Gumball Rally: World Racers
Chapter 1: A Challenge.
AN:Just a little something I had in mind. I had an idea of a race between representatives of multiple U.S. states and countries of the world and kind of ran with it. This is how it turned out.
This doesn't fit into any existing continuity from any other writer. It's designed to stand alone. There are a small number of characters of my own creation, but I've decided to keep that to a minimum.
The cars featured come from the PS2 racing game "Juiced". The game featrues licensed cars, so the cars will be referred to by their real names for the most part. One car will have a code name, but it's already well established.
And here we go:
At a diner in Whatchacallit, Maine, the evening crowd gathered for dinner.
The owner, a lady named "Flo" Pyle, looked up at the television as a reporter announced "Earlier this week, race car driver turned businessman Michael Bannon announced the return of the Gumball Rally, a race of his own organization. Racers are to gather..."
"Boy, I remembah doing that." said Captain Eddie, a short, stout fisherman with a pipe. "Took paht in the Gumball Rally last ye-ah."
"Ah geeze, Eddie." said Flo. "Is this anothah one of yah tall tales?"
"Tall tales?" asked Eddie. "This actually happened. I don't know how, but I somehow got invited to be in the Gumball."
"Yeah, yah gonna tell us about it." sighed Flo.
"Glad you asked." said Eddie.
"It all stahted at an office in New Yahk. I wasn't present, but I assume it went like this..."
Michael Bannon paced around his office while having a video conference with a client.
"The location is not the problem." said Michael. "What concerns me is the timetable."
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Bannon." said the man onscreen. "But we can't have this building up any faster."
"I can understand that." said Michael. "But can you understand that this warehouse is required for next year's shipments?"
"Yes, I can." said the man as the picture started to break up. "I'm just poin-ing out th- imp-ib..."
"We're breaking up." said Michael.
"I -hink w- ha- a b- con..." said the man as the picture finally gave out.
He was replaced by an Asian man wearing a black racing jumpsuit. "There is nothing wrong with your picture, Mr. Bannon."
"Who are you?" asked Michael.
"I am Balong." said the man. "I am the best race driver in the nation of Panau. But the competition is starting to get stale."
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Michael.
"I seek new competition." said Balong. "Namely, I'm challenging you. I've heard of your little race, the Gumball Rally."
"Tell me when you're going to be in New York and we can start the race." said Michael.
"Not America." said Balong. "I'm currently wanted in fifteen U.S. states. No, we must set this event in another country."
"What did you have in mind?" asked Michael.
"Someplace scenic, but with challenging roads." said Balong. "I was thinking that New Zealand would be the ideal place."
"You're in luck." said Michael. "I happen to be friends with the cultural attache from New Zealand. I'm sure we can work something out."
"Perfect." said Balong.
"One other thing." said Michael. "I've had this idea for a specially themed race for a while. I'd invite one team from each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and numerous countries. I'd like to put this into effect here. I'd represent New York state and you would represent Panau."
"Sounds fair enough." said Balong.
"Then, it's a deal." said Michael. "We head to New Zealand to race against the world's best and brightest."
"Bye bye." said Balong.
He disappeared from the screen and put the other man back.
"Well, good to see that's fixed." said the man.
"You know what?" asked Michael. "Forget the timetable. Build the warehouse at your own pace. I can wait."
At the Reno, Nevada Sheriff's Department, two policemen set up the briefing room.
One of them, a brown-haired man with a moustache and a pair of shorts as part of his uniform, turned to address the camera. "What's going on is we've been asked to participate in the Gumball Rally as security." said the man, Lieutenant Jim Dangle. "Several other law enforcement groups have been invited as well for the same reason. We're setting up to organize our efforts."
The other man, who had dark hair and a moustache and wore a bulletproof vest on the outside of his uniform, joined him. "Our car is sitting in the parking lot." said the man, Deputy Travis Junior. "It was confiscated from a local ne'er-do-well who we arrested last month. The car was heading for a police auction when we got it. I think it'll be a nice car once we've cleaned the blood out and filled in the bullet holes."
Their first guests arrived shortly afterward. They were a trio of Asian men.
"Greetings from China." said their leader, an athletic man. "My name is Inspector Lee and we too have been selected for the Gumball."
"Welcome...to...America!" said Dangle slowly and loudly. "We...are...pleased...to...meet...you!"
"Lieutenant Dangle." said the second man, who was somewhat overweight. "I don't know if you've been informed, but the three of us speak perfect English. In fact, I spent two years with the Los Angeles police force."
