Cars 3: The Crash That Never Happened
Chapter 2:
Lightning was driving through Daytona with his eyes closed. Next to him were his sponsors. They were guiding him.
" Seriously, Guys," the red car chuckled, smiling. " What is it?"
" You'll see," Rusty chimed from his left.
" You're gonna love it," Dusty tweeted from his right.
The group turned around a corner then stopped. Rusty and Dusty parked in front of Lightning, facing him.
" And, open them," the older car permitted.
Lightning opened his eyes. His fender dropped. In front of him was a tall building with lots of windows and banners. The building also sat on a large piece of property with a fountain up front.
" We would like to present the all new Rust-eze Racing Center," Rusty announced, proudly.
" It has all of the gadgets and stuff the kids are using these days," Dusty beamed.
Lightning rolled forward, speechless. The van leaned toward his brother.
" I don't think he likes it," he muttered.
" This is incredible," the Rust-eze car exclaimed, turning around. " This will be my best season yet! Thanks, Guys!"
" Oh, don't thank us," Rusty piped. " You should thank Mr. Sterling."
" Who," Lightning raised a windshield, confused.
" Should we tell him," Dusty bumped his brother's tire, winking.
" We sold Rust-eze," Rusty chirped, pulling forward.
" You what," the red car was taken aback.
" What," the van shrugged. " You think a couple of Jobronis like us could afford this?"
" You see, Lightning," Rusty started. " We wanted to give you everything you wanted, but couldn't. This is our way of doing it."
" You sold Rust-eze," Lightning's heart sank a little.
" Don't worry," Rusty assured. " You're in excellent tires here. Mr. Sterling is the king of the mud-flaps business. Whatever you need, he can get it for you."
" I hear he's a billionaire," Dusty added.
" So, you're retiring," the red car looked between them.
" Afraid so, Kid," Rusty answered, sighing.
" Surprise," Dusty cheered.
" Boy, I really am going to miss racing for you guys," Lightning uttered, trying not to get all choked up.
The older car looked at his watch.
" Ooo, we better catch our plane," Rusty urged, grabbing his brother. " See ya, Kid. You have given us memories. Memories to remember… Oh! Don't drive like my brother."
" And don't drive like my brother," Dusty buzzed as he and his brother departed.
Lightning watched them leave for a moment then went inside. The first thing he saw was a giant, red 95 sitting in the middle of the room. He approached it, observing. Soon, a silver car drove down the ramp.
" Ah, Lightning McQueen," he greeted. " I'm Mr. Sterling. Rusty and Dusty have told me all about you."
The Rust-eze car turned around.
" Hi, Mr. Sterling," Lightning greeted. " Yeah, they told me you're the new owner."
" I must say it is an honor to meet you in the steel, Lightning," Mr. Sterling uttered as he shook the racer's tire. " I have always been a huge fan."
" I can tell," the red car looked around then saw some nearby displays. " No way! You have dirt samples from every track Doc has ever raced on?!"
" And the finish line from your first win," the silver car boasted.
" Wow," Lightning awed as he drove over to it.
" You think that's impressive, wait until you see what we have in the back," Mr. Sterling stated then eyed the racecar's paint. " You're going to need a more contemporary look before proceeding, first."
" What's wrong with the look I have now," the Rust-eze car asked, glancing down at himself.
" It's just a little too bright," the silver car criticized. " I want you to look a little more trendy. It'll help you blend in with the New Gens."
" Okay," Lightning shrugged, agreeing. " You're the boss."
" Oh, it'll be an electronic suit," Mr. Sterling added. " I hope that's alright."
The two cars went into the back. There, Lightning received an electronic suit. It was a deep red with large yellow letters. The red car looked at himself in the mirror, nodding and grinning.
" Nice," he chimed. " Does it come with a cellphone?"
" Don't be silly," Mr. Sterling chuckled. " Racecars don't have cellphones."
They continued into the training hall. There, Mr. Sterling introduced Lightning to all of the new gadgets.
" And now, I would like to introduce you to our trainer," the silver car finished.
Mr. Sterling and Lightning drove over to the training simulator.
" Is that," the red car gawked.
" It is," the silver car answered for him. " Jackson Storm wishes he had this model."
Lightning watched the screen closely. Whoever was on the simulator was just as fast as him. The car on the simulator stopped and turned around. She was a yellow CRS.
" Wow," the Rust-eze car chimed. " Who's the racer?"
" That's Cruz," Mr. Sterling stated as he watched her lead a group of trainees over to the treadmills. " Cruz Ramirez. She's the trainer. Or, as I like to call her, the maestro of motivation. She's not a racer."
The red car observed her for a few minutes.
" Cruz," the CEO called. " Can you come over here for a minute, please?!"
" Sure thing, Mr. Sterling," Cruz chimed then did what she was told.
" Cruz, I'd like you to meet Lightning McQueen," Mr. Sterling gestured.
" I hear you're the maestro," Lightning tweeted, pulling forward.
" Where," Cruz scanned the room. " I don't see him."
" Umm…Right here," Lightning chuckled, pointing to himself.
