Speed Racer: Race Against the Sun (Part 2)
[Intro Music]
Chapter I: The Ransom
Speed hit the B Button, the belt tires curling over his normal rubber, and his suspension lifted, running over the mud faster as he tried to catch up to the massive machine that was but an abstract silhouette in the jungle. Neither Speed or Trixie truly able to make out the shape of it, meaning they'd have to get close, Speed hit the D Button, letting the shield down, "We're gonna use the Homing Robot. Quick, get the camera out." Speed said, pressing the big G Button, the trap door on the hood opened, the robot bird chirped as it zoomed out as Speed directed it to land in the car with him and Trixie.
Trixie took the white and silver bird in her right hand as she opened the center console of the car, taking the Homing Robots camera out and attaching it to the bird's back, the lens facing to the right. She wound the black camera up with a big yellow dial that was on the camera's side, setting the camera's timer up. Once she couldn't twist the dial anymore, she clicked a small button, turning on the flash. Trixie held her hands out over the windshield, "He's ready, Speed!" she said.
"Okay, here it goes!" Speed said, taking the small control stick in between his index finger and his thumb. As the robot soared by the Razer, it snapped photo after photo, flying around it; but Speed had learned his lesson since the Mammoth Car, turning the robot around and calling it back to the Mach 5, once they got enough pictures.
The Homing Robot landed in Trixie's lap, "Alright, pull over so I can develop these pictures." Trixie said, the Mach 5 slowed and pulled into the thick jungle brush. She detached the camera and took out the film that worked similarly to Polaroid, but it was a roll of small Polaroid pictures rather than a film negative.
She waved the roll around before turning on her flashlight, Speed leaned over and looked at the film, "Whoa." Speed said, his eyes widening. The machine was rust orange in color, and looked like a demonic crop harvester. It had large circular headlights, and an array of spinning blades on the front, with a huge scoop that it slammed against Lovelace's Stratos, with a pipe blowing black smoke coming from the back of the machine. Speed turned the Mach 5's engine over, the car bursting to life again, "We have to stop them! Let's go!" Speed said, clutch-in, putting the Mach 5 into first gear and peeling out. He pressed the B Button and the E Button, the special illumination glowing very bright red in the darkness, "Going searchlight mode!" Speed said, pushing the E Button again, allowing the red brights to swivel back and forth as they searched for any sign of their friend.
That's when a glint reflected from a wraparound windshield, "Speed, look!" Trixie pointed out.
"I see it!" Speed acknowledged as he stopped, the red lights shone upon a blue, white, gold, and orange Lancia Stratos with a red "1" emblazoned on the side. The car was flipped on its left side where the fiberglass was torn almost totally asunder from the roll cage. "Lovelace!" Speed ran over and looked in the car, "She's gone!"
Trixie began to look very worried, "Do you think they kidnapped her?"
"I do. I bet they're going to hold her for ransom!"
"That's horrible!"
"I know, let's get back to following them!" Speed said as they both hopped back in the Mach 5, continuing to follow the tracks of the Razer to wherever the Cuban's base of operations was.
Meanwhile, in the secret lair of the Cuban's gang…" Let me go! Hey! What're you doing?" Lovelace shouted as she was roughly taken from the Razer, her hands were bound with rope, but she struggled regardless.
"Sit down and shut up girl!" one of the henchmen ordered as he shoved her into the chair.
"Oof!" Lovelace let out as she looked around, the place they took her appeared to be a construction yard, with ramp-like mounds of dirt scattered around, "Who are you? What is this place?" she asked, little beads of tears welling up in her eyes.
The Cuban stood before her, hands on his hips, he puffed smoke from his cigar, "My name isn't important, but this...this is base of operations for my boys and I."
Lovelace looked down in defeat, "So...you're holding me for ransom, aren't you?"
"That's right. You're practically a princess, and it would give us the cash to take over Cuba."
Lovelace sniffled, "I...I just wanted to win the race."
"You weren't gonna beat Racer anyway, so stop crying." The Cuban said as he went to his limo, "Now sit here, I'm going to work on getting my money. Don't you dare start any trouble."
