Chapter 6: On the Horizon
Dutch came back at around midday, just after meeting with Mister Chang. Hotel Moscow and the Triad had been sending out patrols for the last few hours to make sure the streets of Roanapur were safe, or as good as. Roanapur was never safe, that was common knowledge. But Kane's presence made the city even less so. His apparent terrorist-like motives and startling manpower had forced the city's leaders to use their resources to try and find him. The sooner they killed him, the better. He was nothing but a nuisance.
"What news?" Rock asked, eager to learn more of the situation.
"Nothing we don't already know," Dutch told them. Only Rock and Revy were present right now. "There are constant patrols in an attempt to try and catch this guy. Other than that, there have been no new developments."
"Well, we found his truck," Revy said, brushing the hair out of her eyes.
"You're shitting me," Dutch exclaimed. "Where?"
"Outside the Yellowflag. It was empty and Bao says he was never in the bar."
"So they just abandoned it? That doesn't sound right." But that was neither here nor there. They had more pressing matters to deal with. "Is Roberta here?"
"In the shower," Revy told him. "Why?"
"I don't think Balalaika was too pleased to hear she was back in the city."
"You told her?" asked Rock, who had thought it wiser to keep the Bloodhound's presence a secret. Hotel Moscow would likely have found out themselves at some point anyway. But Rock had hoped this situation would have blown over by then. The fact that Balalaika knew about the former assassin complicated things. The two would not exactly see eye-to-eye, given the circumstances and how Roberta had behaved last time she was here. Regardless, the damage was done. They would deal with that particular issue when it arose.
"I wasn't going to keep her in the dark, Rock," Dutch scolded him. "It would've been far worse if she found out on her own. Better to get it out of the way now and be done with it." That was true enough.
"Yeah, well, Sis isn't the only one who's not too pleased about that bitch being here," Revy grumbled. Her relationship with Roberta was less than pleasant. They had both tried to kill one another in the past and they didn't exactly get along nicely. To be honest, Dutch would make more of a point about keeping an eye on Revy than Balalaika. He was far more worried about the gunslinger doing something that would worsen their situation. They could not afford to squabble pettily like children, not while Kane was still out there. The leader of the Black Marchers was undoubtedly smuggling his people into the city right now. It would only be a matter of time before he led an all-out assault on Roanapur. When that time came, all anybody could do would be to pray for mercy. Kane needed to be stopped before his forces arrived in full.
"Easy, Revy," Dutch warned quietly. "We don't need any more trouble than we already have on our plate. One problem at a time."
"Pffft, relax, Dutch," Revy assured him. "You don't have to worry about me."
"It's not you I'm worried about."
Wolf almost had his wound bandaged up. The fact that the others were all otherwise occupied forced him to attempt to see to himself. The deep gash in his shoulder was not as painful as it had been last night, though it did still hurt any time he moved his left arm. But he could not afford to be in a sling. If he found himself in a situation that required his combat prowess, he would not allow his opponents an advantage over him simply because he had been injured. Finishing up with the bandage, he made sure it was secure so that extreme movement would not cause it to come undone. It seemed as though it would stay in place. Roberta emerged from the other room then, only a towel covering her. It was strange to see her like this, only a now-healed stump where her arm had been and a prosthetic leg that began at her foot and ended just below her knee. Seeing as how she was also missing fingers and an eye, it was a wonder she could tend to herself at all. But she was no ordinary woman. Her strength, both physical and mental, was unmatched. A crucifix hung around her neck to rest nestled in her cleavage.
"Oh, pardon me," she apologised. "I assumed everyone had left."
"Not me," Wolf told her, smirking. She came further into the room.
"How is your shoulder?" she asked, gesturing with her right arm. Wolf looked at the bandage for a moment.
"It could be better," he admitted. "Kane really knew what he was doing. I've never been so beaten down on before." Roberta smirked, though she looked nervous. Apparently, she had not suspected the leader of the Black Marchers to put up such a fight either. It truly shocked them all how dangerous he really was.
"You will pay him back next time you see him," she said warmly. It was oddly comforting to hear her say that. Wolf had wondered what he would do when confronted with Kane again. He was not sure he was up for another fight, even considering the knowledge he now had of the man's ferocious fighting style.
"I'll definitely try," the assassin claimed, almost laughing at the absurdity of the thought that he would even attempt to pay Kane back for the gash in his shoulder. "But he's…different than others I've faced. I don't think I have what it takes to kill him." As simple as that statement was, it almost hurt to say it aloud. Wolf was confident, sure of himself. There was no target he ever felt he could not defeat. But that confrontation yesterday had shaken his confidence like never before. He had been torn down piece by piece. The thought of facing Kane again was daunting. Scary, even. Roberta placed a comforting hand on his face, lifting his head to look her in the eye.
"You will get stronger," she told him. "And when next you two meet, he will regret crossing you."
"Is that so?" he asked, unconvinced. "How do you figure?"
"I will help you," she assured him. "I will make sure you are ready. For now, rest and let your body heal. When the time comes, you will meet him again. And this time, you will win." She gently kissed him on the cheek before turning and leaving the room. Wolf felt himself blushing involuntarily. He needed to rest.