Hello, folks. Time for another episode of Captain Hurricane and the Superhero Girls. It's the day of the Grand Prix and the style of race is that reminiscent of F-Zero preferably F-Zero GX since I love that game to death in the series and still have It to this day since middle school. Anyway, DCSG is Owned by DC not me. Let's get it.
=====Chapter 23: High Stakes Grand Prix======
When we last left our heroes, they encountered Black Manta responsible for harming the Golden Dolphins and it's up to the four male members of the Super Team to stop the pirate in the Grand Prix at Dolphin Keys. In fact, they're at the Porpoise Cove to begin the annual race as many racers from around the world in their F-Zero like vehicles with many reasons to enter. Hunter, Lobo, Billy and Freddie were at their blue vehicle as the girls standing on the sidelines grew worried while Kurt and Dirk waved their flags in the air excited for the race. Diana and Karen glared at Black Manta near his machine that resembles a submersible as Harley went up to the Superhero Girls with a smile.
"This is going to be an awesome race, guys! I bet Hunnter's stoked about this.", Harley giggled as Dianna and Karen glares at Manta. Tatsu eyed the vehicles with the Atlantean royal crests on them. She turned to the girls and pointed to the vehicles.
"We haven't seen these two racers before. And look at their insignia on the machines.", Tatsu noted as Babs gasped at the symbol.
"Tatsu, that must be the Atlantean royal crests. That means—"
"The king and queen of Atlantis is racing in the Grand Prix. But how?", Zee wondered as Jessica had a hunch.
"Probably they're tracking down Black Manta and bring him to justice. Hunter's team isn't the only one after the pirate.", the Green Lantern said as Kara smirked.
"Looks like pirate man is shaking in his boots right now. He's got bigger problems to worry about.", the Kryptonian said as Diana nodded.
"Yes. But Hunter and everyone else shouldn't let their guard down. Manta's still up to something. Hera, please protect my friends in this race. I love Hunter so much.", Diana hoped for the best as Karen silently did the same as the racers get ready. Black Manta glared as he steps close to Hunter and his crew in their hero forms.
"So you decided to show up, you little wretch and your friends too! No matter. You've come here to die anyway along with three of your fellow comrades as well. Any last words?", Black Manta sneered as Hunter spoke on behalf of his friends.
"Black Manta, you'll never beat us! You can count on that!", Hunter shouted as Lobo agreed.
"Yeah, you dirtbag! You'll pay for trying to harm the dolphins, bub! That's all there is to it!", Lobo said with a glare as Manta scoffs.
"Oh really, runt? You brats think you can win? And those Atlantean pain in the necks over there are just another obstacle in my way! When I win, I'll see to It that this island gets exploited of it's treasures for my own gain!", Manta laughed as Shazam huffed.
"This Island's not going down by the Likes of you, buddy! Let's do this!", the wiz hero said as the announcer booth readies the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Please aboard your machines at the starting grid! Repeat. Please aboard your machines at the starting grid!", the announcer said as the racers entered their vehicles starting their engines as the boosters lifted their machines a foot off the ground. Fire and Ice waved to the crowd as they roared in excitement. Hunter in the driver's seat had a determined look on his face while the co-pilots Lobo, Shazam and Shazam Jr. were ready to go. Manta smirked as he eyed the starting lights with Fire and Ice waiting for the signal.
"3, 2, 1. GOOOOO!"
As soon as the two supermodels waved the starting flag, the racers zoomed on the course as everyone cheered and watched them on the videoboard. Manta, Aquaman, Mera, Team Hurricane and Beavis and Butthead in their twin machine were In the top 5 as they sped on the straightaway. Manta smirked but Hunter steered his machine to a boost pad as Lobo warns him.
"Dude, there's a speed pad! Step on it!"
"I'm on my way there! Hang on tight, guys!", Hunter said as he guided the vehicle to the dash pad and zipped past Aquaman and Mera as the Atlanteans saw their possible allies catch up to Black Manta. Speaking of Manta, he growled as he spotted behind him his rivals catching up to him.
"Damn it! Those pesky kids are onto my tail! I gotta figure Out a way to shake them off!", Manta growled as he phoned in his two henchmen.
"Horace! Stan! Hurry up and drive your machines! I don't care if you have to illegally use your boosters before the checkpoint! Just get up here and take care of those pesky kids and the Atlanteans!", Manta yelled as he hung up the phone maintaining the lead. His henchmen rammed two random racers into a guard rail retiring their machines immediately as the poachers laughed at their dirty work. It took them a while to catch up to the heroes as they smirked.
"This is it, guys. All we need to do is plan out a way to strike and overtake Manta. The checkpoint is ways ahead of us.", Freddie said as Lobo huffed.
"Oh come on. Why can't we just use our boosters already?", the Zarnian complained as Hunter rolled his eyes.
"Dude, you should've read the rules last night. We cannot use our boosters until the first checkpoint is passed through. We'll get disqualified if we do that and in fact, the Officials locked our booster program for that reason.", Hunter explained as Lobo groaned.
"So that means we gotta ride It out until then? That's a bummer.", Lobo said nonchalantly as Freddie nodded.
"That's right, man. We're in a good position In 2nd place as is. We'll catch up to Black Manta in no time.", Freddie said as Hunter drifted his vehicle into a curve leading into another One. However, Stan and Horace managed to catch up to the teens and bumps into them. Shazam looked out the window as he gulped.
