Disclaimer: I own nothing of Nintendo.
Nintendo released the most anticipating news to the world. The masterminds have decided to stage a Mario Kart challenge to participating teams around the world in an effort to restart the phenomenon. Create a team of eight, based off the characters available in the latest DS version of the classic game, and race your way through the brackets to win. The top two teams from each participating country will fly to Japan to compete for the grand prize of creating their own racetrack for the upcoming version of Mario Kart. Does your team have what it takes?
*PB*
The neon 'T' flickered horribly, attracting and deflecting insects in multiple seconds. Three cars sat in the parking lot of Carlos Tacos, that now read Carlos acos on the sign depending on the moment, and each one belonged to an employee.
One employee working was the regular, part-time cashier, who currently drummed his fingers on the counter in an apathetic mood. The second employee sat in the kitchen, hoping to go home since the late night rush had passed an hour or so ago. She sighed, leaning against the wall, hoping to catch a nap before the assistant manager checked rounds.
The final employee sat in the back, cursing her life. Lillian Taylor played around on her computer, chatting with random friends on Facebook for entertainment while the restaurant turned into a ghost town. She now sat in her old desk, the title of 'assistant manager' carved into her name tag. Her promotion didn't last long after Jason announced his leave. However, in Mr. Honaday's rule book, she fired him, cutting their workers down and therefore demoting herself back to assistant manager to keep up with the jobs that needed accomplished. A piece of hair fell down her line of sight and she blew it back.
Suddenly, the front door opened, and she knew from the commotion from the other two employees that their boss had arrived. Within moments, her conjecture proved true. Robert Honaday stepped into the back office, offering Lillian a small grin before setting up his work station.
"Slow night?" he inquired, starting up his computer. She nodded.
"Yes, I think our last customer came by about an hour and a half ago."
He seemed deep in thought, considering her report. "Well, we haven't met our quota for the day. We'll have to stay open a little longer to catch the later crowd."
"We've already caught the later crowd, Mr. Honaday. No one else is coming." He stopped working and looked at her. "Besides, you've already stretched the others and now you're just giving them more money working while we have no customers paying to support our revenue. We're doing nothing but losing money at this point."
Mr. Honaday took off his reading glasses, rubbing his eyes. "We need more employees. The ones we still have are exhausted and have more cash than they know what to do with. However, we don't have time to train a whole new patch of kids. We need some of our old employees to return and fast."
"Right," Lillian replied, clicking on a Microsoft Access file and skimming through recent quitters. "You've got Sandy Brown, Bobby Gonzales, Julio Vasquez…"
"I was thinking more along the lines of Jason Rowles." Lillian stopped reading, holding back the bubbling anger. "He's good. He worked here for a long time, and he was about to be appointed Lead before someone fired him."
"Sir, I didn't mean—"
"Yeah, I know," he interrupts, standing up. "We never mean to fire employees, it just happens." He places his hands on her desk, leaning slightly over. "Lillian, you lost me one of my best employees. Now it's your turn to get him back. Call him, text him, email him, write him a letter, Facebook him, I don't care what you do! Just get Jason Rowles back before this whole tournament thing goes to his head, understood?"
"Yes sir." She stares at the screen solemnly, assessing her task. Mr. Honaday steps away and proceeds to his other workers, preparing to let them off for the remainder of the night. Lillian, however, pulls up any information the system still has on her least favorite employee. All her hard work to make him stay and she ended up firing him. Now, she'd pay for her mistake by begging him to return.
She knew he'd never agree, but then again, she didn't know how much Honaday was willing to offer to get him back.
*PB*
Jason leaned back in his chair, contemplating his team. It'd been just over two weeks since Only One qualified for the City Round of the Mario Kart Tournament. Names had been drawn the past weekend, signifying that the racers for the first day of Round 1 to be Charlotte, Elliot, Connor and himself. The next day on September 7th would be Mitchell, Jackie, Danny, and Cassie. From there, the individual state contest runners would determine how to narrow the vote from the current eight teams to the top four to be sent to state and from there the top four of the state would be sent to the regionals.
