Chapter 10: Playing Hero

I pushed the NSX harder as the speedometer crept a little above 183 mph. I was about to top out in a few more seconds. I glanced into the rear view and saw lights still coming up behind me. what the hell did they have, lamborghinis ? The speedometer crept above 192 now, and they were still gaining. now i was worried.

" JayLa, they're still comin, what r you doin?" i asked catchin up to the group.

" i got it don't worry bout me, drive." she said producing a few grenades.

" where the hell you get those from?" i asked.

" A friend." she said simply.

" I'm still not convinced."

" i told you, i need things like this in my line of work." she said pulling the pin.

" HEY THROW THAT THING OUT!" i screamed, almost running in the back of Duo, we were slowing down.

" as you wish."

She threw the grenade out the window, and all i heard was a boom. That was it. no more sirens, no more radios, and no lights. I slowed down and turned to look at her, then i actually did run into Duo. He looked in his rear view and gave me the finger. I gave him the same reply. Me and JayLa rode in silence for a while before she said.

" Zero, i didn't wanna put all this on you ok,."

" well its a little late for that isn't it?" i said passing Duo and catching up to Heero.

" yeah, but i...look, i know you think i'm just using you as a front but i'm not. I just want you to understand this."

I already thought she was using me as a front, but hearing this come out her mouth made me think otherwise. I didn't know what to think at that moment. I was still reeling from snappin out in space, killing people in my apartment, and running from cops in my favorite 3 cars. It's been a helluva day.

"How do i know you're not just sayin this to me to get over on me man." i said lookin at her out the corner of my eye.

" because Zero, if i was just getting over on you, i would have left you to die in your apartment. I wouldn't have come back. because they knew i was staying with you." she said tears welling up in her eyes.

At that point i felt like a complete dick. Maybe i was wrong about her. Maybe she was different. Maybe. I peeped in the rear view and saw police lights again, but they were comming down at an angle. Couldn't be cars, and damn sure wasn't jets. Choppers. Shit.

" We got choppers on us, and they don't look like they're here for the news." I said speeding up again.

" Shit, you're right. Apaches." she said poking her head out the window

" no , you thought i was kidding?"

" no, i just didn't wanna believe it."

" ugh, well do you have something that can take out a chopper in you bounty hunter kit?"

" I'm a bounty hunter, not duke nukem." she said stiffly. smart-ass.

I pulled up to heero and rolled down the window.

" what" he said,

" we got some choppers chasing us, got anything?" i yelled

" nope, ask Duo or Trowa." he said slamming on the gas. smart-ass number 2.

I pulled back and yelled over to Duo. and sure enough, they had a stinger sitting in the back seat. Good ol' Duo. Alwayz prepared. They obviously was the choppers too. Quatre busted out the back window, and shoved the launcher through the opening. Sure enough the choppers got closer, not realizing that they were being targeted. Unfortunately one of the pilots got smart and fired a missile..straight at me! I saw it coming in the rear view mirror and swerved left at the last minute, almost losing control as the concussion blasted us forward, lifting the back ends of the cars. i pushed back agaisnt the steering wheel so i would bust my head open on the dashboard. Unfortunately JayLa's tiny ass went flying iinto it anyway. The STI was fine, since it was all-wheel-drive. Me on the other hand slowed down immediately, having a rear-wheel-drive car. Quatre managed to get a shot off, but it went wild and clipped the wing on one of the choppers. It was still flyable, and just as dangerous as an undamaged one. The speedometer read 93 as i downshifted a couple of gears. I had loss 100 miles worth of speed from that damn blast. That only meant one thing. They were not playing around, or they got a lucky shot in. Maybe both. Shit. JayLa peeled herself off the dash and looked at me

" we're in trouble aren't we?" JayLa asked as she put her seat belt on.

" yeah, we're in trouble." i replied doing the same.

" Zero, don't get us killed ok?" she asked as she sank into her seat.

This was the 1st time i had actually seen her afraid, of anything. It actually scared me. How the hell does a bounty hunter get scared.

