On a day like any other, Manolo Restituyo goes to work like every day, but not before stopping by his supervisor's office.
—Good morning, Minister Méndez. "Good morning, Minister Méndez. —Manolo said as he entered the supervisor's office and sat in the chair in front of him.
—What do you want now, Restituyo, can't you see I'm busy? —The supervisor responded while reviewing some papers.
—You know what we've talked about over these three years; it's time for me to retire, I need something better in my life. I have given my best during these twenty years of service, so I ask you, please, I need you to accept my resignation. —Manolo answered decisively, causing him to stand up from the chair and then sit down again.
—You know, I also wanted you to leave the company in the best possible way; to me, you are one of the best technicians or, perhaps, the best technician in the history of this company, but unfortunately, I can't let you go so easily. —The supervisor responded in a professional manner.
Manolo didn't like this, which caused him to show his indignation on his face.
—And now, what's the umpteenth reason why I can't leave this place? —Manolo asked uncomfortably.
—Do you remember the project to interconnect the dark dimension with Earth, in order to provide our technology to that dimension to prevent our imminent destruction? —The supervisor replied.
—I'll guess, that project where it was just me, you, the supervisors, and the company coordinators to that godforsaken place worse than San Juan, full of weird stuff straight out of hell; if it weren't for the fact that we had to show them the benefits of human technology to prevent a worldwide conquest by those cows, they would have slaughtered us right there, if it weren't for my salesman's charm. —Manolo explained with irony.
—More respect I demand, for I am from San Juan. —the supervisor exclaimed, who was annoyed by the way some Dominicans view San Juan and added, coming back to his senses. —But on another note, the Project is about to fail, as many of those people are technophobes and conspiracy theorists who believe we are using the power of telecommunications to conquer their world.
—At the very least, I am Superman to save the world from its imminent destruction; they didn't send more technicians to that mountain. —Manolo Exclaimed, changed the subject, and asked out of curiosity and intrigue. By the way, Minister, is it true that we are going to conquer your world or what?
The supervisor looks at the cameras, gestures to say something in his ear. Manolo approaches so he can tell him in his ear.
—They say no, but if I'm honest with you, yes, the world wants to manipulate them, subjugate them, and conquer them, like when the Spaniards gave the Indians trinkets for gold, you know what I mean. —The supervisor Whispered.
The supervisor returns to his seat and Manolo laughs maliciously.
—Okay, how much are you going to pay me? —Manolo asked, frowning.
—Well, that depends on what the contract says... —the supervisor replied.
—Because for establishing an order in that world, I charge five dragmarks and two dragmarks in commissions. —Manolo answered.
—Are you out of your mind? Who do you think you are to ask those people for so much money...? —And how do you know that? —The supervisor exclaimed and asked, angry and indignant, who slammed the table.
—I knew you were going to recommend me for the Dark Dimension Modernization Project, that's why you asked me to accompany you, right? —Manolo replied.
—True. —The supervisor replied in a blunt and thoughtful manner.
Next, Manolo begins to give a short speech:
«From the twenty years I've been with the company, I know all the tourists who pass thru here, as well as the situations that are happening with the project; that's why I'm demanding that insane amount of money from them because this mess is beyond me." God knows what strange things await me there; to them, we are disposable toilet paper. You know how many of my colleagues have disappeared, so that you come, wash your hands like Pilate, as if nothing had happened; I know you perfectly well. I will be honest with you, Robert, I have already paid off the house, I did the constructions that needed to be done there, I have a son in school and another who is of legal age, who has a scholarship and is working, I paid all the debts I had, I don't owe anyone anymore, therefore, I have no need to keep working here, but...».
Manolo pauses as he is thinking.
—But what, Manolo? —Robert responded while staring at him intently.
—I want something different in my life; my family has worked for this company for five generations, even my children work there, so I want something different in my life, like having a family business, or at least having an income from which my family can benefit without having to work for a long time. Apart from the monthly rent here, they don't even give you enough to cover the basic basket, a bunch of stingy government officials... I don't know if you understand me, minister! —Manolo clarified.
—I understand you, Manolo, although that figure seems very exaggerated to me, but I'll see what I can do for you; in the meantime, continue with your duties. —Robert replied as they both stood up from their respective seats to shake hands, signaling that they were in agreement.
Manolo leaves the office, heading to his job as a telecommunications installation technician. Manolo's cell phone starts ringing; he answers.
—How did it go? —said a voice on the phone.