The leader reviewed the Flower Cup, quite familiar with all the tracks at this point in the game. Thankfully, he knew every race like the back of his hand since problems had seemed to explode since the day of Only One's qualification. Jackie and Cassie (the Princesses as Elliot referred to them as) were growing increasingly intolerant of the crude jokes stated by Danny and supported by Mitchell. Connor remained relatively distant with everyone, making it feel as though the team consisted of only seven racers. Elliot continued to deal with shortcomings as his entire participation and use of home computer remained a secret to his mother. Despite an alliance with his sister Courtney, their excuses started running slim. Charlotte received last-minute news that she wouldn't be able to stay in the Metroplex and returned to Corpus Christi until her scholarship came in and she could transfer to a school in one of the three cities. The news ruined Jason's plan to work closely with another racer, which was a large reason for choosing Charlotte as a co-captain.
On his end, Jason's money was quickly depleting, and if he didn't find a job fast he'd end up living in his Camry. However, due to Jackie's growing concern for his wellbeing, he'd been reluctant to inform the team of his termination. She'd rather forfeit the tournament than have him live homeless.
The clock on his laptop turned to noon, and he withheld a sigh as he received a Skype invitation from Cassie. He joined to find the Princesses, Elliot, and Charlotte gathered.
"We need to talk," Cassie informed him. "I understand Danny's good, but we can kick his ass any day. His sexist comments have to stop before I hunt him down and introduce him personally to my foot."
Jackie agreed, though not utilizing the same words. "He insists that women are inferior, and I won't tolerate listening to his vulgar remarks any longer. He has to stop, or he has to go. Make a decision, Jason."
Their Mario groans, running his hands down his face in exhaustion. To ease his pain, Elliot steps up to the mic. "Listen, all we need to do is sit him down and explain to him that we live in the 21st century now. After all, he's gaining his power from his support from Mitchell. We get Mitchell on our side, and he should lesson up."
"Exactly!" Charlotte agreed. Although she didn't like Danny's idea of men's superiority anymore than the Princesses, she was quite content bagging on men in a round of vice versa. In her own mind, she found Jackie and Cassie's own actions degrading. In order to stop a man, they go to another. "Let him join this conversation and we'll talk to him about it. If not, we'll buy a plane ticket and Cassie will beat him senseless until, well until the sense gets knocked into him."
Elliot grinned at her logic. "You are so brilliant."
Charlotte sighed, but still touched by his compliment. "Focus, Elliot."
Jason jumped in, feeling awkward at the idea of a good friend hitting on his unofficial sister. "Right, we need to concentrate. If it's fine with you galls, we can see if he's online and Skype him. But not until we speak with Mitchell. He has to be aware that merely supporting Danny is making him appear sexist as well."
"But we already knew he was," Cassie murmured as Jason called up his second co-captain.
"He's not sexist, Cassie," Elliot interjected. "Merely cocky and vain, which causes him to act superior to any creature with legs."
Jason shushed them as Mitchell answered the call. "Hey, we need to talk." Knowing his team would be eavesdropping; he stepped away from the computer and stepped into his bedroom.
"Are you breaking up with me, Jason? After all we've been through?"
"Come on now, we wouldn't have gone through anything if not for you and your troubles."
Mitchell pauses a moment. "This is true, my friend. What's going on?"
"It's the girls." Jason waits while his Bowser moans at the mention of his fellow racers. "You know Jackie and Cassie are losing their patience with Danny, and if we want to cease his sexist jokes you have to stop laughing at them."
"What if they're true?"
"Mitchell."
"Okay, I get it! Not funny jokes. But we can't just gang up on the guy, and then he'll split the group."
"I doubt it. He wants to win more than any of us, if just for the sake up standing as the victor. Leaving us will result in a harder struggle than putting up with two princesses."
Mitchell grinned slyly. "And what about your princess?"
"I said Ja—what do mean?" he caught, but before giving himself away.
"I meant Charlotte, your new best friend. Who did you mean?"
Jason bit his tongue to hold back his sharp retaliation. "No one. I meant no one. Should we call Danny now, or later?"
"I guess later, unless he does it again. Perhaps he knows he's reached his limit and stop his actions. That would piss off Cassie, but I've never really liked her anyway."
