Disclaimer: I own nothing affiliated with Disney, or any auto manufacturer. I also own nothing related to Home Depot. And I own nothing affiliated with the country artist Shania Twain. And I All OC's and places are created specifically for this story, and are not modeled after real people or places. Any similarity is unintended, and I apologize.
Author's Note: Welcome to the 6th chapter of this story. I bet you thought the beginning of the last chapter was a little warm, eh? ;D The second race in the Warped Steel competition is upon you. Buckle your seat belt and read on! I hope you enjoy this chapter. No flames. Review if you like. I will warn you that things get a little more intense in this chapter. I also want to assure you that this fic will have a happy ending. You can rest assured. It will have a happy ending.
P.S.: I want to thank MMouse1928 for the message you sent me. It really meant a lot. Thank you. I would've sent this via PM but you've got it turned off. But thank you anyway. Your support is much appreciated. As is everybody else's support. Thank you all!
Squad Unit 19.
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ROGUE RACERS
The next race was about to begin... Mickey and Minnie sat in the '78 Dodge Monaco police car, ready to race. The other competitors got inside their vehicles and started them up. Mr. Z jumped down off the MACK dump truck he was on, getting a jug of black liquid off the hood, and poured a line of tar across the pavement.
"This is the starting line and finish line. Pull your vehicles up to it!" he ordered. Doing as they were told, Minnie turned the Monaco's engine over, shifted into drive and pulled it up. The other drivers followed suit. "Step out of your vehicles for a moment," Mr. Z addressed. Mickey and Minnie each turned to one another with a confused expression, but did as they were told and got out, everyone else doing so as well. Mr. Z turned and stepped over to a pickup the construction crew had used and pulled down the tailgate, revealing several silver canisters about half the size of a fire extinguisher.
"These are your rewards for advancing in the last race. These are nitrous tanks." The mice turned to one another, then back to Mr. Z. "I know that some of you are familiar with nitrous. These tanks will give you an extra boost of speed, and give you a bit more of an advantage over your adversary. It could be your most vital tool, or it could be your downfall, depending on when and where you use it. On straight-a-ways it could be very useful. But on curves it could be a one way ticket to death. Now... Get a tank and equip it on you ride." Everybody went up and got a tank and took it back to their vehicle. "Equipping it in your trunk is a suitable choice."
Minnie opened the driver door, and popped the trunk as Mickey walked around to the rear of the Monaco, then she joined him and helped him equip the canister. Luckily, it wasn't that difficult to install, and took only a few minutes to complete the task. After which, they closed the trunk, and walked back up to the front of the ex-cruiser, where Mr. Z addressed the group.
"These tanks of nitrous will provide each of you with a temporary boost of acceleration. The effect lasts only a few seconds, so use it wisely. Also, the tanks will fill back up over time as you drive, so you need not worry about running out completely. But once a tank is empty, it will take it a little while to refill, so use it sparingly. Too much at one time could cost you. And being stingy with it is not a wise choice, either. A meter on your phone will indicate how much you have remaining so you can monitor how much you use. Now that that is explained... Ready your vehicles!" Mickey and Minnie climbed back into the old police car and resumed their former positions as they buckled themselves in.
"You ready, Mickey?" Minnie asked, turning to her young husband as she cranked the engine.
"I'm ready to smoke 'em!" Mickey replied with a sly grin. "You ready?" His young wife nodded.
"I'm ready to kick up some dust and make them eat it!" she replied with a matching sly grin. They then high fived each other.
"Let's do it!" They then turned back to the road.
"All drivers can access your boost meter via your cell phone," Mr. Z explained. "Keep that in mind. And remember: You may bump, shunt, grind and ram into your opposition, but no dirty racing is allowed! Anyone who doesn't cross the line, will be eliminated! Also... this is an elimination round! These are the rules for this round: The first four vehicles to cross the finish line on the final lap will advance. The last three will not advance, and will be disqualified from the contest. First prize will receive $1000, second prize will get $600, and third will get $100." Another guy held his hand out the window, then his head.
"What will fourth place get?"
"A $50 gift card for Home Depot," Mr. Z smirked. "Now... Ready your vehicles!"
