Alana's World Tour: Roanapur
Chapter 2: Operations Commence
Disclaimer: I do not own Black Lagoon or the concept of Intelligent Devices
From here I'm going to start describing the Hunters ARMS weapons being used as they are first used in an 'Arsenal' section. (This will also serve to introduce additional characters by name before their official entry in the tale.)
Flashback
"Miss Helsing" an authoritative yet warm voice called and Alana looked to the man sitting on the throne above the Council of Lords before walking over to in front of the throne and took a quick glance to his right to see his wife, her crown unmistakable as Alana in her true form went down on one knee out of respect. "Yes, your majesty." she said with her head lowered and looked up when bidden, meeting the gaze of the King of Vampires.
Alana's features were sharper and more predatory as she wore a cuirass and sash with Chinese influences while her pauldrons and bracers bore a decidedly Japanese influence. The kimono she wore was mostly black with a red chrysanthemum flower crest at the collar and sleeves while she wore a frilly blouse under her kimono. Covering her legs were Sashinuki Hakama while she wore slightly heeled, pointed ankle high boots, also reminiscent of a Chinese influence. The left side of her collar bore the crest of the Helsing Clan while she still wore her daishō on her waist.
"You sent for me, your majesty?" Alana said as she remained knelt down on one knee out of respect. No vampire or Dhamphir in their right mind would dare show ill respect towards the King, especially in the Council of Lords chambers with the entire council present. Greater Lords from all over the World were gathered into one room to discuss events of great import, and very seldom was someone from one of those great clans but not a Lord themselves ever requested to appear unless it was a situation that required immediate action. Unless of course, you were one of the 13 Masters, the personal bodyguards of the King and Queen, which Alana felt herself blessed to be counted amongst their number as the youngest member. Nine pairs of crimson eyes in the shadows revealed the presence of most of her colleagues while the other three had to be out on missions.
Looking at the King, she found herself captivated by the unearthly beauty he possessed in his hawk-like gaze as his long, ebony black hair fell down his back like a flowing river to meet the many elements of his combat attire, which bore elements from every Middle Eastern culture and gave him the appearance of an almighty King as he wore a full beard. His wife was similarly attired, but she embodied the feminine image yet with the same unearthly beauty and hawk-like predator's gaze. Alana found herself unable to tear her awed gaze from the two until a cough from behind her brought the council to her attention and she lowered her head again.
The Council looked on at Alana, Vampire Lords from North, Central and South Americas, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle and Far Easts, North Central and Southern Africa, Australia, North Asia, and India. The Vampire Lord from North America especially looked on in amusement, her features bearing great resemblance to Alana's and bore a mother's concern; Caitir Helsing.
"Rise, heir to the Helsing Clan." the King bid and Alana was quick to comply, yet slow enough to not seem eager to curry favor. "We have need of your talents, my child." the King began again and he continued "We have received news that a Vampire entrusted to keep an eye on Roanapur has gone rogue and is building an army in an attempt to force the Council to grant him membership. We would like for you to go to Roanapur and eliminate this vampire and all those who willingly follow him. You leave as soon as possible with your seal in place. Understand?"
"Yes, Your majesty, who is my onsite contact?" Alana replied and the King smiled, exposing his fangs and inwardly startling her for a few moments. His fangs were huge! "Your contact in Roanapur is a man known to your Grandfather as Sir Bao, he owns and operates a Bar called the Yellow Flag. He will provide you with information on where to locate your targets and where you can receive resupply."
"Understood. By your leave Your Majesty, may all who betray the Crown find themselves burned to ashes." Alana replied as she was dismissed and left the room, her mother smiling at her.
Flashback end
Alana woke up the morning after arriving in Roanapur, her hair having already returned to being red, and looking around, quickly becoming embarrassed when she found Rock sleeping on top of her and she found Revy on the other couch sound asleep, the Velsignet Vind and the Gospel sitting on the coffee table. Moving her arms, she gently shook Rock awake and apologized for forcing him to lay with her, trying to keep her voice down to prevent Revy from overhearing her.
Once Rock was awake, Alana stood up and found herself completely dressed save her swords and pistols. She then picked up the two pistols and went about stripping them down to the frames, neatly placing the parts on the table. She went about delicately wiping down the frame rails of any unburnt powder and shavings from constant cycling of the slides. After she finished cleaning the two pistols she carefully put them back together, seemingly oblivious to Revy's careful observations until Alana picked up the reassembled Gospel with one hand without difficulty and looked down the sights, the gun not moving as Revy sat up with a start saying "What the fuck? How can you lift that damn thing that easy?"
Rock looked back at her and laughed before he said "Remember when Alana-san said she was a Dhamphir? That means she has the strength of a true vampire." Revy getting a confused look on her face despite understanding the logic of the statement. "Yea, whatever. She knows how to take care of her pistols, that's for sure." was the last thing Revy said as Alana holstered her pistols and picked up her swords from the coffee table, drawing them and setting to work inspecting them. After inspecting them she took a bottle of choji oil out of one of her coat pockets and used that to carefully and meticulously oil the blades before powdering and polishing them. Once she was finished she returned them to their sheaths.
