6th Exploit: Toll

Won't make any excuses for my absence. Lets just say I'll try to make up for it this month. Brief warning, this chapters a bit graphic.

6th Exploit: Toll

Clark wasn't what one could call 'happy' right now. He stood outside of the intimidating Tai Tower and next to an expensive black CX Mosain Plus parked on the sidewalk in front of the front doors of the tower. The beastly car had an orange trim line. It looked to be a model not yet released to the general public, perhaps personally customized by Clark himself. Surrounding Clark were a handful of Tai Corp. employees all waiting for the mans opinions on the pictures and files he was running his eyes through. Clark grits his teeth and aggressively lowers the papers away from his face.

"Well, cornering Veto seems out of the question." Clark lifts the papers up once again, looking at the photo immediately in front before lowering it and eyeing one of the three employees around him. "Did the maniacs pal live?"

"Yes sir. Onex is recovering in the Minohealth center as we speak." Clark half nods as he hands the papers he has to the employee, whom hands him a different set of material. "As for the one who damaged the C-002 model we've deducted that Antonio Dragone most closely fits the image models we compared the facial features to. He was a certified Rio martial arts graduate whom was believed to have been dead after disappearing  some years ago."

"B*****d sure doesn't seem dead now does he?" Clark whips out a note pad and pin, absentmindedly dropping the papers on the pavement as he begins to jot down numbers. Two of the empty handed employees race to gather the paper work under Clarks shadow. " Now, since Onex's friend is dead Ive got a 'present' for him in the form of a bill. Since the dead can't pay we'll have the living pay in its steed. As for Antonio-" Clark rips the paper from the pad and practically shoves it in the face of the only empty handed employee. "-I'll discuss his situation personally. Anyone know where he lives?"

"Well sir-" The TC worker nervously takes the paper from Clarks hand. "-he lived in Inizioville near the north-west border of North Norot, as it said in the paperwork you dropped." Clark flashes a glare at the employee. "Uh-uhm, we're not sure if he still lives there but its the most likely scenario. Before his disappearance he resided under his brother."

"Its worth a look." Clark cringes. "Figures the guy would live in the sticks though."

---

Antonio and Jace had made good time on the wide dirt road so far without rushing their trip. The way was paved but not well kept; weeds were large along and on the road, often ran over by the small bit of passing traffic that comes through. Not too far past where the two have already passed is a large indent in the ground where something fell off a truck, though it is of no interest. To the left of the road the field grass rose to the height of Antonios thighs and some of the weeds could be mistaken for small trees. To the right of them that's all there was; trees. This was a perfect place for a robbery and Antonio knew it. Jace was whistling a tune of his own concoction while Tony kept his eyes sharp without making it obvious to Jace. Antonio suddenly stops Jace with his hand and lets a smile creep onto his face. His eyes fixed on the forest area just a tad  ahead of them.

"Stay close, we're being watched." Jace begins to worriedly look around the area. Tony does his best not to let out a laugh. "Don't bother. These guys aren't gonna show themselves so easily-" As if on que a massive man steps out from the woods a little past thirty feed from where the two were walking. He is accompanied by several other men. Tonys smile widens. "Looks like I stand corrected."

This mountain stands at 12'9, literally twice as tall as Antonio with an extra inch. The second most notable quality about the big guy is his right arm, which is missing up to the bicep. There's a rather crude wrap around the stump that has been dyed red by the rather fresh wound. He is garbed in white tatters of what was once a shirt. His old holed pants barely reach past his knees. He is a heavily tan Caucasian with a balding head and a crooked nose. This is Kingistan Wadely, otherwise known as 'The paytoll. He whistles and seven likewise dressed men emerge from several feet behind Jace and Tony from both sides, four more reveal themselves to be camping near Kingistan had shown himself.

"Alright thens kids, Is reckon yer headin' out for somes trips to th' city arencha?"

Tony raises a brow. "Yeah, we are, what's it to you?"

"Well kiddo, th' trip ain'tsa free one doncha know? Ifs ya wantin' ta move forward then yas gotsta pays the toll. Nothin' in dis worlds free, an' thats includin' your walk. Now though if yas wantin' to just heads back home wit' yer tails between the legs-" Kingistan forces a smile. Its very obvious hes still in pain from whatever happened to him. "-ya stills gotsta pay th' toll, you understand?"

Antonio takes a step forward toward the imposing figure and casually points at Kingistans wrapped stump. "Maybe you should be worrying less about upholding some shoddy 'toll' and get that thing fixed? Or is that some kinda ploy to make you look more threatening? Either way  it makes you look more stupid then scary buddy."

