Black Lagoon Book 8

"A life lived idly is like living like a dog" - Balalaika

If you have got this far you don't need the full background of The Black Lagoon Traders and the crime-ridden Thai city of Roanapur they work out of.  This contines the epic "El Baile de la Muerte" [aka The Dance of Death] arc. Revy and Rock, the self-defined bullet and gun pairing, she because she is atheletic, strong and experienced with pretty much every gun there is and he because of his ability to think on his feet, make deals and come up with crazy plans.  Together they get shit done and this time it is tracking down Roberta, a Venezuelan ex-guerrilla and terrorist and also a prim maid whose employer was blown up attending a leftist political rally by the US government organisation the NSA.  This was unsanctioned by the CIA and their operative, Eda, a nun in Roanapur's Rip-Off Church makes it clear they are pissed that this happened.  Roberta tracked the men to Ronanapur where they are on more "business", leaving a trail of bodies behind her.  The young son of her murdered master, Garcia who loves her and a young maid in his service who also has combat experience have hired Rock and Revy to help find her safely as her presence and the identity of the men she is after have caused consternation amongst the major crimelords in the city, most of all Chang, leader of the Triad who has been making most of the moves to help find her.  Roberta however is a mental wreck, popping pills and being scolded by a man only she can see about this being a mission of pure revenge not atonement as she has tried to convince herself.  The last volume ended Rock and Revy getting a new lead on where she is and with Roberta symbolically divesting herself of her maid uniform and donning the garb of a revolutionary killer.  And now the continuation.

[Note:  This manga is "unflipped" so must be read from right to left]

We begin with Chang, alone, walking to the Rip-Off Church. Inside is Eda in CIA mode, She tells him to go into the confessional booth, then calls him on his mobile phone. She says she'll start with the conclusion.

Eda: "We are extremely displeased with the NSA's plans in the region. Therefore we're going to disclose all the intelligence we have on them and give you a general ouline of their operation."

Chang wants to know who their primary assassination target is.   He'll only decide what they'll do once they know that.  Eda says they are an experimental team under the direct command of the NSA principally for political destabilisation operations, "tactical missions which required difficult political choices." They are called the "Grey Fox Commando Group".

Their primary onjective right now is capturing General Shue Yan. The General of the Triad's largest armed factions under Shun Ka's command.  And they want to try him in Federal Court.    It would be a painful blow to the Triad continues Eda, you can't speak of the Triad's heroin factories without his poppy farms. Chang asks her when this is going down?  Shue Yan is constantly on the move making it hard to capture him says Eda.

Eda and Chang talk business.

But he is scheduled to inspect four villages with two companies of troops and his lieutenants. It'll take place sometime later in the month.  Chang says he'll have to "shake out his informers". Eda says the members of Grey Fox are disguised as backpackers in Roanapur's red lght district waiting for the go-ahead from the NSA.  In the jungle Chang's forces wouldn't stand a chance against them. Chang asks where the motels are.

Eda tells him the group is split into three groups, Alpha, Bravo and Charlie. She lists which hotels which group is staying in, the team leader Major Caxton is hiding out with his Lieutenant Raymond McDougall at Alpha teams hotel.  Chang says that's enough information "Miss CIA" and he'll contact her when it's all over.   She says they aren't done yet she wants to know about his plans. When he is unresponsive, she says it is his organisation's job to carry this out and he shouldn't forget that.  Chang responds:

Chang: "The only reason... we're lending a hand in this lovers' quarrel between you bureacrats is... because we have a mutual interest. We're not your dogs or your apprentices. If one of Uncle Sam's ass-kissers like you... thinks she can boss us around.. you're dead wrong".

Eda laughs.  She says he isn't an ass-kisser, she tells him the USA is like a hydra, "a country with numerous heads... called agencies."  The agencies are the USA and threats against them by powers greater than Changs are not effective.  His people might possess the power to subdue individuals or corporations, "but we possess the power to subdue and annihilate entire countrys".  They are "The one... the only..and the supreme. So don't ever underestimate my company. Punk" she tells him, eding the call and Chang leaves.

