Episode 2: Ready to Rumble

The darkness of my room blinded me as I lay wide awake, staring at my phone. 11:55. five minutes until tomorrow, then our customary 4 day break ends and Second City roars back to life. I tap the browser button on my phone's touch screen and bring up the Split Second website for the billionth time tonight. Home, Schedule, Championship...I read down the list of the current standings. A list I've long since memorized while trying to remember what went wrong. Championship Race 1 Results:

1st-Raptor (+15)

2nd-Kamau (+14)

3rd-Vixen (+13)

4th-The Ghost (+12)

5th-Brawn (+11)

6th-Blitz (+10)

7th-Rena (+9)

8th-Rigg (+8)

DNF-Rossi (+0)

DNF-Live Wire (+0)

DNF-Tenma (+0)

DNF-Colin ...

... ...I give the stitches in my arm another rub before my eye's start to bob. Heh, yeah that's one thing you can never remember, when it is that you...fall...aslee...

I know one thing; you always know when you wake the fuck up. Which is always too early. I stumbled around my sleeping quarters gathering the necessary gear before quickly dressing myself and exiting my room. As per the usual as soon as stepped into the garage I couldn't hear myself think. Technicians doing their daily rounds of yelling at each other and prepping the track. Fellow competitors ignoring the garage area speed limit as they roar by. On the upside there won't any rain for this episode, I hope. Bonnie tossed me the usual can of Amp, I catch it without even looking. Pop the tap, oh yeah, that's good stuff.

"What'r we doin' today?" I lazily asked Bonnie, while panning the garage. I noticed that Raven's Cyclone Special was missing; Carter's Katana was in its place.

"You're gonna love this, you first scheduled event is Survival"

Fuck.

"Try not to frown too hard." Bonnie beamed at me.

"Where's K?" I quickly asked

"KR's with the first group of drivers doing a Detonator, your group is scheduled to go tomorrow afternoon."

"Where?"

"Lumberyard"

Hmm, one of the new tracks, can't wait to see how that will go. I crushed my Amp can and tossed in the direction of the nearest trash can. I approached my unfortunately factory new Severus with distaste clear as day across my face. With a sigh I climbed in and sank into the seat. I wiggled a little here and there in sad attempt at perhaps breaking in the brand new vehicle. I stopped and sighed again, I instinctively began to place my key into the ignition when I saw a shiny new one already placed there for me. Fuck my life. I chucked the old key at the nearby scrap pile. It bounced off KR's Elite Race trophy with a clank before disappearing into the pieces of metal.

"You sure you're okay to drive Konani?" Bonnie asked while leaning over the car, peering down at me.

"I'm fine; you know I've been through worse."

"Okay. Just don't push yourself too hard."

"Sorry Bon' but that's not why I'm here." I replied, trying to give her a smile. I seemed to work because Bonnie just patted my shoulder and stepped back a few feet so I could start my car. The engine started wonderfully, I gave Bonnie a little wave goodbye before quickly backing out zooming away. I looked at my phone's clock, 8:13. I had just under an hour to test drive my new Severus before my first event, and I was content on doing just that.

Ugh, I hate Survival. It's like Satan's NASCAR, especially when everyone scheduled shows up. Have you ever seen 16 cars all trying to pass one truck? I'll tell you, it's a fucking nightmare. But god forbid if rating don't soar when there's an episode featuring a Survival event. I guess people like to see explosions every 2 seconds. Heh, kinda the basis of the show isn't it. I gave quick pan around my windows, all 16 race slots appeared to filled. Damnit. Whew okay well at least the track...who is this guy? Directly across from me sat a Cobretti Pursuit, in it was someone flashing me smile with confidence only Carter could top.

"Hey Bonnie you there?"

"Yeah, Carter is doomed for this Detonator anyway. What's up Konani?"

"You see that Pursuit beside me."

"Um yeah?"

"Patch me through."

"Okay, hold on." there was a sound of shuffling and keys being tapped. "You're up."

"What are you looking at?" I sternly asked into my radio.

"Beauty that only you could posses."

Oh great, another one of these guys.

"How would you know, I'm wearing a helent?"

"Oh I wasn't looking at that, I was admiring just how well you fit that racing suit."

"You're a dead man." I killed the transmission.

"That sounded pleasant." Bonnie commented

"Whatever, he's not going to leaving this track in that car, that I am sure of."

"Alright, just don't over do it."

