Author's notes:
This is known as the "Chapter 6 AU – LA Timeline" because Han and Gisele move to LA after residing in Tokyo. I have considered just doing the first jailing of Cipher as the main storyline, but this was originally a straight-up drama/soap opera before the last minute Cipher plot, so I felt like I had too much written at that point (after a long writer's block period) to discard. And I'm certain the movies will address Cipher in the future and I like to write about "missing moments" (the crew much older/next generation) that the movies can't provide.
Chapter 29:
The Fast and the Furious 2044
Episode 2: Date Night
….
Previously on The Fast and the Furious 2044,
Adira finished her post training routine and reported the main office, gently knocking on Agent Monica Fuentes' door.
"Have a seat, both of you," the woman motions to the man behind Adira.
"You two are my best drivers, so I'm going to need you two front and center if you're up for it. The rest of the team will be here tomorrow so think it over."
"Yes Ma'am," the two answer in unison, exiting the room when dismissed.
The two co-workers walked side by side in silence until the young man spoke, still looking ahead while rolling his neck for emphasis, "I think I'm still sore from the last assignment."
"I guess I have that to look forward to."
"You're staying on?" Freddie's smile fading at her hesitant nod, "You think you're going to tell your family?"
"I don't know," Adira sighed, blinking slowly as her dark eyes popped again looking at her occasional partner, "the timing always seems off."
"It's different for everyone, I think. Yes?"
Adira nods.
"I'll see you tomorrow maybe?"
"Yeah."
..
"They're piecing it all together. I'll keep you updated. Bye," Gisele sighs.
"Bye."
Dom returns from his late morning walk and his expression informs Letty immediately exchanging worried head nods as Letty pulls up a stream of the local station, replaying from the start of the broadcast as the news reporter speaks,
"The international criminal hacker known as Cipher escaped a high security prison late last night. Authorities in the surrounding areas are told to be on the lookout and are cooperating with international agencies to track down the fugitive. She was jailed twenty years ago…"
…
Episode 2: Date Night
…
Flashback to Twenty Years Earlier
(End of the Line/Cipher's Capture)
Gisele and Han had Cipher cornered in a small shed, guns aimed at the woman.
"Do it," Cipher points to her heart, "Right here."
Gisele patted down and then cuffed the woman to an old chair, standing behind to monitor the criminal's hands in the event of an escape.
"How does it feel Han being her second choice? To Dom. Maybe that was nothing more than a crush," Cipher relishes, "but the doctor fiancé? What a step back."
Han continues holding his gun steady, still stone-faced as they wait for backup.
"And Gisele turns and turns. When stop playing house and come back to the dark side where you belong?" the blonde moves her attention between the two, "Your brawn and brains with my talents. Imagine the possibilities. How many secrets can you keep from your man before he leaves you? Now I'm thinking he's too good for you. Engaged twice. Makes you think doesn't it, Han? You're gorgeous, fair she is too, but a little skinny?"
Gisele keeps her stare on the woman as backup eventually came.
"Is it the kids? Because nowadays-"
"End of the line," Luke Hobbs bellows, cuffing Cipher's legs as she's escorted to the back of a van.
Han and Gisele nod to each other in unison, embracing briefly, Gisele kisses his shoulder before following the group, Han keeping his hand firmly on her waist.
…
Present Day, the Year 2044
[Ouch]
LAX AIRPORT
"Ouch," CJ O'Conner, the daughter of Brian and Mia, approaches her boyfriend Ethan Harabo-Lue with a hug and kiss as she sees his black eye, "looks worst up close and in person."
"Kiss it better?" the young man jokily pouts, "Your nephew's got aim, baseball batter's arm."
"It must mean you're a good coach if the kids are hitting far and high," the young woman fingers dark and silky strands, kissing the corner of Ethan's eye.
"Good sports genes," Ethan jokes, placing one arm over her shoulder as he picks up her baggage, "Addie switched flights. We're going to wait about an hour for her to land."
"A whole hour alone with my man before all the questioning starts, perfect."
"And you owe me a Cinnabon."
"Film's not going well?" CJ rubs Ethan's back soothingly.
"You know me, stuck one day, and then everything clicks the next day."
..
