Chapter 9: Duck and Cover
Indianapolis, Indiana
The sun shone brightly in the sky. About 12 miles outside of downtown Indy was a massive compound. The compound was composed for two large warehouses. These were surrounded with about eight small buildings.
Around the compound was a metal wire fence covered with steel plates. Barbed wire ran along the entire way.
At each corner, there were four total, was a guard tower.
A caravan of five vehicles approached the fenced in compound. A black Rolls Royce Phantom limo followed a gray four door Cadillac.
Behind the gray sedan, a brown Ford work van, a white Chevy Suburban, and a Freightliner truck followed.
Four armed guards stood at the main entrance. As the Cadillac pulled to a stop in front of the gate, one of the guard turned and waved to a man on top one of the guard towers that was connect to the gate.
The gate then slowly opened like a draw bridge only it opened sideways.
The train of cars pulled into the compound. After the last car entered, the heavy iron gates closed shut.
The Cadillac and the RR limo pulled in front of one of the warehouses with the trucks and van pulling up in front of the warehouse.
As the door opened, Greg, Ponti, and their accomplices exited the two cars and headed into the building.
A group of heavily armed men surrounded the Chevy and van.
One by one the Cannonball Run racers were led out. Each person had been blindfolded and had their hands zip tied together.
As the blindfolds were removed, Todd voiced his displeasure of Burns.
"You asshole, you killed Jack. All he ever did was defend you. And yet, you always blamed him. You're sick."
Greg slowly walked over to Todd. "You know, I planned on just eliminating Jack, but maybe I should take you out as well?" Greg laughed to himself then struck Todd with a right cross.
Todd went down. Carry rushed over to him.
"I don't get it, Ponti," James asked. "What are you guys planning to do? Seeing how that we are probably not going to live to talk about it."
Ponti turned and looked at Greg as if to ask permission. Greg nodded back.
"Well, since you're about right, Mr. Harvey, I see no harm in telling you," Greg said.
As Greg was getting ready to talk, Agent White noticed that George had taken something from his back pocket and realized it was an FBI transmitter.
Greg continued to talk not noticing what George had done.
"You see since you guys are not going to live long we've decided to put your cars to good use."
Greg walked over to a crate with a tarp over it. "Inside these crates is every type of automatic weapon known to man. You see, we are planning to move these weapons down to a dealer in Mexico, who should be here any minute to finish the deal."
As Greg finished, he noticed that one of the henchman started to walk to Greg.
"He's got something in his back pocket sir."
"Bring it here," Greg ordered the guy.
The man reached into George's back pocket.
"Hey, dude, I don't swing that way."
The armed guard then pulled out the transmitter. He handed in to Greg. Greg held the device in his hand.
"Well, if it an FBI transmitter. I honestly have to say I'm disappointed in you, Agents George and Andrew."
A shocked look came across Johnny's face.
"These idiots are federal agents!"
Greg walked back to George. He reached in his shirt pocket and pulled out an FBI badge.
"Yeah, it's true. The Bureau sent us to back-up you guys, John," George said to Agent White.
"Our cover was that we were supposed to be friends. The truth is we just met each other when we started this case," A.J. picked up.
"Well, I have to say bravo. Now if you excuse me, our friend has arrived," Greg said as the door on the side of the building opened.
A Central American man entered with two guards next to him.
"Hola señor, welcome to America."
"Your welcome is very warm, Burns," the man said with heavy Mexican accent.
"Yes, I try to give my business partners a warm welcome and I consider you a partner, Juan."
"As do I, my friend, as do I. Let's go do some business, then."
The two men began to walk away. Ponti and Kate followed them out.
Johnny stayed behind to help with the elimination of the racers.
However, right now, he was going to help two of the workers lift an overturned crate.
Outside, the guards paced the towers.
Suddenly, without warning, a large explosion shook the area.
Johnny and the two men he was helping quickly ran out of the building.
A large mushroom shaped cloud moved upward from what was left of the tower.
"What the hell?!" Johnny exclaimed.
