Chapter 14

Spritle and Chim-Chim sat on the grease-stained old couch in the garage watching an equally ancient black and white television.

"This stinks!" Spritle complained. "Pops is so unfair to make us watch the race in here. How can I cheer Speedy on if he can't see me?"

"Whoop! Weep! Eyooop!" Chim-Chim replied in a language only Spritle could understand.

"You said it, Pal! This is cruel and unusual punishment, if you ask me. It's not like we got to see any naked women or anything," Spritle sighed. "Besides, how are we supposed to learn about sex an' stuff if we can't see what girls look like with no clothes on?"

Chim-Chim nodded as he patted his friend on the head.

"Thanks. I'm glad you don't think I did anything wrong."

They turned their attention to the television as the commercials ended and the pre-race show started.

"It's a beautiful day for a race," the racing commentator stated. "Cliché, I know, but true!"

"It certainly is, Chuck," the other commentator agreed. "The drivers have started their engines and are awaiting the signal to start their warm-up laps in preparation for what is sure to be one of the most competitive races of the season."

"I think it will also be one of the more interesting ones, too, Dave. The group of young newcomers who call themselves The Girl Team certainly look as if they'll be able to hold their own against the veteran drivers."

"Yes, they do. They've faced quite a bit of adversity from the male drivers, many of whom have spoken out against women competing in what is essentially a sport dominated by men."

"Yes, and it is quite a shame. Although a few drivers have come to the ladies defense, including Racer X and Speed Racer. The latter created quite a stir earlier today when he became terse with some reporters."

The screen showed a video tape of Speed's interview and blow up with the reporters earlier that day.

"I wonder what that was all about?" Spritle wondered. "Speed got really nasty with those TV guys."

The commentators where back on screen again. "You do have to wonder what set Speed off like that. It seemed like an innocent enough question to ask. Dallas Maverick is, after all, his next door neighbor," Chuck explained.

"I have no idea. We all know that Speed is very devoted to the young woman he has been dating. Perhaps he thought there to be some innuendo in the reporters question."

"That does sound like a very plausible assumption, Dave. It's also been rumored that Speed has some sort of a stomach virus and is physically not up to par."

"Well, that should make the race even more compelling. Will Speed's illness affect his driving? We shall shortly see!" Dave said almost gleefully as the klaxon sounded.

"Yes, we shall. The signal has sounded and the cars have started to make their way around the track," Chuck said.

"What in the world?" Dave asked in confusion. "Speed Racer hasn't moved his car. Not an inch!"

"I have no idea what he is doing," Chuck replied as the camera zoomed in on the young driver.

Speed said in the cockpit of the Mach Five, his head hanging down. "He appears to be sleeping!" Dave exclaimed.

---

While Speed stood still on the tarmac, the Go Team stared in disbelief.

"What the hell is wrong with him? He's just sitting there!" Pops cried, livid. "Go, dammit!" he screamed into his headset.

"Huh?" Speed asked dully, as if he'd been awakened from a deep sleep.

"The race! You're in a freaking race!" Pops voiced screeched into Speed's ears.

"Oh!" he said, perking up. "The race, yeah...gotta drive..." He slammed his foot on the gas and sped off, skipping a few gears in the process. He flew past the other drivers who were still doing their warm-up laps.

"Now what in the name of hell is he doing?" Pops turned to Sparky as if the mechanic would have the answer. "He's gonna end up killing somebody."

"I don't think he knows that the race hasn't officially started yet." Sparky grabbed his own headset from the top of the toolbox. "Speed! Speed, listen it's only warm-ups, you gotta slow down!"

"Warm-ups?" Speed tried to comprehend through the fog in his brain. He focused on Racer X's Shooting Star straight ahead of head. If he didn't hit the brakes, and fast, he would smash right into him. "Holy crap!" Speed yelled as he brought his foot down hard on the brake pedal. The Mach Five went into a spin; he just managed to straighten the car out before it hit the wall.

Mom brought her hand to her mouth. "Oh my God...he almost crashed!"

"That was close," Sparky said, wiping his brow.

Pops was beyond incensed at this point. "What is that idiot trying to do? Get himself disqualified before the damn race even starts?"

Janine and Trixie were shocked. They'd never seen Speed drive this recklessly before.

Spritle and Chim-Chim can running out of the garage. "Wow Pops, didja see that?"

Pops turned on them. "What are you two doing out here? Didn't I tell you to stay in the garage and watch the race on TV? You're being punished!"

"But, Pops that TV sucks, it's black and white and really hard to see anything," Spritle said, whining.

"You should've thought of THAT before you went snooping into places where you don't belong!" Pops eyes blazed with fury.

The two stood frozen in place. Then, Chim-Chim tried to make a beeline for the Girl Team's pit. Spritle tried to follow him.

Pop's had anticipated their move. He reached out to grab the pair. "Do I have to carry you in there myself?"

"We're going!" Spritle said as he and Chim-Chim hightailed back inside the relative safely of the garage.

