Safehouse #6 (private registered property of The List)
Oxnard, California, USA
Morning
The next morning, an unsuspecting set of warehouses..
..stage what looks to be an in-depth searching of a certain red Ford GT's identity, as a Dutch smuggler, Malaysian taxi driver slash mechanic and Fred come together to work out the car's origin story.
Although..
Carlyle: "Yup, this be the real deal alright. That be a real Ford Racing modified D35 in the backside. Hmm, I's recognize all them parts. But I can't help but.."
Ramlie: "Double checked. I got no VIN. So strange one.. I check all the places, no dice."
Carlyle: "That's shady. Shady stuff. What you's got, Freddy?"
Inspecting VIN from a tablet device, the oversized trucker reveals..
Fred: "Strange case of a car that got no numbered registration outta Brand Central, gehehaha! Ain't sure what to say."
Ramlie: "I'm rather surprised the big boss not got his own car like this lah."
Fred: "Course not! His money's not in my line of business."
Interrupting now is the entrance opening and closing, and the men find their boss walking in.
Fred: "Speak of the devil."
Jake Ross: "Working on it before I got here?"
Carlyle: "Howdy, big guy. It's gotten me's in an intrigued position, this one."
Jake Ross: "What? Never smuggled or sold a car at this value?"
Carlyle: "Shoot, course I does! I's handled an estimated 2 million credits Chaparral that one time! Just that.. that car does have VIN and insurance and stuff.. things this here GT don't have."
Ramlie: "And you see: we go through every part, it's all OEM."
Fred: "Plus we swept the car clean. Ain't nothing shady here like us in a street racer's hideout."
Jake Ross: "Which'll put a hamper if I want to own it."
More and more confused as they keep going, the action movie star tried to throw about a conclusion, stating..
Carlyle: "I's say it's a kit car, but.. it don't feel like one."
Jake Ross: "The drive's genuine, Lyle. No doubt about it."
Carlyle: "No arguments there, eh? Can't fake this much carbon fibre. But I's been meaning to ask.. your other GT wasn't new, right?"
With a thought gathered from his closest partner that's not Rin, he began to explain, in a pace that's prepared..
Jake Ross: "No. When I got it, it was 2 years used, even before Auto Plus was a thing. But everything in that car's in order. I racked thousands of miles. I can confidently pass every police obstacle with it, forced or not. Because it is mine. The documents and the VIN.. they say it will always be mine."
Carlyle: "Cool. Cool. I fancy a look meself. Maybe take a peek at the CarsenTech contraption its got."
Jake Ross: "You are most welcome to, my mane haired Dutchman."
Excited by the chance, the chubby lion man exits the scene, leaving Jacob to his two other underlings..
Ramlie: "I'm not even sure how you get that CarsenTech lah, boss guy. Nor will he even get one hint on how it works."
Jake Ross: "So long it don't ruin my driving or privacy, I don't mind it that much."
Fred: "Byeah, but I too won't mind one of them's in Pete. It'll boost interest in my truck that's fer sure, gehahaha!"
Jake Ross: "You know how that tale went, right? 3 days on sale, then they went dark."
Fred: "That's suspect, and you know it. It ain't fair!"
Ramlie: "Alaa, don't fret, tok gajah. Technology's moved on."
Fred: "Yeahh.. also, I'm a bear, not an elephant."
Ramlie: "Right.. (slip of the tongue, and he even has to remind me..)"
Back outside, making sounds to mistake him to be having a lusty moment, Carlyle keeps massaging his face towards the well kept original GT.
However..
A pair of V8 cruisers come by and park, with the women shortly exiting, interrupting his original intent.
Before he has a chance to begin flirting, the Siberian Monarch greeted..
Lena: "Dobroye utro, Leonid."
Carlyle: "Ahh.. lovely morning, Queenie. You're looking.. sexy like always."
Properly leading to a kiss on her hands, Leo now looks at the ladies besides, realizing..
Carlyle: "Ahh, umm.. You's know the rule the boss got on bringing guests to these here safehouses, right? Even though it's a pair of familiar cutie pies.."
Lena: "I have got personal request from nachalnik to bring them here."
Carlyle: "That so? I's be asking for proof, but well.. guess I better say you ladies enjoy."
And now towards the little racer, she then inquires..
Candy: "What you up to with the dark one's ride, Lyle?"
Carlyle: "Just a quick look see, doll. You heard of the CarsenTech caper? No? Then I suggest you scram."
Inside the safe house, the Asian women inspect around the place, being their first time.
Noticing appropriate places to hang about and stow cars away, they make their observations loud and clear..
Rin: "Whoaa... this is what I call spit and polish!"
Candy: "That better not be literal, big sis."