—I took him down with five dragmarks and two commissions, eminence of the shadows. —Manolo Answered.
—You would have done it for ten, but that would be abuse; just go about your day, Ains, since you already have the money secured. —The voice replied.
—Although Ludo... —Manolo answered.
—Call me eminence of shadows or Shadow, don't use my name to avoid getting me into trouble, Ains. —Ludo replied.
—Alright, Shadow, but Ains kicks Shadow's ass a thousand times, so why do you decide to use that pseudonym if no one can stop the sorcerer king? —Manolo Answered.
Ludo plays "The Emperor of the Nite" by Mr. Neymar for a few seconds. *
*Attention: this is a reference to the song by Don Omar, El señor de la noche; if in the future it is adapted to animation, the license is not obtained or an agreement is not reached, a similar version is made so that no lawsuit is caused by it.
—You heard that flow. —Ludo said.
—Yes, but with a grasp heart, the flow is over. —Manolo answered.
—Let's leave this here, so we don't have any problems. —Ludo replied.
—Alright, emperor of the nite, don't get mad at me. —Manolo answered, letting out a laugh.
—Alright, that's it, see you, Ains. —Ludo replied.
—That's it, Ludo, and remember that in San Juan... there's fiber. —Manolo Answered, dying of laughter.
—Son of a b... —Ludo shouted, but Manolo hangs up on him.
After that, Manolo goes to work. Once the day is over, before leaving the minibus at work as usual, the supervisor calls him and tells him to come by tomorrow to sign the transfer contract for the dark dimension modernization project. Manolo is surprised by how quick the company's response was; he steps out of the building to wait for Argenis, his personal driver, to pick him up and take him home. Argenis arrives to pick him up; the motorcycle can barely handle the weight, but still, they leave. When they go home, he asks her on the way.
—Manolo, because if you have a vehicle, you always call me to pick you up from work. —Argenis Said, a bit annoyed, and added. —Poor Natisha can't handle your weight... Get yourself a discount, greenhorn.
Manolo doesn't find this comment funny, but with a devilish smile, he hugs him like a brother; he half-chokes him with his arm that wraps around his neck.
—Argenis, who paid for Natisha's down payment? Who takes care of poor Natisha? You are like the public bus that they use until it breaks down, huh... Who pays you almost more than three thousand pesos a day? Ehh, who lets you go to my house to lick the food my wife makes? Who lets you use my 400 Mb internet? I don't give the password to anyone! I, Juan Manuel Antonio De los Santos Restituyo, give it to you when you're at home or not, so show some respect, you rascal! —Manolo exclaimed, looking at him with a murderous glare. They arrive at the front of the house. Argenis frees himself from Manolo's arm.
—Don't rush, black weed, when I win those five hundred million pesos, the first thing I'm going to do with that money is buy Rare and throw you out of that company with nothing, like a dog. —Argenis Exclaimed and added. —Speaking of which, uh... I heard you were going to resign, what happened with that?
Manolo remains silent for a moment.
—Weeeeeell, I... let's say... that I made an agreement with them to work on a new project that's being done in the Dark Dimension. —Manolo Said, embarrassed.
—And you told your people, right? —Argenis asked.
Manolo, I know that quietly, inhale and exhale loudly.
—No. —Manolo replied as if his soul was about to leave him from the fright, as he had no idea how the heck he was going to tell his family.
—Well, buddy, you just drank it all. See you tomorrow, I'm really pissed off, I'm not even going to watch the lottery because I know that if I win, I'm going to mess with you when that happens. —Argenis Exclaimed as he got on his motorcycle and then took off like a damn madman, after dodging a woman and a car that was coming out of the parking lot.
—Damn crazy man. —Manolo whispered as he entered the house.
Once inside the house, his wife greeted him with much love and affection, his youngest child did too, but the oldest was on the sofa waiting for him while watching television. When he notices his presence, he turns his head toward Manolo, with a serious and determined expression.
—You already quit, Dad. —the eldest son Exclaimed with a haughty and imposing tone before standing up.
Manolo feels intimidated, but he asserts himself as the man of the house.
—How do you say 'son' when your dad comes home? — Manolo exclaimed and asked as he approached him.
The son also approaches; they both stare at each other intently. Manolo inhales deeply...
—Don't quit, son, that's what you wanted to hear. —Manolo Said, exhaling and with his head down.
Your son is making a scene all over the house.
—You have to be relaxing, Dad, and now what nonsense did those people come up with now? —the eldest son Asked.
Manolo exhales forcefully again; he looks him in the eyes once more.