My grip tightened as I heard the Split Seconds Rig's start up. The wind kicked up as the helicopter holding the starting lights array descended into view. Red. I looked over to the Pursuit driver, it looked like he was doing his own pre-race pep talk. Yellow. I guess I should too, you ready babe? I revved my Srverus's engine. Alright let's do some work. GREEN.

Event 1: Survival

Location: Warehouse Strip

My car's ridiculous torque shoots me down the middle and into the lead. The first truck is an easy pass as I drift a wide right out of the warehouse. Unfortunately now things start to get shitty. The first 3 blue barrels drop, I steer to the far left making sure to avoid the red barrel. Another hard right and 8 assorted barrels later, I felt the bump of someone rear ending me. I look in to my rear view and find the Pursuit. I tap the right shift paddle boosting my car past another Rig before it dropped another red barrel. I shot out of the warehouse at a bad angle forcing me to brake hard. The Pursuit on the other hand hugged the left wall in a drift wider than I thought possible. He flew past me completely avoiding the next set of barrels before they dropped. I grunted as I swerved in between said barrels finishing with another hard right into the next warehouse.

"Uh oh, you're probably not going to like this." Bonnie suddenly said.

"What!" I responded while barely drifting my car around another wave of explosive containers.

"You being hailed by Kennith."

"Who?"

"The Pursuit driver."

"What the hell does he want." I said, dodging a little too wide around a Rig, my car threw sparks as it slid against the warehouse wall.

"He insists."

I'm sure he does." I replied sarcastically.

"Do you want me too-"

"Nope, I got this." Coming hard in the next warehouse, I rear ended the Cobertti Pursuit with as much speed as possible. Coupled with the explosion of barrels, we both spun. His ride kept sliding until it hit the left wall while I braked as hard as I could. My car stopped facing in the wrong direction, I checked my mirrors. His spoiler was gone along with most of the paint on the right side of his car. The Pursuit's engine cranked once, twice, red barrel...

"Wooow." I said slowly as his car when up in flames, shrapnel flew everywhere. Not wanting to wait for another Rig to pass by I spun the Severus around and sped away.

Easy win.

I swear to god this S.A.F.E. foam ball is smaller than usual.

"Somebody hurry up and get me outta here!" I yelled to whoever might be listening.

"Hold on give me a second." Bonnie's voice replied, I heard the jigsaw start up nearby.

Good at least somebody's arouunndddaaaaAAAHHHOLY FUCK!

"What the hell Bonnie? That was like right next to my head!"

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" The jigsaw quickly retracted away from my skull. Making sure to keep my helmet on I waiting for Bonnie to slowly free me.

"Next time let KR do it." I advised while taking off my helmet.

"I'm really sorry Konani, but I figured you didn't want to wait to get out."

"It's cool, no harm done." I walked over to my factory new Severus. This is why I hate events like Survival and Airstrike, it's practically guaranteed that your car is going to get blown up. That explains why some drivers have two cars, one for racing and one for getting blown up. Which raises the question where in the world does KR hide his second car, 'cause I know he's got one.

"So are you going to go to your scheduled Detonator?" Bonnie asked.

"Don't know, maybe. It depends on what K says about Lumber-." I cut myself short when I heard the familiar squeal of KR's Cyclone. A few seconds behind him, Carter's Katana pulled up.

KR stepped out, and even though his helmet was on I could tell he was pissed. He ripped off his helmet and tossed back into his car. Without a word he went to one of the big screens in the garage. He quickly started flipping through the current episode's replay directory.

"Hey Carter what's eatin' him?"

"You know the executive privileges Elite drivers have right?" Carter said while taking off his helmet.

"Yeah, a few."

"Well Vixen decided to use said privilege to enter a Detonator." Carter replied.

"Wait, I thought Detonators were one of the few event Elites couldn't enter no matter what." Bonnie interjected.

"Technically that's true unless the driver who place is being taken consents to some sort of agreement." Carter explained.

As soon as Carter finished talking the T.V.s speakers filled the garage with the sounds of buzz saws spinning and tires screeching. Everyone turned to the big screen and watched as Vixen's S510 battled KR's Cyclone Special through the automatically activating Power Play's of Lumberyard's Detonator.

"You agreed to let Vixen run with you in Detonator Event?" I exclaimed.

"Shhhh." KR said as he pointed to the screen.