Lovelace looked to the sky, "Please...please help me, Speed." she cried.
"Ugh." The Cuban scoffed as he closed the car door shut and opened a little door in the armrest where a car-phone was placed, he picked it up, the plastic clattering and the buttons beeping as he typed in a number.
"This is Trick Idler, who is this?"
"Hey man, we've got the girl."
"You do? Good. Get the ransom from Goldminter, and then I'll 'rescue' Lovelace, and clear my and the Three Roses Club's name."
"When will you be here, Mr. Idler?"
"Let me know when you get Goldminter on the horn and trick him, and then I'll show up."
"Okay. Standby, Trick." The Cuban said, hanging up, then picking up the phone again and pressing the operator button, "Yes, Operator? I have a long-distance call to place."
Chapter II: The Razer
The Mach 5's belt-tires crunched through the dirt as they raced far off course, surely they had lost the lead of the race now, but some things were more important, "I wonder where they took her, so deep in the jungle." Trixie said.
"There's got to be a clearing ahead; it's the only way." Speed replied.
But, unbeknownst to Speed and Trixie, the Razer was waiting for them up ahead with its lights off, and it's scooper ready to be buried in the dirt, the operator brought a walkie talkie to her mouth, "Cuban, you were right the kid followed our tracks to save the girl!"
The Cuban, being on-call with Goldminter, told his second to answer them, "This is the Commander, the boss is busy and told me to answer you. Did I hear right, Racer is coming?"
"That's right. We see his bright lights from here."
"Stop him, Razer! You have to stall for time, so we can get the cash and run."
"Do we...take Speed out for good?"
"Do whatever it takes, Razer. Just stop the Mach 5!"
The driver turned the Razer's modified harvester blades on, "Good bye, kid!" the driver laughed as the Razer's big, circular headlights came on and drove into the middle of the road as the Mach 5 zoomed forward!
"Oh!" Speed and Trixie exclaim, as Speed slams the A Button, the auto-jacks launching the car over the orange-machine! The Mach 5 slammed the dirt and ground to a halt, Speed looked over, "It's that crazy machine!" he said as the Razer turned towards them and moved in!
"It's coming, Speed! What're we gonna do?" Trixie shouted.
"I'm going to try and cut it's blades off!" Speed said, spinning the Mach 5 around, staring the Razer down. Speed pressed the C Button, deploying the dual-circular saws from the sports car.
"What the heck is that?" The driver shouted.
The Mach 5 growled as its engine was revved in waiting, "Now!" Speed said, releasing the brake, the Mach 5 flung dirt and mud! The front of the car lifted and the saws were spun even faster! The motors for the cutter blades were connected to the Mach 5's engine, which took away some of the car's horsepower. However, this means that the faster the engine turned, the faster the huge saws would spin! Speed gave the Razer a glancing blow on one of the infernal machine's saws, sparks flew, and metal shrieked in the night as Speed would try from different angles!
"Do you think the cutters can handle this, Speed?" Trixie looked over, asking him.
"No, they're going to need to be replaced after this. But I have a plan since that's how it's gonna have to be."
The Razer driver's fear turned to relief as he wiped the sweat from his brow, "Whew, the kid can't handle the power of my saws! Good!" he looked in his rearview mirror and saw the Mach 5's tail lights, "Yeah! Runaway, kid!" he shouted before he saw the white car turn around! The Mach 5 was getting a running start so the saw could be at maximum rotation! Speed then hit the jacks again, the Mach 5 soared into the air, and the car collided head-first with the Razer's bulky rear-end! Speed and Trixie bounced off of the Razer and blew by it, turning around again.
"Shield your eyes, Trixie!" Speed said.
"Okay!" Trixie replied, closing her eyes and placing her hands over them. Speed let the Razer come to them before slamming into reverse gear, allowing the cutter blades contacting the harvester's saws! The terrifying piece of farm equipment moved forward on them as the Mach 5 defended with its saws, a vast cascade of sparks flew over the Mach 5's bubble shield, and bounced off it's glossy, pearlescent white paint. It's gold and red number five, and it's blue belly now totally covered in mud and scratches. The cutter blades whined, there wasn't enough power as one of the arms of the Mach 5's blades snapped in half and was mangled within the harvester blade!
