Speed Racer: Quest of the Masked Racer
[Intro Music]
Chapter I: Getting Old
The Shooting Star's Turbo V8 burbled idly before roaring to life as Racer X raced around his private circuit. He grinned as he took a left flat-out, putting just enough pressure on the brakes, he went right and left through a set of S turns before plowing the gas into a straightaway! As he went around and around, Racer X noticed the pitter-pattering of rain on his windshield; he felt nostalgic for rain conditions ever since his one on one with Speed over a year ago…his grin faded as he was reminded of the letter he wrote that almost killed his little brother, "Speed, the race is too dangerous for someone of low experience like you to handle. The racing world is ruthless and difficult; it's not a game. You're not ready to be a professional racer, listen to your father, and stay away at all costs. -Racer X"
Racer X kept driving as fast as he could as the rain became worse; his memories continued to flood him as he drove, "Speed don't!" He remembers shouting as his kid brother jumped into the Mach 5 and sped off, forcing Racer X to give chase, but it didn't remain a chase for very long. He remembers seeing the rear end of the Mach 5 step out and smack the guard rails, the slippery surface unfamiliar to Speed at the time. He remembers the worry turning to anger as he started to race Speed; he wanted to teach him a lesson in the dangers of racing. It was all a blur until he saw Speed passed out beside his car after a stack of logs was cut by a member of the Alpha Team trying to kill him.
More memories flooded his mind, "You'll be my legs, and at the same time, I'll be your eyes..." He lied during the Alpine Race, helping Speed win despite the injury to Speed's eyes, the hot sun blinding him temporarily. Racer X sacrificed so much for his brother, except what was essential to sacrifice; his pride. That's what kept him away from home: pride. Rex ran away and became a winner, he won the 24hrs of Le Mans on his own where most teams required multiple cars and a team of up to 3-4 drivers per-car to complete the race, he became a world champion, and he became a legend. He was too proud to walk back home with slouching shoulders to beg for forgiveness. But he knew it was his last task, and he didn't know how to do it because of how much he had changed.
"But I'm getting older now. I'll be 31 next year. I've accomplished things far beyond my years. Everything except for doing the mature thing to do, and that's to confront the last thing in my life to confront, and it's my own family." he thought to himself, "I've got to do something... I've got to." he thought as he turned out of his private track and bolted down his private driveway and onto the road as he took his car's radio, tuning it into the Mach 5's frequency, "Speed, I need you to meet with me alone. You know where." he said as he steered towards the Racer family's church, the hallowed grounds of Thunderhead.
Chapter II: Speed Racer vs. Racer X
It was night as the Shooting Star came upon Thunderhead's competitor entrance, it rolled into the pits, and as Racer X turned, he didn't see Speed, "Where could he be? He lives right down the road." Racer X wondered as he drove out onto the track for a flying lap and to put some heat into his tires. As he came around the final banked turns and back onto the front straightaway, the iconic underslung yellow lights came into view in his rearview mirror, the Mach 5's high beams flashed rapidly behind him, non-verbal racing code for, 'I'm going to pass you.'
Racer X grinned, "Where did he come from? Was he stalking behind me all along?" the challenge was on again, as Racer X's foot lowered onto the gas as the Mach 5 gained. He knew he couldn't pull a massive gap on Speed, but he sure could defend against his attack as they went into the snake curves into the hairpin turn, where Speed caught up quickly, the bright red "M" now completely visible. They made their way to the carousel, Racer X swaying to the inside to defend and making Speed take the long way around the turn, Racer X lightly pressed the brakes, heel-toe to downshift before pressing on the pedal again mid-way through the corner to exit at maximum acceleration. Speed followed suit, being wise and braking a little earlier, dropping in close behind Racer X, following close behind through the turn and out into the short straight before the final banked 'Daytona turns' of the track. The slipstream was so strong, the middle-prong of the Mach 5's pronounced forward spikes was centimeters away from the bright yellow rear-end of the Shooting Star, Racer X glanced in his mirror again able to see the bright red ascot flapping in the wind, the track's lights reflecting across the clear visor of the white helmet. They exited the final banked curve, Speed was going too fast to stay behind and pulled outperforming a textbook slingshot maneuver, the Mach 5 pulled next to the Shooting Star, the V12 roaring with the ferocity of a streak of angry tigers! The start/finish came closer, and there was nothing Racer X could do as Speed was able to pull half a car-length on him, winning their little one-lap skirmish!
The cars slowed down and did a cool-down lap before pulling back into the pits, coming to a complete stop, Speed unbuckled and hopped out of the Mach 5, "Racer X, is everything alright? What was this about?" he asked.
Racer X opened the door, the white and blue number 9 swinging out as he calmly stood, closing the door behind him and leaning on it, Racer X chuckled, "I just wanted to race you, Speed. I guess I felt rusty, and I was right."
Speed became confused, "Huh? That's all?"
