Reason to Live II

Chapter 1: The New Operative

January 3rd,
Apartment 2, overlooking Piazza di Spagna
1500 hrs

-THUD-

"OH MY GOD!! CALL AN AMBULANCE!!"

January 6th,
Social Welfare Agency, Frederick's room,
0600 hrs

(Frederick's P.O.V)

It's the early morning of January 4th, the start of another new day with our old regular schedule. Since we won't be having any gunfights with whoever stupid enough to fight against us (or so I hope) today, we'll probably run through training and exercise courses again so the handlers can monitor our field performance before they would call us obsolete and send us for repairs. Did I mention repairs? Yes, repairs. To make a long story short, we're basically not human. Or so I say artificial humans. Not fully artificial, but most of our original body parts have been replaced mechanically for both the agency's purpose on completing tasks and our purpose of regaining our lost parts.

I didn't mention we're basically 'orphans', huh?

The Agency gathers physically challenged people and modified them into cyborgs; that include me, Triela, Henrietta, Rico, Claes, Angelica, Petrushka, and Beatrice. All of us here aren't human. All of us here were involved in an incident that caused us to turn the way we are today. Henrietta is involved in a homicide which slaughters all her family but her, Rico is abandoned by her parents after being treated in a hospital for years since she suffers complete paralysis, Angelica is a victim of her father's attempt to kill her for insurance money, Petrushka attempted suicide after she got her leg amputated, Triela is a victim of regular child abuse in Amsterdam and is probably involved in one of those 'snuff films'…or so she said. God, I hope it's not true…

As for myself, I was a victim of both the Agency, and Padanias. March 5th, at 1531 hours, two godforsaken sides clashed each other at Piazza di Spagna. Fratello Henrietta and José Cloche were ambushed by a group of Padanias after a leak of information in the Agency, revealing the junior operatives, as well as their handler. During the gunfight, casualties were high…

…to civilians and tourists alike

I was one of them. During the Padanias' last attempt, a couple of them threw a grenade. However, none of the grenades reached the covers of Henrietta and José, thus casualty falls on the panicked civilians and tourists. My real father's killed from a stray bullet, as well as my mother. While my sister and I receive grenade fragmentations. I lost my left limb and my right arm if I remember correctly. My sister, however, isn't so fortunate in the event. When I look at her for the last time (before Henrietta found me), I myself couldn't even identify her any longer. And thus, I was handpicked by Koch, my deceased handler. Just like José and Hillshire, he highly disagrees on conditioning processes and brainwashing, thus almost no medication is taken towards me. I learn everything from Koch. From the weapons, reloading, firing, Close Quarters Battles, Close Quarters Combat, Assault, weapon specifications, bullet specifications…almost everything I learn from Koch. That's how he became somewhat like a father figure to me.

Though I have to admit, taking less conditioning processes (to almost a near none) gives its kickback as well. One such are the wounds I receive from gunshots. They hurt more, and the pain would last longer. But I was given liberty by Koch. Unlike the rest of the handlers, I can control my own feelings and thought of individual actions most of the time; that includes abiding orders from him. Thus, I found my relationship with Triela. Really, winning a girl's heart is a hell lot of work in here. The conditioning process makes her virtually in love with Hillshire. Of course she won't admit it, but who cares about it now? Back then, I was still considered as a 'Generation 1' cyborg. During one of our assault in a Padania owned mansion, Triela's assault group (which consists of Henrietta, Angelica, and herself) were ambushed inside after what we thought an 'all clear'. I was a sniper with Rico, watching from the vantage point as I knock sorry-sons-of-bitches one by one with a scoped K98K Rifle. Then there it was: The transmission from Triela, requesting for (Hillshire's) help. And that's where I came into action! Since I'm NOT a talented sniper, I carry two rifles that day; the K98K, and the SG551 given by Koch. I jump from the 2 story high vantage point, ran towards the mansion's balcony, and climb up. And there it is: the girls being pinned by immoral Padania grunts. Unnoticing my move, I finish five of them with the K98K before I smother the remains using the SG551 Assault rifle, in full-auto.

Henrietta is mortally wounded back then since she received a well direct hit from well placed claymore mines. Thus, I ordered Angelica to evacuate Henrietta out of the mansion while Triela and I clear the whole area. Things went smoothly. Really, it did go smoothly UNTIL a group of Padanias appeared from the grand stair leading up. Triela fired her shotgun but none, and I mean none of her shots hit them. Thus, as a 'brother's duty', I pushed her aside to save her…

…only to find my rifle's empty!

From then on, everything is pain. Pain, pain, pain, pain, pain until the end of the mission! I received full-auto 7.62 mm AK rounds from them in replace of Triela as I cover my head with my right arm as while grabbing the trusty Mauser C/96 'broom handle' out from under my coat and fire three randomly aimed shots (which knocked them) before I grab the second one (under the coat) and finish all my rounds from both pistols before sounds of 'clicks', and I fell to the ground battered (again).

Hey, I'm not some invisible, proud bullet-proof, son-of-a-bitch!

And soon after, I witnessed Triela's 'reply'…yeah. She stood up from her position with her eyes covered in anger and tears. Grabbing her pistol, she aims and fires all rounds at them and finishes them off! Soon after, rescuers came and haul our butts out of the scene…

…and few days later, we exchange our first kiss in my room, lit by the moon light.

Course, we didn't do anything too far, if you know what I mean. Just a few more kisses before she left the room to hers. Well, I did wish she'll stay that night, but…

…did I wish that?

