Black Lagoon Episode 4
[Opening Theme: Red Fraction by MELL]
Episode 4 title: Our ugly secrets
[Opening Scene]
Dutch calmly walked into Balalaika's waiting room and waited for her Lieutenant to escort him inside. He was feeling hesitant about asking her the favor that he's been contemplating the last few weeks. With everything that has been happening he felt that it was too soon for this, but after the last few calls he had received from back home it seemed that times were tough for those he left behind. The Lieutenant opened the teak office doors and waved him inside. Dutch entered the office; he saw Balalaika on the phone talking to what seemed like her superiors. She finished up and told Dutch to sit down.
"So Dutch, how have you been?" She asked.
"I've been well" he replied. "With the looks of it Roanapur seems to be turning back into its original form."
"So it seems. We've been quite busy actually, so you're pretty lucky to get some face time with me. I figured what you came here for is important since you didn't spill anything on the phone. So what is it that you need Dutch?"
"Well things back home aren't good and I need you to transfer 75% of our pay from the last job into an untraceable Swiss bank account under the name Alicia. Could you do this for me?"
Balalaika brought up her one of her bank accounts that she used to pay Dutch with. She turned the screen towards him and pointed out that he'd only be getting five thousand after she transferred the funds to the account. Dutch made no facial expression and just nodded in compliance.
"As you wish Dutch" she said. The funds were transferred within a few seconds. "Well Dutch if that is it then I shall talk to you in the next few days. I may have a job for you and your crew and the pay is decent."
"Sounds like a plan" He said as he got up and walked towards the office doors. Pausing just inside the doorway, he said "And thanks Balalaika." He left the office with a small duffle bag in hand. Rock was in the jeep waiting for Dutch and began driving back to the docks just as the big man shut the door.
"Rock, I need a drink lets go to Yellow Flag. I'm in no rush to get back" Dutch said.
"No problem" Rock answered.
Rock made a detour from the docks to the bar and they arrived within a few minutes. They got out and walked in. It was pretty dead inside, not many people as there usually was but Dutch didn't mind. For the moment he needed the solitude, but did not deter Rock from accompanying him. He asked the barkeep to get him the strongest stuff he had available. The bartender gave him a bottle that looked like it held motor oil. As he poured Dutch and Rock a glass Dutch said "leave the bottle". The barkeep left the bottle and tended to his normal duties.
"Am I correct in assuming that we're not celebrating?" Rock asked
"No, not at all but I need something to take this feeling away and the cheap shit isn't going to do it" Dutch responded.
Rock took a hit from the glass and began coughing. "Oh my god this stuff is fucking hard to swallow" he said as the liquor dribbled out the side of his mouth. "This will kill more than brain cells". "So Dutch tell me something, why are we here?" He asked.
"Well to be honest with you Rock, my ex fiancé died a few weeks ago" he said. "It's just now hitting me and I need to get this feeling out of my head".
Rock looked at Dutch, puzzled. "Wait… you had a wife?"
"Yeah, is that so hard to believe?" Dutch asked.
"No, not at all… I didn't mean it that way. It's just that you don't speak of what you did before you came here and no one really knows your story. I was just surprised that you were married that's all." He said while scratching the back of his head while trying to think why he said it that way.
"That explanation didn't help your position Rock. I guess the liquor is taking quick affect, huh? But it's okay though, I know what you meant. Believe it or not but I was actually former military as well."
Rock took another swig from his glass and choked down sludge. "Yeah, I kind of figured you were something like that. You give off an air of discipline and self confidence that would suggest some sort of training.".
"With what I did, being discipline was something you had to have. That or bat-shit crazy, maybe a little bit of both." Dutch said as he took a drink. "Black Ops Recon was my field. A few others and I were specially chosen by top brass directly from boot camp. To be even more honest I'm a wanted traitor."
"Really?" Rock said as his eyebrows went upwards. "So what did you do?"
"It all started back in Nam, that fucking war made me the man I am today" he said.
[Flashback to March 8, 1965. South Vietnam]
Several cargo planes land on the tarmac of a recently established airbase. From one cargo plane walked a young, rugged looking African American male with the Sergeant insignia on his right tricep. Behind him were a group of soldiers that looked like they just came from hell and back. They reeked of gun oil and gunpowder. They've been in and out of conflict for the last 8 months. They were secretly sent into Vietnam for a reconnaissance mission, before the start of the ground mission. The smell of fuel and fresh boots lingered in the air as they step onto the ground.
"Oh thank the lord solid ground! No more jungle mud or waist level rivers for us. I told you guys we'd get out of there!" yelled Vasquez.
"Get up off the ground Vasquez we have to report to hangar four for our debriefing, then we can celebrate afterwards" Dutch ordered as he pulled the man up by the collar and shoved him forward to start walking.
They saw an open hangar with folded out chairs, there was a guard waving his hand to them in a 'come here' motion. They set off to the hangar; when they got there they took a seat and waited for the commanding officer. Jackson nicknamed Tortoise had taken a whiff of a plate of donuts and coffee and raced over to the table and started loading up on the pastries.
"Doughnuts! The sweet pastry of the gods!" he exclaimed while piling the donuts on a plate and in his mouth.
Just then the commanding officer walked in and took a look at Tortoise. He had powder sugar around his mouth with a half eaten donut was lodged on the side of his cheek. "Shall I come back in another five minutes so you can finish up?" questioned the officer. Tortoise's eyes widened as he looked to his right and saw the officer standing five feet away from him. He dropped his plate, stood up straight and saluted the officer along with the rest group.
"Take a fucking seat soldier!" barked the officer.
Tortoise shuffled off to his seat while whipping his mouth. The lights dimmed and a projector screen lowered. "Oh great a movie, I haven't seen one in a long time. Whadda' we watchin'?" asked Tortoise. Torch, the demolitions expert of the group slugged Tortoise in the arm.