—The Dark Dimension Modernization Project, Jeison. —Manolo Exclaimed.
Jeison, upon hearing those words, literally felt his blood sugar drop suddenly and fainted.
The other children, Manolo and his wife, gave him everything to help him regain consciousness. Once he regains it.
—What happened? I feel like my blood sugar dropped really hard. What did you say to me, daddy? — Jeison asked.
Manolo smiles devilishly, says it again; poor Jeison has a fit, so poor Manolo's wife drags him to bed to rest.
Manolo is getting ready to sleep, but his wife interrupts him.
—Honey, I know I don't like to meddle in your decisions, but why didn't you resign? This was the opportunity to spend more time with Jeison; you know he has been waiting for this for a long time. —Manolo's wife Commented.
—Yuleika, you know I do this because it's the best for everyone. I researched the offer; there's a lot of money involved. Finally, we will be able to have a better life for ourselves, for our son. The business, I don't know if it will be very successful, just like that; I researched more thoroughly and what we currently have is not enough. —Manolo Explained and added. —Don't think I haven't forgotten about that; I've missed many important moments in Jeison and Manuelito's lives. Now that I have the opportunity to get close to Jeison, I will do whatever it takes to make the business work well; you know I would do anything for my son.
She is moved by what Manolo said. After that beautiful moment, they both go to sleep. The next morning, some motorcyclists were making noise at four in the morning; this wakes Manolo up, as someone is throwing stones at the window. He looks out the window.
—It's four in the morning, what the hell do you want, Argenis? —Manolo exclaimed grumpily.
—I earned it, I earned it, I'm rich, worthless weed. —Argenis shouted, making zeros with the engine, then stopped to pay attention.
—Oh, really, and what did you win? I bet it's five hundred pesos, I imagine. —Manolo Said confidently.
—No, my brother, five hundred million pesos. —Argenis Exclaimed.
—Noooo, that's impossible, not even you believe it! —Manolo shouted.
Argenis shows him the winning ticket, Manolo is left speechless, and he laughs maliciously.
—Now, if you'll excuse me, today we drink! —Argenis shouted, as he brutally revved the engine and drove away.
—Hopefully, whoever brought you there will take you back, you miserable motorcyclist. I'm sure you'll crash so hard that you'll split in half and scatter your damned self all over the neighborhood. —Manolo Exclaimed as Argenis was leaving.
Important note: For more information about Argenis's fate, please read this story which is very important for the development of the prodigal multiverse Dominican Isekai Lander. Warning about that story: it is for adults, so minors will have to find a way to access it, my apologies.
Manolo falls asleep again to wake up a few hours later. He gets ready to go to his new job; however, his son leaves the house first on foot, as he doesn't want anything to do with him, but still, he goes to pick him up in the SUV from the house that they hardly ever use because of the price of gasoline, which is a thousand pesos per gallon. He manages to catch up with him, but he refuses to get in; although he insists, in the end, Jeison gets into the SUV. Both head toward the company Rare, as they both work at the same company but in different departments, since Jeison works in the technical support department in the robotics area, as a repairman for the robotic technicians that replace human technicians in the country. Some technicians, like Restituyo, are sent to various areas where robots have had trouble accessing due to issues like crime, technophobia, among others.
On the way, after a few minutes without speaking to each other, Jeison decides to break the ice.
—Tell me something, daddy, is it worth giving your life for a company that, in the end, only wants to throw you out like a dog, without a penny, or pay you a pittance? —Jeison Whispered.
—When you have a family, you'll understand someday. Beside, if I took on this project, it's so that, if for any reason your project doesn't take off, you have something to sustain yourself and keep fighting for it. I never had a dream like the one you have; I just wanted to have a family, a house, and children, to give them the life I could never have. But now, despite how much I love you, Jeison, I don't want you to get frustrated or stagnant in life and become something you swore you wouldn't be. Things are very difficult, Jeison, with all those robots doing the things we can do. I was able to keep my job because of my good behavior and by a stroke of luck, but don't worry, son, I also have a dream, now... —Manolo Explained.
This almost brings tears to Jeison's eyes.
—Dad, I didn't know you cared so much, even tho we hardly spend time together because of your job, but still, in that dimension full of cows, monkeys, and weird devilish things, you don't have to do this for me... by the way, what's your dream? — Jeison asked.
