FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Hey Sarven, are you sure about this? If I take the trailer off the truck someone else could take it" I ask as I look at Sarven.

"Oh just do it. No one is going to steal this big of a trailer. Besides, we have the license plate number. If someone does steal it we can report it to the police and we will have the trailer back in no time." Sarven replies confidently.

"You are really excited about this aren't you?" I ask Sarven as I sift through my keys to find the key to the lock keeping the trailer attached to the hitch. I unlock the trailer and lower the post that keeps the end of the trailer off the ground. I detach the trailer and unhook the wires and brake lines. I walk up to the driver door and unlock the truck. As Sarven climbs into the truck I pull a tarp and rope out of the bed of the truck and tie the tarp down over everything that is in the bed of the truck. The truck starts rocking and I look at Sarven to see him bouncing up and down in the cab. I open the door and climb into the truck and shut the door. "You are REALLY excited about this, aren't you?" I ask with a grin on my face.

"What makes you think that?" Sarven asks sarcastically.

"The fact that a forty year old dragon is acting like a puppy going to the dog park. That's what makes me think that. By the way, I think its cute the way your acting right now." I reply happily as I fight the truck to get it started. The engine roars to life and it occurs to me just how bad an idea it was to park so far back in the parking lot.

"Oh quit it you! Now come on lets go! Lets go lets go lets go lets go lets go!!!" Sarven exclaims.

"Hahaha alright were going. What's got you so giddy about this outing anyway?" I ask as I start to laugh softly. I put the truck in gear and head towards the exit as an employee comes running into the garage with a fire extinguisher. I stop by him and roll the window down. "Hey, sorry about that. It completely slipped my mind this monster does that when I start it up. I will park it closer to the entrance when I come back so it doesn't cause so much trouble next time" I say before rolling the window up and pulling forward. A few minutes later I am out of the garage and am fighting the weather for control of the truck. I pull out of the hotel parking lot and head down the road following Sarven's directions.

"Here! Its right here! Where are you going its back there!" Sarven exclaims as he points out the window. I turn around and go back to the building Sarven was pointing at.

"what's so special about this place? It looks like an old run down diner." I say as I pull into the parking lot.

"It's what's on the inside that counts Drosmine" Sarven says with a grin. Sarven has the door open and is halfway out of the truck by the time I kill the engine. I get out of the truck and lock the doors before following Sarven inside. I open the door and immediately drop to the floor to avoid the chair flying at me. I scramble to my feet and see Sarven fighting with another dragon in the middle of the diner. I stay out of the way to avoid being hurt, and after a few minutes both dragons stand. I can't help but grin as I look at the two battered and bleeding dragons.

"Old friend of yours Sarven?" I ask. Both dragons look at me, the silver dragon with a look of bewilderment.

"Old friend? OLD FRIEND? Are you kidding me Drosmine!?! I used to get in all kinds of trouble with Vealdan! We were inseparable until I was sent to the military!" Sarven exclaims. Then turning to Vealdan he asks "So how are you?"

"Oh, a little trouble here and there, but I'm doing fine." Vealdan replies.

"That's good to hear" Sarven replies happily.

"What's that smell?" Vealdan asks as he sniffs the air. I feel my cheeks burn as they turn red.

"Oh don't worry about it. You open yet?" Sarven asks impatiently.

"For an old friend like you, this place is open at any time. Just tell me what you want and I'll have it ready in no time" Vealdan replies happily.

"You already know what I want. As for Drosmine anything with meat and he'll be happy" Sarven replies. Vealdan turns to go to the kitchen. As he goes I can see a multitude of battle scars on his shoulders and arms, there is a large tear in the membrane of his right wing, he walks with a limp, there is an odd bend near the end of his tail, and he has a black stripe running down his back making his metallic spines stand out even more. As Vealdan walks through the door to the kitchen Sarven picks a table up and pulls a chair up for me.

"I take it the two of you have been in several battles together. He has more scars than you do!" I say as I poke Sarven in the arm.

"Don't mention it to him if you don't want to stay here for a few hours to hear the story behind his scars" Sarven warns me.

"Hey, I couldn't help but notice Vealdan has an injury to his wing much like yours... and in the same place. Did that happen at the same time?" I ask.