"Listen up group, this isn't a debriefing anymore. What went on in the jungle while you were away is being acknowledged as black-ops classified. Only the top brass knows what happen out there and they will assess the information and figure out what is deemed top priority when they get the chance. I want to tell you all that you have been doing a great but your country is asking more of you. You are being sent back out to the jungle to do recon on a current weapons cache in a village east of our firebase that is currently being constructed at this very moment."
Dutch interrupted to officer "Excuse me sir but I think we have done enough for this country already. We haven't seen shit coming our way and…"
"Listen you pathetic excuse for a soldier! You will complete your orders and will not complain about it. We trained you to be the best and we're going to get what we paid for so shut up" the officer said while glaring at Dutch.
"Good job Sergeant, you showed him" Masters whispered. Dutch shot a quick glare at Masters; he had a big grin on his face as he faced the screen.
"Now after you have completed recon on the village and determined what the strength is of the VC in the area is you will radio for air strike. After the air strike you will move 20 clicks west of village and pin point a VC tunnel system in the area. It shouldn't be too hard to find, just look for the fuckers coming out of the ground. You will plant satchel charges within the tunnel exits and detonate them from a safe distance. Afterwards you move another 20 clicks west. There will be some ruins of what once was a temple with an open field. You will radio in for extraction and hold your position there. Now you leave at 2300hrs; I have arranged for some RnR for you guys until then, but you are restricted to the base. Now are there any questions?" ended the officer.
"Yeah, this is bullshit!" Vasquez blurted.
"I thought not, dismissed soldiers!"
They walked out of the hangar feeling like they've been used for some cruel purpose. Everyone decided to split up and meet back up at the plane at 2230hrs. Dutch headed towards the barracks to make a phone call whereas Vasquez, Masters, Torch, and Tortoise left for the mess hall to eat as much as they can until they'd pass out.
The barracks was empty. Dutch strolled over to the phone booth and sat down. He kicked off his shoes and released a long sigh. He punched in the numbers; the phone begun to ring. A woman answered.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Hey babe, guess who."
"Oh my god, Vincent I miss you so much I thought you were dead!"
"Wow, I haven't been called Vincent ever since I left. It's so different. The guys just started calling me by my middle name."
"Well you never did like your first name so it's understandable. How have you been? I hear on the news that we have sent in troops there. Another damn war has come and its more war propaganda this and bonds that. It's dreadful, oh I'm sorry here I am going on and on about this. How are you?" she said calming down.
"I've been better. Out in the jungle for so long you tend to start thinking you're being watched. I've gotten a lot more observant though. I guess it comes with the territory but there are times when I just want to scream at the top of my lungs and curse the day they assigned me to this. But I've got some bad news, I won't be coming home as soon as I thought I'd be. We've just been reassigned to…"
"Vincent stop…" She blurted interrupting him. "I just couldn't wait any longer, I thought you were dead. I'm so sorry, Vincent but I've moved on. I'm sorry but It just had to be said; please don't think it's your fault because it's not… Are you there?"
There was nothing but silence on the other end. The only thing in his life had just been taken away from him. He didn't know what to say; so many emotions were running through him. He just wanted to reach through the phone and strangle her. He wanted to break down and sob, he just wanted to be out of this hell hole but he knew it wouldn't happen anytime soon.
"Yeah I'm here. I'm speechless but I kinda' figured this would happen. It always does. Well I hope you are happy."
"Dutch don't be like that. It's not your fault…"
"Save it. I have to go."
"Dutch I'm pre…"
He hung up the phone before she could say anything else. He stormed out of the barracks and towards the mess hall. He walked through the double doors to see a big brawl going on with his men and a group of other soldiers. They were marines who had freshly arrived and straight out of boot camp. They were the type of soldier who liked to stake their claim as being badass and able to take on any challenge. There are at least ten of them ganging up on his guys; Dutch rushed over to brawl and jumped in. His fist caught one of them on their jaw. A loud crack was heard on impact. The other turned around to see Dutch straddling over the marine beating him until he was either unconscious or dead. They ran over to pull him off. Dutch sweep kicked one marine and gave him a thrusting knee to the nose. Blood poured out of his nose and all on to the ground. One of the marine kicked Dutch in the head; he held his head in pain, the room was spinning. Another marine came in and punched Dutch in the gut. Torch and Tortoise grabbed a few other marines and tossed them out the plate glass windows. Vasquez finally was able to get up after being kicked repeatedly while on the ground. He ran up behind one of the final two marines and clapped his ears. He deafened the marine for a short period, long enough of time to put him in a sleeper hold and knocked him out. The last marine had enough and took out his knife and tried going for Masters. He lunged at him; Masters quickly side stepped to the left and dodged the knife. The marine lunged once more. Masters dodged and grabbed his wrist and twisted his entire arm behind him about to break it. He kicked the back of his knee dropping the marine to the ground. The MP's rushed into the mess hall with batons in hand and started beating Dutch and his crew. Masters got a baton straight to the backs of his legs. He fell to the floor in pain. Dutch got up and closed lined one of the MP's. He was so enraged from the phone call and having being put on another mission that he just kept fighting not wanting to go down. The MP's couldn't control Dutch and retreated outside sending in the armed guards. Dutch gathered his men and told them to head out the window and go straight for the armory. They hopped out the broken back window and rushed across the airfield to the armory. Dutch grabbed one of the tables and forced it up against the doors delaying the armed guards for a few minutes. Dutch made a break for the window. The doors forced opened and the armed guards aimed at the window and fired off a few rounds but it missed Dutch as he dove out the window hitting the ground. He ran towards the armory where his men were waiting.
One of the MP's rushed into the officers tent and reported to the commanding officer "Sir, sir the black ops crew are going AWOL." He said while he tried to regain his breath.
"Damn it, I knew we should've gotten rid of them during their extraction. Sound the base alarm, I want them captured but if you have to use deadly force to stop them I don't care." He ordered.
"Yes sir!" The MP responded.
The base alarm went off as soon as Dutch reached the armory where his men were waiting. He opened the door to see the officer knocked out; Tortoise was standing over him. Vasquez was sitting on top of the counter with his head in his hands.
"Get a grip Vasquez we need to get off this base. I have a feeling that they want to do more than court marshal us." Dutch said.
