The Yellow Flag was quieter than usual. It may have simply been that it was still a little early in the day, but the three were pretty sure that the reason was Rock's presence. Most people were aware of who he was, even if they didn't know him personally. The rumor mill of Roanapur was just as active, if not more vicious and more capitalistic than a communist dictator. Almost everyone had an idea of the way he had manipulated certain events. They knew that he had never killed anyone with his own hands, until yesterday. For once though, the truth was more interesting to the people than any exaggeration.
"Everyone is staring at me, aren't they," Rock was conscious of what was happening.
"Ignore it man. You know what kind of people live here. There isn't a one of them worth acknowledging, or worrying over. Come on, let's have another round," Ethan told him.
"Give me a sec, I need to use the head," the center of attention left in the direction of the bathroom.
"Revy, he isn't half as ok as he is trying to act, is he. What did he say last night," Ethan looked at the woman.
Revy took a deep breath, "It isn't actually bothering him that he killed someone. He said the thing that scared him, was that he liked killing him. I don't know if he actually liked it, or the adrenaline confused his system. He said he heard the voice, but I really hope he was just imagining it."
Ethan started to understand. The voice, wasn't necessarily anything real, it was something that those born with the desire understood as the manifestation of their desire to kill, their drive to kill. Ethan had heard it for so long, the absence of it was more of note, than its presence.
"I hope he is wrong. That voice, only leads to one place, and he doesn't deserve that. I wish we could get him out of here, out of the Hell this place brings on to people," Ethan took a sip of the whiskey that sat before him.
In the bathroom Rock stood looking in the mirror. The face he saw was his, but at the same time not. The eyes were cold, soulless, but with a burning hatred. The mouth was drawn into a grin that showed razor sharp fangs. This was the face he saw in his dreams, the face of what he always said to himself was the impending darkness this place was waiting to drown him with. This was the part of himself that he wanted to kill, but it seemed angry somehow. Like it had been denied something it thought belonged to it.
"You want me don't you? You thought that would make me fall, to make me lose whatever little bit of myself, that I refuse to give up," he he looked dead on into the reflection's eyes, "Well go fuck yourself. Maybe I did enjoy killing him, because my friend got to live. Blood is cheap in this shithole, and maybe that will never completely change, but, now I know that trying, is going to fuck with you something awful. You better be fucking ready, because I am about to start lighting so many candles, you are going to think it is always noon."
He came out of the bathroom to see the other two getting up. Ethan threw a small bundle of cash on the bar. Rock went up to them a questioning look on his face.
"Dutch just called, we have a short notice from Chang. You can stay if you want, this is more of a me and Revy kind of job. It's up to you," he knew that Ethan wasn't trying order him around out of compassion for his situation, but that was just starting to piss him off.
Rock grabbed his drink, and downed it in one shot, "Let's go, it sucks to drink alone."
As he walked out the door the two gunslingers looked at each other. In a way, this wasn't the same man that walked into the bar with them, he seemed like the piss they thought he took had given him some kind of really weird inner peace. They knew better than to question it at the moment.
As they got in the car Rock asked, "What is the job?"
"Apparently some dumbshit decided to hijack a triad speedboat or something. Anyways they started hitting ships and finally worked their way close enough to us, that the bosses back in ching chong land, decided that Chang needed to do something about them. As he doesn't have a navy he can pull out of his ass whenever he wants, he wants us to kill them. Like I said, it is something that you and Benny could sit out if you wanted," Ethan was a little dismissive, as it really was a little below their talents to deal with.
"Hey, I'm always up for a workout, but, he. Rock, I don't do the delicate stuff real well, so I am just going to come out and say it. We are about to go murdering people, I know that usually you don't want too much involvement, so are you sure you don't want to just sit this one out," Revy was concerned about what was going on in his mind.
"People die in this city everyday. How often do we find murdered prostitutes in the alley behind the building? If I deny this shit happens, then I lose. And after so long, after having lost so many times, after being used so many times, I am fucking sick of it. I don't plan to let this place break me," Ethan had to pull over as Revy and him looked at him.
"Rock, just what the fuck are you talking about? You are, I'm not going to lie, you are fucking scaring me. Look, you aren't us, you aren't a natural killer, so yeah, you maybe desensitized to seeing me and Revy massacre people enmasse, but you just killed a man yesterday, and you haven't had the time to properly process it. We want you to have a chance to not lose your mind completely. Ok," Ethan was concerned that the younger man was trying to push himself and ignore what was going on in his head.
"Ethan, I had, I don't know what to call it. I looked at myself in the mirror, and saw something that was angry that I didn't just fall to it. I know I killed a man, he had a knife to your throat. If I did nothing, then I would have been nothing. I would have lost to this place. I don't plan to lose anymore, I don't plan to be anyone's plaything anymore. I don't need a gun to do that, and now, I know that better than before I pulled that trigger. Lets go, Chang hates to be kept waiting," Rock's smiled chilled the two to the bone.
