Saints Row 3 Lovers
Episode 17: The Three Count Casino
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Now that the competition is no longer in the fight, I'm free to take on Killbane.
You? Don't get it twisted buddy, I'm taking on Killbane…
You wouldn't understand living with the shame I have.
Then be happy when you see him fall down at MurderBrawl! Besides, I already have enough trauma from this prick, so this is my way of earning payback!
Unless I redeem myself against him, it'll never go away.
So you want to step into the ring yourself? Are you even ready for a fight like that?
I've been practicing for years. I *know* I'm ready!
Well, good luck, I guess…
I still need your help to prepare.
What do you mean?
Come to the 3 Count Casino and I'll show you.
The Boss was a bit disappointed when her Saint, Angel, decided that he wants to be the one to take on Killbane in the upcoming wrestling match. After the mission ended in using the RC gun to control four vehicular manslaughter across Stillport, there is not an ounce of hope for anyone to take a stand up against Killbane via no contestants for those who are equally matched. While it created a gateway for the Boss surely, it still was a drawback that Angel volunteered to fight first, thus making Isabella having to wait… and knowing her, she was not the one for patience.
This time, Isabella was not at the Penthouse to leave and drive to the 3 Count Casino; rather, it was her 2nd Penthouse over in Rosen Oaks. Not only the construction was already done but the decoration made a decent amount of time to set up; luckily however the Boss was there to help make a change, telling the crewmen where to place furniture, what places should they go, and obviously, you cannot forget about having one or two stripper poles.
Albeit it went on for quite some time, roughly two in a half hours before leaving the house to finally finishing up, and go see Angel. Hopping on her motorcycle (Kaneda), Isabella went on ahead to call Kinzie. As of late, before the mission with standing toe to toe with Killbane, there were several activities that were left in Kinzie's territorial town district, including the stock market… and one black market which had to go elsewhere.
Kinzie: Oh… Um, hi…
Isabella: What's wrong?
Kinzie: Nothing… [pauses and whispers] I ordered pancakes!
Isabella: That a euphemism or something?
Kinzie: [normal voice] Well since we pretty much drove the Deckers out of Stillport, I thought I'd try to be, you know, normal…
Isabella: Heh, you mean like going more than five blocks from your warehouse?
Kinzie: Let's not get crazy…
Isabella: You should try it sometime!
Kinzie: I have… It's overrated…
Isabella: Well, just wanted to check in…
Kinzie: Ok! Call me if you need me…
Hanging it up with a satisfying grin, only several more things to do until she is free from this chaos of the Syndicate: The Luchadores alongside Killbane.
Arriving at the 3 Count Casino, there were a lot of Luchadores in the building, therefore this would be the perfect setup for an onslaught upon them. Angel waiting on the side from the inside for the Boss to show up, and as promised, he got and leaned off the side door to tell her the plan.
Isabella: Why are we here?
Angel: Losing his mask is the ultimate shame a Luchador can feel. I can't steal it back. I need to earn it.
Isabella: All right how do we do that?
Angel: [grin] We hurt a lot of people.
Innocent people were gambling away all their financial assets in a building of an obnoxious overgrown man with a huge massive ego, and the Boss cannot put up with it. Again, it was the perfect opportunity for a setup, plus there were Luchadores in here no less? She's going to have a glorious time with the way things are going on.
Isabella: Ok so what are we doing here?
Angel: We tear this place apart until someone who knows where my mask is shows up!
Isabella: And who would that be?
Angel: This is close enough.
Isabella: Works for me!
From what he referred to as tearing the place up, Angel and the Boss began destroying every slot machine alongside dealing with Luchadores to get off their backs. Taking a huge chunk of damaging the source material of slot machines, whilst the Boss trying her best not to hurt the people, and saving them from a hostage situation with the Luchadores, a man in a business suit with freakishly spiky hair started to run around.
"There he is! There's the man who runs this place!" Shouted Angel in an aggressive voice. "Oh excuse me sir, may I speak to you for a second?" And that was Isabella in a happy-go-lucky cheery voice as a way of mocking the poor fellow.
Isabella: [grabs the manager]
Manager: What are you doing in my casino?
Angel: Where is Killbane keeping my mask!?
Manager: Ok, ok! Jesus it's gotta be in the vault, behind the teller cages!
Isabella: [let him go] …Why didn't you get your mask back sooner?
Angel: He broke my spirit, I didn't think I was worthy enough to get it back.
Isabella: What made you feel worthy again?
Angel: Meeting The Saints.
As prompted, both of them went by the office, heading towards the back of the vault, whereas there were loads and loads of boxes on top of cargo boxes. It took a long time sorting things out, fortunately there aren't any Luchadores stopping them from coming in. How nice of them! The washed up wrestler known as Angel has finally found what he was looking for, and started to speak in a slow, buildup voice, for redemption.
Angel: Here it is…
Isabella: This isn't some cheap knockoff right? You sure this is the right one?
Angel: I know every curve, every color, every mark on this mask.
Isabella: All right put it on and let's get the fuck out of here!
Angel: Angel De LaMuerte… is reborn!
