Apologies for the long delay between chapters - real life had other ideas I'm afraid. The usual disclaimers apply. Thanks again to Tempest for use of her characters, and for fixing my mistakes during the beta reading. Thanks to everyone for the reviews - Hope you all enjoy the latest chapter!
Chapter 29: Drive this road with the pedal to the floor, We're gonna go for the ride of our lives
The red and white Mustang cruised down Terminal Way, slowly enough not to draw any additional attention to the striking automobile, but swiftly enough that its occupants felt certain there was no chance of being stopped before they reached the Marina. The wheels bounced slightly as it crossed the railroad tracks at Earle Street. Just before they reached the intersection for Barracuda street, caught a blur of motion in the corner of her eyes, looking at the wing mirror, then twisting in disbelief to look out of the Mustang's rear window as the black and silver Trans-am skidded out of Earle street and onto Terminal Way, the back end skipping out as it did so. "I don't believe it."
"Believe what?" Tran snapped.
"It's Knight, he's behind us!" Jade yelled at him.
"That's impossible," Tran snarled, hitting the gas pedal.
"Yeah, well, impossible is behind us and approaching at about ninety miles an hour!" Jade screamed at him.
"Let's see him keep up with this," Tran muttered, hitting the nitrous, sending the Mustang hurtling down the long, straight road.
"You get the feeling they aren't happy to see us?" Knight muttered sardonically.
"Must be your natural ability to make friends and influence people."
"Thanks," Knight rolled his eyes and stepped on the gas. "Let's show them what you can really do."
The pitch of the car's engine changed, becoming deeper and more aggressive, the twin gold scanners rapidly pacing back and forth on the car's hood as it rapidly gained on the Mustang.
A turning truck forced both cars onto Tuna street, the Mustang swerving back and forth to keep the Trans-am behind it, before spinning into a ninety-degree turn onto Cannery Street. Karr matched the move, roaring up alongside. The Mustang swerved towards the sleek black machine, forcing the Knight Industries vehicle to hit the brakes to avoid being forced into a parked Tractor, hitting the gas again to stay on the Mustang's tail as it swerved back and forth, blocking the Trans-am as it tried to pass.
"You think he's realised that we're toying with them yet?"
"No," Karr replied.
"Me either," Knight smirked. "Time to come clean."
Karr's acknowledgement was three simple words. "Activating Turbo boost."
The sleek black and silver predator raced up on the Mustang's rear end, then with a powerful roar and a whoosh of air, leapt over the car in its way, landing with a thud, and some sparks as the armoured undercarriage scraped the asphalt. The sleek supercar roared further down the road, putting distance between it and the Mustang, before spinning around and tearing down the road straight at the slower car, then twisted, the back end sliding out, the sleek car sliding along the road. Tran swore and yanked the Mustang's steering wheel to the left. The white muscle car swerved, leaving the road, narrowly missing a street light and bouncing over the rough ground, long dry grass and dried out bushes before coming to a halt. The Trans-am followed it off the road as the two occupants got out, the first running, long dark hair caught in the wind behind her. The other began spraying the Trans-am with bullets from an Uzi, bullets bouncing harmlessly off the menacing dark vehicle, the twin fiery bars on the hood sweeping madly. The Uzi started to click uselessly, the spray of bullets halting as the weapon expended the last of its ammunition. The Asian snarled and flung the empty weapon at the car in a last act of defiance before he also broke into a run.
Knight flung the car door open as Tran started his run. "I've got him, you get her."
"Are you sure?"
"Karr!"
"As you wish."
The car door closed and the Trans-am accelerated away, Knight yelling "Be gentle!" after the vehicle as he ran around the rear of the car, in pursuit of Tran.
Jade looked behind her as she ran, the black and silver car bouncing over the rough surface in pursuit, clouds of dust billowing behind it. She doubled her efforts, running harder. It was futile and she knew it as the car flew past her, spinning round in a huge cloud of dust, the dual scanners pulsing rapidly back and forth. She switched directions, running back the way she'd came, the car tearing past her again. There was a flash of red lights as the car slammed on the brakes, sound of tyres sliding over gravel as the car span around, the back end kicking around the car, the car almost completing a full circle, the rear quarter hitting the brunette and knocking her to the floor. The AI quickly ran a scan, no broken bones and out cold, though the young woman would doubtless be sore when she woke up. The AI's voice modulator approximated a snort. "Gentle indeed."
Knight ran hard, slowly gaining ground on Tran, launching himself into the air into a tackle that took both men to the ground, rolling around in the cloud of dust they kicked up. Knight rolled to his feet, coughing from the dust. He quickly made for Tran, receiving a foot to the sternum, rocking him backwards, and winding him. Tran got to his feet, and assumed a ready stance that Knight recognised as martial arts, groaning inwardly. He tried to think about what Mike had shown him, but he wasn't confident that he was as good at it as he'd need to be if Tran was as good as he appeared to be. Mike had tried to teach him the basics, and he had learnt a few things, but he wasn't sure it would be enough. He dodged quickly as Tran snapped a front kick at him. "You know you're just encouraging the stereotype right?"
The Asian ignored him and snapped a roundhouse at his head. Knight ducked under, then snapped a kick to Tran's back. The other man staggered, caught off guard. Knight tried to take advantage, snapping a kick to the gut, and locking Tran in a headlock, trying to bring him down quickly. It didn't work as well as he'd hoped, catching an elbow to the rib, before Tran slung him over his shoulder and to the floor. Knight impacted hard, his right shoulder taking the initial impact, his back taking the rest. Tran stomped his foot down, intending to bring it down on Knight but he rolled out of the way, kicking Tran's feet out from underneath him and quickly rolled to his feet.
Tran was back on his just as quickly, and attacking again, Knight struggling to either avoid or block them, and land attacks of his own as they circled around, continually taunting Tran to provoke him. It was slow, but it worked, Tran's attacks getting angrier and less controlled, swinging a roundhouse punch at Knight's jaw. Knight ducked and lunged forward, taking them both off their feet. They rolled in the dust, both men getting to their knees, Tran swinging a wild punch at the agent. Knight blocked then slammed his elbow into Tran's jaw, sending the Asian spinning to the floor.
Knight grabbed the other mans arm, pulling it behind his back and hauled him to his feet, dragging him over to the car's passenger door. "Karr, do the honours."
The car window opened slightly, then wound back up after Knight had put Tran's wrists through them, closing tightly. Tran glared at him. "You'll never make this stick."
Knight bounced his head off the Trans-am's roof. "How much would you like to bet on that?"
"Have you charged for police brutality," Tran sneered. "Thanks to that, I'll be out before you know it."
Knight snorted. "Don't bet on it. I'm not a cop. But they are," he nodded in the direction of the oncoming sirens. "And I will bet they're going to be very eager to speak to you."
End of Chapter 29...
