章 100: Mierda's

Ori and the others stare at the presented vehicle. Far larger than the NCPD Enforcer, it was double the height, wider and longer. With large, armoured wheels, shaded reinforced windows, and a vanta black paint job that almost made it look like a giant shadow.

"The Ogre 420 Magistrate (AN: A longer version of the Emperor 620 Ragnar), modified obviously. The previous owner must have replaced its parts so many times that it probably isn't the original any longer. It comes equipped with a carbon alloy roll cage with enough space to fit four or five people. The windows are third tier on the protective index, should stop most calibre weaponry for a good amount of time, don't expect it to stop an explosive however.

Five hundred horsepower, eight-cylinder engine, with a top speed of around a hundred and forty. This should suit all of your... Mercantile needs. It's worth around five hundred thousand, but I'm willing to let it go for thirty-five, given the few problems it comes with..." he adds the last part with a small frown.

"Problems...?" Judy asks for Ori, who was stuck staring at the truck with a gleam in his eye. Indeed, he'd never been quite as stricken with a vehicle as he had with this one... It just looked... Right. Like it fit him completely.

Locor, ignoring Ori's awe, nods at them, "Yes... The previous owner wasn't happy with its loss. I've done my best to make it as unidentifiable as possible, changed the paint, added a few pieces here and there, and even reinstalled all of its software. That does not detract from the fact that you may be pursued for it."

"That's... Professional." Bats utters in surprise.

"I do try to run a professional operation here. The less people I anger the longer I get to live. Had I not warned you of this and you learned it later, I'm sure you would have returned to object..."

Judy nudges Ori in the side with an elbow, "Hey, you hear all that? Or are you going to keep drooling?"

Ori touches his lips and sends a glare at Judy at the lack of moisture. "Yea... Thirty-five... Still a lot but..." he wets his lips, "It's nice... Who'd you take it from again?"

"Ah... Don't worry about them, I'm sure you'll never end up meeting them. Not with all the measures I took modifying the vehicle."

"I'd rather know, thanks..." Ori presses.

...

Locor sighs, "Dexter DeShawn, a property flipper in Heywood. Knows a lot of people but isn't dangerous, most he'll do if he finds out is send some thugs at you. I'm sure someone like you can handle it..."

"You say that, but he doesn't sound like someone who'll settle. He's a property flipper now, but later? You're trying to get rid of this truck quick for a reason, aren't you..." Judy remarks with a small, knowing smile, causing Locor's brow to become damp with sweat.

"So? Do you want it or not?" he quickly says, attempting to redivert the subject.

"Hm... Flipping properties isn't something easy, 'specially not in this city... Twenty-four K to take it off your hands." Ori haggles.

"T-twenty four!? It took ten merely modifying it!" the man splutters.

"Then you got a discount, getting rid of a time bomb for that much sounds like a good deal to me."

"T-thirty thousand! I have kids to feed!" Locor states.

"What're their names?"

"Name's...? Uh, G-Gr-eta... Greta..." he affirms.

Ori snickers at him, "Nice. Even if you weren't dogshit at lying, someone who won't even give their real name wouldn't tell me their kid's." he says, not believing someone would call their kid 'Locor'... Like some kind of RPG monster or something. Besides, he highly doubted any woman would touch him, he wasn't exactly 'good real estate.'

Locor bites his lip, "F-fine! Twenty-eight, that's the lowest I can go! I'd rather drive it into than get less!"

"Deal!" Ori grins brightly, drawing a chuckle from Judy and Bats. Honestly, he'd have paid the full thirty-five, but since the guy clearly wanted to rid himself of it, he might as well take what he can get.

-----------

"Hehe, this is fucking nova!" Ori laughs as he revs the truck, the vehicle rumbling dangerously as people around the exit of the tunnel make way for them.

"Could you drop me off before you start..." Bats asks.

"Don't listen to him, hit it Ori!" Judy exclaims, prompting the merc to put his foot down. Tires screech as they accelerate, zooming out onto the road and skidding around a corner next to the river, Bats screaming the entire time.

He races up through Kabuki, cars honking their horns at them as they speed past. Until he eventually pulls into an empty parking lot. Bats opens the door and falls out, almost kissing the ground. "O-okay, I think I-I'll walk home from here..."

"What's wrong Bats? I thought you were 'manlier' than this." Judy smirks down at him.

"I-I guess you're just more of a man than I am, Mr Jude-Ouch!" he yelps as Judy kicks him in the shoulder from the car, causing Bats to quickly shuffle out of the parking lot.

"He's got you there Judy." Ori adds, attention more on the interior of his new truck. Dexter DeShawn knew his shit. Amazing synth-leather upholstery, wide foot space, top-of-the-line radio system, and even FOUR cup holders!

"Whatever... Ah mierda! I was going to look for my own ride wasn't I." she sighs and turns back to Ori, "I'll do it another time. How about you let me have a go at the wheel?"

"Er..." Ori awkwardly answers, pretty unwilling to let her drive his new truck...

"I promise I'll be gentle." she assures, causing his ears to redden. "What?" she asks, confused at his reaction.

"N-nothing, just don't use that sentence around me... Here, just don't crash it for the love of god." he says, scootching over and letting her sit in the driver's seat.

"Al-right." she hums, getting comfortable, "I know an abandoned race track down in Santo Domingo, let's check it out."