Part 8-TO THE FINISH
The cars remaining in the Raytona Road Rally were checking in at the crossroad and heading back to the track and the finish. Out of a field of 32, approximately 18 cars were considered out of the race, due in most to the underhanded deeds of Wiley's Alpha Team to knock them out of contention. At the head, however, there was a racing battle royale between Speed and Pistone, with Racer X not far behind.
Speed was racing with a competitive fire in his belly as usual but the flame was fanned more by the fact that Wiley the owner of the Alpha Team had Trixie and was doing who knows what to her. He remembered Wiley's thug Slyme Balle and what he had done to her and that thought spurred him on further, so he could finish the race and find her. His heart was hammering as he concentrated on the race but also as he thought of her, frightened and possibly hurt keeping him in focused rage. The fury inside him had settled to a slow, burning simmer but like a dormant volcano, it would be ready to erupt and when it did, heaven help whoever took her, he would show no mercy.
Pistone was in front, having retaken the lead when he beat Speed out of the checkpoint, ahead by just about two tenths of a second and getting everything he could out of his car. But the Mach 5 was keeping pace as Speed tried to position himself for a run at the Italian racer. Pistone watched out his rear view mirror and being 25 miles from the speedway and finish line decided it was time for desperate measures. He pushed a button and a pipe in the rear began pouring oil onto the road. Speed was just getting to the right quarter panel of Pistone's car for a run when his tires hit the patch of oil and the Mach 5 began to skid then spin wildly.
"Ohhh!" Speed screamed as he tried desperately to regain control of the spinning racecar. He wrestled with the wheel, using every technique he knew to get himself out of the spin. The Mach 5 was gyrating faster and faster as the excessive speed had added to the centrifugal force making the spin endless.
But behind him, having caught up to the battle for position between his younger brother and the Alpha Team driver was Racer X, who had seen the oil slick and activated a device on his car that was built, designed, and installed by him. Racer X was as crack with technology as his father Pops Racer was, and this device was a high-powered air compressor that blew anything from the path of his car with an amazing 1000 psi. Seeing his kid brother in a death spin, he pulled up and pushed the button, starting the powerful blast of air concentrated to the road, blowing the oil right off the surface. The Mach 5's tires found grip with the road once more and Speed turned the wheel to straighten her again.
Speed took a deep relieved breath as he felt the car right itself and he turned and saw the yellow car with the black and white mask at the wheel. He waved shakily at Racer X as he began to pull up beside him.
"Thanks, Racer X! You saved my life," Speed called out as they flew down the road.
"Think nothing of it! It wouldn't be the same, racing without you, Speed!" Racer X bellowed back.
They raced until the Mach 5 finally got a lead when Speed gunned the accelerator and pulled ahead. Racer X smiled as he said, "Go get 'im, little brother. There'll be other races for us, count on it."
Meantime, back at the track, Pops and Inspector Detector were searching the parking lots for a long black limousine. Inspector Detector had gotten a printout from the local police using Wiley's license plate number and then finding out the make and model of the car, began looking for Trixie.
Unknown to the two men, but intrepid as always, Spritle and Chim Chim were following behind in their best covert manner, hiding behind the parked vehicles. They were looking for a black limousine with the license plate DTY-0666, having spied on Pops and the officer when he received the printout and writing it down. Both being of small stature, they were easily concealed behind cars as they read license plates looking for Wiley's car.
At the limousine, the lean form of Wiley's partner, Fixer came to the door and rapped on the window. The door opened and let him in as the two youngsters observed from a distance.
"Golly, Chim Chim that guy looked kinda creepy. Let's go see what the car's license is," Spritle whispered as he led his simian friend to the rear of the vehicle. He checked the license number against the one written down on his paper. He and Chim Chim nodded at each other.
"This is the car, Chim Chim! Let's go tell Pops and Inspector Detector!" Spritle said as he scampered off.
Inside the limo, Wiley and Fixer, along with Trixie watched the race on the television screens in the car. Both men were pleased to see Pistone's car in the lead, heading into the Raytona city limits and toward the Raytona Speed Oval.
"Well, looks like Phil's gonna bring it home for us, boss," Fixer cackled with glee. "He's really haulin' the mail."
Wiley smiled in smug satisfaction. "Yes indeed, it appears that way." He watched with pride then his smile faded as he viewed what happened next. Speed and the Mach 5 who had been almost two seconds behind had caught up and passed Pistone's car like it was standing still.