We join Rock, Revy, Garcia and Fabiola finishing up at the gun store and then heading off to find a man called Leeroy who might have a clue to Roberta's whereabouts.   Revy asks Garcia "how long she's been using?"  He says he knew she was taking medication, but... he is cut off by Revy and Rock discusing Leroy. Then Fabiola admits to Garcia that she had been asked to keep quiet about Roberta's "medication" but she didn't realise she would now be taking it in such large doses.  Maybe she's already dabbling in speed says Revy, "it's the best way to cool offf when blood is on your hands".  Garcia is distressed.

Revy says if she keeps it up she'll end up as paranoid as Ton Chi.  Garcia suddenly shouts, "Why... W... WHY?! Haven't we caught her yet?!"  He says they are running out of time, soon Roberta won't be able to help herself for much longer.  Fabiola tells him to calm down. He yells that she's not her family.

Rock stops the car and tells Garcia they have everything they need to end this peacably.  Garcia is the centre of all this and all he is doing is crying and screaming, "Revy and I can't catch her. Only you can" he says to Garcia.   He can't afford to mess this up.  Garcia repeats his words.  Then Rock says to Revy that Leroy's office is nearby, "that's the last stop.  Our little tour... ends here."

Back in Roanapur, Chang and leader of the Russian Mafia Balalaika are meeting on the docks.   She says to him that "our involvement... shouldn't be something you wish for."  Why does Chang want her help?  Why has he told her everything?  "What's your real motive?" she asks suspiciously.

Chang and Balalaika plot.

He tells her Roberta will catch the Grey Fox tonight and settle her scores right here, "that will result in a critical blow to our town."  Roanapur will fall like a house of cards so there is only one route for him to take.  They have to prevent that conflict and get the Americans out of the city.  After that they can leave Roberta to take care of them.

Chang: "She gets revenge for her boss.  Nobody's hands get dirty.  Nobody's wallets get lighter. Everything... works out just fine."

Balalaika snorts that he came here to tell her that?   She declines, they will "proceed with our initial plan."  Chang says she wants to die as a soldier does she?   She says a mobster like him wouldn't understand, they are not soldiers anymore or deserters, they are ex-military and don't belong to anyone.  When the Soviet Union abandoned them, when the New Russia betrayed them, when they lost everything what were they left with?

They had "tasted life and death and everything there is to know about fighting for a flag. The pride. We're the vestiges of a kind of pride that's become and old, mouldy tombstone."  She says she doesn't want to live a life wthout a future like Chang, there us only one death she wishes for, one in battle against those we were meant to fight.  She ends by saying "reminded of what we were more is the end we seek, Mr. Chang."

Chang says she is being stupid.   He says living by a code is a "stupid notion", it's whimsical and can changed when the wind blows.  If you dwell on it, it means you can't do anything besides that.  She can interpret that how she likes.  He decides they are done here and starts to leave.  He says it's still stupid but he'll go along with her.

He says November '93 he took four bullets on this dock, she owes him for that.  It was a beautiful moonlight nightm the number that night was "it's a blue world."   It was the perfect evening for a bullet ballet  One of them was supposed to rise from the dirt and say goodbye that night, "but we're both here" says Chang. As she leaves she says to him:

Balalaika: "Which ending will you choose?  You only have one life.  You can't choose both."

We see an explosion at a hotel, then we cut to the Colombians, the leader of the cartel in Roanapur a man called Abrego is being given orders from his boss a man called El Jefe.  Abrego is told not to touch the Americans and not to let the Chinese get involved either, he is simply to "bring that bitch's head to me."

The FARC have sent over some of their elite "Sumasas brigade" and their leader Alberto Camarasa is an advisor and a member of Cuba's Naval Special Forces.  They are itching to put an end to Roberta but El Jefe also says "you can't let those guys know anything about the Americans."

El Jefe: "If this turns into a melee, we gotta consider the possibility of them taking matters into their own hands... and that would be the end of my vision for an ideal business here.  If there is any chance of that happening... make sure you see to it that there are no loose ends."

That's Abrego's real job and he promises not to let El Jefe down.  We then join Revy as she enters the office of Leroy.  Revy tells him that his office is a mess and he should hire a maid.  After some more banter he finally says he knows she is looking for that "crazy Venezuelan maid right?  The bloodhound of death?"  Revy asks why the change in attitude when he wonders what she wants to ask him?  He yells that she "bailed before she paid me half of what she promised!!"

Grey Fox make preparations to escape.

