Episode 3: Turbo Charged
"Man I love days like this!" I exclaimed as I took another swig from my can of Amp. I lay, knees arched, a top the hood of my Severus.
"Got that right, we get to hit Power Plant at night." Carter added, also sitting on the hood of his blinding white Katana to the left of me.
"Hell yea, there's nothin' like a good night race." I said raising my can toward him. Now that I think about it, that's probably the only thing Carter and I see eye to eye on.
"I just don't get why you two love night racing so much." Bonnie commented after she took another sip of her coffee, she was sitting on the work bench that was in front of our cars.
"Same reason why I don't understand how you can drink that stuff." I replied pointing to her mug.
"Don't knock it 'til you try it Konani." KR said from behind his Cyclone, no doubt tinkering with the engine again.
"I have, it tastes like crap, mixed in with shit, topped with crappier crap." I chuckled. I didn't even have to look over my right shoulder to know that KR shaking his head.
"Bonnie, toss me a 3 quarters." KR asked.
Bonnie twisted her head around searching the table for a required tool.
"Alright, here it comes." Bonnie said, I watched to wrench hit to top of KR's car, deflecting off the spoiler and landing somewhere outside of the garage. Carter and I howled in laughter. Bonnie perpetual smile sprouted into laughter as well.
"Wow, real nice guys, real nice." Raven said as he when to go retrieve the tool. That's when I heard it, that engine. I'd recognize it anywhere now. A Ryback Titan, vehicle of choice for the truck driver that's been plaguing me this season. What I didn't expect was for it to come barreling into our garage.
It all happened so fast...in fact I'm sure I'll never remember exactly was happened.
"OH FUCK!" Carter yelled, sliding off his car.
Bonnie screamed as the force of KR's Cyclone impacting the table threw her to the ground.
I wish I could say I faired better, but not is the case.
"Shit!" I screamed as I half dived, half fell to the ground. As the truck rear ended Raven's car it continued to slide into mine. The impact mushroomed the metal in our waste area, spraying the garage with frighteningly large scraps of steel and iron.
"Ahhhh!" I whimpered as a piece of metal cut my leg. I tried to grasp my wound but froze when I heard the most horrifying noise I've never actually heard heard, but just heard.
A gun shot.
I looked over to Bonnie who was trapped with me inside the box make of damaged vehicles. Her head was facing me, she was unconscious.
Another gun shot.
On my knees, I instinctively covered my head like an idiot, trying in vain to force back tears. Why was this happening? Why the fuck is this happening now?
"TORY!" I heard KR bark at someone.
"Heh heh, that you Raven?" said a heavily slurred female voice, followed by the sound of stumbling.
The sound of gun loading made me cower even more, but not without some bravery. Without looking up I grabbed Bonnie's limp form and spun us around trying, I guess, in some way to shield her from the assailant I was too afraid to identify.
"TORY!" KR barked again.
"WHAT THE FUCK RAVEN!" the female voice screamed, followed by another gun shot. The female voice and KR's voice grunted as I heard a large something hit the ground behind me. Then without warning Carter's Katana fired, there was a small screeching of tires followed by the crash of metal hitting metal.
"Tory, get a grip before you get us both killed." KR demanded.
At this point curiosity over took fear as I cautiously peaked around my shoulder.
I found KR straddling a woman I've never seen, holding a shotgun to her neck. The woman who was on her back had her arm out stretched, holding a pistol to KR's forehead. But unlike Raven's weapon, her gun was trembling. A little ways back I could see that Carter had used his Hanzo to push the Titan out of the way. He too was...pointing a gun at the woman...what the fuck, why does Carter have a gu-.
"Tory, please put your gun down." Raven almost begged.
Instead of a slurred response, the woman broke down. Her weapon clanked to the ground as her eyes erupted with tears.
"Why...I...I..I looveded hiiim!" the woman balled.
KR slid his shotgun away and stood up dusting himself off. Without turning he waved to Carter who nodded and put away his gun.
I came back to reality, "Bonnie, come on Bonnie wake up." I said as I patted her face. Her eye's fluttered before opening.
"Owwww, my head." she said clutching her forehead. A little wobbly she sat up. I gave her a rather desperate hug.
"Don't do that again, you scared me half to death." I said.
"I'll try, thanks for saving me." she smiled.
"Hey someone wanna fill us in." I said, directing my glare at KR.
