Chapter 7

"Get ready people". Dom yelled into his radio, as the black semi passed them. Thirty seconds later, three black Honda Civics whizzed past. "Go go go". Dom yelled again and slammed his foot on the accelerator. The RX7 span its tyres and jetted out onto the open road closely followed by Leon's Skylark and the Jetta.

"We're on the way". Brian replayed, as he pulled his Supra onto the road, heading directly towards the four black vehicles on the horizon, Vince in his Accord wasn't far behind. Lexx had already climbed up into the semi when he noticed the three cars closing in fast behind them. He grabbed the two way radio from his belt.

"Zander, we got company, why didn't you spot em coming."

"Sorry Lexx, but I don't approve of your methods. I realised a year ago, what a nasty fuck you were, now your going down."

"Your dead, you know that. Kip, pull back, I want you to waste this fuck before his friends catch up." He waved out the cab at the Civic holding the left flank.

"To late, look ahead." The voice of Kip returned over the radio. Brian and Vince, stood behind their cars, swerved across the road, each with a shotgun, trained on the semi.

"Ha, think they can stop me like that, convoy guys." The two Civics on the flanks dropped back in line behind the truck, and Lexx hit the gas. The windscreen exploded as a load of buckshot hit the truck, Brian gave Vince a disapproving look, then fired his round at the radiator. Metal splintered off but the heavy plating prevented any serious damage. Both realised their mistake and dove out the way as the semi ploughed through the Supra. Brian could only look on in horrified silence, as the truck and following cars passed through there road block. "That went well." Vince shouted sarcastically as he shouldered his shotgun and released another round at the last of the fleeing Civics. Rubber exploded as a tyre burst, and the car began to slide wildly, before spinning off the road, embedding itself in the sand. A moment later, the four pursuing cars, the RX7, the Skylark, the Jetta and the third Civic thundered through, burning high each on a shot of NOS. Brian waved at them to continue, then he and Vince made their way to the downed Civic, smouldering slightly in the sand. They arrived in time to see a tall white man in his mid thirties and a short blond stagger from the car.

"Hands up, I'm sure you know the drill." Brian yelled.

Further up the road, Dom and the others had closed in to the semi. Though several burst of fire from a semi automatic had caused them to stay back further than they of liked. Suddenly the Semi slammed on its breaks and began to Jack knife across the road. All watched as the last Civic driven by Kip nipped under the centre of the wagon, before the wheels swung past. All slammed their breaks down too, fighting to keep the cars on the road.

"What the hell is he doing Zander." Dom yelled over the radio. In return he pointed out his window at the three cars parked slightly further up the road.

"Our other cars. Their switching, we gotta go for em now." Leon accelerated away around the front of the truck on the dirt verge, only to be stopped as a hail of bullets ripped through the windows into his rear seat speakers and subs.

"Shit." He yelled as he shifted into reverse. "We cant get near em, or were gonna get ripped to shreds."

"He's almost out of bullets, he's only got the one clip." Zander shouted to Dom

"That's still enough." He said, before deciding. He hit the gas, and the car lurched under the semi, towards the shiny Integra just as its doors closed. For a moment Dom thought he'd manage to get in front before Lexx could get away, but the car eked past him a second too soon. A white Primera, slammed to the floor, also took off, but not before a last hail of bullets was sprayed at the Civic Jetta and Skyline as they caught up.

"Keep going, I've gotta switch to my car, I can't keep up for long in this." Zander yelled over the radio, and Dom saw the car drop back and pull in behind the green Beamer. He shifted his attention back to the matter in hand, trying to stop the two cars ahead.

"Ok Leon, Jessie, here's the plan. You two take the Primera, I want you to sandwich him in and break, those things don't have the same raw power as yours. Just keep steering in towards him, and you'll have him. I'm going after Lexx."

"Ok, we as good as got him." Leon replied. Dom nodded to himself in reassurance, then hit his NOS, he just hoped he would have enough for a third shot if he needed it. He watched as he cruised passed the Primera and watched the Jetta and Skylark line up ready for their part.

.

Zander closed his boot and looked up to see Vince's dark blue Accord fly by. He saw Brian in the passenger seat watching two people handcuffed in the back. He could only assume it was Max and Ella. He smiled and flicked a wave at them.

.

