-1Thank you everyone for your reviews! Sorry for the wait. Thanks to all the really great reviews, I tried to take time to really look over everything. Thanks again for the reviews. Each one, good or bad, is and was greatly appreciated!

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The next morning came far too soon for Racer X as he stumbled out of his bed. Quick reference of his surroundings told him he was still where he had fallen asleep. (Too many times waking up in strange places with a gun or knife to his head.)

Taking long moments to arch his back and roll his sore muscles, X let out a rough yawn. His eyes drifted once again and he found himself looking past the thin curtains and toward the city beyond, its towering buildings visible from miles away.

Tall, corporate buildings towered over the congested streets that stretched far and long, covering the landscape. Even from the few miles between them, Racer X could glimpse air traffic pass above and between such buildings, each bearing enemies that cheat, fought, and killed to get what they desired.

A purple plane bearing a golden R flew across the agent's vision, carrying itself toward one of the largest buildings. Disgust immediately boiled in the racer/agent, as the plane turned and flitted through the buildings, seemingly slowing over the Grand Prix stadium as it passed directly overhead.

Racer X turned away, the anger towards the corrupt business man clouding his mind. Gathering his things, the agent took to the adjacent bathroom, taking care not to face the window.

Dressed in his usual attire, minus the mask that he found inappropriate to wear out of public, X stepped out of the room. Walking into the kitchen, X found his guest up and diligently glancing through the morning paper. Minx's eyes met his with a slight grin and disappeared behind the paper, one of her hands brushing over his as he passed into the kitchen.

Taking out a glass of milk and taking a places across from his counterpart, X watched her as she examined the tabloid.

Patiently waiting for her to finish he allowed his eyes drift over the woman before him. His eyes passed across her beautiful frame and examined the figure fitting pants and thin top she wore. The two of them had been together since his first day at CIB and had, in recent years, grown much closer.

"How've you been holding up since last night?." Minx's voice sounded through his thoughts and he awoke from his musing at the slight thump of the paper landing next to him.

X pondered her question, his eyes glancing at the newspaper before him. His breath caught at the sight of the figure on the front. Seeming to be staring back at him, the young eighteen year old, his black hair ruffled and strewn about held a large, golden trophy emblazoned with Thunderhead 1ston it.

Racer X looked upon the younger brother of Rex Racer, the man he once was, with painful eyes. As far as last night, this had been the closest image X had witnessed of his-. He painfully pushed his thoughts back, mentally cursing himself at how foolish he was to still think as such after so long. He didn't have a brother or family. No matter what, he couldn't open himself back to those memories.

Quickly examining the article, X ignored the picture and forced himself to read the article as an agent and not a relation of the rising racing star. X finished the article moments later and placed the paper onto the table, crossed his hands in concentration.

The house grew quiet as the two agents stared off in opposite directions, each uncertain of what to say. The sudden silence dragged on for long minutes, undisturbed by the usual chatter of birds or of the sky traffic above. Minutes past before Minx's voice finally broke the fragile peace, her face turning to look at him.

"You know as well as I, that he's going to be a target for some very powerful people." Her voice was soft, but not lacking in momentum. X immediately recognized the way she left out his past in her inquiry and he respected that she was being careful to not open old wounds. He took a stale breath and responded, his throat rough besides the fact he'd downed a large glass of milk moments before.

"Maybe, but perhaps the hard work we've done on putting pressure on the larger, criminal corporations has made an impact." A sigh escaped his throat as he met her gaze. "We just can't be jumping to conclusions, anyway. The kid is an amazing driver, last night proved that, but that still does not mean every king pin with money to blow is going to jump at the chance to take the kid on because of his…relations." X paused letting his word drift between them. Gathering his bearings, X could already feel that this case wasn't going to be a simple trip anymore.

"You're right, but look at it this way. Many of the better drivers, the ones who made the sport what it is, are retiring. Corporations big and small are squandering for any talent they can get to boost their profits. Even with the pressure CIB has put on the corps-criminal type and respected-are desperate to try anything. Their actions are unpredictable and the kid-"

The sound of a phone ringing cut off Minx's words in mid sentence. X immediately stood up and drew a phone from a pocket on his leather pants. The ear piece touched his ear just before the second ring sounded. A voice could be heard from the background talking in a quick, calm manner.

Minx slowly rose from her seat and walked towards her present room. Reappearing moments later, she was met by X calmly walking from his own room. His face was covered in the far too familiar mask and a pair of keys in the other, his jaw taunt.

"Our next assignment?" Minx questioned as she followed the taller man out the door, her voice professional and negligent of the previous conversation. X remained silent as he walked out of house, pausing to allow Minx to follow.

"Taejo Togokahn has gone missing." X's voice was smooth and guarded as he locked the condo's door and strode to the enclosed building that lay off to the right. Seconds later, the spin of tire's on asphalt were heard as the black and yellow Shooting Star streamed from the garage.

