back towards his drink, taking a sip of it as Rock did the same. "Hookers, junkies, mercenaries, hitmen… irredeemable criminals, the lot of them." He smirked at him. "Making you uncomfortable?"
Rock snorted at that. What did they take him for, even after getting their butts handed to them?
"No, not all. Just interested in the history of it, that's all," Rock replied with a chuckle. "Trust me, it takes a lot for me to get uncomfortable in places like this. The last time something made me uncomfortable was back in Afghanistan in '08. Now that was nasty business…"
The rest of the Lagoon Company noted something dark that flashed just a few seconds over Rock's face before it was gone, with Revy knocking back her own drink at the uneasy feeling she was getting from that brief look — it was just so damned familiar.
She never would've guessed the lighthearted man who had kicked their butts might have a dark side to him. Ever since they met Rock had been a walking contradiction; how could someone be as polite and cheerful as he was be the same man who had the skills of an experienced mercenary? Normally she'd expected him to be like the rest of them — hard, cynical and brutal, rotten right down to the core.
But, from what Revy could see, he had managed to keep that part of his sanity and humanity alive despite his job. Deep inside her, behind the cynical bitchy and bloodthirsty Two-Hands personas, there was a part of Revy that was extremely jealous of the man for keeping something she had lost almost as soon as she was born.
Dutch cleared his throat before he stood up to excuse himself to make a phone call outback. With only Benny and Revy to talk to, Rock turned to the resident computer expert. "So, what's your story?" he asked. "You seem different than the rest of the shit in the city."
"Mine?" Benny chuckled as he swirled his glass. "Well, I was studying at the University of Florida, fooled around too much and got into trouble with the FBI and the Mafia. Then I came here to hide almost 2 years ago—"
"—and I saved his ass from being thrown overboard in a suitcase," Revy finished with a smirk. "Enough with the lame storytelling, we're here to drink aren't we? You're not old enough to be reminiscing about the past, Benny." She poured more rum for herself. "One for you, one for me~" she sang.
Rock shook his head at the woman. "Fair enough, let's," he said. "And the next round is on me — just to sooth your bruised ego back on that ship you found me on."
"Hah," Revy barked out a laugh, sneering at him as she did. "I'll take the booze, but that doesn't mean I won't fill you with lead either!"
Rock just laughed at the death glare she threw his way, with Benny shaking his head in amusement at the byplay.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/
At a back alley behind Yellow Flags, Dutch was using a payphone out of hearing range of anyone nearby. Just in case, he had his revolver ready to go to stave off any curious onlookers.
"Yeah? No shit?" He said into the phone. "That can't be good — go on."
"I didn't trust Asahi Industries' response," a woman's voice with a cultured Russian-accent said. "So, I left out some bait and a Chinese rat went right for it. In fact, I'm talking to him now…"
Dutch cursed inwardly. "Who's on the move?"
"One moment," Dutch heard the distinct squelching sounds of someone stepping on an open wound, followed by a man's scream of agony. "Tell me your owner's name, loud and clear."
"S-Shingian!" the tortured man howled. "Sh-Shingian's Wan Taikei! Wan Taikei sent assassins to assassinate you! He sent assassins to Roanapur!"
The woman was back on the line. "Hear that?"
"Yeah," Dutch confirmed. "Not good."
"Tell me the number and affiliation of those soldiers," the woman demanded the tortured man. Her tone held a slight trace of anger in it. "Speak up! Hurry, we're busy people."
The tortured man howled from another beating. "Men contracted from E-Extra Order, a mercenary c-contracting a-agency!" He confessed painfully. "I don't know how many there are!"
"The E.O. Company scouts experienced war junkies," the woman elaborated, and Dutch heard sounds of weapons charging in the background. "They have the experience and the equipment to back it up."
Dutch sighed. "Yeah, what rotten luck…"
"You said it," she replied before the sounds of guns going off in the background was heard. "Watch yourselves out there. And Dutch?"
"Yeah?"