—My dream is to have my own telecommunications company, where I can fix all the crap that that damned company has put me and the customers thru, in addition to trying to compete with Rare. I know it's something impossible, but now with this opportunity, the telecommunications business in other dimensions is also very profitable, since these are technologies that the beings of that dimension have not experienced yet. Although in the long run, it has its problems, as the dimension itself has its own communication systems, but since the dark dimension is not the only dimension that exists, you understand me... —Manolo explained again.
—Oh! Why hadn't you told me about those ideas earlier? —Jeison replied.
—Let's say that during a meeting of the employes over there, we were fed up with the company's abuses, so now that we're going to that dimension, we set out to raise as much money as possible to create it, but if you want to join, you are welcome. —Manolo Clarified.
—Yes, I want to too, Daddy. —Jeison Exclaimed, who hugs his father, marking their reconciliation.
Both arrived at Rare. Manolo gives the SUV key to his son so he can take it when he finishes his workday. Each one went to their respective department. Manolo went to the recruitment hall, where the supervisor, the manager, and several other members were waiting for him to sign the contract. They provide him with the pertinent information about his new job, everything seems normal for now, until they reach the part about the dangers he will face, both from the journey and the clients, who are supernatural entities, Lovecraftian, etc. Manolo understands this, as he had been there before, so it's not something so shocking for him, although he does feel some dread, but for the eft/money, he doesn't care about that, so he proceeded to sign the contract, along with all the paperwork it entails; he checked that everything was as he wanted and, indeed, it was as he wanted, so he signed the contract.
Once the contract is signed, a hundred written in blood appears on his hand. Manolo is scared by this and they tell him that once the counter reaches zero, the company will dispense with his services, being liquidated.
—And when I start... ouch, this thing burns. —Manolo said his hand hurts. One of the attendees hands him some isopropyl alcohol so he can apply it to his hand and ease the pain.
—Today. — the HR representative Reported and added. —He is ready to work today.
—Yes, he gives me free food, yes. —Manolo Answered.
—Don't worry, if you have noticed, in the contract, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are covered. — the HR person Clarified.
—I have to bring clothes or something... What do you mean by dinner, am I not going to stay over or what? — Manolo asked.
—The problem is that we don't have district divisions yet, so you will have to chart an optimal route to complete your requests on time and return safely. — the HR representative Responded and added. —Don't worry, any expense you incur will be covered by the dark dimension, but please don't overdo it; you will return to this dimension once you finish your assigned tasks for the day and will return to the dark dimension when the mark on your hand indicates.
Manolo is a bit skeptical about it, but he didn't pay much attention to it; still, as long as they pay him as he requested, the rest doesn't matter to him. So some hooded men escort him to the portal of the dark dimension, a place where it is always nite, dark, eerie, and rural, where creatures of the nite, monsters, and Lovecraftian horror gods live in peace and tranquility. He isn't very impressed by this; he had been there before. Even so, this experience changed the way we see things as we know them. The men in tunics escorted him to his new building, where it would be his new checkpoint, a vast enclosure where there were ents that looked at Manolo threateningly. Within his being dwell Lovecraftian birds, bats, among other animals. After entering the premises, there was no one. This would have made anyone else panic, but for Manolo, he sees it as a different environment. Both arrive at the office of their new supervisor; the hooded figures take off their robes, as they are in their world, beings that resembled Slenderman in company uniforms, but when they enter the supervisor's office, it turns out he is a reptilian. He tells his companions to leave.
—A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Juan Manuel Antonio De los Santos Restituyo, or as you are known, Manolo; how do you prefer to be addressed? —the reptilian Said as he extended his hand.
—You can call me Manolo, I prefer it that way, sir... —Manolo answered as they shook hands, reading his name on the identification badge hanging from his neck and added. —Camilion... Mr. Camilion... How would you like me to address you?
—You can call me, Mr. Camilion. —Camilion Responded as they finished shaking hands.
—Perfect, Mr. Manolo, I don't want you and me to forget the courtesies while I address you and you address me; is that clear, Mr. Manolo? — Camilion explained.
—Understood, Mr. Camilion. —Manolo Responded.
—Come with me, Mr. Manolo, and I'll give you a tour of the premises so you can get familiarized, even tho you spent a lot of time on the ground. —Camilion Answered.
Both leave Camilion's office. Even tho no one can be seen, there are actually people inside, but they are not humans; they are inhabitants of the dark dimension itself, present in the typical areas of a company.
—One question, Mr. Camilion, are there beings like you or from other races in our department, or are they just humans? —Manolo asked.
—It's just the humans, since we still don't have enough clients from our world billing for our services... —Camilion Answered.