BOOM! Just after Johnny spoke, another tower exploded.
"Someone get Greg here quick," Johnny to the guards.
He didn't have to wait long. Greg and the other quickly approached where Johnny was.
"What's going on?!" Greg asked angrily.
"I don't know. The guard towers just exploded," Johnny responded.
Meanwhile…
Inside the building, the racers also began to notice something was up.
Todd seized the opportunity and broke free from his tie. He quickly untied Rob and together they got everyone free.
"Ok, Todd, what's the plan?" Rob asked.
"Well, I think someone is creating a distraction for us. So, I think we should try to get out of here."
The group, unfortunately, didn't get a chance to do anything.
Greg and the rest of the bad guys re-entered the building.
But, before anyone could say anything.
CRASH! A car smashed through the big metal door on the building. Behind the car, the front gate lay destroyed.
A large group of FBI cars and Indy state troops were flying across the road straight toward the compound. In the air, two large helicopters, one with NSC on the side and another with FBI on the side, closed in also.
The car was easily recognizable. It was Jack's Charger.
Todd looked at the car confused. However, Greg and the other villains didn't want to stick around.
They took off in a caravan of cars.
Todd quickly ran to the Charger.
The driver's door opened up. He was shocked to see Jack standing there.
"Jack, they just left. Come on let's go after them."
"Ok, get it. David, get in the back," Jack responded.
"What do you want us to do?" A.J. asked Todd.
Todd turned to Jack for an answer.
"What do you think? Get in your cars and go get them," Jack replied.
One by one the racers ran for their cars.
Sharon ran for her Buell, but was confronted by two guards.
"That's far enough." said one of them.
"Honestly, I disagree as I'm not back to my motorcycle yet." said Sharon.
"You're coming with us." said the other guard.
They tried to grab her, but she grabbed one by his wrist and pulled him into the other face first. The one she didn't grab was knocked to the ground by the collision.
"You almost knocked out my tooth!" said the guard who was still standing.
"I wish it hadn't come to that." said Sharon.
The guard charged at her again. She grabbed him by the throat and used his own momentum to knock him off his feet and onto his back.
"You're going down!" said the other guard as he got back to his feet.
He ran towards her and tried to grab her, but she grabbed him by his shoulder and elbow and tossed him to the ground again.
She then crossed herself and said "Forgive me, Father, for my actions. My only excuse was that I was acting to defend myself." She then ran for her motorcycle.
"Did we just get beaten up by a nun?" asked one of the guards.
Sharon got on her motorcycle and tied her hair behind her head. She then donned her helmet and started the bike.
As Sharon rode off, Carry and Caitlin ran to the Mustang.
Carry pulled a duke's of hazard slide across the hood and got behind the wheel.
"Are you sure you know to wheel this thing sis?"
Carry looked up as three armed men stood in front of the car.
"Hang on, sis," she said.
Dropping the car down in gear, she floored it.
The three men flew in three different directions as the car struck them.
Jack's Charger plowed thru two cars blocking the front gate.
As he sped out in pursuit of Greg and the other top guys, the other racers followed behind him.
Behind them, the rest of Greg's henchman followed in several four-door sedans and vans.
Rob, Sharon, and Matt all backed off and pulled around and up behind the group of guards.
Rob pulled up behind a Ford LTD that was leading the pack. He eased the Firebird right against the rear bumper of the sedan and hit hard enough to lift the rear tires off the ground.
"What the hell are you doing?! Floor it!" the one guard said to the other.
"I'm trying. I can't go anywhere!"
The guard tried to steer out of it. Unfortunately, he steered too much and the car spun out. As it did, Rob steered to the right and barely missed it.
Two other cars following the sedan smashed into the Ford flipping it over.
Rob just looked back and smiled.
Another pair of Greg's men were trying to escape in a '98 Taurus.
"Oh, we've got a problem." said the driver. "This one's on a motorcycle." He was looking at Sharon in his rearview.
"Well, don't just sit there! Floor it!" said his passenger.