The woman hummed. "That Japonski you picked up from Asahi Industries… has he given you any trouble?"
Dutch wondered what he could say to her before deciding to be truthful. "To be perfectly honest?" he asked. "We're glad we're still alive and kicking."
The was silence on the other end of the line before the woman could be heard chuckling in amusement. "Bring him to me when you make the rendezvous," she requested. "I have my suspicions about him, and I want to make sure if they're true."
Before he could ask what she meant, the woman disconnected the call, making Dutch wonder if the woman knew more than she let on.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/
Back at the bar, the atmosphere was still as lively as ever. Between the two of them, Revy and Rock had polished off 4 bottles of rum and it looked like they weren't stopping anytime soon.
As Rock was about to pour himself another shot — he learned a long time ago that his alcohol tolerance was off the charts — when his gut instinct screamed at him about imminent danger.
Knowing to always trust those instincts, Rock looked over his shoulder and time seemed to slow to crawl as several round metal objects came flying into the establishment.
It took him a moment to realize that they were grenades, and another moment to grab Benny before pulling him behind the bar counter. Revy was already moving, her drink never once leaving her hand.
And then pandemonium erupted around them.
Once the explosions of the grenades died down and the lights went out, full-automatic gunfire came streaking through the windows from the outside, killing anyone not dead from the explosions.
His mind in overdrive and combat mode, Rock carefully peered around the surprisingly sturdy bar as bullets came flying in, ricocheting off the walls and the counter as he analyzed their opposition.
If this was a common occurrence, it explained the unpatched bullets holes in the walls of the bar.
Despite the low lighting, Rock could easily make out the muzzle flashes coming from the outside. During his training with the 'Ghosts', he was trained to identify all threats and the number of OpFor just by using his eyesight in pitch black darkness without any equipment. A low lighting environment was a walk in a park for him.
"Revy!" Bao was yelling over the gunfire. "If they're your friends, you go and deal with them!"
"I don't know them." Revy casually sipped her drink. In any other situation, Rock would've been laughing at the incredulous expression on the bartender's face.
Several rounds bounced off the counter once more, causing even Revy to look impressed.
"Wow," she commented. "You've bulletproofed the bar."
Bao's expression was smug, holding up a pump-action shotgun in his hands. "It can handle up to a .50 caliber round, no sweat!"
Rock finally finished his head count of the enemy just as he heard Dutch yell out for them.
"Revy?!" He called.
Revy sipped her drink. "I'm alive!"
"Benny?!"
Rock turned to give him the go ahead at the lapse in firing, which Benny acknowledged before darting towards where Rock assumed Dutch was taking cover. "Miraculously, I'm alive!"
"What about Rock?!"
Rock was about to answer when he spied a pistol and a few clips of ammunition under the bar. Making a mental apology and to repay the bartender later, he swiped it while placing the magazines in his belt and pocket. Checking it over, he noticed that it was a Browning Hi-Power chambered for 9 mm Parabellum rounds.
Loading and charging the weapon while getting the feel of the weapon, he nodded to himself.
"I'm here!" Rock called out, pulling out his Gerber MK II and holding it special forces style in his left hand in conjunction with his pistol. "Partially deaf, but I'm fine!"
Revy looked up after having finally finishing her drink, already in the process of loading her pistols. Eyeing Rock's weapons of choice, she couldn't help but grin.
"You dipshit!" The look on her face was pulled into a half-grin, half-glare. "You could've used the knife on us back onboard the ship, didn't you?! You were holding back on us?!"
Rock could hear the indignation in her voice, and he couldn't help but be amused. "Well yeah, I needed to give you guys a chance!" He snarked, deciding to humor her. This earned him a glare in response. "Besides, if I was trying to kill you guys, I would've used it back then!"
Revy just glared at him, but Rock could see the dark humor in her amber orbs that honestly tickled his insides.
Another explosion from a grenade went off, causing them to duck for cover to ride out the explosion.