We then join Major Caxton and Ray his men getting tooled up after realising something is wrong, "I don't know who... but someone's trying to sabotage our plans." The phones are being tapped and there are signs that their drop point has been compromised.  But one of the local NSA arrives and passes on sealed orders to the Major who says their mission must continue with the locations updated.

Two of them come back from their recon, they report that a street has been blocked off but that there is no sign of construction.  All the construction workers had bulges under their left arms.  Also all the roadside stands have disappeared, "residents of towns like this know when danger's in the air."  They spotted nine lookouts and four tails and they had a hunch there was a sniper in position too.  They are surrounded and the unknowns are waiting to see how they move.  The decide to send a standby order to their other safehouses and then flank them when their main unit moves and take them out.  The Major sends the man who delivered the orders away saying he better get out of here "before bullets start flying."

Watching the man leave are a bearded man and a chubby woman.  The chubby woman asks if they should take him out, but is told he isn't part of the package.  The bearded man says their client wants them to be a shield. He goes onto say they that the clients will use their own "spears" and have their own reasons for not wanting others to do it.   Which is why he hasn't sent any of his own men in.  The guys gathered below are "just some scraps I threw together."  The chubby woman says he couldn't get any intel on the target but understands they are the equivalent of Delta Force, "the whole entry team is gonna get wasted."

New challengers approach!

The bearded man calls her "Pilano" saying that is just how it goes.  They need them to put up some sort of fight which is why it is not easy choosing a man for a job like that.  They planned for their forces to go in, but not for them going out, "they'll realise too late."  And they'll end up dying in a place like this.  Pilano gets out a portable TV and starts watching it to kill time before it goes down.

We then return to Revy, now in a car with Rock, Garcia and Fabiola. They are speeding to a flophouse called the Tokaina Hotel.  Revy tells Garcia to be patient, they have to deal with another problem "the Black Death". Rock says he has never heard of him, Revy says he runs a murder-for-hire business.  According to Leroy, some of his men are providing support for Roberta.

She gets Rock to stop the car, she tells him that "this is gonna get ugly and we can't handle it alone."  Rock asks if she has a lead and Revy says you bet she does and calls... Shenhua?!  Revy tells her she has a whole bunch of people for her to kill, Shenhua demands to know how she got her number?  Revy says Chang gave it to her.  Shenhua says she was in hospital up until two weeks ago after Revy got her shot, "but if job is to cut you up, I do it for free."

Revy says it wasn't her who shot her, it was the nun (Eda) and not to lay that shit on her and also she hit Revy with her knives.  Shenhua asks if she is hiring her, Revy says actually it's a rich South American (Garcia).  Shenhua says she won't do anything against "great brother Chang." They talk money and Shenhua rejects the first offer of six thousand dollars.  She haggles up to 7,500 for herself and 6,500 each for her two friends who are sitting playing on a Playstation.  Revy says to come to where they are in ten minutes.

Meanwhile the bearded man and Pilano order the men below into action against the Americans, while a group of Colombians move against Roberta who are filled in on her terrorist background, "do not underestimate her just because she is a woman." That she was once known as the "Bloodhound of Florencia".  She knows every trick in the book and "can pull them off far better than you."  She is a carnivora in human form and they must not forget that.

Roberta meanwhile is being tormented by the bloodstained man who is representing her conscience. He tells her there is still time to pull back, that the Roberta Garcia loves so much will be unable to return to the Lovelace family.  "You'll be just a blood-crazed mad dog haunted by delusion" he tells her. He goes on to say that her dead master feared she would be trapped in a purgatory of bloodshed as much as he worried about his son and no one requires revenge from her. Roberta yells in anger:

Roberta: "Sins can only be atoned for in blood!  There is no other way!  That's why... I'll kill and kill and kill.  I'll make them regret they were ever born!"

Back with the Americans, all the teams are in position.  Caxton gives them a morale boosting speech, finishing with him saying "let's show them how the best soldiers fight".

We then join the men Leroy hired on Roberta's behalf, they have been told they are after renegade gangsters from the countryside, "Leroy's info's always solid.  He's never wrong."  They are being watched by the Colombians who are after Roberta.  They are told not to engage, "we can't lose her by getting involved in any unnecessary skirmishes."  There target is her and only her.