"Are you kidding me? We are traitors now; do you know what the means? It means were fucked!" He said while running his hands through his hair stressfully.
"Yeah, well I'm pretty sure they will deny all knowledge of ever using us and send us up stream. Remember we were chosen for one reason and that's because we fucked up somewhere between the psych evaluation and boot camp so it was bound to happen."
"I suppose you're right but I didn't think it'd be this bad."
Vasquez got off the counter and headed to the back of tent where Masters and Torch were stocking up on weapons. They dragged out two military duffle bags full of ammo and explosives. They gave Tortoise his M60 and plenty of ammo. While they were suiting up to get the hell off the base Dutch heard a jeep pull up outside. He peeked out the small window to see the commanding officer that assigned them the next mission step out with three MP's. Dutch told everyone to hide before they came in. The doors opened and in walked the men. They went to the counter looking for the officer in charge of the armory.
"Now" Dutch yelled.
The crew rushed the three guards while Dutch went for the officer. He pistol whipped him on the back of head. The officer fell to his knees. Dutch go on top of him and put the gun in his mouth and told everyone to back off. His crew stopped and looked at Dutch.
"Find something to tie up the MP's. We're taking this asshole with us for insurance."
"Chalk up another ten years in jail for kidnapping" Torch said with a smile.
"Shut up Torch and just find some rope" Dutch said.
Torch ran to the back to find some rope while Dutch blind folded the officer and prepared for the escape to the chopper. Torch came back with bundles of rope and tied the MP's together. Dutch grabbed his gear and pushed the officer forward out the door to where the jeep was. Masters got on the drivers side while Vasquez got on the mounted M-60. They speed off from the armory towards the helipad where three huey's were being fueled. The jeep came to a screeching halt. They all piled out of the jeep and ran for the helicopter dragging the officer behind them. Dutch knocked out the mechanic who was fueling the chopper. Tortoise and Vasquez set up a small perimeter while they waited for the chopper to refuel.
"You can't escape you piece of shit there's no where for you to go." The officer said "you're in the middle of a war zone. Viet-cong litter the jungle hiding everywhere, and then you have our Marines who aren't too friendly to traitors nor cong. Just give up because there is no escape."
"That commanding officer gave us no choice. He didn't even bother to thank us for the information. There was no respect given to us; hell we couldn't even earn any if we tried. So do me a favor and save me your pessimistic bullshit for someone who cares." Dutch responded.
"There they are!" an armed soldier shouted as he pointed them out to the rest of guards.
Troops rushed towards the helipad from all directions firing upon them. Tortoise and Vasquez lit up the airfield with machine gun fire. Tracers were flying in every direction. The chopper finally stopped refueling. Masters got in the cockpit and started her up. The rotors started slowly but then picked up pace. Soon the huey was ready for lift off, Vasquez then Torch jumped in following Tortoise and the officer. Dutch sprayed the other two choppers with fuel and set them a blaze. He opened fire on the refueling truck to add more destruction to the helipad. Gas started pouring out onto the ground moving towards the blaze. Dutch forced himself up in the chopper and Masters took off. The fire sparked the gas and raced to the refueling truck blowing it sky high along with the other two choppers. A mushroom cloud of black and yellowish orange colors illuminated the airfield. Masters swooped back in over the airfield. Dutch opened the side door of the huey and held the officer shirt firmly within his grasp.
"Don't try to send anyone after us because your efforts will be fruitless. Adios amigo!" he said to the officer as he pushed him out of the chopper. He fell on top of a Lorrey transport truck and rolled off the top. Dutch closed the door and ascended into the sky with his crew.
An MP rushed to the spot where the officer lay. He tried to pick up the officer but saw he was in too much pain to move. The officer whispered orders to the MP to tell the commanding officer of the base. Soon after giving the orders the officer died. The MP raced towards the primary HQ.
"God damnit! What the hell is going on out there? Someone give me a sit rep." barked the CO.
"Sir! Lieutenant Garson is dead." The MP said. "He was dropped out of the escaping helicopter. His last orders were to ask you to send air support after the chopper."
"Damn it, Garson was a good man. Alright then his last order will be given. Let us send those treacherous assholes a nice present from the Air Force. Ensign call in the phantoms."
"Roger that sir!" the Ensign turned, grabbing the radio on the desk. "Swift wind this is Home base come in over"
"This is Swift Wind, what are your orders?"
"Swift Wind we need you to down a friendly chopper that is being piloted by traitors do you acknowledge?"
"Five by five, what's their heading?"
"Heading is east of our airfield toward neutral territory. Down them before they reach neutral airspace."
"Roger that, pursuing now"
The pilot kicked in the afterburners and sped towards the Dutch and his crew.
Dutch sat in the navigators' seat and took a look at the map. He pointed to Masters where he wanted to go. It was a small dock just west of where they we're first dropped off at when they did their first mission; It was just 400 miles east of Thailand. Dutch got on the intercom and spoke to his men.
"Listen up men; we are now officially traitors to the United States of America. We did their dirty work for eight months and were never compensated. That is what I like to call a fucked up mission. Thinking on only purely money now we are mercenaries. We carry no affiliation to any country. We work primarily for our own benefit. Everything you ever had back home is gone. We cannot return to that country no matter what. I…" the conversation was interrupted by a loud beeping noise on the console.
"Dutch we have an incoming bogey and by the looks of it we're in deep shit."
Dutch took a peek outside the window glass and saw a black object headed towards them with great speed. The phantom roared passed the huey. The jet was painted in black with a tiger shark mouth on the front. It was an ace pilot by the looks of it. The jet looped back and confirmed his target.
"This is Swift Wind to HQ come in HQ" the pilot hailed.
"This is HQ, what's your status?"
"I have target insight, confirm mission status."
"Listen up pilot; this is General Jackson, commanding officer of Delta Recon Air Base speaking. That chopper is carrying five traitors. I need you to either blow them out the sky or down them so we can go in for pick up. Your choice pilot but I need you to know this is strictly confidential. When you return to base if anyone asks anything you are to say you were on a scouting mission and came under fire by ground forces in which you had to use deadly force."
