Whew! Finally finished episode 3 here! Sorry to keep you readers waiting! But I was away on holiday in Canada for over a week, so you'll have to forgive me! Actually, I may not be able to update frequently after half way through this month, coz I'll be back studying again then. But I'll do what I can to keep working through this original Loonatics Unleashed season of mine, coz I have loads of episode ideas.

Thank you all once again for reading my stories and for the really encouraging feedback!

Anyway, this third episode features a new villain, Afterburn, and a new Looney Tunes hero, Speedy Gonzales The 8th! Enjoy!

Episode 3: Lightspeed Chase

At an Acmetropolis bank, after closing hours, a sleek, dark gold race car pulls up by one side of the building. A small missile launcher emerges out from the vehicle's back boot and sends two small rockets hurtling at the bank's wall. They blow a large hole through it. The tinted window top of the car flips open and a masked man in a yellow and brown racing jumpsuit leaps out. He runs through the hole he has just blown through the side of the bank, and enters into a hallway at the end of which is the metal door to the main safe deposit chamber. With a glint in his visible dark green eyes (his mask covers his whole face except for two holes around his eyes) he makes his way to the safe chamber door. He pulls out a detonator device from a pocket and sticks it onto the metal safe door. He is about to activate it when a fiery red blur whizzes past him and he is knocked to the floor. He raises his head to see the blur whiz back past the safe door and swipe his detonator off from it. The fiery blur of motion comes to an abrupt stop to reveal Rev Runner casually standing with a fist to his hip and the detonator bouncing up and down from his other upturned palm.

Rev jests with the robber, 'I-presume-you-weren't-going-to-do-anything-good-with-this-were-you-mister…?'

The jumpsuited man gets to his feet. 'You can call me "Afterburn". Sorry, I'd love to stay and chat but I gotta fly now.'

Afterburn turns to make an escape but is slammed onto the floor for the second time by a white streak zipping toward him. This time both he and Rev Runner are taken by surprise as the white streak halts suddenly to reveal a brown mouse anthropomorph in a white and yellow body suit and wearing a rather large Mexican sombrero hat on his head.

'Hello senors!' the mouse greets the two in a cheery Mexican accent, 'Senor Afterburn, I am afraid I cannot allow you to go free. Not after blowing a large hole through the wall of this bank and trying to rob eet you see.'

Afterburn gets to his feet again, eyeing the two apparent speedsters on either side of him. 'You guys are pretty fast on yer feet! We should have a race sometime. See who's the fastest.'

Suddenly, roller-skating wheels pop out from underneath Afterburn's boots and small jets propellers appear beside his ankles. He swishes past the road runner and Mexican mouse and jumps into his waiting race car outside. The window top shuts over him and the car starts up. Rev and the Mexican mouse both race to catch him, but they end up zooming into each other and tripping each other up. They land in a dazed and defeated heap on the floor. Afterburn's race car rumbles down into the main street and with the aid of jet-powered engines, he speeds away, a lightning flash to the naked eye.

Rev picks himself up off of the mouse in a frustrated manner. 'Afterburn-made-a-clean-getaway!-You-were-in-my-way-and-just-let-that-road-rager-get-away!'

'Mee!' the Mexican mouse retorts angrily, 'You tripped yourself over mee and now you blame mee for your mistake! I was only 'elping you stop that veelain and I could've caught 'im if you hadn't run eento me!'

'What!-I-never-asked-you-for-your-help-in-the-first-place-buddy!-Who-told-you-to-interfere-with-my-business-huh!'

'Gee, you're preety stuck up for a big-time superheero aren't you Senor Rev Runner!'

Rev is fuming by now. 'Just-who-the-heck-are-you-anyway-bub!'

'Speedy Gonzales The 8th Senor Runner! Thee Fastest Mouse een all Acmee Meexico!' the Mexican mouse replies in annoyance.

The opening sequence starts here.

Later, at Loonatics' HQs, Rev vents his frustrations about Speedy Gonzales to his team mates.

'I-mean-who-does-that-'Acmee-Meexeecan'-mouse-think-he-is!-Butting-in-on-my-fight-like-that!-Just-because-he-thinks-he's-faster-than-me!'

'Rev!' Ace attempts to get the road runner's attention.

'I-had-Afterburn-right-where-wanted-him.-Then-'he'-comes-along-and-trips-me-up-and-lets-Afterburn-get-away!' Rev continues to vent.

'Rev!' Ace once again tries to get his attention.

