3 Chapter 3: Off To Work

"You sure you don't wanna come with, Pepe? You'll be missing out on all the fun." Benny said with a wide grin as he heartily slapped the smaller latino man on the back. Nearly knocking him over

Pepe Najarro, bartender at the El Coyote Cojo and his neighbor at Megabuilding H1, winced visibly from the slap and half crouched on the spot as he tried to bear with the pain.

"Would you quit it with that?! You trying to break my spine or something? You know those gorilla arms of yours aren't meant to be used lightly like that." He grimaced as he rubbed his aching back.

"And like I told you.. Those days are long behind me. I'm married now. And Cynthia's already a few months pregnant. Can't go around risking my life shooting up gangoons anymore." He grumbled. Shaking his head as he slowly tried to straighten back up.

"I have a family I need to look after now.." He said, more softly. A hint of pride and tenderness in his voice.

"Alright. Guess I'll be seeing you at the bar later tonight then. Say hello to the missus for me." Benny nodded as he made another resounding slap at Pepe's back before heading down the stairs while boisterously laughing to himself. Leaving the poor bartender prone on his knees gasping in pain at his aching back while swearing incessantly in a strained voice.

-

Stepping out of Megabuilding H1, Benny surveyed the streets of Night City while taking in a breath of fresh morning air. Well, as fresh as you could get it in NC. The mixture of scents containing cigarette smoke, car exhaust, piss, vomit, and days old trash assaulted his sensitive nose causing him to scrunch up his face as he resisted the urge to gag.

"Idiot.." He berated himself as he started looking for the group of Valentinos whom he'd be hitching a ride with to the job site. He soon spotted them hanging around the corner of the building with two Mahir Supron FS3s idling by the curb. One of them noticed him and waved him over.

Benny walked up to the group and gave them a small nod before giving the two vehicles a very skeptical look.

"I dunno about this guys. Last time I got into one of these, I ended up having to get out and carry it's rear end halfway to it's destination. These things ain't built for someone my size.. or weight". He said as he inspected the flimsy vehicle that some would describe as something that looked as if someone welded an old tub and dumpster together, then stuck it in a cardboard cutout and taped some wheels on it. 

"Don't worry about it Oso! These babies have been souped-up for today's gig. We spent a lot of eddies to make sure these things can get the job done." A skinny Valentino promised as he slapped the side of the van. A look of confidence on his face.

"Now get in. We're running late as it is. The rest of the crew are already on site waiting for us." He said to which Benny gave a light nod before opening the back and gingerly putting a foot in. 

The vehicle creaked ominously as it sank beneath Benny's weight. The Valentinos watched nervously with bathed breaths as they half expected the wheels to give out. Luckily, it seemed to hold.. for now. They gave a sigh of relief before one of them went to the driver's seat and got in while the rest squeezed themselves into the second van.

They didn't have much of a choice in the matter. No way were they risking getting into the other one with Benny in it. As it is right now, that Mahir Supron FS3 seemed to be barely holding on. It was through sheer dumb luck that it actually managed to take someone like Benny without breaking. And they aren't taking any more chances with it.

The drivers gave each other a nod before the vehicles split off from the curb and drove off in the direction of Arroyo. One of them noticeably trailing far behind the other with it's rear end hanging dangerously low. Almost dragging along the street. A few sparks and a painful scraping sound drawing the attention of multiple passerbys and fellow drivers towards the vehicle in question.

The Valentino driver sweated and prayed to any deity that would listen. Begging in near tears to the powers that be that their vehicle would survive the trip to their destination and that they don't end up attracting the attention of the NCPD.