sakedrinking | [Seventy Seventh Cord]: [Locked to DarkRazor] [Audio/Action]

[Jake holds on tight to Haku, blushing a bit beneath his fur. He can't wait to get going. The feeling of the wind in his fur is always one he enjoys.]

Just make sure to go fast!

Of course!

[and she might just be breaking the speed limit]

[Jake cries out excitedly as they speed down the street, even letting go of Haku for a bit and holding his arms out, enjoying the thrill and danger.]

[Haku just grins. If he's happy now, he's going to be positively euphoric later.]

[Just continues to smile as they ride through the streets of Neon City. It is almost like riding the Cyclotron again. He'd have to get back to work on it someday. But with his shop destroyed, he had no idea when that would be. At least he had Haku to help keep his mind off that. She had been...a good friend. Something he'd never had before. He honestly didn't know what to do with this new friendship. He tries to stay out of her apartment as much as he can during the day and comes back as quietly as he can at night. It doesn't always work though, with Hanako pouncing him screaming; Kitty!]

[Haku certainly hasn't minded his presence, and what she's done is hardly a motion to get him out of her apartment. Quite the opposite in fact. Neon needs a good garage that isn't affiliated with DATS. That's something she realized recently with all the mess with Miria and Reiko, and she trusts Jake to be the one to run it. Especially after what happened.

She pulls to a stop in front a building, a mechanic's garage - one that's recently been remodeled and done quite nicely. Its got all the equipment that some one needs to work, but its distinctly absent of staff.]

[Jake gets off the bike and looks at the garage, a confused look on his face. Why would Haku bring him here? His heart sinks a bit. He hopes this isn't part of some elaborate prank...or worse. He can't help and suddenly suspect the worst.]

H-Haku...why are we here?

[Haku is all smiles, practically bouncing with excitement. She gets off the bike and barely lets him get on his own feet before grabbing his hand and tugging him towards the connected office.]

Come on!

[Jake follows behind Haku, a very unsure look on his face. He gulps as they walk in, his free hand instinctively going to his D-Reader. He won't materialize his Gloveatrix if he doesn't have to...and he really hopes he won't.]

Reiiiiiiko-chaaaan!

[Haku throws the door open, and a voice from in the far back room calls out "Just a second!" The office looks pretty basic - main counter, register, a few computers, cork boards and white boards on the wall...

But there's also something covered by a white sheet on the wall.]

[Jake looks around the office, his heart pounding. He can't understand what is happening...and who is this Reiko-chan?]

[A small Asian girl with short cropped hair in baggy overalls comes out from the back office area, smiling a little sheepishly at Jake.]

Aloha.

Jake, Reiko Hiyama. Reiko-chan, Jake.

[Still grinning, Haku bounces over to where Rei is standing, putting a hand on the sheet.]

There really wasn't anything to rebuild with of your old place, unfortunately. So we kinda had to move the operation to Neon City. I hope that's okay. It's bigger than the old one, though!

[Jake sheepishly waves to Reiko. He recognized the saying from the language used on Anakata Island.]

H-Hi...wait. What?

[Jake turns his attention to Haku. What had she just said? Moved the operation to Neon City...What? This...this couldn't be what he was thinking...could it. This had to be a DATS project of some kind, but what did his place have to do with it?]

Haku...what are you saying?

[Haku just giggles, and pulls down the sheet, revealing a very nice, stylized sign that reads "MegaKat Auto Shop and Scrap Yard".]

Think of this as an early Christmas present. Well, this and Reiko-chan here. She's going to be your new assistant.

[Jake stares at the sign, his eyes running over the words again and again. She...she did this for him? And Reiko was going to help him as a new assistant? He...he was speechless. No one had ever been nice to him nor had he ever thought someone would be THIS nice to him. This...this was too much. He brings his arm to his eyes, trying to stop the tears that were forming. He honestly didn't know what to say.]

W-why are you crying?! Don't cry! Please!

Way to go, lolo. You broke him.

[Jake dries his tears but they keep coming. It's been forever since he cried. He hadn't since he became a SWAT Kat...since Razor was born.]

No one....no one has ever been this nice to me. You...you have no idea how much this means to me Haku. Thank you...thank you so much.

[Jake moves forward and hugs the android tightly.]

[Haku lets out a quiet little grunt, but hugs him back with a smile.]

You've been nothing but helpful to me, Jake. I just wanted to return your kindness.

[Jake stiffens a bit...he is anything but kind in all reality. But...he can't let Haku know that. She'll take all of this back and he can't lost his shop again. He releases her from his grasp and puts a hand behind his head, smiling.]

I'm just doing what I think is right. Still, thank you very much Haku. You're the only real friend I've ever had.

Well, now you've got me AND Reiko!

[she shoves Rei forward]

Be careful, though! She's taken by a strapping young man from England! Real Indiana Jones, that one!

... who now?

... ahh... also, Reiko-chan is from 1920's Earth, soooo some jokes might go over her head a bit.

While we're at it why don't we just give him my whole life story, Haku?

... you're from Japan?

Hawaii. And my Japanese is terrible. And I was JOKING. Iya, lolo robot...

Android.

What. Ever.

Feisty one, isn't she!

[Jake nods and looks Reiko up and down. She's cute, but not his type. He raises an eyebrow at the 1920's part. If she's from that far back, how good could she be with mechanics?]

How much knowledge you got when it comes to mechanics, Reiko?

If its got a motor and wheels, I can figure it out. If it helps, I've been working on cars since I was twelve with my Uncle Iokoa, and I'm twenty one now.

You may think that motor technology has changed since my time, but really its the same thing, made more reliable by newer materials, better parts, and a little rearranging. Depending on make and model, naturally.

... oh, and if I can't figure it out, I'll find a way. I'm nothing if not stubborn.

I like that attitude. Alright. I think we'll get along great. You're obviously smarter than my last partner.

And I can teach you a few thing about vehicles. I'll also be opening a gadget business soon enough, so I'll teach you how to make those too. Welcome to MegaKat Auto Shop and Scrap Yard.

I'm so glad this all worked out!

Me too. We'll open up for business tomorrow, that is if you can start right away Reiko.

Please, I could start now if you want! I ditched my crappy job already!

She was really eager to leave it, too... eheh...

If by eager you mean I gave my boss the middle finger on the way out.

[Jake throws back his head and laughs. He is really going to like her, he can tell.]

Let's get used to the shop first. Today will be our training day. Tomorrow, we open our doors. This is going to be badass. You can also help me with some side projects I have in mind. I think you'll enjoy working on them with me.

Sounds like a plan to me!

[and Haku is just beaming, all parental-proud like.]

Alright then.

Hey Haku, does this place have a basement?

Yup. [starts listing things off] Basement, four-port garage, front office, back office, scrap shed in the back. Basically everything you could ever need!

[Jake did notice one thing missing from that list.]

No living quarters?

Sorry... the only vacated space that could have been used and had living quarters was really small... and would have taken another month to renovate.

I know its weird for you, but... the Hyperion isn't a bad place, Jake.

[Jake nods and ends up smiling.]

Yeah, it isn't. I guess I'm just going to have to talk to Lorne. I don't think I can live on your couch forever.

I can vouch for you!

I'd like that. I can even start paying rent right off the bat. I think...I'm going to like it here.

[The nice thing about that sentence was he actually believed it. Maybe his life was turning around finally. Maybe this was his second chance.]

I think you are, too.

Now come on, I got some champagne stashed in the back to celebrate!

Sweet! Let's drink!

[Alcohol sounds great to Jake at the moment. Might as well get a little buzzed to celebrate his new life.]

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