Jason nodded, seeing his logic. "So is there a girl who do like?"
"I like yours. Oh wait, Jackie's single."
"Bye, Mitchell," Jason ended, slamming the phone closed. Despite how far he packed his emotions, Mitchell knew just how to bring them to the surface. He'd never met the girl, how could he like her in a way that was more than friends? Of course, he knew Jackie would never consider Mitchell in a dating-way, but that didn't automatically count him out right?
Realizing he'd performed a circle in his head, Jason slipped the phone in his pocket and returned to the Skype call. Upon reentering, he found four of his teammates in a battle: Cassie against Charlotte, with Jackie and Elliot on the appropriate sides.
"It should bother you!" Jason heard Cassie nearly scream. He debated terminating his end of the call to avoid the drama for the night.
"It does, and it is offensive, but turning to another guy because this guy's being sexist doesn't make much of a case for you," Charlotte retaliated, completely calm. Despite her quick annoyance when they joked around, Jason knew her well enough to understand how she felt about arguing with others. She'd rather let the other person win than continue in a dispute completely based on opinions. Cassie, however, seemed to be thriving on the squabble.
"If he's actually sexist, then he won't listen to a bunch of girls!"
"And if he's actually sexist, he wouldn't have joined our team with three girls on it."
"There were only two here before you came along."
"What does my addition have to do with any of this?"
"Ladies!" Jason interrupted, stopping the turn the conversation was slowly heading in. "Arguing is getting us nowhere. I've spoken with Mitchell, and I will talk to Danny personally. We cannot go into this competition against one another. I understand we weren't placed to work together because we were long-time friends. This tournament will require patience and tolerance, and losing a few battles. There are eight of us; we can't keep going the way we have been. For now, let me see how everyone feels about everyone else, and we can sort this out." Jackie and Charlotte agreed, more so out of liking and respect than his actual words. Cassie remained firm in her ideas until Jackie slowly started convincing her to loosen up. Eventually, only Elliot and Jason remained on Skype. Elliot ended the call only to video conference him back in. Jason accepted the call and dropped his head onto the desk once the video flashed up.
"So, who do you drop? The fiery chick or the apathetic monster?"
Despite his low energy, Jason laughed, bringing his face up to answer the question. "I can't drop either, Elliot. They're both strong racers. I just have to ease them into a tolerant state and keep them there until the end of our run." His head cascaded back down.
The New Yorker smiled meekly. "So, we have to keep those two short-fuses together for the next three months?"
From the top of the desk, he muttered, "Don't include numbers." Elliot laughed. Jason lifted his head again. "Thanks for choosing Charlotte, by the way."
The young man shrugged. "No biggie. I prefer Cassie personally, but with Jackie on her side, I thought I'd help our lost soul." Jason raised his eyebrows. "She's a girl playing a guy, what's up with that?" Jason chuckled, shaking his head.
"But she matches Luigi, at least personality wise."
"Yeah, long, lean, and brunette." He took a drink of a soda as Jason laughed again.
"You're gonna kill yourself with all that Coke."
"At least it's a slow drug. And it doesn't talk back like your women do, or at least your woman's best friend."
Although slightly annoyed, Jason remained too exhausted to correct him. "You ready to race tomorrow?" Elliot nodded. "Good, get some sleep."
"It's only just past one o'clock Jason."
"Right. Good night."
*PB*
Connor waited as Jason finished his pep talk via Skype, although he noted the weariness he heard in his captain's voice. However, he needed to concentrate on the race and nodded to each point Jason presented until they logged off the video call. Connor then turned on his DS and connected to the wireless server. He agreed to the terms and ran his mind through every track in the Mushroom Cup, although he didn't really need to since he raced in the same cup for the qualifiers. He knew these specific circuits contained many curves, allowing him to execute the best of R.O.B. The images running through his head paused when he reached Luigi's Mansion, and he remembered the tension between Charlotte and Cassie.