"I've got you now, Racer!" the driver said with a toothy grin. But Speed wasn't too concerned, he had exposed the fuel tank of the manic machine, and the Razer driver had no idea until sparks flew into the metal monster's open wound, causing the thing to explode!
"Got him!" Speed cheered.
"What? No!" The driver yelled out as he evacuated the Razer with fire extinguisher in-hand, and his radio in his pocket.
"Alright, now to Lovelace!" Speed said as Trixie opened her eyes.
"That was good thinking, Speed."
"Yeah, but Pops is going to kill me for breaking one of the cutter blades. I'm not even sure that the other one is useful anymore." Speed replied as he whipped the Mach 5 around and raced off to save Lovelace from the Cuban!
But as they disappeared in the distance, the Razer's driver held his radio up, "Hey, Boss! Racer destroyed the Razer and is headed your way, I repeat, Racer destroyed the Razer, and he's coming fast!"
Chapter III: Dirt Bike Fiesta
"Y-You what?" Mr. Goldminter stammered over the phone.
"What are you, deaf? Come on, old man, keep up! I've kidnapped your daughter and want a ransom for it. She won't be hurt." The Cuban replied.
"A ransom, outrageous!" Mr. Goldminter shouted.
"Oh, so your daughter isn't even worth a penny, eh?" The Cuban took out a gun from his coat and pulled the hammer back, making sure the clicking could be heard, "Well, that's too bad, looks like she isn't worth the trouble."
"W-Wait! Don't shoot, please! Please don't!" Goldminter pleaded.
"I thought a ransom was outrageous? So what? Now you decided to care? I guess I shouldn't be surprised; you were willing to marry her off to Speed Racer like she's a slave. Why should I assume she's worth anything to you?"
"How dare you?"
"Well, I'm not wrong, old man. Now, I'm gonna raise the price."
"How…How much?"
"Five million."
"Five million?!"
The Cuban pulled the hammer back again, "Yep. Five million, Mr. Goldminter. You'll pay either way."
"Okay. Okay. I'll pay you five million."
"Good. Make sure to wire the money to the number C-273721." The Cuban instructed, "We'll hold the girl until we get the money."
"You will have it. I'll get it done right away." Mr. Goldminter said, defeated.
"Good. I'll call you again in two hours, so you better have a phone nearby." The Cuban said before hanging up.
But just as The Cuban hung up, his second burst into the limo, "Boss! Speed Racer just destroyed the harvester, and he's coming! What do we do?" he shouted.
"What? Impossible!" The Cuban shouted.
"I guess not, we've gotta hurry!"
"Deploy the riders, including yourself! Go quickly!" The Cuban shouted as he jumped into the driver's seat of the limo, "I'm going to drive to the Camaguey checkpoint! Go!" The Cuban shouted as he floored it out of there.
Lovelace scowled, "You know Speed's gonna take down your riders, right?"
The Cuban looked in his rearview mirror, "Yeah, so what? More money for me, and I can always hire new goons. As long as I manage to get away with the prize." He laughed as he went onto a backroad that would lead to the highway to Camaguey.
Right on cue as the limo left, Speed and Trixie made it to the construction site, "She should be here." Speed said, looking around for somewhere Lovelace could be.
"Speed, I hear something," Trixie said as buzzing could be heard from outside of their deflector shield. She screamed in surprise as a dirt bike leaped over the Mach 5, launching itself from one of the densely packed mounds of dirt!
"Bikes! But how many?" Speed said as he whipped the Mach 5 around the yard. Some of the bikers took out handguns and blasted the Mach 5, their bullets bouncing off of the protective bubble. As Speed drifted the Mach 5 around one of the dirt corners, one of the bikers came close, holding the barrel of the gun directly at the glass dome! Speed then jerked the wheel into the other direction, slamming the huge sports car onto the small and fragile bike, causing the rider to tumble head over heels in the dirt. Speed stopped the Mach 5 and backed it over the dirt bike, bending the frame and crushing its motor.
