Chapter 1 – Sour Times
That night at Radiator Springs
It was a few minutes after midnight, and all the townsfolk were after a Ramone's birthday party. It had been only Lightning who had been missing, since he had gone on holiday to Tahiti (just like his barrister would). Now, the town was about to go to sleep.
But out of nowhere a whooshing car heading for the town appeared on the road. That car was Finn.
No one noticed him arrive, though. Some cars had been only whacked, whereas others, like Fillmore, also absolutely pissed. One of the few who wasn't either drunk or sleeping was Mater. In fact, he was as sober as a judge.
He didn't like drinking very much either, because when he got a tot, he couldn't help taking another one, and another one until he would forget who he is. So he preferred not to drink anything at all this time.
When Finn finally arrived at the town, he stopped at Mater. He had apparently been in rush, but before he had managed to explain anything to Mater, Mater blurted: 'Finn! What're ya doing here?'
'Mater, I'm in big trouble!' Finn exclaimed still panting for air.
Mater was confounded but before he could ask Finn for details, Finn explained everything more thoroughly:
'I and Holley were assigned to the mission in Italy, remember?'
It was true. Finn had told Mater a few days before he and Holley were going to attend another mission in Italy.
'The reason is that several homicides of the local authorities happened under mysterious circumstances and each of them has the same thing in common – in their lifetime each of them somehow interfered and fought against the international crime – and rather successfully. And it's believed that this may be sort of a reciprocation. The country is now partially disrupted, even though it may not be palpable, and it was our mission to resolve it.'
'Okay … But what brings ya here?'
Finn didn't beat about the bush anymore. 'Mater, Holley has been abducted by the Italian racketeers, and they're demanding ransom!'
Mater's face mangled at that precise moment. His eyes were filled with fear and helplessness, and his mouth with incomprehensible mutter. He couldn't even say his typical 'Dad-gum!'
Seeing Mater, Finn tried to soothe him, and gently and calmly told him:
'Mater, I'm sorry to tell you this news but I do have a reason for doing this. I need either your or someone else's help. You're the only ones left who could give me a tyre. It's not over yet, if we intervene. But we've got to be swift.'
While the scene was happening, the townsfolk were grappling Mater and Finn without being noticed. And they were startled just like Mater. When Finn finished talking, awkward silence surrounded the town.
But something didn't add up for Sarge, so he asked: 'You say you need a sidekick, right? But what do you need him for; because you just rocked up here recruiting Mater to go with you to help you. But is there a particular reason? I thought you were a seasoned agent who is able to carry on working on your own.'
'Well,' Finn started explaining himself knowing it would be tough, 'it's not easy to explain; or it's hardly imaginable for you at least. But let me put it this way; I and Holley had been investigating the case for three days, and on the third day we found a trace that could help us; it was the warehouse in Genoa which seemed a good place for being the crooks' nest.'
He took another breath and went on narrating…
Genoa, 22 hours ago, 2:08 am
It was a deep night in Genoa, and Holley and Finn were pacing through the dark aisle. There was a lovely look at the sea creating the heavenly scenery together with the moon which was hanging on the extraordinarily clear sky. However, it was less pleasant further from the sea, even eerie, and that that was where both Finn and Holley were now.
They hadn't gone to sleep, even though it had been already night, because they had just found a clue. Their way led to a warehouse where the crooks' den was supposed to be.
When they finally reached their aim, Finn took a deep breath saying:
'Well, this is it! We're distant only a few steps from our rascals!'
Holley nodded. Then, Finn used his glass cutter to get through the metal door which was the entrance. The cutter contained legitimate diamonds, so despite it was made primarily for cutting glass it had some range of usage for cutting thinner layers of metal too.
In a jiffy, a large hole was cut open in the entrance, large enough for both Finn and Holley to enter the warehouse. The first one who came through was Finn succeeded by Holley.
Seeing nothing suspicious, Finn and Holley turned their headlights on and started looking for any traces. They really hoped they would find something. The warehouse was fairly large with the queues of shelves sorted neatly in rows, and its remote location made it a perfect place for crime. But it was abandoned, and there didn't seem to be anything that could help them. Still, Finn and Holley kept pacing through it, when they encountered a two-way junction.
They didn't know what to do but Holley proposed:
'Let's divide. I'll go right, you left.'
Finn agreed but before she left he warned her:
'Watch yourself out there, and beware of any suspicious activity.'
Holley speechlessly nodded and then they drifted apart.
After a few minutes, Finn arrived back at the place without any discovery but seeing that Holley hadn't come, he contacted her through a voice transmitter.