Flashback to Eight Years Earlier
(Vent)
"Hey," CJ joins Ethan on the empty picnic table at Sunday barbeque.
"Hey. Congrats on the part."
"Thanks. I'm so nervous," the recent college grad takes a bite of a chip, "My first speaking part, well besides that first film we made."
"It had its merits, and you were one of them," the recently turned twenty-one year old swills the last of his beer.
"You're not so bad yourself. How's the internship?"
"…as expected," Ethan shrugs
"I thought it was what you wanted?"
"It's not that I don't. I know all I do now is get coffee and run errands and it's part of moving up into the business of directing something of my own in the future, but I didn't think I'd miss basketball this much. That it would hurt so much," Ethan shares as he stares at his busted ankle, "FUCK! I didn't mean to rain on your parade."
"I asked," CJ stops Ethan's fidgeting hand, "I vent, you vent. This is what we do."
Ethan smiles gratefully, "Thanks…I want to hear more about your character, if that's allowed, or won't spoil the plot…"
…
[Fourth of July Weekend]
THE HARABO-LUE LAKE HOUSE IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA
Red, white and blue streamers and balloons decorated the open field and vases of fresh flowers lined the tables for the Fourth of July celebration.
"Still no word on Cipher?" Roman whispers, rubbing at his bald head as the adults stand near the grill.
"No," Gisele responds, "It's been a few weeks since her escape, but who knows what she has in motion already. All that time in prison."
"The latest version of God's Eye isn't picking anything up," Ramsey informs.
"Hobbs is stopping by sometime this week, maybe we'll get a more concrete picture if we're face-to-face," Dom adds.
"Isn't there a chance that she'll just lie low for good? Given her age? She must know we'll capture her again," Han flips the burgers.
"You can't tell with people," Mia reasons.
"Even the predictable can be unpredictable," Letty adds.
"I got back up on the security backup," Tej assures.
"We stay strong until then," Brian says, looking at the children dispersed in the yard and beyond.
The Friday Night went on as the family ate and talked, and lit fireworks, until the whole family picture was to be taken
"Okay, last one," Ethan sets the timer on the camera as he rushes to the group.
"Cheeeeese." The camera flashes, followed by the family disengaging their poses.
"Baseball time?" Alona announces loudly.
"If you build it they will come!" Roman's voice booms through his cupped hands acting as a megaphone.
"You don't have to say that every time," Tej nags playfully, "I'm the one who helped design the field."
"You say that every time," Penelope ribs her father, rolling her eyes much like her mother would.
"Mom, Dad, can I have another s'more?" Jack O'Conner's eight-year old son asks on the way to the baseball field.
"I got you, Little Man," Brian backtracks to the house a few yards away.
"Thank you Grandpa!"
Gabriela, the youngest and only daughter of Dom and Letty, walks alongside Adira as they head to the small bleachers, "This year's Speed Race Wars in New York was soooo much better than last year's."
"I'm bummed I missed it," Adira laments.
"2020s girls reunited!" Penelope catches up to the two, arms over each shoulder, then breaking into song, "and it feels so good!"
..
Flashback to Twelve Years Earlier
(On A Roll)
"She's here," Penelope shouts to from the treehouse, "We're starting Quidditch, you in?"
"I'm on a roll…" Adira hesitates, the young adolescent looks between her friend Pen and her ink pen.
"Is she on a roll?" Gabriela asks from the bottom of the ladder.
"Yes."
"Ad. Do you want to be the Golden Snitch, then?" Alona appears, holding out the golden flag football sash towards her younger sister.
"Yes! You're the best."
"If you're still writing then we'll come back in twenty and you can move somewhere else," Alona nods to Ethan who confirms.
..
The Harabo-Lues were all still at the lake house the next day, the family never missed at least a day trip once they moved from Tokyo to Los Angeles.
"I thought I'd find you here," Han enters the attic reading nook, "Dreaming up more ideas?"
"Jet lagged, but my brain doesn't know any better," Adira responds,
"We have something for you," Han hands a picture frame to the twenty-three year old, sitting beside her on the ottoman.
"My short story?"
"We're so proud of you, Addie," Gisele beams, sitting on the other side of their daughter, "Published in your favorite literary magazine."