"No. No more excuses, you can't do this again." Racer X's thoughts attacked his anxiety as he sighed, "Actually, no it's not, Speed." he took a deep breath as he raised his hands to the strap under his chin, unbuckling his mask and taking it off, dropping it to the tarmac, "I want to come back."
Speed's eyes widened, "A-Are, you sure?"
"I am, Speed. I can tell you're unsure what to call me right now and call me Rex," he said.
"What brought this on, Rex?"
"The last mission I went on at Mr. Diamond's Stunt Car GP put things into perspective for me. I almost failed, and you almost died, I almost wasn't there in the nick-of-time this time, and I couldn't live with it. I can't live with not knowing Spritle, he's my brother too, but we don't see each other as brothers because I wasn't there when he was born like I should've been. I have to come back home before it's too late."
"I'm glad to hear that…" Speed smiled, taking his helmet off and tucking it under his arm, "...I think Pops wants the same, and I know for sure that Mom does. When we had our first race last year, he told me what happened between you two, and he was ashamed for lack of a better word."
"But you know Pops, if he's faced with me his pride will take over. I'm just afraid of him blowing up at me again."
"Pride is the downfall of our family, huh?"
"We're all just competitive. All of us love racing; we all live to win, even if that means winning an argument."
"Well, we'll never know until you try, Rex. Come on, let's go home." Speed waved over to Rex as he hopped in the Mach 5 and started the engine.
Rex knelt and tossed his mask into the brown leather passenger seat of the Shooting Star, the white lights turned on as he cranked it over, "You're right, Speed. This is just another challenge...another challenge to win, and the only way to win this is to admit defeat." Rex thought as the two peeled out of Thunderhead, and made their way to the quaint home of the Racer family.
Chapter III: Acceptance
The cars burbled up to the short driveway of the white single-floor house; Speed pulled the Mach 5 into the garage as Rex parked in the driveway. As he got out of the car, Speed held up a finger which told Rex to wait a moment, and he went inside, "What? Racer X is here?" Pops said surprised. Rex could hear his father from inside. Only a second later, Pops emerged from the garage entrance, pulling his trusty white cap on, "What is this, Speed? Why does Racer X want to talk with me?"
"Go ahead. I'll be right here." Speed pushed his father out of the garage as Pops Racer laid eyes on the yellow GT car.
"Racer X! What can I do for…" he was cut off as the tall man emerged from the car.
"Hi, Pops." Rex greeted.
"Rex?" Pops was taken aback.
"Yes, Pops. It's me...I'm Racer X."
"But...how?"
"Well, I…"
"How could you abandon us all like that?!" Pops yelled, "How could you up and leave us? Your mother? Speed? Spritle? Hank? You left everyone behind!"
"Dear, is everything okay?" Mom asked, peering out from the front door as she saw her first son standing before Pops, with Spritle peeking from behind her green dress.
Rex closed his eyes and looked to the ground, "I know, Pops. I was a stupid kid who made a stupid decision. I took the Mach 1 to impress you, and I blew it, big time. To this day, I have no idea what you were thinking. When I was training with the legendary Kabala, I faked my death as Rex Racer to become Racer X full-time; the car was remotely controlled, and the Rex Racer in the cockpit was a dummy made to burn to ash immediately, I deliberately crashed it. I was a coward and too wrapped up in myself, I was stupid, and I'm sorry."
This put Pops at a full pause, the former wrestler folded his big arms in a bid to look tough but released them, slacking them to his sides, "That's...all I ever wanted to hear you say, son. I'm sorry for blowing up at you the way I did, and threatening your dreams of being a racer. I shouldn't have done it, and I didn't understand the power I wielded over you, son. Owning and building racing cars is something I've always done, I saw years after how that threat was genuine to you, and you saw no other way to pursue racing but to run and join another team. I took Mifune Motors for granted."
Rex took his black driving glove off and held it to Pops, "I'm sorry Pops... I'm tired, and I just want to come home."
Pops looked at his son's hand and took it without hesitation, pulling Rex in and hugging him, "I'm proud of the racer you've become, Rex. Welcome home." Pops cried out as Mom came out joined the hug, as Speed smiled from the garage, watching Spritle shyly approach Rex, who took candy from his pocket and smiled wider than he had before, laughing as Spritle snatched everything Rex had.
"Finally, Rex. We can close the door on this. We can be a family again." Speed thought as he went to join his family.
Rex has returned to his family that he had been separated from for so many years. Now with Rex back and Hank back behind the Mach 4, the Racer family is whole again! Now they together will overcome all of the thrills that await on the next episode of, Speed Racer!
[Outro Music]
Author's Note: Thanks for reading this installment of Speed Racer Season 2! I know it's been a very, very long time since Stunt Car Grand Prix Part 2, but I was writing my second novel, ("Special Defense Unit Vol. II: Fray", Out Now!) so I didn't have the energy to focus on fanfiction. But now that it's out and I can have a break from the serious stuff for a while, I can go back to writing Speed Racer Season 2. Hopefully, I'll finish it this year so I can start my next project. Stay Tuned for the next episode, "Race Against the Sun (Part 1)"