I frowned at him but looked anyway; coming out of a tight right hand turn it looked as if Vixen was going too wide to avoid a Power Play that flung massive logs across the road like the flaming taxis in Downtown Central. Just as it seemed the front of her car would be clipped by the logs, her tires began to glow. Though the Elite have specialty parts, they are not without rules. When the upgrades are being used they have to alert of others of their activation. BRTV decided this would be visual warning forcing the part, or an area near or related to the part to illuminate itself with a bright blue or red. Red suggesting an increased severity in use.

Vixen's clearly non-rubber tires light up with a bright blue, her S510 twisted further into the drift until it was completely backwards! The vehicle's new orientation allowed it to narrowly squeeze past the Power Play and continue on into a 360'.

"That's Vixen's mod'," KR finally spoke, "It seems she can change the grip on her tires."

"That's pretty wild." Carter commented as we all continued to watch Vixen exploit her now exposed upgrade. The precision of her drifts and cornering went from awesome to absurdly excellent.

"How..? What sort of tire would allow her to do that?" I asked to no one in particular.

"Not sure, but I'm gonna find out." KR replied as he turned off the big screen.

"Why'd you let her run with you? I asked.

"She insisted, plus I wasn't about to back out on going against an Elite." Raven said as he fished his helmet out of his car.

"KR has a certain way with the ladies to say the least." Carter smirked.

My eyes narrowed subtly, I'm not sure why I didn't like the sound of that. It's probably Carter because said it.

"Hey Tenma, hows about you and me go catch a movie?" Carter asked, flashing his best "I'm trying to be smooth" smile.

"Tempting offer, but no." I replied sternly.

"Oh come on Konani. How do know if going with me will be that bad?" Carter shot back.

"Because Carter, it's you."

Carter just frowned, deciding that it was just best to give up for the day. I gotta give him credit though, the man's persistent. If only his driving wasn't as bad as his flirting.

"How's your arm? You know you're supposed to check in at the med station today." Bonnie suddenly spoke.

Damnit Bonnie, thanks for reminding me, now it hurts again.

"Yeah, I know I'll go do that now." I replied as I began to move toward my car.

"I'm done for the day, If anyone needs me I'll be downtown." KR said as he jumped into his car. With that he fired his engine and drifted a J-turn out of the garage, leaving the pit area in a cloud of smoke.

"Well, then, Konani do you need and escort to the infirmary?" Carter asked.

"No."

"Maybe just a little bit?"

"It's fine Carter, I'll ride with her." Bonnie interjected. She slipped into the passenger seat beside me and closed the door.

"You know you should at-"

"No Bonnie." I cut her off.

"Okay, okay." she held he hands up defensively, "But you know he's really trying."

"Oh trust me, I know." I honestly just don't feel like dealing with it right now. My Cobretti in gear I backed out of the garage, giving Bonnie all but 2 seconds to wave good-bye to Carter before I sped away.

Split/Second Championship Race Day

My god that felt like the shortest episode ever, of all time. It's already championship race day for crying out loud.

"Are you sure you got enough sleep last night Konani?" Bonnie asked in usaul big sister-like worried voice.

"I'm cool Bon', you should probably be asking Carter that."

"Shut up, the Platinum Sponsor Gala is a very important event. It's not my fault it lasts forever." Carter retorted, beside you were there too."

"Yeah, that caught me by a bit of surprise." Bonnie added.

"Indeed, I'm just one step closer to get you around my arm." Carter charismatically added.

"Both of you stop, going out with someone and being escorted by someone are two completely different things." I said waving two fingers in the air for no one to see.

"Besides, I owe you a what now? A solid do believe it was." Carter chuckled.

"Oh just shut up...What are you even doing here Carter? When have you ever qualified for an Elite Race?"

"Ouch, Konani. Cut the kid some slack." KR's voice broke through the radio. I looked back to see his Cyclone pull up two spots behind me.

"Sticking up for Carter, that's rare for you Raven." I replied.

"Just be happy, at least he's making the races easy for us, it's just one less real driver to deal with." KR added.

Neither Bonnie nor I could hold back a snort.

"Yeah, real funny. I don't even know why I hang out with you guys." Carter mumbled," It's like-" Carter suddenly stopped.

I paid his self interruption no mind until I saw what made him stop. It was Vixen with her helmet off, and long Brazilian hair flowing in the wind. A body that a porn star would envy, and a face that could have her signing deals in Hollywood within seconds. She truly had the allure S2 Productions needed and skill the Elite wanted. But God do I despise her. It's not jealously, I swear. It's just she and her man friend Raptor have that 'vibe' about them. Those two are really a match made in hell...or not.

