Speed Racer looked over at his wife, who was studying the map for their upcoming race, the Midnight Rally. The Midnight Rally was a sundown to sunrise race through the treacherous Appalacicapalla Mountain range. The road being used was dangerous during the daytime, but at night time, it would take intimate knowledge of the roads and expert driving skills to successfully complete the course. He had been racing for years, and this was a race that made even him nervous.
"Trixie, are you sure about this race?" he asked.
"Speed," she replied. "I know you're an excellent driver. Besides, the motor Pops made handles like a dream. " Then she looked at him. "Do you want to back out?" she asked him seriously.
"Not really, I just don't want anything to happen to you."
"Speed Racer," Trixie said saucily. "I will not have you put your career on hold because you're afraid for me!" She smiled. "Besides, the Appalacicapalla Mountains are pretty close. We could always go for a ride and picnic. You could drive the course at a normal speed. It would help me too."
"I like that idea, Trixie," Speed said, walking over to her and pulling her into a tight embrace. He kissed his wife. "But you know what I love?"
"What?"
"You."
Trixie giggled.
Although the pair would hardly qualify as newlyweds, after their marriage nearly three years ago, Speed and Trixie still acted as such.
"Tell you what," Speed said. "Why don't we take the Mach 6 and you drive? That will give me an even better chance to study the road. And it will give you more of a feel about what I need to know."
Trixie nodded. "Okay." She loved it when they went somewhere and Speed let her drive. The two headed over to Trixie's beautiful pink car and got in.
It was a beautiful day for a drive. While Trixie concentrated on the sharp and steep turns of the Appalacicappala Mountains, Speed was watching the road intently. Every once in a while, he'd ask her to stop, and he'd get out, and look at the road. There were several places where passing could be downright deadly. Trixie was barely driving the posted speed limit for these mountains, and they were quite terrifying.
Still, if Speed felt he could do this race, she trusted her husband completely.
The Appalacicappala Mountain range was almost a perfect loop, with the end of the 400 mile mountain range exiting within 30 miles of its beginning. Trixie was grateful for that, as she truly did not want to drive it again to come back home. However, the way that the mountain range was laid out did make it a perfect course for a midnight rally.
"It's gonna be a real tough race, Trixie," Speed said. "But, part of being a professional driver –"
"And navigator," she added with a grin.
"And Navigator," he agreed, "is not backing down from a challenge." Both of them were nervous, but neither was going to be the one to suggest they back out.
"This is the first time they've held this race, isn't it, Speed?" Trixie asked. She did not remember it being on the circuit before.
"Yeah, I understand the sponsors have been trying to get the racing commission to approve it for years, but the roads were not safe. Even though no one ever drives this range, the sponsors had to make sure all of the roads were up to standard. Did you notice that there were no pot holes?"
Trixie nodded. "And all the roads were really flat, almost as if recently paved."
"The sponsors had to make sure the course was as safe as it could be," Speed said.
"That's a lot of money for a race."
"Oh, they'll make up for it in advertising. I think the owners of the land are wanting to develop a resort, and really want the publicity for the area."
Trixie smiled. "Well, from what I could see, it's very pretty. But why a night time race? No one will see the beautiful course at night."
Speed shrugged. "I don't know. But I know what we're going to do afterwards."
"Oh yeah, and what is that?"
"I'm going to whisk you off of your feet and take you out to celebrate our third anniversary," Speed said huskily.
"Care to give me a hint?"
Speed just grinned. "Nope. It's a surprise."
"Tease," she said, lightly batting his shoulder. Speed responded by lifting his wife up and carrying her into their house, kissing her on the way.
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The morning of the race saw Sparky and Pops frantically going over the Mach 5. Speed and Trixie had spent the past week changing their routine so that they slept during the day and were awake all night, so the Racer Team driver and navigator were nowhere to be seen. They'd show up to the garage two hours before the race to help load the car up and go to the starting line.
Sparky frowned, looking at the Mach 5. "Okay, I've got the strongest brakes on there I can. We've made sure that all the gears are in perfect shape. I think the car is as ready as it can get."
Pops nodded. "I just feel like I'm missing something."
"I think we're just really nervous about this race. Speed's never done anything like it before, and that course is pretty scary during the day. I don't like it," Sparky said.
"Me neither, Spark. I wish I could have talked him out of it."
"You know Speed. He always thinks he has to prove himself, prove that he's the best."