Adira closes her eyes and leans on her mother's shoulder as her parents tell her their favorite parts.
"We need to replace these steps," Alona braces herself on the top shelf banister after a creaky step.
"I'm working on it," Ethan defends, "the unexpected bath leak needed to be addressed first."
"I haven't been up here in ages," Alona remarks, plopping herself on the beanbag chair opposite her sister and parents, "I swear I can still smell orange peel."
"I installed a citrus scent filter," Ethan explains when he joins the others, "Until the new tangerine tree comes in."
"The new track at the go-kart place is finished, I can take over redoing this room," Han offers, "You want the same color, Addie?"
"If you can find it."
"Your wrist has been acting up, Dad," Ethan worries, "It can wait until after I get back from Tokyo."
"I'm old, but actually young for my age for what I'm capable at," Han assures, "It's a stinging I've lived with half my life."
"Dad…"
"Dad…"
"Mom…"
"Han…" Gisele implores, whispering something in her husband's ear.
"We'll do it then," Han says softly, "Should we do movie night?"
"Star Wars," Alona suggests.
"Indiana Jones," Ethan objects, "What do you feel like Addie? Or are we flipping a coin?"
..
Flashback to Thirteen Years Earlier
(Stories/Go-Karts)
The Harabo-Lues were working hard, prepping to open a go-karting place in Los Angeles, like the one back in Tokyo.
"I am writing a story about you two, Mom and Dad," Adira shares, lining up her writing utensils.
"Am I me in this story or another dog?" Han chuckles, sorting through paperwork.
"You're yourselves," The ten year-old clarifies, "When did you see dad first?"
"We met in Rio, Brazil. That's spelled R-I-O," Gisele polishes a helmet, "comma, B-R-A-Z-I-L.
"Okay. And was it sunny summer? Rainy spring with flowers?"
"It was fall in April because we were below the equator, you know that line we showed you on the globe," Han answers, "Where Australia is. Rio is like here in L.A. year-round so it was sunny summer weather."
"And you kissed and fell in loooove?" Leos teases, the eight-year old contributing to the haphazard mural on the wall.
"We were friends first," Gisele smiles at Han, "Working together, and when we did kiss it was worth all the waiting."
"Seven hours in Paris," Han whispers to Gisele, wagging his eyebrow suggestively and prompting a giggle from his wife.
"Uncle Rome said something with cars and to ask when we're older," Leos adds as Adira continues to write, "But you're always going to be older and we will always seem young to you. And I'm Jewish so I'll be an adult in five years, but can I drive or vote? No. It's a trap!"
"It's about trust and faith, Leos," Alona inputs, dipping her paintbrush in water, "They're just looking out for us. It works both ways; we should call them out and look out for them too."
"Your sis knows what's up," Han says beaming, "We were actually reconstructing the go-kart place in Tokyo when we found out your mom was pregnant for the first time."
"There were boxes everywhere, and the doctor called," Gisele touches her heart, "and I'd never been so happy."
"And later when we found out it was going to be twin, we were ecstatic," Han looks Gisele's way. "Then a little shocked by the reality of it, but then it was indescribable when you two were born. We'll tell you more later if you decide to write about that and your birth."
"You got them all lovey-eyes," Ethan scrolls through images of cars to design into go-kart sized ones, showing a level of disgust only a sixteen year-old could emit toward their parents.
"Grandma Lue said you were in LA when Dad was in South America, but you still met later?"
…
[Connection]
WASHINGTON DC
"We think our job might be connected to the hacker Cipher who escaped prison," Freddie updates.
"How so?" Monica Fuentes inquires.
"I remember reading released case files about the equipment she used and we've seen it come through the factory," Adira explains, "It could be a coincidence. I've checked, but we can always check again."
"If it is the case then we'll have to hand the case over to the higher-ups."
"We've been working this, can we afford another month?" Freddie reasons.
"You're both rookies, which matters."
"Isn't this how we learn?" Adira argues.
"Carry out next week's plan, and we'll go from there." Monica instructs, "You're the drivers on this project and we're sticking with that strategy until further notice/"
..