Heck, never mind that. But after that incident, I receive the prototype mechanical body of 'Generation 2' cyborg. Well, my body is in need to be replaced anyway, so they figured it's the good time to test the prototype. Then a few days after, I engage my nemesis: Giorgio Adriani. He's one tough son-of-a-bitch. I fought him to avenge Koch who died due to his planted Claymore during Padania's assault on the SWA headquarters. He died saving my sorry ass out in the knick of time. A father's duty…

Well, I beat the crap out of him by blowing his trigger finger and punished him with the remaining rounds I got in my 'Broom handle'. Soon after, I was separated from Triela for a long time. I managed to survive the collapse of Apartment 5 in the fire and landed in the sewer systems that run under the apartment. Getting up, I managed to tail a group of Padanias escaping the scene of crime and eventually, found a major base of operation in a different building not far from Apartment 5. That's the only time I operate alone, without any handlers or assigned tasks. Mainly, I engage them via Close Quarters Combat by breaking their necks and executing them bare-handed. Securing the area proved to be worth it since eventually, I figured out the mastermind behind the whole chaos of that time. The Adriani family, whose main base of operation is in Sicily. Quite a wide range of service area if you ask me…

I sent Triela the letter, telling her I'll meet her again on December on my last visit to the Agency for that time. Meeting Claes outside (and seeing how surprise she is to saw me alive), I hand her the letter and told her to hand it to Triela. I knew back then if I come and meet her, I wouldn't want to go; or, she'd insist me on staying.

But you can't hold what you can't hold, right?

I tour the Agency's dormitory before I depart that day. And oh, what coincidence! I met Triela! Greeting her didn't help at all since her memories, as I figured, have been re-written and the memories of me have been deleted…

…or so I thought

The moment I ran back, Triela starts chasing after me. I knew she's running, trying to catch up (and I can bet she'll insist me on staying) on me. I lost her on the crowd outside the Agency where I walk casually soon after.

A few months after, I have been working in the Adriani's seaside hotel as a porter. They never expect one bit of me being an operative. What they know is that the operative consists of 6 members, all females, young, and deadly. NOT a 16 year old (I've turned 16 on June 6) boy. Petrushka weren't in their records…yet. Finally, the day has come. After I send the SWA headquarters with intelligence information regarding all the areas in, out, and around the Sea Side Hotel, I was relieved to know that she's coming for the mission. I never mention my name in the intelligence report (nick myself 'anonymous') by the way.

As the assault begun, I disappear behind the scene and went to the basement; or should I say, the weapon cache. With all the available weapons and ammos ranging from pistols, to sub-machineguns, to rifles, and lastly to rocket launchers, I hand pick the M16A2 and the Colt M1911A1 to assist the assault. And I was right too. As Triela collapse due to her cramps, I saved both her and Petrushka (who didn't even know who I was back then) from certain death. Soon after, I evacuated Triela out of the hotel and what a surprise (and happy) my 'sisters' are seeing his 'brother' once again. Not for long though…

I headed back to Rome, in hot tails of the remnants of retreating Padania troops until finally; their last major base of operation; as well as one of their officer is there at the remnants of Apartment 5. I knew they'll return here for something after knowing the whole Adriani lot has deceased. Uncovering the remnants, a safe is left with locked, safe from the fire and the collapse. Sure enough, the documents consisting the SWA's agents and junior operatives that were missing. The documents were supposed to be passed down all Padania members incase their informer died. Well, you know what happens next. Soon after the documents were retrieved, I burn them using a lighter before I fulfill my promise to her; to meet her at Piazza di Montecitorio at 0000 hrs where we're united once again.

…that was one year ago…

"Frederick! How long are you gonna' stay inside your room?!"

"Yes, yes, I'm coming Triela…getting myself dressed up…" so I lied as I examine the group photo placed near the window. It's nice reminiscing something…

…it's not nice to keep a girl waiting, right?

A few minutes later, I exit my dorm and is greeted with a sour faced Triela with her arms crossed, looking straight to my eyes knowing I would say 'uh' the next minute or so

"Uh…"

'Well, 'uh…'! Took you long enough…" she answers rather harshly

"Sorry. You wait long?"

"Well…" she starts as we link arms "Not too long, I suppose…"

"Then let's get going."

We walk together like that for quite some time now. All the people in the Agency knew it, and they just say 'cute'. Some were asking Hillshire if he's jealous not. I can bet he is if he's a sneaky pedophile!

"Say, Frederick…"

"Yeah?"

"You heard about the new Fratello team? They say the handler's a woman…" I turn my attention towards her

"Really?"

"Really." This is something new…all the handlers were male mostly; this is the first time there's a female handler…

"They say she handpicked her operative two days ago. Obviously, a male junior operative just like you. He'll be 'Generation 2' just like you and Petrushka." My attention is all on her at this point. I didn't expect the worse, so let's just see how he turns out…

"The boy attempted suicide by jumping out of the balcony of a 2nd story Apartment and survives."

"Why'd he done that?" I ask

"Read the news recently? He's depressed and is in a breakdown after learning his father's death."

"O...ok…"

"Well, the handlers; our handlers mentioned that he's American…"

"American? What the heck's a yank doing here?" Please, please don't let it be…

"Just listen first! His father and he are Italian citizens since last year due to his father's need of business over here." From this point on, the little creature inside my belly kept on bouncing and bouncing. Not because it's excited, but because I can't expect it so soon…

"He should be out of recovery by now…." She stops our walk as she identifies four figures walking through the corridor across from us, with the last one Jean and Rico "Ah! There he is!"

"…Scheißae…"

"…Frederick? Something wrong? You look pale…"

I had a feeling God is against me for killing Padanias; too much Padanias. As the boy and his handler walk pass by us, I am confident enough to identify the junior operative. American, age 16. He has a light blown hair and emerald green eyes looking sharp. A worse case scenario…it's the boy from the picture. I shouldn't be relaxing right about now. No…if he ever founds out…or if he ever remembers his past…

…God knows what will happen to me…