Authors note: Here's the requested sequel to "The Alpha: A Speed Racer
Prologue. I have done as before put this in the 1960's because that's
where Speed Racer was originally with dialogue and scenes based on popular
culture of the 60's. I've been watching the old episodes to especially get
the dialogue. I also made this with racing action and language from my
fandom in NASCAR. I don't own the characters, Speed Racer Enterprises and
DIC do.
PERILOUS TROPICAL ROAD RALLY
Part 1-CLOSE CALL
The blue helicopter was a black speck in the tropical blue sky above the southern coastal resort town of Raytona, whirring above the community like an oblong top, making rounds back and forth. The shimmering azure of the ocean lined the road that would be the course of the Raytona Road Rally that was a pre-season race for Formula 1 drivers. And being such, the small resort town was teeming with drivers, their crews, families and friends, not to mention the media and fans in town, causing the small community's population to swell to nearly double its size. Local motels, hotels and inns were full to capacity and the streets were choking with traffic. But the two occupants of the whirlybird were making observations on something other than traffic tie-ups from the lower stratosphere. An attractive black haired young man was busily jotting notes as the pilot, a delicately pretty young woman with a chestnut brown bob concentrated on the task of flying the craft.
"Let's try the north section of the road course, Trixie. I need to see the terrain a little bit closer to get an idea of what kind of road conditions I'll be facing," Speed Racer, the youthful yet talented Formula 1 racecar driver directed.
"Okay, Speed. I'll head right over there," Trixie Shimura, spotter of Pops Motors Go Racing Team responded, banking the craft and flying north.
The chopper flew across the northern area of the resort town and followed a route that headed into a relatively unpopulated stretch of land that had a road snaking through it. Speed peered down through a pair of binoculars, and then put them down while he made more notes.
Trixie glanced over at Speed as he scribbled his notations. "You getting the information you need or do you want me to go closer?"
"Lower us a little, okay? I want to see exactly what type of road this course is." At his request, Trixie pulled back on the rudder and the craft lowered to about 1500 feet. He commanded, "That's great right there. Now take us the length of the road."
Trixie accelerated gradually as she followed the road. Speed watched the ground intently, making quick notations on a pad on his lap and on a map. They eventually came to the landmark signifying the turnaround point to head back to Raytona and the track where the finish line would be.
Trixie hovered above the landmark as Speed continued his writing. He looked at her and grinned when he finished. "I think that'll do it for now, Trix. We can head back to the track now."
"You sure? We can go over it again if you want, Speed."
"Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks Trix," Speed said, as his cobalt blue eyes twinkled, squeezing her hand on the rudder. His hand remained compassed on hers as she guided the helicopter back up.
"Okay, here we go." She banked and headed back towards the town. "Whew, that looks like quite a course down there," she commented as she observed the winding road that followed the coastline.
"Yeah, but I've seen worse. The road course of this rally is really diverse, from ocean side to inland, but you know me, I love a challenge."
Trixie smiled fondly at him. "You sure do. And I can't think of anyone better to meet it." Speed returned the smile as he took his other hand and gently ran his fingers on her cheek. She playfully slapped his hand away and admonished, "You better not do that, I've got to get us back on terra firma, so for the time being Mr. Racer, keep the round-the-world moves to yourself."
"Round-the-world moves?" Speed inquired, sapphire eyes wide, all innocence.
"Yeah," Trixie retorted. "Rushin' hands and roamin' fingers."
Speed threw his head back and guffawed heartily. "That's a good one, Trix."
Trixie looked at him and giggled, "I have my moments."
They headed back to the track, following the main highway on the road below but as they reached the halfway point another helicopter appeared as a black dot out of nowhere, and speeded towards them on an apparent head-on collision course. Her eyes widened in alarm as she spotted the rapidly approaching aircraft.
"Trixie, look out!" Speed barked as he too spotted the other craft headed straight for them. With a horrified look and her pilot's natural reflexes, she pulled the rudder to the right, just missing the other chopper. "Hey, what the hell's that guy's problem. He almost crashed right into us!" Speed snapped as he turned in his seat and watched the other craft gradually disappear behind as mysteriously as it appeared.
