Battle Field: Earth
Chapter Three: The Pride Of The Racers
By: Sci-Fi Raptor
Disclaimer: See chapter one.
Secret Location, Africa
February 2002:
"Talon 00, target is south by southeast at 54 kilometers. Do you have acquisition of enemy defenders?" Alpha leader asked on the private channel.
"Roger Alpha 01. Enemy Afrikorps have been tagged," Gab answered.
"All units, fire at will," Alpha 01 commanded. Within seconds, the sky was painted with streaks of white as missile after missile flew after Afrikorp aircraft. In seconds, the radar guided missiles hit most of their targets and filled the sky with flowers of fire and debris. Two enemies had managed to dodge, however, and were in the process of making targeting solutions of Gab and the flight group whose commander had hired him. His computer beeped as it confirmed that a laser guided missile was locked onto him.
Well, the fun has just begun, Gab thought as he activated his after burners. If he went fast enough, there was no way the spotter would be able to keep track of him well enough. The missile missed as expected, but swung behind him and stuck on his tail like superglue.
Ah, so you have the guile to have infrared guidance installed too? Gab thought as he sped toward one of the enemy aircraft. His radar was down two contacts: one from Alpha flight group and one from the enemy. Gab reconstructed the scenario in his mind instantly. The friendly was too slow to dodge the enemy missile, while the missiles of everyone else in Alpha group hammered the enemy.
Gab had an idea on how to get the missile off his back and kill the enemy fighter in one motion. He went into a large turn, careful to keep the missile a safe distance away. But that was getting harder since the missile was many times faster than his aircraft. At the end of the maneuver, he ended up just where he wanted to be: behind the enemy aircraft.
He cut off his boosters and yanked back hard on the stick. He rapidly gained altitude while losing his momentum, but the missile hit the enemy instead of him. He chuckled, thinking how easily the Afrikorp pilot was fooled by that little maneuver of his. What he did was something that was used more in TV shows then in real life; he confused the infrared guidance on the missile by making it think that the booster of the enemy ship was his when he cut his own off, thereby making it hit the enemy instead of himself.
"Talon 00 to base," Gab said on the military frequency. "Mission complete, I am returning home." He activated his autopilot and looked around his canopy. He was still at a low altitude, so he could see the softly rolling savanna of the African plains. Since he had such great vision, he could see a lioness stalking a herd of unsuspecting prey to his West. To his East were a few birds flying together playfully. A few seconds later, the sound of anti-aircraft artillery and explosions from 1000-kilo bombs dominated the landscape and ended as abruptly as it started. The birds were nowhere to be seen now; they might not even be alive…
Bravo group had successfully finished its bombing run. Most likely, however, Bravo group was also shot down in the process. But Gab, didn't care, his mission was over and his payment en-route.
Nekomi, Japan
July 2002
NIT:
Man, today was harsh! Keiichi Morisato thought to himself as he left his language class. He walked to the parking lot at a leisurely pace as he thought: Why am I stuck with a language class when I should have graduated last year? His face saddened when he remembered: Oh yeah, English only fulfilled one of my language classes…
He sighed as he threw his bag into the passenger pod attached to his motorcycle. Well, its not that bad, he conceded. I still have my job with Chihiro at the Whirl Wind. I do live with four Goddesses and a demon cat. And of course, Belldandy loves me…
The last thought put a smile his face as he strapped his helmet on. It also reminded him about a certain promise he made.
Thought Bubble
"Keiichi!" Belldandy called out, as Keiichi was about to leave the Temple.
"Yes, Belldandy?" Keiichi said, putting the bike into park.
"Remember, you promised to come back home by six."
"I know," Keiichi said, starting his bike again.
"If you don't come, I'll be angry," she said with that face that made it hard to believe that she was even capable of any such thing.
"Bye bye," he waved as he started his trip.
Thought Bubble Popped
Keiichi quickly looked down at his watch. 5:30. Great… he thought. Well, if I start now, I should just be able to make it. He grimaced at the thought of an angry Belldandy. Sure, she looked sweet and innocent. But when she got mad… it was as if all hell had broken loose. Keiichi would know; it was that same show of power that had saved his life time and time again. Keiichi ate up asphalt as he sent his motorcycle to its maximum speed at acceleration greater then normal; skid marks trailed him until he stopped doing it.
