Gunslinger Girls - Paths Intertwined

[Kasawa Lanford]

Ryoshine stopped the van at the city limits. He got on the cell and tired to get ahold of some of the other handlers, but out of nine groups he could only get ahold of three. With a heavy sigh he closd the cell, "we lost twelve...." he said flatly and walked over to the hood and placed his hand on it. "Damn it.... who the hell carpet bombed the blasted city?!"

"You didn't notice the markings on the bomber?" Rico said weakly. She was bleeding profusely from her wound, and was slipping in and out of conciousness. "Red... white.... blue...." she said before she lasped into unconciousness. Ryoshine was horrified at what she had just revealed, "the American's would never bomb a civilian city!" Guisepp countered, "no... they wouldn't.. but who's to say the politicions wouldn't if they felt their lives were at risk..." Ryoshine said and got back into the van. He looked at Rico and then grumbled, "let's go!" he shouted, Hillshire got back in and closed the door, soon they were off.

[Director of Music]

Giorgia, exhausted, fell asleep.  Unknowingly, Giorgia's body leaned toward Franz.  In her subconciousness, he seemed to remind her of her daddy.  The smell of him...the structure...

Franz felt the little girl's body lean against his.  He stiffened up at first, then relaxed.  With his free hand, he gently put her head on his shoulder. 
--------------------------
Wilm managed to fumble for his phone and call Ryoshine.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Ryoshine's cell beeped and he picked it up. "Yea?" he said.

[Director of Music]

Wilm had a hard time talking.  "Me-Ww-wilm. Alive.  Nnnone else.  Where Franz?"

[Kasawa Lanford]

Ryoshine stopped the van. "Franz is right here in the van, where are you?" he said.

[Director of Music]

"In thhe Goddamn van!?" Wilm managed to breathe out.  "I've crawled ovver to a nearby stop.  I cannot wwalk."

[Kasawa Lanford]

Ryoshine grumbled. He had to get Rico back to the agency, but he knew Wilm needed help.

"Ok hold on," he said and hung up, he dialed another number which was for a support helo in the area, he relayed Wilm's location to the pilot who said they would go and get him. WIth that done he contacted Wilm, "help is on the way," he said.

[Director of Music]

"Danke." Wilm breathed.  As an after thought he added, "What the hell is Bietrich doing?"

[Kasawa Lanford]

"Apperently behaving," Ryoshine said, he was tired and didn't bother to look for a more proper word.

[Director of Music]

Wilm managed a small chuckle which came out like a groan.  "Ja.  That'll happen when hell freezes over.  Oh.  Here comes my lift.  Take care, Ryoshine.  Tell Giorgia that I will always be rooting for her."  With that he hung up the phone and was helped into the helicoptor.

Franz had fallen asleep as well, his hand on top of Giorgia's.

[Kasawa Lanford]

As they approuched the agency, a guard came from the main gate. "I won't even 'begin' to imagen what the hell happened," he said when he noticed the condition of the van. "The director is in an emergency meeting and wants everyone there, including our resident cyborgs," the guard said before noticing Franz. "What about him?"

"He seems to not have any connection, but..." Ryoshine said and the guard nodded. "I'll let my boys know and they'll keep tabs on him," the guard said before opening the gate and allowing the van through. They drove up to the cyborg dorm, "Henrietta, Triela, get yourselves dressed and cleaned up report to the director," Ryoshine said, they looke at their handlers who nodded they then took off. "Giorgia wake up!" Ryoshine said as he opened the door. "Head to your room, get cleaned up and go with Henrietta to the directors office," he said, Henrietta upon hearing her name stayed behind to make sure Giorgia understood.

Hillshire and Guiseppe both got out, "hey! wake up!" Hillshire said to Franz.

[Director of Music]

Giorgia and Franz woke up, almost immediately.  Giorgia nodded and looked at Franz.  He patted her shoulder and got out as well.  Giorgia followed Henrietta out and went to her dorm.