"Crap." KR said under his breath. I and the rest of the world watched as Vixen strolled around to the driver's side of his Cyclone. I strained to hear but stopped when I realized KR had cut his radio. After what felt like hours, she finally left in her little stupid model walk. Ugh it's if she wearing...SON OF A BITCH she is wearing heels. Or boots, high heel boots? Gaaaah that's not the point.

"Raven. What the hell was that?" I asked as soon as I heard his mic click back on.

"Come on man, there's no way you're gonna leave us in the dark about this." Carter added.

KR grunted. "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Why? This is sort unavoidable now. The Elite usually-"

"Let him be guys." Bonnie advised.

"ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT EXPLOSIVE ELITE RACE?" I cringed as the announcer's obnoxious voice echoed across the track. But soon it was over powered by the voice in my helmet.

"Hey girl, your man speaks very highly of you."

"What the? Vixen?"

"He thinks you know how to make all the right moves at all the right times." Her sharp Porgese accent fight viciously with her use of slang, "Maybe enough to be Elite material. So I'm gonna take him up on his claim."

I could hear KR growl into his radio.

"You survive this race and maybe I'll back off that nice piece of ass you're hording."

I gritted my teeth as I began to flex my hands over the steering wheel. How am I hording him, and what the fuck does that have to do with my driving?

"Elites. Check in." Vixen commanded. With each new voice one of the Elite vehicles fired up.

"Hmph, Raptor."

"Brawn's here, ready to roll."

"Hell yea, Can you smell what the Blitz's cookin' bitches?"

"The Ghost is ready."

"Ay, Live Wire here. Opening up our comm's? This better be good Vixen."

"Rigg's ready, let's do this shit."

God that was like the introductory scene of a bad anime...yeah I should talk, right babe? Let's do some work.

"Bring it on, your little powwow doesn't scare me, I've beaten you guys before."

"Oooh, she's a feisty one." Live Wire commented through his thick British accent.

"I know, that why we're gonna make this race extra special." Vixen replied.

"What, you mean give these homo's a smack down? I thought the boss man at least wanted us give them a chance." Blitz scoffed.

Vixen began to speak again but the link was cut off.

"Fuck us." Carter said, audibly banging his head against his steering wheel.

"No big deal, just play smart until the pack spreads out." KR said, revving his Ryback's engine.

"Yeah thanks K, she might have called me out, but this is still kinda your fault." I flared.

"True." KR replied flatly.

"Well you're about to see if the Elite really have taken the gloves off. Green in 5 seconds." Bonnie announced.

I looked up at the light array, yellow...yellow...red...GREEN.

Event 6: Elite Race

Location: Construction Site

All 14 cars roared to life as we sped into the crowed underpass. Flying past the pillars I passed a FX350, a Goliath, a GT12, finally connecting my bumper with the back of The Ghost's car. It fishtailed from the impact, the vehicle's minimal strength absorbing none of the impact.

"Konani, left side!" KR called out. Drifting out of the underpass, I cut deep inside barely avoiding a ram from Rigg. His truck slid wide colliding with the outside rail; out of the corner of my eye I could see his exhaust pipes flashing bright blue. No doubt Rigg was using his nitrous oxide upgrade. I swung around the tanker truck Power Play just before in exploded forcing my lane change to be a bit shaky.

"Shit!" I yanked my e-brake and tapped my left paddle changing my awkward sway into a wide right hand drift. I watched Blitz slide past in a horrifying well timed attempt at clothes lining me. As I righted myself Carter slipped past, we slid past the crane Power Play that curiously no one activated. But of course the next Power Play was, my car complained as the massive explosion forced it away from the building. I never got a chance to catch my breath as the taxi Power Play closest to me ignited. I barely had any room as I drifted in between them and the train track support pillar. My tires screeched as I straightened the Severus out and shifted up, gaining speed as I blew past the next set of flaming taxis.

I prepared to line up for the sharp right hand hair pin when I was greeted by a GT12's bump. Heh, I was wondering when she'd be back. We traded paint as we slid through the turn, The GT12's superior acceleration showed as The Ghost pulled away when we exited the corner. I pulled into her slipstream letting my T-Tube give me as much Power for drafting as possible before we had to break in order to avoid the exploding bus. We wobbled into the downhill curve, as soon I had control of my Cobretti again I tapped the blue button on my steering wheel. The tanker Truck when up in blinding display of fire and metal. That's when I saw it. The rims on her GT12 glowed bright blue the instant the vehicle was about to the slam into wall from the shock wave.