"Hunter, I believe two vehicles are trying to wipe us out, dude!", the wiz hero said as Hunter and Lobo caught a glimpse of the figures on one side each as they glared at the poachers.
"You bastards!", Hunter and Lobo growled at the poachers as they were getting rammed again. Hunter used his side attack to ram Stan to a wall but struggled.
"What do those two want from us anyway? They're desperate!", Shazam whined as Lobo explained.
"It's that dirtbag Manta's cronies we met yesterday in the jungle! They're making Our pursuit difficult as usual! Time to get them off our backs! We're losing positions!", Lobo said as Horace rammed the boys into a wall but the machine didn't get wrecked yet. Some of the racers zipped past them leaving the teens in midfield position.
"Damn! Those jabronies caused us to get into midfield. According to the position on my radar, we're in 14th place right now. We gotta get a move on.", Hunter explained as Freddie agreed.
"Yeah and judging how Manta's cronies want to let their boss win at all costs, the Atlanteans up in front are next to get hit. We gotta catch up and help them Out.", Freddie said as Shazam smirked.
"Yep. The sooner we catch up, the better.", the wiz hero pointed out as Hunter piloted the machine through tight corners with two other machines blocking his way. The air hero leaned his machine to the right to hug the curves and drifted to head for the straights. He spotted the boost pads and ran over one to get past the two racers heading into 12th place.
""Sweet. All we need to do is catch up to several more and we'll head for the first checkpoint for our boosters to unlock.", Hunter cheered as Lobo spotted the health meter on the dash.
"Yeah and we gotta get a pitstop as well. That machine is at half from those dirtbags ramming into us.", Lobo snorted as Shazam raised an eyebrow.
"But if we stop now, we'll get far behind for sure.", Shazam said as Hunter shook his head pointing to a glowing red panel up ahead.
"No. This pitstop is different. You run over the glowing red panel and the machine will instantly recover it's energy meter. This is a high-speed vehicle with no tires. We don't need a pit crew for this sort of thing.", Hunter explained as the group ran through the red pit panels recovering their vehicle to full health.
Aquaman and Mera were fighting off Stan and Horace as the Poachers tried to wreck the Atlanteans into a wall. The king tried to get away from Horace while the queen did the same with Stan as they try to get to Manta.
"You two royal pains aren't laying a finger on the boss! We'll turn you both Into fish food!", Horace said as he tries to ram Aquaman into the wall.
"Black Manta's henchmen aren't making it easy for us to take him down!", Aquaman grunted as he tries his best to keep from getting wiped out. Mera tried to zip away from Stan as the queen tries to reach for a boost pad. However, Stan smirked as he spotted a bomb trap hoping to knock her into it.
"Hahahahha! Looks Like it's boom-boom for the sea queen! Sayonara!", Stan goofily grinned as he sideswipes Mera but accidentally made her go Into a boost pad just in time as Stan gulped.
"Oops."
"Oops is right, you moron! You gave the queen an advantage to catch up to me! GRRR!"
"Sorry, boss! At least that sea king isn't catching up to you and we got the brats way behind us.", Stan said to the angered Black Manta as the pirate growled.
"Just hurry the hell up and get to her! We're getting closer to the first checkpoint of the race for our boosters to unlock! Use them well!", Manta warned as the racers are approaching the first checkpoint of the race.
Hunter steering through the bomb traps saw a boost pad and went through it as he sighed with relief. Afterwards, they went through a tunnel and saw a checkpoint dead ahead.
"There it goes! Our first checkpoint of the race!", Lobo yelled as Shazam cheered.
"Yes and we'll use our boosters for sure!", the wiz hero noted as Hunter zipped past three racers giving him 9th place as he crosses the checkpoint.
"You got boost power!", the announcer said as the boosters were unlocked immediately with every racer crossing the Line. Hunter beamed as he used his boosters to pull ahead to 6th place and maintain It as he negotiates some bends before a high jump ramp. He made a high jump as he controlled the vehicle's center of gravity with the steering wheel tilting it slightly forward to make the machine gain some speed and maintain hangtime in the air. Once he landed On the next portion of the track, he went to 5th place as Horace hits the wall.
"We're catching up to Aquaman, Mera, Stan and Black Manta! All we need to do is conserve our boosters carefully.", Hunter said as Shazam raised an eyebrow.
"Why don't we just use them to the max. We'll win the race for sure!", Shazam nonchalantly said as Freddie shook his head at his adoptive brother.
"Billy, you forgot that the booster usage is tied to the energy meter. It's a risk and a reward.", Freddie reminded him as Shazam grew confused.
"Okay. In English?
"Freddie meant that we can't overdo the boosters because It consumes our energy meter. You know how it depletes every time we get hit by a machine, trap or wall? Well, using the boosters is the same way. Freddie's right for the boosters are a reward to give us a helping hand but a risk as well since our energy is sacrificed in the Process.", Hunter explained as Freddie nodded.
"Correct. Not only will our energy get sacrificed but our power supply will overheat in the Process. And once our energy runs Out, we'll wipe out or worse. That's why we need to conserve our booster power. It's key to winning the race.", Freddie said as Lobo nodded.
"Yeah. We need to play those racers at their Own game. Hey, that conjoined machine is going crazy on the boosters!", Lobo said pointing to Beavis and Butthead zipping past them and towards Black Manta.
"Wait a minute. That's Beavis and Butthead's machine. They're going to wipe themselves out if they're not careful with the booster energy.", Hunter said in worry as the teens try to catch up to the duo.