As the dreaded track's movie played on his screen, he wondered why the girls couldn't get along. As the countdown flashed overhead, he realized that it was Cassie who always started the rows, though he couldn't determine her dislike for the eighth racer. The 'START' sent him shooting away with his boost, and R.O.B. cruised down the worn rode until he drove up the steps to the abandoned mansion. He landed a green shell and fired it immediately, knocking out the leader and allowing him to slip into the first spot. As he turned down the rigid hallway, Connor's mind continued to think of Cassie, hoping to recall a memory that would help him understand her animosity.
He didn't speak with his teammates too often. He preferred to remain on the outside, knowing the general traits of the racers and staying clear of the drama. However, his mother had raised him on moral values, and in his eyes Cassie had no reason to detest their Luigi player. He debated joining this particular battle, but only this one. He refused to grow attached to these strangers.
R.O.B. glided around the obstacles and drove back into the swamp land, still in the lead. Two characters were closing in on him, but he wouldn't lose on a track he'd dominated once in this competition. He aimed for another item box, pleased when he discovered a banana bunch. He dragged them behind his cart, immediately spinning out the first racer who neared his cart. The second remained distant, but Connor knew he wouldn't wait long. He released two of the peels, frowning when the adept player dodged them both without a hitch. R.O.B. immediately shifted to an angle as he drove through the swamp, keeping an eye out for the closest racer. Just as the player neared, he released a banana peel. In an effort to dodge the yellow danger, he veered away—only to crash into one R.O.B. continued to drag.
Connor grinned as he finished up the first lap and continued cruising. He released the final peel as he drove into an item box. No one seemed to be close, puzzling him more than anything else. However, he took advantage of the eerie silence to decipher the emotions of Cassandra. He found himself with an attraction to the sharp-tongued girl. She spoke her mind, but needed a lesson on respect. She wasn't easily swayed by other's ideas, but her own needed some tweaking. He tried to think back to every Skype call they shared as a team, but that was usually when she watched her mouth. He debated calling Jason after finishing his race, perhaps he'd hear some hints that would lead him to discover the truth.
Out of nowhere, another cart sped toward R.O.B. He doubled-over before firing the red shell from behind. The cart flipped over, leaving the robot alone again. Connor shook his head as he exited the mansion again. What has this world come to? Here I am, trying to figure out the greatest mystery in modern time and they keep flying up on me. What rudeness. R.O.B. tilted his cart as he drove through the murky waters. He hit two patches of land, sliding past a row of item boxes without bothering to grab anything. Finally, the road returned and R.O.B. drifted back onto the green dirt. The road curved again before he raced past the starting line. Second lap completed.
Once again in the top spot, Connor allowed his mind to linger over thoughts of Cassie, but more so now over the entire team. He'd wondered from day one how he ended up on this particular team. A strong, but inexperienced leader; a loud-mouthed jock; a polite and elegant princess; a wise but young boy; a fiery girl hiding a secret; a troublemaker bent on stretching his teammates; a smiling, but questionable young woman; and himself, a mute who thinks too much. They really were nothing more than a group of misfits with the same vision. They all wanted to get to Japan, and they all wanted to win.
Could they really win with all their dysfunction? Did they stand a remote chance later on, against unified teams and strong backbones? Alone, each of his fellow racers might actually stand a chance at getting to the top. However, stick them together, and they instantly jeopardize the entire tournament. Connor reviewed this logic in his mind, only to discover it was completely illogical. But Only One proved it to be true.
R.O.B. drifted around the mansion without a care in the world, keeping every other racer at bay. He returned to the dark night outside and swerved around the banana peels littering the track. He wondered if perhaps his two from the beginning remained. The ROB-BLS slid in the muddy terrain, sending the questionable goo flying in every direction. He reached the first patch of land and straightened out before venturing back out into the swamp. The robot creature played around some more before discovering the track and driving toward victory. R.O.B. drove past the finish line, claiming first for Luigi's Mansion as well as the Mushroom Cup. Connor set down the console on his desk.
He wanted to win. He wanted to get to Japan. He wanted to design his own Mario Kart racetrack. Unfortunately, with his team divided, he wouldn't get far before someone ruined his shot. He waited until the last player finished the race and the results played on the screen before picking up his phone. He needed to sort out the current dilemma and help unite his team, if only for the moment. He composed a short text message and sent it out. No one would stop him from achieving his goals, not even a team of misfits.