—I'll guess, Mr. Camilion, it's because we charge little, right? —Manolo commented.
—That question, I wouldn't like to discuss it with you, but... —Camilion replied, but a female voice interrupted him.
—Yes, Mr. Manolo, if that's the answer you want to know, our people still distrust this technology, and beside, for what we are paying for the work you are going to do, none of our caliber want to accept this job. —the female voice number 1 Explained.
—Even so, our people are going to give you humans a chance, so you, Mr. Manolo, must treat our clients in a professional and impartial manner. — the female voice number 2 Explained.
—So we can count on you, Mr. Manolo. —the two voices together Exclaimed.
They both turn around and see two women; one is Sonya Moonwalker, a woman with black hair, and the other, Meredith Netherland, a woman with blonde hair, both athletic and voluptuous, like goddesses fallen from the sky. Camilion introduces them to Manolo; he kisses each of their right hands, as Manolo had to read a manual on the customs of the Dark Dimension before leaving work, to avoid making enemies easily.
—I hope you weren't offended by the comment, Mr. Manolo. —Meredith Said.
—Don't worry, Miss Meredith, I have self-esteem of steel, unlike the people who dedicate themselves to canceling others in the internet sewer; beside, it's not good to make those kinds of comments to your own people, don't you think? —Manolo replied.
—Excuse me, but we are not human, even tho we look like one. —Sonya Interrupted.
Manolo is more confused than usual at that moment; however, everything changes when Meredith transforms in front of him: she starts growing horns, bat wings, and a demon tail. Just like Sonya, who transforms into a humanoid wolf.
—I am a succubus and she is a werewolf. —Meredith Exclaimed as she struck a suggestive pose; she looked into his eyes to hypnotize him and make him her slave.
However, his fidelity switch flipped; in his perspective, in Meredith's eyes, his wife emerges in a white dress, with a samurai flip-flop in one hand and a metal strap in the other, lunging at him and slapping him across the face. He falls suddenly as if he had been truly knocked out.
—Meredith, for the love of Alheim, what have you done to him! —Camilion shouted, grabbing Meredith by the collar in anger, shaking her like a rag doll.
Poor Manolo writhes in pain, while the specter of his wife hits him with the metal strap while scolding him in syllables; for every syllable she said, she hit him, until she forgot what she was saying, until she increased the speed to hit him harder. The poor man seemed to have epilepsy with rage, as he was foaming at the mouth. The poor things didn't know what to do; fortunately, Sonya knows how to handle these kinds of situations. They transform into humans, so they proceed to carefully take him to the infirmary among the three of them.
—Isidro Ricardo Matos Montero, get out of there right now! —the nurse exclaimed.
—No, I'm leaving, I lost my partner trying to install the manager's damn order, I'm fed up with working in this damned company! —Isidro exclaimed.
—And why don't you quit? —the nurse asked.
—Because I can't, that's what traumatizes me the most, I can't get out of this hell by contract, if only a miracle would come! —Isidro exclaimed.
Sonya and Meredith enter with Manolo slung over their shoulders.
—For the love of Alheim, stop traumatizing the technicians, just for five minutes! —the nurse shouted.
—You know it's not my fault, Cleo, but Meredith's, who likes to bother the technicians; I wash my hands of all blame. —Camilion Said, who was just washing his hands at a nearby sink.
—Meredith, you wretch! —Cleo shouted.
Note: Cleo is a mummy, with a sexy body, but in her classic modern nurse outfit.
—Cleoferti, you should be more grateful to me, since I, Meredith Netherland, give you some work, because you just laze around here. —Meredith Responded.
—And if I'm being lazy, so what... beside, I'm dealing with my usual and favorite patient... Isidro. —Cleo Said, but Sonya started looking for Isidro, as she has a lot of affection for him.
—And where is my Isidro, Cleo? —Sonya asked.
—In that bed, crying like a whiny and cowardly baby, why do you ask? —Cleo replied while pointing to one of the beds in the infirmary behind a curtain, crying in a fetal position while sucking her thumb.
Sonya screams his name, lunges onto the bed; she asks him how he is, but he responds panting, shouting, and crying that nothing is understandable, but she understands everything.
—It seems you're really bad; I transform into a she-wolf to make you feel better. —Sonya Said, who transforms into a she-wolf; her size, muscles, breasts, and glutes increased significantly, her muscles became defined, her legs curved like a wolf's, her head transformed into that of a wolf with her normal long hair.