"Yeah, hold on sec." KR replied
"Tory!" KR yelled, "Stop crying or God so help me I'll punch you in the same place I did when we last met!"
Tory crying subsided enough for her to give a somewhat of a confused look at KR, followed by swift kick to his crotch. KR winced in pain but came down slamming his knee into his attacker's own crotch. Without missing a beat they were both punching, kicking and biting as they rolled across the floor.
"Whoa, Whoa! Guys stop!" Bonnie yelled.
Their continued for good 15 seconds, and believe it or not KR was losing. He grunted in pain as his back slammed against the white Katana. Tory stepped in for a haymaker and missed horribly. Her momentum caused her to fall limp against Raven's body. He caught her before she could fall to the floor. Her head tipped to its side facing us, her mouth wide open, drooling. She was fast asleep.
"Fuck me." KR sighed as he slid to the ground, the sleeping woman still in his arms.
"Wow, that was the funniest fight I've ever seen." Carter said as he hopped over his car.
"Ah, what the hell just happened?" I asked.
"Oh, er...This is Tory." KR said nodding toward the woman who was now beginning to snore. I crept over to them but recoiled, her breath reeked of alcohol.
"I imagine she's horribly drunk." KR said.
I nodded.
"She only gets like this when she wins a race or has a really bad break up." KR informed.
"And you know this because?" I asked, trying to sound not to sound suspicious.
"We go way back, I met her when I first moved to America."
Something inside me flared. I looked down at Tory and it began to click. She was exceptionally beautiful, well minus the snoring and recently sustained injuries. She was tall, maybe even taller than KR. It was also painfully obvious she worked out. And oh fuck off, how did she keep her boobs that big? And that butt, she's like a white Kim Kardasian, with did I mention bigger boobs. How the fuck does that work?
"She may not look it, but I guarantee she's the best truck driver here." KR continued.
"Yeah if she doesn't have alcohol poisoning" Carter commented.
"Don't worry she's been worse." KR said cradling her as he stood.
"What are we supposed to do with her?" I quickly asked.
"Doesn't she have a garage she's supposed to report to?" Bonnie said.
"Yeah, our's" said a voice with a heavy New York accent. We all turned.
Sitting outside our garage sat three bright pink Ryback Firestorms, on the middle car sat a woman, legs crossed and dressed in the best casual wear sponsorship money could buy.
"Sarah." I growled.
"Cool your jets Tenma, we came here to tell you guys that you can keep 'er" Sarah said.
"Wait, you guys just can't-" Bonnie started to argue.
"Whatever." Firestorm driver sharply interrupted, "As of now the Ryback Angels are officially done with Tory Wheeler, that bimbo is your problem now."
Sarah hopped of the hood of her car and slid inside, all three Rybacks fled behind a wall of smoke and screeching tires.
We all looked at each other, then at Tory. Who of course was still asleep.
The awe of the clear night sky was only seconded by the wonderful sound of roaring engines. The moon was the biggest I'd ever seen in a while, too bad all the soon to come explosions are going to obscure it.
My hands flexed over the steering wheel and for the first time I shuddered. Recalling the events that happened the morning before, I found myself asking the same questions.
How could I have been so afraid, I risk my life...sorta, everyday racing in Second City, yet I still curled up like a baby at the first sign of real danger. Instead I had to be saved by KR, again. Fuck my life.
"Anyone we should be watching out for Bonnie?" KR voice filled my helmet, shaking me from my thoughts.
There was the sound of rustling papers, followed by Bonnie's response.
"Actually no, I don't want to sound uppity but I think you guys are the biggest names here."
"Wows that's kinda cool." Carter commented.
"She's not talking about you Carter." KR deadpanned.
"Shut up, let me at least feel important just for a second KR. We all can't have women falling for us left and right." Carter retorted.
KR made an audible noise but didn't speak. I anxiously readjusted myself in my seat; once again Carter's comment bothered me.
In front of us the dust began to kick up, the helicopter holding the starting light array dropped into view.
"Alright guys, play nice. I don't want anyone in a bad mood when we welcome our new bunk mate." Bonnie warned.
"Yeah, yeah Bon' I won't hurt 'em too bad." I scoffed.
KR was still quiet, but there was no time to worry about that, right babe? Let's do some work.
Event 1: Eliminator
Location: Power Plant
All 20 vehicles roared to life as they tore of the line. And I could have been more thrilled as I rocketed from current position into first place as came to the first corner. I slid beautifully thought the first turn, look back just in time to see someone misjudge said turn taking out two other cars with him.