'Then-he-has-the-nerve-to-say-that-it-was-my-fault!'

'REV!' Ace finally shouts at the complaining road runner.

Rev stops talking in surprise at Ace raising his voice.

'I think we've hoid enough about this Speedy Gonzales The 8th Rev!' Ace states firmly.

'Now how about giving us some more useful information about "Afterburn" instead,' adds Tech.

'If I didn't know any better I'd say Rev was a little bothered about having some competition on the sprinting front,' Duck comments to Slam next to him.

'Yadagraarubi,' Slam garbles in agreement.

Rev overhearing Duck's comment hastily snaps, 'Bothered!-I'm-not-bothered-about-that-snappy-show-off-mouse!'

'Sure you're not,' Lexi responds sarcastically.

Tech repeats his earlier request in questions, 'What else can you tell us about Afterburn's technology? And his motives?'

'Well-aside-from-robbing-banks-he-obviously-loves-to-drive-at-dangerous-speeds.-And-he's-got-an-impressive-race-car-with-in-built-missle-launchers-and-it's-engines-are-jet-powered!' Rev informs Tech.

Suddenly, Zadavia appears on the hologram-projector.

'Eeh, what's up Zadavia?' Ace queries.

'Trouble Ace! A speeding maniac is endangering civilians on the roads of North Acmetropolis!' Zadavia informs, 'He's heading toward the Northern Acmetropolis bank branch.'

'Sounds-like-Afterburn,' Rev deducts.

'You need to get there pronto and stop this daredevil driver before he commits a robbery and hurts someone! Zadavia out!'

Zadavia's image disappears and the Loonatics turn to face one another.

'So I guess we take the Zoomatrix cycles then?' Lexi asks.

'Actually, I have something else in mind which might be more up to the task of chasing a speed demon,' Tech teases.

The scene moves to a garage hanger which houses Tech's many vehicle creations. The Loonatics are gathered around one particular bright red car.

'Introducing my Turbo-Accelerator-7500!' Tech beams proudly. 'Perfectly designed for high-speed pursuit! This baby is streamlined to slide easily through speeding air currents; she has plutonium photon-powered engines and jet thrusters which allow her to reach velocities of over 7500 miles per hour; and of course she's fitted with all the essential extras such as double missile launchers, laser guns, programmed self-repair systems, oil slick dispensers, tyre-puncturing spike throwers etc etc!'

'Nice work again Tech!' Ace nods in impressed satisfaction at the coyote's handiwork. 'Let's take 'er for a spin then shall we?'

Soon the Loonatics are on the road in their new wheels. Tech is driving, Rev is sitting next to him at the front, Ace and Lexi are behind them and Slam and Duck are behind the bunnies. They approach the Northern Acmetropolis bank building just in time to spot Afterburn loading a final stash of quasarlinium bars into the boot of his dark gold race car.

'That's-him!-That's-Afterburn!' Rev instantly identifies.

Noticing the Loonatics, Afterburn jumps into his car and takes off.

'You're not getting away that easy!' Tech exclaims and he slams his foot down on the gas pedal and pursues him. As the Loonatics are in hot pursuit of Afterburn, Lexi draws their attention to a white streak rapidly passing their car and approaching Afterburn's race car at amazing speed.

'What in the world is that!' Lexi exclaims at the sight of the speeding white streak.

'Speedy Gonzales!' Rev grits through his teeth.

'Whoah! Look at him go!' Duck exclaims in amazement, 'He's nearly as fast as you Rev! Maybe faster!'

Rev growls silently at Duck's comment.

'YEEHAH!' Speedy calls out as he speeds along.

Speedy's accelerating form soon overtakes the Loonatics' automobile and keeps pace beside Afterburn's race car.

'Well, looks like we got ourselves a little race here!' Afterburn announces through a loudspeaker device in his car so that all can hear, 'Let's see who really is the fastest in town!'

With that, Afterburn's dark gold race car picks up even more speed and it zooms past Speedy Gonzales, leaving him and the Loonatics far behind in his wake. Speedy also picks up his speed and darts after the rapidly diminishing form of Afterburn's race car.

'Tech!-We're-losing-'em!' exclaims Rev in a panicky tone.

'Switching to hyper drive mode!' Tech informs as he twists a protruding handle around 180º to his left.

The Turbo-Accelerator-7500's jet thrusters flare up and the vehicle dashes ahead. At the back seats, Danger Duck and Slam Tasmanian are pushed back deeply into the cushioning of their seats by the sudden force of the car's acceleration, and their eyes enlarge as they nearly pop out of mallard's and devil's heads.