"Speed, there has to be the rest!" Trixie pointed to four more dirt bikes that were coming right at them.
"Hang on, Trixie. I have a plan!" Speed said as he slammed the gas and drove in a circuit around the yard, making sure he had the pack of bikes in tow. He slowed down ever so slightly, letting the bikers catch up as he lined the Mach 5 up with the dirt ramp. Two bikers rode to either side of the car, as they got to the ramp, Speed sped up slightly and swerved the car in the dirt as they flew off the ramp and into the air! The Mach 5 spun around, slamming into one bike with its front and the other with its rear while flying in mid-air, the riders tumbling into the dirt as their bikes broke upon impact, becoming heaps. "There, that's two." Speed said, looking as the last two bikes jumped over them, but this time he flipped the script by pursuing the bikes, pressing the C Button, releasing the Mach 5's last cutter blade. The blade wobbled and rattled the entire car, it's battle with the Razer leaving it completely unstable, but Speed was able to knock it into a bike's rear tire and pop it, sending the rider sliding off into the jungle.
"Great job, Speed! One more left!" Trixie cheered.
"His bike is another color than the others. Maybe he's their leader. He'll know where Lovelace is!" Speed said he pressed the C Button, putting the cutter blade away for another time.
The Cuban's second looked back at the car that was gaining on him, "No way! How can such a big car keep up with us on this terrain?!" He shouted, deciding to go off the ramp again.
"We got him now!" Speed said, following close behind, the dirt bike's rear tires were almost rubbing the Mach 5's front spike until Speed rear-ended the motorcycle hard, and as they flew into the air, the man fell off of his bike and rolled onto the Mach 5's hood! He tried to grip onto anything as they were airborne, but the Mach 5 was too smooth and he slipped over the bubble, off of the trunk and fell all the way to the dirt as the Mach 5 landed atop his bike, crushing it totally. "Hand me the gun." Speed said.
"Be careful; he probably has one, too!" Trixie complied, handing Speed the weapon.
Speed immediately pointed the gun at the second, "Don't try it!" he called out, noticing that the gangster was reaching to his jacket.
"Damn kid...you...you broke my ribs!" he said.
"You broke your own ribs, try not breaking the law next time. Now, where's Lovelace?" Speed interrogated.
"My boss...he...he took her to Camaguey in a black limo. He knew we weren't gonna beat you." the second winced and gasped in pain.
"Camaguey, huh? Well, you'd better stay here because I bet the authorities are already on their way. Rethink your life after this." Speed said, returning to the Mach 5, putting up the deflector shield, and returning to the rally course.
Chapter IV: Sunrise
Speed and Trixie pushed the Mach 5's rally capabilities, as they reached the checkpoint, "Hey, where on Earth did you two go? The race is gonna end soon! Everyone just left thirty-minutes ago!" The checkpoint man said, stamping their pass.
"You see a black limo come through here?" Speed asked.
"I...I think so. I think it left, following the pack. Why?" The checkpoint man asked.
"Thanks." Speed said, taking the slip from him and flooring it through Camaguey.
"Coming up is the big highway section, Speed. You'll be able to catch up with the pack." Trixie said as they went onto the open road, Speed pressed the B Button, putting the car back into its normal sport mode, allowing all of its horsepower to go to spinning the wheels!
Speed and Trixie ran through the night, as the dark blue night sky became lighter. On their way down the highway, and even on the off-road detours, they passed by cars that had broken down earlier. But, still on the highway was the Cuban and Lovelace on their way to Santiago, the Mach 5 turned back onto the road as Speed looked over to Trixie, "Trixie, can you get on the radio and call Pops? We should be in range."
Trixie picked up the radio, which was useless in the jungle, but on the highway, it could now reach the finish line, "Trixie to Pops this is the Mach 5, come in!"
Pops jumped a little, startled as Trixie's voice crackled through, "Trixie? Speed? Where on Earth were you two? You're so far behind the pack; I don't think you can catch up!"
