Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Disney or any auto manufacturer.

A.N: Welcome to the third chapter of this story. Things are beginning to heat up as the first race draws near. I hope you enjoy this chapter. No flames.

Squad Unit 19.
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ROGUE RACERS

The early morning sun shone through the blinds of the mice' home. It was around 9:00 AM as Mickey's eyes slowly opened. He blinked as his eyes adjusted to the light and groaned slightly. Still lying in bed on his back, he yawned, and stretched his arms upward over his head, angling them diagonally due to the headboard. Minnie, who was lying right next to him on her side with her face facing him, stirred as she too slowly begun to wake up. Mickey looked at her as her eyes slowly opened and adjusted to the light. He smiled at his love lying next to him. She let out a soft groan as she blinked, trying to focus her vision, and stretched her body a bit before she yawned. Finishing her yawn, her eyes met his and she smiled instantly at her love. Her sleepy smile met his as their first morning greeting.

"Morning, honey," Mickey smiled softly.

"Morning, honey," Minnie smiled softly back.

She scooted closer to him, leaned up and brushed her lips against his lovingly. She raised a single hand and tenderly stroked his chest as she kissed him. Mickey wrapped one arm around her waist and raised his other hand up to her face and tenderly caressed her cheek as he kissed her back. After about six seconds, both mice broke the kiss and pulled back, their warm smiles and brown eyes meeting as they did so. She then nestled herself against him so that her head rested on his chest as she draped her arm across his frame, snuggling closer to him with a happy and content sigh. Mickey, with one arm still around Minnie's waist, pulled her closer to him as he placed his free hand on the one she had on his side. They wrapped their tails around together under the covers as they lay snuggled close.

"Did you sleep well?" Mickey asked, then kissed her softly on the top of her head. She tilted her head so that her gaze met his as she was still smiling her warm and loving smile that always warmed his insides.

"I slept really well. I always do when you're near," Minnie smiled warmly. "Did you sleep well?" she asked.

"I slept good, too. You were here, so why wouldn't I," he replied with a warm smile.

"Oh, Mickey," she cooed. She leaned up and nuzzled her nose against his. She pulled back, smiled at him, then snuggled against him again. Minnie looked up at her sweetheart as she heard him yawn and couldn't help but chuckle. She thought he looked adorable. But her chuckle was cut off when she too began to yawn. Mickey looked at his sweetheart in response and chuckled at how adorable she looked as well.

"Heh. Whoever said yawns were contagious knew what they were talking about," he chuckled.

"They certainly did," she giggled. Her tone then became playful as a sly and playful smile crept to her face. "Kisses are contagious, too," she added, leaning her face up close to his.

"Not gonna argue with you on that one," he replied. They both chuckled, then touched their lips together. After which, they pulled back and smiled.

"Think we should get up?" Minnie asked. "You know what they say: 'The early bird catches the worm'." Mickey let out a soft groan as he closed his eyes.

"There'll be other worms." Minnie chuckled at his remark. She would've liked to stay in bed with him a little longer, but she knew they had to get up.

"Maybe so, but we do have that race later this evening, remember?" He sighed as he opened his eyes again.

"Right... The first race..." Minnie propped herself up with her elbow.

"Don't worry, Mickey. I'm sure we'll do fine," she smiled encouragingly. Mickey smiled up at her. Regardless of what happens, they're always there for one another. If either of them needs encouragement, the other is always there with encouraging words, open arms, and an open heart. "Besides, I think it might be kinda fun," she added with a playful grin.

"Might be," he said. She leaned down and gave him a playful peck on his nose, giggling once she pulled back. "Thanks, Min," he smiled appreciatively. She raised her free hand up to his face and tenderly caressed his cheek.

"You're welcome, Mickey," she smiled. "C'mon," she said as she sat up on their bed. "How about some breakfast?" Mickey sat up next to her, and slid his arms around her petite waist, embracing her.

"Where do I start?" he whispered with a seductive tone as he leaned in and nuzzled and kissed the side of her neck. Minnie giggled at the sensation as a tingle went up her spine. She turned and faced him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You just don't want me to get out of this bed, do you?" she smirked playfully.

"Hey, I know what I like," he grinned.

"Yeah, well I know what I like, too," she smiled with a seductive tone as she pulled him close and pressed her lips to his. After around five seconds, they each broke the kiss, pulled back, and rested their foreheads against the other. "I love you, Mickey," she smiled.

"I love you, too, Minnie," he smiled. Suddenly, both of the young mice' stomachs began to rumble, making them both chuckle.

"Okay, you win," Mickey chuckled. "We'll eat breakfast." Then his grin turned into a devious one. "But we can still have a little fun tonight if we want."

"I'm gonna hold you to that," she grinned deviously. Both chuckled, then touched their noses together. Pulling back, they each smiled, then scooted out of bed. Minnie stood and stretched, making a little groan which Mickey chuckled at. As she stretched, the tank top she was wearing raised up a little, bearing a little of her abdomen. Mickey couldn't resist. He wrapped his arms around her waist and began to tickle the inner part of her navel with his right index finger. Minnie immediately burst into laughter, squirming within his grasp as he tickled her belly button.