He turned his attention back to the Mach Five. "Are you crazy?" Pops voiced screeched over Speed's headset. "Get your head out of your butt and watch the damn road!"

Speed shook his head. "You gotta keep your mind on the race. You gotta win..." He had now slowed down and was keeping pace with the other cars.

Pops and Sparky heaved sighs of relief. "He seems to be back on track," Pops remarked.

Sparky kept his eyes on the Mach Five. "He'll be fine. The food poisoning just knocked him for a loop."

"He's just damn lucky that there were no caution flags thrown for that little stunt he pulled," Pops growled.

---

Dallas smiled as she watched Speed careen around the track. "Ah wonder how long it will be before lil' Speedy crashes and burns. Ah do hope he takes a couple of other drivers with him, especially those nasty skanks from mah team," she said, now a twisted smile on her face as she caught one of her team mate's cars in the rear view mirror.

She passed her pit and gave her father a thumbs-up. "Mah Daddy is gonna be so proud of me today."

---

The cars moved faster and faster around the track until, finally, the signal sounded and the race officially started.

Speed managed to keep pace with the other cars, though he was hanging on by a hair.

The Go Team watched the action from the pit. Pops nervously snapped the Nicorette gum he'd started chewing in yet another attempt to quit smoking.

"Will you please stop that?" Mom Racer asked in annoyance.

"How the hell can you hear that above the noise of the cars?" he snorted.

"I can't. But, I know you're doing it, so it bothers me all the same," she retorted.

"Oh brother!" Pops spit the gum into a nearby trash bin. He took a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket, removed one and lit it up. "It's all your fault that I'm smoking again."

Mom rolled her eyes. "Yes, of course. It's not like your having a pack on you at all times contributes to anything."

Pops was about to make a smart come back when Speed's voice came over his headset.

"Hey little girl is your daddy home, did he go and leave you all alone..." the voice warbled.

"What the hell is he doing?" Pops asked.

"Sounds like a really bad Springsteen impersonation," Sparky answered flatly

"Why is he singing when he should be concentrating on the race?"

"How should I know?" Sparky sarcastically replied. "Why don't you ask him?"

Pops shot the mechanic a deadly look. "You can be replaced, you know!"

---

Speed drove around the track, a dreamy grin on his face. "Ohhhhh, I'm on fire..." he sang as he gazed at Dallas' car directly ahead of him. He stopped singing. "God, she's so beautiful...can't wait till later..."

Seeing Speed behind her as she checked her rear view mirror, Dallas moved to the right. "Ah ain't gonna let him get too close, he's liable to smack into me. But..." She pressed harder on the accelerator. "Ah certainly don't want him to pass me."

"Oh shoot, she's getting away from me..." Speed tried to pull up beside her, only to have Skull Duggery move between them. He flipped Speed the bird, something he often did knowing Speed would never be as crude as to return the gesture. To his surprise, Speed thrust his hand out the window, middle finger raised. "Right back atcha, pal!"

"Damn," Duggery said in near admiration, "Racer's really grown a spine since he met that Dallas chick."

Somehow, Speed managed to drive ahead of them. His mind quickly changed gears as he spied Racer X directly in front of him. "Ah...the mysterious Masked Racer...my biggest competitor and..." He shook his head, forgetting what was on his mind. "What was I saying?"

Racer X had noticed Speed's erratic driving. "There's something terribly wrong with him. I've got to get him off the track before crashes into something...or someone." He slowed, hoping that Speed would draw up next to him, "I don't want to force him off the road, but I will if it comes down to that."

"What's he doing?" Speed wondered, actually sobering for a moment, as the car pulled next to him. The lucid moment was all to brief as the powerful drugs that Dallas had given him once again took hold. He turned his head to look at the Shooting Star. The car appeared to shimmer and waver. "Oh wow, that is just too weird!" Speed said; amazed. "This is better than any movie I've ever seen. He almost stopped the car to watch what he thought was a fascinating scene. The young man was having a difficult time distinguishing between fantasy and reality.

Racer X watched in fear as Speed's driving worsened. "Sorry little brother, but it's for your own safety and that of the other drivers..." The Masked Racer turned towards the Mach Five hoping that Speed would have the good sense to drive onto the grassy center of the track. The former Rex Racer didn't know that his younger brother was under the influence of something that took away his normally good sense.

"Hey, what's that guy doing?" Speed said, no longer recognizing Racer X. "I'll show him!" He turned the steering wheel sharp and smashed into the side of the Shooting Star.

"Dammit!" Racer X shouted as he instinctively hit the gas; pulling a bit ahead of the Mach Five. "Has Speed gone insane?" he asked himself.

"Oh no you don't" Speed jammed his foot down on the pedal.

Racer X, and the fans, watched in horror as Speed headed directly for the Shooting Star.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Will the Mach Five crash into the Shooting Star?

Will Speed end up on an "After School Special?"

What about Pops? With kids like his, will he ever be able to quit smoking?

Please read the next chapter to find out what happens next.

Also, please remember to read and review this story all the other ones in this section.

Jen, your story just keeps getting better. But, you don't need me to tell you that!