The men who have been sent to take on the American's breach their hotel door and there is a huge explosion and gunfire breaks out.  Things blow up, people are riddles with bullets in the chaos while the man with the beard and Pilano look on. The Americans take down the first and second wave of attackers. As the men back off they tell their leader the men aren't gangsters "those were raptors crammed in a hen house!" 

Roberta and her tastefully understated mutherfuckin' anti-material rifle.

The leader says if they all flee now the others would have died for nothing.  Pilano, watching through binoculars, says the targets have decided to go to the roof so they aren't fighting at close quarters.  Then Roberta appears on a roof across the street, the Colombians spot her too. The second team is ordered to move in.  The Americans also spot her and her huge rifle which she fires at them.   There is more chaotic fighting as the Colombians move in as well.

Nearby, Revy says they are too late and a "full on classic firefight" is taking place.  Fabiola says that means Roberta is still alive. Rock says to himself that nothing will change if they walk away, "this is the divide.. Dutch kept telling me about.  This is where you make your choice."  He says to Garcia that it's up to him, they'll see it through if he wants them too. Garcia says if Roberta is waiting he has to find her. Shenhua says "that's the spirit of outlaw. You want to be my child?"

Revy tells Rock to stay and contact the boat.  The place the firefight is taking place is hell's cauldron.  They're going through a wall of spears to meet up with Roberta. Shenhua says this is child's play.  Revy says she hopes so, but Roberta has got a few screws loose, "she's a killing machine even Rambo would run away from with his ass on fire."  And most importantly she's fucking pissed right now!

Shenhua shrus saying that just makes her a worthy opponent, "make me even happier".  Revy tells her they can't kill her, only the flies buzzing round her.  Revy makes sure Shenhua's companions also understand this, one being the woman who has to speak though a vocal device, called Sawyer and the other a posing male assassin called Lotton both met in a previous arc (book six).  With everyone ready and clear on what needs to be done, they move out.

On the roof the Americans are under heavy fire from Roberta, she is using a Barrett and grenades on them. The weapon can reach past their rally point so the need a new plan.  The Major says to ready a smoke grenade and they'll move in her blind spots.  Revy and the others are moving into position.  Revy tells Fabiola that this won't be like the bar, she says that her choice of a shotgun shows she doesn't have control to pull off a single-shot kill.  And that when the shooting was over, Fabiola's knees went weak. Fabiola scowls at her, but Revy says she won't hold it against her.

Revy: "These guys blasting their guns here only think of you as a city limits sign.  Something to take a few potshots as when you're driving shit-faced."

The men are lowlives and there is a trick to killing them.  Think of them and also themselves as roadsigns that walk and talk.  Fabiola starts saying that people are people, Revy tells her it's not about her values, it's a frame of mind.

Revy tells her that the men are scum and not to be afraid to pump a few rounds into them. "Make them dance a bloody twist of fear, baby" she says.   If she makes it through she'll be a full fledged gunslinger.  Fabiola asks if she thinks that because she is from the barrio?  Revy says Fabiola's upbringing is like hers, "I'm just dropping some knowledge on you."  Fabiola says quietly that she thinks Revy has the wrong idea.

Revy and Shenhua get stuck in.

The Colombians send some men in to enter through the front and back.  Revy orders a couple of them to take the back while she takes the front.  Revy then blasts a Colombian's head almost off and she and Shenhua then leap forwards, Revy ordering Shenhua to mow them down. Knives and bullets fly as Revy and Shenhua push their way through.  Meanwhile a crazed Roberta is still unloading in the direction of the Americans. 

The Colombians have reached the roof, they are ordered to drive her northeast if her firepower is overwhelming.  One of the Colombians fires at her with a pistol, she fires back with her huge rifle tearing two Colombians to pieces.  She keeps firing and takes out some more. They try to falls back and she just blasts them to little bits as she uses a telescopic pole to vault over to the other side of the street. The remaining Colombians say she had no reason to flee them and that she is after something.  She is chasing a group in front of her, so they decide to go after them as well.   The leader says he knew the cartel was keeping something from them and to contact Abrego.  Rock watches the carnage from his car.

