Episode 10

Episode 10

Takashi relaxed on the park bench. A squirrel sat perched on his head. Everything was silent.

"Tomorrow's the semi-finals, everyone. I know we can do it."

"Hugo isn't going to be easy, but if you give it everything, you can beat him."

"Nothing's going to stop us from going all the way!"

Takashi opened his eyes and the squirrel bounded off.

"I will take you down this time, Takashi Jin! You can bet your blood on that!"

He smiled. This was going to be fun.

"The mechs are good to go," Mark called. Each one started up.

Takashi watched as the sensors came to life. Everything was running perfectly.

Mark ran up to the control center in time to watch the teams take their starting positions. Team Fire Fox looked as menacing as the last race. "Let's hope the adjustments work out."

"Well, even if they don't, Takashi should still be able to go toe-to-toe with Hugo," Andre put back. He was reclining in his chair with his eyes closed.

Mark nodded before turning back to the monitors.

Vince Hugo watched his sensors. The Spirit was starting to get aroused. He pushed it back. It wouldn't do any good to go crazy before the race even started.

Liz took a deep breathe. "So, should we try our last plan against these guys?"

"No. That didn't quite work. I've got a better one." Takashi went on to explain it.

Amy listened intently. "That's risky, but it should work. It would give us an advantage early on."

Liz nodded. "I like it."

"Right." Takashi closed his eyes. When they re-opened, they were concentrated and full of energy. "Let's blow these guys out of the water."

"Hold onto your hats, race fans! The race is about to begin!"

3

2

1

GO!

Sparks flew and the mechs blasted out of the arena. The pack swirled together before Satomi dropped back. Then it slowed for the first lap.

"Today promises to be truly exciting, even for IGPX usuals. Vince Hugo, the youngest person to ever master Keashin, will be going against Takashi Jin, who just this year learned how to perform the technique. But Takashi's skills with it have grown dramatically so far. He used it on former teammate River Mark several weeks ago, who has yet to come out of his coma. This Keashin smack-down promises to be furious, so stay tuned.

The usual in-race tension began to seep into Takashi's head. "You know guys. I just wanted to say how sorry I am for what's happened this year."

Liz sighed. "Not this again. You've apologized twenty times already."

"Well it's worth saying again. I completely forgot about the team. But I learned something at the same time. No matter how strong we each get, we're strongest when we're together."

"You're just now figuring this out?" Amy asked sarcastically.

"Of course not! I just want to thank you two for being my teammates and sticking with me." Takashi's face turned a bit red.

Liz smiled. "You don't have to thank us, Takashi. We're glad to be on your team."

"You said it, Liz" Luca called out.

Takashi smiled. "Thanks guys."

"So what's the plan, Vince?" Shana asked.

"I don't care what you do. Just stay out of my way and leave Takashi to me."

She sighed. He was always this way. Ever since he started using that cursed Keashin.

Vince walked in on the first day. A huge smile was across his face. "Hey, teammates."

Shana looked up from her IGPX magazine. She couldn't help but think of how dorky he looked with that goofy grin.

Another guy, this one Japanese with red hair, jumped out of his seat across from Shana. "Hey." The two men high-fived and instantly got to talking like they were old friends. After several months, they basically were. The two did tons of stuff together: going out for lunch, seeing movies, playing mini-golf.

That all changed shortly after the team entered the IG-2. Vince started to become more reserved. He wouldn't do as much with Shingo as he used to. Eventually, they stopped hanging out all together.

"I hope team Satomi isn't going through this same thing," she thought to herself. No one should have to go through what Shingo had.

"Alright, folks. The teams are coming over the final hill. We're about to start the Battle Round!"

"Move in," Takashi called as he tapped his accelerator. The team stayed in perfect formation, but moved forward as they swirled until the two teams moved as one unit. The teams crossed the starting line together. But neither team moved to attack.

Takashi eyed the other mech closely. "What are they up to? Why aren't they attacking?" The mechs kept spinning.

"What is this? Neither team is making a move!"

"GO NOW!"

Liz spun into a sweeping kick that tripped Shingo. In an instant, she was next to Shana with Amy on the far side. The teammates came in together in a pincer movement. Shana saw it and hit the break, moving her back out of range.

Liz and Amy caught each other's hands. Liz spun back around, pulling Amy into the air. Amy flew around into a hurricane spin, smacking Shana in the face and sending her into the wall. Liz kept up the spin and moved into Shingo, who had recovered only moments ago.

Takashi sent a lazy punch towards Vince. The red mech vanished and reappeared several meters farther ahead. Vince smiled. "Is that all you can do?"

"I just wanted to get your attention," Takashi replied, smiling himself.

Vince charged in, his arms moving into a blur of motion. Takashi dipped into Keashin and threw up a defense. The two began smashing together in showers of sparks. A left hook. A block/parry. A duck and back hand. Neither one could find a hole to connect through.

Several seconds later, the two split apart. Takashi was panting lightly. This was harder without the spirit.

Vince wasn't even fazed. "You're pathetic, Takashi. This fight hasn't even started and you're already sweating. Compared to me, you have no chance."

"Perhaps I'm not, but you've forgotten one little detail." Takashi suddenly dropped and leapt into the air. From behind him, Liz and Amy came flying in, still spinning in a deadly hurricane.

Vince's eyes bulged in shock. He had no time to react. Amy's spinning legs hit his mech's chest hard and he went spinning.

Takashi landed and Amy and Liz finally stopped their spin. "When you pick a fight with Takashi Jin, you pick a fight with team Satomi."

A yellow band appeared across the track. "Wow. That was quite a show of teamwork and treachery. The caution is out with only half of the second lap gone. Using it so early may cost Fire Fox later."

"I don't need a pit!" Vince screamed into his mic.

"Yes, you do," the mechanic howled back. "That hit damaged the circuitry in your torso. You won't be able to use Keashin properly without it."

That caused Vince to settle down. He would need Keashin. "Fine."

The black and red running skeleton moved around the mechs and collected Vince's mech. Takashi ran a few checks while he waited.

"That's probably not going to work again," Andre said over the mic. "Do you have another plan?"

"If we gang on him we'll get pounded by Shana and Shingo," Liz pointed out.

"Don't focus on Shingo. He's too resilient. Take out Shana, then Amy can help Takashi with Vince."

"Got it."

The timer ran down with the 3/4 mark coming up fast.

Vince could feel the spirit trying to break free. "Do it!"

"No. It's not time."

"DO IT NOW!"

The mech dropped out of the skeleton. The repair machine drove off and the mechs blasted down the track. Vince tried to suppress the rage, the hatred flowing from the spirit, but it was too much.

"NOW!"

He broke. The spirit erupted out and Vince gave a feral howl. The mech became fully erect. The shoulders popped and gas started to leak out. The hips did the same. The body of the mech bent forward until it was almost parallel with the track. The arms hung down to the track, becoming a new set of legs. It was over in a matter of seconds. The new machine now resembled an actual fox, complete with claws and tail.

Shana gasped in horror. This wasn't good. It had happened once before, but only in the simulator. The records had been wiped to protect the team, but Shana could remember it vividly.

Had the event been real, the sport would no longer be called "immortal."

To Be Continued…