Kingistan angrily grips whats left of his right arm and bites the inside of his cheek. Hatred is worn plainly on his face. "You best be frettin' abouts yerself and that midget nextsta you no?!"

Antonio snickers and nudges Jace with his elbow. "Bet you ten buci Clarice lopped it off." Kingistan slams his foot down on the ground and yells at  the two.

"THIS'N BE FROMS AN ACCIDENT!! I'DS NEVER-" Tony crosses his arms and tilts his head as if he doesn't believe the giant. Jace takes a step back and begins to shake in fear. Kingistans eyes bulge and sweat runs down his head as he tries to conjure up a story. "I'D...!" Antonio smirks arrogantly, satisfied that he had seemingly hit the nail on the head. Kingistan lowers his head and tries to calm himself. "I'ds taken a tree to th' arm whiles I was sleeping. It fell straight on it." Kingistan was lying, and it was obvious to everyone. Kingistan painfully reminiscences his incident.

~~~

A day prior to Antonio and Jaces meeting with Kingistan Clarice had taken the same road south, and she had met with the same behemoth that is Kingistan and his antourage of thugs. He had a much more confident air about him, and he still had his right arm. Kingistan had just finished his usual 'toll' spiel and was grinning like a man possessed. It was clear that Clarice wasn't impressed or intimidated, as a matter of fact she looked past Kingistan and his crew and started walking forward.

"Girly aresya hard o' hearin'? Yous best halt them pretty legs of yers an-"

"Move." Clarice's tone was cold. Kingistans eye twitches as he takes a step forward.

"Girly, yous gonna pay th' toll likes every other person who comes by an's yer gonna do's it now-" Clarice lifts her eyes up to meet Kingistans. She gleams at the giant with a murderous intent. His brow curls in anger. "I don't likes th' way yous be disrespectin' me wit' that look girlie!"

"The folly of your greed will indeed be your death. Step aside." Clarice brushes her fingers onto the hilt of her blade. Kingistan is enraged that he is unable to instill any sense of fear on the woman. "I won't be kind enough to say it a third time."

"Ifs ya won't be payin' in Buci-" Kingistan savagely lunges at Clarice. His right arm extended to grab her. "THEN YOUS BE PAYIN' WIT' YER BODY!!!" Clarice has her sword down upon Kingistans bicep. She sheaths her blade and begins to walk away before his arm can hit the ground. Kingistans eyes immediately jut to the stump where his arm once was and goes white with panic as blood begins to spurt out of the open wound. "AAAAAHHHHH!!!!" Clarice continues to slowly distance herself from the monstrous man as his men rush to his aid. 

~~~

The recollection serves only as fuel for Kingistans anger. He almost seems to hope Antonio resists just so he has an excuse to take out his frustrations on him. Tony smirks and takes a step forward.

"Listen, as far as I'm concerned a bunch of lefties coulda taken your arm out of some sick sense of revenge. All I care about is continuin' on my way, and by the looks of it you really aren't in any condition to be robbing people. Even if you were I wouldn't cough it up to some nobody that isn't even willing to earn money with hard work. I mean hell, with how big you are you could be a star attraction for a travelling circus!"

"WHAT?! YOU-" Tony lifts his right arm up. His palm is open.

"That bein' said I do kinda pity you pal, so here's what I'll do for you. I'll give you a chance to earn my wallets worth with a game of mercy." Kingistan looks shocked. Jace looks at Antonio with surprise. "If you win you get everything. Our buci, our bags, hell even the clothes on our backs! However if you lose you and your pals have to cough up all of your 'paytoll' earnings. Sound fair?"

Kingistan and his men burst out in laughter. Jace looks around as his worry grows. Antonio simply leaves his hand hanging in the air. "Oho! Yous gots yerself a helluva set of balls doncha?!" Kingistan lifts his arm up and grins from ear to ear. "Don't be backin' out now though kid! Is shows no mercy, especially t' small idiots!" Tony grins right back at Kingistan. Jace tugs at Antonios sleeve and begins to yell at him.

"Tony are you nuts?!"

Antonio turns his head to Jace and smirks. "Yeah a little, but this guy's nothin' to me. Hes-" Kingistan grabs Antonios arm as hes distracted with his friend and tries to get a cheap advantage. He forces Tonys arm to the side and bears down upon him. Antonio shows mild annoyance at being interrupted.

"I'S BE WANTIN' TA HEARS THEM LUNGS SING BOY!!!" Antonios eyes shoot at Kingistans. Kingistan flinches as he gets a flash memory of when Clarice glared at him like that.

