Bullet VIII

The trip was longer than Dutch had imagined, but fortunately nothing unexpected happened and they were able to arrive safely in Taiwan. The safe house was conveniently close to the port, so once they arrived, the Lagoon company only had to walk two blocks to get there.

"Go ahead kids, make yourselves at home." -said Dutch, as much to Rock and the twins as to his own crew.

Revy was the first to enter, quickly disappearing inside. She would inspect every nook and cranny of the house until she felt completely safe. The others entered in a more normal fashion.

The hotel, as Chang liked to say in his play on code words, was quite large. There was a room for each of them with a good size. There was a bathroom, kitchen and a living room with furniture and TV included. Chang had spared no expense, which Dutch appreciated. If it weren't for the seriousness and illegality of the job, it would almost seem like they were actually on vacation.

Hell, with the twins there it even looked like they were a family.

After a while wandering around the place, Revy returned from his inspection, flashing him a thumbs up as approval. "All clear Dutch." -She said. "No mics or cameras, I think."

"We'll see." -Said Dutch. "We'll be here for a while. Chang doesn't even trust his own shadow, so no need to be surprised if we accidentally find a camera or two."

"As long as he didn't spy on me taking a bath or a shit, I don't care." -Said Revy. In prison, she had gotten used to that, but she preferred to avoid it if possible. "What do we do now?"

"Settle in for a bit, rest up from the trip."

"I'm not tired at all."

"But I am." -Dutch replied. "I've been driving the boat for hours, damn it, I want to get some rest."

Although Benny, the only one besides Dutch who knew how to sail a boat, had also taken a turn, Dutch was the one at the helm most of the time, so he was the most exhausted.

"Tsk."

"Okay. Since you're so active, you and Benny go buy some food. Take Rock with you in case the stores around here nearby don't speak English."

"...I'm not going with Benny."

"Hey, I thought that problem was taken care of."

She ignored him. "I'll get your damn food, but I'm not going with that asshole." -Said Revy, walking away so as not to argue any further. "Oi, Rock! Get off your ass, Dutch is hungry and we need food!"

"You go get it!" -Rock shouted from somewhere in the house.

"I don't know how to speak Chinese, bitch!"

"Then learn how, bitch!"

"I don't want to!"

"Well fuck you, I don't feel like walking!"

"If you keep playing dumb, I'm gonna kick your ass!"

Dutch sighed wearily and headed to one of the rooms for his needed rest.

Despite Revy's protests and anger, Rock ignored her and took a shower that made him as good as new. After that they both went in search of the food Dutch ordered. The streets were crowded with people, clothing stalls and a lot of other things, but not a food store in sight.

Rock asked some locals where to get food, and they indicated later. After a small thank you, Rock and Revy walked on. She wasn't saying a word, but by the classic sound of her teeth grinding, Rock knew she was upset.

"Well?" -Rock asked.

"Well what?"

"Are you going to tell me why you're so pissed off? Or am I to assume it's because I had the audacity to take a bath?" -Again silence, so Rock persisted some more, even though he knew he might be the new target of her fury. "Is it because of Benny?"

"That's not your fuckin' problem." -Spat Revy.

'Bingo.'

"Ah, so if it's about Benny." -She gave him a hard look, but he didn't back down. "I may look like an idiot, but I'm not an idiot. I noticed the tension between the two of you." -Said Rock.

It was obvious to him and anyone else. When one of the two of them would enter a place, the other would immediately retreat. And Revy ignored almost any attempt by Benny to start a conversation, and the few times he paid attention to him, it was only to insult him and call him "four-eyed."

"I'm surprised you two don't get along, aren't you supposed to have been working together for a while?"

"That's right, Benny joined us a few years ago.". -Finally answered Revy, giving in to the jerk's constant questions. "But now we don't get along anymore. That's the whole story."

"Too short a story. Why did you two fight? Dutch never mentioned it."

"Because it's none of the business of those outside our group."