Minnie gripped both hands on the steering wheel as Mickey got out the silver cell phone, and found the boost meter icon. They looked beside them and saw the other contenders ready to lay rubber on the asphalt. On their right was the '75 Chevy wrecker, the '02 Dodge Viper, and the '05 Toyota Supra. On their left was the '90 Dodge van ambulance, the '90 Ford Crown Vic fire chief car, and the '70 Marathon taxi.
"You will race two laps through the city streets, avoid the traffic, and race back here. The mapped out road will appear on your phone. Getting lost will result in termination, and so will trying to use roads not highlighted on the map to cheat." Mr. Z then reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the same .38 caliber pistol he used before, and aimed it at the sky. "On your mark! Get set!" Mickey and Minnie could feel the tension in the air as they waited for that one word to begin the second event. "GO!" BANG!
Minnie punched the throttle, making the rear tires squeal as they gripped the road, making the Monaco tear off in a small cloud of white smoke. The other drivers gunned it along with the mice and tore off the starting line like a bat out of heck as they began fighting to get the lead. And the race was on...
The Monaco rocketed ahead and instantly began putting distance between it and the Victoria, Marathon, Chevy and Dodge van. All 240 horses trampled underneath the hood as the old police car soon hit 90 MPH, leaving most of the pack behind it. Holding tight on the mice' tails, however, were the Viper and Supra.
"Bad guy on our six!" Mickey informed, looking behind out the rear window.
"I see 'em," Minnie remarked, glancing in the driver side mirror. The Supra was gaining on them, and fast. The driver then hit the nitrous button and accelerated past the Monaco.
"WHOA!" both mice exclaimed in shock and disbelief.
"Kind of a show-off, don'tcha think?" Minnie asked.
"Very," Mickey remarked.
Getcha Good by Shania Twain began to play over the radio.
The Supra was now about a quarter mile ahead of the mice, and the Viper was right behind them. They came upon the first turn which was a 70 degree turn that exited into four lanes of traffic, two of which were oncoming. Traffic wasn't very congested, but traveling at over 90 MPH made it seem very congested. Mickey and Minnie were both very thankful they had done the extra high-speed pursuit training at the police academy.
"Bad guy, at our six and closing in!" Minnie said, taking a glance in the rear view mirror. The Viper was riding their rear bumper, trying to intimidate the mice. Suddenly, the mice felt a jar at the rear end of the car.
"He's ramming us!" Mickey said.
"He's trying to knock us into oncoming traffic!" Minnie said. Another turn came up. It was a light one, allowing the Monaco to handle it with ease. Another bump.
"This knucklehead won't quit until he wrecks us!" Mickey grumbled. The Viper then swayed to the right and began to inch past the Monaco. Suddenly, the driver veered left, connecting with the right-rear fender of the police car, causing both mice to let out a shriek of surprise and shock as Minnie tried to correct the steering. She turned left and tried to straighten out the car, but the speed mixed with the angle of the impact resulted in her losing control.
The Monaco spun out.
Minnie locked up the brakes as the car turned 180 degrees as it skidded across the pavement, a cloud of white smoke rolling behind it. The car skidded to a stop facing the wrong way as the other racers sped by them. Both mice looked behind them out the rear window, then faced one another with a frustrated and determined expression.
"Let's get 'em," Mickey said.
"Don't have to tell me twice," Minnie replied. She threw the Monaco into reverse and punched the gas. The rear tires screeched as they pulled the car backward. "Hang on!" she advised. She quickly turned the wheels to the left, making the car do a 180, shifted into drive and hit the gas. The mice began their chase to catch up. They soon hit 100 MPH as they raced to catch the other drivers. They soon came upon an 80 degree turn. Minnie locked up the brakes and turned, letting off the brakes and hit the accelerator as they power-slid around the corner.
"Nice sliding, Minnie!" Mickey commented as they cleared the turn.
"I learned from the best," Minnie smiled, giving him a quick, warm glance, then turned back to the road. Passing traffic wasn't helping them catch up much. They'd pass one vehicle in the passing lane, then have to veer over to pass another in the slow lane. And sometimes they would have to pass on the shoulder because of two cars being too close together. They soon spotted the ambulance and wrecker just ahead. They next turn had no traffic at it and allowed the mice to cut it short, helping them to gain on the sixth and fifth place vehicles. They soon came upon a straight-a-way with a center median that had half a foot high concrete around a grass-filled area that also had some palm trees planted every hundred feet or so. The ambulance was their first opponent to pass. As they attempted to pass, the driver veered to the left, cutting off their attempt. Minnie eased over to the right and tried again. But once more, they were cut off. All the while, swerving around traffic.