"Wow, talk about your Sunday drivers. I didn't think we'd have to worry about his type up here," he said as he turned to face the front. He glanced over at Trixie and praised, "Good flying, Trix."
Trixie said nothing, pale and still obviously shook by the incident. She gripped the rudder hard, her knuckles whitening from the pressure. Speed glanced at her in concern. "Are you okay, honey? Trixie? Trixie!"
Trixie remained silent, her sea green eyes trained straight ahead, with a determined glint that appeared somewhat glazed. Speed watched her, his brow furrowed in worry as wordlessly she flew the craft the rest of the way back to the Raytona track airfield. She hovered above the tarmac and gradually lowered the helicopter to the ground whereupon touching down, she cut the motor, and unbuckled her belt as she laid her head back against the headrest with her eyes closed. Her heart still pounding, she took several deep breaths to collect herself.
Speed studied her uncertainly, not knowing what to do or say. He shook her shoulders gently in an urgent attempt to snap her out of it. "Trixie, we've landed now. Let's get out of here, okay?" he said softly, taking her hands and prying them from the death grip on the rudder she still maintained. He was shocked by how they felt like two blocks of trembling ice; she was really freaked. "C'mon Trix, you're scaring me. Talk to me, please," he begged.
Trixie opened her eyes and gazed at Speed. A tear trickled down from one eye as she whispered, "Oh Speed."
He took her in his arms, stroking her head as he held it to his, his cheek pressed against hers, "Hush baby, it's okay. Everything's all right, we're on the ground now."
"How'd we get here?" Trixie asked numbly.
Speed pulled his head back to study her. "Don't you remember? You flew us here."
Trixie eyed him incredulously. "I did?"
Speed nodded, "Uh-huh. You handle the air power, I handle the land power, remember?"
"I guess I must've zoned out," Trixie tried to giggle but it came out as a frightened yelp. "I could've killed us," she cried out, the stark realization hitting her.
Speed pulled her into him closer. "Let's just stay here for a moment so you can calm down, okay?" He tightened his arms around her and he felt her fear as she leaned against him, still shivering. Trixie went limp against him, letting his strength envelop her.
They were in that comforting position for an indeterminate period of time when Speed's younger brother Spritle who, with his faithful monkey companion Chim Chim, yanked open the door and joined the couple interrupting their quiet time. "Hey Speedy, Trixie! Are you gonna stay in here all day?"
Speed sighed impatiently, "Look, Spritle, do you mind? Trixie wasn't feeling good for a moment so we stayed in here. Why don't you go find Pops? It's almost time for dinner." He removed his arms from Trixie and shooed his protesting little brother away from the helicopter. Once he got the boy out he closed and locked the door and turned back to his girlfriend who had again joined the living and begun composing herself.
"Feeling better?" Speed asked solicitously.
"Uh-huh. I'm sorry, Speed, I don't usually flip out like that. Thank goodness we got back here in one piece." Trixie shook her head in self- recrimination.
"Hey, you did great, really. I'm impressed, I don't know how I'd have handled that. Fantastic."
Trixie smiled wryly, "I guess I'm like you are in the Mach 5 when I'm up in the air. I just focus."
Speed grinned at her. "Yeah, like two peas in a pod." He looped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. She reached around his torso and squeezed back.
Trixie shook her head as she began to feel normal. She glanced quizzically at Speed and asked, "Do you think that it was Wiley and the Alpha Team up there who almost hit us?"
Speed shook his head. "I don't know who else. It appears he's certainly persistent, and he stands by his word." His eyes narrowed to cobalt slits, as he became enraged by the mere thought.
Trixie shuddered as she reached for the note in her pants pocket. "You're right, Speed I'm afraid he meant just what he said." She held the note in her hand and Speed leaned over as they both perused through it.
Miss Shimura,
I regret to inform you that the decision you made concerning my offer
has disappointed me deeply and I feel that it leaves me no other
alternative but to do all in my power to defeat and destroy you and
the Go Team.
Don't contact the police, it will only bring about dire consequences
for you both.
Wiley
"Will I ever get over what happened, Speed? Will this ever end?" Trixie asked in quiet misery, taking the note and folding it before shoving it back into her pants pocket. "I can't even tell Inspector Detector, who knows what that madman will do."