Pops frowned. "Sometimes, I wish he could just let others take on some of these things. And he's taking his wife too. Spark, you know how he feels about her! If anything happened to Trixie, I don't know what Speed would do. And if it's over some stupid race, and he felt responsible – Spark, I just know we'd lose him."
"Speed would never hurt himself."
"No, but he'd waste away."
Sparky looked at Pops. "So tell him not to race."
Pops frowned. "It's been a very long time since Speed let me tell him what to do."
"Then talk to Trixie!"
Pops shook his head. "She thinks Speed hangs the moon and can do anything. And Trixie would never be able to bring herself to tell Speed he shouldn't race. She'd view it as a betrayal. No. We're just going to have to trust that he can do it."
Sparky frowned. "Well, the Mach 5 is as good as we can make it. It's ready."
"So is Speed. I just wish I was," Pops said. "I have a really bad feeling about this race."
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Speed smiled as Trixie put on her red overalls and white shirt. It was an outfit she only wore during races. She looked adorable in her racing helmet. "You look beautiful, Trixie."
"You're not so bad yourself, handsome." Then she winked. "I'm going to go make us something to eat while you finish getting ready."
With that, Trixie left their room and went to the kitchen. Soon, the two were having their final meal before the big race.
"I can still pull out of this, if you want me to, Trixie?" Speed said.
"Do you want to pull out?"
"Not really, but if you're nervous…."
"Speed Racer, I've told you before. I'm not holding you back. If you want to pull out, I will support that decision. But don't do it for me!" Trixie said vehemently. "I'm never going to stand in the way of your career, even when I am nervous or worried about you."
"Okay. But you're in this race too," he said.
"And I'm with the best driver," Trixie said. "You're a wonderful driver, Speed."
"I love you" was all Speed said in response.
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"Gentlemen, start your engines!" the announcer broadcast. With a final smile to Trixie, Speed turned the key to the Mach 5. The engine roared to life, anticipating the race to come. Then the starter pistol fired.
"And they're off!"
The racers had it easy for a few miles as the course approached the ominous mountain range, but once in, it would be very dangerous. For once, Speed had decided it was important to be in the lead at the beginning. There were virtually no safe places to pass other cars in this mountain range. So he surged ahead and entered the pass with only one car in front of him – driven by Dirk Spratley of the Red Diamond Team. The car immediately behind him was also driven by a member of the Red Diamond Team – Danger Jones.
Speed frowned. Of all the drivers to get between, he would not have picked those two. Still, Racer X was directly behind Danger Jones, so he didn't worry too much.
Trixie sensed his worry, but didn't say anything. Right now, she knew it was important to focus on the race. She laughed as they took the first turn at a speed that was more foolhardy than wise. Still, these first few turns were important to get the feel of the course. Right now, they were not very high up, and Speed wanted to find out how fast he could take them where it was slightly less dangerous.
Trixie called out the turns as they were coming up, and let him know how close he was to the other drivers. Finally, the course opened up to the infamous Appalacicapalla Bridge. It was the only straightaway in the entire course, and the one opportunity there would be for Speed to attempt to pass Spratley on this course.
He went for it. But Spratley and Jones knew that Speed was going to make this move here, and were ready. Spratley slammed on his brakes, clipping the right front corner of the Mach 5 just as Jones intentionally slammed into the left rear corner, changing the direction of the car. Speed had no time to hit the brakes as the Mach 5 crashed into the barricade and went sailing off the bridge and into the ravine below.
"Ahhhhhhh" Speed exclaimed and Trixie screamed. He looked over at his wife. There was nothing he could do.
The moment felt like it lasted forever, but it was only a few seconds, then the Mach 5 crashed onto the forest floor. Trixie was flung from the car, but Speed landed closer, and when the Mach 5 finished rolling, it landed on his leg.
Speed Racer lay unconscious, pinned by his car, and his wife Trixie lay unmoving twenty feet away.
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Racer X had slammed on his brakes the moment he saw the Mach 5 take flight. He jumped out of his car and watched in horror as Speed's car crashed. He ran back to his car and called it in. "We need medics and search and rescue. The Mach 5 has been in an accident."
"We're on our way."
Racer X turned the Shooting Star around and started to drive down the terrain to get to his kid brother, Speed. He was not sure if he'd get there before the medics did, but he wanted to try. Besides, Racer X was no stranger to driving down mountainous terrains.