I made sure to exit the next corner with as much speed as possible, flying through what I consider to be the sucky-est Power Play in the entire city. I think I speak for all drivers when I say: I hate this warehouse. I weaved through the now stationary obstacles as I flew out of the warehouse.
I peaked at the timer being projected by the "special" Eliminator T-Tube. "Special" as in laced with 15 pounds of C4.
95 seconds.
I looked in my rear view and was greeted by a mirror full of Cyclone special. KR's car swayed as it shifted gears, growling as it rode my bumper past the turbines.
87 seconds.
"Come on KR!" I taunted as we slid under the beam Power Play. He answered with a hardy slam, I grunted as my car slid against the left wall. All but ready to hit him back, I stopped when KR got rear ended by something else. I tried to look back at it but it pulled along Raven's Cyclone as we went three wide into the next hair pin.
"Who the hell is driving that car?" I said aloud. As the three vehicle drifted through the left hand corner, a gray Ryback Mohawk pulled ahead, it's back end hugging the right rail. It's tailpipes spat flames as it's white rims gleamed in the moon light.
When the S2's ref's give the okay to allow mods to your vehicles it became an unspoken rule throughout Second City to announce said mods by changing your rim's style and color. That and the fact that we're driving unlicensed, non production cars leaves the number of body upgrades at zero. I never really followed this aspect of the rule, but for some reason the rim color is always to be white, go figure.
The Mohawk's turbochargers unleashed an angry whistle as the car sailed past the first cooling tower Power Play. My car closed the gap as we approached the medium right hander, that's when I noticed KR was gone.
BOOMMM!...WAANNNNNNNNN! The mixture of concrete crumbling and sirens wailing shook my car. I grunted as my Severus grinded against the left wall. As I put my car back into gear I caught a glance of KR's Cyclone shooting out of still collapsing tower. How the fuck does he do that?
63 seconds.
"Tag, your it!" Carter laughed as his car scraped past mine, causing to sway again.
"You're still here?" I mocked, matching his car's line through the next turn. I waited until both Carter and I made it through the short cut before speaking again.
"You know who this guy is, I didn't even know you could get a Mohawk to move that fast."
"Fuck." was his only reply.
"Konani, It's Mason Sharp! Mason Sharp is driving the Mohawk." Bonnie exclaimed.
31 seconds.
"No way, that can't be." As I shot out of the 90 degree left turn I pulled ahead of Carter, making a b-line for the Mohawk. I didn't even need to get close to realize Bonnie was right.
On the back of the car sat a custom license plate bolted down by over sized nuts. It read "HAMMER/TIME".
"Ah crap it is The Hammer." I complained, drunken gun wielding truckers, returning Elite, what else could happen today.
A nearby beeping caught my attention...the sound was sudden and ominous given what I was just thinking. I looked down.
Yep, that was the C4 arming itself.
As I drifted the track's first corner, the timer began to flash a bright blood red as it counted down. 4, 3, 2, 1.
BOOM! The sound of an internally detonated car exploding was horrifyingly closer than I expected or wanted
20 seconds.
"Alright! Let's get some!" Carter yelled, his Hanzo pulled up to my rear bumper as we pulled up to warehouse.
And of course someone activated the Power Play. My car growled as I shifted up, narrowing slipping underneath the moving spools. To my surprise Carter kept up as we were forced to swerve again when the second half of the warehouse exploded.
The shockwaves forced both of us to go wide allowing an FX350 to slip past. Like hell I was gonna let that happen. As soon as we entered to turbine section, I blew them. I grinned as the car when wide, broad siding the left wall and exploding into a wave of metallic shards.
Another car behind us detonated behind us.
"Bonnie. Update please." I demanded as I slid into the easy left curve, beginning to set up for the next hair pin.
"12 cars are left." she informed.
"Damn, almost half the field was gone before to first elimination" Carter commented. But I was far too focused on the custom Mohawk ahead to hear anything else. We flew past pipeline Power Plays before another driver behind us activated them. My car rocketed ahead unaffected while Carter's Katana swayed from the shockwave. Tires squealed as our car's drifted the ideal line through the sharp left turn. We swung past what was left of the cooling tower when it reminded to me that KR's Cyclone was, once again, nowhere to be found. We drifted wide again when found the second cooling tower destroyed as well. Coming out of the left hand corner I activated the pipe explosion Power Play. I frowned as I watched the shockwaves affect the Mohawk ever so slightly as Mason opened the shortcut.