Ethan looked out the window to look away and followed the contrails of a jumbo jet that looked like it was starting to descend. What the man had said, was scary. He couldn't explain why it was scary, but it just was to him. He wasn't even scared when he had been about to have a knife jammed in his throat, and that was a scary situation. That was a situation that would have had a lesser man in tears as he realized his own mortality.
"Rock, I don't know what you are talking about, and I really am not sure that I want to. If you are sure, yeah, we can't stop you from doing your job. Dutch can, but I already know that he is going to let you decide. I just hope that you really know what you are doing," Ethan put the car back in drive as he did his best to put Rock's words out of his head.
Roberta's eyes opened. Sleeping in an airplane seat was not that difficult to her. She had slept in worse, and had slept in better. It was the thought of where she was headed once again. Nothing good happened in that place, only grave sins. She clutched the rosary around her neck. That city drew out a part of her, that deserved to die away. She looked down at the picture in her hand once again.
"Young Rosarita. You seem troubled, whatever is wrong, remember that even here you are better off than the cementerio de mercenarios. That place draws people like us, whether we know it or not. I think that it is Hell's coal heap. There must be somewhere that what is used to stoke los fuegos del infierno is stored, and that place is it. I think God created it to hold los verdaderos monstruos del mundo," Manuel had said that to her everytime she felt down.
She hadn't appreciated him at the time. She saw him as one of the worst examples of the capitalist pigs that she hated. He killed people for simple money, not some greater good, not to make a statement. After she had seen what the F.A.R.C. really was, she understood. He simply fought to survive, in a world that was willing to accept any skillset. He would often talk about this plan that he had wanted to do with his son. To buy a ranch in Southern Mexico and stop killing, stop fighting.
"Manuel, what would you think of me now? I know you understood what you were training us for. You wanted us to survive, to live on no matter what. To live long enough to get away from it. I hate every cruel thing I said to you, for so long. You never did anything but tell me that it was ok, that one day I would truly understand my words. Would you be proud of me for trying my best to leave it all behind?"
She looked out the window, and noticed the giant Buddha statue. That meant that they were going to be approaching the airport soon. Garcia had asked her to get in touch with Senor Rock as soon as she could once she arrived in the city. She did not care for him much, he seemed like a parasite living off a city that truly could not welcome him, but her Young Master seemed to trust him enough to keep contact so she would do as he asked. As long as the filth didn't give her a reason to not.
She took a breath. If she thought back, she kind of remembered seeing a boy around her age during the ambush. He had been standing next to one of the trucks holding a shotgun, and had a gunbelt slung over his shoulder. He was kind of tall and gangly, not too unattractive if she thought about it, but she hadn't gotten a good look at his face due to half of his face being covered by rich, dark hair. She shook the image from her head. She had at one point had an infatuation with the boy, but had gotten over it when she realized that she would never see him again. More than likely he had gotten off into the jungle and died.
What did it matter anymore. She did not need romance in her life anymore, not when she had her Young Master. He was all that she had now, all that she needed. There was no room for anything else. Only room for his safety and his happiness, hers, meant nothing. Simply a luxury that she had lost for her sins, something that she gave up on her own. What point was there to think of things that could never happen anyways, things that could only lead her into despair. If she fell into despair, she wouldn't be there for her Young Master.
She looked out the window again and noticed that it appeared they were descending. That must have meant they were on approach, and it would only be a few more hours before she arrived. She was not looking forward to this, but she would do her best to please her Young Master.
"Sorry for the short notice, but even I only had a couple more hours of it than you did," Chang said as they arrived at their dock.
"Hey Boss, notice is notice. So, who is fucking dumb enough to steal a boat from the Triads, aren't there easier ways to commit suicide," Revy asked.
"That was my question, along with, why not get a crooked navy captain to deal with it. Their answer, take a wild guess," the Triad boss shrugged as he answered.
Ethan shook his head, "Because this, this is embarrassing. Worse than that, it may force the CCP to start having to do something besides oppress its people, and rip off everyone in the world with cheap garbage. The Chinese Communist Party believes more in capitalism than the Vanderbilts, the Triads make use of that so that they can pay off the right people to operate with immunity. So if there is a boat out there that is hitting merchant shipping and gets identified to one of their groups, international pressure may be put on the government to start cracking down, which isn't profitable for either side."
"Wow, I didn't think that any of you would, well, have that good of an insight. That is the short of it though, the long version was in Mandarin, so I will save you the earache. That said they did want me to have you deal with it specifically, you have made a name for yourselves after all, and they sent a toy for you all to make things easier," he stopped at some crates.
They looked down at them confused for a second. Then Ethan lit up like never before. According to the markings, this was an M9 37mm autocannon. This was one of the heavier armaments that PT boats carried, and it looked like it came with the full mounting.