"Roger that sir"
The pilot locked on to the helicopter and switched over to guns and opened fire. The chopper broke left and descended below the clouds headed straight for the jungle. The pilot pursued after them.
"Why the hell are we even trying to evade a phantom? This piece of shit isn't made for air to air combat." Masters shouted.
"Shut it and just fly!" Dutch yelled "Tortoise get on the mini-gun and lay waste to that phantom if he gets within range. Vasquez open your side door and use tortoises' M-60."
The doors opened and Vasquez began to fire upon the jet. The pilot banked right and received a hail of 30mm gun fire from the mini-gun. The pilot positioned itself back behind the chopper.
"I'm taking fire from the helicopter, switching to missiles"
The missile indicator homed in on the chopper.
"Beep, beep, beep" the beeps of the indicator started become more quick as it locked onto the target.
Masters banked left and right and ascended and descended as much as it was humanly possibly trying to shake the fighter. They were both now just 400ft above tree level.
"Target locked, Swift Wind 1, mark 1!"
The missile detached and raced to the helicopter.
"Use flares now!" Dutch ordered.
The missile homed in on the flares and blew up sending shrapnel in every direction.
"Dutch we received shrapnel damage but I think we're ok."
They were now trying to evade the ace over a quick running river. There was steep waterfall about 20 miles down the river and Dutch felt he could try to lose him there and possibly abandon chopper using it as a decoy to lure the phantom away while they escaped into the jungle. The pilot backed off a few hundred feet to give the helicopter space to blow up when he was ready to fire again.
"This is Swift Wind 1, target locked, mark 2."
Again the missile raced towards the chopper but it was too late, Masters deployed his flares too late and the missile blew up within 40 feet from the helicopter. The shrapnel ate up the back rotors and made the chopper engines smoke.
"Fucking hell Dutch we're hit, we're hit. I can't steady her out. Damn it the controls are barely responding. We're so going in." Masters said.
"Everyone prepare for crash landing!" Dutch ordered.
The crew buckled themselves in tightly to their seat as the chopper started to twist and turn. They reached the waterfall but were in a predicament. It was either a water crash landing and possibly drowning or a shore crash landing and possibly blowing up on impact. Masters aimed for the shore hoping it would be ok. The controls stopped responding and the huey went into a death spin. They hung on tightly bracing for impact. The chopper turned upside and crashed into the shore rolling into jungle. The thick jungle stopped it from going far but it spilt the chopper in half.
"This is Swift Wind 1, target is downed. Prepare for coordinates to crash site."
"Roger that Swift Wind 1 thank you." Ensign said.
"Captain Luis, get your men and Sergeant Remmel's men in whatever remaining helicopters there are and find that crash site and bring the traitors back to us dead or alive."
"Yes sir" the captain said as he saluted and left the command tent.
[Meanwhile back at the crash site]
Dutch woke up and cut his seat belt off. He fell out of the door and stumbled to regain his footing. The crash site was a mess. The rotor was about 20 feet away from the other two halves of the chopper itself. He stumbled around the pilot side to drag Masters out but Masters wasn't going anywhere. He had shrapnel and glass lodged within his face and chest. Dutch figured he had died on impact. Stumbling over to the last half of the wreckage he saw Vasquez impaled on a tree branch. He couldn't close the door in time and was thrown from the helicopter. Vasquez's blood soaked the tree and his intestines were right below him. Dutch found the other half and saw Torch and Tortoise safely fastened within their seats with no signs in tearing for in the seat belts. Torch had a dislocated arm and Tortoise had a sprained foot and an open wound on the side of his abdomen. Dutch was lucky he wasn't hurt to badly. He pulled both of them out and placed them by down on the ground.
"Where's Masters? I need to give him a piece of my mind about how to fucking crash land" Torch said.
"Masters is dead and so is Vasquez. It's not pretty; we should've just taken the mission and dealt with everything else later." Dutch replied.
'"Ugh, no it's not the time to regret. We made our decision and now we have to live with it. So let's use whatever first aid we have and get the hell to that dock and get the fuck away from this shit hole." Tortoise said as he got to his feet looking for first aid.
He found their bags and scavenged what they could from it. 60 percent of their supplies were gone but they figured the docks were only a twelve miles away or so they wouldn't need that much anyhow. Dutch went back to the cockpit and searched for a map. He found some of one but a lot of drenched in blood. Tortoise held Torch down as he popped back in his arm. Torch got up and sutured Tortoise's wound. It was pretty bad but figured they've endured worse so he could hold out until they got some place safe. They walked away from the crash site leaving behind Masters and Vasquez because they didn't have time to bury them. Guns in hand they headed into the jungle. It was midday when they crashed and nightfall would come soon. They had to get far enough from the crash site just incase someone came after them.
"Dutch we've been walking for hours; we need find a place to rest. Tortoise's wound needs to be assessed and we need to break for camp." Torch said.
"Yeah, alright that sounds good. We've put enough distance between the crash site and us. I'll make a fire and ration out our food. If my calculations are right we walk tomorrow the rest of the day with two breaks we should reach the docks by nightfall. Let's just hope that whatever was in the dock eight months ago is still there."
"We're betting on whether a boat is there that we think we saw eight months ago. Whatever was underneath those tarps it could've been anything; a boat, a submarine, a bunch of fucking drift wood! We need a solid escape plan because if I know our CO he's going to be coming after us with another black ops team." Torch commented as he patched up Tortoises wound.
"You make a good point but hopefully there is a boat there and we can get the hell out of here. It's our only option and it maybe a shitty option but it's better than nothing. I'll die before I go back to that shit hole I called home. I'm taking first watch after I set up the fire. Hand me the two claymores will ya'?" Dutch asked.
Torch tossed him the claymores. Dutch headed off into the jungle while Torch and Tortoise ate their rations.
[Transport Huey headed towards crash site coordinates]
"Captain Luis it's now 2345hrs sir. We should be reaching the crash site in a matter of moments." Sergeant Remmel said.