'EEP! Not so fast Tech!' Duck cries out in fright as his face is further flattened against his seat cushioning.

'BLAARABAAHH!' Slam cries out in fright too as he grips onto his seat belt tightly for dear life.

Afterburn looks into his rear-view mirror at the approaching forms of Speedy Gonzales The 8th and the Loonatics' vehicle. He swerves around a sharp street corner in an attempt to throw off his pursuers, but Speedy keeps close to the race car and Tech just manages to avoid swerving out of control as he turns the Turbo-Accelerator around the sharp corner. Soon the Turbo-Accelerator overtakes Speedy Gonzales and catches up right beside Afterburn's race car.

'Pull over Afterburn! Before you get someone or yourself killed!' Tech orders through his vehicle's loudspeaker.

In response, Afterburn expertly slams the side of his race car into the side of the Loonatics' Turbo-Accelerator, knocking it off course. The Loonatics scream as the Turbo-Accelerator is sent hurtling sideways and it swerves, out of control, in circles off the road, finally crashing backward into a wall. Afterburn and Speedy whiz right past them. The Loonatics slowly crawl out of the smouldering wreckage.

'Everyone still in one piece?' Ace asks his team.

Lexi gives herself a quick body check. 'All pieces present and accounted for here!' she replies.

'Err guys! A little-ugh!-help here please!' Duck calls from a squashed position behind a large inflated airbag, which is pushing his face against his seat uncomfortably.

Slam grabs Duck's waving arm and yanks him loose of the constricting airbag.

'My beautiful Turbo-Accelerator-7500! Just look what that maniac did to my baby!' Tech wails mournfully. 'It'll be a while before I get her up and running again!'

Rev clenches his fists and grits his teeth in frustration. 'I'm going after them!' he declares and whizzes away as quick as a flash.

'Rev! Wait!' Ace calls, but to no avail.

Rev soon catches up with Afterburn and Speedy Gonzales again. They are racing across a bridge and zigzagging dangerously in and out between cars.

Rev runs up to Speedy. 'Back-off-Speedy!-This-nutcase-is-mine!-He's-too-dangerous-for-you!'

'Maybe you 'aven't heeard Senor Runner, but I have quite a heroeec reputation back home in Acme Meexico too!' Speedy retorts, 'I've faced my faieer share of nasty veellains too y'know!'

'Well-this-ain't-Acme-Mexico-buddy!-It's-Acmetropolis!-And-us-Loonatics-protect-this-region.-We-don't-need-any-extra-help-from-outsiders-so-just-leave-me-alone-to-do-my-job-will-ya!'

Suddenly the small missile launcher from earlier emerges from Afterburn's race car's boot. It fires off two rockets at Speedy and Rev and they attempt to dodge reflexively, but the rockets hit the ground just in front of them. The small explosions send them flying backwards and they hit the ground hard.

'Those who lose focus are lost! See ya later losers!' Afterburn laughs as he speeds away out of sight.

Rev and Speedy slowly pick themselves up, holding their painful heads and groaning.

'Great! Hee got aweey!' Speedy mutters in annoyance.

'Yeah!-Thanks-to-you-'Hot-Shot'!' Rev fires at Speedy, 'You-were-distracting-me-and-Afterburn-took-advantage-of-that-opportunity!'

'What! You blaming mee again!' Speedy angrily replies, 'What ees your problem Senor Runner!'

'My-problem-is-you!'

Rev and Speedy glare daggers at one another and take a provocative step toward each other when out of the blue, two thin lasers hit the ground between them, causing them to jump back in surprise. They look up to see Ace, who had fired the warning shot, and the other Loonatics descending to the ground with their jetpacks on.

'Enough!' Ace shouts at them, 'You two 'Hot Rods' need some cooling-off time!'

'Thanks-a lot-Speedy!-Now-you've-just-got-me-in-trouble-as-well!-Swell!' Rev complains with vehemence at Speedy.

'You got yourseelf in trouble amigo!' Speedy retorts. 'I haven't done anything wrong heere! Other than try to stop that road menace!'

'You-think-you're-really-great-don't-ya-Speedy!-Well-let-me-tell-you-somethin'-pal!...'

'Quiet!' Ace barks at a surprised Speedy and Rev, pointing a finger at them both, 'As far as I can see, you're 'both' to blame for letting a dangerous speed-addicted criminal escape with no doubt a large amount of valuable quasarlinium!'