"Oh come on! What kind of ability is that?" I complained as my Severus swayed from the tail end of the explosion.

"Konani the website just updated, her rims double as electromagnets." Bonnie explained

"If something like that was timed correctly it would give her stability through most Power Plays." KR reasoned, "Or it could be used to-"

"Wait...that's how I fucking wrecked last time!" I interrupted, "She used it to push me under the plane."

"OR she was just stabilizing herself and you got too close." KR replied.

"Whatever." I grunted. My car slid past another wave of exploding taxis drifting close past the bus Power Play I prayed no one would activate. I straighten out as my car began to catch air over the moguls. Raven's Cyclone pulled up beside me just as we passed the flaming wreckage of a fallen competitor.

"Carter where are you?" KR demanded.

"Holding 12th." Carter replied.

"Good stay there."

"Wait, what"

Through the radio I could KR shift gears," Alright Konani, how's your power?"

"2 and half bars." I replied tapping the left shift paddle.

"Good, let's do this one Elite at a time." KR said.

"It's time to show Split/Second's finest why we run this city." I replied.

Our cars roared over the start-finish line. We both drifted wide through the pillars coming up on The Ghost. Behind me I could hear the growl of Rigg NOS'ing his way through the under pass.

"Watch the dump truck guys!" Bonnie called just the engines on the helicopter that supported said truck revved up. KR Ryback roared as it pulled ahead of The Ghost, I watched as he slammed his car into the left side of the GT12 forcing into the path of the tumbling dump truck. My head shook as the huge mass of spinning metal started to come back across track, I cut a hard right just before the median.

The dump truck passed in front of me, while the helicopter exploded overhead. But my eyes were trained on the rims of the GT12, slam from KR did the trick as The Ghost used her upgrade to keep from intercepting the falling chopper. The GT12 slid left expecting to bump into KR's Ryback but instead was met with the front tip of my Severus. I jerked the car right causing The Ghost to spin further until the back end of her car made contact the outside wall of the sharp left hander. The right side of the GT12 crumpled as it flipped over the guard rail. I quickly pulled my car from the same fate as I slid into the corner. Up ahead the damaged part of the building fell from the next Power Play, destroying somebody's car underneath.

"Nice one KR, that was Blitz." Bonnie informed.

Hell yeah, two for one. Who's next? Live Wire answered my question as his GT12 screamed past. Inversely Raptor and Vixen dropped back, probably thinking it was their turn to get their hands dirty. The match made in hell, like always. KR and Raptor slammed one another coming out from under the rail road tracks when the pedestrian overpass exploded. It was the left side this time, but...

"RAVEN!" I cried too late. KR tried to squeeze his way out but Raptor locked him in place by matching the angle of his drift and ramming into his Cyclone. The stupid fucking S510's lighter frame was faster in braking, stopping Raptor right in front of the Power Play. As my Severus flew by, I watched in horror as KR's Ryback tumbled over the flaming debris, my heart skipped a beat when I saw his S.A.F.E didn't deploy. When I saw no signs of life I began to slow my car.

"Konani, I'm fine keep going!" KR coughed. Reluctantly I obeyed, but I started to gear up my car with more haste when I saw Rigg's Goliath beginning to close the gap. I left an angry trail of rubber as my Severus slid through the hairpin. Perhaps with a bit too much enthusiasm as my car began to scrap the left wall. I held my breath as I heard the engine of something massive closing in on me, but instead of Rigg smearing me across the track the massive truck from episode one flew by. I tried to swing into the trucks slipstream but Brawn pushed me out of the way.

God damn, where's he been this whole race? Without really thinking I reignited the tanker truck Power Play and cursed myself as my Cobretti slid. Apparently that explosion was just enough for Brawn to tap the Ryback off balance and for Vixen to score a finishing blow. I watched as the truck literally tripped over Vixen's S510. I passed Brawn with what I thought was little effort until I realized that he was really just dropping back. Coming out of the wide left hand corner, Vixen's tires flashed blue as she sailed in-between the right wall and still flaming bus.

'Bitch' it what I thought as we flew over the moguls, her car speeding down the track in full reverse. As if proving she was a better driver wasn't enough, I saw her flick hand at me in a beckoning motion, daring me to make the first move as we flew down the course facing each other. I obliged. Just before I was able to plow the front of my car into the front of hers, the S510's tires flashed bright red. Her car screeched as it spun around mine, drafting me through the soft right turn that led to the Start-Finish line.