"Funny. I don't remember anyone saying 'start'." Kingistans wrist starts to straighten against his will. He has no clue how to think. His right limb instinctively moves around, as if hes trying to grab Tony with an arm he doesn't have. "Beginning early like that is just plain rude buddy." Kingistan tries to pull his arm back but Antonio proves to have too strong a grip. "I don't much care for rude pricks."

"Yi yi yi..." Kingistans hand slowly starts to bend back. Kingistan tries for one more thrust but he only succeeds in popping his own knuckles. Antonio presses upward, forcing his elbow joint to start bending the wrong way. The pain is excruciating and far too much for Kingistan to handle any longer. "AH-AHN!! M-mercy-" Antonio thrusts himself up off the ground and squeezes his hand. Kingistans fingers shatter and his elbow crumbles into his bicep as his forearm is forced the wrong way. He has several bones poking out of his forearm. A shrill scream escapes the big mans mouth as he faints from the unbearable pain. Antonio releases his grip from Kingistan and points his open hand at the men standing behind him. They twitch and cower as Tony stares at them.

"I don't show mercy to rude dumb-asses who can't back up their boasts. If 'yous' small timers don't wanna end up like your armless boss then you'll abide by the bet and drop your buci."

---

Antonio gleefully tossed a full small bag up and down, loaded with about 6'000 Buci, while he and Jace continued their path down the dirt road. Jace seems disappointed by Antonios actions but Tony doesn't seem to notice. Guess we made off pretty damn well, eh Jace?"

"I guess..." Jace looks away from Tony and frowns. "...but I don't really like the idea of stooping to that level." Antonio stops tossing the bag and slows his pace down. Hes confused by Jaces statement.

"Stoop to their what? I don't remember stealing anything from those guys." Tony smirks. "Sure I guess I extorted from 'em a bit but come on, when you lose a bet you pay up. Besides they had it comin'. Its karmatic."

"But it was the big guy who made the bet, not the others!"

Antonio plants his free hand in his face and lets out a groan. "They were chained to the big oafs fate the moment they decided they were stupid enough to follow someone that dumb. If they're going to follow a guy like that they can suffer the repercussions of his mistakes. Besides the cash was already stolen goods."

Jace crosses his arms and makes a pouty face. "I still don't like it! The whole situation makes me feel dirty." Jace begins to look a little sad. "Especially since you made me a part of your bet too."

"Jace I-" Jace shakes his head and refuses to look Antonio in the eye. Tony sighs and looks down at the bag of buci. "I apologize for that. I guess I should have considered how you'd feel about it." Jace doesn't respond. "How about this, as a means to amend I'll take a third of this and donate it to a good cause."

"A third?"

"Oh for the love of-" Jace gives Antonio a judgmental look accompanied by a clearly irritated smile. A small shiver runs down Tonys spine. "Fine. Half. Ain't goin' lower then that though 'kay?!"

"Half? I guess that'll do." Antonio lets out a laugh and shakes his head.

"Mr hard-a*s over here makin' me feel all guilty. Jeez." Jace begins to loosen up again. Tony smirks as he looks down at Jace. "Hey bro, you wanna get to the city before sunset?" Jace looks at Antonio confused, thinking it wouldn't be possible on foot and noting the lack of any vehicle. Antonio points to the top of his backpack and smiles. "Hop on up kid."

"Well, I am pretty tired of walking."

---

St. Costas, the closest city to the border of Ferland and the current destination of Antonio and Jace, is a bustling festive place. Even during the mid-day its alive. Various plazas and big corporate chain stores are bustling with activity. The Flormart in particular is overwrought with a slew of vehicles in its parking lot. Across the street from the Flormart is a modest little gas station labeled 8 -13 Square Q. Parked at one of the pumps is Clark Rweise's car. The man he has accompanying him is next to the pump. The gas station is not as busy with activity as most of the other places around it but it has its fair share of in and outers.

As a worn down vehicle parks on the other side of the pump Clark impatiently sets down a pack of Dustlucks caffeine. The cashier smiles excitedly at Clark, who has no plans of returning the favor.

"Goooood afternood! Welcome to the Square Q, I hope you found what you were looking for-"

"Nevermind the pleasentrys I'm in a f****n' hurry, got it?" Clark slams sixty buci on the counter. "I'm headin' out to Inizioville, in other words the middle of f*****g nowhere."

"Yeah? It can't be that bad. The days beautiful and there's not a rain cloud in sight-"

Clark loudly clears his throat out to interrupt the cashier. "AHEM!!" The cashier looks a little displeased. "I said I was in a hurry. Ive got important things regarding my line of work to attend to."