" You," the yellow car dismissed. " No way. You're clearly an imposter."
" Am not," the red car argued. "How many cars look like me? None."
Cruz turned to her boss, unconvinced.
"Mr. Sterling, this guy is too old and worn out to be Lightning McQueen," she scoffed. " His paint is also too dark and he's missing all of his stickers. Everyone knows the Lightning McQueen wears a lot of sponsor stickers."
" I do not," Lightning yelled, offended. " And I'm not too old and worn out!"
" Gotcha," Cruz beamed, pointing at him. " I was just testing you."
" Ah, the motivation," Lightning calmed down, laughing. " Grrr!"
"Cruz, I would like you to teach Lightning how to use the racing simulator," Mr. Sterling ordered. " I want him at peak performance for the upcoming race."
"Umm…Sure," Cruz reluctantly agreed. " Right this way, Mr. McQueen."
The CRS led the racecar over to the simulator. Lightning stepped onto the platform. Suddenly, a couple of clamps came out and latched onto his back tires, startling him.
" So, how do I work this thing," he asked, trying to get comfortable.
" Just do what you usually do," Cruz instructed. " Go when you see the green flag."
" Green flag," Lightning was confused as he looked at the screen. " Green flag where?"
" There," Cruz pointed.
"Where," he asked, again.
" There," Cruz raised her voice. " To your right."
" I don't see it," Lightning was getting frustrated.
Cruz was getting frustrated, too.
" Just go," she shouted.
Lightning hit the gas, but was struggling to steer. This was nothing like the real race tracks, including the dirt track back in Radiator Springs. He ran into walls, cars, and tents until he lit himself on fire.
"How do I stop this thing," he screamed.
" Use your brakes," Cruz instructed.
" My real brakes," Lightning questioned, panicking.
" Yes, your real brakes," Cruz answered.
Lightning slammed on his brakes and went flying off the platform. Next, he slammed into the screen, breaking it. Suddenly, the power went out.
" You have crashed," the simulator announced. " You have crashed. You have crashed."
Cruz rushed over to check on him.
" Mr. McQueen, are you okay," the CRS asked, worried.
" I think I broke the simulator," Lightning muttered. " And my windshield…"
Cruz and Mr. Sterling were having a private conversation in the main office, while Lightning waited in the hallway.
" It was his first day, Mr. Sterling," Cruz defended. " Give the old man a break."
" He broke a one billion dollar piece of equipment, Ms. Ramirez," the CEO spoke, seething. " I can't have that!"
" Mr. Sterling, with all due respect, it was an accident," the trainer argued. " Please, give Mr. McQueen another chance. Besides, you promised Mr. Rust-eze and Mr. Rust-eze he would always have a place here."
Mr. Sterling sighed, closing his eyes. Soon, an idea hit him. He opened his eyes, looked over at the merchandise in the corner and smiled. The CEO turned to Cruz.
" Very well, Ms. Ramirez," the silver car agreed. " I'll give him another chance. Send him in."
" Really," Cruz raised a windshield, surprised.
The CEO nodded, sending the trainer off. Lightning entered the CEO's office, nervous.
" You wanted to see me, Mr. Sterling," the Rust-eze car tried to hide the quiver in his voice.
" Why, yes," Mr. Sterling chimed. " I've got something I'd like to show you."
He ushered Lightning over to the corner. The red car looked it over then turned to his boss.
" Mr. Sterling, what is this about," Lightning asked, confused.
Mr. Sterling explained his plans to Lightning. It went from wanting to preserve the racecar's legacy to selling mud-flaps and grills. The more the Rust-eze car heard his plans, the less he wanted to do with them. The racecar had done commercials for the company before, but it was never a full-time gig.
" Mr. Sterling, if you had made that offer to me when I was a rookie, I would've jumped on it," the red car stated. " No questions asked. I have gotten wiser since then. I'm sorry, Mr. Sterling, but I'd rather continue racing, if that's alright with you."
" Lightning, every time you lose, you damage yourself," the silver car warned. " Think about it."
" You mean the brand," Lightning replied, insulted.
" Lightning, I'm only looking out for your best interest," Mr. Sterling tried to reason. " Besides, it's high time you relax. Reap in the rewards."
" The racing is the reward, not the stuff," the red car would not budge. " I won't do it."
" Then the door is right there," Mr. Sterling pointed to the exit. " Take it or leave it."
Lightning glanced out the window, his eyes lighting up.
" Wait," he urged, turning back to the silver car." Let's make a deal. If I win this race, I decide when I'm done. But, if I lose, I'll sell all of the mud-flaps you got. Deal?"
Mr. Sterling eyed the racecar, a disinterested look on his face with a hint of annoyance.
"Just one race," he asked with a sigh.
Lightning nodded, a big grin on his face. The CEO rolled his eyes.
" Fine," the silver car agreed. " But this better be worth it."
" Thanks, Mr. Sterling," the red car went to leave. " You won't regret it! I promise!"
" Oh, and be sure to take Ms. Ramirez with you to your practices," CEO hollered.
Lightning slammed on his brakes then turned around.