Hearing Holley not responding, he kept trying to communicate with her being still more and more anxious about her. When Finn started predicting the worst, he dashed out of the stock looking for Holley. He descried her in the yonder strapped, with her mouth gagged and sealed with a tape being towed away by an unknown black car.
His jaw dropped in shock. He couldn't figure out how someone could abduct Holley, when he hadn't heard any trace of violence.
He kept manoeuvring hoping he would save Holley and believing he'd keep her in his sight, but she'd been too far already, and soon she disappeared from his eyes. At that moment Finn felt many feelings and reproaches seizing him like famished dogs around a piece of ham.
The first one was responsibility; they should have stayed together, why did he let Holley to drive alone in a tatty and dodgy stock in the middle of the night? Yeah, it was probably the biggest stupidity, he'd ever done. Holley wasn't as skilled as Finn, and thus she wasn't as savvy as him.
The second one was regret; he regretted Holley, after all, he'd known her for some time, and she'd become a great colleague, but also a good friend to him. But it wasn't about her only. He also saw Mater grieving his fiancée at her grave, and he couldn't even handle the thought.
And the last one was bewilderment; a few minutes ago he'd been so confident about his sure victory above the mafia, and then everything went pear-shaped with himself being strayed in the forest of sombre helplessness and despair.
As he was thinking, his phone rang. He immediately picked it up hoping it would be Holley. But the opposite happened; he heard a man saying with a disguised voice:
'We've kidnapped Holley and we demand a $10,000,000 ransom in order to get her back. No concessions. Pay or you won't see your friend anymore. You've got 48 hours.' Then the man hung up.
Finn nervously gulped. That was enough for him.
He would never say that something so nasty might influence her. And he would definitely never say that he'd be utterly helpless, and that it would be more or less his fault! Thus at that precise moment he wanted to die at the place, because death seemed the only relief which would salvage him from everything.
A few minutes later, when his composure enhanced a little, he recalled of his sidekick Siddeley. He didn't hesitate anymore and immediately gave him a bell. When Siddeley heard this news, he gave him a very worthwhile advice:
'Hasn't she her locating device attached in one of her wheels?'
This advice prompted Finn; every agent in C.H.R.O.M.E. had their own locating device allowing other agents helping out to track their exact location; and he managed to locate it.
The only problem was when he turned up at the place where it'd been supposed to be, there was nothing but the released device lying on the road. Someone must have detached it! This certainly enraged Finn but he kept looking for her. Unfortunately, unlike Holley he didn't possess the retractable flying pads which would've come in handy at that moment.
It took him a few hours to finally find and see again where Holley was. However, finding her wasn't enough. He'd had to rescue her which turned out to be a hard nut to crack; he was only alone on his own among the gigantic ferry with the enemy cars bustling everywhere.
Yet still, Finn didn't give up and having hoped he could save her on his own, he sneaked up on the ship in disguise. But he only managed to cunningly plant an eavesdropping bug and a small HD camera on one of the cars, but it was still a better choice than idling. It did help him; now he could at least slightly eavesdrop on the crooks' progress, plans, and their intentions with Holley.
Regardless of his little success, he knew his luck might not have persevered forever, and sooner or later something very unpleasant might happen to Holley. So, he decided to wait and to analyse the data which he would obtain from the spy camera and eavesdropping bug. If he got lucky, he could find out worthwhile information about the ferry, and use it for the infiltration. Luckily for Finn, the car strolled across the entire ferry, so basically, Finn managed to obtain the entire scheme of the ferry's storeys.
After that, he spent hours incessantly looking for a plan to infiltrate it. In the end, he managed to find a solution but there was a hitch; it required two cars to participate in the mission but Finn didn't anticipate anyone to join him, so he tried to devise another plan where he would be the only necessary participant.
But in vain - after more than five hours of work Finn realized there wasn't any other solution possible, and the mission would always be a sure suicide.
So Finn faced the problem – whom he could ask for help. He grappled with it, but there didn't seem to be anyone who would be willing and convenient to undergo such a risky mission. In the end, he called up only one source which could help him.
It seemed a foolish idea but at that moment it was still better than none. He informed Siddeley about it, who only beckoned for the idea he'd conceived…
Back at Radiator Springs
'…and thus I came here; I know I shan't pull it off on my own, because it's simply impossible. I shan't compel anyone to attend the operation, but I really do need someone to help me out. So, I'm here to implore you to help me.'
Finn finally finished narrating, and took a long deep breath after his speech waiting with a timid face for the others' reactions.
'Man, you sure had a day!' remarked Luigi with Guido speechlessly nodding as if he were mesmerized.