"Excellent, remember boys these guys are trained black ops soldiers. If I know them they won't come back alive so let's make it interesting. 50 bucks says I get the first kill"
"You're sick you know that. We're basically hunting our own brothers and you want to make money off of their death. What the fuck's wrong with you?" Remmel asked.
"The shit money they're paying is never enough. It may be more than a standard GI but it's really a shitty amount. So fuck, if I can earn an extra couple of hundred dollars off of someone's misfortunes then I'm going to take my chances and roll the dice."
"You're sick but I see your point. I see your 50 and I'll drop 100 in that I get a head shot."
Everyone in the helicopter started betting. So the pool was up to three grand. The signal light came on alerting them that they were ready to drop in. The doors opened and they repelled on in. They hit the ground and fanned out over the crash site. They combed the site looking for tracks. Remmel's men found Vasquez and soon found Masters. Remmel reached for the dog tags and yanked them off. Luis found a set of tracks and informed Remmel about it.
"They lead into the jungle. By the looks of it they are in a hurry and…wait a minute there are a shit load of other tracks over here as well. There are a lot of them; it looks like we aren't the only one after them. I suspect about 60 to 70 strong, Viet-cong regulars. We need to get moving fast before they get them first. Let's haul ass people!" Luis shouted as he led his group of men into the jungle. Remmel followed leaving three of the 10 men behind to set demolitions on the wreckage and blow it sky high.
Dutch said quietly behind a knocked over tree. It provided sufficient cover if he came under fire and the there was only one way to get to him and that was straight forward due to the dense jungle. Hours passed yet nothing came his direction. He radioed to Torch who was sleeping soundly next to the dosed out fire. "I bet that fucker is asleep" he said to himself. Dutch left the claymores active and headed back off to camp to wake up Torch. He reached the camp and saw him asleep.
"Hey wake your ass up Torch. I've been trying to radio you for the last 30 minutes. It's your turn to go take watch. The post is behind a fallen tree and the detonator is under a dug out hole underneath the tree." Dutch said
"Alright I'm up and now I'm going. When's daylight?" asked Torch.
"In about four hours."
"Roger that"
Torch headed off to the post. As soon as he got there he jumped into the small fox hole and tried to keep awake but failed miserably. Five hours passed and the sun was just coming up over the horizon.
The branches and leaves crumbled under their footsteps. The crackling noises woke up Torch. He got to his knees to see men in brown uniforms carrying Ak-47's approaching him. They were no less than 100 yards away; the claymores were less than 50 yards away. He had to make a decision either make a run for it and let the claymores blow up by themselves or blow them up himself and then radio Dutch that VC are in the area. He sat and waited with his flamethrower in hand and sidearm unattached. They approached, closer and closer they moved until he could their faces. The clamped down on the detonator blowing the claymores. The explosion blew apart the men. Flesh and blood rained from the sky and blood curtailing screams echoed in the air. He popped out above the tree and let loose the flames. The flames engulfed the first group of VC. The charred bodies ran about like chickens with their head cut off. Torch ducked back down and radioed Dutch.
"Dutch get your ass ready we've got VC in the area!" he said as he took fire from the VC.
"Roger that get your ass back ASAP we're heading out, that's an order" Dutch yelled.
Dutch got Tortoise to his feet but he had lost a lot of blood during the night. It had turned out that his suture had opened up started bleeding all night. Dutch put his arm over his shoulder and hoisted him and begun to drag him further into the jungle towards the dock which was more than six hours away.
Torch kept dosing the VC with his flamethrower. They tried out flanking him but didn't get far through the dense jungle. He checked the level of his gas and saw he was half empty. He got up once more and instead of spraying directly at them he aimed up and arched the flame. The flame rained death down on the encroached soldiers. The jungle started to catch fire and that was his sign to leave. He tossed the flamethrower in the foxhole and took off running with his sidearm in hand. He had no one pursuing but he wasn't going to take the chance to wait for them to catch up.
Luis and Remmel had caught up with the VC who where still burning alive. They stepped lightly over the bodies making sure not to melt their boots within the flames. Luis took count of the bodies but only count 30.
"We're missing another half here. Where the fuck did they go?" Luis questioned.
"Reconnaissance told us that they use an underground tunnel system to move from one are to another. If they have one here then they must've been on the move as soon as they saw no way around" Remmel answered.
"Fuck! They're going to get to them before us. We need to pick up the pace. Call in air support Remmel we'll need them just in case we end up fighting the VC as well." He ordered.
Remmel got on the radio and phoned in air support. The only squadron within range was the Swift Wind squadron back at HQ. They had received the message and hurried to their planes and made way to the Captains location.
Torch had finally caught up the Dutch and Tortoise. Tortoise was in bad shape. He was looking more pale than usual. They set him down and took a look at his wound. Tortoise had to get to a hospital soon or else he wouldn't make it.
"Look guys I'm just slowing you down. Leave me behind and I'll hold off whoever comes this way. This is my stop anyhow. You have about another four hour hike before you reach the docks. Just go, trust me I'm ready to die." He pleaded to Torch and Dutch.
"No way man we aren't going to leave you behind. We won't!" Torch said as he tried to put another suture through him again. "We will make it out of here"
Tortoise just shook his head. He grabbed the M-60 and his ammo and loaded up. He stood up using all his strength and walked over to a blown up set of ruins. It faced the left of the path they were on.
"Just go I'll buy you time if anyone comes, now leave!" He yelled.
Dutch gave Torch the last M-16 and they kept running towards the dock. Luis and Remmel had quickened their movement through the jungle. Air recon was in the area and had told them that a large mass of men were moving through the jungle toward a dock 40 miles from their position. Luis told Remmel to move for extraction with his men and head to the dock and use a pincer attack to get the traitors and VC caught in the middle. Remmel agreed and popped smoke for extraction. Luis and his men kept moving forward to try to catch up with everyone. An hour passed and Luis was just passing the old set of ruins.
"Hold men. We're not alone. I hear…voices" he whispered.
"Die!"
