Neurotic Noir: Part 14 -- "Rubik's Cube" (616 hits)
Category: Quotes & StoriesLabels: series
Rating: 1.87 on 6 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by RyuFu (View user info) at 2006-02-07 13:09:06 EST
Part 1 - "Hole in the Head": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75075
Part 2 - "Perceptive Goth": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75152
Part 3 - "Sex and Tattoos": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75460
Part 4 - "Shpatë Dragua": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75602
Part 5 - "A Kiss for Each": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75721
Part 6 - "Cracked Safe/Broken Levee": http://www.ubersite.com/m/75913
Part 7 - "Coming Into Focus": http://www.ubersite.com/m/76074
Part 8 - "Finally 20/20": http://www.ubersite.com/m/76136
Part 9 - "Phase I Revisited": http://www.ubersite.com/m/77936
Part 10 - "Phase II": http://www.ubersite.com/m/78093
Part 11 - "A Grudge Resolved": http://www.ubersite.com/m/78170
Part 12 - "A Truthful Reunion": http://www.ubersite.com/m/78312
Part 13 - "Revelation at the Green Flamingo": http://www.ubersite.com/m/83516
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A lot of shit has gone down in the past couple of days. I came back into town after years of exile, ready to kill the upper echelon of the Black Pantheon, a gang that has used its rising influence to control the city. Controlled anarchy, really. The politicians have long since turned a blind eye to the situation, instead focusing on briefcases full of cash. Having seen the state of "New" Red City the short time I've been back, I honestly think it would take federal support to restore this town. Two problems with that:
1) The government has bigger fish to fry than some medium-sized city.
2) From the outside--where I've been--New Red City looks like a model city. The "official" crime rate is down, jobs are up, etcetera etcetera.
So that leaves it up to me. I have to save this city. It's just a big convoluted mess, though. Vin has had it in for me since the day we met. He always professed his anti-white sentiments to anyone that would listen, but he really poured it on when I was around. Back then it seemed like ignorant trash talk; I really underestimated the evil genius at the center of all his hate. He's like the anti-Hitler.
"JACK!!!"
Whoa, there I go getting caught up in my reverie again.
"Yeah...<ahem>...sorry, guys. Sooo, what, am I like a hero or something?"
"Well," James started, "it's not like your family was anonymous. Your parents contributed to the community, protested unpopular laws...served the best cheeseburgers."
"Can't argue with that. Especially the last one." It's true.
"Jack, when your parents died--when they were murdered--a lot of people mourned. There must have been hundreds of strangers at their funeral."
I wasn't there. Right after he put my folks out of their misery, Vin tossed me a stack of 100-dollar bills and told me to get the fuck out of town. I was so numb after that whole sequence of events, I just did what he said without fighting it.
"James and Jimmy bring up a good point, Jack. I mean, most of the people at the funeral--I was there--never knew them personally. There were so many I didn't even recognize that said they were 'family members.' Everyone there was beyond sad...they looked defeated. It's like your parents were fallen angels or something."
What the fuck is everyone getting at here? "Look, are we gonna get to Vin or what? Fuck! My parents are dead--I know! I was there, I saw it happen. I don't need to hear about the funeral I missed out on. What difference does it make?"
No one's saying anything. Lil's looking at the ground...she's holding back again...
"Lil...why are you guys telling me about a funeral I missed?"
"Because...well, Vin was at the funeral, too. He cried. Jack, he was bawling his fucking eyes out! If he was acting, it was the best fucking Oscar performance I ever saw."
"HOLY FUCKING SHIT! Do I look like I give a shit about Vin at a funeral? I'm two seconds away from storming out of here and finishing my mission--to hell with this fucking city!"
"Jack--listen, please." Jimmy has a serious, non-gay look about him all of a sudden. An hour ago I would have smashed his face in without a second thought. Now I get the feeling he's about to reveal the meaning of life to me. "I heard Vin talk about bringing you back once...something about being co-leader of the Pantheon."
"Fuck him." Seriously, fuck him.
"Just...listen. He said he could spearhead a campaign to make you a senator. 'If only I told Jack the truth,' he said."
"He told you this?"
"Nah, he was on the phone with somebody. I just walked in for a meeting and he hung up quick."
Just when my brain gets unscrambled, I'm presented with a fucking Rubik's cube. I don't understand, Vin kills my folks years ago and now he wants to be butt buddies? I should give up on trying to understand that dude. I mean...well, now that I think about it, he didn't actually kill ME. Why didn't he kill me? Did he want to make me suffer by watching my folks get slaughtered? Maybe, but then he just let me go. What the hell...?
"Fine, so Vin has separation anxiety. What's our next move?"
Silence. I swear to God, I would love to have one conversation without dramatic pauses.
"Well, umm...rumors of your return have been widely speculated. Jimmy and I know personally that Vin has 'feelers' out there looking for you."
"'Feelers'?"
"Yeah, like those two guys you killed in the park. They were part of our division. We told them to be careful around you...we didn't really expect to see them again, though. Anyways, Vin has informed all of his directs to keep you alive if we were to capture you. You've already killed Dave and Ronzell, which leaves Tony and us two. I don't know what you want to do about Tony, but if you let us 'capture' you, you can go straight to Vin."
"Who is this 'Tony' guy?"
"We're not really sure. He was there when Vin killed your parents, though. He probably wasn't as high-ranking then. It's really all we know, he doesn't say much at meetings. So what are you gonna do?"
Like he had to ask.
User Reviews
Submitted by PrevertEnabler (user info) at 2006-03-23 13:47:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I love series like this that keep me entertained at work. This is awesome. Keep going, I'm hooked. Please!! Write more!!
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-03-23 11:44:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
More more more more, please.
Submitted by MyTeeOne (user info) at 2006-02-07 17:16:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Great minds think like me.
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2006-02-07 13:57:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by MyTeeOne (user info) at 2006-02-07 13:38:30 (#)
Ranking: 1
I'm a huge fan of the the series...the instalment lacked a little bit. It was kind of plain. I see where it is necessary plot development, but it might have been more entertaining (to me at least) if this info was revelead on the move under pressure. It needed more tension to give it some pop. Like on the way to go see Vin, or maybe with somone at gun point. Just a thought...
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You know something, I was thinking along those lines as I was writing it. Then I thought the exact same thing as I wrote it over. My biggest gripe with this chapter is that it seems like more of a Part 13B than a Part 14.
Expect more action with the introduction of "Tony."
Submitted by MyTeeOne (user info) at 2006-02-07 13:38:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I'm a huge fan of the the series...the instalment lacked a little bit. It was kind of plain. I see where it is necessary plot development, but it might have been more entertaining (to me at least) if this info was revelead on the move under pressure. It needed more tension to give it some pop. Like on the way to go see Vin, or maybe with somone at gun point. Just a thought...
Submitted by simple_catalyst (user info) at 2006-02-07 13:13:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
this was excellent, one day when i have more time i will return and
rate all that shit.