Barley minutes later, the vehicle was racing down the highway, its direction pointed toward the radiant city. X's calm voice, stern and practiced, occupied the silence as he filled Minx in on the situation while the vehicle carried them at high speeds.

"Lately, the Inspector has been trying to find means of getting Taejo to open up with evidence that can convict Royalton of criminal actions. Taejo's been resilient and been hitting snags that have made contact….difficult." The black and yellow vehicle spun expertly through the congested traffic and entered an area business district. "Its well known that Taejo has been having troubles financially, but what some don't know is that he has been getting late night visits from members of Royalton's 'cartel'." A sharp turn carried the sleek Shooting Star perilously close the highway's guardrail, raising smoke. X was silenced for small moments as the Star turned off the congested road and onto a side lane.

"The Inspector has tried to keep tabs on the cartel, hoping they'd slip up and we'd be able to tie them directly to Royalton but with no avail." Racer X's jaw tightened further as the distaste toward the man became slightly oblivious in his speech.

"With the cartel and the falling stock of his family's company, Taejo's been forced to cave in to them, his racing status dropping in the process. For a few months that was so until a few weeks ago when he started trying to take them on, fighting back and attempting to place better in the races."

The Shooting Star spun on the asphalt as it took to another path that suddenly wound beneath the ground of a blackened office building.

Racer X parked the car into one of the undergrounds' spaces and the two agents took to one of the many building's elevators.

"But he went missing after the Yangatze Race in China. No one's heard from him since." X concluded as the small elevator's opened to the spacious CIB surveillance and technological equipment room. The pair moved toward the Inspector who spoke with another agent, his voice calm and patient. Approaching the CIB official, the Inspector dismissed the man and greeted them with a polite nod.

Taking no time for pleasantries, the Inspector silently led the pair toward an area that held many of the screens that showed the present surveillance missions and the international news stations. Advancing on the large monitors, the lights from them filtering through the windowless room giving it an eerie glow.

X took a position behind Minx and awaited the Inspector's further instructions as he talked with the surveillance controller. Using the time to catalogue the different people and places that appeared before him on the multiply screens, X's face fell on a familiar figure.

The camera was partially obscured, but from the angle it gave on the monitor, X could see the bulk of E. P. Arnold Royalton, clothed in a peach suit and tie. X's furry burned at the sight the repugnant man. Of all the men Racer X had come up against, he found Royalton one of the worst and on his top priority to take down.

The power hungry man's mouth moved as he spoke, but no words came out. X turned to control panel and noted that the screen had been muted. Across the muted television another figure appeared. Tall and imposing, Pops Racer stood above the Director of Royalton Industries with his thick arms crossed.

X could feel his eyes widen and was glad for the mask across his face as he stared upon the two men. Painful memories tried to flow into his mind, pulling at the walls and barriers that hid his past life. A life he'd tried to put behind him for a long time.

Forcing the thoughts to the deepest reached of his mind, X opened to Inspector's voice as he debriefed the present mission situation.

"When we first lost surveillance with Taejo," the words were calm and demanding. "Communications were fortunate enough to find that the men, matching one of Royalton's cartel, were caught on surveillance tapes outside, departing the track." Upon one of the larger screens appeared black and white tape of a group of muscled men. Between the sizable troop, they carried an overly sized bag, bulged and oddly formed, yet limp. No explanation was needed to know what lay inside of the malformed sack. The screen changed with another camera catching the group dropping its 'luggage' into the trunk of tinted car. Further visuals of the automobile was lost sight as it travelled into the overly congested, Chinese streets.

"Communications were able to track the vehicle and its kidnapped package to a personal airstrip out in the country." The screen flashed and varied pictures of an unmarked jet materialized. Snapshots followed of the same men with their 'package' boarding the white plane.

Inspector Detector nodded to surveillance controller and the screens changed once again. Before the agents was now a detailed outline of a eight wheeler.

"CIB confirms that this in the cartel's main transport. Everything upon the semi is equipped for both defensive and offensive encounters, but inside intelligence is certain that this is where the cartel are holding Taejo." The Inspector concluded, turning from the screens as they returned to one of the many international news stations. "If we are to have any chance of taking down Royalton, Taejo's testimony is the best chance we have.

"X, I want you on the streets. Find this vehicle and get Taejo away from the cartel's clutches. Communications have followed the vehicle to the hills beyond the city. There's your best bet toward finding them." Inspector Detector picked up a disk from the station beside him and turned to Minx. "As for you, Agent Minx, find what ever traces the cartel may have left behind. Their bound to have hit some snags. This disk also holds some 'adjustments' that may well assist Racer X. Take what technicians you need and affix them to the Shooting Star."

The Inspector dismissed them passively and waited till they had disappeared into the elevator. Turning his back, the Inspector faced the screens, eying one of them of a raven haired Racer.

"Have Communications keep tabs on that one." The Inspector Detector voice was barely audible as he spoke to the controller. "Royalton's interest in him may prove useful."