Flashback to One Year Earlier
(Might)
Adira glided towards the bottom of the hill as Freddie was engaged in a brawl, throwing the assailant down the rocky hill as he ran down the dirt path to the car below as police sirens neared.
"It's times like these that I'm reminded that they hired u for our brains first," Freddie wheezes, reaching for a water bottle.
Adira shrugs, looking at the rearview mirror, "I think we do alright, still learning."
"Your knockout left hook was something else. You can't teach that can you? Instincts?"
They drove until they reached the safe house at dusk, waiting for contact from their bosses.
"I got first watch," Adira says later that night.
"But I slept on the ride over."
"Because you haven't been sleeping regularly," Adira declares, examining her handgun.
"I'll leave the door open," Freddie nods.
Adira spends most of the six hours listening to the rustling of nature outside and the tossing and turning of her partner inside the house.
Freddie joins Adira on the living room floor, setting down two plates of random canned and dried foods he found from the kitchen cabinet, "It usually doesn't last this long. I promise. I would not put you or anyone else in jeopardy. It's just family stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary."
"You can tell me if you want," Adira munches on her trail mix, "They said we might be working together in the future and there should be a sense of trust. You don't even have to go into detail if that helps more for you. To clear your head."
Freddie mulls the offer over, knowing Adira would not leave her post until the end of the hour. His mind was a whirl until the young woman beside him broke the silence.
"I might have a sister. We used to do play-fighting when we were young and then kick boxing when we were older. She's left-handed so it might explain my left hook. I would mimic her early on, the right hand came in, naturally, but I can still throw a few left punches effectively."
"Sometimes it feels like my dad adopted me because he needed a family. His mom passed away of a heart condition and my dad's spent his focus on it since he found out. How do you fault a guy who wants to fix something like that?" Freddie rubs his arms, "And I'm here doing this job that requires so much of my attention…"
…
[Night In]
ALONA AND SONJA'S APARTMENT IN SAN DIEGO
"What do you feel like tonight, Babe?" Alona asks her girlfriend Sonja, rubbing the blondes' sore feet.
"Hot ginger lemon tea. I'll make the toast," Sonja replies, lifting their Scottish terrier pup, "Come on, good boy."
"Found any good wines for the shops?" Alona asks.
"A few, between my parents, your parents and the trip to Napa, it was much needed. How's your case?"
"Still in the rifling-through-law-books stage."
"That's why I got you an extra box of chocolates you love."
"Swiss?"
"And the Italian hot chocolate, one of those is for your mom."
"Aw, you're the best," Alona hugs and kisses Sonja, "Parents always say their friends children are more polite and whatnot. And it's so true with you."
"Best friends are supposed to say that," Sonja smirks, referring to Petra and Gisele, "But it's true for us."
..
Flashback to Fifteen Years Earlier
(Wimbledon)
"Don't most kids sleep in on summer break?" Gisele glides into the living room of their home in Los Angeles at six in the morning.
"It's Wimbledon, Mom. Aren't you glad I've trained myself to get up early in the morning?" Alona argues.
"As long as you don't stay up all night into the morning."
"That was twice last year. I've learned my lesson."
Gisele nods her head, "Good afternoon Sonja."
"Morning," Sonja responds through the tablet wedged between the sofa and Alona, "I can't wait to see you guys. Mom, it's Gisele."
"We never got to talk like these two teenagers with the long distance, and they have video," Petra nods her head back and forth.
"Your first e-mail message…" Gisele laughs, prompting her dear friend to do the same.
"You think it still exists up there in the internet?" Petra asks.
"I don't know," Gisele settles down.
"You all should visit next summer in Florence, Marco's brother should have the vineyard going by then."
"We should," Gisele replies, "We'll talk soon. Take care."
"Take care."
"Leos you can stop lurking," Gisele tells the figure at the top of the stairs waiting to watch tennis with his sister, "Let's get breakfast started."
"I want to try strawberries with orange whipped cream on oatmeal," the chestnut-haired boy sprints to the kitchen, "Hi Sonja. Bye Sonja."
"Same to you," Sonja responds, then addressing Alona again, "What else are you looking forward to?"
"Debate team, basketball, track…"
…
[Forbidden]
AN EAST COAST CITY IN THE US
A hand muffles Adira's mouth when she enters one of the rooms of the factory warehouse, she struggles to escape as the arms wrap around her and then she's thrown on a chair.