"Revy!" they heard Dutch yell. "Time to show these amateurs why you're known as 'Two-Hands'!"
Rock watched as Revy narrowed her eyes and a smirk started gracing her lips. He had already had her pegged as gun-crazy, and he was right once more.
"Revy!" he yelled just as the shooting stopped.
When the woman looked his way with a frown, he held up two fingers first then he held up four. Rock then pointed at her, then at himself before he did a splitting motion with his hands while gesturing slightly to the left and the right of the bar. He then did a thumbs up while swaying it side-to-side as if he was asking a question with his hands.
She frowned in confusion before her eyes widened in understanding at what Rock was trying to say. 'There are 24 hostiles. You and me, split the numbers between the left and right of the bar. You ready?' she translated in her mind, thankful for all of Dutch's lessons on hand signals.
Rock punctuated his statement with a challenging grin, which was soon mirrored on her own as she nodded in agreement. Despite still feeling sore about the beating they got on that ship, Revy couldn't wait to see how the new guy stacked up in a mano a mano gunfight!
She was giddy just thinking about it!
"Secure the building," the ringleader was heard ordering. "I heard voices."
Peering around the counter, Rock spotted the blonde-haired ponytailed man in round sunglasses with scar running down his face hefting a pistol and an assault rifle in each hand. 'So impractical,' Rock couldn't help but grouse. 'His aim must be atrocious — it only works in movies! Dumbass.'
"And there's nothing I hate more than survivors!" the leader crowed.
Rock sighed at the cliché way the man delivered the line, earning a grin from Revy who heard his sigh. She winked at him, causing him blink before she spoke.
"What a great line…" Rock could only roll his eyes skyward while Revy silently chortled.
Holding up his fingers, Rock counted down for Revy to move, starting from 4, 3, 2, 1 …and, go!
The mercs had no time to react as Rock emerged from the right side of the bar counter with his gun up, while Revy leapt over the bar with her guns pointed squarely at the poor bloody infantry in her sights.
Gunshots rang out simultaneously from the gun totting duo as chaos reigned over the bar once again.
Revy spotted her first two targets, shooting them dead before evading return fire from the right side of the room as she focused her fire left. Hearing gunshots from the right side, she assumed that Rock was doing his thing while she enjoyed hers!
Flipping over the bullets, Revy sighted her next two victims before killing them while still upside down. Getting to her feet, jumped over her next target, who never had a chance to bring his rifles to bear before she shot him in the chest just as she landed on his corpse. She then started running back to the counter for cover and a reload as Dutch covered her escape with his revolver registering over the din.
"Got 'em, Dutch!" she cried as she landed back beside Bao, who was screaming at her for destroying his bar yet again.
Revy didn't pay much attention to him however as she was much more interested in what Rock was up to on his end. She wouldn't be disappointed — much — if he was dead but judging by how there were still screams and gunfire from that end of the room, she assumed that he must still be kicking.
Peering over the cover, Revy finally allowed herself a rare moment of flabbergasted surprise to wash over her.
'Holy fucking shit, what did I just miss?!' she thought in astonishment. 'Even I couldn't take that many at once without reloading and taking cover! What the fuck?!'
Rewinding back to when the fight started, Rock dropped his first two targets with two clean shots to the torso and one in the head for each man. Running forward to his next target, he jammed his knife into the ejector of the merc's rifle before pulling the man forward, making him drop his rifle just as Rock released his knife from the ejector then stabbed it into the man's shoulder. As the man screamed, Rock wrapped the merc in a lock to his front and used him as a human shield, his pistol barking away at the next three targets who went down with precisely three bullets each.
Now empty, he pushed forward using his improvised 'shield', which was taking quite a pounding as its former comrades filled it with holes. Reloading as he went, Rock managed to slap a fresh magazine into his pistol just in time for his 'shield' to expire. Throwing the dead weight at its former comrades who frantically ducked away, Rock evaded a rifle butt from his left while jabbing his knife into an assailant that came from the right, causing him to howl in pain before a knife to his throat silenced him.
