Chapter 2
Legacy
Two days had went by since the funeral. Alex had gathered up all of his belongings and the movers had loaded it all onto a Uhaul truck. Bayview was about an hour drive away from the little town of Alice california. So Alex knew he would stay in touch with his friends. He said his goodbyes. And went out front to meet Nikki, whom had a sly grin on her face all morning. Alex walked out front droped his bag with his clothes and said
"Where is the truck? Aren't we going with them!" Nikki smiled and tossed Alex some keys. Alex who was still half asleep caught the keys, right between the eyes.
"What the hell is the matter with you!" Nikki grinned even bigger
"Well, there was something at a storage facility in town here, that was property of your father's. I think he would have wanted you to have it... go take a look out back"
Alex with a confuesed look on his face walked around to the back ally, to see a pristine, blue, 240sx. 1992 lift back. Alex droped to his knee's "Oh... My... God..." Nikki put her hand on alex shoulder and said
"I found this letter in the car, I think it was your dad's speech that he wrote... Your dad was never good with words. Whenever something imporant came up, he always had to have cue cards." Nikki cleared her throat
"To my loving son, a wonderful car to start you life on the road. Its not much. But it is rear wheel drive like you wanted, and it also has a 5 speed. I hope that you pour your heart and soul into this car and do the things in life I could not"
Alex got up and looked over every inch of the car popping open doors and the like here and there "This car is powered by the ka24de engine... its no sr20det but a good turbo kit will make this car fly"
Nikki smiled and asked "So you like auto tuning?"
Alex said with some excitement for the first time since the funeral "HELL YEAH..." he then caught himself and said again "I mean... its ok" trying to act all cool in front of nikki.
Nikki smiled and patted him on the shoulder "Come on hot shot. I put insurance on your ride for you, so you could drive it over to Bayview and get a feel for her" Alex smiled even more and he ran back into his old house and grabbed his last bags, tossing them into the car. Alex turned the car over for the first time.
The drive to Bayview was no where NEAR as exciting as trying to leave Alice, CA. Nikki had forgotten that although, yes Alex had his drivers, and yes he had taken drivers ed. No one had taught him how to drive a 5 speed. She rubbed her temples thinking "I am gonna have to replace the clutch about 5 times before he gets it right..."
but as he kept trying. His skills had gotten better and by the time they reached the city limits of Bayview California "Wow this is getting easier."
Nikki sighed "That's good."
Alex countinued "Yeah, the clutch pedal isnt as touchy as it was when it first started."
Nikki slumped in her seat "Looks like his first clutch might be shot, oh well I will fix it later" Nikki pointed to an overpass "Turn on here."
The lights of the gritty underbelly of Bayview rolled over the hood of the almost new 240sx. It was late and the roads we're almost empty. Nikki rolled down the window to let the air run thru her head "ahh what a nite" she spied in the passenger rear view mirror some lights coming up fast "Alex stay in your lane, and dont panic." she said without missing a beat as a red 3000gt vr4 came blasting past the 240sx.
Alex responded "HOLY CRAP" Nikki nodded "yup he sure is a show off" the car's loud blow off valve hissing in the nite
Alex starred in awe "thats a vr4, all-wheel drive twin turbo!"
"Turn left here, we are almost there." After a few quick turns they pulled up to 'Endless Preformance and AutoBody'.
Nikki got a garage door opener out of her purse and clicked it. She handed it over to Alex. "This will allow you to get into the parkade." She motioned to an open parking stall "We share this private parkade with the apartment buildings across the street. Oh and the lowest levels are locked for special orders for my shop so you can't get in there."
Alex asked "What kind of rides do you do?"
Nikki looked on with a devilish grin "Only the kinds that have money. Come on, I'll show you to your new room."
Nikki had a 2 bedroom studio aparment above the shop. Alex had his own room that overlooked the bay that bayview had gotten its name for. "Get some rest kiddo." nikki called into his room "Tomorrow, you start school."
Alex turned back "School? Where?"
Nikki smiled "Bayview high, best high school in the district."
As Alex tossed and turned attempting to sleep. Nikki pulled out a black dufflebag from the 240sx. She thought to herself "why was this in the car... I found it there... hidden behind the backseat... I wonder..." She looked in the dufflebag to find 9 video cassets marked 'To Nikki', all videos had a number on it 1 thru 9. she took out the first one and popped it into the VCR and turned it on.
She was quite shocked to find the face of Ben Kinkade, the father of young Alex, staring back at her "Nikki, if your watching this, then I'm already dead. He got to me, but I hope it's not to late for my step son." The man had the look of a japanese bussniess man, very regal and elegant, but something was bothering him, as he was constantly looking over his shoulder "I haven't much time left, in these 9 video cassets are instruction on how I want Alex to be taught as a street racer. I know its alot to ask old friend, but please keep him safe. And don't go after my killer. It will only cause more problems than good." he paused brefily "now, for the instruction on how I want him taught"