"He's not gonna let us pass!" she said angrily.
"Try to psych 'em out! Like we did before!" Mickey suggested. She waited for just the right opportunity for the traffic to be light, then accelerated. She gunned the engine, hitting around 110 MPH as she began to pass the Dodge ambulance on the left. The old cruiser soon hit 120 as it began racing neck-and-neck with the ambulance. The driver of the ambulance veered over and rammed into the right side of the old cop car. The mice grunted from the impact as Minnie grasped the steering wheel firmly in her palms and maintained control.
Then the ambulance veered right, then left in another attempted ram.
"Not this time!" Minnie said. She pressed a red button now mounted to the upper-right side of the steering wheel, igniting the nitrous tank in the trunk. The Monaco rocketed to 145 MPH and passed the ambulance with ease just before it could connect with the car. She let off the button the moment they had fully passed the ambulance. The driver of the ambulance didn't have time to correct the turn and hit the concrete and grass median at around 100 MPH, instantly blowing the left-front tire, breaking the shock and warping the rim. The driver tried to turn in the dirt and grass, keeping the ambulance from going into oncoming traffic, but couldn't stop in time to avoid plowing into a palm tree head-on. The impact completely totaled the ambulance. The engine was pushed back a few feet, the light bar flew off the roof, the hood was wrinkled and warped, the radiator and grill was warped, bent and punctured, the windshield was cracked and the frame was warped.
Warped Steel...
"Is he still behind us?" Minnie asked.
"Nope. One down," Mickey replied, looking out the back window of the Monaco.
"Did the median stop him?" He turned to her.
"No, but the tree did." Both mice chuckled a little.
"How much nitrous do we have?" He checked the meter.
"Around ninety percent. It's refilling though. Two percent has already been replenished." She nodded then they continued their pursuit.
As they rounded the next bend, they saw the tail-end of the wrecker in view. They caught up with the wrecker within just several seconds, and attempted to pass it in the slow-lane, but the driver turned, cutting them off. Deciding to use the same trick, Minnie veered right, prompting the driver of the wrecker to veer in the same lane. She veered into the passing-lane, and the driver followed. Then she punched it. The mice accelerated past the wrecker, taking fifth place. The driver of the wrecker growled and punched the throttle of the old wrecker, now racing to steal fifth place back however he could. Even if he had to kill...
HOOONK!
Mickey looked behind them and saw the wrecker gaining on them.
"He's mad and he's gaining!" he warned. To make matters worse, Minnie looked ahead and saw an intersection. A busy one...
"Shoot! Hang on!" she cautioned. She gunned the engine of the Monaco and said a silent prayer in her mind. The intersection had the same grass median separating four lanes of traffic. And the light was red... In the lanes the mice were in were about four civilian vehicles... They went for it... Minnie slowed down some and jerked the Monaco onto the shoulder, avoiding the stopped traffic as they entered the intersection doing about 80 MPH. The mice held their breath as they weaved around and through the traffic crossing the intersection. The sudden sound of tires screeching drew the mice' attention. Mickey glanced out the back window as Minnie glanced in the rear view mirror just in time to see the wrecker meet it's fate...
The wrecker tailed the Monaco through the intersection but wasn't as fast or maneuverable. As the wrecker got to the last two lanes of traffic coming from the left, a semi truck couldn't stop in time... It locked up it's brakes, skidded across the pavement, and crashed into the left rear quarter panel of the wrecker, causing the wrecker to flip over onto it's right side and skid several feet across the blacktop, coming to a halt in ongoing traffic.
Mickey and Minnie both took a deep breath as they shook off the shock and disbelief. Already, the mice knew how dangerous the Warped Steel competition was. They didn't know how the driver of the ambulance or the driver of the wrecker fared in the accidents. If they survived, or if they didn't... Basically, this race was a war and the courses were the battlefield. And your vehicle was your weapon. This thought put a feeling of uneasiness in the pits of the mice' stomach's. But they remembered that they were racing for a reason. For a purpose:
To end the Warped Steel contest for good.