"Time to act out all those 'CHiPs' fantasies I had as a girl." said Sharon.
Sharon gave the Buell's grip a twist as the music started. The driver of the Taurus did his best to get away.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in.
The Taurus slid into the next right turn. The driver corrected soon after. Sharon managed to stay with him.
Tied to a wheel.
My fingers gotta feel.
Bleeding, though it's okay to smile.
I spin on a whim.
I slide to the right.
I felt you like electric light.
The two vehicles reached a line of traffic. The Taurus swerved into the passing lane while Sharon pulled onto the shoulder.
For our love.
For our fear.
For our rise against the years and years and years.
Got a machinehead.
It's better than the rest.
Green to red.
Machinehead.
Got a machinehead.
It's better than the rest.
Green to red.
The Taurus came out from the other side of the traffic and pulled ahead. Sharon returned to the road after making up some distance.
And I walk from my machine.
I walk from my machine.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in.
Deaf, dumb, and thirty,
and starting to deserve this.
Leaning on my conscience wall.
The Taurus swerved in front of Sharon and the driver hit the brakes. She swerved around him and suddenly found herself the prey.
Blood is like wine.
Unconcious all the time.
If I had it all again, I'd change it all.
Got a machinehead.
It's better than the rest.
Green to red.
Machinehead.
Got a machinehead.
It's better than the rest.
Green to red.
Sharon raced through an intersection and cut left. She passed a van while the Taurus tried to stay with her.
And I walk from my machine.
I walk from my machine.
That's my my generation.
Sharon cut in front of the van while the Taurus was passing it. When she was in the opposite lane, she got on her brakes and let the two vehicles pass her.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in, breathe out.
Breathe in.
Breathe in.
Breathe in.
After the Taurus passed the van, Sharon dropped behind the van and swerved back around it. She then passed it again.
Got a machinehead.
It's better than the rest.
Green to red.
Machinehead.
Got a machinehead.
It's better than the rest.
Green to red.
The driver of the Taurus got on his brakes again. This time, he lost control and spun out.
Better than the rest.
Sharon saw him come face-to-face with her and popped a wheelie.
Better than the rest.
Sharon rode up the front of the Taurus, over the roof, and off of the trunk.
Better than the rest.
Sharon slid to a stop and parked her bike.
Machinehead-head-head-head-head.
Sharon dismounted her bike, removed her helmet, and walked over to them.
And I walk from my machine.
I walk from my machine.
Machinehead by Bush.
Sharon leaned over to the window and said "I am so glad this wasn't an SHO."
After seeing what Sharon and Rob did, Matt decided to join the fun.
He pulled up behind a van and rammed the side of it. The driver struggled to maintain control. Matt hit it a second time. This second hit did it. The left front wheel went down and the driver slid to the left. Another car following could not stop in time.
It hit the van and took both cars out of the chase.
"Hey, the Trickster actually did some good!" said Todd as he looked back.
"Of course he did!" said Jack. "He may sometimes play dirty, but he's a good man deep down."
The Hoffman sisters pulled up alongside in their Mustang.
"Hey, Jack!" Carry called over. "This could be tough taking all these guys out. You bring help?"
"Just have a look up ahead!" said Jack.
In the lead car, Greg, Ponti and Kate were pushing their vehicle for all it was worth.
"I'm not going down again because of that asshole!" Kate sneered as she saw the Charger
closing the distance with them.
"That makes two of us!" said Greg.
As their car headed down an incline and got ready to drive up a hill, Ponti looked ahead and suddenly looked shocked.
On the crest of the hill appeared a number of high-powered muscle cars. Each one looked like
it could eat a stop sign for breakfast. On the hood of each car was a vinyl of a horned Devil head with a police badge on it.
Greg noticed the cars too and said 'Son of a goddamn bitch!".
At the head of the group was David in a primer grey '73 Camaro.
"Hey, Stuntman! It's your old buddies from the Hell Patrol here. Ready to kick some ass and take some names!" David said into his CB.
