Saints Row 3 Lovers
Episode 2: Test of Blood, Gut, & Glory
{Angel De LaMuerte}
Insurance Fraud / Tiger Escort / Trail Blazing
...
Glad you called. If you're going to be taking on the Luchadores, you need to be ready.
I'm always ready for a fight!
I'll be the judge of that.
Think I can handle myself!
Come to my gym, and we'll see.
On her way to Bridgeport, the Boss gets out of her car in front of Angel De LaMuerte's gym, and headed inside. Upstairs, Angel was preoccupied and hard focused on taking in jabs, swinging punches onto a punching bag. Isabella observes as she walks, but as she used her elbow to lean on a mannequin, she fell down, hurting herself.
Angel: [looks at her]
Isabella: Ah, ow… Damn… Why do you live in this shit hole?
Angel: To remind myself of what Killbane took from me… It keeps me focused.
Isabella: Eh whatever works for you man, I'm just saying I like my place to have working heat…
Angel: So you hate discomfort. That's the sort of weakness the Luchadores will capitalize on. Unless you harden up, Killbane will crush you! But don't worry, I'll chisel you out of diamond.
Isabella: Uh, how?
Angel: By making you experience the worst pain imaginable. Now come on, it's time for you to play in traffic.
Isabella: Right on- wait what?
Angel gave the Boss a step by step guide on playing in traffic, and basically, flinging yourself onto cars and trucks, but managing to get up quickly enough to fight back. This is called Insurance Fraud, and Isabella has no choice but to suck it up. Might experience broken bones and dislocated joints but… she'll live.
The pain you felt is only the beginning. Are you ready for the next test?
Ready is a scary and interesting word…
I want you to go out and experience the heat a fight with Killbane would bring.
Can we do this metaphorically?
No.
With that, this secondary test was called Trail Blazing. As the name suggests, being in a heated suit driving around in a Toad vehicle. Profusely sweating whilst driving was suffocating enough, but tolerance was the key to successfully overcoming it.
Now, are you ready for the last test?
More pain and more sweat? Sure, what's the worst thing that could happen?
For this last test, all I want you to do is drive.
Drive? What's this about?
Mastering your fear.
Then this should be no problem!
Arriving at the location for the placed car Angel set off, Isabella got in the car. As a text was sent to her anonymously, a couple of unknown guys held a tiger on a leash. The Boss was already alerted and wanted to dash out as quickly as possible, but it was no use, because they immediately place the tiger in the backseat. Telling the Boss to drive off now, while trying to avoid the Stillport Zoo vans. "What the fuck is that madman thinking!?" As soon as she realizes what this was, it was an escort mission, but a tiger version. It should be no problem, right? As long the tiger shouldn't have to…
~XXX~
Ahh, that was relaxing! How do you girls do it?
Um, do what?
This! This 24/7 day in and day out!
Aren't you supposed to be the Boss's girlfriend?
Yeah?
Suddenly, a scream was heard down below the penthouse. Bella and the Saints checked down below to see their leader driving with a tiger, scratching and clawing. Bella was spooked when witnessing it firsthand, and made a break for it, but one of her Saints stopped her.
She's gonna get killed!
The Boss won't die, trust me…
That's a freaking tiger!
And that's not your freaking problem either dude… Look, one of her other Saints are testing her, so let her deal with it…
But…
Now, who wants some ice cream?
After that sequence ended, Isabella immediately went back to the penthouse to have one of her Saints stitch her up. Bella, in the background, was trembling in a shaky expression, not knowing what to do or say. The Boss whipped out her phone quickly and called up Angel.
Angel, where are you?
I see you made it through the final test.
Answer… my question!
At the gym, training.
Don't… move…
As the Saints was done patching up the Boss, she bolted to the elevator. No kiss was received from the Boss, that made Bella feeling more uneasy, and watched her go down.
Girls, I…
I'm sure she's fine… Now come on, let's not worry about her…
~XXX~
Meanwhile, inside of Angel's Crib.
Angel: [elbow the dummy and rolled over]
Isabella: Out of all the things to master my fear, you chose a tiger to be my escort…?
Angel: If you are fighting the Luchadores, you need to be ready for anything.
Isabella: FOR A FUCKING TIGER!?
Angel: Don't lose the message within the method. You mastered your fear.
Isabella: Angel, buddy, what in the fuck is wrong with you?
Angel: You're ready to face Killbane but the Luchadores must still be dealt with. [gets on his knee] You know where to find me if you need more training. [punches the dummy]
Isabella: [scoff and walks away]
"That's the least amount of my fears. I fucking despise cats!"