Then Rock's mobile phone rings, it's Chang.  He tells Rock he was too late, "I can see from here. The bet's off."  He says they'll take over handling it for now and they should withdraw as Dutch is probably angry by now.  Rock says no, the curtain hasn't fallen yet so they can't exit the stage.  The actors are still in play, Garcia and Roberta. Chang tells Rock what he hates most in the world is hypocrisy:

Chang: "it's even worse than commiting crimes. It's a poison that deceives not only yourself but others too.  It's like a turd dumped in a bucket of Chanel.  It may smell like a rose... but that doesn't change the fact it's still a piece of shit."

He tells Rock that he knows he understands that, that Roberta and Garcia are pawns to him and Chang.  Rock said he could checkmate the king so Chang put his money on him.  But that failed so he has the next move prepared, so what need is there to "grieve over the boy and the lady?" 

Angrily Rock says he was wrong about Chang, "you're nothing but a worthless, cold-blooded bastard!"  Chang bellows with laughter at this accusation saying no one has spoken like that to him in years.  He tells Rock he's a piece of work "that's what I like about you".  He then tells Rock that maybe his understanding of justice is deeper than Rock and that Rock should seriously consider how well-intentioned he is.

Rock says he's a gangster, how can he talk to him about justice?  Chang says that he can because he was once a guardian of the law.  Rock is speechless. Chang says it's no big deal, "there're a lot of ex's in this town.  That's all there is to it."  He says he thought that would make him more convincing, Rock can keep holding on but there is nothing at the end of this.  He needs to accept it's someone else's business.  The Lovelace family have stepped off the stage, this is now Roanapur's problem.

Rock tells Chang he won't let him end it, Roberta and Garcia are both still alive "it's up to them to decide when they want out."  Chang says no, it's his decision, he acts with the town's survival as priority.  He doesn't think Rock can turn this dice game around, but he can continue the game and do as he pleases as long as he doesn't intefere with what Chang is doing and also he wants Rock to "prove you're not spineless."  As he signs off he tells Rock to remember what he told him, "misinterpret that and it'll end in tragedy for both of us."  He looks forwards to Rock's next move. End of call.

We join Revy, Shenhua and Fabiola who have taken down fourteen men.  Revy is confused by the sudden withdrawal of some of the men, they'll have to ask one of the survivors.  They hunt around for one that is still breathing. They find one just about alive and in halting Spanish Revy demands he talk.  Fabiola then sighs and takes over translating duties.  She tells the man to tell him why they want Roberta and they'll take him to a hospital if he tells them.

Time for another of Revy's uplifting "lessons".

He says that Roberta is chasing someone, his commander sent a squad after her.  She went into the building across the street, and is heading towards the intersection west.  Fabiola passes all this on to Revy.  Who then shoots the man dead to Fabiola's shocked surprise.  They join Garcia and Rock but then Fabiola points her gun at Revy who just notes it with distinterest.

She yells at Revy saying that the fight was over so why did she kill that man?  Revy says the "fight's not over till they're dead. You leave 'em half dead and I promise you'll have to take them on again".  Isn't barrio life like that.  She admits it is, but the fact he was dying and begging to be saved has shook her up.

Fabiola: "That wasn't self-defence.  What you did was aniquilacion! [annihilation]"

Revy says "speak English kid."  Garcia says that Fabiola says it was overkill.  Revy cooly asks how many bodies Fabiola pile up when she attacked the bar.  Fabiola says she is not like Revy, she'd never shoot someone just for kicks, she's as bad as Jeffrey Dahmer.  Revy retorts, "Dahmer? I got no interest in collecting testicles and you haven't answered my question, how are we different?"  Killing is the ultimate inequity, there's a reason for it or there is not.

Shenhua then intervenes putting a blade to Fabiola's neck saying if Fabiola wants to keep talking morals, "then we all quit here.  How far can you and boy get... I bet on that. That sounds interesting".  Reflexively Fabiola pulls the trigger but does it as Garcia pushes her arm up and stands between Fabiola and Shenhua. He calmly says they haven't caught up with Roberta yet.  As they set out Garcia tells a defeated looking Fabiola that "these women are professional problem solvers.  Right now we need their help." She must remember that things are different here but one thing won't chnage "we shall all go home together."

Such innocence, how can this be brutally crushed cackles Rei Hiroe?

We cut the the American Grey Fox squad as they try to evade Roberta if they can keep dodging fro building to building her anti-material rifle will be useless. The Colombians in the field call Abrego and demand to know who she is after as she vaults to another building.  The lead Colombia says he trusts Abrego less than the enemy now.  Abrego calls him "Camarasa" and tells him it's got nothing to do with him, leave them be or things could really get out of hand.