"10-4, buddy!" said Jack into his CB. "Make sure these punks don't get away. But Burns is mine!"
"You got it!" said David as he drove his Camaro forward at high speed, followed at high speed by a '68 Chevelle, a '63 Buick Riviera and a '70 El Camino.
"Okay! I'll get us out of here!" said Kate. "Let's go!"
She quickly swerved the car around to the side and sped into the desert. Other cars in their entourage followed.
"Oh no you don't!" said Caitlin as she and the other Cannonballers, still lead by Jack's Charger took off after them, with the Hell Patrol members still in pursuit.
Firin'
out on all eight Never heard of
danger
Got my foot on the floor
Screamin' through
the red light
Honk at everyone that I know
It's only fun that I know
Now if you're feelin'
squeamish
You'll never last the end of the show
An SUV pulled over to the side of the Burns' vehicle. It was the vehicle the Mexican's leader was in. The door was opened and the Mexican yelled "Senor Ponti! Get aboard!".
Ponti looked unsure.
"Go ahead!" said Greg. "We can handle these peckerwoods chasing us!"
"Alright!" said Ponti.
He opened his door and grabbed the Mexican's outstretched hand. With a bit of difficulty, he boarded the SUV.
This was witnessed by George and A.J. in their van and James who was now driving the GNX.
"We have to catch Ponti!" said James into his CB. "I want to see him pay!"
"Then it's a good job we're here too, isn't it?" said A.J. as the van and the GNX headed in on an intercept course.
"Think we can help out?" asked Caitlin.
"I think I know a short cut." said Carry as she checked out a map. "Go that way!" she yelled.
Caitlin
turned the Mustang onto a downward sloping trail. A couple of the
other Hell Patrol vehicles followed.All
fired up Lettin' loose with the magic Don't be alarmed now
All fired up
Night
time celebration
Rockin' to the music
We're headed for the
top position
Relax and go with the
flow
Tonight we're proud to give ya
The fast way it's the way
to go
A few cars from the Hell Patrol had joined the GNX and the van, seeing their pursuit of the Mexican's SUV.
The driver of the Riviera smiled at James and said "Nice to see an 80s muscle car get some recognition.".
"These morons are right on our ass!" said Ponti. "You know how to lose them?"
"Mr. Burns was kind enough to give us a certain phone number." smirked the Boss.
As the Riviera closed the gap between it and the SUV, suddenly the semi truck which had attacked the racers earlier drove the side of it and knocked it off to the side.
"Shit!" yelled Agent White. "Rubber Duck's back!"
All
fired up
All fired up
The truck got in behind the GNX and got ready to attack. It pushed forward and bumped the back of the GNX hard.
James hit the nitrous shot in the GNX and gained a brief lead on the truck.
The van got in behind the truck.
George leaned out his window and drew his weapon.
"Don't miss. Whatever you do." said A.J.
"I can do this." said George as he took careful aim at the rear tires of the truck.
Loosing off two shots, he was able to puncture each of the rear tires. The truck started to go a bit out of control.
The driver tried to bring it under control, but could not steer properly due to the rear tires loosing air.
He kept his eye on the GNX.
"If this guy's crazy enough to stay on our tail, our problem should soon be over." said James as he nodded ahead.
Wong and White looked ahead and saw a rundown looking bridge leading over a ravine.
It was obvious that the weight of the truck would be too much for the bridge.
"I hope you can break very well!" said Wong.
The truck was now catching up with the GNX as they approached the bridge.
Never heard of danger All fired up
Runnin'
to the limit
Me and my machine
Fuel injection hummer
Burnin'
from the gasoline
It's only fun
that I know
Now if you're feelin' squeamish
You'll never last
the end of the show
All fired up
With expert movements, James swerved the GNX to the side and jammed on the brakes.
The truck couldn't stop in time and drove onto the unsafe bridge.
The driver slammed on his brakes but it was too late. The bridge collapsed under the semi's weight and it fell one hundred feet into a raging river below.