"Damn! That kid Racer just took the lead," Fixer whined. "What's he got under that hood anyway, a rocket?"
Trixie had been watching, her eyes glued to the screen while silently cheering Speed on. Go Speed, go. Never mind me, or anything else, just win the race.
Wiley sighed as he eyed Trixie almost pityingly. "Well, my dear things are not looking too rosy right now I'm afraid." He glanced at Fixer who nodded and reached in his jacket pocket to pull out a .357 Magnum with a silencer on the muzzle. He kept it at the ready as Trixie's eyes widened in sheer terror.
Meanwhile, Speed having taken the lead, barreled toward the entrance of the speedway and down the backstretch at 200 mph with Pistone and Racer X close behind. But the momentum of the Mach 5 was too much as she had clean air in front to help her through the final lap to victory. Speed drove her in the inside groove through turns 1 and 2 and down the homestretch to turns 3 and 4 as Pistone drew within a tenth of a second behind. They screamed down toward the finish line.and Speed got the checkered flag by a nose to the delight of the roaring capacity crowd. The PA system blared:
"AND THE WINNER BY A NOSE.SPEED RACER!"
Inside his limo, Wiley turned to Trixie and shrugged apologetically. "I'm truly sorry, Miss Shimura." He motioned to the other man. "Fixer, you know what to do."
Fixer grinned unpleasantly as he leveled the muzzle to Trixie's temple. He clicked off the safety and cocked it when the windows of the limo exploded and several rifle barrels were pointed at the occupants.
"POLICE! EVERYONE HANDS UP AND DROP THE GUN!" The doors were wrenched open and Inspector Detector along with several state police officers reached in and dragged out the astonished figures of Wiley and Fixer. Pops leaned in and gently pulled the still bound Trixie out who burst into tears of relief.
Pops untied Trixie and she crumpled against his bulk. "Oh Pops, I'm so glad to see you!" she cried.
Pops enfolded her in his arms. "Hush now Trixie honey, everything's gonna be all right. You're safe now." Spritle and Chim Chim also plastered themselves to her as well.
Back on the track, Speed headed for the winner's circle but in spite of the deafening roar of the crowd and the waiting celebration, his mind was on one thing, finding and rescuing Trixie. He pulled the Mach 5 into the coveted area where the IRC president waited to present the trophy to him but as soon as he killed the motor, doffed his helmet, and vaulted over the side, he was swarmed by the sea of humanity that was waiting to congratulate him. He tried to get through but found himself overwhelmed and getting frantic with worry until as if on cue, the crowd parted like the Red Sea and he spotted the mountainous bulk of his father and the petite, chestnut haired form of the person he most wanted to see. It was then as if the rest of the crowd had ceased to exist.
Speed walked slowly through the path as if in a dream, his eyes unseeing everything else but the sooty lashed green eyes, the cherry mouth, the lissome figure and slim shoulders that fit so well in his arms. He picked up his pace until he began running and finally stopped in front of her.
Trixie smiled at him tremulously, her eyes brimming with tears. "Oh, Speed!" was all she could say before she found herself engulfed by strong corded arms that held her so tight she could hardly breathe.
Speed cradled her head against his shoulder as if he would never let her go. "Thank God you're all right. Trixie baby, I was so scared," he murmured, his voice choked with emotion. "If I lost you, I wouldn't want to live," he said brokenly.
They were like that, suspended in time, oblivious to everything when Speed felt himself tapped on the shoulder by the president of IRC who uncomfortably cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but I do have a trophy to award so if you could follow me please?" the man asked with a smile.
"Uh right. Sorry, sir," Speed replied sheepishly. He took Trixie's hand and followed the official up the podium.
The official tapped the microphone to get the crowd's attention. "It gives me great pleasure in awarding the winner's trophy for the Raytona Road Rally to the driver for Pops Motor Sports Go Team, Speed Racer!" He handed the trophy to a joyful Speed with Trixie by his side beaming up at him.
"Atta boy, Speedy!" Spritle crowed from the side with Chim Chim doing backflips.
"Way to go, son!" Pops said in hoarse emotional voice. Mom Racer was beside him wiping her eyes.