"Well, I'm part of your group now, at least temporarily, and I'd like to know what the fuck is going on to keep me from saying something I shouldn't have and you ending up shooting me because I pissed you off."

"But you always piss me off.". -Replied Revy.

"It's a taste I acquired over time."

That made Revy smile. Damn son of a bitch "Too dangerous a taste, you're going to end up dead someday."

Rock simply shrugged. "We all have to die of something someday.". -he replied. "Come on, tell me what's wrong."

Revy looked at him for a moment, then stretched out his hand. "I'll tell you in exchange for cigarettes."

"A little too expensive." -Rock complained, but handing him his pack anyway. "Just one."

She pulled out three, earning another complaint from him. "That's the price of history, you cheap fuck.". -Responded Revy putting a cigarette in his mouth. She reached out her hand again. "The lighter, pendejo, or do you want me to light it in the sunlight?"

"And yours?"

"I dropped it in the toilet. Come on, give me the fucking lighter." -Rock obeyed and handed her the lighter. Revy took a moment to enjoy the cigarette before answering. "Well...I don't know."

"Don't give me that shit.". -Rock replied.

"Shh, don't interrupt. Benny stole from me and I got pissed at him, that's all man. There's nothing else."

Rock raised an eyebrow, he couldn't imagine Benny stealing from his own colleagues. "I didn't expect Benny to be dumb enough to steal from you. That's practically a death sentence."

"I know, but it's not that simple. I mean, technically he stole from you, you know, the money from that fucking bet. Benny took that money during the crisis with the twins, he said it was as compensation for his car being destroyed because of you and Roberta."

"Oh, ohh. I remember all that. And how was that my fault?"

"You put the brat inside his car and that's why the Terminator maid followed you. Well, that's the story."

"Ah, I guess you're right there. Now that you mention it, I have to apologize to him." -Rock scratched his head, a little confused. "And you're mad at him for that? But if Benny used the money to repair his car, which you always use. But what bullshit, I don't see the problem."

"Tsk, maybe for you, but that money was mine too, asshole. I already told you that..."

"I know what you mean. But at that at that time it wasn't yours, I was going to give it to you later, Benny had no idea about you and your sudden crazy ideas. He just thought the money was mine."

"...Still, it wasn't right."

"Oh, you mean you got pissed at him because he stole from me?" -Rock smiled and patted her head. "What a good friend you are."

"Don't touch me!" -Revy swatted him away, then backed away a little. "I didn't do it for you, and we're not friends! I don't even like you!"

The people around them stared at them, but it only took one furious glare from Revy for people to quickly forget about them. Rock looked at her not understanding why she reacted that way. But he let it go, it would be one problem at a time and it seemed to be very delicate.

"Well, that's too bad, because I like you." -Said Rock. "I mean, at first I didn't, but now I do."

Revy clicked her tongue, that was a low blow. She scratched her head as she looked at the floor. "But what bullshit are you saying..."

"I'm serious. If you ignore that you're a homicidal psychopath and very moody, you might turn out to be someone nice to hang out with. In any case, if it's the money you lost that bothers you, I can pay you back."

"I already told you I don't need your damn pity."

"It's not pity, if I can get you guys back on good terms, I'd be happy to give you that kind of money. ...I just find it sad that friends are fighting over a simple misunderstanding that could, and can, be solved by just talking."

She looked at him, truly confused. The anger she showed moments ago had vanished. "And you why the fuck do you care so much? You're not one of us, it's none of your business."

Rock shrugged. "I don't want to die because of your fucking communication problems. Hell Revy, not everything in life has to be punching and pulling guns, there is such a thing as 'Talking'. That and I also acquired a taste for getting into other people's problems."

"You'll end up dead someday for doing that."

"Ah, there's the catch. I only do it when I think I can really pull it off." -He smiled. "It worked with Hansel and Gretel."

"...You'll also die because of that silver tongue of yours."

"What is this, why do I have to die for anything I do? ...Well, never mind. Are you going to let me be a stubborn bitch and make up with Benny? Or should I lock them in a room until they're friends again?"