As the time passes, Isabella made it back to the penthouse and headed to her room. Despite her pent up anger from this whole situation with Angel's descriptive training, the Boss laid in bed, hands behind her head and legs stretched out, looking up at the ceiling, contemplating her thoughts. At the door, Bella knocked twice and went inside. Through her uneasiness after the tiger escort, Bella walk to her girlfriend slowly and sat on the bed next to her.
Bella: Isabella, I… I'm sorry you had to go through that…
Isabella: You weren't supposed to see me like that…
Bella: But still, that doesn't mean you had to go through that kind of stuff… It scares me, and… Um, when you made it back here, I didn't know what to do, other than to watch, you know?
Isabella: …
Bella: How angry are you?
Isabella looked at Bella for a couple of seconds in the awkward silence, before asking, "You wanna come with me to Rosen Oaks?" Bella was… confused… for not having her question being answered, but nodded as the Boss gotten out of bed and headed to the elevator. It seemed highly suspicious for Bella to see that the Boss would go anywhere at the moment, but regardless, she threw out the thought and went down the elevator towards the garage. Isabella turned the ignition of her car (Blade), but before taking off, she stayed put.
Bella: So, where are we going?
Isabella: Picking up a girl from my old town… I've wanted her to join the Saints for a while and I think it's about that time…
Bella: Does it has to do with anything about the angry tiger incident?
Isabella: [long pause] No…
Bella buckled her seatbelt, and rolled the window all the way down as the Boss drove off fast to Rosen Oaks. From there, they arrived at a desolate piss poor example for a neighborhood, heck, there is even a meth house in one of the homes close by. Bella rather stay inside the car than to go up to the house. Isabella walked and knocked on the door, as the door opened, Zoë saw the Boss's face and hugged her tightly.
Zoë: Isabella! Hi! What brings you here? And uh, what happened to your face?
Isabella: [sighs] Zoë, how would you like to become part of the Saints?
Zoë: [surprised] …Wait, are you offering me to be a gang member of your own big…?
Isabella: [smile] Yes or no?
Zoë: Oh, well, I'm flattered! No really, I am, but why do I get the feeling you didn't come all the way out here to offer me this big opportunity?
Isabella: [faded smile] There are some requirements for you that needed to be addressed, and you already know what I'm talking about…
Zoë: [smile] Ok, so stop being such a whore is what you're suggesting? No more of having the best sex and earning money like that?
Isabella: Yeah, that's right… However as you're part of the Saints, maybe sometimes you can think of what you actually want to do before you move up, you get me? Not as a gang member, but like an important business girl or something similar…
Zoë: [hesitated] …
One glance at the car behind the Boss and see a woman with a purple hat in the front seat caught her eye.
Zoë: Who's the girl?
Isabella: She's… [giggle and blush] She's my girlfriend…
Zoë: Aww! Congratulations! Are you still-
Isabella: Yeah, I'm still doing my promise… I'm almost done though… But eventually I'll hop back into it again soon…
Zoë: And does she know about…?
Isabella: She does, and apparently, she's cool with it, somehow… Still, I don't want to sound like a bad guy thinking she's playing for a fool but at the same time, why would she play completely ok with it?
Zoë: Hey, all I gotta say, just simply don't question it then! If she's cool with it, then she's the one for you! And Isabella? About your offer? I would like to join you!
Isabella: [smiling]
Zoë: But I need a good outfit to look good in purple though! Do I have to move out or is that doing too much?
Isabella: Oh yeah I'll definitely move you out of this dump, that's for sure… This can't be your house if you're gonna be in this gang!
Zoë: [hugs her again] Thanks Isabella! Ok, well, you let me know, and I'll swing by for anything! Bye!
She kissed her on the cheek, and hugged the Boss one last time before heading back to the house. Isabella blushed intensely when going back to her car, giggling.
Bella: [smile] You know, it's nice to see you have so many friends who loves you! It makes me feel warm inside!
Isabella: You bound to be jealous at some point, right?
Bella: I'm jealous about certain things Isabella but not when it comes down to you being honest about your life choices, among other things… So no, I'm not jealous at the moment anyway…
Isabella: [blush]
Bella: Got another place in mind?
Isabella: Yeah, it's over in Loren Square, I gotta meet the Genki Girls…
Bella: Did you say Genki!? I love Genki!
Isabella: Ugh... Well, I'm only seeing the girls, but if you still wanna come with me?
Bella: Of course I will!
