Battleground: USA

Chapter 1: Hi-Speed MX5 Pursuit

San Diego International Airport: 8:00 PM

For young racing ace Keisuke Takahashi, eight hours on a plane was not the most interesting proposition to the start of his new training, but he had to do so. "It's for my aniki," he thought, reminding himself of that cruel March night in which a red FC killed his brother, "I was also given specific instruction on what to do with my inheritance. I still don't get what this will accomplish for me."

After getting his bags at baggage claim, Keisuke walked to the parking lot to get his rental. "I can't believe it," he said while looking at his bare bones Ford Focus with sat-nav, "If all American cars are like this, I don't want any part of them." After getting in, Keisuke opened up his carry on and pulled out a manila envelope. Written in Kanji was his name, and to the side there was a stamp that said "DO NOT OPEN" in English.

This plain envelope was what Keisuke was given at the funeral. He recalled the instructions given to him; "Keisuke-san," the voice said, "I have also arranged for you to go to America. You will arrive in San Diego. I have given you an envelope with further instructions on what you have to do." "What in the hell did he want me to do here?" Keisuke asked himself. He opened the envelope. Inside was a set of keys to some sort of automobile. They were an older set that was worn down by many years of usage, but nonetheless they were a set of keys. Along with the keys was a map. A port was circled. Attached to the map was a letter. It stated that Keisuke was to go to the circled address and look for a large ten-year old crate from Japan. It also stated that he would have to steal it. With all that, there was also a gun that he had, too.

"You've got to be joking, aniki!" Keisuke said to himself, "Steal the fucking car?" "I'm guessing in your Yakuza days" the letter said, "That you could easily take care of stuff like this. I wish you luck Keisuke, and I hope you eventually understand why you are doing this." After finishing reading the letter, he threw the Focus into drive, and headed out of the airport.

"Turn left"

"What the hell does he want me to get in this yard?" Keisuke said, listening to some American band known as Primus, "This is not like him at all. He must've rushed this before the race, knowing he'd possibly die." "This'll be your last run for Project.D" the tape said, "This time, failure is not an option."

"Jerry was a race car driver"

"In 200 yards, turn right"

"Never did win the checkered flag, but he never did come in last"

"You have reached your destination"

"Okay," Keisuke said getting out of the car at the dockyard, "Now I have to break in here. How the hell am I supposed to do that?" He got out, looking around the complex for some sort of gate he could ram through, seeing the 20-foot fence and barb-wire all around the yard. "Screw jumping the fence," Keisuke said, "Now what?" He then saw a gate with no guard, which he could ram through.

"What's up, Jim?" the guard said. "There's this guy sitting out here in a Focus, looking like he's gonna break through the fence." "Call the cops then, dumbass." "Got it, boss."

The Focus rammed through the gate with no problem. "Damn," Keisuke said, "This is one tough mother. I'm surprised it didn't shatter." He then started driving through the complex, looking for the crate. "Where the hell is it?" he said, "By the time I find it, I'll be in jail!" He then spotted it out of the corner of his eye. He slammed on the brakes of the Focus, and grabbed the folder, the gun and the set of keys. He shot the lock out, like in the movies, and went into the crate.

Outside the yard, a police car was pulling up. "Thanks for showing up, officer," the guard said, "He's right in there, possibly armed, Asian, driving a Focus, and definitely determined." "We'll try to stop him before he causes any harm," the officer stated. He then got back into his Impala, and drove inside to apprehend the criminal.

"Come out with your hands up!" a voice on a loudspeaker yelled. "What now?" Keisuke said, in the old seat, "I can't give up now; ah well, so long cruel world!" He turned over the engine and exploded out of the crate, nearly sideswiping the Chevrolet cop car.

"Requesting backup on a police chase in San Diego shipyard. Vehicle is a right-hand drive 1994 blue Mazda Miata with Japanese plates."

"Roger. Help is on the way"

The tires squealed as the Mazda drifted through the shipyard towards the exit. "Shit, aniki!" Keisuke said, "Why the hell did you make me do this?" As he was making a run for the exit, he saw three other cop cars heading towards the exit. "Damn!" Keisuke said, braking and turning hard right towards the freeway. "I gotta outrun these bastards!"

"suspect Heading northbound towards Los Angeles. Requesting backup"

"Roger"

The blue MX5 was speeding through traffic. Keisuke was sweating bullets as the red-and-blue lights started to fade from his rear-view. "Am I losing them?" Keisuke wondered, listening to the high-rev engine while shifting up; the familiar sound of a blow-off valve whooshed out of the engine, "That sounds like my 13B! That's why I'm losing them! He set it up like the FD was when I started!"

"Damn, this guy is fast!"

"We've lost suspect. Setting up a 3-mile perimeter around area. All cops look for blue MX5."

In a back alley, the car sat idling. Keisuke laid his head on the steering wheel. "That's the worst experience I ever had," he thought. Keisuke then began to look in the car for some sort of instruction. "C'mon aniki!" he said, "You had to have left me something to instruct me with!" He looked high and low, eventually opening the glove box. Inside was a map of the United States with a route drawn out in red. The first circled location was Los Angeles. next to the circle was a post-it with an address. Next to the address were the words "Ask for Gene Maglio; tell him you're the Comet's brother. Give it about 3 hours before leaving San Diego, too." "Maybe he didn't hurry this thing," Keisuke thought, "Okay then, let's head to LA."