"Ahhh! Mickeeeyy! Hahahahaha!" she laughed as he tickled her, laughing himself the whole time. His attack only lasted for a few seconds before he stopped, leaving his arms around her waist.

"Heh heh! Sorry, Minnie. I couldn't resist," he chuckled. Minnie giggled as she turned in his arms to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"It's okay, Mickey. I kinda like it when you tickle me," she smiled reassuringly and playfully, giggling afterward.

"I didn't hurt you?" Mickey asked, sounding a little concerned now. Minnie leaned up and kissed him playfully on his nose.

"Nope. Not at all," she replied. Then her smile turned devious. "But you know..." She moved her hands from behind his neck and moved them down to his sides. "One good tickle deserves another." In that instant, Minnie began to tickle Mickey's sides, also tickling his inner navel just as he had done to her.

"Ahhh! Heeyy! Hahahahaha!" he laughed as she continued to tickle him, laughing the whole time herself. Her attack lasted only a few seconds before she she stopped, leaving her arms around his waist.

"Hee hee! Sorry, Mickey. I couldn't resist, either," she giggled. Mickey chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her back.

"It's alright, Minnie. I kinda like it when you tickle me, too," he smiled reassuringly and playfully.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" she asked, becoming a little concerned. Mickey kissed her softly on her forehead.

"Not at all," he replied. Her smile brightened as she leaned onto him, raising one leg behind her as she leaned her face up close to his.

"I love you, Mickey," she smiled.

"I love you, too, Minnie," he smiled. They each leaned close and kissed. Pulling back, their eyes and smiles met. They then pulled away and made the bed together. Then Minnie walked over to the window and opened the blinds, letting the sunlight pour in. Mickey just stood at the bottom of the bed and watched her with a fond smile. When she turned around to face him with her warm, loving and innocent smile, he just knew he was staring at an angel. His angel. And the way the sunlight danced off her delicate young frame only added to the beauty before him. Minnie grew up on a farm just like Mickey. Both were just two country kids who lived the country life, and were crazy about each other. Minnie was his country girl, his princess, and his wife. And Mickey was Minnie's country boy, her prince charming, and her husband. As she began walking up to him, her hips gently swayed ever so slightly with every step, and her tail gently swayed side-to-side, the tip of it curling and peeking around her hips behind her as she stepped toward him. He thought it was a beautiful and cute sight. Minnie walked up and took Mickey's hand as she smiled fondly up at him.

"C'mon. Let's go eat breakfast," she said as she gently tugged at his hand.

"After you, my dear," he smiled coyly.

"Oh, Mickey," she cooed as she leaned up and kissed his cheek. Minnie and Mickey then walked hand-in-hand downstairs into their kitchen. "What would you like for breakfast, baby?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter," he replied. "What would you like?"

"As long as it fills us up, it doesn't matter," she chuckled. She then thought for a second. "Mm... I kinda feel like some biscuits and gravy. How about you?"

"I could go for some biscuits and gravy," he agreed.

"Okay! I'll pop some biscuits in the oven," she said, opening the refrigerator door and getting out a can of biscuits.

"And I'll get the gravy mix," he said, opening a cabinet door and getting out a box of the gravy mix.

Mickey and Minnie fixed their breakfast together, then put their food on the table. They sat down side-by-side, held hands as they said their prayer, then began to eat.

"Thanks for helping me make breakfast, Mickey," Minnie smiled sweetly.

"You're welcome, Minnie. Thanks for making it," Mickey replied tenderly.

"You're welcome," she smiled. She leaned over and kissed him on his cheek, making him chuckle. Returning the favor, he leaned over and kissed her cheek, making her chuckle also. "So, are you ready for the race tonight?" she asked.

"I suppose I'm as ready as I'm gonna be," he responded. "Are you?"

"I guess so. As ready as I'm gonna be," she replied. She took a bit of a biscuit and swallowed. "We really should get some practice in with the car today." Mickey took a sip of orange juice, then set his glass back on the table.

"I know. I thought about asking Chief O'Hara if we could take it for a run around the road course at the academy." Minnie took a sip of orange juice.

"That's a great idea! We could get some good practice in there. And we could make sure the car's in racing condition." She set her glass back on the table.

"I think I'll go ahead and call him," Mickey said, getting up from the table.

"Don't you want to eat first?" Minnie asked, watching him get up and walk over to the cordless phone hanging on the wall.

"Don't worry. This won't take long." He sat back down at the table. Minnie put her spoon back into her plate and leaned back in her chair. Her mind was made up as she spoke with a stern and warm tone.

"Then I'll wait on you."

"You don't have to," he said.

"I want to," she replied. He smiled, then dialed the number.

Chief O'Hara agreed to let Mickey and Minnie use the road course to get in some racing practice. Mickey told him they would come by after breakfast.

"He said we could do it," Mickey explained after hanging up.

"Wonderful!" Minnie said excitedly. Mickey then picked up his glass of orange juice.