"This is Detective Sammo Law." said the third, a slender man wearing glasses. "And I am Detective Chang. We were personally selected for our work."
"Okay, glad you could be here." said Dangle. "Sit anywhere you'd like."
As the Chinese team took their seats, another pair of men entered. One was an older man with a dark moustache and a French policeman's cap. The other was a dark-haired athletic man wearing cargo pants and a black tank top.
"'Allo." said the older man.
"Ah, you must be the French team." said Dangle.
"Mais oui." said the man. "I am Inspector Clouseau of the French police and this is my noble assistant, Leito."
"Bonjour." said Leito.
"I checked your department's records." said Dangle. "I don't recall seeing this man on staff."
"And that is because Leito is not actually on our payroll." said Clouseau. "He is actually part of a group of concerned citizens similar to your Neighborhood Watch."
"Not quite." said Leito.
"So, why did you bring him?" asked Junior.
"If you see me in action, you'll know." said Leito.
Two more men entered, arguing in German.
"Ah, welcome to America." said Dangle. "Officers Gerkhan and Jager of the Autopolizei, I assume?"
"Ja." said one of the men. "I am officer Samir Gerkhan and this is Ben Jager."
"Okay, now that we're mostly here." said Dangle. "It's time to start the briefing."
There was a knock at the door and two more men walked in. "Is this the briefing for the Gumball Rally?" asked one, a dark-haired man with an athletic build.
"Yes, it is." said Dangle. "Please, take a seat, Mr..."
"I'm Steve McGarrett." said the man. "And this is Danny Williams."
"We're with Hawaii Five-O." said Danny, a man with blonde, spiky hair and short facial hair. "It's an elite police unit specializing in large scale crimes."
"Then, it's a good thing you're here." said Dangle. "Now, as you know, you've been summoned for the Gumball Rally as part of the security force. The race is being held in New Zealand and was organized after a challenge by this man."
Junior put a picture of Balong up on the easel and almost knocked it over.
"His name is Balong." said Dangle. "All we know is that he's part of the underground racing scene in the nation of Panau."
"Une question." said Clouseau. "Is Balong his first name or last name?"
"Both." said Dangle.
"Actually, in Polynesian culture," said Chang "very often a person will have just the one name."
"Lieutenant Dangle?" asked Steve. "I've just had a word with Detective Williams and I think we might have a personal stake in this."
"Go ahead." said Dangle.
"I thought Mr. Balong looked familiar." said Danny. "So, I checked with headquarters and it turns out he's wanted in Hawaii for his involvement in a series of auto thefts. If caught, he's looking at a stiff sentence."
"Well, that's great." said Dangle. "Then, we can take care of the main security problem from the get-go. Just arrest him, extradite him to Hawaii, and lock him up. I guess there's really no need for strategy. Meeting adjourned."
Somewhere under South Dakota, in a facility known as "Warehouse 13"...
"I've been following the racing scene in Panau for some time." said a short man with black hair and a short beard. "There's a driver who's made a sudden jump to the top of the rankings."
"But that happens in racing all the time." said a black-haired woman named Myka Bering. "What's so interesting about this one?"
"This particular racer has been at the bottom of the rankings for years." said the bearded man, Artie Neilsen. "Occasionally, he'd be lucky to actually finish a race. Suddenly, he's one of the best the country has to offer and is practically infallible."
"And you suspect an artifact." said a black-haired man, Peter Lattimer.
"I do, in fact." said Artie. "I may be wrong, but I'd like it if you were to check it out."
"Artie, I don't think Panau is within the Secret Service's jurisdiction." said Myka.
"Just as well." said Artie. "My sources say an American intelligence operation is currently underway there. I'd rather you didn't get in their way. Actually, the driver in question, named Balong, is soon to take part in the Gumball Rally in New Zealand. I've managed to get you two into the race."
"Using what?" asked Peter. "I don't think our SUV is up to a race like that and I know you won't let us use your Jaguar."
"I have just the thing." said Artie.
He led them outside a few minutes later while carrying a baseball cap with the BF Goodrich logo on it.
"There it is." he said as he showed them a yellow Ford Focus ZX3.
"Not exactly what I was expecting." said Myka. "But I think we get some performance out of it."
"This is an artifact, right?" asked Peter. "Let me guess. It used to belong to Danica Patrick. No, it used to belong to Ken Block. Wait, wait. It used to belong to J.R. Hildebrant."
Artie took out an invoice. "It used to belong to..." he said before checking the invoice. "Christopher Furbush of Kingston, New York. This is a used car, Peter, not an artifact."
"Oh." said Peter.