" I won't." i said, attempting to reassure her. I was a fool.

I had no idea how i was going to catch up without getting killed in the process. Apaches can go up to 300 or so miles an hour i heard. We were going almost 200 when i spotted them. They've been playing with us the whole time. This was only target practice, and I wasn't liking this game at all. I put the petal to the floor and grabbed 4th gear, hoping that the plan i had just concocted will work. I figured if i can get JayLa out the car, i could make this one a bomb, and on this stretch of highway there is an off ramp that goes directly into an on ramp. A very steep onramp. A perfect jump...for someone that knew what they were doin. i.e. not me. The choppers behind us began firing their chain guns, trying to take us off the road, but i was already to fast for them. I dodged left and right as they strafed the highway attempting to target me, all the while gaining speed.

" JayLa you have to get out." i told her.

" what the hell do you mean i have to get out, are you crazy?"

" look ima catch up to Duo, and you have to get in the STI. I need this car as light as possible."

" so you calling me fat now?" she said getting an attitude.

" no damn it listen. I'm gonna make the car a bomb. Ima jump this ramp in a few miles, and blow it up."

" Zero this is crazy, you're no stunt man, and your not the lightest person in the world either."

" just do it, and give me something that goes boom." i said coming up on the STI's bumper.

She didn't argue with me, she didn't whine or cry, she did what i had said for once, and thats what i had needed. She pulled out the rest of her grenades, a flare and some blocks of some sort. C4 i could only imagine. I looked past her and pulled up to Duo's window.

" She's getting in, i have a plan." I screamed out the window

" WHAT! are you crazy?" he yelled back at me.

" yeah, i think so, just stay still and drive straight!" i said edging over towards the car.

I pulled closer and closer, till the i heard the sound of metal contacting metal. Quatre rolled down the window so she could get in.

"Zero, don't...just don't get hurt ok?" she said kissing me on the cheek.

"I'll try, i cant make any promises though." i said grimly. "if i dont make it, promise me that they'll take out that mobile suit. ok?"

"ok, i promise." she said tearing up. Crybaby, this was the most i've ever seen her cry in my life. or what was left of it.

I dont blame her. I think im going to die too. maybe it's for the greater good. maybe i was trying to play hero. I wouldn't know unless it worked and i survived. Tough chance on both chances. she put her legs into the other car and slid in easily. her tiny form fitting through the window. When she was safely in, i downshifted and grabbed 3rd gear, giving me and extra boost of speed, and pulled away from the subaru. I looked at her and the rest of the gundam pilots one last time as i gained speed. I reached over and connected the wires to the c4 and grabbed the detonator she had left me. No turning back now. I saw the exit approaching about a mile and a half away, and veered into the left lane, still managing not to get hit by the chain gun fire. i peeked into the back seat and saw that i had left my snowboard back there. It's might do me some good. Or not. I turned on cruise control and grabbed the snowboard, quickly trying to lock myself into the boots. I was running out of time, quickly. I'd be airborne in 15 seconds.

15 seconds: I threw the explosives in the back seat and grabbed me and JayLa's bags. Hopefully the weight of our stuff would drag me to the ground, instead of flying through the air wildly.

10 seconds: I steered onto the off ramp, and lost sight of everything. I was going on faith now. I strapped the bag to me and stood up through the sun roof, trying to steer the car with the snowboard. I looked up and saw the helicopters still firing, but not at me, at the STI. Good.

5 seconds: I looked down and hit the Nitrous button on the steering wheel sending me flying through the intersection and up the onramp at what seemed like light speed to me. I reached the end of the onramp and went rocketing into the air like an

F-14 on a catapult. I looked down and saw the STi and everyone looking at me . I looked back and saw the bewildered looks on the pilots faces. It was worth $1,000,000 dollars.

1 second: Steel Blue NSX, Flames coming from the pipes, flying 100 some odd feet in the air. It was a grand sight to see. I smiled and pressed the detonator.

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