"It was caused by the same damned blade! The little bastard that did it got both of us in the same day. We didn't even do anything to him! He just jumped out of an alley and attacked us. He got me first then jumped on my back and from there he attacked Vealdan. I wonder why he hasn't done anything about it yet." Sarven replies casually. A few minutes later Vealdan comes out of the kitchen with a basket of fries and several pounds of fried chicken.

"This one is yours, and I will have your meal ready in a minute" Vealdan says as he hands me the food. Vealdan turns around and walks back into the kitchen. I wait until I am sure he is out of ear shot before speaking.

"What happened to his jaw? He is missing three teeth and it looks like something tried to cut his eye out" I ask.

"Some teenage punk with a pipe bomb did that. Blew three teeth clean out, broke six others, and burned the hell out of his face. And that scar above his left eye is from a piece of shrapnel from the pipe." Sarven replies calmly.

"Dayum the two of you did get in all sorts of trouble! It's a miracle that the two of you are still alive!" I exclaim as Vealdan come back out of the kitchen carrying a huge bloody steak.

"Damn right, we did! We couldn't go anywhere without someone recognizing us and trying to run us out of town. Those were good times. Right up until that punk with a pipe bomb tried to kill me. After that it was all downhill, then Sarven got sent off to the military and I was left with nothing and no one. Then, last night I get a call at three in the morning and I find out you two are in town!" Vealdan says as he passes the steak to Sarven. Vealdan sits down with us and looks at me expectantly. "Go on, try it. You won't find anything like it anywhere else on the planet!" Vealdan tells me. I realize I haven't touched my food yet. I pick up a piece of chicken and bite into it expecting it to be like any other fried chicken, but I was wrong.

"Wow! That's amazing! This is easily the best chicken I've ever had, or ever will have. How do you do it?" I say after finishing the piece of chicken.

"I cook everything in an iron skillet over an open flame that only I can produce" Vealdan says with a sly grin.

"I see. So, if the food is this good, why isn't there more business?" I ask not realizing that I just struck a nerve.

"This isn't as nice a part of town as it looks. Actually, you two are the only ones that showed up at all in the past month. Im not sure if this place will even be open in two weeks" Vealdan replies grimly.

"Ouch... but if you don't have any business how do you pay the bills?" I ask before catching Sarven's look. Crap crap crap crap crap crap! I should NOT have asked that. I think to myself.

You think!?! You just struck one hell of a nerve there! Sarven practically screams telepathically.

Well then let me fix it. He is your best friend isn't he? If he is in as much trouble as you imply that he won't be able to refuse your help. I reply.

Where are you going with this Drosmine? Because if your suggesting what I think you are...

Don't worry, I got this shit

"well, honestly I can't pay the bills. And im so deep in debt that I don't think I will ever get out of it" Vealdan tells me hanging his head in shame.

"How bad is it?" I ask tentatively.

"Three hundred thousand" Vealdan replies. I get up and stand next to Vealdan. I place my hand on his shoulders.

"Oh come on now, it's not that bad." I say soothingly.

"That's easy for you to say. Your not the one in debt. You don't have a mate and hatchlings to provide for and no way to do so." Vealdan replies tensely.

"Maybe not, but I am the guy with over eight million dollars to my name."I say as I punch Vealdan in the arm playfully. "Well, at this point it is probably closer to seven and a half, but it is still a lot of money. I would be more than happy to help you out. Actually, forget that. Im gonna take care of your debts, AND I'm goanna get your family a place to live in a much nicer environment, and much closer to Sarven and myself" I say happily.

"Wha... You... you mean it? You really mean it? You would help me when you don't even know me?" Vealdan asks, the confusion apparent on his face.

"Any friend of Sarven's is a friend of mine. And the two of you being such close friends is far more than enough incentive for me to help you out. Im already under heavy investigation by the IRS for my financial situation as it is, what's another half a million dollars going to do?" I say cheerfully.

"You have no idea how much this means to me! How can I ever repay you?" Vealdan asks as he gives me the dragon equivalent to a hug.

"How about you open another diner next door to the computer shop Sarven and I run? That would be a win win situation. You would have a stable and steady income, and the computer shop would get more business." I reply as I wrap my arms around Vealdan's neck.

Drosmine, not that im saying you shouldn't do this, but whatever happened to not spending too much? Including what you just said you would do for Vealdan, you have spent over a million dollars in the past few days. Sarven tells me.