"Nevermind that, Lovelace has been kidnapped!"
"What? Kidnapped? So that's where you've been!"
Speed gestured over to Trixie, who gave him the radio, "Pops, listen. This guy is no joke, he destroyed Lovelace's car and is holding her for ransom! We used the Homing Robot and got pictures, you've got to call the authorities!" Speed said, handing Trixie the radio back.
"Pops, the man is driving a black limo, we're gonna try and stop him." she said,
"Well, alright. I'll let them know! Even if you don't win, I'm proud of you, son. You know where your priorities are." Pops replied.
"Thanks, Pops. If I can catch up to the limo and stop them in time, I'll still try to win! Over and out!" Speed said as he pushed the Mach 5 even harder. Only a few minutes passed as a black, blocky car came into view, "There!" Speed announced.
The Cuban heard a unique horn echo through the air and looked in his side-view mirror, "Damn! It's the Mach 5!" he said, watching as Speed moved into his blindspot.
"I told you he'd come!" Lovelace said.
The Cuban pointed his gun at her, "Shut up, girl! Shut up!" he said, shaking the revolver around, steering the car with one arm.
The Cuban used the colossal car to block Speed's path, keeping the Mach 5 behind it, "He won't let me through!" Speed yelled.
"What do we do?" Trixie asked.
"It's risky, but it might work." Speed said, hitting the C Button again. The wobbly blade spun clockwise wildly on the metal rod that it was barely attached to.
"What are you doing, Speed?"
"You know when someone's wheel falls off, and it tends to pass the car it fell from?" Speed asked as they heard a *CRUNCH!* when the saw blade detached from the shaft and bounced off of the road, landing in front of the limo! The Cuban screamed as the saw blade lodged itself into the limo's hood, smashing the engine and forcing the long-car to screech to a halt!
Speed hit the brakes, putting the Mach 5's parking brake on and jumped from it, rushing the limo, "Speed, lookout he's got a gun!" Lovelace shouted until *POW* a shot rang out, and The Cuban stopped in his tracks, as Trixie was standing behind the Mach 5's door, both hands on her gun, causing him to drop his.
"Do you know what you stupid kids just did?" The Cuban asked.
"Yeah…" Speed opened the limo door and helped Lovelace out, "...we did the right thing." Speed said as a police helicopter hovered overhead, he and Trixie looked up, and the Cuban ran for it. Speed gave chase, as he ran he took his helmet off and threw it at the man! The white helmet thwacked the Cuban on the back of the neck, causing him to stumble; Speed caught up and lunged, tackling the Cuban to the ground, as police ran up, pulling the racer off and arresting the Cuban.
One of the officers looked back at Speed and said, "Hey, man. Aren't you supposed to be racing? We'll catch up with you at the finish line!"
"Thank you, officers! I'll have everything for you in Santiago! See you there!" Speed saluted as he ran back to the Mach 5, turning it over and putting it into gear. The police cheered and waved as the loud race car roared by triumphantly!
The sky was light blue now, becoming orange as the sun was about to rise. Ahead was the shining city of Santiago de Cuba, "All we need to do is finish, Speed. If the sun hits the horizon, we're disqualified and get no points." Trixie said.
"We should get there in time!" Speed said. Unknown to the GO Team's driver and navigator, though, reports of their heroism have been aired all over the island. As they arrived as the last of the running cars, they were met with booming cheers from the people as the Mach 5 crossed the border to the city, and as they slowed down, the sun had broken through the horizon just minutes after they finished the race in 5th place of 20 cars.
After the race, Speed and Trixie turned in the pictures from the Homing Robot to the police, Pops and Sparky flipped out over what Speed had done to the cutter blades, Trick Idler left the country without being able to stage a redemption for the Three Roses Club, Lovelace went to visit her father.
"Are you sure you want to stay here longer, Speed?" Pops said.
"Yeah. We need a real vacation without racing for once." Speed replied.
"Well, just make sure you get home in time for the next race," Pops said.
"What Pops is trying to say is enjoy yourselves and have fun, we love you very much." Mom smiled.
