Ch.4: Divided Paths

Lightning drove back to the pits, angrier than he had ever felt in his life. Sarge, Guido, Luigi, and Fillmore instantly feld in fear at Lightning's approach, but Mater just stood there, shivering with regret and nervousness as his best friend's angry eyes landed on him.

"Where were you Mater?" demanded Lightning " Fransceso suck behind me and won the race because you weren't there to warn me. What happened Mater?"

"I just...I just," Mater stumbled over his words, before being interrupted again.

"You know" said Lightning " I don't even why I think you could have pulled off this job. I just wish I'd seen it sooner than this,"

"But Buddy I," said Mater as Lightning drove past.

"You should have just stayed home," whispered Lightning, and drove off leaving Mater alone in the pit.

Left, abandoned and alone, Mater broke down and cried. No one to witness his tears as pain echoed through his heart. For the first time in his happy go lucky life, the rusty tow truck drove around with a frown on his face. He didn't speak to anyone once he returned to the hotel, and went to sleep in silence.

When morning came, the time had come to fly over to Paris to get ready for the next segment of the race. As Mater passed through the lobby, he wasn't surprised to see that McQueen and the others had already left without him, only deepening his sorrow.

With a heavy heart, he drove to the Tokyo airport to board a flight to Paris. As he was waiting in line to go through customs, a police car suddenly pulled up beside him and ordered Mater to follow him.

Mater was worried about what he could have done wrong this time, as he followed the police car to a seperate part of the terminal. Halfway through convincing himself that nothing was wrong, the police car escorting Mater suddenly turned into a form he recgonized.

"Hey I know you" said Mater, once he saw the sleek, silver car " you're that fella from the karate demonstration,"

"I never properly introduced myself" said Finn, turning to Mater " Finn McMissle, British Intellegence,"

"Tow Mater" said Mater " average intellenge,"

A sudden beeping on Finn's mirror alerted him to danger.

"We're being followed," he said.

"You know I know some karate" said Mater, as Finn concentrated on cutting the glass of a nearby window " I don't want to brag or nothing, but I got me a black fan belt. Heyahh! Haha!"

Grem and Acer heard Mater's karate yells, and instantly dashed to where the sound was coming from. Stopping mid-chop, Mater was about to turn back around so he could catch his flight, when Finn latched a line onto his hook and drove Mater out the window.

Mater was surprised about this unexpected detour as Finn raced him down the tarmac. Grem and Acer growled at the sight of thier fleeing target and began to chase after Finn and Mater.

"You're karate fellas are back here" said Mater " it kind of looks like thier trying to catch up,"

"Drive forward" said Finn " whatever you do don't stop!"

With that said positions changed. Now Mater was the one racing Finn down the tarmac. Grem raced up and about to obilerate Finn and Mater with his missle launcher, when toppled him over with a car jack and threw the missle off course.

"Finn it's Sid I'm on approach," radioed a voice in Finn's head.

"Roger that," said Finn, then turned to Mater " our flight should be arriving soon, just keep going forward,"

"Alright," Mater yelled back. Then his eyes widened in surprise when he saw what was up ahead.

A long line of carry-on luggage was blocking the path and Mater was going to fast to stop! Bracing himself, Mater plowed through the barricade and somehow managed to make it through. Acer growled in disappiontment that his plan failed and gave chase.

By that time, Siddley had arrived and flew a few feet ahead of Mater, opening his cargo doors. Holley appeared at the entrance telling Mater to hurry and drive aboard. Not willing to dissappiont his new crush, Mater hopped aboard the plane, dragging Finn behind him, and all three cars escaped.

"Acer to Professor Z" said the green car into his communicator " the American spy got away, and he's with Finn McMissle,"

"Find him" growled Professor Z over the line " I want that tow truck brought to me at once. If his his spy friends get in the way, then they'll suffer as well,"

"Whew" said Mater, looking around Sid's interior " this is one snazzy flight you booked for me,"

"You're aboard Siddley" said Finn " the finest spy jet anyone can ask for. I figured his assistance was nessacary ever since you became a target for Professor Z's henchmen,"

"Who?" asked Mater, confused.

"Professor Z" said Holley, driving up " is a master weapons designer planning on sabatoging the World Grand Prix. When he found out that you had top secret information that could ruin his plans, he sent his minions out to destroy you,"

"Why would he do that?" asked Mater.

"Your cover" said Finn " by working as a Crew Chief and acting as if you know nothing about the case, Professor Z has considered you a danger that needs to be removed. Especailly since your friend McQueen seems to favorite in order to win,"

Mater was shocked when he heard this, not only was this Professor Z after him, but Lightning too. Even though the tow truck and racecar were on bad terms at the moment, he couldn't let anyone hurt his buddy.

"McQueen needs your help Mater" said Finn " are you ready?"

"Is the Popemobile catholic?" said Mater.

"Siddley! Paris!" said Finn.

"Roger," said Sid.

With that said, the spy plane jetted off to Paris, dragging Mater along for the ride.