Hey, you told me to be more open with my money, so I am. Besides, this is a damn good cause and it will make everyone involved happier in the long run. Yes, even me despite the loss of over five hundred thousand dollars. It is worth it! Besides, you said you wanted to do something fun for breakfast. I find it very entertaining to surprise you, and what better reason than to help your best friend? I reply.

Just don't commit yourself to something you can't afford. Don't get me wrong, I am overjoyed that you would be so generous as to help him like this, but I warn you to be cautious with your spending. Sarven tells me, unable to keep the emotion out of his words.

Sarven don't worry. I've got plenty of money and even more in assets. I can pay off his debts and move his entire family into a new home far closer to ours and still have enough to retire by the end of the month if I want to. Besides, I doubt he will be able to blow through seven million dollars any time soon. Come on, what's the worst that can happen? I ask calmly.

"But that wouldn't come close to repaying what you would lose by helping me. What makes you want to help me out of this mess?" Vealdan asks as a tear rolls down his cheek.

"It does me good to bring joy to others. I can't think of any better reason to help you than the fact that everyone involved benefits in some way. You will have a home in a safer place to raise your hatchlings. You will have a steady source of income to provide for your family. You are going to be closer to Sarven which will make both of you happier. And I get to enjoy the heartwarming feeling I get when I help others." I reply happily. I didn't know all dragons could cry... I hope what I'm about to do next doesn't set him off.

"You are really doing this just to help me?" Vealdan asks. I simply nod in response. "You have to be the most generous human I've ever known" Vealdan tells me.

"Hey, do you have a smooth blade knife, needle, heavy thread, and some alcohol?" I ask.

"Uhh, I think so. Why?" Vealdan replies.

"You'll see. Trust me, you won't be disappointed." I reply with a sly grin. Vealdan releases me to go look in the kitchen for the things I asked for.

"Drosmine what the hell are you going to do with that stuff?" Sarven asks in a hushed panicked voice.

"Simple. I'm goanna stitch his wing back together! What else would I do with it?" I reply quietly. A little while later Vealdan comes back out with the things I asked for.

"So, what are you planning to do with this stuff?" Vealdan asks cautiously as he sets the stuff down on the table.

"I'm goanna fix your wing for you. What else would I do with it?" I ask.

"Do you think you can actually do this without making the tear even bigger? And why do you need a knife if your stitching my wing back together?" Vealdan asks as I pick the knife up and clean the blade with the alcohol.

"The tissue needs to be recently exposed for this to work. I won't do this if you don't want me to, but I'm not sure anyone else can do this right. The choice is yours Vealdan." I reply calmly as I inspect the edge of the knife. Satisfied, I put down the knife and pick up the needle to clean it.

"I'm a dragon, I'm meant to fly and be free. I can't quite do that with my wing in the shape that it is. If you really think you can fix this please do" Vealdan replies eagerly.

"I'm warning you now, this will hurt. Your goanna have to lay your wing flat on a table for me to get this right." I say as I dab alcohol on my hands and the surface of a nearby table that is still standing. Vealdan walks over and lies down on the floor, placing his injured wing on the table. I pick up the knife and place the point of the blade at the interior most point of the tear. "Are you ready for this?" I ask before proceeding. Vealdan nods and I push the tip of the blade into the membrane. Vealdan jumps as the blade pierces the tissue. I wait a minute before continuing to shear a sliver of tissue off of the edge of the tear. I give Vealdan a few minutes to breathe before repeating the process on the other side of the tear. I can hear Vealdan grinding his teeth in pain as I work. "You alright Vealdan?"

"Just hurry up" Vealdan replies sharply. I take the knife and sever the long thin strips of tissue from the membrane and place the surface of the two lesions together before grabbing the needle and thread. I begin stitching the membrane back together. A few minutes later I tie off the last stitch and clean the lesions with the alcohol.

"There you go, almost good as new. Wait a couple weeks before trying to put weight on it or the stitching might tear, and if it does that it won't be easy to get you back into the skies" I say after cleaning the stitching. I quickly get out of the way as Vealdan jumps to his feet and flex his wings. Vealdan inspects the stitching in his wing and eventually licks it. "So, what do you think?" I ask as I watch Vealdan inspect his wing.

