The Deal

"You still refuse to convince me Hikachi"
Nodd picked up a Heineken before settling down in his leather recliner. He kinda liked to negotiate with someone in that position. But this time, even though a lot was at stake, he continued to be in his own laidback style while talking to his prospective "partner in crime".

"I have no reason to convince a asshole like you, Nodd. You were the one who were interested in me"
Hikachi hit back with a stern face. Hikachi's parents had settled down in Bronx when he was 2 years old. He looked very unusual compared to other Japanese kids in that locality, he was tall, muscular and handsome. The environment in which he grew up made him strong, both physically and mentally.

"Ok, Ok, Atleast talk about what you have done in the past, that has made you so ffffffamous in the underground"
Nodd was not in a good mood. It was very reasonable to be like that, when one is just out from the prison.

"Well, I am an expert with firearms and defusing bombs. Last year, i sneaked past 20 cops to get the Heiza diamond and..."

"But you still got caught by snoooooooooop, loser!"
Nodd's eyes were still closed, he continued to be in the "floating position", with a beer on one hand and cigarette on the other.

"That was because i was cheated by Akaido and i dont expect my future partners to be a snob like you"

"Whoa, whoa, chill out kid, mind your words!"

"You want my credentials, right? I cracked Wurd's maze and I still hold the key to break it under 10 seconds. I didn't reveal it to Akaido just because he didn't allow me to cross the Bridge of Ataca, while we were playing as a team in the World Cyber Games finals. Else we would have won the tournament. And you know that experts struggle with Wurd's maze"

Nodd opened his eyes, for the first time, there was fear and joy in his eyes. Here is a kid, who knows to crack the toughest part in "Counterstrike" game in under 10 seconds. This was something Nodd struggled with, before going to prison for illegal possession of firearms. With the tournament less than 10 days away, it was too good a deal to let go. But being the runner up of the tournament for 5 consecutive years, Nodd felt this is the best chance for him to hold the winner's trophy. And the cheque, of course.

"Done deal, see you at the underground at 5 tomorrow."
"Ok Nodd, but we will still play the druglords side and share the prize money 50:50. Else, no deal"
"Cool man, its 50:50 ok, and we are still the bad guys, chilloooo..."
As Hikachi walked past the door, Nodd gave him a wry smile, trying to remember where he hid his second pistol, before getting arrested by the police.

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Dedicated to all those fans of diablo and AOE, who really tested Logitech mouse and my patience during my wonderful college years...Hey psychos, you guys still rock!