As they mice refocused their attention ahead, they saw the remaining racers about a half a mile ahead. They turned the last right turn and drove past a detour sign, which was meant to detour drivers from entering the construction zone where they started the race. The Monaco raced across the start/finish line in fifth place.
"We have to catch the other racers!" Mickey said.
"We still have a chance. We just started the last lap," Minnie replied.
"Our boost meter's at full capacity."
"We still have a chance!" She glanced at him. "You ready?" He smiled slyly and gave her a wink.
"Let's show 'em what we've got!" The right side of her lips curled up into a devious smile as she turned back to the road.
"Yes, sir!" She sped up, giving chase after the pack of drivers just ahead of them. Within just several seconds, they soon caught up to the Marathon and passed it with no trouble. Next was the Crown Vic. The occupants, Roger and Julia, were nice enough to let Mickey and Minnie pass, giving the mice a thumbs-up as they passed, which the mice gratefully returned. The Viper and Supra were the only vehicles standing between the mice and first place. They got to the 70 degree turn which exited into traffic and tailed the other cars through the turn, managing to gain a few feet on the other drivers.
The Viper and Supra was in a battle for first, and neither was willing to back down. The Monaco was about two car-lengths behind the Viper and Supra, which allowed the mice to get a good view of the action. The two cars were neck-and-neck at speeds over 100 MPH. The rounded the light turn and continued their battle for first place. The Viper veered over and rammed into the Supra, damaging the side of both cars. The Supra veered over and slammed into the side of the Viper, causing further damage to both vehicles. Mickey and Minnie both felt that something bad was going to happen eventually from the vehicular battle taking place ahead of them. Both of them were right...
The Viper angled quickly and slammed into the side of the Supra with so much force that the right-front quarter panel of the Supra ripped off and flew behind the car. Both mice gasped as Minnie swerved the Monaco to avoid hitting it. Then the right-front tire of the Supra blew out, causing the the driver to lose control. The driver of the Viper turned and rammed into the Supra one last time... The resulting impact caused the Supra to swerve, spin, then flip over. Time seemed to slow down at that point...
The Supra flipped once, then twice, getting some air as it rolled again, end over end... Mickey and Minnie couldn't stop in time to avoid slamming headlong into the flying wreck, but actually didn't hit it. As the Supra gained air, the Monaco closed in and drove right under it as it flipped over top of it only inches from coming in contact with the roof. As the Monaco cleared the flying wreckage, time seemed to return to normal as the Supra hit the concrete with enough force to warp the axle, shred off the trunk which became flying shrapnel, and bend the hood back onto the roof. After a few more rolls, the Supra came to a bone-jarring halt on it's roof.
The mice looked behind them and was just able to make out the crumpled, warped, twisted and unrecognizable body that used to be a car. Now it was a smoking pile of wreckage. It too was... Warped Steel. The mice glanced to each other with wide eyes and their mouths forming an 'o'.
"Whoa!" both of them said with a wide grin.
"How did we do that?" Mickey asked, surprised and shocked.
"I have no idea," Minnie responded with equal shock and surprise.
"One more opponent down."
"One more to go."
The Viper was now two car-lengths ahead of the mice. The 80 degree turn came up and the Monaco fishtailed around the corner, gaining a little distance on the Viper. Swerving around the few or so civilian vehicles they came to, the mice was steadily gaining on the first place car. They then came to another light turn. But this time, traffic was at it. Minnie applied the brakes and slowed down a little to avoid hitting anything, and swerved through the traffic, narrowly missing a few cars. The driver of the Viper wasn't as lucky. Speeding up, the driver of the Viper hit the turn and blasted through the traffic. Big mistake...
As the Viper swerved through the traffic at around 100 MPH, a minivan clipped the left-rear fender of the Viper, causing it to spin out, and the Monaco to take the lead. Mickey and Minnie exited the traffic, and accelerated into the straight-a-way, both laughing as they did so. The driver of the Viper growled and hit his steering wheel, then punched the gas and tore out of the traffic after the mice, a wicked grin upon his face.