Moving fluidly, Rock grabbed the assailant on the left's rifle just as he was bringing it to bear at the Japanese man, locking it with his left armpit while tilting his head to dodge the man's left punch, who had released it to attack him, while simultaneously using the punch's momentum to cock his pistol in his right hand on the assailant's forearm. Rock grinned in thanks at the scared man just as he was relieved of his rifle before a bullet was buried in his head.
Revy had managed to see that happen and she still couldn't believe it. Using human shields was routine but reloading while using the enemy's forward punching momentum to help you cock your weapon on their forearm was Hollywood level of madness!
She hoped someone had gotten footage of that because she wanted to see it in full!
"Dutch!" she yelled, just as the black man's revolver started registering, distracting her victims enough for her to emerge and kill two more of the bastards.
She then slid under her next victim who was back to back with three others before she shot each one of them dead in a deadly fusillade of fire and blood. She had a bloodthirsty grin on her face as she laid down cover fire on the rest of her prey.
She grinned even more as her distraction caused the mercs to forget about their present problem to the right of the bar. They were rudely reminded of that fact when rifle fire shredded three mercs in twice as many shots, and Revy eyed Rock who had an appropriated rifle firing in semi-auto at targets of opportunity, each register of the rifle causing some poor bastard to scream in pain.
The crescendo of chaos reached its peak as the mercs called in reinforcements. Revy and Rock worked in tandem to keep the remaining mercs pinned down and the newly arrived ones dead or pinned as well. At one point, they found themselves fighting back to back, seamlessly transitioning between firing, evading and reloading while covering each other's backs.
Revy grinned as she shot another one of them dead. "You've got some batshit-crazy skills, dipshit!" she yelled over the gunfire. Gunning down someone behind Rock who returned the favor by shooting another behind her, she smirked at him over her shoulder. "What d'ya plan to do after you get out of here?!"
"I don't know!" Spinning around to slash a merc across the neck, Rock used the dying man as a shield to gun down his friends coming up behind him. "Might just stick with you guys for a bit. You seem like a lively bunch! Could be interesting to run with your crew!"
Smirking as she gunned down several more mercs while dodging their return fire, she yelled back. "With your skills, you're welcome to stick around!" A couple of more dead mercs joined her tally. "You still owe me a rematch remember?!"
"Appreciate it! Now, duck!"
And duck she did, just in time to evade a rifle butt to her face. A bloodthirsty grin reemerged as she grinned at the scared merc before filling his face with several 9 mm cocktails. And their dance of mayhem and blood continued.
Revy had already appropriated her own human shield while Rock — the crazy dipshit — finally took cover to reload his new rifle behind the counter just as she heard Dutch call out to them.
"Revy! Rock!" Dutch called, reloading his gun. "We're leaving!"
"Gotcha!" Revy replied before killing two more mercs with her pistol, her shield still struggling in front of her.
"Roger!" she heard the Japanese man call. Rock passed her, but not before tapping her on her shoulder. "I got you covered!" he called, switching to full auto as he crouched by the door and laid down suppressive fire on the mercs. "Get to the car! I'll be right behind you!"
Not enough time to argue the point, while inwardly grateful nonetheless, Revy shot a few more mercs before pushing her human shield away then she put a bullet in him too.
Dutch kicked open the back door, revolver registering as he killed two enemies who were guarding the back door before the sounds of Dutch's Dodge Charger roared onto the scene with Benny at the wheel.
"GET IN!" Benny yelled as Dutch got to the car first, opening both the front and back doors for easy access for the other two.
Just as Dutch turned around to provide covering fire, Revy ran out followed by Rock who was still laying suppressive fire with his rifle into the doorway. The security contractor turned just as Dutch began firing at the shadows emerging from the doorway.
"Dutch!" Rock called, earning his split second's attention. "Any 'nades?!"
It was Revy who answered him.
"Here, dipshit!" She tossed him a grenade before entering the backseat.