'Obviously too busy arguing with each other!' Lexi contributes in an unimpressed manner.

Rev and Speedy bow their heads in shame, then glance awkwardly at each other.

'Maybe I was a leettle impulsive to chase after Afterburn on my own. I diidn't really think whether I might be interfering wiith your job…' Speedy admits.

'No,' Rev sighs, 'I-'was'-acting-rather-like-a-jerk-to-you.-Blaming-you-for-everything-and-getting-mad-at-you-for-no-good-reason-and-all.-I-guess-I-was-feeling-a-little-competitive-toward-you-coz-I-really-don't-see-that-many-other-quicksters-around-alot.-I'm-sorry,-can-you-forgive-me?'

'Apology accepted amigo!' Speedy brightly chirps. 'And I'll help you and your amigos here in any way that you'd like me to in future!'

'Good to know Speedy!' Ace responds in a pleased manner, 'We could probably use a little extra help now to catch Afterburn.'

'So how are we gonna do that?' Lexi queries, 'The guy moves like lightning when he's in his race car!'

'Afterburn has the upper hand on the road. We need to find a way to disable his vehicle and get him out of it,' Tech declares, 'And I have a plan to do just that!'

Commercial break here.

On TV, a big race between Speedy Gonzales the 8th and Rev Runner is being broadcasted across Acmetropolis. A male sports reporter is commentating on the event.

'This is Chris Connor reporting at 'the' race of the century! The world's two fastest beings will be competing to earn the title of the fastest creature alive today! The fiery, road-burning, avian quickster of Acmetropolis' greatest superhero team the Loonatics, is to race against Acme Mexico's own super rodent accelerator. Yes viewers, it's the road runner Rev Runner versus the speeding mouse Speedy Gonzales The 8th! Needless to say, the atmosphere here at the race course is electric! Supporters of both Rev Runner and Speedy Gonzales have turned out in force to watch their heroes run! Rev and Speedy will be running across nearly half of Acmetropolis to reach the finish line over in the far Northern quadrant of the city! A challenge for normal runners, but not for super speeders like Rev Runner and Speedy Gonzales!'

Rev and Speedy walk up to the start line of their race course, waving at cheering fans on either side of them.

'You really think this plan ees going to work?' Speedy asks Rev in a low tone as they wave at fans.

'Absolutely!-My-pal-Tech-is-the-smartest-guy-ever!-His-ideas-rarely-fail!-And-this-plan-will-be-no-exception!-You'll-see!' Rev enthusiastically answers.

Rev raises his wrist communicator to his face and contacts Tech. 'Tech,-we're-about-to-start-any-minute-now.-You-and-the-others-know-what-to-do-right?'

Over toward the far North of Acmetropolis, Tech replies Rev through his wrist communicator. 'Don't worry Rev! We'll be ready and waiting for you, Speedy and our other expected 'guest' when you reach our position. Just keep us updated on your progress through the race course.'

'Will-do-Tech!-Rev-out!' Rev turns off his wrist communicator and readies himself to start the race.

'Racers take your positions!' shouts an official as he raises a gun toward the sky. 'On your marks, get set, GO!'

The gun goes off with a loud bang and Rev and Speedy dash off, leaving a smoke trail behind them.

'Eat my dust Senor Runner!' Speedy shouts in friendly competition to Rev.

'Dream-on-Speedy!' Rev shouts back with a grin.

Rev and Speedy run for a short while before suddenly, a familiar dark gold race car barges in between them.

'Move over fellas! Afterburn's gonna prove to the world that he's the fastest guy around!' Afterburn shouts at the pair.

Speedy and Rev look at each other and nod their heads in acknowledgement.

Rev speaks into his wrist communicator again. 'Tech!-Our-target's-taken-the-bait!-He's-here!-Get-ready!'

Over on Tech's side, 'Got'cha Rev! We're on standby!'

Tech contacts Ace and the other Loonatics. 'Guys, the target's been sighted! He's on his way! Get into your positions as I instructed and await your cues!'

'Right Tech! Just as you planned!' Ace confirms back.

Tech looks down at the road in front of him where a line of metal spikes lay across it.

'Alright Afterburn! This is payback for wrecking my Turbo-Accelerator-7500!' he says to himself.