"Okay." -She agreed.

Revy sighed wearily. Rock was difficult, everything about him was difficult. If she didn't agree to apologize, he would never stop nagging about that issue. Besides, as much as she hated him, Rock was right. She couldn't stay eternally feuding with Benny, as that could get her and Dutch in trouble.

And fuck, Revy wanted to let go of that damn awkwardness she now felt when she was around Benny. They had too much history to be like this.

"Okay what?" -insisted Rock, he needed her to say it clearly or it wouldn't work.

"I'll make it up to that jerk Benny...since I may have been acting like a real jerk myself."

"Ah-ah. Save those apologies for him."

"Fuck you, Rock."

"Yeah, you're welcome."

Hansel, accompanied by his inseparable sister, followed closely behind Rock and Revy. The new base seemed to be fine, and after a quick inspection of the surroundings, they determined that the house was safe for the time being. Although they were a bit tired from the trip, they decided to follow Rock anyway.

But Hansel didn't know why Gretel wanted to do it on the sly. It was one of those rare occasions when he couldn't understand what his sister was thinking. Yes, he understood that she wanted to protect Rock, but Hansel thought that with Revy around, or 'Anego' as Gretel would say, it was more than enough.

Still, he decided to play along with his sister, because he found it entertaining. It was a bit boring to stay at the base doing nothing, even more so when they were in new unexplored territory. At first he felt a bit overwhelmed by the amount of people coming and going, but he was quickly able to get used to it.

And before he knew it, Hansel could already locate Rock perfectly, even though the street was very busy and he was much further ahead. It also helped that he and his sister were following them from the rooftops of the houses.

Still, Hansel's curiosity was not satisfied.

"So, dear sister, will you tell me why we're hiding from Boss and the snarling, violent bitch?"

"Anego." -corrected Gretel. "Or Revy, as her colleagues call her. If she hears you call her anything else, she'll shoot you."

"I'll shoot her faster.". -Hansel assured. He admitted that this Revy girl was good, but he didn't think there was much difference between the two. She would make an excellent playmate.

"If you do, the others will shoot you. Then we'd have to kill them all."

"And that's a problem? Sounds interesting."

"Doing that will make Boss mad, like when they call us monsters or demons, and I don't like that. The look on his face when he gets mad makes me want to cry."

Hansel grimaced.

He couldn't remember the last time he or his sister cried, it had been too long ago. They learned that crying didn't solve anything, it only made everything worse. It was a great weakness and so they both decided never to do it again.

"...It's okay. We won't kill any of them, unless it's absolutely necessary or when Boss orders it."

"Boss would never order us to do something like that. ". -Assured her sister. Gretel looked away from her target to look at her brother out of the corner of her eye. "You're still going on about killing people?"

"I think it's kind of boring not to.". -Hansel admitted, shrugging. "I kind of miss when we just had to go after our target and take him out, it was more exciting and fun."

"...Well I like our new much quieter lifestyle, and I find it more fun than causing a massacre."

"You've always been the softer of the two of us, dear sister."

"And you have always been the more unhinged of the two of us, dear brother. Please go to a psychiatrist."

"I refused."

"Then stay hidden and pay attention.". -said Gretel, resuming her vigilance with great interest. "It's a pity we can't hear what they say, there's too much noise and distance between us. We're missing a moment when Boss and Anego become a little closer."

"...I don't get it, what's so interesting about them being close to each other? Besides, they keep arguing when they're close."

"I don't mean close in a physical way, I mean emotionally. And you should realize that Boss likes those discussions, and Anego seems to like them too. Otherwise, they wouldn't talk to each other and would stay away."

"Yeah, I still don't get it."

"...Really Hansel? Maybe you really do have a dry and rotten brain."

The boy simply shrugged and just kept an eye on his target. Still not understanding the interest his sister was showing in those two.