"I think you sir are a miracle worker. It hurts, but it feels good. I definitely hope to be back in the skies soon" Vealdan replies eagerly.

"Hey, do you have anything important going on in the next week?" I ask Vealdan.

"Not really. Why do you ask?" Vealdan replies cautiously.

"How would you like to come with us on a trip into the wilderness of Alaska for a week?" I ask.

"I would love to, but who is going to provide for my family while I'm gone?" Vealdan replies.

"That's easy. Your mate will be able to take care of your hatchlings for a few days won't she?" I ask.

"She could if we could get food for the hatchlings without me here. But unless I'm here we can't get anything." Vealdan replies.

"Just take me to the vendor that supplies your family and I will take care of the rest. It is your outstanding debt that causes the problems isn't it?" I ask Vealdan.

"Yes, it is my outstanding debt that makes it hard to acquire sustenance for my family." Vealdan tells me.

"Well then what are we waiting for? Let's go talk to this vendor and get things straightened out!" I say as I start walking toward the door. I stop dead in my tracks and turn around walking back to the table to pick up my wallet before heading back to the door. "You coming Sarven?" I call out as I am walking out the door. Sarven grabs me by the shoulder as Vealdan walks out the door. Without saying a word Sarven gives me a hug. Sarven lets go of me and bounds out the door chasing after Vealdan acting like a child. I laugh softly as I watch the two dragons play around and then burst out laughing as both dragons attempt to squeeze into the truck at the same time. I reach for my phone to get a picture before remembering what happened to it. DAMN! I wish I hadn't told Sarven to do that. This would have made a great picture! I sigh as I walk to the truck. I open the driver door and climb in. "Alright, Vealdan you need to hold back for a minute. Sarven get your scaly butt in here already!" I say as I grab Sarven by the shoulders and pull to help him get in. "Now, Sarven you help Vealdan get in" I say as I sit down and shut the driver door. A few moments later, with a great heave Vealdan is in the truck and the door shut. The truck is still rocking back and forth as I fight to get the engine running. The engine roars to life and black smoke starts spewing from the smoke stacks in the bed.

"It's a little cramped back here" Vealdan comments after the engine spins down to idle speed.

"Yeah, I know it is. I never thought I would be carrying two dragons in one truck. So, where do I go to get to the vendor you purchase from?" I ask as I back out of the parking lot. As the truck is coming to a stop the brake pedal drops to the floor and the truck starts rolling backwards. I throw the transmission into first gear and punch the gas to catch the truck before it gains too much backward momentum. "Crap. And where is the nearest auto shop?" I ask.

"I think there is a mechanic a couple blocks down the street from where we are going. Why?" Vealdan says.

"I think something in the brakes just let loose. So where are we going?" I reply.

"Take a right at the next street and keep driving for a few miles." Vealdan says. "Oh, and What are brakes?"

"Brakes are what stop moving vehicles. They work by applying pressure to a disk or a drum to create friction and slow the forward speed of a vehicle. How they work is there are two, or in this case three pedals. The middle one here is the brake pedal. When I press down on this pedal, brake fluid is pumped into a high pressure system to make the brake pads close on the drum or disk. But if there is a leak anywhere in the system all of the pressure goes into pushing fluid out of the leak instead of into the brakes. I think one of the brake lines just exploded. So now the brakes don't work." I explain.

"So you mean to tell me that we can't stop?" Vealdan asks.

"No, there is an emergency backup break that works differently. The emergency brake works by applying pressure to the disks or drums through a different set of brake pads that are engaged by a steel cable instead of high pressure fluid. The problem is, emergency brakes are not nearly as easy to use. They have a tendency to over grip the rotors if you pull too hard on the cable, and then you have an issue of burning the tires and sliding at the same time" I explain.

"Oh. So how are we not moving right now if the brakes aren't working?"

"The truck is at an uphill angle right now. I am using the power of the engine and careful clutch pressure to keep just enough power on the tires to keep the truck from rolling down hill. When the light turns green I will let the clutch engage fully and then the truck will start moving forward when I push the gas pedal." I continue to explain. As I finish talking the light turns green and I let up on the clutch and push down on the gas and the truck starts moving forward. As I turn the right side of the truck bounces as the back tires clip the curb.

"What was that?" Vealdan asks.