Franz brushed back his hair, his blue eyes scanning the scene.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Hillshire didn't like the man, and for good reason. "You'll be watched around the clock, don't do anything stupid," he said and gestured for the man to follow him.

In the mean time Jean took the van and went over to the main building, he rushed Rico to the doctor who started surgery immidently.

For Ryoshine headed to his office and made several phone calls. "Are you certain?" he said in one of the calls

~Damn certain, something spooked in-ops and they dispatched bombers to the city... the country is taking heat for that bombing but we aren't aware of any deaths though that may have resulted... but.... it was a civiilian city..~ the man on the other end said sorrowfully.

He grumbled. "What about the president?"

~Dead.... he was assassinated last night~

Again he grumbled. "Ok... vice president?"

~Same... someone had this all planned out, an investigation claims that there were children in the area when the assassinations occured. I don't know of 'any' organization that uses children for assassinations but there 'are' rumor though..~

"Save the rumors, unless there are facts. Send me a fax with the current situation in America.." Ryoshine said, in the background he could hear a fax machine running, soon his own fax machine beeped and several papers were printed.

~Hope that helps you, I need to get off..~ the man said and hung up.

Ryoshine looked at the papers, he was shocked to find that some of the intelligence that the Americans had been receving hinted at their organization. "Terrorists.... huh... something even 'bigger' is going on..." he said and placed the papers in a folder and made his way to the directors office.

[Director of Music]

Franz shrugged carelessly, following Hillshire.  As long as he hadn't been well, 'captured' by them, he was perfectly fine.  He still had a thought of ending his life, but he wanted to see how things turned out.

Giorgia and Henrietta scrambled into the office, out of breath.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Triela was standing near the window, her Guiseppe was already there and looking at the reports that had been glowing in. "Twelve dead...." he said to no one particuler. "Katherine, Anise, Johnathan, Lucres.... and also their handlers, Markes, Lavality, Wilcote, and Lern..." he shook his head, "all good people to, damn it..."

Ryoshine sighed. "At least we are certain that something 'bigger' is going on though," he said and continued to wait. "You sure about bringing that terrorist in here?"

"Franz? hmm... he didn't authorize the bombing, that much I know... so I feel its fine for him to be here, besides all his men are most likely dead so I doubt we'll have any problems to worry about, also hes on a short leash so...." Ryoshine said, the director cleared his throat. "Still though, we handle him with caution, I'm only allowing him to be included because he 'might' have information that we can use."

The director clasped his hands. "One thing I DO know is that we'll be sending you guys out to America to investigate," the director said, Ryoshine groaned. "But, lets wait until everyone is here..." the director said.

[Director of Music]

Once Hillshire took Franz to the room he would be staying in, he left two guards with him.  There was no way he was allowing this German terrorist into the meeting.  He left quickly afterwards.  As Franz sat down, the guards immediately stiffened up. 

Hmmm...must be their first week on the job...and I want to see Giorgia's room...so maybe...

"Gentlemen!" He smiled cordially.  "First week on the job?"

One guard answered immediately.  "Yeah, it's a rea-"  The second guard jabbed the first in the ribs.  Franz stood up and put his arms around the two guards.  "I understand, completely, don't worry about it, I won't try anything."  The two guards looked at each other and relaxed.  The first brought a drink out and said, "Ya want some er...."
"Franz Bietrich"
"Ah! Thanks man, Ya want some Mr. Bietrich?"
"Certaintly.  Thank you."  They poured him a drink, but he didn't touch it.  While the other two slowly turned into a giddy mood, Franz striked.  "Would you boys mind taking me to ah.. Giorgia Kretschmann's room?"

"Well, sure! We'd be honored too Mr. Bietrich."

The guards led Franz to Giorgia's room.  Franz quietly opened the door.  He walked around cautiously.  And then spotted the picture on the dresser.

[Kasawa Lanford]

Once Hillshire was in the directors office, the meeting commenced.

"America?" One of the other handlers asked, he was bandaged and bruised and his charge wasn't with him. "I don't believe it.." he said and crossed his arms, or rather, crossed them as far as he could without causing much pain.