A day quickly passed, and the Lagoon company was in action. The first thing that came to Dutch's mind, was to pay a little visit to that famous prison where his package was, and for that he called Shenhua, who had decided to go to Taiwan by his own means.

Dutch was fine with that, as Revy and Shenhua sharing a small space for too long was an invitation to disaster.

In any case, the Black Lagoon stopped a reasonable distance from the prison, and was intently watched by Dutch thanks to binoculars, courtesy of Chang.

"What is this, is this fucking Alcatraz?" -said Dutch

Shenhua had not exaggerated in the description. The prison really was on a small islet, a few miles offshore. It was of considerable size, several stories high. It appeared to be more of a tower than a prison.

Other than the entrance and exit which was via a boat, there was really no other way to get in...except by climbing up the cliff at the back, which Dutch saw after rounding the islet.

It wasn't impossible, but it would be difficult. Who knew how far one had to climb to get to the outer walls of the prison, and there was a chance it would be guarded as well. Besides, it would take a lot of climbing equipment and none of them were fucking mountaineers.

'Maybe Revy's right. I'll talk to Chang about our pay.'

Dutch lowered the binoculars and looked at Shenhua, who sat quietly sharpening a sword almost as long as his arm. He was curious as to where she kept that, but better decided to ask another question. "Where is our friend hiding?"

"In Block B." -Responded Shenhua, without looking at him.

"And that's...?"

"On floor three. Floor one; entrance, administration, hospital, morgue and visiting room. Floor two; cells and general population inmates. Usually thieves, crooks and the occasional corrupt politician, or honest one who doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut."

"That's nice."

"It gets better. On floor three are murderers, rapists and war criminals. I've heard rumors that there are mentally ill people there too, but nothing confirmed."

Dutch muttered a curse. That meant the unplanned escape plan got even more complicated. "How the hell did Fang Jian end up in there? I thought that being a friend of such an important mobster as Chang, he'd have a nice, comfortable cell."

Shenhua put down his sword for a moment to look at Dutch.

"Let's just say Fang Jian pissed off someone just as important as Chang, maybe more, and that person used his contacts to make sure Fang Jian enjoyed his experience behind bars to the fullest. And Taiwanese people aren't easily bought, plus, they hate anything to do with China."

"We're screwed, huh?"

"Not so much, there's a way in, but it's not pretty or clean at all." -She smiled. "But it'll cost you a little extra payment. It's not Chang's doing, it's mine."

Dutch knew very well that nothing was nice and clean in this shitty world, nor was it free, so he was already expecting something like this. "Okay, but we'll discuss the price later, Miss Shenhua."

"Sounds good to me."

"Then spit out what you know."

"While you idiots were wasting your time traveling like turtles up here, I took the great trouble to look for an alternate entrance, you know, I have friends around here. Besides, knowing Two Hands' temperament, she would probably decide on a frontal attack." -Shenhua said, shaking his head. "And that's suicide."

Dutch agreed, he could visualize such a scenario. "So, you found another entrance..."

"Like I said, it's not pretty or clean; it's the plumbing."

"Plumbing." -Dutch repeated.

"That's right; there is an extensive network of pipes throughout the prison, but which all end up in one place; the ocean. There are several locks that you could enter through, but the catch is that they are up that pesky cliff." -Shenhua explained. "Obviously, then finding a way to get up to Fang Jian is also part of that trap."

"So, to get in, yes or yes we must go up."

"Exactly. You'd better find a way to get up there without attracting attention. I'm not going to hang like a monkey over those rocks."

"...I've been thinking a bit about this. What exactly is your role? Because most of the work will be done by me and my team."

"Your job ends when you arrive in Bangkok along with Fang Jian, but mine continues until Chang comes by to pick him up, so we could say that Chang hired me as Fang Jian's bodyguard. In addition, he also hired me to make sure there are no complications in this escape plan-not-plan."

"And that's by giving us a little help, but not for free."

"Naturally." -Shenhua smiled again. A thin, dangerous smile. "And also eliminating possible threats."