After that was finished she knew it would be better to dress more lightly so she slid her shoulder holsters off and gently set them on the table before undoing the buttons for her tail coat, taking it off and exposing the matching waistcoat and arm garters, as well as a stranger sight; a necklace with a strange ruby red gem, the inactive form of her Intelligent Device, Elegantes Herz, before she set the coat gently on a chair in the room then took the garters and waistcoat off, leaving her in just her blouse, pants, gloves, and riding boots before she put her shoulder holsters back on and rolled her sleeves up. After she was finished with that she threaded her swords through her belt so that they rode on her hip once more.
Revy and Rock had just sat there as they watched her seemingly get ready for battle, Dutch and Benny choosing that moment to walk into the room. "Good morning, Gentlemen." Alana replied after she turned to face them and the two merely returned the greeting, the feeling of restrained power was unnerving.
"So what was that phone call last night about Boss man?" Revy started and Dutch was glad for it as he said "That was Balalaika, we got a job to do, at noon today. Only thing is Two-Hands, you don't shoot anybody or start trouble and we get paid triple."
"That's Bullshit! What the fuck do we have to do?" Revy snapped and Alana instantly realized how volatile Revy could get as she said "It would seem that things require further explanation."
"You're right about that Miss Helsing." Benny interjected and received a kind smile from Alana in exchange as Dutch continued. "The job takes place roughly 20 miles off the coast, near international waters. What makes this a problem is if the buyer decides to pull a fast one, since Revy can't come with us."
"I see. Does she have a bad history with them?" Alana asked and Dutch frowned a bit as he said "Yea, she's killed more than a few of 'em."
"Well the fuckers shouldn't have been feeling me up!" Revy snapped and inwardly Alana agreed with her as she said "I see... well if I can be of assistance, I would be glad to help you."
"Sounds like a plan to me, but isn't that blouse a little too flashy?" Benny remarked and Alana knew what he meant as she asked Revy to show her where some extra clothes were, returning a little while later wearing a short-sleeved black shirt tucked into and contrasting her white pants and gloves, Elegantes Herz standing out due to the jewel. "This will do nicely." she commented as she awaited Dutch's order to move out, though instead Dutch said "Bao told us last night you could explain things to us, but Rock already filled us in well enough aside from why you're here."
"Yes, I agree that answers are in order." Alana replied before saying "I was sent here under direct orders from the King himself to find and eliminate a rogue vampire who is building an army with the intentions of forcing the Council of Lords to accept him as one of them. I was to meet with Sir Bao in order to gain further information regarding my targets and a place to acquire ammunition for my firearms."
"I understand that much. If you want ammo, the Rip-off Church might be the place to go, if you can deal with their prices. Vampires roaming the streets, I don't know anything about it, you are gonna have to talk to Bao about that one."
Eventually they boarded the Black Lagoon, plus cargo, and headed out to open water. While Dutch piloted the old PT Boat to their destination, Revy, who had insisted on coming along, talked with Alana.
"So you two are childhood friends?" Revy asked the Dhamphir.
"Yes. We met when we were both mere children." Alana replied.
"That's pretty cute, you guys meeting back up again after so long."
Alana couldn't help but laugh demurely before she said "I agree, but I can see the times have changed him for the darker. Roanapur has changed him, he's naught the same innocent young man I once knew, just as I am naught the same innocent heiress he once knew."
"Yea? How's that work?"
"I have fed on and killed humans, my fellow vampires, even other monsters and have developed a taste for certain ones. I can't stand Orc by the way, tastes like leather and pork." Alana replied and Revy burst out in loud laughter as she said "Oh that's rich! that's the funniest thing I've heard you say!" then she continued laughing, joined by Alana once the humor of the statement struck her, though she kept her laughter demure.
Within a few minutes, the group was slowly coming upon the rendezvous point.
"Revy, we're coming up on the meeting site. Stay below until this deal is done." Dutch said to the woman.
"This is still bullshit!" Revy snapped.
"Hey, you're not even supposed to be here. So don't complain. If all goes well we'll simply do the deal and leave."
"Grrrr, fine!" the woman growled as she started to go down into the lower decks. "But if they start shooting, I'm coming out."
"I get the feeling that this runs deep." Alana said as the woman disappeared down below.
"She's killed more than a few of them on more than one occasion." Benny remarked.
"I see. That much seems quite obvious." the Dhamphir replied.
Benny stayed in the cabin while Dutch, Rock, and Alana pulled up alongside the large Yacht, easily twice the size of their own boat.
"So… do we agree with the price?" the lead member of the gang asked as his man opened the silver briefcase to reveal more than a hundred bricks of money.
"Do you agree with the cargo?" Dutch asked as Alana opened up one of the crates to reveal the merchandise inside.
"Yes, we do." he said. He looked around the boat and saw nothing. "Didn't bring Two Hands with you I see."
"That was part of the deal, wasn't it?" Dutch asked.
"Of course. But it makes it easier," he started to say, as he and his men pulled out their guns. "To keep our money, and the cargo, and hurt Two Hands by killing her people!"
"Why you son of a…" Dutch hissed at the man.
