33 Chapter Thirty-Three: Guardian Angel (1/2)
As the team heads back to Seeira, Finn asks Zia ”So you think you figured out the sniper's identity?”.
”I have a hunch” Zia replies, ”but that's about it”.
”Mind filling us in?” Alex asks.
Zia shakes her head in disagreement and says ”It'd be better if I spent more time to investigate this”.
”I?” Alex asks, ”as in alone? You're starting to sound a lot like Siran”.
Looking down at her feet, Zia replies ”I guess he rubbed off on me”.
”Gross” Finn says, to which Zia finds justice with swiftly punching him in the face.
”Aside from violence” Tanya asks while driving, ”anything useful come up?”.
”More or less” Zia says, ”depending on what I can find out from this 'sniper' character”.
”You're obviously not telling us something” Alex says, ”and it's really reminding me of Siran. What is it that you think you know?”.
”We'll find out” Zia says.
”I can't stand all this mystery bullshit” Alex says.
”Anyways” Tanya interjects, ”we need a new form of transportation. I can't be the only one driving you guys around like this”.
”Good point” Satomi says, ”it'd be more efficient if we can move around more freely”.
”And” Zia adds, ”it'll be more efficient if we split up to expand the search”.
”But why?” Alex asks.
”Cover more ground” Zia explains. ”I need to find that sniper as soon as possible. I get the feeling that it'll lead us closer to Siran”.
”What do you suggest?” Rose asks.
”Maybe motorcycles?” Zia suggests. ”Small; so it'll be easily concealable for when we need to hide them, personal vehicles; so we can split up and go our own routes more efficiently, fast; so we can cover more ground quicker”.
”Ooh” Mikoto adds, ”I've always wanted my own motorcycle!”.
”Actually” Finn adds, ”motorcycles would be pretty cool”.
Zia punches Finn in the face again. ”You're not allowed to talk yet” she says, ”I'm still pissed at you”.
Leaning in close to Alex, Finn whispers to Alex ”Geez, when did she become the boss?”.
”Just roll with it” Alex replies, ”if you don't like it, then it's just all the more reason to find Siran. Use that as motivation for your search”.
”You know” Finn replies, ”you've picked up some pretty messed up morals from the military, haven't you?”.
”So where do you plan on obtaining motorcycles anyways?”Satomi asks.
”We are low on money” Finn adds, ”so we can't just buy them”.
”You idiot” Vivi says to Finn, ”did you forget that we're kind of criminals now? What's stopping us from... commandeering vehicles for our own purposes?”.
”We might not have to commandeer” Tanya says. ”Remember, we now have ties with a mafia. They often take or already have control of many different kinds of businesses. There's a pretty good chance they have race bikes and a small chance that we can acquire them”.
”Right” Vivi says, ”so we're robbing the mafia now?”.
”What!?” Tanya panics, ”No! No no no, we may be able to find an exchange for them”.
”Yeah” Vivi replies, ”I'd rather just rob them... so much more simple”.
”Look...” Tanya says, ”I know these people. They might have a quick job for us, or maybe we can pay them a small amount or whatever. Just don't go in and start harming any of them. We agreed to keep trouble off their back anyways”.
”... Party pooper” Vivi says with an unenthusiastic voice.
The next day arrived and the team arrived at Vega. It was now Christmas Eve, December 24th 2191. The crew went to the bar that was reestablished and used as their FOB (Forward Operations Base) to get in contact with some of the members of Wolf Pack. A few of the Wolf Pack led them to Don, to once again talk face to face.
”Any day that I see you guys” Don says, ”is too soon. What do you want?”.
”A favor for a favor” Tanya suggests.
”Also!” Finn speaks up, ”I've been wondering. Why does everyone call you Don?”.
”It's my name” Don replies.
”I sometimes call him Donny” Tanya adds.
”And if I hear anyone of you guys call me that” Don says, ”and it isn't Tanya, you're dead. Now, about this favor?”.
”Ah” Tanya says, ”Right. We need race bikes for all of them”.
”Race bikes...” Don says, ”for everyone?”.
”Everyone but me” Tanya adds. ”I have my own vehicle”.
”There's nine of you” Don says, ”so you're asking me for eight different race bikes... might I ask why that is?”.
”You can ask” Vivi says, ”but I don't promise an answer... unless maybe you beg”. Don raises one eyebrow after hearing Vivi's boldness. ”I'll be honest” Vivi continues, ”I don't really like most of you. Well, any of you. I don't like any of you, except this one”. Vivi pats Zia on the head and Zia makes an uncomfortable, nervous smile.
”And what can you promise in exchange?” Don asks.
”So you do have the bikes?” Vivi asks. ”How about you give us the bikes, and we do you the favor of not robbing you”.
”With kindness!” Tanya panics. ”Robbing you with kindness”. Tanya leans in close to Vivi and whispers ”stop being so rude”.
”Who the hell says 'robbing you with kindness'?” Finn asks.
Tanya thinks to herself for a minute and then asks ”I don't suppose you're feeling the Christmas spirit?”.