Benny felt uncomfortable wearing the bulletproof vest Chang had prepared, just in case things got ugly and they ended up in the middle of a shooting, which was highly likely given the nature of their work. It was barely noticeable under his trusty Hawaiian shirt, but having it on felt weird.

"Is this thing supposed to weigh that much?" -Benny asked, moving and jumping around a bit to get used to it.

"That thing is supposed to stop bullets from trying to go through your guts.". -Responded Revy, cleaning his beloved Barretts." So yeah, it must be heavy."

"What about my arms and legs?"

"The most important organs are in your torso, and that's what the bulletproof vest is for. Unless you get shot directly in the throat, thigh artery or leg artery, you should be fine."

"How reassuring..."

"Relax baby, you can live without an arm or a leg. And if it makes you feel any better, here in Taiwan there are underground doctors who are very good at screwing in parts that aren't important, you know, new metal or plastic arms and legs."

"I like my current arms and legs.". -Said Benny. "...Then what about my head?"

"Like I said, they can screw new parts on you that aren't important."

Benny looked at her blankly, Revy simply smiled and went back to her cleaning. Since the day before, she had dropped her hostile attitude, and it seemed like she was truly trying to patch things up between them, something Benny actually appreciated. Still, he wasn't entirely satisfied with that.

"Hey, about what happened with the betting money..."

"No need to say anything, man. That's already happened."

Benny grimaced. "I know, but, still, had I known it was yours too I never would have taken it. I mean it."

"Aghh... I know dude, listen, I admit I acted like an idiot, I should have mentioned that little detail, but I forgot to. You're mostly to blame though. But I'm over it, and you should be too, okay? No need to keep breaking our heads over that issue."

"That's as close as I'm going to get to an apology from you?"

"Don't push me, Benny-boy."

Benny nodded. It was probably the best he was going to get, and he wasn't about to pass up that opportunity. "So...we're officially even?"

"Even." -Revy repeated, then, she pointed one of her pistols at him. "But if you fuck with me again, then I'll put a bullet in your fucking head."

"I'll try my best not to fuck with you again."

"That's the way I like it."

The door of the house opened, and Dutch entered alone. Shenhua went the other way, as he had a different lair prepared for her. He froze to find them in that compromising position. "Wh-"

"It's okay, it's okay.". -interrupted Revy, lowering her gun. She was quick to change the subject. "Well Dutch, what did you find out while you were spying with that Chinese piece of shit?"

Dutch looked at them intently, checking to see if any of them had fresh wounds. But after making sure they didn't, and that there were no signs of imminent death for Benny, he relaxed. "I've got good news, and bad news."

"The bad." -Said Benny. "The bad news must always come first."

"The bad then. It's fucking hard for us to set foot in that prison, I've been beating around the bush all day and I can't find a reasonable way to get in and get our friend's ass out of there. Prison is a real pain in the ass from the outside, so from the inside it must be even more so."

"But you did find a way.". -Replied Revy. "That's the good news."

Dutch nodded. "Yeah, I found an unreasonable way in, but it involves making our way through dark, shit-filled tunnels and piss from who knows how many prisoners and guards. And before that, we have to climb a cliff, preferably at night, without being seen."

"Fuck..." -Murmured Benny. "I'm not a man of action, so I'll have a hard time climbing."

"Don't play dumb with me, Benny. You know damn well I need you on the ship so that when we get away at full speed, another ship doesn't come along and stick a torpedo up our asses and send us to the moon. ". -Dutch replied. "Also, I want to rehearse our escape a couple of times, and that includes you finding and memorizing a good escape route. Or we'll be really screwed by the time we make off with our package."

Benny nodded, visibly calmer.

"Shenhua will back us up in case we really need it, but she's not to be counted on for anything. Chang hired her for something else.". - Dutch continued. "That leaves you with the hard and dirty work, Rev'."

"As usual, but I wouldn't have it any other way." -Revy raised his guns, flashing a feral grin. "When do we start?"