Everyone else in town was standing shocked (apart from dozing Fillmore) hardly believing the things they'd just been told. Sarge spoke once again:
'Finn, this is a really shocking story, and I do feel my condolences with you. But I just don't grasp something. Why don't you call C.H.R.O.M.E., and say you're in big trouble, and really do need some help? What do you need us, virtually inexperienced at your field, for?'
'This wouldn't solve the problem, if there's a lost agent during the mission, C.H.R.O.M.E. is not liable for his or her death; you do every operation at your own risk. This is why it's all up to me. But without a proper assistance I'm unlikely to succeed in saving Holley. I mean I don't have to save her at all, but my conscience would probably batter me to death if I knew I could have saved her but didn't do so. And I care about Mater as well with regard to their relationship.'
'Oh, man,' Mater whimpered wailing, 'Thanks.'
Finn nodded smiling sincerely but also slightly bitterly at Mater. Silence followed, only to be interrupted my Mater:
'Well, if there ain't nothing else we can do, let's go. Holley would've saved me in my place.'
Finn's eyes widened. Never would he have said Mater had possessed such a strong willpower. Trying to settle him down, he solemnly asked him intimidatingly: 'Mater? Are you sure you want to do it? Because you may come back home in a coffin.'
'Dad-gum, yes! As I said, Holley would've done it for me. What friend would I be if I ain't tried to help her?' remarked Mater with his smile, but apparent sincerity. He didn't seem scared of death, or facing the nefarious criminals. His despair and willpower to save his fiancée were stronger than fear.
The rest of the town tried to discourage Mater, though.
'Mater, you don't have to do this! I mean, don't you think this issue requires a more thorough consideration?' Sally objected.
'How dare ya?!' Mater scolded her, 'Holley is my girlfriend. She ain't no one unimportant!'
'I know but we just care about you. We don't want you to get harmed.' Sally tried to explain herself.
But Mater was only more enraged: 'Yea', I see. But no one of you cares about my Miss Holley! You ain't wanna me to die but wanna her to die!'
Sally was going to say something on her defence, but she bit her tongue and gave up saying anything. She knew she wouldn't entice him, no matter how much her objections would be reasonable, because she realized the power of love is measureless. Also she started thinking of what she'd do if Lightning were menaced, and after a few thoughts she realized that love has no stakes of doing a favour for another person no matter how much it costs.
'I'll go with you!' Sarge suddenly exclaimed. Everyone dropped a gaze on him knowing he wasn't joking. 'I may be over the hill but I do have some experience at the field,' he bragged, 'After all, I was in American military for more than 30 years! So, it'll come in handy to have a skilled sidekick by your side.'
'Well, I dunno…' Mater hesitated. Insulted by Mater's lack of faith, Sarge assured him frowning:
'If you're allowed to go on the mission, then I should've been allowed when I was in a crib!'
'Fine, then. Is it okay for ya, Finn?'
'Sure, that's not a problem. I actually secretly hoped that Sarge would join me.' He paused for a while, and then went on: 'Now I actually must say that I'm delighted to see your willingness to help me, and hereby I've just decided to devote all my modest services to you in case you needed help; not only to Mater but to all of you, because, after all, that's the least I can do for you right now.'
Silence fell in town again. But now the atmosphere was unexpectedly positive. Finn, appreciating the cars' hospitality, managed to create a pleasant atmosphere in town despite everything. The silence was so searing than one could hear breeze blow or leaves fall. This time it was Sheriff who interrupted it:
'Well, we sure do appreciate your offer but now if you're in hurry you'd better get going. There will be time for talking later.'
'You're quite right. We'd really better set off. There's a long journey ahead of us,' Finn nodded.
'Yeah, fine. How're we leaving?' Mater asked.
'Siddeley has parked a few miles from here.'
'Well, then, I guess this is it,' Mater moaned with grief and sudden fear striking him. Seeing Mater's fear on his face, Sarge came closer to him and stroked him gently on his roof proposing: 'If you're too frightened to go on the mission, you can just stay here; I'm sure I and Finn could the pull the mission off on our own.'
'Nah, this ain't a problem, I ain't gonna slack off knowing you two'd be struggling someplace in Europe to save her. I want to go with you I'm just feelin' stressed about it.'
'Look, you need to make a decision. Are you ready to accept what the mission takes? If you really do want to help us, you shouldn't bother thinking about it. It all depends upon how much you think you love Holley and how much you would be willing to do it for her. But you're Sir Mater, aren't you?'
This sparked something in Mater. 'Okey-dokey, then! I'm sorry about me. I just had a … a weak moment.'
'Well, then let's set off, shall we?' Finn proposed once again. This time he was successful, and the cars left the town.