All the fans were watching the action on the videoboard as the girls and everyone else cheered On the racers. Zee gasped as Beavis and Butthead's machine caught up to Black Manta as she saw smoke coming out of the knuckleheads' machine.
"Beavis and Butthead are in 2nd! But their machine is smoking and that's not good! They'll wipe Out for sure!", the magician said in worry as Diana grew worried.
"Manta will surely blow up their machine for sure. And Hunter's machine is in 4th place!", Diana said as Hunter zipped past Aquaman and Mera to get that position. Only Stan was in 3rd place behind Beavis and Butthead. The bumbling poacher tried to get beside the teens but he struggled to dodge a mud Pit on his Left.
"There's one of the Poachers wee saw the other day. He's going to get them Out of the race!", Karen yelled as she was correct for Stan sideswiped Beavis and Butthead into a wall crashing their vehicle.
"Broken down!", Beavis and Butthead were quickly teleported out of the race area as their vehicle exploded. The two teens joined the other two racers who were wiped Out earlier at an area to watch the Others.
"Uhh. This sucks."
"Yeah, dude. Heh-heh-heh. This sucks!", Beavis said to his best bud as they watched the videoboard.
"Retired!", the announcer said after Beavis and Butthead's machine exploded.
"Yes! I finally got those losers out of here! Now to Protect the boss! Where is Horace anyway?", Stan wondered as Manta phoned In.
"Stan! You imbecille! You're forgetting that those pesky brats!"
"Uh whaddya mean, boss? I've wiped them out just like you asked."
"No! Not those morons that got taken out! That blue wretch and his crew are onto us! And Horace better catch up and do away with those punks!", Manta barked as Stan grinned sheepishly.
"Oh yeah. I'll make sure those snot nosed brats don't get Past me!"
"Well throw them Off our Path! In fact, there's a patch of traction traps! Be sure you don't slip on them yourself!", Manta warned as the blue traction traps were all over the area and to make matters worse, there are no guard rails. Which means that one bad move will send an unfortunate racer to their doom in the waters down below a 100ft from the suspended track.
"Oh crap! Traction traps! Yo, Hunts! This is risky business, bro! One wrong move and we're swimmin' with the fishes!", Lobo warned as the boys saw the traction trap filled pathway.
"Damn! We're definitely fish food if I screw this part up.", Hunter gulped as Shazam encouraged the air hero.
"Don't give up, Hunter! Trust your instincts!"
"Are you making a Star Fox reference?", Freddie noted at Shazam quoting Peppy Hare's line to Hunter. The air hero carefully steers the machine through the traction traps as it lost its' grip some. Hunter corrects the steering just in time as the machine nearly plummets off course.
"Crap! We almost became fish food for a sec there!", Hunter said in worry as he dodged another set of traction traps and finally made it to a loop-de-loop area with dash pads.
"Whew. We made it out of there, guys. Now to get on the dash pad and get past Stan and then to Black Manta. Here we go!"
"Careful, Hunter. Stan is lying in waiting for us to make a move so he could wipe us out. Be ready for him.", Freddie said worried as the teens went on the dash pads while zooming on the loop-de-loops. Stan noticed Hunter's team getting ready to overtake him as he phoned in his boss.
"Yo, Boss! Those rotten kids are at my right! They're setting up for an overtake!"
"Now's your chance! Terminate them!"
"Roger!", Stan said as he grinned sideswiping Hunter as the poacher cackled.
"Hahahahaha! That's right, you snot nosed brats! You're not getting the boss this time! Take this!", Stan bellowed as he rammed Hunter making his energy meter at a quarter length. The meter blinked as the air hero grunted to stay on the track.
"Damn! We're at a quarter of our energy meter! If we don't find a pit area soon, we're done for!", Hunter said as Lobo saw a forked pathway. The right path had a huge stretch of pit panels for Hunter to recover.
"Yo, Hunt! Hurry and take the right path! There's a large stretch of pit panels to speed over! Boost away from this clown and take the opportunity!", the Zarrnian said as Freddie grew worried.
"But we'll be on our last bit of fumes! There's got to be another way around this mess!", Freddie protested as Billy shook his head.
"Not really, dude. It's a risk we're willing to take! Either we try or we fry! Take your Pick.", Shazam warned as Hunter saw the right pathway coming up as he narrowed his eyes.
"Here goes nothin'!", Hunter said gritting his teeth as he boosted his machine entering the right pathway and is coming at the pit panels. Stan panicked as he told his boss.
"Boss! They're taking the pathway with the pit Panels!"
"So? Don't lose them! Hurry up and get them! We're approaching the second checkpoint very soon!", Black Manta warned as Stan boosted after the teens. The heroes recovered full health but for some reason, Hunter boosted while On the pit panels as Shazam grew worried.
"Dude, why are you wasting your energy already?! We'll be toast for sure!"
"Calm down, geek! The meter's not going anywhere as long as we're On the panels boosting on them.", Lobo corrected Shazam as Hunter nodded.
"Yeah and the best part is that once we exit out of the forked pathway, we'll be in 1st for sure.", Hunter said as his assumptions were correct. Once Hunter boosts his vehicle out Of the pathway and Onto the straights, the boys took 1st position making Black Manta very angry.
"You fool! You let them get away! And they're in the lead now because of you!"
"But, Boss. I'll waste all my energy that way."
"You imbecille! I told you earlier that the pit Panels replenish your energy and if you boost while on them, you'll never waste them! You could've wiped them out easily! Damn it! Must I do everything around here?!", Black Manta ranted as Horace phoned in. This made Manta more angered than ever.