"I took that turn too tight and ran over the curb. Notice how the truck continues to rock for a few seconds after I did that?" I reply.

"Yeah. Why does it do that?"

"That is because of the suspension. There are electromagnet equipped hydraulic pistons underneath the truck that give the truck a much smoother ride." I continue to explain.

I should have warned you about this. Vealdan tends to ask a lot of questions when he is nervous. And the fact that he has never been inside an automobile doesn't help much.

What are you talking about? I rather enjoy answering his questions.

You weren't listening very well, were you? Just be sure you can handle what your getting yourself into here.

Relax Sarven, I got this.

"It doesn't seem to be such a smooth ride if you ask me" Vealdan comments.

"Oh, if you want a rough ride I can lock the suspension" I offer.

"Sure, why not?" Vealdan and Sarven both reply.

"Alright, be careful not to bite your tongue off" I warn. I pull into a parking lot and apply the parking break before pulling a netbook out of the glove box. I turn the computer on and pull the cable out of the glove box and plug it into the netbook. Then, I open a program I wrote that interacts with the truck and engage the electromagnetic locks on the suspension system. I enter the execute command and a few seconds later there is a whine as a generator attached to the serpentine belt kicks in and then a status light blinks on the dashboard warning me that the suspension is locked. A ten second timer shows up on the stereo and starts counting down. Once the timer hits zero the front of the truck lifts up a bit as the suspension is locked at full extension, and then the back of the truck does the same. "Alright, this is goanna be a bumpy ride, so hold on and try not to hit your head on anything" I say as I close the netbook and set it in the dash mount. I pull out of the parking lot after letting the parking brake go. The truck bounces around and jumps with every crack, bump, and pothole in the road. I only get two blocks down the road before Sarven says something.

"Drosmine pull over! One of the gas cans is about to go over!" Sarven says urgently.

"Well, I think you get the point Vealdan. Now where the hell is a parking lot? Oh, never mind there's one." I ramble on as I pull into yet another parking lot. I open the netbook again and go back to the suspension control system. I disengage the electromagnetic lock system, and instead engage a preemptive electromagnetic ride control program. I execute the command and open Itunes and start playing a dubstep playlist. A few seconds later as the computer in the truck processes and enacts the command the parking brake is locked into place and red warning lights inside the wheel wells start flashing as the truck slowly lowers as the suspension drops to exactly half extension. "There, now the ride should be much smoother than before" I reply as the music starts playing and the parking brake is automatically disengaged. I pull back onto the road and begin worrying. Shit! Why did I do that!?! I don't know if the magnetic suspension preemption programming is ready for testing! Never the less use on public roads when the brakes don't work! I think to myself as I accelerate down the street. As I go through an intersection the tires on the right side of the truck all run over the same large pothole in the middle of the intersection. Wait a minute... Didn't I just run that pothole over?

Wow Drosmine. Im impressed! A fully functional preemption program for the electromagnetic suspension! This must have taken you months to write and perfect the coding for this! Sarven exclaims telepathically.

Actually, I have no clue why the hell I started this program. I haven't even tested it once! I don't know if it is going to freak out and break something or if it is going to work perfectly. I reply

Really? Not once before have you tested this? Now I am REALLY impressed. It works perfectly on the first try! You should try your hand at writing program code for an operating system unique to the machines sold at the shop! Sarven replies encouragingly.

Now that's an idea! I will have to try that when we get home. Thanks for the idea. I reply.

"Alright, take a left at this intersection" Vealdan says as I quickly approach an intersection. I yank the steering wheel to the left, turn on the turn signal, and slam the emergency brake to the floor. I am rewarded with an immediate screeching of the tires as the truck slides sideways into the intersection. I let the emergency brakes go and put the truck back into gear and punch the gas to change the direction the truck is moving. The back tires start screaming and throwing white smoke as black smoke spews from the exhaust stacks in the bed of the truck. As the truck starts to pull away from the intersection I hear people start cheering.

"Vealdan, just how often does something exciting happen in this part of town?" I ask.

"Well, with the show you just put on going through that intersection... once every few years or so. Why?" Vealdan replies.

"Well that's just great. Either this will turn out in my favor and nothing happens or I am going to get a ticket for reckless driving" I say glumly. As I look in the mirror the playlist in itunes changes and The pride starts playing. "Wow, even the netbook is trying to talk to me through my music. Sarven do you think im going insane?" I ask.

