They took the subway from the sewers to downtown Lowbridge, to a neighborhood where some of the more working-css families who had a little money lived. Not as well-off as the gated mansions of Greyridge, but a few steps higher than the Tower slums where the rest of Lowbridge managed to survive. It was a pce where the streets still had their share of potholes, but the cars that drove over them ran a bit smoother. The pawn shop Kat had told him about was a massive building the size of a superstore, sprawling across a rge lot like it owned the pce. As they headed inside, Mark noticed a number of guards patrolling the area, along with clerks helping the motley crew of clientele.
They were approached by a Latin man in his te 40s, dressed in a very fine suit that looked a bit too rich for the surroundings. “You look new here. I am Victor. How can we help you?” He fshed an easy smile, as if he already knew the answer. Mark offered his hand and smiled back. “I’m looking for a Supersuit. What do you have?” Victor’s eyes flicked over him, sizing him up, before he motioned for them to follow. He led them toward the backend of the pawn shop, nothing in a hurry, where two massive guys in full-scale exosuits were stationed in front of a thick door.
Victor turned before speaking again. “A Supersuit? Gonna run you at least 10 grand. You got that kinda money?” His voice was slick. Mark nodded and pulled out the cash, just enough to show he was serious. Victor’s smile widened and the guards moved aside, letting them into a smaller room that was packed with high-tech equipment. It was clearly an armory of sorts, with racks of guns and shelves of various tech surrounding the walls. Exosuits hung like metallic giants over everything else.
Victor pointed to a row of sleek, bck suits that were covering mannequins before speaking again. “We have 3 Supersuit models. The SS-Mark-Alpha, the SS-Mark-Beta, and the SS-Mark-Gamma. All of these Supersuits are flexible, designed to be worn under clothes, fits tighter than skin. For anyone who isn’t a Super, they can give an increased bit of durability.” Mark paid close attention, scanning the options in front of him. “The main thing is that the suits feed off the nutrients of your body, so you’re gonna need to eat and drink more than normal. Most folks don’t like to hear that part.”
Victor leaned back, letting that sink in, then pointed to the first suit. “The Alpha is what you might call bargain bin. Let's you blend into any crowd, though. It’s everything you want from a Supersuit but does not have an onboard interface, and no nanite computer system. It regenerates slowly but offers protection just like the others.” He paused, letting Mark take that in. “The Beta is what most low to medium level Supercops and Supervilins have liked to use for years. It’s got an onboard overy and a nanite computer system that can assist you with feedback for your bodily functions. The suit also regenerates around 5 times as fast as the Alpha.” Mark considered it, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Victor’s voice rose again, a touch of showmanship. “The Gamma is brand new, fresh on the scene and hot. I only got one, and it’s very expensive. It’s got everything the Beta has, now with regeneration 10 times as fast as the Alpha. Comes with a customizable AI onboard computer. It can even unch concussive bsts from the hands based on energy stored through your body.”
Mark whistled, impressed. He was looking over the suits again, as they all seemed to look tantalizingly sleek and ready for business. “They don’t look any different. All bck and tight on those mannequins.” Victor nodded, like he’d been asked that question a hundred times. “You can mentally adjust the colors to suit your taste. One of the key things is that Supersuits and Exosuits can give you an interface and bio-HUD that overys on the corner of your vision.”
This time Kat spoke up as she looked over at Victor and the glimmering rows of weaponry surrounding them. “So what are the prices for each of these suits?” Victor smiled, knowing he had them hooked. “Currently the Alpha is discounted at around 8k because Gamma just got released this year, so that’s something. Beta is still the standard and has been for the st 5 years, so that’s going to cost you 15k. Gamma is gonna run you 30k, though, and that’s only a few grand above MSRP. Just for my cover charges.”
Mark nodded, his mind made up. He pulled out 30 grand and handed it to Victor, feeling the weight of the wad of cash in his hand. “I’ll take the Gamma.” He gnced over at where the suit sat on the mannequin, anticipating how it might look on him, already imagining the feel of it. Victor chuckled as he took the money, clearly pleased with the deal and the quick decision. He unbuttoned his suit jacket, revealing he was wearing a Supersuit of his own underneath, which Mark assumed must be a Gamma model. “Let me ring you out.”