Tortoise opened up on Luis and his men with the M-60. The bullets dropped three of his men. He stopped firing and tossed a grenade sending debris everywhere. The M-60 started up again pinning Luis and his men. Luis told his men to open fire on the ruins while he moved around the fallen wall to flank. Bullets were clambering out of the M-60 as Tortoise just let out his war cry. He stopped firing to let his the gun cool. Steam was slipping out of the gun. He didn't see anyone out on the path he was facing. It started raining; it was cooling him and his gun down. It was a thunderstorm and soon all he could hear was the thunder.
"Where are these guys?"
"Right here" a voice answered.
The thunder masked the gun shot and burrowed into Tortoises temple exiting the other side spraying brain matter and blood on the ruined bricks. His body fell to one side and leaked blood. Luis walked over to his body and looked Tortoise over. He saw a wound on his abdomen and figured he only had an hour or so left to live if they didn't show up.
"A fighter till' the end." He said to himself. "It's clear men"
His men came out from cover and moved towards the body. "Great shot Captain, one in a million shot" one of them said.
"No, just skill; come on we have to keep moving if we want to catch up to the VC."
The rain kept coming and there was no sign of it stopping. Dutch and Torch had to stop for a quick break to catch their breath. They ran for two and a half hours no stop and they were winded. Dutch took a swig from his canteen and took in a deep breath constantly keeping his eyes open and looking around for anything. Torch sat down and ate what was left of his ration he had for dinner.
"How far do you think we have to go?" Torch questioned.
"Probably another hour, this area is starting to look familiar. I think a mile or two through this jungle we'll hit the open field and then it's a straight shot from there to the docks."
"Great and then either we figure out that our savior under the tarps is a boat or drift wood. My money is on drift wood"
"Smart ass; we break for another fifteen minutes then we go full speed until we hit the clearing." Dutch said.
"You got it."
[Remmel and company in transport chopper]
"We're here men, hit the dirt and form a perimeter"
His men poured out of the chopper and did what he said. Remmel came out of the chopper and looked around. He opened the door to the old dock cabin and went inside. There were traces of blood and bullet casings. It was fresh, at least a few days old. Remmel walked towards the dock gates and took a look inside and saw the covered vehicle. He lifted up the sheet and saw it. It was magnificent. Sheer speed mixed with pure power, a beast that's what she was. He dropped the cover and went back to his men.
"Whatever happens we can't let them get to the docks. I don't know how long that thing has been there but it looks as if it was modified for speed and that's the last thing we want on their side. Hold tight men, stay put and don't fire at anyone unless I say so" Remmel ordered.
Luis and his men kept pushing forward. He felt he was getting closer to the traitors. It was like he could taste their scent in the air. Luis finally stopped in his tracks because he heard something again. This time it was radio chatter in a foreign language. He told his men to spread out with a ten foot distance between each other. They folded over a giant shrub and found a small VC camp. There were at least 15 men there, a tent with a radio and rations. The outpost could've been an advance recon outpost for a battalion of men lying in wait in the jungle or just a search party setting up camp but whatever it was it had to be taken out. He hurried back to some cover. He got on the radio and hailed Remmel.
"Remmel this is Luis come in"
"Remmel here what's your status?"
"I'm about forty five minutes away from you but I found a small outpost and I need you to get Swift Wind to bomb this area. Just call it a gut feeling but this outpost seems like it's meant for something more and if I'm right we do not want to face whatever it is they are there for."
"Roger that, hang on"
Luis hailed Swift Wind squadron.
"Swift Wind this Foxhound come in over"
"We read you Foxhound, air strike is available"
"Air strike I need napalm bombardment at Alpha Zero, Echo Niner
"Bombardment confirmed, going hot"
The phantoms dropped below radar level and cruised the tree tops honing in on their target. Luis and his men started evacuating the area. As he forced his men further he saw one of the VC had caught glimpse of him and motioned to the other men within the camp to make the call. Luis put a bullet in his forehead and continued moving. The phantoms whooshed over head in the opposite direction towards the outpost. The bomb released and ignited the jungle. The napalm torched everything within 30 yards. The jungle was now starting to look like what pyro's do with chia-pets when their bored.
The destruction of the outpost was seen all they way from where Dutch and Torch were. Dutch looked over his shoulder and saw black smoke not to far from where he was. It was soon becoming clearer to him that being taken alive wasn't an option. They quickened their pace towards the docks. They kept running until they finally hit the end of the jungle and saw the open field. The hurdled through the tall grass and saw the docks within sight. Torch could just imagine that there were no more troubles his way. Then out of nowhere it him, a bullet out of nowhere. The bullet pierced his quadriceps. He lost all balance and fell to the ground.
"Oh fucking shit! Fuck, fuck, fuck!" he swore as he applied pressure to his wound. "Where did it come from Dutch?"
Dutch was lying on his stomach looking at Torch squirm in pain. "I think it came from the docks"
Tracer fire started lighting up the tall grass. Bullets whined and zipped by their faces, only inches away from death. Remmel's men moved in closer on Dutch and Torch. Dutch opened fire blindly and caught one of them off guard. The bullets stopped and he heard a voice afterwards.
"You can either go home in a body bag or go home as a traitor and rot in a cell for the rest of your fucking life. It doesn't matter to me because either way we're getting paid".
"You don't get it. They tried to stiff us; if they did it to us they'll do it to you" Dutch yelled.
Remmel radioed Luis while Dutch was talking. "Remmel we have those traitors pinned. Come in from the back and close the pincer and we'll have them"
"Roger that Remmel just keep them there"
"Affirmative"
Dutch crawled over to Torch and checked his leg. It was bleeding badly and it appeared the bullet didn't exit his leg. Moving him was going to be a pain in the ass but they were so close and he had to get him to the boat that he hoped was there. A loud horn was heard within a distance and then screaming was next. It was the Viet-cong. The clearing they were in was over a major VC tunnel system. They charged in the masses. Those brown pajama mother fuckers were attacking the hunting team. Dutch never felt so glad to see those guys.