"Maybe just a little. No sane person would have tried to make it through that intersection without brakes." Sarven replies.

"Take a right up here" Vealdan says with little warning again. I crank the steering wheel to the right and slam the emergency brakes yet again and slide into the parking lot tires screeching and smoking the entire way. I end up perfectly parked in a parking spot, so I kill the engine and everyone piles out of the truck.

"Alright, lets go take care of some debts!" I say as I walk into the store. As we walk into the buther shop the man behind the counter grabs a meat cleaver and starts waving it at Vealdan and starts screaming.

"You filthy little beggar! I told you not to come in here during business hours if you don't got any money! NOW GET OUT!" The man screams, his face turning red. I reach out and grab the meat cleaver by the back of the blade to get the butchers attention.

"HEY! You watch your next words or they will be your last!" I snap vehemently. The butcher looks me in the eye and lets go of the cleaver which I promptly drop on the counter. "Quite the operation you have going here. Im sure the health inspector will have a field day on this place." I say threateningly. The butcher looks at me, defeat showing on his face. "But I am not here to shut this place down. I am here to pay whatever outstanding debts my friend here may have" I say gesturing at Vealdan.

"So, you finally got someone to pity you enough to waste their hard earned money of a scum bag like. ACK!" I cut the butcher off by grabbing him by the collar and yanking him up close to me and holding the meat cleaver up to his throat.

"One more word" I spit out as I slowly press the blade into his throat. "I will make it look like a bloody accident. And we don't want that now do we? Now just shut your damn mouth and tell me how much my friend owes, or we are gonna have a messy scene here soon" I say, spiting the words like acid. The butcher throws his hands in the air, the fear showing in his eyes. "You just do you job and keep your mouth shut and we won't have any problems. Keep talking to my kin like that and it will be the last thing you ever say. Understand?" I say threateningly.

"Hey I don't want any trouble man! I'll do whatever you want, just put the knife down!" the butcher replies in a panic. I put a little more pressure on the blade for good measure before letting go of the butcher's shirt.

"How much does my friend here owe you?" I ask as I pull out my checkbook.

"Your dragon friend owes me just under twenty three thousand dollars." The butcher replies glaring angrily at Vealdan.

"Well then here's twenty four. Forget his debt and feed his family well. I am coming back through town in a week. If I hear that you have been giving them trouble we are gonna have a serious problem. Got it?" I say sternly as I write the check and hand it over.

"I don't accept checks" the butcher replies angrily.

"What about debit?" I ask as I put my check book away and pull out my wallet.

"Read the sign buddy. Cash or credit only." the butcher replies gruffly.

"Credit it is. Now hurry up, I ain't got all damn day!" I snap angrily as I pull out a credit card and hand it over. A few minutes later the butcher hands the card back to me. I grab the written check on the counter and stuff it into my pocket.

"Alright, his debts are forgotten. Happy now?" the butcher asks angrily.

"No, I'm not. I don't like your attitude. You treat his family like you would treat your best customers. Then I will be happy" I reply firmly as I pull my knife from my pocket and open it pretending to inspect the blade. The butcher backs off a bit when he catches sight of the wicked blade in my hands.

"Hey man, just put the knife away. I'll do it! Don't worry, I will treat them like I treat my own family" the butcher relies quickly. Satisfied with the results, I close the knife and put it back in my pocket.

"A pleasure doing business with you" I say as I walk out the door, both dragons following closely behind me. As soon as the door shuts Sarven starts talking.

"Was all of that really necessary? All you had to do was give the man some money and things would have gone smoothly" Sarven chides.

"Yes, it was necessary. You saw the way he was yelling at Vealdan! I've dealt with people like that all my life. They think that because you owe them a few bucks and they have a weapon they can walk all over you. The only way to get results from people like that is to smack em around a bit when you pay them back, otherwise they will continue to walk all over you!" I reply.

"But did you need to threaten his life?" Vealdan asks miserably.

