((Rejoining on LBT Rations' invite! Annnd that's the Model J's reference picture:
https://goo.gl/images/gzmK3B ))
Tony Stracci had been out of contact with the group for quite some time. He'd temporarily provided them a lift at the start of this, but things were getting serious once more. "Shit..." the ferret whispered, tearing off the note he'd scribbled earlier to himself on his fridge. He was pretty much alone these days, his father having passed away a year ago, leaving him a new house, some of the "legitimate businesses", and his massive automobile collection. The name of a hospital in the city was scrawled upon the note, and he committed it to memory; he knew where it was, having driven past it plenty of times.
They'd need a vehicle... but the problem (it wasn't so much one in his own mind) was he didn't have any of those crappy and under powered electric cars... he only had his gasoline burners down in the massive underground garage that rested beneath the manor (having been carved into the cliff the house rested on). His claw tapped on the marble counter top, his lips pursed, his brow furrowed, and a thoughtful frown on his features as he pondered how best to go about this.
He really didn't have much time to waste... he knew they'd need transportation, and need it soon. Looking off to the side, he pondered his ability to provide this... he'd need a big car... 7 passengers at least... but he hated having to bring one into these escapades... even if he had previously reinforced most of their bodies with much stronger compounds.
Smirking, he figured he'd just suck it up and take one of his father's most prized possessions out: the 1934 Duesenberg Model J. But first things first; he needed a weapon. Pushing himself off from the counter, he strode through a few rooms, the carpet padding under his feet before he reached a cabinet, sliding his thumb downwards along the electronic reader, which blinked blue and opened up the doors. Reaching in, Tony pulled out a Smith & Wesson M&P M2.0, shoving it into his waistband along his back, and grabbed a laser pistol for good measure.
Hoping he wouldn't need more than that, he shut the cabinet and moved to the elevator that led down to the garage. Closing his eyes during the ride and trying to steel himself for this, he waited patiently until the elevator doors swished open, and the lights snapped on before he reopened them. Everywhere chrome, bright paint, and exotic metal gleamed. The sight always brought a smile to his face, as he never took it for granted... never.
Stepping out and walking with his paws behind his back, his shoes thudded in the concrete room before he came to a stop in front of the massive Model J. Once America's most expensive and premier car (a vehicle that could cost $25,000 in an era when a Ford was $800), it was painted in a red on its front that met a semicircular black painted section that continued all the way to the back. Louvers on the engine cowling gave the car a swept back, rakish appearance, and the hood ornament stuck right at him like an arrow. Everything about this car denoted luxury, speed, and power. Smile growing, he admired the fine automobile for a moment, knowing that with its powerful straight-eight engine, it could outmatch many modern cars (once again, those electrics whirring along on the highway weren't much of a match for this beauty) with its torque and speed.
Heading around to the driver side door, he opened it up, and sat himself down on the leather seat. OK... time to start this beast up. Sliding the spark advance lever to the halfway position, he pulled out the choke, then turned the key in the ignition to generate electrical current to the engine. He then reached for the chrome starter control, and pulled it all the way out from the dashboard, listening as the starter motor began to turn over, kicking the straight-eight into life with no problems whatsoever; it was American engineering at its finest.
Pushing the starter and choke back in, he advanced the spark lever all the way down and smirked, nodding with satisfaction. Releasing the parking brake, he shifted into 1st gear to get the car rolling, then almost immediately shifted into neutral and then 2nd as he turned right and began driving for the garage's exit. The car slid smoothly along, the ferret seeing the big door rise up into the ceiling as he drove under it, then gunned the engine a bit to move up the hill and out into the driveway. Making a slight right again, he increased speed, listening to that throaty hum as he began winding his way down the road that led into the city.
"Well... I'm on the way." he said to himself, flipping his flat cap on his head as he took the westbound freeway, increasing speed (though not wanting to show off, he kept it in the slow lane despite his speed) so that he could be there in 15 minutes tops. No more wasting time... it was time to get back into the fight...