I held my breath as I followed, narrowly avoiding the door as it closed behind me. I drafted him through to the next corner. As we careened out of the last sharp left turn the ground began to rumble. I looked up, the falling tower Play Power/arguable route switcher had detonated. That would explain just about how far Raven was ahead. Our cars slid into the now open tunnel, the flames licked my Severus as I passed close to the outer wall.
"Watch yourself, they're 6 cars left." Bonnie announced as I entered warehouse, in less than 60 seconds I'll be in last place. Losing to KR I can agree with, but not to a former Elite, not today...tonight, whatever.
My car's growl echoed as I entered the turbine section, I waited until we hit the soft curve to slingshot out of the Mohawk's draft. I yanked the e-brake pitching my Cobretti around; sparks flew as the back of my car scraped against the Ryback's front fender. My ride slid deep and swung wide as I drifted under the falling beam Power Play while it activated. The generous torque of my vehicle gives me a wonderful exit speed. I checked my review and watched as Mason was forced to go way wide in order to avoid wrecking himself.
"Heh well I tryed, 5th place ain't too bad." Carter said, followed by a loud explosion. I looked back again, the momentum and angle from hairpin plus the explosive force of the C4 sent Carter's flaming Hanzo over the side railing. I swerved through the chicane formed by the remains of the boiler Power Plays.
"Keep it up Konani, you only need to hold him off for 40 more seconds." Bonnie's voice said.
Easier said than done. As I flew past the first detonated cooling tower the Mohawk was already barking on my ass.
15 seconds.
"Oh Fuck!" I yelled as I was forced to go wide around the wrecking ball Power Play. I grunted as my Severus complained from the shock waves. The Ryback passed me as we slid around the second cooling tower. The Cobretti Slipstream behind Mason shattered into flames as it caught the tail end of the wrecking ball.
Oh hell no, I'm not about to lose this. Okay Sharp, here's a little somethin' somethin' I learned from the Elite.
MY timing on the Power Play was perfect. The explosion slid the Mohawk just far enough left for me to dig in. I power slid into the back end of his Ryback with enough force to dent both our cars. Then, almost simultaneously, I braked as hard as I could. My tires screeched and my spoiler went vertical.
Little known fact, for safety reasons ("safety", funny I know) you can't activate a Power Play while you car is backwards, or more accurately the T-Tube is backwards. This of course includes shortcuts.
The fortified garage door showed no mercy as the back side of the heavily tuned Mohawk careened into it. My car was showered with sparks and flame as the vehicle exploded.
9 seconds.
I didn't even bother to start my car for there was not chance me catching KR. But technically I'm still going to get second place, and I beat a former Elite. In my book, that's a pretty good race.
My field of vision went blinding white just as the timer projected by the T-Tube flashed 0.
I instinctively recoiled at the sight of person who had freed me from the S.A.F.E., and much to my surprise she was looking sober again.
"Goddamn was I that fuckin' drunk?" Tory half asked, half stated, her voice had a very slight but noticeable drawl. She offered he hand to help me up, I hesitantly took it. I stood up and dusted myself off before taking a look around.
I was the last to be released from my S.A.F.E. foam, KR was sitting on one of the tables in the garage. Bonnie was next to him. Carter was-oh shit.
"Welcome back girl." Vixen said. What was she doing here? And with Raptor no less.
Parked where my Severus and Carter's Katana would normally be, sat two Elite S510's decorated in with Vixen and Raptor's respective custom paint jobs. Vixen stood again the driver's side door facing me while Raptor sat on top of his hood, helmet snug under his arm.
"I came by to see how Mr. Kamau was doing with his injury." Raptor said as he got up, "But seeing as he's just won the first race of the episode, I need not worry."
Without saying anything else he stepped in his S510 and fired the engine. He quickly backed out a sped away.
"Damn that kid needs to lighten up." Vixen said shaking her head. "I thought comin' to this garage, something interesting would happen. Guess not.
Vixen began to get into her car before stopping to say something else, "See you later, Raven." Her voice dipped into a seductive tone, I made no effort to hide my frown.
"Does this sort shit happen all the time around here?" Tory asked once Vixen's car had pulled away.
"Yeah, no thanks to you." KR said flatly.
"Don't even lie, fighten' me turned you on." Tory retorted.