The mice raced through the straight-a-way, swerving around the traffic as they raced around 100 MPH.
"Do you see him?" Minnie asked her partner. She had a strong feeling that they had yet to see the last of the Viper and it's short-fused driver. And once again, she had been proven right.
"He's behind us and closing in!" Mickey informed. He too had the same feeling his companion did about the driver of the Viper. And he too was proven right. The Viper was gaining on the Monaco, and fast. The driver had activated the nitrous and was gaining on the Monaco at a quick rate.
"Hang on." A sly grin came to Minnie's face. "He's not the only one with nitrous." She placed her thumb over the red button and pressed it, activating their own nitrous tank. The Monaco soon hit 140 MPH before she let off the button and edged the car over onto the right shoulder to avoid the traffic. "If we can just make him use up all of his nitrous, we'll have the upper hand. How much do we have?" Mickey looked at the gage.
"Around eighty percent." She nodded. He looked out the back window to see that the Viper had ran up onto the opposite shoulder and had a several dents and scratches along the right side. Suddenly, he saw the Viper clip the side of a pickup as it raced by it, busting the right headlight lens.
"What's he doing?" she asked.
"Currently, I'm guessing saying some words I won't repeat," he replied, turning to her slightly with a little grin.
"I kinda figured that," she grinned back. "I mean how far behind us is he?"
"I'd say about three car-lengths." Minnie happened to notice the tree that the ambulance had hit before as they raced by. And something piqued her curiosity... The ambulance was gone!
"Uh, Mickey?" He turned to her as he swiveled himself back around in his seat.
"Yeah?"
"Remember that palm tree the ambulance crashed into?"
"Yeah. It was along this road somewhere. We should've gotten to it by now."
"We just passed it. The tree is still there... but the ambulance isn't..." Mickey tilted his head and raised one black brow.
"Ambulance's just don't disappear."
"This one did." He closed his eyes for a moment and turned his face back toward the dash.
"Okay... Now I have no idea what's going on..."
"I'm officially spooked now..."
"Me, too. This whole thing is weird."
"Whaddaya say we finish this race and go home?" she suggested.
"Sounds good to me," he replied. Suddenly, the sound of a car horn drew the mice' attention behind them. Mickey glanced out the back window as Minnie glanced in the side view mirror, and saw the Viper had crossed the road and was now riding their bumper.
"Doesn't this guy ever give up?" she asked with an annoyed and frustrated tone.
"Not this guy," he said. "You gotta give him credit though. He's very persistent."
"Too persistent." Another jar in the rear end.
"The finish line is around the next two turns. If we can just hold him off till then, we can win!" Mickey informed. Another bump.
"If we live that long," Minnie grumbled. The mice hugged the next curb as they rounded the second to last bend before the start/finish line.
"Intersection, coming up!" he said.
"Hang on tight!" she said. She hit the nitrous button, activating the tank, and accelerated ahead of the Viper. The driver of the Viper activated his own boost tank, but just after a second, it burnt out. He had used most all of it trying to gain on the Monaco, and now he had burnt it all up and not much would refill before he got to the line. The driver cursed under his breath and punched the throttle. The Viper shot across the road onto the left shoulder and tried to pass the Monaco on that side. The Viper began to inch past the Monaco. Mickey and Minnie both glanced out the driver side window to see the driver stick his tongue out them and laugh.
However, you won't always get a good number when you roll the dice...
The event that transpired next happened in the blink of an eye. The Monaco and Viper entered the intersection neck-and-neck at 110 MPH, just as another semi truck entered to the left side of the cars. Both mice glanced just ahead of the Viper to see the big rig, and their eyes widened and both gasped. But that was all they could do before the Viper hit it... The driver glanced back to the road just as he was upon the truck. The Viper hit the right-front side of the eighteen wheeler, shredding off the Viper's left-front fender as it flipped over.
Time once more seemed to slow down. The Viper flipped over top the roof of the Monaco, barely missing it by a few inches, and done a complete 360 from one side of the Monaco to the other as it landed on the hardtop on the opposite side of the police car on its tires. Upon impact, the Viper met its demise. The front of the Viper hit the concrete, the rear hitting just afterward, sending debris flying in all directions. From the moment the Viper hit the truck, it was totaled. It skidded across the pavement, coming to a stop with a warped frame, disintegrated body, blown front tires and a smoking engine. Time returned to normal as the mice sped away to the finish line. Both mice took a deep breath as they drove onward.