Rock caught it with ease. "That's for ruining my drinks, konnoyarō!"
Pulling the pin and then tossing it at the door, he raced onto the backseat before closing the door just as Benny raced away from the bar, the grenade exploding and killing all the remaining pursuing mercs.
Rock breathed a calm breath of relief as he checked himself for wounds. Finding none, he checked his compatriots as well who also sported none, with Revy even putting her feet up on the headrest in a relaxing pose.
Her face was drawn and tired, but her voice sounded normal.
"Hey Dutch," she began. "Bao was so pissed tonight, he looked like a steaming pot. He says unless we pay him back he's gonna weld our assholes."
Rock could already predict Dutch's dismissive reply. "Scary," Dutch replied in perfect deadpan. "I think I'm gonna cry."
Rock double checked his appropriated FN FAL, finding that he had 40 rounds left from 2 box magazines. His Hi-Power had two magazines of 15 rounds left. Not bad for a night's haul of weapons when he had started out with none. Rock sighed as he put his rifle and pistols on safety, looking out the window to observe Roanapur's city life.
"First night in the city in a year," he said, gaining the other's attention. "And we get into a firefight right off the bat — that has to be a record or something."
Revy snorted, an amused glint in her eyes that neither Benny nor Dutch had seen on her before. But Dutch had a hunch as to why, and it was sitting right next to her looking as if he hadn't fought off more than a dozen mercenaries on his own, unsupported and still managed to kill the lot of them with ease.
"Don't worry — this is tame compared to the other nights in this city," Revy had a grin pulling at her mouth as she remembered the graceful insanity the Japanese man had done just scant minutes before. "But enough about that, let's talk about that Hollywood-esque move you did with that other guy."
Rock raised an eyebrow, as even Dutch and Benny were paying attention. "What?"
"Come on, dipshit, don't play dumb," Revy said, irritation in her tone. "The one with the assisted pistol cocking."
Rock's eyes lighted in understanding. "Ah, that one," he nodded. "I don't think it's Hollywood-esque if it works just as well in the real-world. My instructor taught it to me years ago."
"I saw that, and I'm still working on believing it," She threw her hands up in the air. "I mean, come on! I've been using my two babies for years and even I couldn't do that! What are you, a fucking magician or some shit?"
Rock laughed at the jealousy he detected in her voice. "I can teach you that if you want," he offered, causing the woman to glare at him. But, Rock can see the tentative hope that sprung up behind her eyes. "Just as long as you can keep up with me that is — is Revy "Two-Hands" tough enough for the challenge?"
Revy heard the challenge in his voice, and she growled at that. She was about to go on another row at him before she finally noticed the playful twinkle that was present in his bright brown eyes which stopped her short. Rarely had someone been interested enough with her bitch-face persona on full blast to even talk to her, let alone tease her. She could count the number of times someone other than Dutch, Benny, Balalaika or the fuckers at the Rip-Off Church had teased her when subjected to her bitchy mask with her fingers.
Apparently, Rock was one of the very few who belonged in that category. And she found that she didn't mind it at all, and the fact that he was comely to look at and a deadly son-of-a-bitch was just a bonus.
"Bring it on, Rock." Revy grinned, surprising the hell out of Dutch and Benny. She never called anyone by their given names or nicknames unless they were close to her, like Dutch and Benny, but not someone that they met today — who had also kicked her ass. But that just seemed to fuel Revy's interest in the Japanese security contractor. "I'll make you eat those words when I can do it better than you!"
"We'll see, Two-Hands," Rock smiled at her, turning to look back out the window. "We'll see."
The four of them stayed in comfortable silence after that as they raced back onto their boat.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/
As the Black Lagoon sailed through the South-China Sea, Rock was seated behind Dutch who was helming the boat, cleaning his Gerber MK II with a cloth as well as readjusting the sights of both the Browning Hi-Power as well as the FN FAL. He found that the sighting for the Hi-Power only needed slight adjustment, but the FN FAL needed a lot of work.