"Thanks, Mom! We'll get home on time, don't worry!" Speed said, waving to them as the damaged Mach 5 was loaded on the plane and Pops, Mom, and Sparky left back home.
Trixie hung off of Speed's arm, "I'm glad you saw it my way this time." she said.
"I had lots of time to think about what you said on the beach in Havana, and you were right...we need to have a rest." Speed said as he and Trixie went back to Santiago in their rental car, to have a relaxing vacation.
Speed and Trixie have saved the day. Unfortunately, it had yet again cost them a victory. But now, the two lovebirds have to relax and recharge their batteries before the final race of the season, the 67th WRL World Championship, which is also their last chance to clinch a second championship! Be sure to tune in next time for a new and special adventure on...Speed Racer!
[Outro Music]
[World Racing League Championship Standings]
Rallye Monte Carlo- W: Rock Force/ 2. Speed Racer/ 3. Lovelace Goldminter
24hr Nürburgring- W: Lovelace Goldminter/ 2. Gadge Zoomer/ 3. Speed Racer
Sword Mountain Rally- W: Lovelace Goldminter/ 2. Speed Racer/ 3. Zoomer Slick
Trans-Country Grand Prix Thunderhead- W: Speed Racer/ 2. Lovelace Goldminter/ 3. Gadge Zoomer
Le Mans 24 Hours- W: Jan Magnum/ 2. Rosey Blaze/ 3. Speed Racer.
American Grand Prix Road America- W: Speed Racer/ 2. Rock Force/ 3. Lovelace Goldminter
No Limit World Race- W: Speed Racer/ 2. Left Roardon/ 3. Rosey Blaze
The Great Alpine Rally- W: Left Roardon/ 2. Lovelace Goldminter/ 3. Captain Terror
The Mille Miglia- W: Manuel Moss/ 2. Speed Racer/ 3. Sebastian Schumi
The Trans-Africa Rally- W: Lovelace Goldminter/ 2. Speed Racer/ 3. Manuel Moss (DNF)
The Yas Island Grand Prix- W: Speed Racer/ 2. Sebastien Ferrivette/ 3. Gadge Zoomer
Japanese Grand Prix- W: Rock Force/ 2. Speed Racer/ 3. Takumi Sato
Sebring 1000- W: Lovelace Goldminter/ 2. Left Roardon/ 3. Jan Magnum
Carrera Contra el Sol (Race Against the Sun)- W: Manuel Moss/ 2. Rosey Blaze/ 3. Rock Force
67th WRL World Championship-?
Winners so far: Speed Racer: 4, Lovelace Goldminter: 4, Rock Force: 2, Manuel Moss: 2, Left Roardon: 1, Jan Magnum: 1
-(Because of the scandal of the Diamond Super Prix, it was not counted as a WRL sanctioned event. Although Mifune Motors was paid their winnings in full, despite the arrest of Mr. Diamond.)
-(Because Speed finished the Carrera Contra el Sol, he is ahead of Lovelace in the points, despite them still sharing the same amount of wins. But, if Speed wishes to keep his lead in the championship, he has to hold Lovelace back in what is sure to be a climactic championship race!)
[Author's Note]
Hey everyone, Josh here! Whew...I guess I couldn't stand the thought of leaving you guys hanging, huh? I think I was anticipating this one myself! But regardless, remember what I said the last time, I have no idea when the next story is gonna come out. All I know is that it's going to have Rex and Hank on their own little adventure while Speed and Trixie are probably relaxing on the beach during their vacation. That's all I know, and I have to work out the story in my head right now, so let that be an example of how long the wait might be to get to this story. Speed Racer Season 2 is coming to a close soon, though. There are only 5 more stories left in it. The next one, the 3-part finale, and an epilogue. So buckle up, after Rex and Hank have their adventure, we have the biggest one yet! Stay Tuned!
[Author's Plug]
If you like my writing and want to read more, please check out my website. It has a place where I post all of my updates about my superhero series, "Special Defense Unit," and my bookstore where you can buy my work! Link is below, and thank you for reading!
Southpaw-Comics website: southpaw-comics