Speed gritted his teeth as he was filled with a cold, murderous fury. He slammed a fist against the side of the chopper's interior in frustration. "Damn him straight to hell. I'd like to tear him apart," he snarled.
Trixie sighed, "My sentiments exactly. But that will only get us disqualified from the race and thrown in the slammer. There's no concrete evidence that points to him as the force behind my attack. For all intents and purposes, he's just the owner of the Alpha Team"
It was the truth, for the investigation into Trixie's attack two weeks ago had been short and turned up nothing more than her assailant, Slyme Balle being charged for assault with intent to kill. Also true was the fact that he was cooling his heels in the local jail, but his confession had done nothing more than place all the evidence to implicate him. His desperate attempt to include Wiley in the charge was discounted by Sy Shyster, Wiley's attorney, who produced solid proof that convincingly disassociated him with Balle. Inspector Detector had kept her informed of the legal wrangling that had taken place, much to her and the Racers' dismay. The document that her late father, Michael Shimura, had signed was declared null and void due to it not being notarized prior to his death. So everything had met a proverbial dead end. So resigned, Trixie had let go of the situation until she received the note in her mailbox just as she had been preparing to leave for Raytona with Speed and the Go Team. When she opened and read the note, in a panic she had phoned Speed immediately.
Flashback:
Over the phone, Trixie had just finished reading the note from Wiley to Speed. "Speed, I'm scared. For me, you, and the whole team. Maybe you ought to find someone else to be your spotter for the Raytona Road Rally. It'd be safer."
"Are you kidding, Trixie? No way am I gonna let this lowlife SOB Wiley intimidate me and if he tries to send another stooge to try to hurt you again, I will end up in the slammer 'cause I'll kill him."
"But I have to think about the good of the team, Speed. Plus, I'd never forgive myself if something terrible happened to the team, you or your family because of me. Maybe getting involved with me and hiring me was a big mistake," she had sobbed, deeply distressed.
"Hey now stop that," Speed admonished gently. "Hiring you was the best thing Pops ever did and meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. Before you came along, I only cared about racing, everything else was a blur. Now there are two things important to me, racing and you. I'd be lost without you, angel."
"Oh Speed, are you sure? I mean I want to work on the team but--"
"Look, Trixie you can try to convince me all you want to let you drop out of the team and my life but I hate to tell ya it isn't gonna happen. Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me, honey, so deal with it," Speed said, digging his heels in.
"Okay. But you realize you're doing this at your own risk." Trixie had acquiesced.
Speed chuckled, "I'll take my chances. Besides, I love to live dangerously. I race cars for a living, remember?"
End Flashback
There was a knock on the helicopter hatch. With a sigh, Speed unlocked the hatch. "Looks like nobody's gonna leave us alone." He opened the chopper and Sparky Sabu, his best friend and crew chief peeked in.
"Hey you guys. You comin' out or you gonna spend the night in there?"
Speed replied, "Now that's not a bad idea." He leered and winked at Trixie who blushed and slapped his arm.
"Now, now come on, you two. You know tonight's the big welcome dinner dance for the rally drivers and the press is just dying to interview the wonder boy of the racing world, Speed Racer," Sparky reminded him.
Speed groaned, "Don't remind me. I wish there was some way to ditch them and not make an appearance but the publicity for Pops Motors will be outtasight." He grinned at Trixie. "Besides, I can't wait to see you in that new mini-dress you bought last week. You've been keeping it under heavy wraps."
She responded, "Yes I have and it'll be well worth the wait."
"Well, then let's go get ready for the festivities, shall we?" He slid out of the craft and offered his hand to Trixie to assist her as she followed suit.
Still holding Trixie's hand, Speed turned to Sparky. "Hey, Spark, your gonna come too aren't ya? There'll be plenty of chicks there I bet. The groupies will be out in force."
"Yeah but they aren't interested in me, pal. It's you they'll be flocking to," Sparky said matter-of-factly as Trixie glared at him.
Speed caught her jealous response and felt a thrill inside. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Well then, they'll just have to settle for my mechanic. 'Cause I'm spoken for," he said easily as he slipped his arm around Trixie's waist.