Lena: "Of course not. With exception of balagur, everyone can keep to themselves."
Noticing however the legend of Week 63, Candy added..
Candy: "So, this place is secure enough that Night Moves seems to be living here?"
Lena: "Da. Surprised to hear Leonid still have positive net profit even though here is reminder of his business's risk."
Rin: "I can only turn a blind eye for sooo long, you know."
And the only person standing by: the man that connects these women, is found standing straight and stoic by the car he wants, but can't get..
Candy: "Look at him. he's really fixated on that Ford GT, big sis. And those eyes.. I hope you don't mind me saying he's liable to be cheating on you, big sis."
Rin: "(Again?! Cheating? THAT word??) Urr, emm.. don't push it, little sis."
Lena: "And now I leave you to it. I need rest."
Lena then leaves, as the rest come together.
Jacob, with an ounce of guilt, turned and expresses it..
Jake Ross: "Ahh, glad to see you're both here. Real sorry about last night, Jess."
Confused, little sis steps on and replies..
Candy: "Sorry? Rin-san? Hello? I'm the one doubting this man's character the whole time I know him, but you argued he was the perfect role model last night, what of.."
Rin: "When we're not apart, to me.. a night alone is hard. Real hard. It's one of our promises after the Great Split."
Eyes in shock, she notes in a completely unprepared tone..
Candy: "Ghastly.. she speaks of such an event so openly.."
Jake Ross: "Expecting something out of her to be this unpredictable, but honest, is one reason why I love her. But now.."
They then turn back to the GT, and the big boss then spoke grimly..
Jake Ross: "I like, but fate is against me: unless I figure out how the Prophecy can collect supercars like no tommorow, we're not keeping the car."
Candy: "Not surprised."
Rin: "We can't find a legal loophole to exploit this time. And I know Clark-san isn't going to be open about this."
Jake Ross: "But it don't mean we're not going to have some fun with it. Candy knows who's at Grand Valley waiting for us."
She nodded, replying on..
Candy: "Yup. Plus a certain Vietcong mercenary."
Jake Ross: "He's not welcome here unlike yourself. So I told him that. But I'll let it slip.. that's going to change eventually."
Rin: "Right. But I'm sure little sis isn't here to be your guest or anything."
Jake Ross: "We're racing there in a couple days. She has reason."
Shocked, she let her opinion fly on the matter..
Rin: "[gasps] and to think my manufacturer knows to not let me in it. So sad."
Jake Ross: "It indeed is a sad sad situation, Jess."
But the teasing little sister..
Candy: "I'll send you a postcard."
Rin: "Hey, I live here now!"
In the man's head, it's not all bad, as he reveals..
Jake Ross: "The thing is we're going to deal with Sonny.. the favorite to win. Being around him's a pain in the ass, wait till you see him in that Balance-Of-Performance improved Viper."
And the teasing big sister..
Rin: "Oooohh.. I'll send you a white flag."
Candy: "Eh, you! The tabloids ARE saying I'm his equal, big sis!"
Remembering this claim, the guiding light adds of a certain fact..
Rin: "I heard.. you're now being called by fans as the Wolfpack, was it?"
Jake Ross: "Yup."
Candy then shared her thoughts, crossing her arms..
Candy: "Being named after some rebellious wrestling stable is one thing. Much as I know I'm a wolf, those two.."
Jake Ross: "Are dogs that can kill: members of The List. Something I've been trying to wrestle you about.."
Rin: "You got her now!"
With her superstition of getting free pass into the List's safehouse answered, she rebutted..
Candy: "I appreciate it, but I really have to keep telling you I'm done with street racing."
Jake Ross: "But it's what built you. It's what got you into this mess. And I deal with wild animals.. enough so that I know this bul[BLEEP] from them a mile away."
Stepping forwards with Rin on his side, he continued, with that unmistakable serious vibe about..
Jake Ross: "This is between us and her. It's her pa that's got you wrangled in this decision."
Candy wasn't so sweet about it as she talks back..
Candy: "Oh, feisty. You choked that out of someone?"
Jake Ross: "That man who's only known as being rude in his name, yes. But choke? That's your weak spot."
With that crap coming out, she wasn't going to let it fly as she argues..
Candy: "I didn't hear that. Actually, let me word it better: I refuse to hear that coming from you."
Jake Ross: "If not her ears, then.. how about a hands-on experience?"
He would make a sharp whistle, and as if she was ordered, the agent of chaos would..
Rin: "HI-YAAA!"
..reach out and grip her little sis by the throat, somehow stunning the latter.
Candy: "Erkk.."
Rin: "TELL ME I'M NOT SOFT!"
Jake Ross: "Just as I suspected. Completely immobile. I don't need mix #4 to keep her pacified."