"VC to the left and right; form a perimeter and make sure none of them get to the traitors"
Dutch got Torch and helped him crawl to the docks. Luis arrived to the clearing to witness Remmel fend off the onslaught of the VC massacre. Luis rushed in and tightened the collapsing perimeter. They exchanged fire with each other for ten minutes until the VC decided to make a big push for the kill.
"Swift Wind this is Foxhound, we need close air support on our position, over"
"Roger that commencing close air support"
The Swift Wind squadron criss-crossed through the sky dropping their cluster bombs and depleting their machine gun rounds on the VC as Luis called in their position. While the planes took out the majority of the VC; Luis and Remmel decided to get after Dutch and Torch who were escaping to the docks. Dutch barged down the door with his shoulder and took a look around. Bullets began tearing down the rotting cabin.
"Remmel take the right flank and meet them on the docks. I'll proceed through the front and push them towards you" Luis said as he made his way through the front door. Dutch kicked down the back door and proceeded to the main dock.
The VC had fallen back for the moment and left whatever remaining black ops team to regroup. Swift Wind squadron had to bail due to lack of fuel. There was no artillery in the area and the next time the VC would attack it would be their last. An extraction chopper was inbound but it wouldn't be there for another 20 minutes. The team formed a small circle and waited for extraction, praying the VC wouldn't come back.
Dutch placed Torch behind a few crates and told him to stay put as he checked the boat garage. He walked to the door and opened it slowly, peeking inside. He then saw it. It was just as they left it, untouched and a sight for sore eyes. He removed the tarp and looked it over. It was truly a magnificent boat; a PT-109 torpedo boat. Dutch climbed aboard and went inside. There was a modified engine capable out reaching speeds up to 200mph. He took a look at the small radio room. There wasn't much there but a prehistoric radio that wouldn't be able to reach outside 30 miles. He proceeded to up to the cabin where the controls were. There was commander's chair with a console in front full of bells and whistles. He got off the boat and walked to the door to get torch but heard and voice behind.
"Down on your fucking knees traitor" Remmel ordered.
"You don't have to do this brother; you can just let me and my buddy leave. No one else has to die here today." Dutch offered.
"You have no right to call me a brother anymore. That went out the door when you went AWOL. I'm getting paid; now get on your knees with your hands behind your head!"
Dutch bent down on his knees slowly and put his hands behind his head. Remmel walked over cautiously and forced Dutch to the ground. Just as he started to place the binds on Dutch, Torch crashed through the door and took Remmel to the ground. They struggled and wrestled on the floor. Torch knocked the gun out of Remmel's hand and started to beat him. Dutch got up and got on the boat to start her up. Remmel reached for his knife and plunged the knife into Torch's stomach. He stabbed Torch again in the neck while kicking him off. Torch held his throat trying to stop the bleeding but it was no use. Dutch came out of the cabin to see Remmel holding the bloody knife standing over Torch. Dutch pulled his sidearm and fired repeatedly. The bullets entered Remmel's back and exited through his chest. Remmel dropped to his knees and fell forward lying next to Torch. Dutch approached Torch but it was too late. So much blood had spilled out of Torch that he died within seconds. Dutch removed the dog tags and was heading back toward the boat, but stopped when he heard one more voice and a figure appearing in the corner of his eye.
"It's a shame really. I had a bet with Remmel and now that he's dead he won't be able to pay up. Oh well it doesn't matter really. [While shrugging] With your death I'll still get paid no matter what." Luis said as he pointed his rifle at Dutch. "Now get off the boat and walk towards me. You're going to receive the kindest treatment you deserve, a traitor's execution."
Dutch walked back onto the dock and approached Luis. He had to figure out a way to get away from him before the VC came back or Luis killed him.
"Why don't we settle this like men, hand to hand, man to man?" Dutch offered
"Really, what are the stakes?"
"If you win you will have killed me receiving your money and you get to take this boat. If I win, well I escape leaving you to die by the VC"
"Well I can't turn down such a great offer but I figure I'll just kill you with the rifle, get my money, and take your boat. Thanks but no thanks" Luis said with a big grin on his face as he pointed the rifle at Dutch's head.
Loud whistles came howling through the sky hitting the black ops team, more arched towards Dutch and Luis's position. The blast from one tore the roof off of the dockhouse. The VC had started a mortar bombardment on their position, followed shortly after by the sound of a horn. War cries echoed through the tree line and out rushed the VC to finish off whatever was left of the black ops team. Hundreds of VC poured out overwhelming the black ops team. Bayonets and bullets tore their flesh apart in a matter of minutes. The VC cheered as they hoisted up the dead bodies of the black ops team. A group of them took the bodies back into the jungle to use them as a deterrent to all American soldiers who opposed them. As others fell back into the jungle a handful headed towards the docks to search for any survivors they may have missed.
Dutch and Luis awoke to dust swirling about in the air, reflecting/refracting the bright sunshine into their face. Dutch got to his feet quickly while Luis stumbled around. He got onto the boat and started to pull out from the docks. Glancing back he couldn't see Luis as he pulled the boat away. A fist collided with Dutch's face knocking him out of the chair. Luis had made his way on the boat. He picked Dutch up by his vest and threw him out of the cabin and onto the side of the boat. He kicked Dutch in the face and dragged him further to the front of the boat. Blood was dripping out from his mouth and nose.
"You think that was going to save you, traitor? I'm going to enjoy killing you" Luis said as he brought his knife out. "You can share the same fate as your comrades".
He swung the blade at Dutch but missed. Dutch quickly got to his feet dodging knife swings. Luis came at him again only glancing his neck [let's make this as desperate a situation as possible]. Dutch side stepped and kicked Luis in the knee, dropping him to one leg. He came in from the top, landing a solid punch to Luis's right cheek. Luis dropped to the ground but slashed at Dutch's ankle. The knife drew fresh blood, causing Dutch to stumble backwards in surprise. Luis took the chance to lunge toward Dutch and try to finish the big man off. Dutch recovered in time to grab Luis's arm and snap it. Luis dropped the knife from the pain. Luis back kicked Dutch to the railing. Trying to finish it off Luis went for a roundhouse but Dutch was on guard now. Luis shrieked as his foot impaled itself on a knife Dutch was gripping in his hand…Luis's own knife.