"However, this is an artifact." said Artie as he took the baseball cap and placed it on Peter's head. "Be sure to wear it while you're driving."
A metallic buzz came from a metal box on Myka's belt. She picked it up and opened it. "Gumball." she said.
"The race is on." said Artie. "Good luck, guys."
Artie returned to the warehouse while Peter and Myka got into the Focus.
"So, who did that artifact come from?" asked Myka.
Peter took off the baseball cap and looked inside. "Dale Earnhardt?" he said. "I hope this works for us."
In Miami, a white Volkswagen Golf GTI drove along.
"I assume you've gone over his profile." said the blonde woman driving the car.
"I went over his profile and his three associates." said the dark-haired man in the passenger seat as he stared blankly through the windshield. "Despite all he's been through, he's sure to help."
The Volkswagen parked in front of a disused warehouse. The two climbed out.
Inside the warehouse, a middle-aged man took a bottle of beer out of a refrigerator. He heard a noise from outside and set the beer down. He picked up a handgun and made his way to the door.
The woman stopped at the door and said "Michael Westen? I'm Annie Walker from the CIA. I have to discuss an operation with you."
"Show me some I.D. and show me your hands." said the middle-aged man. "They'd better be empty."
Annie slipped her identification through the gap in the door and held her outstretched hands inside.
The man checked her I.D. and said "Come on in."
Annie stepped inside while keeping her hands in view. Her partner stepped inside and the man put his gun to his head.
"I recognize that hammer." said the partner. "Glock 17 if I'm not mistaken."
"You know your hardware." said the man.
"You're not Michael Westen." said Annie.
"Sam Axe." said the man. "Michael's working a case in Tampa. So, Annie Walker?"
"Yes." said Annie. "This is my partner, Augie Anderson."
"And what's this you have to discuss with Michael?" asked Sam.
"Have a seat and we'll talk." said Augie as he felt for a seat. Once he found an armrest, he lowered himself slowly into the seat.
Sam watched this as he picked up his beer. He walked over to Augie and waved his hand in front of his face.
"Seriously?" asked Augie. "Waving the hand in front of my face?"
"Your partner's blind?" asked Sam.
"Don't underestimate him." said Annie. "He's repeatedly proven himself in the heat of battle."
"So, what's this operation you're talking about?" asked Sam.
"What do you know about the nation of Panau?" asked Augie.
"Never heard of it." said Sam.
"Well, it recently became a major hotspot with the death of president Papa Panay." said Annie. "He was succeeded by his son, 'Baby' Panay who is suspected of having something to do with his father's death."
"Since he took office," said Augie "Baby Panay has started numerous weapons programs and seized control of many of the country's natural resources. He appears to have sinister intentions in mind."
"However, one of his closest friends, a man named Balong, is heading to New Zealand to take part in the Gumball Rally." said Annie. "Our plan to enter the race ourselves and capture Balong when the opportunity presents itself. After that comes the interrogation."
"Last time I checked, the Gumball was by invitation only." said Sam.
"On that end, we've got an inside man working for Michael Bannon." said Augie. "He's gotten us both into the race and on the call list. We'll be representing Virginia while you'd be representing Florida."
"Alright, I'm in." said Sam. "Sounds like a bad guy and I'd rather not imagine the potential consequences."
"Thank you very much." said Annie as she took out an envelope and handed it to Sam.
"What's this?" asked Sam as he took the envelope.
"Operating capital." said Augie. "Use that to buy some supplies for the race. New clothes, new car."
Sam smiled at them.
The following day, Sam went to a clothing store and bought jeans and a polo shirt. A Members Only jacket completed the ensemble.
Shortly afterward, Sam slipped a salesperson some money. In return, the salesperson slid him a new pair of sunglasses. He promptly put them on.
He headed to a used car dealership next. After signing the invoice, Sam shook hands with the dealer and climbed into a slate grey '99 Mustang GT.
Sam returned to the warehouse and climbed out of the Mustang. He answered his ringing cell phone. "Sam."
"Did you get everything?" asked Annie on the other end.
"Car, outfit, sunglasses." said Sam. "I've already hidden a gun under the seat. Somewhere the customs agents won't find it."
"Good, we just got the call." said Annie. "We'll be leaving shortly. We'll see you in New Zealand. When we get there, pretend we don't know each other."
"I understand." said Sam. "I'll see you there."
Sam hung up and continued towards the warehouse. His cell phone rang again.
"Sam." he answered.
"Gumball."
"I'm on my way." said Sam. He hung up and returned to the Mustang.
AN:If you're wondering, Panau is the country where "Just Cause 2" takes place. Please review.