The cashier bags the caffeine. "May I at least ask-"

"No you may the hell not lady. not only is my business confidential, but I wouldn't waste my time talking about it even if it f*****g wasn't." Clark slams his index finger on the buci and glares at the girl. "Now do your damn job and ring me up! Fourty of that is going on pump four got it-"

"Hey little man, I'm from Inizioville. What kind of business would take a big shot like you out there eh?" Clarks eye twitches. He slams his hand on the change as the disgruntled cashier sets it down and grabs his bag.

"Are your hick ears deaf? My business-" Clark turns to face the man questioning him. "-is..." Clark reels back slightly. He angles his head up to look at the shady mans eyes. Pauls eyes. Paul has changed in three years. His eyes are very tired. He has a black muscle shirt on with the words 'Incoming Pain' plastered in white on it. The shirt is torn from the neck to the middle of the sternum. A nasty scar is worn on his right pectoral muscle that escapes underneath the rest of the shirt. He has a black braided leather belt with a skull in the middle. His Blue Jeans hand down to his Jikes steel toed boots. "...confidential."

"Oh, I'm sure it is Mr. business man." Paul takes a step toward Clark, making sure to purposely nudge the toe of his shoe into Clarks own footwear. "I have this weird feeling you're going to tell me anyways."

After a long ten seconds Clark smirks at Paul and waves him off with his free hand. "F**k off big ape. Your breath stinks, and if I have to suffer it any longer you just might end up on the missing persons page of the news." Paul chuckles as Clark taps the TC emblem on his jacket. "We're really good at making numb nuts like you disappear. "

"Ah a Tai Corp flunkie." Paul looks closely at Clarks coat and grins. "By the looks of your attire you're pretty hot s**t, aren't you?"

"You're damned straight I am, and if you don't want to end up getting burned you'll let me pass." Paul snickers and shrugs as he steps aside. Clark sneers at him. "Take a bath."

Clark stomps past Paul, who continues to laugh to himself as he strokes his chin. Paul aims his head toward the north. "So, somethin' going on in Inizio eh?" Paul grins. "Does it have anything to do with you Luke? Or maybe..." Paul laughs at the thought of Antonio actually being alive and well. His laughter turns bitter when he concludes the thought as an impossibility.

---

The evening had rolled in quickly. Antonio was standing in awe at the illuminated lights and a very visible overhanging and well lit sign coming two miles from where he and Jace stood. Jace in the meantime was trying to catch his breath and clutching his chest as if he was about to have a heart attack. He was barely hanging on to Tonys neck. Behind them the dirt road had the imprints of Antonios feet, spaced out far from each other.

"Oh my god!"

"You took the words right outta my mouth buddy!" Antonio stretches his legs and begins to smile." We should be able to reach the city in a few minutes-"

"NO PLEASE GOD I DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!" Tony tits his head back, confused at Jaces reaction. "Please set me down Tony, I need to catch my breath!"

"Sheesh alright." Antonio sets Jace down. Jace almost nearly falls to the ground as soon as his feet hit. "And here I thought you were tired of walking. Its still another two miles you know."

"Yeah 'huff' yeah I know but 'huff' I didn't expect you to run fast enough to 'huff' melt my face off!" Jace lifts his face off and looks comically terrified. "You're scary!"

Antonio smiles and scratches the back of his head. Hes quite flattered to hear Jace call him 'scary', to the point of being embarrassed. "Aw hell..." 

Antonio lets out a laugh and Jace sighs. The two suddenly jolt their heads toward the direction of St. Costas as the roar of an expensive engine can be heard echoing down the road. Tony gets into a defensive position and stands between Jace and the direction of the 'beasts yell'. A slick black car with orange trim roars past the right of two, leaving both Tony and Jace in a state of awe and shock. Despite their upbringing they have seen vehicles before, but none had the looks of this beauty. To Jace and especially Antonio it was very alien, and left them speechless.

Inside of the vehicle that had just past Antonio and Jace Clark had his face dug into the newspaper, oblivious that he had passed the man he had intended to speak with. His driver, the individual who drew the short straw and ended up accompanying Clark, had overlooked the two on the road as well. Clark angrily crumples his newspaper and shouts in a very spoiled tone.

"We f****n' close yet?!"

"Sorry sir, we've still got two hundred and fifty miles to go." Clark looks horrified.

"What?! Do these a******s live on the f*****g BORDER of Ferland!? Why in gods name would my property be out this far anyways?!"

"This is the closest and fastest route toward the would be buyer of your C. Models sir." Clark groans as he digs his face back into the newspaper.

Author's Note

~~~ indicates a flashback
CX Mosain Plus = Think of it as the Lamborghini Veneno.
Jikes = A Shoe and boots brand
Kingistan 'the paytoll' Wadely - 12'9, 700+, 40s