"Horace! What the hell do you want now?!"
"I'm in a bad situation! Those royal pains are trying to make me go up in smoke!"
"Ugh! You too? Hurry up and get to a nearby pit panel and wipe those Atlanteans out! Stan caused my lead to stop thanks to his stupidity! At least wipe the king and queen out!"
"But what about the brats?"
"I'll take care of the damn brats! Just do away with the Atlanteans or else!", Black Manta threatened breaking contact with Horace as the racers were preparing to cross the second checkpoint gate.
"Second checkpoint.", the announcer said as Hunter saw his time record on the gate.
"Sweet! We're halfway through this Grand Prix! Only two more checkpoints to cross over.", Hunter said excitedly as Freddie noted something.
"I hate to ruin a celebration but we have Black Manta and his goons to worry about."
"Oh yeah. Those dirtbags. If they want to play rough, we'll play rough.", Hunter said with a smirk while going through a corkscrew section followed by a tube section which is a Long way across to the next sector.
"Oh snap! We're in the tubes, bro! This is like the Screw Drive at the amusement park!", Shazam noted as Freddie corrected him.
"Worse than Screw Drive! We're in a long tube area suspended over an open ocean!", Freddie said as the radar blurted something out.
"Warning! Warning! Black Manta is approaching!"
"That pirate again! We gotta lose him and fast! Hang on tight, guys!", Hunter warned as he boosted away from the raging pirate giving chase.
"You won't get away from me that easily, blue brat! I'll make sure of it!", Black Manta yelled as he boosted the vehicle through the tubes running on dash pads as he tries to overtake Hunter only to miss the sideswipe as the teen boosted again avoiding a potential wipeout. Horace and Stan gave chase to Aquaman and Mera who is in 3rd and 4th respectively for the Atlanteans. Horace noticed a random racer trying to overtake him as the vehicle's smoking. Horace took the opportunity and spin attack the racer taking him out of the race.
"Broken down!"
BOOOM!
"Retired!", the announcer noted as the racer wiped out was being teleported out of the race area. Horace smirked as he gave chase to the Atlanteans.
"Serves that loser right. Four racers out of 30 wiped out thanks to us! Now for Fish Boy and Sea Queen to join them making it six machines down. Bahahahaha!", Horace said as he tries to catch up to Aquaman but the Atlantean hits the dash pad making Horace frustrated as he missed it. Stan on the other hand was behind mera but the queen blocks the poacher's attempts to overtake her as she spots Manta after Hunter's team.
"Black Manta's after the blue fellow. I got to warn Arthur about this.", Mera said in worry as she phoned Aquaman.
"Arthur, Black Manta is after the blue hero and his comrades! We need to lose Manta's henchmen to help out.", Mera said as Aquaman agreed.
"I agree. The blue lad needs our help in keeping Manta at bay. Try to lose Stan while I do the same with Horace! Then we'll box Manta in giving our allies time to lead the race.
", Aquaman said as Mera nodded. The Atlanteans boosted away from the poachers as Stan cried out in panic.
"Horace, those fish people are getting away!"
"Well don't just whine about it! Let's get them! Come on!", Horace yelled as the two poachers catch up to the top 4 racers.
"Look at Hunter go In that vehicle! It's so cool!", Kara noted in amazement as she watched the giant videoboard where Hunter is navigating through the tubes with Black Manta on his tail. Tatsu spots the pirate behind the boys chasing them with the Atlanteans hot on Manta's trail.
"And Black Manta is not too far behind.", Tatsu observed as Jessica saw the Atlanteans chasing after Manta.
"Manta's on the ropes though. He's busy chasing after Hunter while being chased himself by Aquaman and the queen. But the boys and the Atlanteans mustn't put their guards down yet. Manta and his henchmen are up to something.", the Green lantern noted as Babs nodded.
"Yes and Horace just wiped the fourth machine out of the race. Who knows what would happen if he and that other poacher catch up to Hunter or the royals.", Babs said in worry as Kara scoffs.
"KEH! Hunter and the guys from the sea got this in the bag. We're halfway in this race and the fact they have to cross two more checkpoints and make it back here in one piece should matter.", Kara said nonchalantly as Zee countered.
"But Hunter has to be careful or else he'll be out of the race. Black Manta will stop at nothing to take him and his adversaries Out.", Zee said as Karen nodded.
"Yeah but we got to be positive about Hunter making this race out alive and the same for the Atlantean royals. Zee, I understand you feel worried for the boys' safety but at the same time we gotta have some hope.", Karen said as Diana nodded.
"Karen's right, Zee. Hunter's out there being careful on the track. He wants us to believe that he can do this as much as he does with us when we're in tougher times. Let's cheer on our friends and believe they can finish this race!", Diana said as Zee felt assured with the group cheering Hunter on as his team is maintains the lead.
"Go for it, hunter. Don't you give up on us!", Zee thought as she gazed at the videoboard.
======
The racers made it out of the first long tube section as they go through a curved road with a dash pad in the middle at the exit. Hunter took advantage of this and ran over the pad giving him a speed boost as Manta was still on his tail.
"That pirate doesn't know when to give up. Does he?", Lobo snorted as Hunter nodded.
"Couldn't agree more, dude. Black Manta's getting all the way desperate. Thankfully the Atlanteans are behind Manta so that way we can focus On what's ahead.", Hunter noted as Shazam saw the entrance to the second tube road.
"And we're on our second tube, dawg! How many tubes are there?", Shazam wondered as Freddie checked the screen.