Raven snarled, but Bonnie put a hand on his shoulder.
"Guys, stop it. Since Tory now officially part of this garage you need to learn how to get along." she said.
"Oh yah" I muttered, I kinda forgot about that.
KR got up, he walked right up to blonde, his face inches from hers. Wow, she was taller than him.
"If you endanger anyone in the garage again, I'll kill you myself." KR growled with and intensity that made me shiver.
Tory never even flinched, "Don't make promises you can't keep honey." she smirked.
They stared each other down for about 5 seconds before KR stormed away. Tory let out a viscous laugh.
"Ah man, that guy hasn't changed a bit." she said, then without any warning, she extended a hand to me.
"But seriously no hard feelin's, I know I can be a pretty bad drunk. I'm just fuckin' gald they'r guys like Raven that know how to handle someone who's gotten outta line."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." I replied shaking her hand. Maybe having Tory...around...is she checking me out?
She smiled a bit, "Yeah I guess you would know." she commented before giving Bonnie a pat on the head and leaving the garage.
"Er, what was that?" I asked.
"For once I'm not really sure." Bonnie replied
"Pssssst...hey, is she gone yet?" Carter's voice appeared from somewhere. Both Bonnie and I spun around to find Carter poking his head out of the entrance to our living quarters.
"Seriously Carter?"
"Yeah seriously Konani, she scares me." Carter shot back before handing Bonnie a sealed folder.
"Here's the background information you're legally obligated to have." Carter said.
I gave Bonnie a look.
"What? KR maybe okay with her but I don't like it when people burst into this garage guns blazing." Bonnie explained.
"Speaking of which, where did you get your gun." I asked Carter.
"What gun?" he tried to say nonchalantly, then he spun on his heel and ran. Typical.
"AHHHGGGG! What's that big shiny thing in the sky? It burns." Carter wailed.
"Yeah know is hot, don't keep reminding us." I said fanning myself. But I myself wanted to know what the hell was going on. It so fucking hot, I'm afraid to zip my racing suit all the way up for fear of blacking out. Even KR was, oohhh.
Next to me on his Cyclone, KR sat cross legged and shirtless. Has he always looked that good shirtless, granted I've never seen him shirtless. God look at that tan skin, those tight muscles dripping sweat, that sexy tattoo I can see all off now. It's a raven, how cliché, and yet...
"KONANI!" KR shouted
"Oh what? Sorry." I stammered out, brought back to reality.
"Damn I was calling you for like 5 minutes." KR frowned.
"Look over there, but try not to be so obvious." he said, tilting his head toward the back of the lineup.
What? I guess someone we should be looking out forBlue ELITE 440 Specialin this race. Wait, wait, back up.
"Is that was I think it is?" I asked.
"Yeah, look at the rims."
The car was a little ways back but I could see them shining in the sunlight, white rims.
"How's that possible." Why am I whispering?
"No idea." KR shrugged
"Hey, th'fuck'r you guys talk'n 'bout." Tory's voice nearly causes me to fall from my car's hood.
"Did you see that 440 Special." KR asked.
"Oh yeah, the blue one, umm who's driving that." She asked squinting in the car's direction.
"Hold on let me ask Bonnie." I said while digging the mic out of my helmet, KR did the same.
"Wait here, I'm gonna go find out." Tory said completely ignoring my suggestion.
"Tory wait, you can't just-" KR yelled, "And she's gone, damnit."
"Both of you are gonna love this, the 440's driver is Tommi Lyn." Bonnie said.
"And?" I pried.
"That's it, no age, background, nothing." Bonnie explained.
"She's probably pre-Elite." KR said.
"Huh?" Bonnie and I both asked.
"You were out when it happened last season Konani. But there was one driver that only appeared in only one race the entire season, and there was no info on them." KR replied.
"But then how you know?" Bonnie asked.
"She drove a modified Ryback Cyclone RS during the race." KR explained.
"The Cyclone Special, but the only other person recorded to have driven that car before you is the-"
"The Ghost." Bonnie said, finishing my sentence.
"Hey guys, guys!" Tory shouted jogging back to us.
"What did you find out?" KR said with a exaggerated sigh.
"She's just a fuckin' kid." Tory said.
"What?" I said.
"She can't be any more than what, 16, 17? She's real friendly though, no problem sayin' hi or anything." Tory continued.
"How's that 440 lookin'" KR asked.