"Stay still or we'll whack your knees."
"What the fuck?!" Freddie exclaims when he enters the same room to find his partner bound and mouth taped.
"You're girl's a cop?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Odd are you are too," the lead henchmen says, motioning the two other men to tie Freddie up, "What do we do to cops?"
"I'm playing her!" Freddie blurts out before his mouth is covered, "She has money."
"Really? You can't think of a better cover."
"Her mom broke up my parents. My old man was hung up on her mom. She strung him along for two engagements."
"Forbidden love?" The henchmen with a baseball bat inquires, then with a smirk "That'll fuck you up."
"Works every time," the leader laughs, signaling to untie the pair, "Anything you want to shit about on him? We can't have a lover's quarrel when were in deep."
Adira stares meanly at the small crowd going back to work, in anger and annoyance, hoping she wasn't giving anything else away, ignoring Freddie who hangs his head in shame.
..
Flashback to Two Years Earlier
(Party/21.5)
The party for Adira at Sonja's New York City apartment was still in early stages, and not as rowdy as other gatherings there, perhaps it wouldn't be as Adira was more low-key and Alona understood that, the impromptu party coming about after Adira and her university friends said they'd be planning a visit.
"I can't believe Damian's going to be a dad," Ethan says, "He's always been an old man, but still."
"Gabriela's brother," Alona clarifies to Sonja, "The one at Oktoberfest with us and CJ."
"How is CJ?"
"We're kind of off right now," Ethan explains, fanning himself with his cap, "Is it any easier when you're the same gender?"
"Eth, I've been with women who were just as confusing as the men I dated," Alona loops her arm over the shoulder of her slightly taller twin, her other over her best friend/girlfriend, "This one has her moments."
"I'm new to this," Sonja shrugs, placing a kiss on the other woman's forehead "and my love was right in front of me. Sometimes life works out."
"See how romantic she is?" Alona beams, gesturing with a drink in hand, "Let's go check on the birthday girl."
Adira was at the quieter part of the party.
"Can I get in on the next game?" A lanky young man with hair as dark as his black t-shirt approached Adira at the kitchen counter.
"It looks like my opponent isn't returning," Adira looks at her wristwatch and motions the man forward, resetting the chess board.
"I'm Freddie."
"Adira," the young woman finally looks up as she's met with icy blue-green eyes and a warm smile.
"It's your…" Freddie checks the banner on the wall, "twenty-one and a half birthday?"
"Family tradition."
"My birthday's a month before yours then," straitening his white pieces.
Adira nods, "Ready to start?"
The two are still deep in concentration an hour or so later, Gabriela and Penny checking on Adira every so often.
"Do we know this guy?" Alona discreetly checks.
"Frank? Fred?" Penelope deliberates, "Freddie!"
Sonja's eyes bulge at the name, separating from the group.
"Freddie?"
"Sonja," the young man greets, and then explaining, "I was on my way to find you and got distracted."
"You must be hungry," Sonja drags the man's arm, "Lo's looking for you, Ad, why don't you take a break too."
…
[A Racing Veterinarian]
THE TORETTO LOS ANGELES HOUSE
Dom was fixing up a Dodge Charger he found mangled at a junkyard months before when Letty enters their garage with their grandson, the son of their middle child Damian.
"What's Grandpapa doing?" Letty asks the toddler who was staying with them for the week to give a break to his parents as the due date to Damian's second child neared.
"Your dad's not that into cars," Dom wipes his hand and wiggles the boys arm like he likes, prompting a giggle, "but that's what we're here for."
"I don't know," Letty coos, "he loves animals like his mom and dad, a racing vet is pretty cool, too."
..
Flashback to Twenty-Seven Years Earlier
(Parents/Marcos)
Cipher attacked and Cipher escaped. Brian and Mia, absent since Jakande and Deckard Shaw, remained so under protection. Han stayed back to look after the twins, and months old Vincente Toretto as Letty was convinced she was the only one who could bring Dom back from Cipher's manipulations.