"According to the track layout, the second checkpoint has three very long tubes to go through in order to cross the next checkpoint. And we're approaching the second tube right now.", Freddie said as Shazam gulped.
"Come on, geek. We got this in the bag! Manta's got the Atlanteans on his sorry butt and all we gotta do is race to win! Simple as that!", Lobo encouraged as the boys led the pack inside the second tube area. The racers sped through the long tubing and did the same with the last one until they encountered a straightaway with a dash pad leading to a large jump off to the next checkpoint. Hunter's eyes bug out as the straightaway was almost over.
"Wow. We gotta make this to the next checkpoint down below.", Hunter noted as Shazam sees the upcoming dash pad.
"There it goes, dude! Hurry!", Shazam warned but before Hunter can get there, Black Manta rams the boys into the guard rail losing a lot of speed in the process.
"Hahahaha! See if you can make it now, impudent brat! You'll never make the jump now!", Manta said cackling as he boosted away taking the lead. Hunter's machine got banged up as Hunter grew frustrated.
"Damn! Our machine's energy is at 33%! I'm not sure if my speed is enough to clear a short window.", Hunter said as Lobo encouraged him.
"Just use your boosters to make it! You can do it, bro! That dirtbag's getting under our skin.", Lobo said as Shazam nodded.
"Lobo's right, man. We've been in worse scrapes than this. Time to beat the odds!", Shazam said as Hunter agreed.
"You're right. If I push the machine to the boost pad and boost in the air, I'll make the clearing. Let's do it!", Hunter said as he puts his idea into action as the teens were in 10th place right now. They successfully made It to the next section where the third checkpoint awaits them.
"There it goes! Dead ahead!", Freddie said as Hunter crossed the third checkpoint.
"Third checkpoint!", the announcer noted as all 26 racers made it across. Black Manta smirked to himself as he maintains the lead.
"Good riddance to those snot nosed brats. They probably never made it through the third checkpoint and became fish food. Now to deal with my longtime nemesis and his queen. Then Atlantis will suffer witnessing their monarchs' defeat and their treasures belonging to me!", Manta cackled as he piloted the vehicle through a giant incline with Aquaman and Mera trying to box Manta in but the pirate knew what they were planning to do. He sideswipes Mera into the guardrail as Arthur grew furious.
"What's the matter, Fish Boy? Your sea queen got hurt by me? Well, I'll wipe you out while my henchmen take good care of her.", Manta noted as Horace and Stan sees Mera recover from the bump to the guardrail and chase after her.
The sea chick is easy pickings! Oh boy!", Stan grinned as Horace buzzed in.
"C'mon, you moron! After her and make sure you wipe her out this time!", Horace hissed as Stan smirks.
"Don't worry, Horace. That fish girl isn't getting away from us this time. And the fish King isn't getting away from the boss neither. And when all of those losers are out Of the way, we'll be swimmin' in riches!", Stan cackled as Horace groaned.
"Just shut up and take care of that sea chick already!", Horace yelled as the Poachers try to give chase as neither poachers or Manta realize that Hunter is not too far behind.
"Those idiots! They're after the Atlantean queen! We gotta make it through this giant incline and go after her!", Hunter noted as Lobo saw some pit panels.
"Quick, man! There's some Pit panels! Let's recover our ride and get moving!", Lobo said as Hunter smirked.
"Don't worry. I got it covered.", the air hero ran through the pit panels recovering energy and boosted to catch up with the 9 other racers. The air hero went down the large downhill area building up some speed. To make it more intense, dash pads were Littered on the track as he ran through a couple sending the boys closer to the racers.
"Haaa! You can't run from us now, queenie! We'll usurp you and Fish Boy in this race!", Horace boasted as he tries to sideswipes Mera but the queen boosted on the dash pad to get away.
"Damn! Stan, get her! She's catching up to Fish Boy! Hurry up!", Horace chorused as Stan had a scared look On his face seeing Hunter On the radar passing a few racers.
"Horace, we got company.", Stan whimpered as Horace scoffs.
"What are you talking about? It's just random racers trying to distract us!"
SLAM!
"WHOA! Who did it?!", Horace yelled as his machine is in critical health as Hunter sideswiped him. Horace glared at Hunter's vehicle and yelled.
'It's that snot nosed blue brat! After him! My machine's smoking!", Horace yelled as Stan growls.
"Right behind you, man! NO little Punk's makin' a fool outta me!", Stan boosted after Hunter as Horace carefully whizzed behind Stan as his vehicle is still smoking.
"Yes! We're catching up to Manta this time! Now to take back the lead!", Hunter cheered as Freddie paled seeing Stan driving beside them ready to wipe them out.
"Oh no! Stan's back! He's ready to get us for sure!", Freddie said In worry.
"You punks aren't goin' anywhere, bub! Especially taking a powerful champion's belt!", Stan radioed in as Hunter grew intrigued.
"A powerful champion's belt?", Hunter wondered as Stan continued to rant.
"With the Boss winning the Grand Prix, he'll be dual champion of both the underground and the surface worlds! It's all for the Ocean Master! Bahahahahahaha!", Stan laughed as Shazam raised an eyebrow.
"Ocean Master? What's this dude talking about?"
"Whatever those clowns are doing with those two belts, it's not good.", Hunter said as Lobo nodded.
"That gives us a reason to keep that pirate maniac from winning that champion's belt.", Lobo bellowed as Hunter had determination to win the race or at least keep Manta from doing so. While he tries to negotiate turns while keeping Stan at bay, Hunter told Shazam to do an important task.