"I couldn't just let him treat you like dirt! You're a dragon! You should not have to take that shit from anyone! Besides, he picked up the knife first. I just reacted to his threat with one of my own. In the end it is worth it Vealdan. He is scared shitless right now, and he will be all week because of your family. If your mate isn't satisfied with the service he provides there will be serious repercussions. Or so he thinks. So he is going to treat your mate right all week and provide your family with food. What's to worry about?" I reply nonchalantly as I open the driver door and climb into the truck. A few minutes later with both dragons in the truck I prepare the truck to start on the first try. I look at the butcher in the shop before turning the key. I turn the key and the engine roars to life on the first try, arcid black smoke spewing from the stacks in the bed. I let the emergency brakes go and put the truck in gear and pop the clutch. The tires scream as the truck hurtles out of the parking lot.

"So where did you say the auto shop was?" I ask as I drive down the road.

"It is right around the corner" Vealdan replies.

"Right here?" I ask as I pull into the parking lot Vealdan pointed out. "Vealdan this looks more like a chop shop" I say as the door to the shop opens. Shit I really don't want to have go from dealing with punks like that butcher to criminals like these. DAMN! It's too late. I think to myself as someone walks out of the door of the shop with a shiny hand gun tucked in his belt. Oh great. Armed criminals. Just fucking great. How am I goanna get out of this one? I park the truck and open the door and stand half in the cab and half behind the door with my left arm resting on the door and my right arm on the roof of the truck.

"You look lost. Why don't you come over here and I'll help you find your way" the gangster offers.

"Yo! I need some brake lines. Think you can hook me up?" I ask.

"It's goanna cost you" The gangster says threateningly.

"I'm sure we can work something out. Which bay do I park in?" I reply calmly.

"Just leave it there and I will take care of it" the gangster retorts as he steps closer.

"Not happening. I am the only one to work on this truck. If you're not going to help me out I will find another chop shop that will." I reply. Without another word I climb back into the truck, close the door, release the emergency brake, and back out of the parking lot. As I pull back onto the road the gangster pulls out his handgun and waves it threateningly at me as I drive away. "Hahaha he is pissed. Dumbass should get a real job." I comment as I pull up to an intersection. I notice an electronics store down the street and decide to stop by to pick up a new phone. I turn right and clip the curb again.

Drosmine, I think this program of yours for the suspension is working really well. You just ran over another curb and I didn't even feel it. It takes some serious software to pull off something like that. Sarven tells me.

Really? I ran the curb over again? I didn't even notice. I reply.

Yeah, you ran right over it. You ought to retrofit the other vehicles with this system. You could make a lot of money if you went public with this system. Sarven tells me.

You have a point there. I should do that. But right now, I need to pick up a new phone. Can you and Vealdan make sure those gangsters don't show up and take off in the truck while I am inside?

Sure thing.

Awesome. I pull into the parking lot of the electronics shop. As I park the truck and kill the engine I notice the sign in the window. Awesome! My service carrier is listed! This is goanna be the easiest thing I've done all day. I climb out of the truck and walk into the store. I look at the selection of smart phones, and find a new Iphone. I grab a couple different models of Iphone and a different smart phone. I take all five phones to the counter and purchase the phones, and a new sim card to fit my new phone. I put the spare phones in a plastic bag along with the box from my phone. I walk out of the store and find the truck rocking back and forth. What on earth are they doing in there? I walk to the truck and open the door and climb into the truck. I shut the door and plug my phone into the charger and turn it on.

"Do I smell blood?" I ask sniffing the air.

"Uhh, no?" Vealdan replies.

"Don't worry about making a mess out of the truck, just try not to kill each other" I say as I shake my head. I start the truck and plug the phone into the netbook to activate it. A few minutes later the phone is connected to the data network and I am looking up an auto shop in town. I find a shop on the other side of town and head to the auto shop. I pull into the parking lot and three people turn to look at the truck as I park it. I kill the engine and climb out and walk into the store. A few minutes later I walk out of the store with six feet of brake line, two bottles of brake fluid, a drip pan, and an assortment of tools. As I walk up to the truck I notice the three people walking towards me. Before I have the chance to do anything one of them calls out.

"Hey! You're the one that drifted through that intersection earlier aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am the one that did that. Why?" I reply as I quickly size up the three young men as potential threats. They don't look to be more than twenty! What could they want with me? I continue walking to the truck. The three young adults meet me at the truck.

"DUDE! That crap was awesome!" one of the men exclaims.

"Can you do it again? Like, right here?" the next one asks.