They all headed for the Pops Motorsports trailer in the late afternoon sun to prepare for the evening ahead.
PERILOUS TROPICAL ROAD RALLY
Part 1-CLOSE CALL
The blue helicopter was a black speck in the tropical blue sky above the southern coastal resort town of Raytona, whirring above the community like an oblong top, making rounds back and forth. The shimmering azure of the ocean lined the road that would be the course of the Raytona Road Rally that was a pre-season race for Formula 1 drivers. And being such, the small resort town was teeming with drivers, their crews, families and friends, not to mention the media and fans in town, causing the small community's population to swell to nearly double its size. Local motels, hotels and inns were full to capacity and the streets were choking with traffic. But the two occupants of the whirlybird were making observations on something other than traffic tie-ups from the lower stratosphere. An attractive black haired young man was busily jotting notes as the pilot, a delicately pretty young woman with a chestnut brown bob concentrated on the task of flying the craft.
"Let's try the north section of the road course, Trixie. I need to see the terrain a little bit closer to get an idea of what kind of road conditions I'll be facing," Speed Racer, the youthful yet talented Formula 1 racecar driver directed.
"Okay, Speed. I'll head right over there," Trixie Shimura, spotter of Pops Motors Go Racing Team responded, banking the craft and flying north.
The chopper flew across the northern area of the resort town and followed a route that headed into a relatively unpopulated stretch of land that had a road snaking through it. Speed peered down through a pair of binoculars, and then put them down while he made more notes.
Trixie glanced over at Speed as he scribbled his notations. "You getting the information you need or do you want me to go closer?"
"Lower us a little, okay? I want to see exactly what type of road this course is." At his request, Trixie pulled back on the rudder and the craft lowered to about 1500 feet. He commanded, "That's great right there. Now take us the length of the road."
Trixie accelerated gradually as she followed the road. Speed watched the ground intently, making quick notations on a pad on his lap and on a map. They eventually came to the landmark signifying the turnaround point to head back to Raytona and the track where the finish line would be.
Trixie hovered above the landmark as Speed continued his writing. He looked at her and grinned when he finished. "I think that'll do it for now, Trix. We can head back to the track now."
"You sure? We can go over it again if you want, Speed."
"Yeah, I'm sure. Thanks Trix," Speed said, as his cobalt blue eyes twinkled, squeezing her hand on the rudder. His hand remained compassed on hers as she guided the helicopter back up.
"Okay, here we go." She banked and headed back towards the town. "Whew, that looks like quite a course down there," she commented as she observed the winding road that followed the coastline.
"Yeah, but I've seen worse. The road course of this rally is really diverse, from ocean side to inland, but you know me, I love a challenge."
Trixie smiled fondly at him. "You sure do. And I can't think of anyone better to meet it." Speed returned the smile as he took his other hand and gently ran his fingers on her cheek. She playfully slapped his hand away and admonished, "You better not do that, I've got to get us back on terra firma, so for the time being Mr. Racer, keep the round-the-world moves to yourself."
"Round-the-world moves?" Speed inquired, sapphire eyes wide, all innocence.
"Yeah," Trixie retorted. "Rushin' hands and roamin' fingers."
Speed threw his head back and guffawed heartily. "That's a good one, Trix."
Trixie looked at him and giggled, "I have my moments."
They headed back to the track, following the main highway on the road below but as they reached the halfway point another helicopter appeared as a black dot out of nowhere, and speeded towards them on an apparent head-on collision course. Her eyes widened in alarm as she spotted the rapidly approaching aircraft.
"Trixie, look out!" Speed barked as he too spotted the other craft headed straight for them. With a horrified look and her pilot's natural reflexes, she pulled the rudder to the right, just missing the other chopper. "Hey, what the hell's that guy's problem. He almost crashed right into us!" Speed snapped as he turned in his seat and watched the other craft gradually disappear behind as mysteriously as it appeared.
"Wow, talk about your Sunday drivers. I didn't think we'd have to worry about his type up here," he said as he turned to face the front. He glanced over at Trixie and praised, "Good flying, Trix."