"Billy, use your commlink to phone in Diana. It's important."
"You're talking to your GF at a time like this?"
"Just hurry and do so. We have a clue on why Manta is here to begin with.", Hunter said as Shazam understood what he needed to do.
=========
The commlink to Diana's rang as the Team raised an eyebrow. Karen grew concerned as she was the first to speak.
"Di, is it Hunter? Is he okay?"
"No. It's Billy. It must be urgent.", Diana pushed the button as she answered the call.
"Hello? Billy, is everything okay? Is Hunter all right?"
"Your boyfriend's okay, Di. It's just that we just that one of Black Manta's cronies sang like a canary talking about a powerful champion's belt from this Island.", Billy noted as Diana raised an eyebrow.
"A powerful champion's belt? What do you mean?"
"Stan blabbed it to us when he tried to wipe us out. And that's not all, Black Manta is the underground champion of the Grand Prix circuit and his plans were to win this Grand Prix and become dual champion for somebody called the Ocean Master. I'm not sure what he's going to do with both belts but with him saying powerful is not good at all,Di.", Shazam said as Zee gasped.
"I think I saw a strange belt around Black Manta's waist! It must be the underground belt and that floating Dolphin Keys belt is in fact the powerful belt everyone's striving for.", Zee said as Shazam nodded.
"Exactly. But whatever it is, we can't let Black Manta win that champion's belt. And it may be a reason why Aquaman and the queen were entering the Grand Prix to begin with. To keep that pirate from doing so. Judging by their rivalry on the track, it's noted that the Atlanteans and the pirate crumbums have long time beef with each Other.", Shazam explained as Diana took in everything that has been said.
"I believe Garth knows all about this. We'll see what he has to say about the belts. You keep on racing and prevent Black Manta from winning while we get to the bottom of this.", Diana ordered as Shazam agreed as they broke contact. As soon as Shazam hung up, Diana looked to Babs for assistance.
"Babs, call Garth on your commlink immediately. We have questions to ask him.", Diana ordered as Babs dialed the number.
"You got It, DI.", Babs said as the girls try to get to the bottom of this.
======
"YEAH! The final checkpoint!", the announcer called out the last checkpoint crossed as Black Manta, Stan, Horace, Aquaman, Mera and Hunter are at the front while 20 others race behind them.
"This is it, guys! The finish Line is the same place as the starting line. We gotta take out Manta and his goons out of the race if we want a chance.", Hunter noted as Freddie eyed Mera battling Stan for 3rd as the poacher tries to block.
"Looks Like Stan's messing with the queen again., Freddie said as Shazam spotted Aquaman tied up with Horace.
"And the sea king Is too tied up with Horace to save his girl from Stan.", Shazam said as the racers zipped through a tunnel drifting through curves as Mera tries to fight back against Stan. Hunter spotted a bomb up ahead as he got an idea.
"I think I got it, guys. We'll lure Stan to the bomb to wipe him out. Look at his machine.", Hunter said as Lobo spotted smoke coming out of the back of Stan's vehicle.
"I see it, buddy! The queen's fighting back herself but she needs a boost otherwise she'll go down with that clown.", Lobo noted as Freddie agreed.
"All we gotta do is boost towards Mera and race beside stan to have him focus on us. Then we fake out to the very right away from the bomb giving Mera the opportunity to sideswipe him.", Freddie explained the plan as Hunter smiled at the idea.
"That's perfect! Let's do It!", Hunter said as the boys executed the plan as Stan and Mera noticed them.
"It's those brats! I thought I'd shook you guys off!"
"Well you thought wrong, beefcake! We surrender this time.", Hunter said as Shazam frowned but Lobo and Freddie reminded the wiz hero to play along.
"Surrender? That's what I Like to hear. And sending you guys right into the bomb will send you guys into pieces! Bwahahahahaha!", Stan cackled as Hunter readies to fake out. As soon as Stan gets ready to sideswipe the boys in the path of the bomb, Lobo yelled.
"Now, Hunts!Now!"
"Psych!", Hunter said as he faked out boosting away to the far right as Stan grew shocked.
"What the- That kid outsmarted me! Can this get any worse?", Stan jinxed as Mera narrowed her eyes and sideswiped Stan right into the bomb''s path as she boosted away to catch up.
"Oh no! I'm done for! WAAAAAA!"
BOOM!
"Broken down! Retired!", the announcer said as Stan was wiped out from the race as Mera smiled internally thanking the teens for helping her out. Stan was transported to the stands as his machine's parts went up in flames.
"Stan! Those rotten kids will pay for what they did to him! Now to wipe them all out after Aquaman is dealt with!", Horace growled as he hit a bomb damaging his vehicle.
"Oh no! My vehicle's energy is failing! Boss! I'm afraid I'm going down too!"
"Don't quit on me now! There's some pit panels up ahead! Hurry and run through them!", Black Manta barked as Horace hurries through the pit panels with the other racers going In. Hunter noticed a path up ahead that lacks guardrails.
"Oh crap! Another section before the tunnel leading to the finish Line. There's no guardrails to help us now.", Hunter noted as Shazam had an idea.
"Not If we aid Aquaman in knocking Horace right into the water.", Shazam said as Hunter agreed.
"Yeah. That's what we'll do. I have great reflexes not to go off course. C'mon, boys. This is our last chance to stop Manta.", Hunter said with determination as he weaved through the tough pathway as Horace grew frustrated as Aquaman and Mera boosted carefully away from him. Horace spots Hunter and gets ready to knock him off course.