He went through the road at speeds that would seem impossible for such a timid vehicle and had entrance and exit velocities on turns that rivaled those of racing motorcycles with ease that could only come from experience and thorough knowledge of the local terrain.
It feels good to go so fast. I wonder why I don't do it more, he thought. He mentally rebuked himself for even considering it. Oh yeah… I'm too poor.
Behind him, he could hear the steady beating of another motorcycle's engine. It got louder and louder as the motorcycle got closer. The other driver was right on his tail, and Keiichi knew that he would probably want to pass him. But they were approaching a blind turn during a busy part of the day and not even Keiichi would take such a big risk (and considering his skill and the fact that he had three goddesses and a demon cat on his back, that says a lot!).
But no… the other driver was just too impatient and went ahead and passed him. Keiichi was about to think something not-nice in his head about the cyclist when he heard a truck approaching from the other side.
Oh no! He's gonna get hit! Keiichi thought as he saw the oncoming truck's front fender. The other cyclist was taking too wide a turn to be able to make it in time back to the correct side of the road and not become road kill. Keiichi mentally prepared himself for the grotesque impact he was about to see and blinked just as it was about to happen. But instead was just treated to the sweet sounds of a blaring horn as the truck went by without incident.
What happened? Keiichi thought, shocked (and he probably wouldn't admit it, but somewhat disappointed) that the other cyclist wasn't splattered across the road. As the truck's trailer moved away, Keiichi realized what had happened. Just as the truck was about to run over the cyclist, he moved outside even more and squeezed in between the truck and the short metal railing that was the only barrier between him and a sheer cliff. The cyclist finished passing Keiichi at the end of the turn as if nothing had happened as Keiichi gazed at him in awe. Even if Keiichi did have a motorcycle like that (a green Kawasaki Ninja ZX010R), he didn't think he was capable of making such a quick move with such a tight squeeze. Indeed, he was on the road with someone great.
Till we meet again… Keiichi thought as the mysterious driver pulled away.
Nekomi, Japan
July 2002
Morisato Residence:
"Hi guys! I'm home!" Keiichi said as he entered the temple he shared with three Goddesses (which, unfortunately for him, was the limit of that relationship).
"Shuddup!" Urd bellowed, watching some wrestling match. "Greased Lightning is gonna take the championship this episode, so no more noise!"
"She's been like that ever since that silly show started," Belldandy said, coming out of nowhere, and embraced Keiichi from behind.
"Ah!" Keiichi almost jumped, not used to suddenly being hugged by Belldandy like that. "I, er, mean… what's this all about?" he said, referring to the out-of-nature hug.
"I'm just glad you remembered," she said, smiling.
It takes so little to please her, Keiichi remarked in his head as he looked at the happy expression on her face.
"So, why did you make me promise to come here by six?" Keiichi said, careful not to sound accusing, even though he didn't really intend to in the first place.
"I have something special planned for us tonight," she breathed into his ear.
"Surprise?" Keiichi said, his mind doing a hundred thoughts a second.
"GET THOSE THOUGHTS OUT OF YOUR HEAD!" Skuld hollered from somewhere.
"That's it!" Urd cried. Momentarily, a Urd Lightning Bolt could be heard going off where Skuld had spoken. A few moments after that: "WHAT? How did Greased Lightning lose? Dammit Skuld! You made me miss it!"
"Well, it's your fault that you bolted my lab!" she retorted.
"Its nice to see that she's finally back to normal," Keiichi said, referring to Skuld.
"Deep down inside, Urd cares for Skuld just as much as I do," Belldandy said, her hands upon her heart. "Maybe even more…"
"Don't worry Belldandy. Skuld will always love you," Keiichi said, saying just the right thing to calm down Belldandy's self-destructive thoughts. Belldandy smiled at him.
"Thanks, Keiichi," she said, pecking him on the cheek. "Now to finish preparing for that party," Belldandy said, heading off to the kitchen.
Damn… Keiichi thought as he went to his room. That's what she meant by surprise…
"What?!" Urd hollered. "Greased Lightning lost to Geekinator!!!"
I cannot say this for sure, but it sounded cool when I wrote it…