Trixie said nothing, pale and still obviously shook by the incident. She gripped the rudder hard, her knuckles whitening from the pressure. Speed glanced at her in concern. "Are you okay, honey? Trixie? Trixie!"
Trixie remained silent, her sea green eyes trained straight ahead, with a determined glint that appeared somewhat glazed. Speed watched her, his brow furrowed in worry as wordlessly she flew the craft the rest of the way back to the Raytona track airfield. She hovered above the tarmac and gradually lowered the helicopter to the ground whereupon touching down, she cut the motor, and unbuckled her belt as she laid her head back against the headrest with her eyes closed. Her heart still pounding, she took several deep breaths to collect herself.
Speed studied her uncertainly, not knowing what to do or say. He shook her shoulders gently in an urgent attempt to snap her out of it. "Trixie, we've landed now. Let's get out of here, okay?" he said softly, taking her hands and prying them from the death grip on the rudder she still maintained. He was shocked by how they felt like two blocks of trembling ice; she was really freaked. "C'mon Trix, you're scaring me. Talk to me, please," he begged.
Trixie opened her eyes and gazed at Speed. A tear trickled down from one eye as she whispered, "Oh Speed."
He took her in his arms, stroking her head as he held it to his, his cheek pressed against hers, "Hush baby, it's okay. Everything's all right, we're on the ground now."
"How'd we get here?" Trixie asked numbly.
Speed pulled his head back to study her. "Don't you remember? You flew us here."
Trixie eyed him incredulously. "I did?"
Speed nodded, "Uh-huh. You handle the air power, I handle the land power, remember?"
"I guess I must've zoned out," Trixie tried to giggle but it came out as a frightened yelp. "I could've killed us," she cried out, the stark realization hitting her.
Speed pulled her into him closer. "Let's just stay here for a moment so you can calm down, okay?" He tightened his arms around her and he felt her fear as she leaned against him, still shivering. Trixie went limp against him, letting his strength envelop her.
They were in that comforting position for an indeterminate period of time when Speed's younger brother Spritle who, with his faithful monkey companion Chim Chim, yanked open the door and joined the couple interrupting their quiet time. "Hey Speedy, Trixie! Are you gonna stay in here all day?"
Speed sighed impatiently, "Look, Spritle, do you mind? Trixie wasn't feeling good for a moment so we stayed in here. Why don't you go find Pops? It's almost time for dinner." He removed his arms from Trixie and shooed his protesting little brother away from the helicopter. Once he got the boy out he closed and locked the door and turned back to his girlfriend who had again joined the living and begun composing herself.
"Feeling better?" Speed asked solicitously.
"Uh-huh. I'm sorry, Speed, I don't usually flip out like that. Thank goodness we got back here in one piece." Trixie shook her head in self- recrimination.
"Hey, you did great, really. I'm impressed, I don't know how I'd have handled that. Fantastic."
Trixie smiled wryly, "I guess I'm like you are in the Mach 5 when I'm up in the air. I just focus."
Speed grinned at her. "Yeah, like two peas in a pod." He looped his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. She reached around his torso and squeezed back.
Trixie shook her head as she began to feel normal. She glanced quizzically at Speed and asked, "Do you think that it was Wiley and the Alpha Team up there who almost hit us?"
Speed shook his head. "I don't know who else. It appears he's certainly persistent, and he stands by his word." His eyes narrowed to cobalt slits, as he became enraged by the mere thought.
Trixie shuddered as she reached for the note in her pants pocket. "You're right, Speed I'm afraid he meant just what he said." She held the note in her hand and Speed leaned over as they both perused through it.
Miss Shimura,
I regret to inform you that the decision you made concerning my offer
has disappointed me deeply and I feel that it leaves me no other
alternative but to do all in my power to defeat and destroy you and
the Go Team.
Don't contact the police, it will only bring about dire consequences
for you both.
Wiley
"Will I ever get over what happened, Speed? Will this ever end?" Trixie asked in quiet misery, taking the note and folding it before shoving it back into her pants pocket. "I can't even tell Inspector Detector, who knows what that madman will do."