Camarasa tells Abrego his boss is playing both sides it seems, is it DIA? NSA?  Abrego yells at him to shut his mouth "and bring me that bitch's head!"  Camarasa say they'll take out all threats between them and Roberta, "if the threat happens to be an imperialist dog, then that's just a bonus."  He doesn't need some gang boss lecturing him about tactics and ends the phonecall.  Abrego kicks his desk saying if they kill even one American they are finished.  But it's already over for him, his aide takes out a pistol and executes Abrego.

Roberta is closing in on the American with the Colombians in hot pursuit as well as the men assembled by the bearded observer, The Black Death, for flushing the American's out.  They are slightly less enthused by the situation they have found themselves in, but their leader is determined to carry on the mission. Revy and the others assess the situation and decide to whether kill the men with "2-dollar brains carrying 250-dollar guns..." Or the soldiers. Whichever makes the first move. 

Lotton the Wizard asks if it would look cool if he makes an entrance from an elevate area, but Revy says he should stay with Saywer the Cleaner. Then Revy says before the fighting starts again she wants to settle their "little discussion" from before. It's important and could save her life.  Back at the bar she even wasted the guys trying to run, was she looking for a little annihilation of her own?  No, it was the beast inside her telling her to kill them all so they wouldn't be trouble later. If she is serious about saving Garcia she shouldn't listen to him, "you're just a dog no matter what you might think."  She is telling Fabiola this for her own good, "after this you gotta wipe your own ass."

A lot of what follows could have been avoided if they had met here/

They all leap into action and melee of shooting and knives ensues picking the Colombians to go against. In the melee, Garcia runs and hides calling to Fabiola to follow him when she can.  He hides in an empty store and crouches with his hands over his ears, so he completelely misses Roberta who goes striding on past the window, still laser focused on bringing down Grey Fox.

Grey Fox plan a counter strategy for dealing with Roberta, they are going to try and bait her into a position they can kill her from then go to ground and wait for orders from the NSA.  Garcia hears shooting as the Colombians move in on Roberta.  He gets up and goes towards the noise, he finds an empty bottle of Ritalin on the ground and realises she has been here.

Camarasa says if the Americans are smart they'll be trying to flank Roberta, "she's here. Find her."  Roberta is in a building high up and spots Colombian soldiers down below.  As Garcia head towards where she is she uses a wire coathanger to deal with the three soldiers who come for her.  Camarasa calls the men over the radio, when he gets no response he realises Roberta is close by and she drops down and attacks the group hand-to-hand until it is just her and Camerasa fighting.

She beats him very badly, as Garcia watches.  But he tells her that she must be wondering why he doesn't shoot her.  He knows she attacked them hand-to-hand so it wouldn't raise alarms with the Americans.  The Comandante wants her head but not everyone in central command agree with him. He has a different reason, she was once the most prominent activist in the Central American Guerilla Movement, the only one worthy of the name "Jackal".  Skilled personel like her are valuable to any organisation.  He points his gun at her and says, "come back with me El Sabueso.  Life as a country maid may have domesticated you.  But I know you can't resist the scent of blood."

Roberta: "Yeah I guess... it was a boring place.  The master's death was a good excuse to leave.  But I will finish my mission... no matter what... If I kill them, my duty is finished and I no longer have any obligation to that mansion."

And Garcia heard all of that, whoops.  Camarasa says he'd like to take on the Americans too, "my will is Havana's will. If I give them the American's head, and vouch for you, I don't think anyone will complain."

They get closer and closer as they talk, and Roberta wraps her legs around Camarasa and licks her lips, "this place is like a sauna... it's filled with the heat of death.  The steaming scent of blood.. really turns me on."  He says he told her not to try and talk her way out, and she responds by saying she'd have plenty of opportunities to do so between here and Cartel General. He'll have to gamble if he wants her, "what will you do... what would you like to do?"

Rei Hiroe you sadist!!

He says she is her dog and so she should be a good dog and stick out her tongue.  They kiss, Garcia watches on in horror.  As they grunt and kiss roughly he is tormented by visions of her as the innocent maid he used to think she was.  Then she asks Camarasa not to rip off her clothes, she doesn't want to fight the Americans naked can she just take off her trousers?