"SHIT!" Luis screamed as it cut his Achilles tendon.
Dutch bent over Luis, grabbed him by the fatigues, and lifted him up. "Pray that the VC kills you quickly you piece of shit" he said as he hurled him over the side of the boat.
Dutch walked back into the main cabin and sped away from the dock leaving Luis floating in the water. He started to swim to the shore when he saw the VC waiting. They were just staring at him, then began smiling, and pointing. He wished he had died right there and then rather than endure the torture they had in store for him, and it seemed as if death was listening to him that day because his wish was granted. Luis turned around in the water just in time to see the starboard side of the Dutch's boat as it smacked right into his skull, splitting it open. The Lagoon ran over his body and the propellers dismembered and tore his limbs to shreds. The water turned a dark red and only pieces of bloody clothes were left floating on the surface. Dutch kicked the boat into full gear and never looked after that.
[Flashback ends with Dutch downing another shot at the bar with Rock]
"And the rest is history Rock" Dutch said as he let out a big sigh, as if a weight was lifted from his shoulders.
Rock just sat there amazed at the fact that Dutch had to accomplish so much just to get his freedom. He looked down into his glass and just stared into the brown substance.
"Well Rock I think it's time we started heading back to the house, don't you think so?" Dutch asked.
"Yeah, let's get going" Rock said as he finished off his drink and slammed it on the table.
They left the bar and headed back to the jeep. Rock kept going over the story in his head. If he got the Lagoon here then Dutch has been here ever since (with the exception of retrieving Revy and Benny). The sun was beginning to set by the time they got back to the apartment. Rock saw Benny on top of the scaffolding in front of the apartment struggling to put up the new walling for the apartment. Revy was leaning on the scaffolding's poles with a bottle of Vodka in one hand. She was lecturing Benny on how to adjust the walls.
"No you're doing it all fucking wrong" she shouted. "I can do a better job than that" She saw Rock and Dutch get out of the jeep. She walked over to the jeep. Dutch tossed her the small duffle bag.
"Finally, our payment! I've been waiting!" Revy said with delight. She peeked inside only to see five thousand in cash. "What the fuck? Where's the rest of it?" Her voice grew louder "Is Balalaika holding out on us?!"
"No she isn't, I needed most of it for personal reasons" Dutch said calmly. "This will happen one more time and that will be the end of it; so all of us are going to have to deal with a pay cut for the next job."
Benny hopped off the scaffold and walked up to Revy and took a look inside.
"You know for the next mission if we need ammo for our weapons we won't be able to afford it. The Rip off church is still being reconstructed and they don't have the supplies to give out loans let alone allow an 'I owe you'. The money we got from Chriton is all gone due to the repairs towards the warehouse and the apartment, plus replacing the equipment that we lost." He said while pushing up his glasses.
"I'm very aware of that." Dutch replied.
"I don't think you are, so why don't pull your head out of your ass and get that money back!" Revy barked.
Revy, Rock and Benny just looked at him then Revy spoke "I WANT MY FUCKING MONEY!"
"Calm down Revy, we should be considerate of Dutch's decision. He probably made a really hard choice for the group and I think we should respect his decision." Rock responded.
"Shut up Rock!" Revy snarled.
"I have to agree with Revy on this one Rock. Dutch had no right to make that kind of decision with out our consent. Dutch owes us our money and I expect to be paid" pointed out Benny.
"Well you won't get your money until after the second job and that's that" Dutch disputed.
Revy unclipped her cutlass and brought it out gripping it in her hand by her side ready to put a bullet in Dutch's head. Dutch unclipped his revolver and waited for Revy to make a move. A duel between two partners was about to go down but just then there was a knock at the door. Benny stepped back slowly and moved to the door to see who it was. He opened the door and saw a young woman standing in front of him. Her brunette hair was up in a bun with two strands of hair coming over her eyes. She had fair skin and was wearing a black leather jacket and some worn out pair of jeans.
"Is a man named Vincent there?" she asked.
"I'm sorry no one lives here by that name" Benny replied as he closed the door and went back to the front room.
"What did she want Benny?" Rock asked.
"She was looking for some guy named Vincent. Told her no one lived here."
Dutch and Rock's eyes widened as Benny mentioned the named Vincent. They both got up and walked to the door and opened and saw the young female there overlooking the address again. Rock asked her politely to come in and have a seat in the front room. She slowly came in walking past Dutch not even realizing who he really was. They all took a seat in the front.
"So what is it that you need from Black Lagoon, miss?" Rock asked.
"I'm looking for a man named Vincent" She answered.
"Uhh I'm sorry miss this is a delivery service-" Benny said
"Not some damn lost and found" Revy said snarkingly.
Rock shakes his head at the other two, then looks at Dutch and returns to the girl.
"Why exactly did you come here, of all places?"
"My family has been receiving …gifts…from this address. Whoever it was seemed to be a friend, so I thought I could get some help…?" looks around helplessly
"Before my mom died she told me about a man known as Vincent Dutch Johnson also known by some as Dutch. I thought that the person who's been sending us money would know something about him…" She said as she placed her hands on her lap.
"What's his relation to you; if you don't mind me asking?" Dutch asked.
"My name is Vanessa, I'm Vincent's daughter."
Everyone's (excluding Dutch) mouths slightly hung open as they were looking at Dutch's daughter. Dutch got up and stood tall then spoke "Vanessa, just so you know, I really don't like being called Vincent"
The girls' eyes widen as she stares at him.
[Ending credits, EDISON- Don't look behind]
[End of episode 4, season 3]
[Next episode of Black Lagoon]
Everyone was shocked with the sudden visit from Dutch's daughter. It seems that he has to face his forgotten past. Trying to get to know a father that was never there let alone never heard of until a few days ago isn't easy. Take your daughter to work day might be out of the question or is it? A private plane landed at the airport that very day and out walks a group of men dressed like mercenaries. What's going on?!
[Next time on Black Lagoon: Abnormal Fatherhood]