"Hey, she killed more than a dozen of our men! You don't think that we'd take the opportunity to get even with that bitch for that?" he said to Dutch. "Kill them!" he shouted to his men,
"I think not." Alana said, gripping the lid of the crate and hurling it at the armed men on the upper tier.
The lid flew like a Frisbee, slamming into several of the gunmen and knocking them down as Alana followed it up. The other men tried to shoot her as she leapt from the Black Lagoon onto their yacht, kicking two men and catching one by the scruff of his neck as she pulled him to her, her eyes flashing red for a moment as she bit down on his jugular, the man's scream of pain loudly echoing out and unnerving the hell out of the men that witnessed it as Alana drained him dry then pulled out the Velsignet Vind and put a bullet through his brain before continuing her attack.
After breaking through their own shock at the sound of the scream, and while the gang were busy with the Dhamphir who had made a meal out of one of them, Dutch and Rock set about securing the cargo. At the same time, Benny was trying to keep Revy below decks.
"What the fuck is going on?" Revy asked, her guns in her hands but her face had paled after hearing that pain-filled scream.
"Alana fed off one of them and is kicking ass." Benny said to the woman, his own face pale.
Revy looked out of the window as Alana was now on the upper tier of the yacht, kicking a thug off the boat and into the water. Three more men tried to overwhelm her, only to have her quickly punch and kick them, sending them flying into the air. She leapt down onto the lower tier and threw a roundhouse kick that took down two more men.
"Huh, she's really good." Revy admitted as her face regained its color and she holstered her guns.
"I'd say she's as good with her fists and feet as you are with a gun." Benny said as his face regained color and he watched the fight alongside Revy.
The last three men pulled their guns and started shooting at Alana as she charged towards them, only to have the Dhamphir slide effortlessly in between the bullets, moving with inhuman quickness until she was up close and personal with them, sharply uppercutting one of them, chopping the second in the throat to drop him down, and high kicking the last one to send him overboard and into the water.
The fighting was over and all the members of the gang were either unconscious or completely drained of blood.
"Alright! Nice work, Alana." Dutch said to the Dhamphir.
"Yea, now let's get their money and sink this fucker!" Revy said with a sadistic smirk.
"I have a much more profitable idea in mind." Alana replied.
Within a few moments Alana had loaded all the unconscious gang members into the yacht's rubber raft and set it adrift, minus the group's guns, ID's, knives, even their cigarettes, as well as dropped the corpse of her meal into the ocean.
Dutch piloted Black Lagoon back to Roanapur with Benny and Alana piloting the yacht behind him.
"Just how much do you know about Alana's fighting style and capabilities?" Revy asked Rock once the two boats were under way.
"I don't know precisely what styles Alana-san has studied, but I remember her saying that her grandfather, Mihangel M. Argall, taught her how to shoot, and I would assume that, seeing how far reaching Caitir-sama's authority is, Alana studying and mastering every martial art used in North America isn't too far of a stretch. She wouldn't have to leave her hometown to learn how to defend herself as the city-state of Argall is constantly beset with dozens of street fights on a daily basis, and the worst part is, they're televised with paramedics and police right there."
"Fuck yea, sounds like my kinda place."
Once the group had returned to Roanapur, they went directly to the Bougainvillea Trading Company to talk to Balalaika of Hotel Moscow.
"So… how was your trip?" Balalaika asked as the group sat down in her office.
"Eventful." Dutch replied
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Those bastards tried to double-cross us." Revy groaned as she poured herself a drink from the Russian woman's small bar.
"I see. The cargo?" the blonde Russian asked.
"Right over there." Dutch replied, pointing to the crates that Alana had brought in for them and set in the corner of her office.
"And we got their money too." Benny said as Rock set the case down on the coffee table in the middle of the office, opening it up to reveal the money.
Balalaika smiled. "Excellent. So we lose nothing in this. You keep their money and Hotel Moscow keeps the merchandise, and your payment."
"Huh? Now wait a minute!" Revy snapped.
"Revy…" Rock began, trying to prevent a potential fight.
"No! Those bastards tried to double-cross us! Why should we get stiffed with the bill!"
"Because the money we took from them is the same price Balalaika was going to pay us." Rock answered.
"Oh, really?" Revy asked in mild shock.
"Yeah, but those jerks won't be trying to do business with us again anytime soon." Benny added.
"Serves them right." Balalaika said with a shrug.
"So… does that mean we can keep the boat too?" Revy asked.
"Boat? What boat?" the Russian asked.
Arsenal
Monomolecular wires – One of Alana's weapons are a set of very long monomolecular razor wires embedded in her gloves that she inherited from Sir Gunther Hardy and controls like extensions of her own body. The wires are sharp enough to cut through steel and concrete with ease though she can use them to bind and restraint targets without harming them or control them like puppets, form mesh shields to block bullets, and stopping high falls.
Hunters ARMS .454 Velsignet Vind Auto - At 39cm long, The Velsignet Vind's size makes it too heavy and unwieldy for a human to use, yet it is a perfect match for Alana. It fires custom made explosive .454 Casull rounds, with the steel bullets bearing a core made from melted blessed silver.