Speed gritted his teeth as he was filled with a cold, murderous fury. He slammed a fist against the side of the chopper's interior in frustration. "Damn him straight to hell. I'd like to tear him apart," he snarled.
Trixie sighed, "My sentiments exactly. But that will only get us disqualified from the race and thrown in the slammer. There's no concrete evidence that points to him as the force behind my attack. For all intents and purposes, he's just the owner of the Alpha Team"
It was the truth, for the investigation into Trixie's attack two weeks ago had been short and turned up nothing more than her assailant, Slyme Balle being charged for assault with intent to kill. Also true was the fact that he was cooling his heels in the local jail, but his confession had done nothing more than place all the evidence to implicate him. His desperate attempt to include Wiley in the charge was discounted by Sy Shyster, Wiley's attorney, who produced solid proof that convincingly disassociated him with Balle. Inspector Detector had kept her informed of the legal wrangling that had taken place, much to her and the Racers' dismay. The document that her late father, Michael Shimura, had signed was declared null and void due to it not being notarized prior to his death. So everything had met a proverbial dead end. So resigned, Trixie had let go of the situation until she received the note in her mailbox just as she had been preparing to leave for Raytona with Speed and the Go Team. When she opened and read the note, in a panic she had phoned Speed immediately.
Flashback:
Over the phone, Trixie had just finished reading the note from Wiley to Speed. "Speed, I'm scared. For me, you, and the whole team. Maybe you ought to find someone else to be your spotter for the Raytona Road Rally. It'd be safer."
"Are you kidding, Trixie? No way am I gonna let this lowlife SOB Wiley intimidate me and if he tries to send another stooge to try to hurt you again, I will end up in the slammer 'cause I'll kill him."
"But I have to think about the good of the team, Speed. Plus, I'd never forgive myself if something terrible happened to the team, you or your family because of me. Maybe getting involved with me and hiring me was a big mistake," she had sobbed, deeply distressed.
"Hey now stop that," Speed admonished gently. "Hiring you was the best thing Pops ever did and meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me. Before you came along, I only cared about racing, everything else was a blur. Now there are two things important to me, racing and you. I'd be lost without you, angel."
"Oh Speed, are you sure? I mean I want to work on the team but--"
"Look, Trixie you can try to convince me all you want to let you drop out of the team and my life but I hate to tell ya it isn't gonna happen. Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me, honey, so deal with it," Speed said, digging his heels in.
"Okay. But you realize you're doing this at your own risk." Trixie had acquiesced.
Speed chuckled, "I'll take my chances. Besides, I love to live dangerously. I race cars for a living, remember?"
End Flashback
There was a knock on the helicopter hatch. With a sigh, Speed unlocked the hatch. "Looks like nobody's gonna leave us alone." He opened the chopper and Sparky Sabu, his best friend and crew chief peeked in.
"Hey you guys. You comin' out or you gonna spend the night in there?"
Speed replied, "Now that's not a bad idea." He leered and winked at Trixie who blushed and slapped his arm.
"Now, now come on, you two. You know tonight's the big welcome dinner dance for the rally drivers and the press is just dying to interview the wonder boy of the racing world, Speed Racer," Sparky reminded him.
Speed groaned, "Don't remind me. I wish there was some way to ditch them and not make an appearance but the publicity for Pops Motors will be outtasight." He grinned at Trixie. "Besides, I can't wait to see you in that new mini-dress you bought last week. You've been keeping it under heavy wraps."
She responded, "Yes I have and it'll be well worth the wait."
"Well, then let's go get ready for the festivities, shall we?" He slid out of the craft and offered his hand to Trixie to assist her as she followed suit.
Still holding Trixie's hand, Speed turned to Sparky. "Hey, Spark, your gonna come too aren't ya? There'll be plenty of chicks there I bet. The groupies will be out in force."
"Yeah but they aren't interested in me, pal. It's you they'll be flocking to," Sparky said matter-of-factly as Trixie glared at him.
Speed caught her jealous response and felt a thrill inside. He squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Well then, they'll just have to settle for my mechanic. 'Cause I'm spoken for," he said easily as he slipped his arm around Trixie's waist.
They all headed for the Pops Motorsports trailer in the late afternoon sun to prepare for the evening ahead.