Tory expression suddenly went from its usual happy go lucky to dead serious, like some had flipped some sort of switch.
"The wear on her slicks is off, and so the alignment on her front tires." Tory said.
"What do think?" KR asked
"All wheel drive train conversion. There's gauges to the fuckin' roof and the laptop inside was scanning T-tube data only."
"Output?"
"Not sure but whatever's under there is now twin turbo, they redesigned her hood to make room."
"Best guess?"
"Judgin' from the data streaming in idle some asshole got her on a leash. And if I had to guess, that 440 is easily putting out 750, 800 is pushin' it."
KR smiled a bit, "Good to know."
"But she is literally the last of your problems, Vulture Evans is here."
My hands froze as I started to reach for my helmet. Monroe "The Vulture" Evans, he wasn't on the god damn roster, what happened?
"How's that possible, are you sure?" I asked
"Konani, he drives the only Centaur in Second City, I'm pretty fuckin' sure." Tory shot back.
"Think of a game plan later guys, you have the lights in 60 seconds." Bonnie said.
I slipped into my Cobretti and put on my helmet as fast as I could. The wind began to swirl as the helicopter holding the starting lights lowered into view.
"Konani, you need to stay in front and stick close to the 440." KR advised.
"What about Evans?" I asked as I started my engine.
"Not sure, Vulture doesn't generally make a move until late in race anyway." Kr replied.
I shook my head as my hands flex over the steering wheel, whew this is gonna be a fun one babe. Not sure I wanna do this kinda work.
I reeved the Severus a few times.
Yeah babe of course I'm kidding.
Event 3: Race
Location: Canyon
The screeching of tires was deafening as 22 vehicles peeled off the line. Since I was starting in 6th place there was no way to avoid contact as we entered the tunnel. I tapped my brakes hard and hugged the inside wall as the rest of the field began to slide into the sharp right hand turn; slipping into first place As I exited the corner there was a sickening sound of metal against railing, I looked back just in time see Tory's Titan send an unsuspecting car into the canyon below.
"Fuck yea, I'm sure I made that guys day." Tory whooped.
As I few past the first rock slide Power Play I felt a rather pretentious bump by the 440 Special...Special? Ugh I cannot call it that. It slipped past me as our cars began to make the uphill climb to the dam. Damn that thing had some serious power. I pulled into its slip stream as the incline began to even off. I checked my rear views and found that Tory had managed to plow her way behind me. We pulled onto lower part of the dam when something happened. Not sure what but everything, I don't know, I...Bonnie had just yelled Route Switch into my ear and then...
The whole world shook as the sirens echoed off of everything around me, explosive cracks flew up the dam's wall as truck sized rocks began to fall...but I felt something. Something almost primal. It was like feeling some sort of high, I can't explain it. The canyon disappeared. The sun, the sky, all of it. It blurred away. My arms, my eyes, my legs. All moving by themselves. My Severus, it's torque pitched a beautiful angle behind the 440. The sound of Tory's Titan drafting me. Concrete, it fell in my vision and disappeared just as fast. Water sprayed my car.
Was this how Raven felt when he pushed his car?
My chest locked up, I don't even know if I was breathing. Something impacted my windshield, but I could feel it. For a few seconds I, I felt it. What did I feel? The millions of tons of water and rock falling behind me? The ground as it began to give way underneath my car? No, my tires, I could feel their grip on the road. The slipstream, I could feel it as it moved me closer to the 440. The engine, its roar as I red lined each shift. I felt alive. For a few seconds my Severus told me to do some work.
And just like that it was over.
Our vehicles spun as we made contact from the shock waves. As soon as I cleared the dam I slammed my brakes, but it wasn't enough. My car slammed into the Lyn's ride again, hard. We continued to slid until the outside rail of the next corner stopped us.
"HOLY SHIT THAT WAS FUCKING AWESOME!" Tory's voice screamed into my ear piece.
"We coulda fuckin' died back there. That right there, that some fuckin' drivin' for yo ass." Tory continued, clearly unable to contain herself.
I rolled my eyes as tried to catch my breath, I began to restart my stalled car. After the third crank it fired.
"My God Konani are you okay?" Bonnie frantically asked.
"Yeah I'm good, who triggered the route switch?" I asked as I put my car in gear.
"Vulture Evans honey, nobody else but." Tory answered for her.
"She's right. It was Monroe. He switched Canyon's route on the first lap." Bonnie said in disbelief.