Isabella: [chuckles and cocks shotgun] So do we leave yet?
Angel: Not yet! It's time we send Killbane a message! Starting with those statues!
Isabella: Fuck it, let's do it! They're ugly anyway! Gotta change the decor of it too!
Switching over to Kinzie's Warehouse, it's been a while since the mission dealing with the Deckers and Matt Miller, recruiting Cynthia and so on. In Kinzie's so called inner sanctum, her inner circle, a safe space to isolate herself from others, she was typing away on her laptop, learning everything about Matt Miller's whereabouts and Killbane's announcement for MurderBrawl XXXI. In the background, so many papers and balled up ones were all over the floor, charts of geographical locations of people that looks identical to Bella's biological parents, and STAG's incoming aircraft carrier that is soon preparing its arrival if things go sideways.
So far, since the fall of the Deckers, Kinzie has been cooped up in her home for so long that not much has changed recently. Yes, she was free from the Deckers, and yes, she doesn't have to worry about her location being spotted the moment she steps outside her comfort zone; however, there is a possibility that may or may not occur at any given moment. Details on that later…
A beep was heard from Kinzie's laptop, alerting her that there has been a person trying to break in through the garage. Slowly putting her laptop down and grabbing the nearest weapon on her mattress, Kinzie has approached the garage in a slow, carefully padded steps to not draw any suspicion.
And suddenly, the sounds of a manly grunt, opened up the garage, Kinzie saw blood drops spewing downwards and on the floor when witnessing a body drenched in blood. It was Shin, Matt Miller's brother! His hair was half covered by dry blood blending with his white hair, his clothes were covered in blood but not too much, some of it was dry, his pants were totally wet however as his feet were limping towards his friend.
Shin: [throws the gun on the floor]
Kinzie: [run to him] Shin!
Shin: [inaudible and curses]
Kinzie: Shin? What are you saying? I'm here!
Shin: Kinzie, forgive me, I…
With that, he collapsed onto the ground and passes out from exhaustion. "Shin!" Kinzie cried out, when coming over to his side.
Three hours later, the mission with Isabella and Angel was finished, therefore the big finale between Angel De LaMuerte, the Stillwater Butcher, and lastly, the Walking Apocalypse has been announced to everyone on the radio, although everyone is getting ready to have their tickets to go see the match undergo.
But Kinzie stayed put, aiding and assisting Shin on her mattress. Though it was getting only her bed soaked in blood but that didn't matter to her. All that matters is his explanation as to what happened to him, and what made Shin coming back here looking like this.
Shin: [woke up] …
Kinzie: Shin, hey…
Shin: …Where am I?
Kinzie: On a mattress of my inner sanctum…
Shin: [weakly smile] I'm allowed in? That's a relief… [giggle]
Kinzie: What happened out there?
Shin: I…
Adjusting himself to give a proper explanation, Shin grunted in pain, notably because he was uncomfortable to move but found himself to only cope with it for now. Clearing his throat, Kinzie lend him a glass of water to drink before setting it aside for him to speak up.
Now, his explanation has been carefully stated by him telling Kinzie that all of the Deckers in Stillport has been arrested, some of them were killed because of the betrayal to one another, loads of them were transported away from Stillport, and a portion of 12% of teenage Deckers, boy and girl, were locked up, getting sent back home to their parents and/or their homes. Further proof, Shin explained to Kinzie that he has sent himself by traveling to Arizona, going through extreme lengths of clearing her name, Kinzie Kensington, off of their radar; and by their radar means the FBI most wanted list.
She was free. Free to do whatever she pleases for as long as she wished.
Though the blood on his clothes were self-explanatory due to the Deckers and traveling to Arizona and back to Stillport.
When hearing all of this, Kinzie began crying as her tears welled up in her eyes. She could not believe what she was hearing. She doesn't know whether to be shocked, surprised, or happy. Conflicted was one thing, and being speechless is another. From the inside of her heart, it was pounding like crazy, but paid no mind to it.
Shin: I've done it… I've protected you… from the Deckers… and… to your hometown…
Kinzie: …What?
Shin: You can… no longer hide from them…
Kinzie: You… [sniffle] You didn't have to do that… for me…
Shin: It's what I wanted…
Kinzie: [smiles with a deep blush] You do the stupidest things for the stupidest reasons…
Shin: If my stupidity caused me to almost die out there from becoming a corpse, then perhaps, yes, I deserved it, but only for you to live your life the way you wanted…
His breathing became more hoarse, getting harder to breathe, now trying to rest himself into closing his eyes to sleep. Shin was proud of himself to do what he did for his friend, "freedom," no longer trapped inside closed doors and being forced to take care of herself from other predators such as the Deckers, the FBI, and many others.
Shin: [sighs deeply and quietly] …
Kinzie: [looks at him]
Shin: [smile weakly] …
Kinzie: [whispers] You're such a dumbass, Shin, but to be fairly honest, in a good way…
She leaned to his face and kissed him on his lips, gently. Shin smiled widely before he drifted away in his slumber.
Shin: [whispery] I… I love you…
Kinzie: [nodding and held his hand hesitantly] Love you too, Shin…
To Be Continued…