Rock muttered curses at the incompetent mercenaries for not properly maintaining their equipment.
"If we maintain this speed, we'll be at Belawan Port by daybreak," Dutch said as he made minor course corrections to the PT boat. "From there, we'll meet up with Balalaika."
Rock nodded in understanding. "The head of the Russian Mafia out of Roanapur, right?"
"Right in the one," Dutch confirmed. "I have to say Rock, I didn't expect that gunfight we had at Yellow Flags to go so well, or so quickly." Dutch turned to give Rock a respectful nod, thanking him silently. "Revy might be a demon, but you were like a machine back there — systematic, precise and unyielding. Those guys never stood a chance, and I would bet my boat that you could've taken that entire platoon alone with no backup, only with a pistol and a knife in hand."
Rock laughed sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. "I wouldn't go that far Dutch," Even though Rock as a former 'Ghost' operative could technically do it, doesn't mean that he should. "Revy could've handled the entire thing all by herself as well."
"True," Dutch conceded. "But she still needed my help to distract her targets so that they couldn't shoot her that easily. You, on the other hand, could've done the same with or without support. Make me wonder what your background was to get that skilled as young as you are…"
Rock smiled. "Maybe you'll find out," he said. "Not now, but maybe soon. Who knows what will happen in future?"
Dutch nodded, a knowing look that he understood Rock's underlying message. The young man would be revealing his secrets soon, just not now when he had only just met them.
Of course, patience was luxury that certain members did not have, and one of them was currently bugging Benny in the computer room.
"Come on Benny!" Revy cajoled. "I know that Rock is an undercover spy or some shit at the company, doesn't mean that a ransom can't be reached!"
Benny sighed. "And what's to stop the company from dropping Rock like his namesake into the sea?" He continued checking his computer equipment without looking at the gunslinger. "From what Rock told us of Asahi Industries, they would sooner sell their own mothers rather than risk exposing their secrets."
"I know that!" Revy hissed. "But that doesn't mean you can't try!"
"My ears are burning."
Revy and Benny whirled to see Rock poking his head into the computer room, a curious look on his face. "Hey guys, what's going on?"
"Revy wanted to try ransoming you out to Asahi Industries," Benny quickly stated.
"Oi, you wanna die Benny?!" Revy shouted. "You're leaving me with the bag here!"
"It was your idea!"
Rock held up his hands to stall the coming argument. "Okay Revy, from the top," He crossed his arms casually in front of his chest. "Why did you want to try ransoming me out?"
Revy unconsciously gulped at Rock. He had a curious expression on his face, but she could see his muscles tensing in preparation for 'fight or flight', or in his case just 'fight and fight'. She would never admit to anyone, but she found Rock to be intimidating even without trying because of her knowledge of what he can do, and it slightly scared her to imagine those skills turning against her once more — this time to permanently kill her.
Of course, that knowledge also had the effect of her being turned on like no other!
Once they explain her idea to him, with Revy still giving the resident computer hacker side glares every now and then. Rock nodded in understanding.
"I see," He turned towards Benny as he said that. "Think you could contact them?"
Benny nodded.
"Then do it," Rock smirked. Unknown to him, that smirk was wreaking havoc on a certain gunslinger's mind. "Then ask for Kageyama-san from the Materials & Procurement Department. Let's see how they handle the wellbeing of their employees who get caught up in their schemes."
Revy only cheered while Benny went to work on contacting Rock's former employment. Dutch was informed of what was going on, and he gave the go ahead to do it. After all, it wouldn't hurt them to try.
After half an hour, Benny finally got the call through an Assault Dial, which Rock knew was no easy task with the equipment that Benny currently had on hand. It further fueled his imagination in thinking just what kinds of havoc the computer geek can do with specialized equipment.
"We're connected, Rock." He announced through his earpiece, holding out another for Rock to take who accepted it. "We're on Assault Dial and the line's secure."
"Thanks," Rock thanked him before heading out towards the bridge where Dutch and Revy who also had their earpieces on so that they could eavesdrop on his conversation. "You guys ready for this?"