Our cars drifted side by side through the underpass until I tapped my brake, hoping to catch her off guard. Vixen avoided me at the last second; she broke away and moved in between two pillars to the other lanes. We shot out of the underpass a few car lengths a part, much too far for my liking. I tapped my steering wheel's blue button blowing the track's first tanker truck Power Play, her tires flashed blue. The explosion pushed her farther but with no loss of speed. Christ, that's annoying. I shifted up as my car barreled in between the thin gap formed by the fallen dump truck and left rail. Vixen's car passed in front of me, her wheels kicking up as much smoke as possible.

I activated the crane Power Play, and watched as Vixen braked hard and drifted wide, effectively dodging the crane. Fuck that. I broadsided her S510 with as much force as could muster without seriously damaging my car. As I cringed from our car's grinding the wall I heard the building ahead finish its last transformative explosion. As we swung out of the turn I kept my eyes glued to Vixen's bumper as we charged blindly into to smoke screen like dust that sat around the freshly destroyed structure. Our vehicles roared onto the collapsed train track. It's now or never. My Severus growled I tried to spin out Vixen's car, but her tires light up again as she spun around me like some 4 wheeled ballerina. She finished by slamming the side of my car with her own, I grunted from the impact but returned the offensive.

Bad idea. My Cobretti almost kissed the wall as we caught air coming off the train tracks. Right after a rough landing my world started to lean to the left; before my brain even knew what my hand was doing I yanked the E-brake, spinning my Severus out of Vixen's P.I.T. maneuver. I frantically shifted down, the V10 behind me screamed 'How dare you!' before friction came back to my tires. As we sailed down into the curve I used my only and probably last full Power bar of the race. The S510 swayed as explosion washed over it, Vixen's entry into the tight turn was less than perfect. I closed the distance in moments, preparing to meet Vixen with a decisive move. Five seconds later I was facing backwards with a stalled engine.

"DAMNIT!" I screamed, slamming my car's console with my fist. The move played back in head like a bad movie. When we entered the 90 degree left hander, Vixen's tires flashed blue. I cut my drift even deeper wanting the beat her out of the corner. But instead going wide, her S510 quickly flashed red slowing it down dramatically. The back of my Severus caught the front of her car pivoting me around. With the momentum she had left coupled with a blue flash from her tires, she slid her car into mine. The back ends of our vehicles banged together, I thought that was it. Unfortunately I was right. The rear end of my car collided the spent bus Power Play stopping me cold. Somehow she had managed to aim my car into a bus, using her car, backwards.

My engine restarted just as Brawn and Live Wire flew past, I angrily put my car in gear and sped down the rest of the course.

"Konani, calm down, you drove an excellent race." Bonnie said trying to cheer me up.

I grunted in response. My frown grew even bigger when I found Vixen waiting off track inside the underpass. WHY is that the only way out? Her car was sitting inside the gate so I had no chose but to pull up beside her. That's when I found Brawn's 440 Special blocking the rest of the exit. She tapped the side of my car with her foot as I pulled up. I tried to be smart and clip her as I opened my door but she quickly stepped back.

"I guess your man was right, maybe you can handle yourself behind the wheel." Vixen said as I stepped out of my vehicle and removed my helmet.

She suddenly flashed a wicked smile, "But it's gonna take more than a couple of fancy moves and a nice set of tits to make it through this seaso-" Her voice was cut off by the roar of Raptor's S510. I could have sworn I heard Vixen snarl a bit as his car crawled to a stop in front of us. Raptor jumped out his vehicle and removed his helmet letting it rest under his arm. I froze for a bit, he was handsome and by the look of it my age. His face and skin were reminiscent of someone with Eastern European decent, the seriousness on his face looked to be of someone that had gone through things they'd rather not talk about.

"Vixen, leave her alone." Raptor demanded. He stopped in front of me and extended his hand, I grabbed it and received a rough but firm handshake.

"That was some nice driving, I can see why you placed in the top 5 last season." Raptor told me. Without another word he gave Vixen another quick glare before returning to his car. Vixen's car speed away first, burning rubber in an aggressive and clearly unsporting way. Raptor followed closely behind. As I turned to get back into my Severus, I saw Brawn give me a reassuring nod before sliding over the hood of car and jumping in. The 440 Special roared as it sped away.

"Hey Bonnie." I said once I was back in my vehicle, "Did only else from our garage survive?"

"Nope, just like old times" Bonnie replied

"Yeah, no kidding."