"That's it, blue wretch! You'll be swimming with the fishes! Take this!"
"No way! Fat chance!", Hunter dodged a sideswipe and noticed Horace getting reckless as Hunter found a window to knock him out. The air hero rammed Horace off the track and yelled in triumph.
"Swim!", Hunter smirked as Horace screamed.
"NOOOOO! Forgive me, Boss!"
"Off course! Retired!", the announcer yelled out as Horace got transported out of the machine as It exploded right Into the ocean. Now it was Black Manta in trouble now as the heroes were right on his tail. The pirate growled as he looks back at them.
"Those fools! They won't get their hands on the champion's belt! Time to take it up a notch!", Manta boosted but his energy was at Low count as Aquaman spin attacks the Pirate's vehicle sending it spinning towards Hunter's as the air hero smirked.
"Time to kiss your championship hopes goodbye, Manta! Take this!", Hunter rammed Manta right into a bomb propelling the craft forward out of the tunnel and onto the road with fans noticing Black Manta skidding as Hunter boosted past the Atlanteans in 1st place going towards the finish Line.
"Broken down!"
"Dammit! I was so close in getting that belt! AuG!", Black Manta shouted as he got propelled out of the vehicle and falling onto the concrete metal road flat on his face as he watched his machine blow up in flames.
"Retired!", the announcer yelled as Black Manta watched helplessly as the top 5 finishers were on the board.
"FINISH! All right, 1st Place!", the announcer said as Hunter crossed the line as Fire and Ice waved the flag.
"Yes! We did it! We won the Grand Prix! I knew we could do it!", Shazam said as the four boys opened the canopy and waved to the crowd as the top 3 vehicles parked on the giant podiums as Hunter's team stood on the top one while Aquaman and Mera on 2nd and 3rd place podiums respectively. Diana and the others cheered as the boys are champions.
"Great Zeus! The guys won the race! And Manta is defeated!", Diana said as Zee squealed in joy with the other Superhero Girls beamed as confetti littered the raceway. Doris, Pam and Harley smirked watching the boys pose for pictures as the announcer introduced a woman who is brown skinned with a zebra printed swimsuit sporting an amulet around her neck. She held the prized champion's belt as the green haired woman being Fire and a icy white haired woman Ice followed her.
"And to present the champion's belt, Mari McCabe, Beatrice Bonilla del Costa, Tora Olafsdotter and Vanessa Tua!", the announcer said as the last woman was brown skinned and had a curvaceous figure with long hair and brown eyes. The first three ladies eyed the four boys in their hero forms and wasn't shocked but intrigued deep down. They handed Hunter handed the belt to him as the girls kissed the racers in tradition.
"Whoa. We're like your best fans ever! I gotta say you four are complete hotties!", Shazam said as Mari smirked.
"So we have four admirers. And you in the blue outfit must be Captain Hurricane.", Mari said as Hunter grinned.
"The one and only. We're total badass superheroes.", Hunter said as Lobo grinned.
"Yeah. And I'm dubbed Lobo. L as in lacerate—"
"No need for long inntros, no? Since you guys won the Grand Prix, we can talk more over at the VIP section of the party tomorrow. By the way, the three of us have powers too.", Fire said as Freddie smirked.
"You don't say?", he said as Ice nodded.
"Ja. We have superpowers but let's explain it over at the party tomorrow.", Ice said as Hunter nodded.
"Very well. Say, you in the blue swimsuit. You must be kind of shy. ", Hunter noted to Vanessa as she blushed.
"O-Oh. Sorry. I haven't seen you here before.", she said as Lobo grinned.
"It's all good. We cool peeps. Lookin' forward to this shindig tomorrow.", Lobo said as the group posed for pictures. Doris glared at Hurricane and huffed.
"Hunter and that superhero are just alike when it comes to women! I swear that everywhere he goes, he gets girls. I'll show those hussies what a real woman is.", Doris grumbled as Pam shook her head.
"Doris, don't even start trouble with the supermodels. Besides, they're in college age! There's no way Hunter or Hurricane can date an older woman.", Pam said nonchalantly. Harley giggled as she pointed to Horace and Stan getting mugged buy the wiped Out racers they screwed over.
"You girls gotta see this! A group of racers are mugging the other ones! It's awesome!", Harley said as Pam gasped while Doris grinned running over the fence to beat up Horace and Stan.
"Doris! Get back here!", Pam yelled but the ginger giant didn't listen as she punched Horace's teeth down his throat. Beavis and Butthead gave Stan a wedgie and placed him in the trashcan.
"What a wuss. Huh-huh-huh-huh!"
"Yeah, dude! Heh-heh-heh-heh! We could've scored with those four chicks up there! Heh-heh!", Beavis said to Butthead as they kicked the trashcan over with Stan still inside it. Doris and the other racers tied Horace up and mugged on him some more. Diana and Karen grew appalled while Kara grew hyped.
"Hahahahaha! That's what those poachers get! Break their jaws, Doris!", Kara cheered as the girls glared.
"Are you nuts? Someone needs to stop that before those two Poachers go to jail with their jaws wired shut.", Zee protested as Kara tried to join in on the mugging but Diana frowned.
"Kara, get back now.", Diana commanded as Kara groaned. Suddenly, a figure coming out of the ocean and grabbed Black Manta by the neck as everyone gasped except for Aquaman and Mera.