"How did we do that? Again?" Minnie asked, surprised by the prior event.
"I have no idea. But it worked for us," Mickey replied. He was equally surprised.
Mickey and Minnie turned the last right turn, driving past the detour sign, and crossed the finish line in first place. Minnie hit the brakes and the Monaco skidded to a stop after crossing the line. Both mice leaned across the seat and hugged one another.
"We did it!" they said happily. Both laughed and hugged, then they got out of the Monaco just as the last two cars crossed the finish line. The Crown Vic in second and the Marathon in third. Minnie stood at the left side of the Monaco and Mickey walked around to join her. They watched the other cars roll to a stop and the drivers get out.
"Congratulations, everyone! You did splendidly!" Mickey and Minnie turned around to see Mr. z walking up to them. "That was a very entertaining race. Out of the seven cars that started this race, only three now remain. All of you should be proud. You overcame the trials of this race and were victorious! But since there are only three contenders here, I'll give the driver that placed third, or last in this case, the gift card."
Mickey and Minnie watched as Mr. Z handed the gift card and check to the driver of the Marathon, then to Roger and Julia. They also watched as Julia exchanged some words with Mr. Z that they couldn't hear it. Then Mr. Z turned to the mice. Both eyed him suspiciously as he walked up to them, removing the sunglasses he was wearing, and smiled a twisted smile.
"Congratulations! You two won the second event in Warped Steel. You must be proud of you accomplishment. You succeeded where other failed and came out on top. Tonight's race was what this competition is about."
"Vehicular homicide?" Mickey spat sarcastically.
"Living life on the edge?" Minnie asked with sarcasm.
"True, this contest does have it's dangerous moments, but that is the thrill of it," Mr. Z said. "The carnage is a small price to pay."
"What happened to the ambulance and it's driver?" Minnie asked.
"And the wrecker and it's driver, too, along with the other drivers?" Mickey asked. The side of Mr. Z's mouth curled up into a wicked grin.
"A magician never reveals his secrets." Mr. Z then reached into his coat pocket, pulled out a white envelope and handed it to the mice. "Here is your prize money. Spend as you see fit. But I do have a little advice to give you." Both mice watched as Mr. Z's smile faded into a serious stare. "It'd serve you both well not to get too involved with this contest. Sometimes what you seek may very well be your own downfall. It would be a shame to have two drivers as good as yourselves suddenly be dismissed from the contest on such short notice." His mouth turned back into a wicked grin. Both mice glared at Mr. Z.
"Is that what happened to the other drivers?" Mickey asked.
"Did they just suddenly get 'dismissed', too?" Minnie asked.
"As I said; A magician never reveals his secrets," Mr. Z replied with a cynical grin. He slipped on his sunglasses, then turned away from the mice and walked over to the black Freight-Liner. He opened the driver door, climbed up and blew the horn, getting everybody's attention. "Attention, everyone! Congrats to all of you that finished the second event in Warped Steel. You have all proven yourselves to be tough, vigilant, and determined. I like that in a driver. The third event will be this Tuesday on the Riverview Parkway. Be there at five o'clock for the prerace meeting. Keep up with your phones, and make sure your ready for the third event. Enjoy your weekend. I'll see you all then!" That said, Mr. Z climbed into the rig, fired it up and drove off. Mickey and Minnie started to get into the Monaco, but a voice redirected their attention.
"Hey!" The mice turned to see Roger and Julia drive up in their Crown Vic fire chief car.
"Hey!" both mice replied.
"That was some great racing out there tonight," Roger said.
"Thanks, but Minnie was the one driving," Mickey replied, turning to Minnie with a proud smile.
"Well you did great! Keep up like that and you'll win this contest for sure," Julia said.
"We hope to win. We want this contest stopped for good," Minnie said with a solemn tone.
"And we want to catch whoever is behind this contest," Mickey added.
"You keep driving like that and I'm sure you kids will win," Julia stated.
"Thanks!" both mice replied.
"Well, we better get going," Roger said.