He turns his head to his left side as he hears the distant sound of a roaring engine and thundering feet approaching. Quickly, he waves a hand signal at Duck 200 yards away to his right. Duck responds to him with a thumbs up. Tech turns back in anticipation to face the fast approaching forms of Rev, Speedy and Afterburn. Rev and Speedy leap over Tech's line of metal spikes and as Afterburn follows behind them, his car's tires are instantly punctured by Tech's road spikes.

'What the…?' Afterburn cries in surprise.

The damaged rubber of Afterburn's car's wheels peel away, leaving the bare metal underneath to scrape along the concrete road. Sparks fly from the metal wheels' screeching contact with the road surface. Afterburn cries out in alarm as the car jerks uncontrollably from side to side. Tech sends out a beam of his electromagnetic energy onto Afterburn's race car, and pulls his arms backward in a strained attempt to slow down the vehicle.

'Duck! Egg him now!' Tech bellows at the mallard some distance away.

Duck leaps into the air and tosses two tar eggs at Afterburn's front screen, effectively cutting off the mad driver's vision of his surroundings.

'I can't see!' Afterburn cries out as his screen goes black.

'We're up Lex!' Ace shouts to Lexi further up the road from Duck.

Ace and Lexi, from opposite sides of the road, fire their optic lasers and brain blasts respectively at Afterburn's screeching front metal wheels, knocking them right off the car completely. The dark gold race car's front bonnet slams down onto the road, and the whole vehicle screeches loudly as it scratches along the concrete surface.

'Your turn Slam!' Ace shouts to Slam just ahead of them.

'YABALAARUGAHH!' Slam shouts back in eager response.

As Afterburn's race car screeches to Slam's position, the Tasmanian devil leaps right in front of it and brings his giant fists down on the bonnet, crushing the car to a complete stop. The other Loonatics, including Rev and Speedy, run or fly to Slam's position just as a dazed Afterburn crawls out of his completely battered vehicle.

'Good work everyone!' Ace commends his team.

'Nobody off-roads Afterburn!' Afterburn cries in fury.

He suddenly stands and activates his jet-powered roller boots. He pushes past the gathered Loonatics to their surprise and attempts to make a speedy get away from them. Rev and Speedy briefly glance at one another and then both rush off after Afterburn. Afterburn looks behind himself at the Loonatics and smirks as he momentarily thinks he's escaped their clutches. He turns his face back in front of himself only to see Rev's and Speedy's fast approaching fists coming right at his face. Afterburn is knocked out cold and he falls to the ground at their feet.

'And that's a wrap!' Speedy triumphantly proclaims.

Later, Afterburn is lead into a police car with advanced-looking handcuffs around his hands, and he is bare-footed as his jet-powered boots have been removed. The Loonatics watch him as he glumly gets into the back of the police car.

'I don't think he'll be causing havoc on the roads again any time soon,' Lexi comments.

'Good! I don't think I could take another of Tech's wild drives around the city!' Duck exclaims in relief.

Tech glares in annoyance at the mallard.

'Well amigos, it's been fun! I'll have a lot to tell my family about my first meeting with the iinfamous Loonatics of Acmetropolis when I get back home to Acme Meexico!' Speedy says cheerfully, 'Especially about you Senor Runner! You'd be a hiit with the ladies back iin Acme Meexico! They love fast guys you see!'

'Thanks-Speedy!' Rev responds warmly, 'You're-an-okay-guy-actually.-I'm-sorry-I-was-hostile-to-you-to-start-with.'

'Ees okay Senor Runner! True friendship involves overcoming disagreements I always say. So are we…friends?' Speedy reaches out an open hand to Rev.

Rev smiles and shakes Speedy's hand firmly. 'Yes,-we're-friends-alright!'

'If you and your amigos ever need an eextra hand for some iimportant miission, give mee a call! And I'll come runnin', liiterally!'

'Much appreciated there Speedy,' Ace says in thanks and shaking Speedy's hand as well, 'But I bet you got yer hands full enough with protecting people in Acme Mexico.'

'That ees true Senor Bunny! But I think I can always make some time for frieends,' Speedy assures.

'Say-Speedy!-We-never-finished-our-race!-What-d'ya-say-we-complete-it-and-find-out-who-really-is-the-fastest-one-of-all?' Rev proposes with a gleam in his eyes.

'You're on amigo!' Speedy confidently replies.

Rev and Speedy bend down near to the ground, readying themselves to run off again.

Tech raises a hand above his head. 'On you marks, get set, GO!'

Tech's hand drops and Rev and Speedy take off at their super speeds once again, leaving a trail of thick smoke in their wake.

The Eeend of Episode 3!