"Black Manta, you failed me in your mission! You good-for-nothing!", the figure looked to be an Atlantean spoke coldly as Manta begged for mercy.
"Forgive me, Lord Orm! I was close to getting that champion's belt for you and I would've done it too if it weren't for those meddling kids holding the belt! Look for yourself!", Black Manta pointed to Captain Hurricane with the belt who glared at the mysterious figure.
"It doesn't matter. You should've won the Grand Prix for me. You good-for-nothing!", Lord Orm used his waterkinesis to send Manta flying across the road.
"Forgive me, Lord Orm! AAAAH!", once Manta fell unconscious, Aquaman glared at his rival from Atlantis. The lord of Atlantis smiled evilly at Arthur and Mera.
"well if it isn't my half-brother and his wife.", Orm said as Hurricane raised an eyebrow.
"Half-brother?", Hunter said as Aquaman nodded.
"Yes. Orm is my half-brother. The lord of Atlantis who wanted to become King of the Seven Seas.", Aquaman said as Orm nodded.
"Correct, brother. Educating this surface dweller on my profession who obtained what should be MINE! Along with your trident!"", Orm yelled as Hunter and the heroes glared at the Atlantean tyrant.
"I assume you're the Ocean Master Manta and his goons blabbed about. And don't lie to me for I heard you want two of those belts! So explain to me what's so important about those belts anyway?", Hunter shouted as Mera sadly told Hunter.
"He hates the surface dwellers and their ways like yours. He waged war between our people and the surface dwellers. Ever since Arthur became King Of The Seven Seas with this trident as proof. Only the worthy ones can obtain the trident to become king and orm wasn't worthy of that task.", the queen said as Orm smirked.
"Precisely. As for those two belts. I realized that both were forged with light and shadow respectively. The young surface dweller holding the belt is the light. With both belts joined together, I'll use it's combined power to flood the whole planet eradicating all the surface dwellers and usurp my brother for the crown. I will rule a utopia where no pathetic land dweller exists!", Orm cackled as Diana and the girls gasped speechless while Hunter and Aquaman were angry.
"So you're trying to destroy the surface world, brother? So many lives will be Lost! So many innocents! I won't let you do this!", Aquaman bellowed as Orm smirked.
"IT's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for my new world! You should accept that.", Orm said as Hunter snarled.
"Not if I have anything to say about it, pal! I heard enough of what you're Planning to do and I got to say that you are insane and vile!", Hurricane yelled as Orm laughed as Shazam grew angry.
"What's so funny?"
"What's so funny is that a surface dweller dares to talk down on royalty in front Of him. And since your blue friend piloted the vehicle to victory, I assume you're the champion."
"Damn straight. If you know what's good for you, you'll leave the surface world alone and all this fighting will be avoided. Get out while you still can.", Hunter said as Orm smirked.
"I'm not going anywhere. If you love your home of pathetic Landworms like you, why don't you race me for not only your life but everyone else's? If you don't, I'll Kill you and take that belt off your lifeless body and devastate the surface world!"
"You monster!", Karen silently cried out as Hunter angrily glared daggers. Aquaman and Mera didn't have a choice but to give Into his ultimatum.
"Okay, fine. You name the place. Your vehicle against mine! If I win, I win the underground Grand Prix belt. And you'll have to leave my surface world alone. Do we have a deal?", Hunter said as Orm smirked.
"Your terms are accepted. Meet me at the Trench hideout. We'll race there from there to the city of Atlantis. And don't forget to bring the champion's belt.", Orm said as Hunter nodded with determination. As soon as Orm left, Aquaman turned to Hunter with a concerned.
"Are you sure you want to do this? Orm is my brother and you don't need that burden put on you. I'm the King of Atlantis. I should protect my people and yours.", Aquaman tried to reason as Hunter nodded.
"I understand your concern but your brother wanted to face me in a race. If he finds Out you were present instead of me, the whole world will be finished. I can't stand here and watch those that I care about suffer at the hands of a tyrant. I'll pilot the Storm Eagle for one more race. Are you willing to assist me in this battle?", Hunter said as Arthur thought for a moment as Lobo, Shazam and Freddie were worried as did Mera but the Atlantean sighed.
"I'm sorry. He made his decision but I shall assist him on his quest.", Arthur said as Billy grew concerned.
"Dude, if anything happened to you. You wouldn't be seen again."
"I know. That's why I need to do this. No one should suffer and die under a tyrant who wishes to be selfish.", Hunter said as Billy understood.
"Billy, if anything happens to me, you're second-in-command over the Team. Got it? In fact, take care of the group while I deal with Orm.", Hurricane said as Billy grew alarm.
"Don't talk like you're not coming back alive!"
"Sorry. It's just that I need to grow up a little just this one time. I'm not going to run away from a fight. My brothers taught me that and now is the time to do it.", Hunter said as Billy grew stunned with the others.
"Whoa. That's deep, man.", Lobo said as the others see Aquaman and Mera enter their vehicles with Hunter piloting his as they head for the sea at the shore. Diana and the team grew sad watching Hurricane go to Atlantis but understood his reasons for doing so.
Lord Orm smiled wickedly as he piloted his vehicle that resembled a pod racer going back to Atlantis to face his foes in a showdown for the fate beyond Dolphin Keys.
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A/N: I must stop here as the next chapter will take place in the same day. This is a Captain Hurricane centric chapter where he faces off against the Oceanmaster for the fate of his land and loved Ones. Stay tuned for Chappy 24 for the death race. As always, LilMancub out and I'll see y'all in the next one.