Chapter 3: Rendezvous
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC
Lights caress the main stage where a crowd has formed. "Ladies and gentlecars. . . Sir Miles Axlerod!" a random voice announces.
Miles Axlerod drives through an infinity fountain, appears. "It is my absolute honor to introduce to you the competitors in the first-ever World Grand Prix. From Brazil. Number eight. . ." Miles Axlerod continues on and on, introducing the competitors.
Finn McMissile appears. He appears from the shadows, keeps a careful distance from the stage. He zeroes his gaze on the World Grand Premier TV Cameras which roll, catching Miles Axlerod's speech for publicity and posterity. Finn's onboard computer analyzes each one, compares to the photos we saw him snap on the oil platform. Each one is not a match.
His view is suddenly disrupted by a beautiful sports car. She approaches Finn. Meet Holley Shiftwell. "A Volkswagen Karmann Ghia has no radiator," she says simply.
Finn puts on his most charming smile as he replies, "That's because it's air-cooled."
Holley lets out a sigh of relief. "I'm Agent Shiftwell, Holley Shiftwell from the Tokyo Station. I have a message from London."
"Not here," Finn whispers then suddenly says rather loudly "You must try the canapes on the mezzanine!" He moves her onto an elevator. The doors close on them. They're in an elevator, going up. Appreciating the privacy, Finn looks over at her and asks, "So the lab boys analyzed the photo I sent? What did they learn about the camera?"
"It appears to be a standard television camera. They said if you could get closer photos next time, that would be great." Holley explains.
The doors open and they exit onto the Mezzanine. Before they could continue the conversation, a beautiful metallic blue sports car approached. Finn smiled at her as she turned to Holley who appeared to not recognize her. To save her memory the sports car says, "A Volkswagen Karmann Ghia has no radiator you know."
"Oh, good. That's because it's air-cooled." Holley was relieved she was just another spy.
Smiling at the pair before her, Christina introduces herself. "I'm Carson, Christina Carson from the Washington Station."
As the trio began to stroll around, Finn asked Holley, "So Miss Shiftwell, back to what you were telling me in the elevator, this was London's message?"
Shaking her hood, Holley informs him, "Oh no, no. No sir. Um, the oil platforms you were on? Turns out they're sitting on the biggest oil reserve in the world."
"How did we miss that?" Finn asked, astounded.
"They'd been scrambling everyone's satellites. The Americans actually discovered it just before you did. They placed an agent on that platform, under deep cover. He was able to get a photo of the car who's running the entire operation." Holley replied.
They both turned to Christina then who said, "Oh, I'm not the American. My partner is. I'm only here per Finn's request that I be."
"Who is it? Has anyone seen the photo yet?" Finn asked, hoping Christina knew.
Finn gazed toward Christina who informed him, "My partner and I haven't communicated ever since he was planted on the platform as to not compromise him. I have no idea who or what is in that photo."
At Finn's dejected look, Holley quickly informs him, "Well, good news. The American is here tonight to pass it to you. He'll signal you when he's ready."
"Good-" Finn began when he suddenly stops cold. "Oh no," he muttered. Professor Zundapp is visible below them. He talks with a few Pacers and Gremlins. Finn quickly retreats into the shadows. Christina and Holley follow suit.
"What is it?" Holley asked Finn who replied.
Whirling around to face her, Finn says, "Change of plan. You're meeting the American."
Holley reverses in surprise. "What, me?"
With a pointed look from himself to Christina, Finn points out, "Those thugs down there were on the oil platform. If they see me, the whole mission is compromised. And they'd probably recognize Miss Carson too."
"No, no. I'm technical, you see. I'm in Diagnostics. I'm not a field agent." Holley stuttered, looking around nervously.
"You are now," Finn said, that charming grin of his blooming on his lips.
Holley rolls along by herself. Nervous. Ding! Her rearview monitor springs to life. "The American has activated his tracking beacon."
"Roger that. Move in." Finn commanded.
Holley isolates the tracking beacon's location in the party. "Oh, you've got to be joking," she says, slightly annoyed.
"What's the problem, Holley?" asked Christina, concerned that she had been spotted.
"He's in the loo." Holley groans.
"So go in!" Finn told her, his tone denoting a sense of urgency.
"I can't just go into the men's loo!" Holley hisses back.
With an eye roll, Finn whispers back, "Time is of the essence, Shiftwell."
After a moment of steeling herself, Holley arrives at the door. She takes a breath, is about to enter when a tow truck exits. "Excuse me, ma'am." He passes her, expelling some exhaust in the process. Holley's rearview tracking confirms that the device is on him. To himself, he says, "Dadgum pistachio ice cream."
"This cannot be him," Holley grumbles, her windshield covered in a judgemental complexion.
Exchanging a look with Finn, Christina inquires, "Is he American?"
As soon as the inquiry is made, the tow truck exclaims loudly, "Look out, ladies. Mater's fittin' to get funky!"
Scrunching her hood in distaste, Holley mumbles, "Extremely."
"Then it's him," Finn tells her.
It's settled. Holley takes one more nervous breath, quickly closes the distance between her and Mater, cuts him off. He is forced to stop. "Hello."
"Well, hello," he replied, turning around to face her.
Inhaling deeply, she says, "A Volkswagen Karmann Ghia has no radiator."
"Well, of course, it doesn't. That's `cause it's air-cooled!" the two truck explains.
Relieved, Holley begins to speak. "Perfect. I'm from the Tokyo Station of the-"
He cuts her off, continuing his exultation. "Course, Karmann Ghia's weren't the only ones. Besides the Beetles, you had your Type-3 Squarebacks, with the pancake motors. . ."
Smiling nervously, Holley says, "Yeah. Okay, I get it-"
He cuts her off again. "And before both of them, there are the Type-2 buses, my buddy Fillmore's one of them."
"Listen!" She shouts at him. "We should find somewhere more private."
Taken aback, the two truck says, "Uh, gee. Don't you think that's a little, uh-"
Filled with nervous energy, Holley agrees, "You're right. Impossible to know which areas here are compromised. So, when can I see you again?"
After musing over his schedule, he replies, "Well, let's see. Tomorrow I'll be out there at the races."
"Got it. We'll rendezvous then." With that, Holley turns around and rapidly speeds off, ready to join Finn and Christina back in their shady observation deck.