When he did arrive, forty minutes later, the helicopter had not yet arrived, and Racer X was concerned. The lights from the Mach 5 were still on; the bright beams illuminating the area. Speed was under the Mach 5. Racer X ran to him immediately and checked his pulse. He was breathing, lightly, and unconscious. Racer X noticed that he had been bleeding, but it had stopped. "You're gonna be okay, kid. Help's on the way," Racer X said softly to him. "Now, I need to see to Trixie."
"Trixie," Speed moaned softly, but did not appear to awaken.
Racer X started to look for Trixie. First he checked in the passenger seat, but she was not there. She too had been thrown from the car. Frowning, he looked around, but didn't see her in the area illuminated by the lights of the Shooting Star or the Mach 5. Racer X ran back to his car and called again for help. "The helicopter pilot has reported seeing the lights. He's looking for a place to land. You should hear him soon."
Racer X looked up, and did see the lights of a helicopter in the distance. He frowned. Speed, he knew, needed immediate attention. But where was Trixie? He grabbed a flashlight from his car and started to search the area. He could see several trees damaged from the progress of the Mach 5, and only hoped that Trixie was nearby. Racer X was glad he had assumed search and rescue would be needed, because Trixie was not close to the Mach 5.
He was still searching for her when the medics arrived. "Speed Racer is by the Mach 5. He's unconscious but has a steady pulse. Trixie Racer is missing," Racer X informed them.
"I'm Charles Seeker," one of the men said. "I'm with search and rescue."
Racer X nodded as Seeker started giving instructions to the rest of the search and rescue team. He wanted to go to Speed, but he knew his kid brother very well. Speed would want him to find Trixie. Racer X saw the medics examine Speed, and then signal for help. A crew very carefully raised the Mach 5, allowing them to pull Speed out from under the vehicle. Then they loaded him onto a stretcher.
"Seeker!" the paramedic called.
"Sir!"
"We need to get Mr. Racer to the hospital. I'll have another chopper flown out to pick your crew up." The paramedic looked at Racer X. "Do you want to go with us?"
"No, I'm going to stay here and look for Trixie," Racer X said. "We need to find her before Speed wakes up, because I guarantee you will have a very uncooperative patient otherwise."
The paramedic nodded. "Understandable." With that, they hoisted the stretcher and walked Speed back to the helicopter.
Racer X took a moment to go to the Mach 5. It was time to break the news to the pit crew that the Mach 5 was out of the race, if they didn't already know.
"Mach 5 to base," Racer X called.
"Who is this?!" Pops demanded.
"Racer X."
"Racer X, why are you calling on the Mach 5 radio?"
Racer X took a breath. "There's no easy way to say this, Pops. Speed and Trixie have been in a very bad accident. Speed is being taken by helicopter to the hospital right now."
"And Trixie?" Pops asked, worry lacing his voice.
"We're trying to find her," Racer X said. "But you need to get to the hospital. Speed is unconscious. Reassure him when he wakes up that I am out here looking for her."
"Just find Trixie, Racer X. Bring her back safe to us."
"I'll do my best, Pops," Racer X assured him. Then he put the radio down and started looking. Racer X noticed something, fairly close to the car. "Trixe?!" he called out, hopefully.
It wasn't Trixie. It was her red racing helmet, crushed on one side and broken in two. Right next to the helmet was a rather large rock, covered in blood. Close to the rock was the shattered remains of her special bracelet with the tracking device in it. And nearby was a single white shoe, the kind she always wore when racing.
"Over here!" Racer X shouted.
The search and rescue crew came rushing over to examine what he had found.
"Those are definitely hers," Racer X informed them. "But where is she?"
Charles Seeker bent down and looked at the area. "I don't know, but if the helmet is any indication, she's hurt pretty badly. She should not have been able to get up on her own. But if she did somehow, she can't have gone far." He looked at the men with him. "Spread out."
With their flashlights, however, the men had no hopes of finding any clues. It was too dark. "We'll have to come back at first light," Charles finally said.
"But Trixie is injured and obviously needs immediate medical attention," Racer X insisted.
Charles nodded. "Yes, she does. But we're not going to find her now. And if we keep looking, we may trample on any kind of clues. The best thing for her is for us to wait until we have daylight to look."
Racer X knew he was right.
"Come on, we'll give you a lift to the hospital. You can ride back with us tomorrow."
Racer X nodded. He looked around the woods. "Trixie, if you're out there, we're looking for you. Just wait for us, okay?" he said softly.
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