Isabella: Ok then…
Trying her best not to retort her distant memory being in Stillwater, reminding herself on why the Boss hates Genki, because of his affiliation with her father, Killbane; she puckers up, and drove to Loren Square.
Over in Loren Square, right after you pass the bridge out of Sunset Park, billboards and glowing signs of every idol slash mascot were shown. Bella has seen it once or twice, but in the end, it still amazes her. Her favorite mascot, Professor Genki, she has always been dying to meet him in person, and hopefully he never gets to see her. The Boss arrives at a building around the nearest Image As Designed store, right over by the courthouse, and parked her car next to the biggest library in Loren Square. To be said, there are two locations for Professor Genki's Reality TV Show, and one of them is in Yearwood.
Bella was beaming with excitement, enthusiastic about her first appearance in meeting the one and only mascot; whereas Isabella is only interested in the Genki Girls. Before preparing themselves, they both headed inside the building that showed the big billboard glowing furry mascots, they have entered in a murder killing floor.
Isabella held Bella's hand as they walked away from the disabled room and tries to find the back way. It did not take too long to find the back entrance, considering this building was not as big compared to the exterior upon entry. The Boss felt as if someone's watching… Slowly pulling out her gun, a silhouette of a person with panda ears on its head spoke up. "Are you the Leader of the Saints, Isabella Lycian?" The Boss puts her gun away, but kept it close by in case someone around tries to jump her.
"I am. You are?" The Boss answered the girl in the dark. Finally, she slowly revealed herself to Isabella with a frightened posture. Isabella blushed, but then composed herself to restrain for how cute she is.
Bella: [squeezes Isabella's hand]
Isabella: [looks at Bella and back]
?: I knew you'd come… Come back to us… I'm so… happy…
Isabella: Yeah? Why's that?
Suddenly, two more girls surrounded the two, one was a Caucasian girl with blonde hair with pigtails, wearing pink glasses, and having cat ears, as the other was an African American girl with a black eyepatch on her right eye, orange dyed bob cut with green tiger ears and tail.
Bella: Isabella, there's more…
Isabella: [looks around] …
?: Don't mind my sisters, please… They're very… cautious…
?: No shit we're cautious! Who in their right mind would come here unless it has something to do with our boss?
Isabella: [sigh] So, girls, got any names? At least give me that right?
?: No way! Who the fuck do you think you are-
?: That's Eva, she's very angry and has trust issues…
Eva: You fucking… I do NOT-
?: The one who is not very much interested is Vanessa…
Vanessa: [jerks head]
?: And I'm Molly, nice to finally meet you…
Isabella: All of you girls are cute, but I made a few small changes to the way I operate my crew… Yeah, I'm from the Saints, but trust me, I can take care of you better than your stupid prick of a boss…
Bella: [stumped] …
Vanessa: Got history with the man cat or something?
Isabella: [glum] Something like that…
Molly: [took a step forward] So, um, what are you thinking?
Isabella: How much are you a fan of me?
Molly: Oh! [squeals] I've always been a fan!
Isabella: And your boss?
Molly: A big meanie!
Isabella: Sounds like a real dick to you…
Molly: The biggest!
Eva: He provided us great care!
Molly: He did not!
Eva: He did! He took you in, and helped us live through the tough times!
Vanessa: To be fair sister, he didn't really care about us…
Eva: Which side are you on?
Vanessa: [shrugs] Just saying, we should hear what the Leader of the Saints has to say… Maybe it's a good idea to make a decision from this point on…
Eva: [scoff and folds arms]
Isabella: Now, ladies, it's a big opportunity for you lot, but how would you like… to be adopted by me?
Bella: [gasp]
All: [eyes widen] !
Isabella: [smirk]
Molly from the Genki Girls stepped up first by leaping onto the Boss, and hugging her.
Isabella: That's one yes from her…
Vanessa: I don't care really… Unless I get to have as much free time and not be disturbed, I'll handle with whatever you throw at me… Maybe some linear missions or whatever, just something small, I can figure it out on my own…
Molly: [giggling] Come on Eva! You can get to freaking train and fight! You won't be stopped by Genki! You can actually have, you know, fun!
Eva: [scoff]
Isabella: Two heads are better than one…
Molly: See? She gets it!
It took a while for Eva to join in, all because she would end up alone had she not joined the Saints, therefore the green angry tiger eventually became the member of the Saints, and part of the Lycian's. "Hahah, now, let's go home." Bella felt very uncomfortable, but until next time she gets to talking to her girlfriend, it will be a long discussion about her lifestyle…
To Be Continued…