Back in the crowd, Racer X leaned against his car, arms folded and a wide grin on his face. "Get used to it, Speed because the winner's circle is your destiny." He turned, got into his car, started the motor and drove away
The cars remaining in the Raytona Road Rally were checking in at the crossroad and heading back to the track and the finish. Out of a field of 32, approximately 18 cars were considered out of the race, due in most to the underhanded deeds of Wiley's Alpha Team to knock them out of contention. At the head, however, there was a racing battle royale between Speed and Pistone, with Racer X not far behind.
Speed was racing with a competitive fire in his belly as usual but the flame was fanned more by the fact that Wiley the owner of the Alpha Team had Trixie and was doing who knows what to her. He remembered Wiley's thug Slyme Balle and what he had done to her and that thought spurred him on further, so he could finish the race and find her. His heart was hammering as he concentrated on the race but also as he thought of her, frightened and possibly hurt keeping him in focused rage. The fury inside him had settled to a slow, burning simmer but like a dormant volcano, it would be ready to erupt and when it did, heaven help whoever took her, he would show no mercy.
Pistone was in front, having retaken the lead when he beat Speed out of the checkpoint, ahead by just about two tenths of a second and getting everything he could out of his car. But the Mach 5 was keeping pace as Speed tried to position himself for a run at the Italian racer. Pistone watched out his rear view mirror and being 25 miles from the speedway and finish line decided it was time for desperate measures. He pushed a button and a pipe in the rear began pouring oil onto the road. Speed was just getting to the right quarter panel of Pistone's car for a run when his tires hit the patch of oil and the Mach 5 began to skid then spin wildly.
"Ohhh!" Speed screamed as he tried desperately to regain control of the spinning racecar. He wrestled with the wheel, using every technique he knew to get himself out of the spin. The Mach 5 was gyrating faster and faster as the excessive speed had added to the centrifugal force making the spin endless.
But behind him, having caught up to the battle for position between his younger brother and the Alpha Team driver was Racer X, who had seen the oil slick and activated a device on his car that was built, designed, and installed by him. Racer X was as crack with technology as his father Pops Racer was, and this device was a high-powered air compressor that blew anything from the path of his car with an amazing 1000 psi. Seeing his kid brother in a death spin, he pulled up and pushed the button, starting the powerful blast of air concentrated to the road, blowing the oil right off the surface. The Mach 5's tires found grip with the road once more and Speed turned the wheel to straighten her again.
Speed took a deep relieved breath as he felt the car right itself and he turned and saw the yellow car with the black and white mask at the wheel. He waved shakily at Racer X as he began to pull up beside him.
"Thanks, Racer X! You saved my life," Speed called out as they flew down the road.
"Think nothing of it! It wouldn't be the same, racing without you, Speed!" Racer X bellowed back.
They raced until the Mach 5 finally got a lead when Speed gunned the accelerator and pulled ahead. Racer X smiled as he said, "Go get 'im, little brother. There'll be other races for us, count on it."
Meantime, back at the track, Pops and Inspector Detector were searching the parking lots for a long black limousine. Inspector Detector had gotten a printout from the local police using Wiley's license plate number and then finding out the make and model of the car, began looking for Trixie.
Unknown to the two men, but intrepid as always, Spritle and Chim Chim were following behind in their best covert manner, hiding behind the parked vehicles. They were looking for a black limousine with the license plate DTY-0666, having spied on Pops and the officer when he received the printout and writing it down. Both being of small stature, they were easily concealed behind cars as they read license plates looking for Wiley's car.
At the limousine, the lean form of Wiley's partner, Fixer came to the door and rapped on the window. The door opened and let him in as the two youngsters observed from a distance.
"Golly, Chim Chim that guy looked kinda creepy. Let's go see what the car's license is," Spritle whispered as he led his simian friend to the rear of the vehicle. He checked the license number against the one written down on his paper. He and Chim Chim nodded at each other.
"This is the car, Chim Chim! Let's go tell Pops and Inspector Detector!" Spritle said as he scampered off.
Inside the limo, Wiley and Fixer, along with Trixie watched the race on the television screens in the car. Both men were pleased to see Pistone's car in the lead, heading into the Raytona city limits and toward the Raytona Speed Oval.
"Well, looks like Phil's gonna bring it home for us, boss," Fixer cackled with glee. "He's really haulin' the mail."
Wiley smiled in smug satisfaction. "Yes indeed, it appears that way." He watched with pride then his smile faded as he viewed what happened next. Speed and the Mach 5 who had been almost two seconds behind had caught up and passed Pistone's car like it was standing still.