"Whether we like it or not, the bombers were American," Ryoshine said and dropped a photo, "Rico managed to take this shot before a bomb hit near by, I understand it almost killed her." He said and looked at Jean who nodded, "almost, luckily she was behind something that shielded her from 'most' of the impact," he said and looked at the photo.

The photo was that of a low flying B-52, but also in the photo were various older fighters, like the BF-109, Spitfire, Hurricane and the Japanese Zero. "This confirms it wasn't 'completely' America that attacked us, they would use jet fighters not older air craft," Ryoshine said before another man talked, "unless they did this to throw us off.."

The group lay quiet for some time before a young woman broke the silence. "So, what are we going to do?"

"I'm going to send Guiseppe, Jean and Ryoshine to America. I want Hillshire to stay and look into matters here," the director said.

"We have a problem though, most American children are in school, and our charges are children after all..." Ryoshine said and folded his arms. "We won't be able to get away with them just walking around unless we use a lie that we are homeschooling them."

Jean nodded. "Yes... although it might be best to put one in school and leave the other two out, perhaps in an effort to 'hopefully' find out more information. After all, American children like gossip and rumors, even the elementary students, so who knows, we might even find an answer to our growing questions."

"Yea.... but who will we put through that stuff?" Guiseppe asked. "Henrietta and Giorgia are still getting used to this place-"

"We'll put Rico through it, unlike those two, she came here willingly." The director said, his voice was low enough to where only the handlers heard him. "You'll leave once she's better,"

"It'll be at least two weeks, perhaps one depending on what the doctor says," Jean said and folded his arms.

The director sighed. "Ok.... Guiseppe, Ryoshine, take your charges and train them further. I want them ready for their big 'trip' to America. Jean, once Rico gets better instruct her on American society."

"I'll help with that, the Italian military had me in America for a few months learning how to dispose of bombs," Ryoshine said, the director nodded. "Very well, dismissed."

[Director of Music]

Franz gently picked up the photograph and couldn't help but sigh.  It was Thomas, holding up a wine glass, toasting.  What were you toasting for, Kretschmann?  The good health of your family?  The long life of your child?  What was it?  His blue eyes scanned the photograph and his eyes landed on the eyes of the Lt.  Strong, yet gentle.  Almost a carefree look.  The Lt had a geniune smile on his face.  Much like those when he was out with Franz and Wilm.  Franz tried to justify what he did. You were WEAK!  A WEAK German!  You didn't give a damn when my sons died! Said "It was their time"  Screw that!."  He gripped the photograph.  With his free hand, he took out his wallet and took a different picture out.  It was a picture of Thomas, Wilm, and Franz, their arms wrapped on each other's shoulders.  They were smiling.  Pure carefree smiles.  Franz hadn't had those smiles in a very long time.  Neither had Wilm.
I haven't forgotten, Thomas.
He slowly walked back out of the room, placing his photo back in his wallet and leaving the other back where it was.  He absentmindly smoothed his hair back and straightened his uniform out.  The two guards escorted him out and were in a good mood.  Franz didn't want any part in their good jest.  He went back into his room, and leaned against his bunk.
------------------------------
Giorgia waited until the room was all cleared out except for Ryoshine and herself.  She looked him in the eye and asked with all seriousness, "Fra-...Mr.Bietrich won't die, will he?"

[Kasawa Lanford]

Ryoshine was curious at the question - she showed affection and worry for someone who she shouldn't have. "As long as he doesn't do anything to harm you or the agency.... then he'll be fine," Ryoshine said and stuffed his hands into his pocket. "You've been through a lot for one day, go and get checked up on by the doctor ok?"

[Director of Music]

"Yes sir."  She said and quickly went out.
 On her way to the doctor, she passed by Franz's room.  His door was slightly ajar and she saw him leaning on his bed.  His eyes were closed and he looked like he was sleeping.  Giorgia stopped their for a moment, gazing at him.  Then she went to get checked up by the doctor.