"We have to make sure our car is ready for the next race," Julia added.
"You better be ready to face the next challenge, too," Roger advised.
"We'll do our best!" Minnie said.
"We're not finished yet!" Mickey said.
"That's the spirit!" Julia said. "Well, we better get going. We've got to make sure we're ready for whatever Mr. Z throws at us."
"We'll see you kids at the next race," Roger said.
"See ya!" Mickey said.
"Bye!" Minnie said. Both mice waved at the other couple as they drove off. Then Mickey and Minnie turned their faces to one another.
"How about we go home?" he asked.
"Sounds like a good idea to me," she replied. He opened the driver door for her. She smiled warmly, gave him a kiss on his cheek, then got in. He got in on the passenger side and both buckled their seat belts. Minnie fired up the engine, then she and Mickey headed for home.
Once the young mouse lovers got home, they parked the Monaco in their garage, then went on inside. They ate dinner together, did the dishes, then went upstairs to shower. Mickey offered to let Minnie shower first, but she insisted that he shower before her. Of course, she remained in the bathroom with her husband while he did. Once he showered, he put on his underwear and pajamas and she got into the tub to start hers. He stayed in the bathroom with her too, naturally.
"I'm gonna go ahead and fix the bed," Mickey said.
"Okay. I'll be out in a sec," Minnie answered. He nodded and walked out of the bathroom and into their bedroom where he pulled the covers back on their bed. It only took several seconds to do, so afterward he walked over to their bedroom window and looked out. He began to think about the race, the contest, the whole thing. This competition had proved to be more dangerous than either of them had thought. The race wasn't just a race. It was a death race, more or less. Drivers that entered it may not even live through it. In just two races, they had seen cars be smashed to bits, break neck speeds, and the dangers that go along with it all. He couldn't help but wonder...
Was it worth it? Risking Minnie's life... No. That risk wasn't worth it.
Minnie, too, had been thinking. The race had proved to be deadly. One wrong move could result in someone being killed. She also couldn't help but wonder... was it worth it? No... Risking Mickey's life wasn't worth it. She finished her shower, put on her underwear and pj's, turned off the bathroom light and walked into her and Mickey's bedroom, where she saw him standing at the window looking out.
"Mickey?"
At the sound of her soft, sweet and affectionate voice, Mickey instantly felt the warmth she always brings when she walks into a room fill him. It was the kind of warmth that could make any trouble he had, regardless of how big, just seem to shrink. He turned his face to her with a light smile.
"Hm?"
"Are you okay, baby?" He could sense the concern in her voice as she began walking up to him. He could see the concern written on her face as she approached him. He turned his gaze slowly back out the window.
"Yeah... I'm just thinking about the contest." He felt her little and gentle arms wrap around his torso and her press the front of her body against his back.
"What about it?" He felt her squeeze him gently, trying to comfort him. And if that wasn't enough, he felt her little black tail wrap around him as well. It was just one of her ways of letting him know she was there for him, she loved him, that she was concerned about him and that she wanted to know what was troubling him. Already, he was feeling a little better.
"This contest is more dangerous than I thought it was," he admitted.
"Yeah... it is. I've been thinking about it, too. I didn't expect it to be this dangerous," she also admitted.
"We've only completed the second race. What if this gets even more dangerous?"
"Are you thinking of quitting?" He sighed, then turned his face to her.
"Would you sit out the rest of this?" Both smiled upon realizing that they each said the same thing.
"Would you sit the rest of this out and let me finish it?" Minnie had a solemn look as she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Mickey. But I can't do that, and I won't do that."
"Didn't think so," he grinned lightly.
"Would you sit out the rest of this and let me finish it?"
"Not gonna happen."
"I didn't think you'd listen," she grinned lightly. "Why do you want me to sit out the rest of the contest?"
"Because I don't want you getting hurt. This contest is more dangerous than either of us thought." He turned around in her arms and placed his right hand on her left cheek as he moved his left arm behind her back. "Losing you isn't worth it." Minnie felt her insides just melt. His words touched her so deeply. But her mind and heart were made up. They had started the contest together, and they were going to finish it together.
"Oh, Mickey... That's so sweet," Minnie cooed, embracing him and giving him a gentle squeeze. She pulled back and stared into his eyes. "But I'm afraid I can't sit this out."