"Dude can we get a picture with the truck in the back ground?" the third one asks.

"Hahaha just wait a minute guys. I have to fix the brake lines before I do anything else" I reply as I open the door and retrieve the netbook. I start the truck and engage the suspension lock. About twenty seconds later the truck is standing at full height. I sift through the programs in the netbook and execute a program that controls the fuel consumption of the engine. A full minute later the engine is running idle speed on four of the ten cylanders. I continue to sift through the programs and find the one I am looking for. I execute a program that locks both axles into place and disengages the clutch with a pneumatic piston. Satisfied that the truck won't be moving anywhere I crawl under the truck with my supplies and begin my work. I first bend the new brake line to match the old one.

"What's wrong with the truck?" one of the teens asks.

"One of the brake lines split. I'm replacing it." I reply as I place the drip pan underneath the line and then remove the line from the truck. I connect the new line to the feed lines and tell Sarven to push the brake pedal. After bleeding the system I tighten the bleeder nut and climb out from underneath the truck. I open the driver door and pop the hood. I grab the bottles of brake fluid and open the hood. I find the first reservoir for the brake fluid and fill it to the proper level. I then locate the backup reservoir and empty the entire second bottle into the empty container. I replace the cap on both reservoirs and close the hood of the truck. "That should do it. Sarven push the brake pedal again. Does it feel any different?"

"Yeah, there is resistance to the pedal now." Sarven replies.

"So does that mean the truck is fixed?" one of the teens asks.

"Yes, that means its fixed." I reply as I pull the drip pan and broken line out from underneath the truck.

"Will you do a burnout?" asks the youngest looking man.

"Sure, just let me take care of this first." I reply as I take the drip pan back into the store along with the broken line. I drop the stuff off at a waste disposal counter and pay the fee for proper disposal of the materials. I walk back outside and retrieve all of the tools from underneath the truck and throw them in the bed of the truck. "So you guys want to see a burnout?" I ask with a grin as I turn to face the young adults. All three cheer in response. I climb into the truck and grab the netbook. I kill the several programs holding the truck in place and change the fuel consumption program to one that will feed excess fuel to give more power. I lower the magnetic suspension and back up. While the truck is still moving backward I throw the transmission into first, crank the steering wheel to the right, and punch the gas. I pop the clutch and the tires immediately start to scream and the parking lot quickly fills with white smoke and the smell of burning rubber as I do donuts with my truck. I straighten the wheel and peel out of the parking lot and head down the street. As I go I look in the rear view mirror to see all three men have their phones out and recording the display.

"You know that is going to end up on youtube, right?" Sarven asks with a grin on his face.

"That was the plan. I slapped a bumper sticker for the computer shop on the tailgate before I did that" I reply cheerfully.

"I see. So you're advertising for the shop by placing excessive strain on the drive train of your truck. Where is the logic in this?" Sarven asks rhetorically.

"There is none. I was just having fun and advertising for the shop at the same time" I reply happily.

"Hey, the wind is dying down, we should get back to the hotel." Sarven replies.

"Your right, but look at the skies. We are not going to be able to get out of here tonight. There is going to be something even worse tonight." I reply as I push the gas pedal a little further. Half an hour later we are pulling into the parking garage at the hotel, and I make sure to choose a spot out of the wind but close enough to the exit that the smoke cloud the engine makes upon startup won't be an issue. I kill the engine and we all climb out of the truck. I lock the truck behind me as we go. A few minutes later we are back in my room.

"Oh, so that's what that smell was earlier" Vealdan comments as he sniffs the air again. I can feel my cheeks burn as they start to turn red. "Sarven you didn't tell me this wonderful young man was your mate." Vealdan continues. My face must be redder than the stripes on my truck because Vealdan looks me in the eye before continuing. "There is no need to be embarrassed. I understand now why you wish to help me. I am even more grateful to you now. Sarven, you are lucky to have such a wonderful man as your mate. You keep him close and take care of him or you could lose him" Vealdan says.

"Oh you don't need to worry about that Vealdan. Drosmine and I are going to be together for a very long time." Sarven replies. Not wanting to stay and listen to the conversation I speak up.

"Well, you two have a lot of catching up to do. So I am going to go bug Berrwain for a while. Sarven if you need me just give me a call" I say as I walk out the door.