This catches Manolo's attention, who quickly recovers and goes to where Sonia is.
—Incredible, she's a real she-wolf; I thot she was going to be a woman who would transform into a normal she-wolf, like in that crappy movie about the love triangle of the antisocial teenager, the emo vampire, and the hot-headed werewolf, no doubt. Sonya, you are a man of art. —Manolo commented, while his wife stood behind him, gave him a powerful flip-flop smack on the head, and he fell to the floor again.
—See, Sonya, even that guy who fell on the floor knows you're beautiful... —Isidro said. While he flatters Sonya, he blushes and feels embarrassed.
—And what about me, I'm more beautiful than that street dog! —Meredith shouted out of jealousy.
Isidro, who was lying on Sonya's breasts, facing the boys.
—My love, don't be angry, you are the most beautiful succubus in the center. —Isidro flattered Meredith, causing her to blush, and added. —The thing is, you are a demon and we Dominicans don't mess with devilish things, whether cows are involved or not, buddy.
Manolo, who is on the floor, gives a nod of affirmation.
—I see you're better, Mr. Isidro, you're ready to go to the field. —Camilion Said and added. —Let me introduce you to your new colleague Manolo, who also has problems just like you; however, Manolo joins in right away.
—Juan Manuel Antonio De los Santos Restituyo, reporting in, Mr. Camilion, what do we need to do? That the work, that it is already time to start our task. —Manolo Responded while giving a military salute.
—See? I like that, people who want to work. Now, Isidro, you have a new partner; the corresponding metrics haven't arrived yet. I need you to catch up with Manolo, as I also expect great things from him and you, so if you've already finished your fourth-rate anime comedy, get out there, complete the unfinished orders and pending installations, NOW! —Camilion explained.
Manolo asks for the tools, service orders, among other things, but above all the vehicle they were going to drive to start. Camilion points out where the vehicle they will use is located, everyone except Cleoferti, who was left indignant because Manolo left without being attended to by her. Manolo, Isidro with Meredith and Sonya clinging to his arms, with Camilion, go to the workshop where the assigned vehicle is.
Camilion hands them their new tools; some of them are typical for the technicians, others are more specific to their own dimension, like a device for communication (basically a fleet in their world) called Fractcall. Camilion gave them basic training on how to use it, although at first Manolo didn't understand it at all; later he got the hang of it, although it was difficult for him. The next device resembled a Verifone, but its appearance was more rudimentary and outdated; although it seemed to work in an analog manner, it actually operated with magic and technology called Ordenation. This is used to tell them the locations of the customers with their service orders, as well as all the information related to it.
—I don't understand many of these weird things, but I'll do my best. —Manolo doubtful, since I still don't understand a damn thing of what Camilion said.
—Don't worry, Manolo, you'll learn along the way as time goes by," Isidro said and added. —Isidro Said and added. —As long as you are skilled in the installations, everything else is secondary.
Camilion shows them their new vehicle, which is the typical telecommunications minibus, but it's an armed and modified version of the Shineray A9 minibus; it can go off-road, with an armored chassis, hidden traps, and magical weapons that can combat threats on the road.
—What a lovely detail, Mad Max and Death Race have combined in my ShenRay x100 minibus, this is paradise, my favorite vehicular combat movies combined with my job... But why do we have to use this type of vehicle for work? Do they rob so violently on the road or what? —Manolo asked while inspecting the vehicle.
—It's not just about robbing; there are many monsters, specters, gods, obstacles on the way, religious fanatics, technophobes, even the very road itself, etc. —Isidro replied while flirting with Sonya and Meredith.
—I imagine you've been here a long time, you must know a lot about this world, right...? —Manolo commented as he finished inspecting the vehicle.
—Does it seem good to you, if we practice with the vehicle, you should try it, since you don't want to drive it... no. —Isidro Said while waving goodbye to the girls, to test the vehicle, as it is part of his mini training.
Manolo sits in the driver's seat and Isidro in the passenger seat. He begins to train Manolo; although the driving system is hybrid (mechanical and automatic), he sets it to mechanical.
—Sorry, but I like manual; I really believe that a driver who drives in manual can drive anything. Sorry if I offended you. —Manolo Commented, while continuing to admire the interior.
—Don't worry, I don't take offense to that; still, I prefer the Nesson Frontier over the minibusses. I consider it a more masculine vehicle for a technician than a ShenRay minibus or a Deishu hijot; I don't know if I made myself clear. —Isidro Answered.
—Yes, you're right, but I prefer minibusses, they're more humble... but let's get to the point. —Manolo Said.