"But I don't want you to get hurt." She raised her right hand and placed it on his left cheek.
"I know. I don't want you getting hurt either."
"Why do you want me to back down?" Minnie smiled as she stroked his cheek.
"The same reason you want me to. Because I love you and want you to be safe. I love you more than anything in the world, Mickey, and I'd do anything to make sure you didn't get hurt. That's why I can't back outta this. I want to do this with you. I want to be there with you and I want to help you. You shouldn't have to do this alone and as long as there's a breath in my body, you won't have to. If you're gonna do this, then I'm gonna do it, too. We're a team. You and me. We're in this together. I'd rather crash and burn with you than risk losing you and living life without you," she smiled as she stroked his cheek. Mickey smiled. Her words touched him. He admired how she loved him enough that she'd risk her own life just to help him and be with him. He'd do the same to her.
"If we catch the guy behind this, we won't have to worry anymore. I don't think I could back out now," he said.
"I don't think either of us could. But as long as we're together, we can watch out for each other," she said.
"Yeah..." he smiled. He chuckled lightly. "You're kinda stubborn, you know that?" She giggled.
"I'm only as stubborn as my husband. I'm no more stubborn than you are."
"Ya got me there," he grinned.
"Don't worry, Mickey. I've got your back and I promise I'll be careful. You can count on me," she smiled.
"And I've got yours. I promise to be careful, too. You can count on me," he said.
"Thanks, sweetie," she uttered.
"Thank you, too, doll," he murmured. Both mice leaned closed and pressed their lips together, her leg going up behind her as she leaned onto and into him. After around four seconds, they each pulled back and smiled as they gazed into one anothers eyes.
"I love you," they each smiled.
"I love you, too," they each smiled again. They leaned closed and nuzzled their noses together. After a few seconds, both pulled back and smiled.
"Hey, Minnie?" Mickey spoke softly.
"Yes, Mickey?" Minnie asked softly and sweetly. He gently hugged her closer to him.
"Thank you." She felt her heart twirl as she smiled and hugged him closer to her as well.
"You're welcome. Anytime, sweetheart. Thank you, too."
"You're welcome, baby. Anytime." They pulled back and smiled, then Mickey yawned, making Minnie yawn, too. "How about we turn in?" he suggested.
"Sounds good to me. We both need some rest after today," she replied. The mice stepped over to their bed, got down on their knees side-by-side and said their prayer together. Then they stood up and crawled into bed, pulling the cover over them. Mickey laid down on his back as Minnie cuddled up next to him, resting her head on his chest and shoulder, and draped one arm across his frame. He rested one hand on her side as they intertwined their tails under the cover. Mickey heard her sigh happily and contently as he felt her nestle herself against him. He smiled and rested his free hand on her arm that was across his chest.
"Tired?" he asked softly.
"Mm-hmm... I'm glad we can just enjoy the weekend in peace," she answered softly.
"Me, too. We need a break from the contest. What would you like to do tomorrow?" Minnie tilted her head and met his eyes as she smiled warmly.
"I don't mind. Just as long as we do it together."
"You read my mind again," he grinned.
"Oh, Mickey," she murmured. She then leaned up and brushed her lips against his. After a few seconds, she pulled back and met his smile and eyes, then snuggled up to him again. She yawned suddenly, which in turn made him yawn as well.
"G'night, Minnie," Mickey smiled, then kissed her softly on the top of her head.
"G'night, Mickey," Minnie smiled, then kissed him on his chest. "I love you."
"I love you, too. Sweet dreams, sugar."
"Sweet dreams, cupcake."
Mickey and Minnie lay cuddled close, feeling each other's warmth and comfort until sleep overtook them. Both were glad that they had the weekend off to rejuvenate from the last race. Although they hadn't finished the Warped Steep contest yet, both felt confident that together, they could beat it. They also knew that the next race wouldn't be a cakewalk and it was just three days away. But both mice felt ready to face what lay ahead.
But what other tricks did Mr. Z have up his sleeve?
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Coming up in chapter 7: Mickey and Minnie prepare for the next event in Warped Steel and meet Mr. Z at the rendezvous point for the next challenge.
Squad Unit 19.