Dutch gave an okay signal while Revy grinned viciously.
Putting the earpiece on, the three Lagoon Company members observed as he literally changed in front of them from the confident and easy-going killing machine, to a scared, timid and cowardly crybaby who would've been scared by just the sight of a gun going off.
"Department Chief!" Rock said frantically into the earpiece. Revy whistled silently at the man's acting — it was Oscar worthy, holy shit. He looked all the part of a scared witless salaryman. "Okajima speaking, I'm very sorry! Now, regarding the loss of the disc—!"
The man on the other end of the line spoke. "Right," Kageyama replied. The Lagoon Company listened as well. "Don't worry about that anymore. The disc no longer exists."
There was a pause as Rock played the part of dumbfounded shock. Revy bit her lip to keep from laughing while simultaneously thinking of ways to make money off Rock's acting skills. Holy shit he was good! An easy-going guy with a hilarious sense of humor, a goddamn killing machine and an actor all in one? How is that fair for the rest of the schmucks!?
"I don't understand, sir." Rock injected a note of panic in his voice for good measure. He absently saw Benny recording his act with his phone, who smiled cheekily at him as Rock flipped him off.
"Given the situation, I'll tell you, and only you…" Kageyama paused. "…the truth. Don't tell anyone else. It's hard to explain but to hedge against a drop in business, our board of directors agreed to help a war-torn country with the development of nuclear weapons — that disc contained the plans."
The came as a surprise to the Lagoon Company, but now they knew what Rock had been talking about when he said Asahi Industries had broken international law. He just didn't specify that it was the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was signed by Japan — Asahi Industries' homeland. They could also see Rock's expression, who looked as if he already knew that fact beforehand.
Chances were, he already did.
"It's nothing but trouble for management," Kageyama continued. "Nukes in this day and age… it makes me doubt their judgement. Eventually I'll be at the top and then I can do something about this. But in the meantime, this cannot be made public, Okajima-kun."
Revy noted Rock's vicious smirk at what Kegeyama had said, making her smirk as well when the Japanese man turned to her and mouthed, 'Not fucking likely, mate', causing Revy to silently snicker. Dutch and Benny also had amused expressions on their faces at Rock's vindictiveness.
"For the sake of the 50,000 employees of Asahi Industries," Kageyama went with the guilt tripping route that pissed Revy off to no end. "I want you to disappear into the South-China Sea. You'll be promoted two ranks, to assistant manager — we won't treat you badly. I'll also ask for the president and everyone under him to attend your funeral."
As Kageyama was monologuing his supposed employee's demise, Rock had pulled out his phone and connected a scrambler to it, much to Benny's surprise. He had always wanted one of those. Typing out several short messages, he sent them to their recipients just as Kageyama had one last thing to say.
"The professional ruffians should be there shortly," Rock narrowed his eyes at the cold man's statement. Are they the same mercs who attacked them earlier? "It was nice knowing you, Okajima-kun. Goodbye."
Taking off his earpiece, Rock sighed. He had already sent anonymous messages telling his family that he was fine and dandy, while sending another message to Mitchell to ask him to arrange protection for his family.
Turning to look at the other three people on the boat, he grinned tiredly. "What did I tell you," he said as a matter-of-factly. "Asahi Industries would sell their own mother's rather than letting a scandal of this scale go public."
Without waiting for an answer, Rock turned to head out. "If you need me, I'll be topside."
With that he was gone.
A silence came over the cabin as they each took the time to comprehend what had happened.
Benny was the first to break the silence.
"Well, that was interesting," he said, turning towards Revy. "Looks like your idea is as dead as those mercenaries we fought."
"Shut it!" Revy barked.
Dutch only sighed, turning back to helm the PT boat as Revy followed Rock outside. She found him leaning on the forward portside torpedo launcher while looking over the horizon with a content look on his face.
"They sure ditched you easily, new employee or not," Revy began, crossing her arms as a tinge of sympathy slivered through her voice. "Though I do sympathize."