Planning to leave, he turns, then orders..
Jake Ross: "So, once you're done knocking her out, you better tell her we're off to Grand Valley for some practice."
Rin: "Message received, Jake!"
And he begins to leave, hearing the sound of a Hong Kongese little racer losing her breath.
While he's merciless enough to let this be, a sense of unease came as Rin enters his mind on this process..
Jake Ross: "Good God, she's really into this.. bullying her little sister thing.."
Now on the phone, alone in the safehouse, the man behind the Outlaw talked..
Jake Ross: "That guy.. Brand was it? He won't be bothering your operation no more. I made sure.."
....
Jake Ross: "Yup. Couple years in the slammer ought to teach him and his posse a thing. Kidnapping women and kids for a ransom.. we both know it ain't okay."
....
Jake Ross: "I appreciate that. Money's tight for me these days. My career's not quite perfect as many ought to believe."
....
Jake Ross: "...actually, there was. An unknown organization's personally come to say hello... nah, he's dead."
....
Jake Ross: "Not this time. My hands.. they're clean for now. Suicide pill, I guess. He's got a nice car. Ford GT."
....
Jake Ross: "Nah, not like mine. The new one. Carbon Edition. And oddly one that's got no VIN."
....
Jake Ross: "Personally, I'd keep it, but it's too risky. People start asking the wrong questions, and it's over before you know it."
....
Jake Ross: "I know a guy.. says Ford GTs are quite rare on the used car market. Nobody's willing to let them go, or.. you know. Got no choice but to scrap it."
....
Jake Ross: "Guess it just means the time ain't right."
....
Jake Ross: "Mmmhmm.. but enough of that. I've matters to attend to. You folk stay safe, alright?"
As he discards his phone back to his jacket pocket, he breathes out an opinion with a conflicting tone..
Jake Ross: "The time ain't right.. don't sound right."
As he thought to leave, he however sniffs the air..
A hint of jasmine like no other he knows, meaning, even without looking..
Jake Ross: "Candy."
Hiding behind the violet Miura, Candy comes out now that she's been found, suggesting..
Candy: "Uhh.. forgive me for prying, but.."
Jake Ross: "Prying? I wasn't going to suspect a thing considering you ain't able to do anything about my business."
Insulted, she turns up the grump as she follows..
Candy: "How intimidating. But after this much time you f[BLEEP]ing around with my psyche, I don't scare so easy."
Jake Ross: "Yeah? Honest or not, I don't give a crap. I know you're about to ask, so I'll just say it."
Candy: "Do I give off that curious aura that easy?"
The spooky man replied, unsure if it's right to say..
Jake Ross: "Honestly, don't know. But you see.. I'm a man with connections to quite a few local underworld organizations in California. Consider it more side work."
Candy: "Like wrestling?"
Jake Ross: "Yes.. yes, how did you even??"
Stammered the man in confusion, but Candy, not wanting to go through this, decided..
Candy: "You know.. 'him'. Umm.. so, more side work?"
Jake Ross: "Yeah.. maintaining a simple decent life in the most expensive side of America is quite the contrary."
Candy: "You don't say. You and big sis.. you don't live so modestly."
Straightening his jacket, he replies softly..
Jake Ross: "I take care of more than just my humble abode, y'know? These safehouses. Specificially the ones around California.. should the government ask, we say they're usually under me. This one here.. if I'm not mistaken is the sixth?"
Candy: "Sixth? Do tell.."
Jake Ross: "Join the club, and I shall."
Candy: "Annoying. You're obviously very keen on getting me trapped with you bunch, huh?"
Not wanting to use intimidation this time, Jacob explained..
Jake Ross: "Trapped? How do I put this.. look at Adachi. He and his best friend have been taken shelter by us folk and he don't regret it one bit. He's been open with us since.. you did it."
Candy: "In Eiger. Yeah.. but I'm not that naive, dark one. Then again.. you never quite know what the future holds."
Jake Ross: "That'll come, won't it?"
Candy: "Yes.. that's a very half-hearted 'yes'."
As the welcome of the safehouse begins to wane, Jacob suggests..
Jake Ross: "I suppose we better be off so I can lock up."
Candy: "Oh, emm, my car's still at your place. Take me there?"
Jake Ross: "Alright. How is it you're still here, and not with Jess, anyways?"
Candy: "Out of air leading to out of body experience.. that kind of thing I hear The Cinderella gets through quite often.."
Jake Ross: "I don't let people knock you out like that without repercussion.. so, if you want, just say the word.."
Candy: "No thanks.. I'll let her have it. But next time? I'll consider it."
Jake Ross: "Your funeral, my little Asian flower."