"Chang, I hate communists. They are greedy fucks who oppress the people in the name of the people while they line their pockets. Give your bosses my regards, because they are the most awesome commies ever," Revy almost couldn't believe that Ethan was actually smiling legit for once.
"Wow Dutch, should I feel complimented or insulted, either way, isn't so nice to see a child on Christmas day. They always look so happy. So, Ethan, you know how to work that thing, right," Chang really was enjoying himself.
"This is a field fitment kit. It comes with instructions. It's a fucking cannon. A. Fucking. Cannon. Why have we not gotten one of these before now. Fuck all you wannabee pirates, we have a cannon," there was never a stranger sight, than a 6'3" 210lb man jumping on his heels like an impatient child.
"Well thank you Chang, you broke my mechanic. I'm gonna have to charge you extra for that. Also did they say anything about wanting it back, because I don't think they are getting it back at this point. Not unless he dies," Dutch said smirking at the sight.
"We will just claim that it fell overboard. Who is actually going to come check, besides, it was a bitch bigger than Fry Face to move down here," Chang replied as he pulled a cigarette out and lit it.
"Revy, get the crowbars, that engine crane, and a lot of beer. This is going to take a few hours to get installed," Ethan was already headed to the Lagoon to get some tools.
"You've got it. I can't believe it, WE GOT A FUCKING CANNON," Revy's happiness was no less than Ethan's.
Chang shook his head. Children, they were something else. Though, he noticed that Rock had nothing to say. Looking over he saw him looking off into the distance as he leaned against the side of the building. He knew that he didn't care for him, and that was fine by him, as it suited his plans for the future. Right now though, he felt some sympathy for the man. He himself wasn't a natural born killer, it was just something he had to do. He didn't enjoy it in quite the same way that many others in Roanapur did, for him it was more an acquired taste.
"How are you doing, Rock," he walked over to the much younger man.
Rock barely rolled his head towards him, "I am doing. Is there much more to say than that? I guess you have something to say about what I did, like I can tell most people do."
Chang raised an eyebrow, "It wasn't something insignificant. I've known you for a few years now, and you are actually the last person I ever thought I would hear about gunning someone down. You are also the first person that the pure truth of what they did has taken over instead of exaggerated rumors. Take a ride with me, they won't need you for this job."
"And if I don't want to?"
"Did I phrase it as a request?"
"I guess you didn't. Dutch, tell them where I went," he followed Chang to his car and got in.
Once they had left the port Chang spoke again, "How did it feel?"
Rock was thrown off by the question, but he still answered it, "I enjoyed it. I don't like the fact, but I still enjoyed it."
"I see, that is different than me. The first life I took, I spent the next few days in a haze. It wasn't the first time that I had shot someone, but, the killing was different. I had become a detective, still pretty much a rookie, and we were investigating some slavery racket. Remember that Hong Kong is British in everything but population and culture. It was kind of my first introduction to the Triads. We find the place we think they are using as a transfer point, and they started shooting at us before we could even knock. Some old Russian hosepipe, had us taking cover before we had time to think. It goes silent, and then I see a barrel and a face peek over the low wall we had gotten behind. I remember the moment clearly. I had been issued a HiPower, full magazine with number fourteen in the chamber. I simply held it up, and when he looked down, I fired. Blood sprayed all over my face, and I passed out as the rest of the detectives and street cops unloaded. Turns out it wasn't the right place to begin with, instead we found a massive drug storehouse. Like almost an entire floor of an apartment building opened up for it. And I slept through most of it."
Rock was a little surprised, "You, passed out. I have a hard time believing that to be honest. I wasn't there though, so I can't exactly call you a liar now can I? What I don't understand is why you give enough of a damn to even want to talk to me about it. Considering that you seem to see me as more of a pawn than a person. So what is it you really want."
Chang let out a light laugh, "Rock, even a pawn becomes useless if you don't take care. I tend not to like things becoming useless, so I make sure to take the utmost care of my pawns. You never quite know when you may need them to become a queen."
They pulled in front of the Lagoon Company building and Rock exited the vehicle. He tried to think of something to say to the mobster, but he was caught off guard by Chang's next words.
"Also, get over this. Its hurting Revy, and I really do not like seeing her hurt. Understand," and with that they drove away.
Rock took a few moments to catch his breath. That last threat raised something that he didn't really understand at first, only it seemed like it had become true. He hated to see Revy hurt as well.
He thought about this. He thought about the man that died trying to kill Ethan. He wondered why he was so at peace with the actual death. He thought about that image in the mirror. That darkness that was so close to consuming him, so close he could feel its teeth at his throat. He then thought about the light that he kept wanting to try to reach out for, that he didn't want to let go of so much he lived in a perpetual twilight. His domain, that no other occupied in this forsaken city. The sight that only he could see.
He opened the door to the office, and was greeted to words from a voice he wasn't prepared for, "Hola, Senor Rock. I apologize for my early arrival."