"To our first race." Minnie smiled as she too held up her glass of orange juice.

"To our first race." They then clinked their glasses together and each took a sip.

After the mice finished eating, they did the dishes together, then went upstairs to change out of their pajamas. They changed, got the silver cell phone, locked the door, and drove out to the police academy, where O'Hara was supposed to meet them. When they arrived, they met up with the chief, and began to test the Monaco. The overall result was that the Dodge was indeed fit to participate in the race. No problems were detected with the engine, the transmission, steering, or braking. The automatic transmission shifted into gear like it should, and when running at a high speed, didn't miss, and only backfired a couple of times. Chief O'Hara ruled to it to just be because the engine hadn't been through the type of high-speed driving it had been used to in several years. But overall, it was ready.

After testing the car, Mickey and Minnie decided to get a little extra practice in themselves. They did some shooting practice at the shooting range, did some martial arts training in the gym, and each got some driving practice in with the Dodge Monaco. Both had fun, and neither ended up hurt. Afterwards, they decided to head down to the train yard, since it was getting late. They left the academy, and headed down the train yards, where they were supposed to be. On the way down there, the phone began to ring inside Mickey's jean pocket.

"Must be Mr. Z again," Mickey mentioned.

"I'll get it. You keep your eyes on the road," Minnie stated. She then reached over, slid her left hand into his right pocket, and began to feel for the phone.

"Heh heh! That tickles!" Mickey chuckled. Minnie giggled at him.

"I'm trying to get the phone," she giggled. She pulled it out and looked at the screen. "Another message," she said.

"I bet I know who it's from," Mickey muttered.

"No doubt," Minnie remarked. She accessed the mailbox and found one message.

"Greetings participant. The first race is tonight at the train yards. Be there by dusk if you want to compete. If you don't show, you won't win your prize.

Mr. Z."

"Don't suppose he's wishing us luck," Mickey said sarcastically. Minnie read him the message. "Didn't think so," he concluded.

"I don't think this guy is the type to wish you luck," Minnie said.

"I'm surprised no windows broke when he smiled," Mickey chuckled. Minnie giggled.

"If there were any mirrors nearby, they would have," she giggled. Both mice shared a laugh and continued the drive. "Do you think he's the one who's holding the contest?" she asked curiously.

"I don't know," he replied. "He could be... But then again, it could be someone else."

"You think it could be one of our enemies?"

"Somehow... I doubt it. This just doesn't seem like something they'd do."

"I agree. I don't believe it's any of our enemies either. But then... who could be behind this?"

"...I don't know..."

When they pulled into the train yard, they spotted a few other contenders that were also there waiting. They parked the car, and waited... As the next half hour wore on, the other drivers who were also present at the top of the parking garage drove and also began to wait. And, following the same thing the did the night before, the mice waited in the car. Deciding to make lemons out of lemonade, Mickey and Minnie watched the sunset together from inside the Monaco. Both would've preferred to be in the park sitting on a hill, or in the truck bed of their truck watching it, but this would have to suffice for now.

Then the sun set. The last bit of the sun set over the mountains and nightfall had officially begun. Just several seconds after the sun had sank into the horizon, Mickey and Minnie heard a rather loud engine. The same one they heard the previous night at the parking garage. They turned their attention to the entrance to the train yards as they looked for the source of the sound. Then they saw it...

"Uh-oh..." Mickey muttered.

"Oh my..." Minnie muttered.

A black and silver 1994 Freight-liner that had been transformed into a wrecker rolled up. The front of the rig was painted black, while the rear section of it was silver. A massive, silver grill guard was mounted to the front bumper, and came up all the way to the top of the hood. The rims on the rig were black, the large boom was black, and the main rear of the back section had yellow and black, diagonal stripes. The smokestacks rose high above the cab and black smoke rolled from them. The mice could've sworn they saw flames come from them every little bit. They could hear the Caterpillar engine roar underneath the hood, and the windows were tinted black, making it nearly impossible to see the driver. But what made the truck even more gruesome... were the two, two-foot long metal spikes that were attached to the grill guard that appeared to be able to be lowered. The rig rolled up and stopped, the engine shutting down. After a few seconds, the door opened and the same anthropomorphic dog with black hair, green eyes and a scar on his cheek and neck jumped out of the semi. He landed on his feet and stared at the contestants with intense eyes. He then raised his left hand, and motioned for everyone to approach him. He was wearing a suit like the one he wore the previous night.

"Does this guy have any other clothes?" Mickey asked with an annoyed tone.

"I'm beginning to doubt it," Minnie remarked with equal annoyance.

Mickey and Minnie, along with everyone else, got out and stepped up to him. The mice stood side-by-side as they stood before the mysterious man. Mr. Z was again wearing a pair of black sunglasses. He raised his right hand, pulled them off and folded them, and put them into his coat pocket. He scanned the crowd, then raised both his arms over his head and averted his face up to the sky as he smiled maniacally.

"Welcome to the Warped Steel competition!"

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Coming up in chapter 3. The first race in the Warped Steel competition!

Squad Unit 19.