Isidro shows him the weapons and gadgets that the vehicle has; from the steering wheel, which instead of a horn has buttons, similar to those on the Mach 5 from Speed Racer, only instead of numbers, they are strange drawings that indicate the function of each one.
—WOW, this steering wheel reminds me a lot of that racing anime and the movie Marv 5 from Asteroid, although I see it has many modifications. —Manolo Commented.
—Yes, I know, it's nice, so let's continue. —Isidro replied coldly and thought: "Another otaku, but whatever, when he realizes the sad reality, he'll wish he had never been born."
Next, Isidro shows him the vehicle's buttons:
Laser chainsaws that extend from below the snowplow mounted on the front of the vehicle. Self-repair of damage: The vehicle is semi-magical, so it can regenerate parts of the vehicle that have not come into contact with materials with anti-magic properties. Suspension jumps, which make the vehicle bounce. Sentinel monster. ⦁ Electromagnetic levitation: It's not that it flies, but that it levitates for a short time; that's in case of certain traps. Ghost mode. Adhesion to surfaces. Rope with a hook.
The horn, which is the biggest button; although it is for the horn, if it is held down, the vehicle turns into a monster, which must belong to someone. There are more gadgets distributed throughout the control panel, among others.
—Incredible, how many apps does it have... —Manolo commented, who is checking the central dashboard.
—Quite a few, those are for obstacles; among other weapons and vehicle modifications, like going underwater, flying, among others, are on the central dashboard. —Isidro replied.
—But at the very least, we're like James Bond, how cool, I want to start working right now. —Manolo Exclaimed, pleased with the vehicle's features.
Isidro thought: «Poor guy, if he only knew what awaits them in that hell».
Isidro is explaining to him about the traps for each enemy, as well as other weapon controls, etc. Now they head to the beginner's track; although it's not easy at all, discretion is still required. Manolo got into serious mode since he was going to drive, so he thought, memorized, and mentally prepared for the challenges of the track. Camilion, with a flag, started the race. Manolo accelerates the vehicle like a demon, driving cautiously to get to know the road, releasing the sentinel monster that helps them detect any traps and obstacles on the path; at first, it is very hostile, but Manolo, without a second thought, activates the Monster mode of the minibus, causing two arms to sprout from the front wheels, legs from the rear ones, eyes in the front and rear headlights, and finally, a mouth with monstrous teeth capable of crushing trees like toothpicks to open from the vehicle's hood. The vehicle was about to devour the sentinel monster, but Manolo honked the horn again, deactivated beast mode, dismounted from the vehicle with a TASER he took from one of the compartments Isidro had indicated, stood in front of it; the monster roared at him, but Manolo hit the TASER at maximum power into its mouth. The monster falls to the ground, agonizing.
—Are you going to calm down, yes or no? —Manolo Exclaimed, but the monster roared louder.
Manolo didn't take it as if he was going to give in, so he keeps electrocuting him several times; while he was doing this, he roars at him like a beast. The monster writhes in pain to the point of crying. Isidro, Sonya, Meredith, and Camilion are horrified.
—Oh, great, it ran out of battery, I imagine you learned your lesson, right? —Manolo answered with a murderous look; the monster is willing to cooperate and begs like a dog.
The sentinel monster returns to the vehicle, but Manolo keeps giving it a murderous look, so the poor thing goes back to its designated compartment on the roof of the vehicle. He enters the vehicle and glares at Isidro, who is terrified because of what he did to the monster.
—You are a monster, Manolo, what the hell was that? —Isidro exclaimed in horror.
—I don't like to get into fights; whoever makes me get into a fight, I'll put them in their place. I hope that neither you nor anyone else makes me get into a fight, do you understand? —Manolo exclaimed in a serious, cold, and forceful manner. Isidro is left stunned, so both continue with the training.
Camilion is perplexed, Sonya is filled with horror, and Meredith is excited by the scene Manolo made.
—Now that's a man, I wish he would dominate me like that. —Meredith Exclaimed, who was touching herself and making ahegao faces.
—Miss Meredith, please control yourself, we are at work. —Camilion Exclaimed.
—Yes, Meredith, we are in the workplace; control your baser instincts. —Sonya Exclaimed, who is hiding behind one of the vehicles, as she is terrified by Manolo's presence.
—Alright, I'm going to calm down, bunch of little girls. —Meredith Said, stopping touching herself and whispering. —That's why this world is the way it is.