"Marcos isn't Dom's son," Elena tells the family at the barbeque atop the New York City apartment, "I hope you all can forgive me for lying. She had a gun to my child. I hope you can understand being parents yourselves. You do things you said you never would. I wanted to keep him safe so I said what Cipher wanted me to."
"We're safe now. That's what matters," Letty breaks the silence, "You're always welcome at the table, and we'll always have your back and Marcos's."
"You can stay here while everything settles down. We'll be here." Dom offers.
"Thank you," Elena replies softly, thinking only of her nearly six year-old son, "We might head back to Australia, where we were before the last year in Hong Kong."
…
[Date Night]
LOS ANGELES
"The heirloom tomatoes didn't come in this year," Gisele looks over a restaurant menu.
"Ah," Han sympathizes, "They weren't looking good the last time I checked. How are the rookies doing?"
"It's cutoff soon." Gisele sighs, speaking of her teaching job at the Elite Task Force that she took up about a decade ago, "Some have more drive than others, but not the talent. And it sucks, but I think I can keep one of those on, but it will be my responsibility."
"You're always up for a challenge," Han gives an assuring smile.
Gisele returns the warm smile, "How's the car remodel?"
"Cutting it close to the auto show, Letty came through with the engine," Han butters a slice of bread, "but we can't agree on the color…"
..
Flashback to Thirty-Three Years Earlier
(White Lies/Lies by Omission)
"What's up?" Han asks at dinner.
"You know how we said our past is ours to keep to ourselves?" Gisele stabs at a cherry tomato in the pesto dish, "There's something that I do need to share because it does affect us."
"Okay."
"I knew Letty through Braga and you probably figured out the broad parts of it, but I can't go on without telling you my part in it." Gisele swallows, "I found Letty after the drug drop that was supposed to kill her and I took her to the hospital, but I left her there. I should have stayed with her. I was lucky Owen Shaw decided to keep her alive, cause if I he didn't…I don't think you could forgive me."
Han's eyes droop, in shock, in disappointment, trying to process his thoughts.
"I wanted to tell you, but I was scared. I love so much. And I knew how much she means to you. I knew it could tear you up. Tear us apart," Gisele's eyes well up, "This isn't cold feet because of the wedding. It's because I want a future with you more than anything I've wanted my whole life."
Ham feels anger boil inside him like when he was younger, not since high school has he felt this way.
"You're right," Han says coldly, "I don't know what would have been if Letty died then. And I hope this took the weight off whatever guilt you felt, but I don't want to be around you right now."
They both get up from the table.
"Dom doesn't know, or else…" Han rambles on, "of course he doesn't. If he did…"
Gisele stands there, "I know there's nothing I can say right now that will help."
"I know you're hurting too. We all make mistakes…" Han's passive aggressiveness continues, "I'm going to be in the guest room."
…
[Contact]
"This better be urgent. I have grandkids waiting to fish," Luke Hobbs snarls, arms crossed as he sits at desk at the DSS headquarters, Gisele Harabo-Lue was also in attendance.
"We received contact from Cipher," a male agent informs the small group.
"Let's cut to the chase," Cipher's appears in a nondescript setting, "We're going to play a game. If you're in then you risk all that comes with it. Let's leave the old folks and young kids out of this. You'll be hearing from me very soon."
"Any traces?" Gisele asks.
"No. A drone dropped it off. The message we played was a copy," the female technician explains, "The drone was rigged and connected to a disposable smart phone, and destructed when tampered with. Some form of a tiny explosive."
"Fuck," the wrinkles around Hobbs's eyes gaining prominence, "You get your team and we'll get ours."
Post Notes:
Full disclosure, I didn't know if I was going to continue with this "2044" series. If I moved on then I was going to consider it a "pilot" similar to a TV show, where it's made but uncertain if it goes into a full series. Episodes 1 and 2 can be seen as a 2-part pilot or film pilot, but I'm pretty sure I am continuing on as I have it outlined. The best case scenario is to have Chapter 30/Episode 3 by the end of December, and I might drop or limit the flashbacks if they intrude in the action/main plot too much.
Is it insensitive to have Dom not be Marcos's dad? Do I need to retcon than in a later episode? I wrote the Chapter 6 AU and its general timeline before FATE/F8 came out so he didn't exist then.