Takin'
flight in the distance Don't be
alarmed now All fired up
Hear that engine roar
Sliding in the
slipstream
Never turn your back on the road
Relax and go with the flow
Tonight we're proud to
show ya
The fast way is the way to go
All
fired up
All fired up
All Fired Up by Fastway
"That takes care of that!" said White. He looked back and saw that the van was still pursuing the SUV and closing the gap with it.
"Get us out of here, rapido!" yelled the Boss to his driver.
The driver kept his eye on the road.
Suddenly, out of a side canyon, the Mustang pulled out and got beside the SUV.
The driver looked over to see the window of the Mustang was down.
He gasped when he saw that Carry and Caitlin had both unzipped their jumpsuits enough to show some cleavage.
He smirked at them.
"You idiot!" yelled Ponti. "Look out!"
The driver looked ahead to see the way ahead blocked by the cars of the Hell Patrol racers who had followed the Hoffman sisters. All the drivers were pointing shotguns at the the SUV.
The driver cursed and stopped the SUV.
The Mustang stopped a little bit behind them, and then the GNX and the van caught up with them.
Carry smirked as she and Caitlin zipped their suits up again.
"Thank God their driver was horny." said Carry. "I'm just glad Todd didn't see that."
James leapt out of the GNX and ran over to the SUV. Most of its occupants were surrendering, but Ponti had quickly grabbed a gun and prepared to open fire.
Before he could fire a shot, James quickly tackled him and knocked the gun away.
James held Ponti down on the ground and drove punch after punch into his face.
"That's enough, James!" yelled George as he, A.J., White and Wong came over. "He's finished. Let us take it from here.".
James paused, just as he got ready to punch Ponti again. He sighed and said to Ponti "You're not worth it anyway.".
Jack looked behind him. James and the agents were taking Ponti to a waiting car. It was now down to him to get Greg.
"Well, that's the last one, Jack. It's just Burns now. You know what you're doing?" Todd asked.
Jack just nodded his head. David turned toward Todd.
"I'd hang on if I were you," he said.
Greg looked over his shoulder. The Charger was gaining quickly.
Kate noticed the car too. Greg and she were the only ones left in the Limo. Greg was now driving having pushed the driver out of the car.
She spotted a sedan ahead of them.
"Sorry, honey," she said to Greg. "Our marriage was great, but a girl's got to take care of herself."
She climbed out the passenger window and carefully leaped to the sedan and forced the driver out.
As Kate sped away, Greg knew he was in trouble.
But he had one last think he could try. He looped the car around and sped back toward the Charger.
"Alright, Jack, you may be fast but you're not good in a chicken race," Greg said to himself.
Jack knew what Burns was trying to do. He was ready for him.
The two cars came toward each neither drive gave an inch.
At the last possible minute, Jack turned away.
Greg looked behind and yelled, "Looks like I win again Jack!" And turned back with a smile on his face and came face-to-face with a dump truck.
The smile went away from his face. The limo stuck the truck head-on exploding in a small fireball.
Jack spun the Charger back to the crash site.
As he stopped the car, Charlie and Bill pulled up.
The five guys stood by the two cars.
"Shouldn't we get some help over here?" Bill asked.
Jack just smiled. "Let him cook for a while," he said as he put his sunglasses back on.
Meanwhile, Kate drove the car down the road at high speed.
Suddenly, red lights flashed in her rearview. A state trooper's car was following.
"Damn!" she said. "But fortunately, I know what to do."
She slowed down and pulled over. The cop car came to a halt behind her.
Reaching down, Kate unzipped her jumpsuit until copious amounts of her cleavage were exposed.
She then put on her best come-hither look as the state trooper came to her window.
She turned to face the window and her smile died.
Her arresting officer was a female state trooper.
"Sorry, ma'am, but I'm straight." the trooper said. "Step out of the vehicle please."
Kate cursed herself as she stepped out of the car.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Author's note: Well what do you think? Thanks again to BKelly and Turbo Man for helping me.