Tacopalypse Now
Kim rolled her eyes and grabbed Ron by the arm. "Come on Ron, we have to meet Ken."
As they made their way through the terminal Ron asked, "So do we have a ride lined up already?"
Kim stopped, she had assumed that Mr. Rosenberg would have a ride for them; but as the old saying goes when you assume you make an ass of u and me. She pulled her Kimmunicator out and beeped Wade. When he answered she asked, "Wade, we have a ride set up right?"
"There should be a red limousine waiting for you out front."
"Thanks Wade, out." Switching off the link. "See Ron, the ride issue is a non-issue." Kim said as she continued to lead him through the terminal.
Ron paused in front of a magazine stand, "Wait up a sec KP."
"What is it now Ron?" She stopped and turned back to find him digging through a rack of those 'free' apartment guides.
"This Tommy Vercetti, he seems like a real tough customer, right?" Ron asked as he studied the covers of various pamphlets.
"Well he certainly isn't a nice person." Kim said, adding. "He kinda reminds me of Jack Hench, in a way."
"Me too, so why would he call you," He corrected himself. "I mean, call us…to help him? From what Wade said, he should've been able to handle this on his own. Don't you think?"
Kim was surprised, she hadn't thought that Ron was paying attention to Wade's briefing into Mr. Vercetti's background. He had, after all, spent most of the flight from Middleton just staring out the window.
"Hmm. I hadn't really thought of it like that Ron." Kim said to him, glad that Ron was finally starting to contribute more to their missions than just distractions. He had blossomed, if that was the right word for it. Maybe it could be better said that he had grown, matured…they both had. He was more in touch with, aware of, himself, his surroundings. "What do you think we should do?"
Ron turned from the stand, a few pamphlets in hand, considered his options for a moment, and spoke. "Maybe we should do a little checking of our own. Find out what the word on the street is, get the down low on him before we meet him." Adding as he rubbed his stomach. "And maybe get something to eat too…I'm starved."
At the mere mention of eating, Rufus, who had been napping in Ron's pocket the entire time, perked up. "Mmm-huh, starved." He chattered, before losing his grip on the edge of Ron's pocket, falling back into it with a soft thud.
"I'm sort of hungry myself." Kim noted, asking. "Do you think they have Bueno Nacho down here?"
"They'd better." Ron stated as he took the Kimmunicator and beeped Wade back. "Wade, I need you to do a search for Bueno Nacho. Are there any in Vice City?" He asked before adding, "Or the surrounding metro area?"
Wade and Kim both rolled their eyes, Ron certainly had a soft spot for Bueno Nacho, and unfortunately it was located between his ears. "Sorry Ron, but the Bueno Nacho Corp has a non-compete agreement with a local company."
"No Naco?" Rufus asked, popping his head back out of Ron's pocket.
"Sorry buddy." Ron said sadly.
Kim took the Kimmunicator out of Ron's limp hand. "Wade, what's the name of this local company?"
"Tacopalypse." Ron's eyes lit up, and glazed over, that name sounded dangerously hot. "There's one located on the north end of the island you're on."
Kim noticed a small drop of drool leaking out of the corner of Ron's mouth. "Don't unspool the drool Ron."
Ron used the cuff of his shirt to wipe his mouth, "Sorry KP."
"Wade can you get us a taxi or something?" Kim asked.
"What's wrong with the limo Kim? If you don't mind me asking."
"We want to scout around a bit before we meet Mr. Rosenberg."
"Oh, okay. Let me check." Ron had his eyes closed silently praying that it could be an or something because he wanted to drive. "Well I can get you a Kaufman Cabs taxi, although they're owned by Mr. Vercetti; or I can arrange a rental car for you, as long as you don't ask how you're going to pay for it."
"I won't!" Ron nearly shouted.
Kim rubbed her eyes with her fingers, "Fine, I won't ask either."
Wade took a few seconds to hack into the rental agency computer, asking Kim and Ron a few questions. Color, midsize or compact, how many days, etc etc. "Is a Manana okay?" Wade asked.
Ron was visibly displeased, "It's gotta be a chick magnet Wade. No grandma cars."
"There isn't a lot of choice of cars Ron…Wait a sec, got one." Wade finished up his hacking, a devilish smile on his face. "Ok then, how's this grab you? I got you lined up for a week with a 2004, Blue, two door…"
Ron was chanting, "Chick magnet, chick magnet."
"….Infernus." Wade finished.
"Boo-yah!!!" Ron shouted, pumping a fist into the air as he leapt about like a wild man.
