Ghost Riders: Rage and Vengeance
Chapter 3: "The Last Show; The Hunt Begins"
"All right, we're up here on the right.", Mack spoke as Johnny walked out the door, which was opened.
"Mr. Blaze. Amy Page, event publicity. I was wondering if you have time for a quick interview?", Amy asked.
"Look, I don't know how long you been doing your job, ma'am, but Johnny Blaze don't do no interviews, okay?", Mack discouraged.
"Not even for a family member?", Amy asked before Johnny turned to see his son, Matt, getting ready to do an interview.
"Hey, Dad.", Matt grinned.
"I'll do it.", Johnny spoke.
"Makeup.", Amy spoke before makeup was then applied a little bit.
"He's good.", Amy assured before walking out of the shot.
"Oh, you're looking at the suit.", Johnny spoke.
"Well, something like that. I was actually looking at the cane. Is that new?", Matt asked.
"Yeah. It's part of my costume.", Johnny responded.
"Okay, and ready in five, four, three, two...", Matt began before a second of silence has passed.
"Thank you for talking to us before your big jump. No one has ever attempted such a distance before... 300 hundred feet from field goal to field goal. What's going through your mind right now?", Matt asked.
"Well, I just have to say I am really proud that you're there to see your old man. Also, you look incredible.", Johnny spoke.
"Uh, thank you. Anyway, what drives somebody to risk their life for entertainment?", Matt asked.
"I just want to at least do what your grandfather wasn't able to do before he died.", Johnny responded.
"I see. Fulfilling his final request, huh? I can respect that. You know, most of the time, the press focuses on the crashes, the broken bones, the costs of what you do. Are there any other costs?", Matt asked.
"Uh..., yeah. I hope you and your siblings enjoy my last show.", Johnny responded.
"Okay. Well, thank you for this revealing peek into the life of Johnny Blaze. I'm Matt Blaze, on scene.", Matt spoke.
"And we're out.", the cameraman spoke.
"I will, Dad. Good luck, be careful, and try not to make Maria mad.", Matt spoke.
"You got it.", Johnny responded.
"That was it, Mack. The sign.", Johnny spoke.
"The sign?", Mack asked.
Sometime later, Mack spoke to Johnny again.
"You know, JB, I'm just so glad you're retiring after this. You know, this could be you going out on a high note. And you can be with your family full time.", Mack resounded in relief as the roof panels started to open up
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Johnny Blaze will not be jumping 50 cars today as scheduled, but instead will be leaping six UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. Never before has any man attempted such a death-defying stunt.", the announcer spoke as the roof panels opened up all the way before the helicopters appeared, hovering above.
"I took the cars out.", Johnny responded before the helicopters started touching down.
"Oh no, Dad. I told you not to do something like this.", Matt groaned as he put his hands on his face with Maria looking very angry, as if ready to explode before she then got up and left with an angry growl as Matt followed her.
"Maria.", Matt spoke as he did so.
"Why? Why, JB? Why wouldn't you tell me?", Mack spoke worriedly.
"Because you would have thrown a fit.", Johnny responded.
"Call me old-fashioned. I'm funny that way. Human sacrifice makes me uncomfortable. Why, JB? Why helicopters, man?", Mack asked wearily before Johnny thought back to what his old man told him.
"You know what I've been thinking about? A new stunt. But instead of the cars or the ring of fire..., a helicopter.", Barton spoke in a flashback before it went back to the present.
"My dad thought it'd be cool.", Johnny responded.
"He was right.", Mack responded.
"Yeah.", Johnny agreed.
"Okay. Okay. This is the deal, man. Halfway down the ramp I want you to hit the NOS, okay? Do not hit the NOS too early. If you hit it too early, you are screwed. You got that? Hey, JB, where's your head at, man?", Mack asked.
"She's probably on her way out, huh?", Johnny guessed.
Meanwhile, backstage, Maria was angrily stomping her way out.
"Maria, please, be reasonable!", Matt pleaded.
"Why should I when I know he's just going to kill himself this time?!", Maria snapped in fearful retortion before Matt grabbed her by the wrist.
"How much NOS did you put in the tanks?", Johnny asked as he put his helmet on.
"Enough to shame the space shuttle. Chief, go ahead.", Mack spoke.
"He will make it this time. I'm sure of it.", Matt assured before Johnny then revved up and then drove down the ramp and jumped off before he jumped off the ramp as almost everyone watched with baited breath.
"Oh, no. He ain't gonna make it.", Mack spoke in worry.
"No... he isn't!", Maria spoke in anger and fear before Johnny thought about Roxanne from when he saw her at the carnival and then at a time when the two were made orphans and rode off together in the rain before he opened his eyes and then made it down the ramp safely with a back wheelie.
"He made it!", Mack shouted, puzzling Maria as she looked up.
"What...?!", Maria spoke in surprise before she turned around and saw Johnny on the other ramp in one piece, making her gasp in amazement.
"I told you he'd make it! Yeah, JB!", Mack shouted as the audience cheered.
"You were saying?", Matt asked with a smug look.
"Oh, he made it...! Oh, thank goodness he made it! I don't know whether to hug him or strangle him now.", Maria sighed in relief.
"Let's hear it for him, ladies and gentlemen. Three hundred feet! A world record, as only Johnny Blaze can do!", the announcer shouted as the audience cheered while Johnny looked to see Maria and Matt looking at him from backstage with the former looking especially surprised with joy before Johnny grinned back and then turned to see a kid up in the crowd, pointed to him for luck, and then tossed his helmet to said kid, making him grin.
"Yeah! Yeah!", Mack shouted before Johnny then drove off out to the exit.
"Where's he going?", Mack puzzled.
Then, Johnny arrived backstage where Maria and Matt were waiting for him.
"I made it!", Johnny shouted.
"Yeah! I can see that.", Matt responded.
"Are you okay?", Maria asked.
"Yes.", Johnny responded.
"Are you hurt?", Maria asked.
"No.", Johnny responded.
"Then, what are you thinking, you knucklehead?!", Maria exclaimed as she then elbowed him in the gut.
"I just wanted to do what your grandfather never got to do.", Johnny responded, grunting a bit in pain.
"Yeah, but that was stupid and dangerous, don't ever do that again.", Maria responded as she cried a bit with laughter.
"Oh, I don't think you need to worry about that.", Johnny assured.
A/N: Well, let's hope so. But I have a feeling that the riders will come out later tonight.