Rock laughed quietly at that. "Thanks Revy," He smirked over his shoulder. "Well, once my evidence gets into the right hands, they can kiss their megacorporation enterprise goodbye."
Revy look amused at that. "For such a mellow guy — and believe me, you are as mellow as you can be in this business, you sure can be cruel when you want to be," She commented, coming up to stand beside him. "I couldn't help but applaud you for that though. Not feeling sorry for the other employees?"
Rock waved his hand dismissively. "The bastard was just bluffing," He noticed Revy look up at him curiously when he said that. "He knows that rival companies had been itching to poach its employees for years now. Even if they go bankrupt now, the employees would be snatched up in no time at all. Win-win for everyone, well, everyone except Asahi Industries of course."
Revy couldn't help it, she laughed out loud at that. Rock looked slightly surprised but pleased at the seeing the bitchy and hard-cased Revy "Two-Hands" laughing so freely. Of course, she was laughing at someone else's misfortune, but seeing as it was Asahi Industries Rock figured he would let it slide.
"I can't wait to see the chaos you unleash when you do!" Revy snickered, holding her sides as she laughed. "Oh man, I haven't laughed like this in a long time! Of all the things you made me do—!"
She snickered again.
Rock shook his head with a grin. "Glad you approve." He then shook his head with an overdramatic sigh of disappointment. "Too bad about your bonus and ransom money though — I might've been worth a hefty sum for my troubles."
"Eh, don't worry about it," Revy waved him off, getting her mirth under control. "That fifty-plus-fifty grand you paid us more than made up for that. That doesn't mean I won't shoot you in the face later — I want a rematch!"
"Noted," He replied wryly. Rock then remembered something before putting on his earpiece again. "Hey Benny, you there?"
"Loud and clear, Rock."
"Keep an eye out for anything suspicious coming our way," Revy paid full attention to him at the seriousness in his tone. "Remember, Kageyama-san said something about professional ruffians coming our way."
There was a pause.
"Too late!" Benny yelled. "Revy, are you and Rock on deck?"
Revy tapped her own earpiece. "Yeah."
"There's something coming straight at us over the ocean!" Benny reported, causing Rock to immediately scan his eyes over the horizon, more specifically at the rising sun in the east. "But it's not a boat. It's too fast — way too fast. At 3 hours 5 minutes. Can you guys see anything?"
As he said that, Rock and Revy could hear a distant whupping noise that was getting louder and louder as time went by. Seeing where Rock was looking at, Revy turned and squinted her eyes at the glare of the sun, making out a small shadow looming over the horizon, which was getting bigger, and bigger…!
Rock stiffened at the sound. "I know that noise!" He reached for his earpiece. "I've heard too much of its kind already! It's twin turboshaft engines, Soviet-era engineering! It's a Hind!"
"Confirmed!" Revy shouted as the Hind blasted past over the PT boat. "It's a low-altitude assault gunship!"
As the Hind banked and headed for another pass, Dutch gunned the engine and the Black Lagoon roared to life, coasting across the waves at 50-plus knots. But, with the air advantage enjoyed by the Hind and its far more powerful engines, the Black Lagoon would never be able to outrun the attack helicopter in any shape or form.
'This is starting to look ugly.' Rock thought as his eyes narrowed at the aircraft that was sent by Asahi Industries to silence him.
Well, the working conditions at that company were crap anyway. If they wanted to play hardball, he'll give them hardball.
It was time for Archer to emerge and prove his worth!
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And another chapter down.
Woo! I am on a roll, ladies and gents! Black Lagoon is such a good anime series I'm surprised I hadn't gotten into it sooner! Don't worry, my faithful readers, my other stories aren't abandoned just yet.
Destiny Rebirth had gotten stuck since 2018, and the others I need more time to flesh out my writing juices and unclog my brain. Hopefully I'll get it out as soon as I can.
This is HEIROFROHAN signing off,
PEACE!