Kim momentarily ignored Ron's ranting and asked Wade, "Could you contact Mr. Rosenberg and let him know we'll be stopping at his office after lunch? And don't tell him where we're going, okay?"
"No problem Kim…" Wade said, before pointing his hand in the direction of Ron. "You might want to…do something about him."
"Thanks." She turned to Ron, "Ron!" And back to Wade before shutting down her link with him, "You continue to rock Wade."
Meanwhile, Ron and Rufus had begun to do some sort of a pelvic thrust inspired dance, both of them chanting. "Infernus…Vice City…Hot mama…Uh!"
"Ron, amp down!" Kim asserted firmly, giving looks to passersby to ensure them that Ron wasn't a threat to their safety. She grabbed his arms and managed to get him under control. "Ron." She said sternly. His eyes met hers and in that brief instant he knew…he was acting like a jackass.
"Sorry KP." He said, diverting his eyes from hers.
"Ron, it's ok, really. Just remember," She ducked her head around to look him in the eye. "We're on a mission down here. Act professionally. Ok?" Kim smiled a reassuringly friendly smile, squeezing his arms gently before releasing them.
"Act professional, I can do that, not a problem. Professional." He calmed himself, scooped up Rufus, and fell into step behind Kim as they began to walk toward the car rental counter.
There was no paperwork for them to fill out; Wade had taken care of all of it online. Kim's signature was all that was needed. The agent handed Kim the keys and told her she could find the car in, "Row B, space 7."
"Thanks." She said, lifting Ron's small travel bag over her shoulder, while he horsed her two large duffels onto his. "Now let's get this Infernus and go get lunch. I'll dri…"
"I'm driving!" Ron interrupted her, snatching the keys out of her hand as he ran for the parking lot. Kim shook her head, so much for his acting like a professional.
"I'll ride shotgun then…I guess." Kim wasn't as into cars as Ron, so she had no idea exactly what an Infernus was, but it sounded fast. 'Fast and Ron don't go good together,' she thought as she stepped out into the parking lot.
When she saw the car parked in Row B, Space 7, her heart jumped to her throat. An Infernus was, well it was, god it looked like it was going 100mph just sitting there. Ron had already made himself comfortable in the driver's seat and was busy going through the stations on the radio. He finally settled on one, Wave 103. He cranked up the volume to a just under ear-shattering level as a song began to play.
If it seems a little time is needed
Decisions to be made
The good advice of friends unheeded
The best of plans mislaid
Kim made the sign of the cross before she stepped around to the passenger side and got in. Ron looked over to her, motioned for her to buckle up, and smiled.
Just looking for a new direction
In an old familiar way
The forming of a new connection
To study or to play
He revved the engine to near redline speed as Kim fumbled with her safety harness. Once he saw she was safely strapped in, he dropped the car into gear and let off the clutch…A tad too fast. He had to goose the clutch and press harder on the gas to keep from stalling out. An ever thickening cloud of whitish-black smoke trailed along behind the car. The tires squawking in protest as they grabbed at, and then released their grip on, the asphalt paving.
And so the conversation turned
Until the sun went down
And many fantasies were learned
On that day
The car swerved in and out of traffic as Ron deftly maneuvered to avoid several pedestrians and a police officer who were, for some unknown reason, standing in the middle of the road. Kim was visibly shaken by their ever increasing rate of speed; they were now going nearly 90, in a school zone. Ron reached his right hand across the center console and took Kim's trembling left hand in his. She had always felt a certain warmth, a certain safety in his touch; she relaxed, knowing that things would be ok. "Don't worry…I'm an excellent driver."
AN: Sorry about the short chapter, and the eternity between updates. Hopefully the storyline I have come up with will satisfy the urges and desires that you're all feeling. The next chapter, I hope, shouldn't take 2 months to write. 'Tacopalypse Now' is a variation on the title 'Apocalypse Now' a great, great film. Oh yeah there were a few references (quotes, whatever) to and from the Kim Possible TV show, and to GTA: VC, neither of which I own…duh.
Lyrics are from. The Human League: Fascination
"I'm an excellent driver." quote from the Rain Man movie, it's ok too.
Sorry about the short chapter, and the eternity between updates. Hopefully the storyline I have come up with will satisfy the urges and desires that you're all feeling. The next chapter, I hope, shouldn't take 2 months to write. 'Tacopalypse Now' is a variation on the title 'Apocalypse Now' a great, great film. Oh yeah there were a few references (quotes, whatever) to and from the Kim Possible TV show, and to GTA: VC, neither of which I own…duh.