And then she activates a small device in her stomach area that fires several bullets into him and dodges his retalitory shot and knocks his gun away.  She laughs at him saying "once a dog leave's it's home it never comes back to its old master.  You.. hadn't realised that." He crawls for the gun but she kicks it away saying sure he may have made fighting the Americans easier, it would have been easy to use him and then betray him.

But she says she would never join him because he serves "a loathsome fraud called ideology or philosophy."  There is only one person in the world who can "put a collar on me", the master she has chosen - Garcia Lovelace.

Roberta: "The only master worthy enough that I'd drink sewage for and protect with my own life.  I chase my mortal enemies for him... and like a hound I will run them down and tear them apart!"

The dying Camarasa says she is not a bloodhound anymore she is a sick wolf.  And she starts to stamp and punch his head over and over as Garcia repeats over and over "Roberta stop, stop..."  As her killing frenzy fades she turns her blood soaked face and sees Garcia and realises he has seen everything.

Roberta is not the stablest of people right now.

She lets out a scream that all the various combatants hear, then she averts her face from him telling him not to look at her.  He had clenched his fists so tight he made his hands bleed. He falls to his knees then curls up in the foetal position completely catatonic as she runs to him crying.

Then the accusatory man in her head appears and says "didn't you hold on to me... to prevent this entire outcome?"  She had killed him but back then she still had a few shreds of conscience left.  Roberta demands to know how long he'll follow her around, he says that it's she who can't let him go.  She killed him when she raided Tashio Electronics seven years ago and killed two Japanese engineers, "you tore up my family photo before you executed me".

It became one of many tiny scars that remained in her.  She would never have been bothered by them during times of violence, "but you never realised how much it would rot and fester during times of calm and peace."  She needed Garcia and if she had just stayed with him the scar would have healed.  But she ruined that chance.  Roberta demands to know what she must do to be forgiven, or if she was damned for all eternity she couldn't have continued living in that mansion.  But he followed her and even used the young master to get at her, oh wait...

She laughs an unpleasant laugh. She says he's showing her an image of Garcia because why else would he be here instead of back home in the orchard waiting for her to come home.  She says the master will never come back but the young master will laugh and smile again.  She's been shown Garcia in this "horrible condition" the thing she least wanted to see.  The man tells her he is here, he came all the way because he loves her.  But she says everything he says is a lie, neither him nor the young master are real and she'll prove it right now!  And she points a gun at Garcia.  End of volume.

This is Brian K Vaughn levels of abuse of fictional characters.  I say that as a compliment.

Well what a difference some action makes to the flow of the narrative.  Instead of being bogged down in huge chunks of people just sitting and rehashing the plot over and over we get something that's thrilling and builds to an amazing climax. There are a ridiculous number of people in play by now, we haven't even seen what Chang and perhaps Balalaika have planned to deal with the situation.  Despite being the focal point of the story we barely see the Americans, but wow has Roberta unravelled hard.  Her having a severe mental illness is actually quite believable to me as someone who has had psychotic episodes in the past. And if she has been over-medicating herself which Bao noted in the previous volume especially if it for psychiatric medication she is abusing for it's side-effects, she is only going to be making things worse and her grip on reality when not laser focused on her main goal has got incredibly tenuous.  And man, poor Garcia, the things he has seen by now would send even a grown man into trauma let alone a young kid.  No wonder he shutdown completely watching Roberta crush a man's head.  Hope for a happy outcome is pretty much nil at this point.  Weirdly I'm reminded of Homura from Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion with Roberta.  Starts out with large specs and moe appearance, lets the hair down and removed the specs when she returns to the stone cold user of  hundreds of guns and look what heading over the despair horizon at high speed did for her.  Became the ultimate evil of the universe .  I don't see quite the same thing happening here, I just know it'll suck.  Revy and Fabiola's little stand-off is interesting because it almost seems like Revy is trying to look out for the young girl in her own fucked up way, and it was great to see Shenhua back in action and the fact she appears to be living with Lotton and Sawyer, fellow bounty hunters from the "Greenback Jane" arc amused me for some reason.  And then there is the bearded man who is implied to be someone called "The Black Death" and what moves will he make now the Americans are out and on the move?  Everything is on course for an explosive finale in volume nine, which I promise will be here by the end of the month.