"Damn! That kid Racer just took the lead," Fixer whined. "What's he got under that hood anyway, a rocket?"
Trixie had been watching, her eyes glued to the screen while silently cheering Speed on. Go Speed, go. Never mind me, or anything else, just win the race.
Wiley sighed as he eyed Trixie almost pityingly. "Well, my dear things are not looking too rosy right now I'm afraid." He glanced at Fixer who nodded and reached in his jacket pocket to pull out a .357 Magnum with a silencer on the muzzle. He kept it at the ready as Trixie's eyes widened in sheer terror.
Meanwhile, Speed having taken the lead, barreled toward the entrance of the speedway and down the backstretch at 200 mph with Pistone and Racer X close behind. But the momentum of the Mach 5 was too much as she had clean air in front to help her through the final lap to victory. Speed drove her in the inside groove through turns 1 and 2 and down the homestretch to turns 3 and 4 as Pistone drew within a tenth of a second behind. They screamed down toward the finish line.and Speed got the checkered flag by a nose to the delight of the roaring capacity crowd. The PA system blared:
"AND THE WINNER BY A NOSE.SPEED RACER!"
Inside his limo, Wiley turned to Trixie and shrugged apologetically. "I'm truly sorry, Miss Shimura." He motioned to the other man. "Fixer, you know what to do."
Fixer grinned unpleasantly as he leveled the muzzle to Trixie's temple. He clicked off the safety and cocked it when the windows of the limo exploded and several rifle barrels were pointed at the occupants.
"POLICE! EVERYONE HANDS UP AND DROP THE GUN!" The doors were wrenched open and Inspector Detector along with several state police officers reached in and dragged out the astonished figures of Wiley and Fixer. Pops leaned in and gently pulled the still bound Trixie out who burst into tears of relief.
Pops untied Trixie and she crumpled against his bulk. "Oh Pops, I'm so glad to see you!" she cried.
Pops enfolded her in his arms. "Hush now Trixie honey, everything's gonna be all right. You're safe now." Spritle and Chim Chim also plastered themselves to her as well.
Back on the track, Speed headed for the winner's circle but in spite of the deafening roar of the crowd and the waiting celebration, his mind was on one thing, finding and rescuing Trixie. He pulled the Mach 5 into the coveted area where the IRC president waited to present the trophy to him but as soon as he killed the motor, doffed his helmet, and vaulted over the side, he was swarmed by the sea of humanity that was waiting to congratulate him. He tried to get through but found himself overwhelmed and getting frantic with worry until as if on cue, the crowd parted like the Red Sea and he spotted the mountainous bulk of his father and the petite, chestnut haired form of the person he most wanted to see. It was then as if the rest of the crowd had ceased to exist.
Speed walked slowly through the path as if in a dream, his eyes unseeing everything else but the sooty lashed green eyes, the cherry mouth, the lissome figure and slim shoulders that fit so well in his arms. He picked up his pace until he began running and finally stopped in front of her.
Trixie smiled at him tremulously, her eyes brimming with tears. "Oh, Speed!" was all she could say before she found herself engulfed by strong corded arms that held her so tight she could hardly breathe.
Speed cradled her head against his shoulder as if he would never let her go. "Thank God you're all right. Trixie baby, I was so scared," he murmured, his voice choked with emotion. "If I lost you, I wouldn't want to live," he said brokenly.
They were like that, suspended in time, oblivious to everything when Speed felt himself tapped on the shoulder by the president of IRC who uncomfortably cleared his throat.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but I do have a trophy to award so if you could follow me please?" the man asked with a smile.
"Uh right. Sorry, sir," Speed replied sheepishly. He took Trixie's hand and followed the official up the podium.
The official tapped the microphone to get the crowd's attention. "It gives me great pleasure in awarding the winner's trophy for the Raytona Road Rally to the driver for Pops Motor Sports Go Team, Speed Racer!" He handed the trophy to a joyful Speed with Trixie by his side beaming up at him.
"Atta boy, Speedy!" Spritle crowed from the side with Chim Chim doing backflips.
"Way to go, son!" Pops said in hoarse emotional voice. Mom Racer was beside him wiping her eyes.
Back in the crowd, Racer X leaned against his car, arms folded and a wide grin on his face. "Get used to it, Speed because the winner's circle is your destiny." He turned, got into his car, started the motor and drove away