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Wow, this V-One feels great around the corners... I love this lean! It's just like I used to get on my Yamaha, but I don’t have to worry about scraping the pipes… or my knees (as if). Let's get it up to highway speed, and... oh, yeah! Nice! Got great pickup, like a sportsbike... and for an electric, that's impressive! Now I can relax and roll out my console-mounted e-book screen to enjoy the latest Jack McDevitt (plug, plug) and play some classic jazz, just a happy hum from the motor, and a flashing red indicator on my heads-up display... uh... say, Penny, what is that?
"It is an indicator that you are exceeding the posted speed limit."
Does it do that every time I exceed the posted speed limit?
"Yes."
Exceed by how much?
"By more than the posted speed limit."
You mean, if it's a 55MPH zone, and I drive at 56MPH--
"You would be exceeding the posted speed limit."
Oy. Okay, the display is customizable. Let's more that indicator to the lower left of--
"The speed warning indicator is not a customizable element. It is set by government regulations, and cannot be altered or moved."
Double-oy. Well, maybe if you drive for a bit, you can sort of tune it out. Anyway, the ride is nice and smooth and quiet. The indicators here show you your power usage and estimated range, and here are some motor specs... everything here looks good. For aerodynamic reasons, there's no outboard rear-view mirror, so instead the V-One uses this rear display screen here. And if you look at it, you can see...
...uh...
...you can see what looks like a very futuristic vehicle, right on my tailpipe. (Well, if I had one.) I don't know what that thing is, but it's awful close...
"Attention: You are being hailed."
Hailed? What is this... Star Trek? Penny, what are you talking about?
"The vehicle behind you is tapping into my radio system..."
What the heck for? Did I forget to pay at Starbucks? Is Top Gear trying to recruit me? Or--
"Attention Steve Jordan, author and futurist. This is the temporal police. The Temporal Anomaly Bureau has contacted us regarding your appropriation of the 2018-model-year VentureOne vehicle in your possession."
Appropri-- Uh oh. I knew that used car salesman with the aussie accent seemed shady...
"You are hearby ordered to pull over and present your licence, registration, biometric identification, temporal waiver documentation and multipass for inspection."
Oh, bother. I left my multipass at home.
"You are required to pull over and submit to inspection. Failure to pull over could result in your arrest. Failure to submit to inspection could result in your arrest. Failure to present all required documentation could result in your arrest. Failure to establish positive identification could result in your arrest. Failure to placate the officers by offering them some of your frapuccino could result in your arrest."
I get the picture. Penny, anything you can do to help?
“I can call your wife to arrange bail. Estimated time to arrest: Nine minutes.”
Great. Well, as long as it looks like I really screwed up this time... and as I happen to be approaching the exit for the parkway anyway... I guess I really might as well see how this baby handles now!
"Attention: You are exceeding the posted speed limit by forty--"
Not now, Penny... I'm busy trying to lose some future-cops. Take the three-point harness in a notch, and find and play the William Tell Overture. Hi-yo Silll-verrrr!
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