Even so, after this event, it drew a smile on Camilion's face, as he knew he was the right one. Manolo rides the beginner, intermediate, and advanced tracks like a speed god. When he reached the expert level, although it wasn't necessary, the path was turbulent, unstable. He began to use all the gadgets, weapons he could learn, and vehicle modes; he combines advanced drifting as if it were Initial D with Dominican offensive and defensive driving. He also employs the Sentinel Monster until the final obstacle arrives; while in the intermediate and advanced stages, he had to escape from monsters, this one is bigger and more dangerous: a giant sandworm. However, Manolo and the Sentinel Monster try to dodge it, but it is very persistent, until the worm almost devours the monster. But Manolo activates the grappling hook at the last second, activates the vehicle's monster mode so that it can pull it with all its might, bringing it back inside the compartment from where it came out of the vehicle.
—You saved him, but why... —Isidro exclaimed.
—Because Pinky is part of the team; if I lose him now, then that means I've failed the exam, and I actually like that damned monster. —Manolo Said and exclaimed. —Now I'll show that thing who Juan Manuel Antonio de los Santos Restituyo is; no one puts me in distress!
—Pinky, don't tell me you named that thing. —Isidro exclaimed and added. —Because you are heading toward the monster, you know we can't get rid of it, that thing could be a future client.
—Yes, I know, but he almost devoured Pinky, I'm not going to settle for that. —Manolo Said and added. —That thing wants to devour us, no doubt about it, it gets in our way, it wants lead, I'll give it lead.
Manolo accelerates at full power toward the beast's mouth, activates the repulsor ray, shoots into the mouth, causing the beast to writhe in pain, activates the repulsor shield to lunge, charges at the beast's face, knocking it out in the process to reach the goal, then deactivates monster mode.
Everyone is astonished by what Manolo did, as he managed to pass all the tests. Manolo and Isidro got off the vehicle; the girls flattered Manolo.
—Girls, please, give me some space, I'm a married man, respect, please. —Manolo Exclaimed, while looking at the illusion of his wife with the samurai flip-flop in her hand, with a murderous look on her face, causing him to break out in a cold sweat, and added. —Throw it to Isidro, he's tough.
Camilion interrupts them; Manolo gives the soldier salute.
—Incredible, Mr. Restituyo, you defeated the earthworm without technically harming it, although it was very excessive. Try not to be too excessive, even with your tools; many of the inhabitants of this world just want to protect their territories, and some are aware and could be future clients. Just be excessive only if your life is in danger, as we must present a good image to our clients so that the project can be completed. —Camilion corrected Manolo.
—It's true, Mr. Camilion, however, I had to hurt him; beside, I used the ray with enough intensity to stun him sufficiently, although I think I went overboard with the charge, since the vehicle is in monster mode. I will be more careful next time and sorry about the sentinel monster; it won't happen again. —Manolo replied.
—Another thing, don't activate monster mode, only when necessary, as it can accidentally hurt someone; beside, it consumes a lot of gas. —Camilion Responded and added. —Since I see that you are ready, I will assign the incomplete orders in the system due to technical issues, as we have quite a few of those, especially the ones that have been pending for many days.
Manolo sees the absurd number of incomplete orders in the system; inside, he began to curse up a storm. He took a deep breath, but with a smile, he hid his dissatisfaction. Isidro says goodbye to the girls; they both go to the warehouse to fill the vehicle with all the necessary materials for the installations. Manolo was surprised that he, in the vehicle's cabin where they put the materials, was in a dimension where things are stored. This surprised him. Isidro explains that, thanks to that dimension, the technicians no longer have to worry about the physical integrity of the materials; no matter how the vehicle moves, this will not affect them, of course. If you take too long to collect those objects, they will be lost in the void as they move away from the corresponding distance.
—I can imagine all the materials that have been lost around here. —Manolo Commented while organizing the materials in the portal.
—No, exactly, since, with a rope, I have prevented them from going far. —Isidro said he is also counting the materials.
—With a rope... What do you mean, minister? —Manolo asked, confused.
—It's not that I tie them up, but I go in with a rope to prevent them from drifting too far; you know that if those things get lost, we have to pay for them and I love my salary, right, Manolo? —Isidro replied while measuring the distance of the equipment.
—Of course, Isidro, there are things that never change. Well, we're done, I just want to get out of this thing, quickly. —Manolo Exclaimed, who is ready to work.
They finished storing the materials, said goodbye to their colleagues, got into the vehicle, and set off for the new job that awaited them in the dark dimension.