"Now!" Leon yelled, as the Primera pulled into the middle of the road to avoid a broken bottle in the road, threatening to tear its tyres to pieces. The two cars hit their NOS and blasted up either side swerving hard in the pristine white bodywork, then both cars slamming their breaks down, forcing the spin in towards the rapidly disintegrating Primera.

Dom saw the three cars finally come to a rest half a mile or so behind him. He looked forward again, and was puzzled to see the Integra slowing, and finally stopping. Dom caught up in seconds, having to break hard, to avoid passing the car. He let the RX7 then idle up beside the Integra, fearing Lexx would suddenly pull a gun. Instead he did something more surprising.

"I wanna race you Dominic Toretto. A quarter mile. If you win, I'll go quietly, confession and all, but I win, and you have to let me go free. What do you say? You know the racers code. If a bet is made, it must be paid." Doms face fell grim, but he knew what to do.

"How do we mark the quarter?"

"We ask your friends to." He said pointing to the Accord pulling up by Dom.

"Vince, measure the distance. One quarter mile." Brian and Vince shared a look.

"Dom, you can't be serious. We've got him."

"Sorry Brian, but it must be done this way. I thought by now you'd understand." Brian paused both men felt the heavy air around them.

"Yes. I do."

"Vince." Dom looked at him. Vince too seemed reluctant, but started the car rolling slowly up the road, measuring the quarter. He stopped the car on the mark, and waved back at them. Lexx looked across at Dom.

"On three." Dom nodded. "One."

"Two"

"Three!" Dom and Lexx said. The wheels spun, the cars took of like fighter jets, leaving the heady smell of burning rubber drifting in the evening breeze.

Out of the corner of his eye, Dom could see the Integra pull slightly ahead, he hoped the last minute modifications Jessie had done last night would work. His finger hovered over the NOS, but pulled back. 'Too soon.' He thought. 3 seconds from the line, and Dom saw the Integra swing out to the right. He realised the plan, Lexx was going to send him off the road, a moment later, he realised it would be straight into Vince. Dom hit the NOS and held it, letting every last molecule flow into the engine. It would either save him, or blow him up, he didn't know which. The Integra swung across the road just behind him and clipped a slightly raised bank a foot behind the Accord. The car was propelled up and over, spinning a full three hundred and fifty degrees, as it arched over the Accord, coming down bonnet first, crushing the engine up into the passenger side, before completing the roll, and sliding ungracefully on its roof, flattening itself into the cab, the car finally coming to rest in a cloud of dirt and sand. Brian was the first one to the car, and began to wrestle with the door, and finally yanking it off with Vince's help. They dragged Lexx clear from the car as the flames began creep up between the exposed components of the cars underside.

"Déjà vu." Brian said, knelling down beside him. Dom watched as Brian checked for a pulse, he could feel it, but it was getting weaker. He reached for his cell. Lexx's eyes opened, and locked with Dom.

"I guess you won." He grinned weakly, and his eyes closed. His body went limb and Brian dropped beside him again. He looked at Dom and shook his head. Someone on the cell spoke. Brian looked at it a second then replied.

"This is Brian O Conner, off duty LAPD. I need to speak with Captain Tanner, now." The line clicked, then Tanner came on.

"What is it Brian."

"It's over sir. We got em, but ones down, but the others are willing to confess."

"Well done Brian. Stay where you are, we're coming out. Where are you."

"Mile marker 43." He hung up. He looked up to see Jessie and Leon approaching, dragging a dazed looking black man in his early twenties, behind them, he could see their cars, both in need of some major work. Jessie laughed.

"Read him his rights man." Then he caught sight of Lexx. "Aw shit." Dom suddenly turned to look at Brian.

"Why hasn't the NOS gone yet in the Integra." Brian stared at the car, the flames now causing the paint to bubble. "The tank went, but the NOS didn't?"

"Maybe that's why he tried to shunt you. He knew you'd win." Leon suggested.

"But why the fuck wouldn't he have any NOS in his car if he was planning for a fast getaway."

"Where's Zander. We past him ages ago, he shoulda caught up by now.

"You think he chickened out or something?" Brian caught the sound of sirens in the distance.

"I guess he figured he'd go down with the rest, so he split."

"You think we'll see him again?" Jessie looked round at the others. "What, I liked him, and I would love to get a closer look at that car." Brian smiled.

"Maybe. I came back didn't I. I guess we just have to wait." At that moment the squad cars arrived, and everyone got busy with give statements and the such like.