I jumped at the sound of another massive engine restarting itself.
"C'mon Tenma, we can't let the junior Elite get the jump on us." Tory said as her truck lurched forward. For once Troy had the right idea, we sped away just as Tommi put her car in gear.
"KR, what's happening I asked." I asked as I began to make the climb toward the Bridge Power Play.
"Kinda busy, Vulture's playin' rough." KR voice was static-y then cut off. Monroe is being more aggressive than usual, and I bet I know why. I peered into my reviews and caught a glimpse of the 440 Special Special...440 Ultimate? Yeah, that sounds nicer. I caught a glimpse of the 440 Ultimate.
"That may have been some nice driving, but you guys are pretty far back." Bonnie commented.
"No problem Bunny, we got this." Tory replied.
"It's Bonnie." she corrected
"Whatever. Come on Hawaii, one car at a time." Tory yelled as her truck scraped past my car as we entered the next hairpin turn. Tommi activate the crane Power Play at the worst possible time. My car screamed as I was forced to go wide. The 440 passed me on the inside as I fought to keep my ride from touching the wall. I was barely able to avoid the remains of another Power Play as I swung the Severus around the next corner. There wasn't any other lethal action until we crossed the line and made it through the first shortcut. My car swayed as the rock slide Power Play detonated.
Fuck, somebody must have missed the short cut. But that wasn't about to be my problem. I swung out of the Ultimate's draft and ROCKS.
E-brake, downshift. I pretty sure my Severus was spiting flames of its own after that. But really, who's idea was to leave goddamn rocks in the middle of the fucking road.
The inside of the dam illuminated as someone's car exploded against the falling Power Play. Which hopefully means we're closer to the pack, maybe.
Bone jarring air time.
My Severus skids from the impact of hitting the unforgiving asphalt below. I tap the blue button on my steering wheel and watch as the transformers explode. My Severus and the 440 Ultimate slid from the shockwaves, Tory's Titan plows right through and into another car. My Cobretti sways as I shift up and pull beside Tommi as we speed past the flaming remains of a Nero.
As we come up to the tanker truck Power Play, it seems that two cars can fit in a Titan's slipstream.
"Shit, its all you now girl." Tory cursed, before she finished speaking the Titan's rear tires were painted with smoke as the Tory pulled its E-brake and slid out.
As the Titan turned a hard 180 it revealed a massive concert pipe beginning to lower and close away the short cut that was behind it.
All I could do was hold my breath and mirror the 440. I swung my car around, nearly touching the Tommi's ride as we slid underneath pipe and into the sharp right turn. Like bullets out of a barrel we shot from tunnel still side my side as we came to the last part of the bridge Power Play that luckily no one activated. We traded paint through the chicanes as approached the next Power Play which was already in motion. Flames and metal mushroomed outward from the sliding crane as someone ahead timed their drift horribly wrong. I tapped my brake as slipped behind Tommi not wanting to take a slower line as we bit into the hairpin's apex.
Trying to be a bit underhanded I began to bring the distance between My Severus and Tommi's 440 dangerously close as we approached the one of the canyon edges at the next turn. My mistake. This girl was clearly not an amateur. She brake drifted into the right hander broad siding my Cobretti and stopping any attempt at me nudging her off the ridge. She even had the gall to widen her drift enough for me to slip off the canyon edge myself. I tapped my brake bringing my vehicle from the brink as we continued downhill. I popped the track's last Power Play when we got close, it shook Tommi off her line just enough for me to get beside her again.
We flew across the Start/Finish and through the shortcut as Tommi opened it.
"Jesus!" I gasp as Tommi braked hard, for some unknown reason the still flaming remains of a wrecked car were tumbling along on right side of the shortcut's tunnel. Tires squealed and brakes glowed as the 440 Ultimate stabilized in my slipstream. I could feel the heat as we slid past the totaled car and out of the tunnel.
"Oh-uh." Bonnie suddenly said.
"Oh God, what now." I asked while dodging rocks and passing a pack of drivers fighting for an unknown position.
"KR's stalled inside the dam, Evans forced a misjudge." Bonnie explained.
Getting closer. My Severus growled as I flicked the right shift paddle. I inched ahead of the 440 Ultimate as we entered the dam. Someone behind us tried to nail Tommi and I with the falling Power Play but it was badly timed.
Our rev limiters bitched as our tires left the road for good one and a half seconds of hang time. That when I saw KR's Cyclone special, moving slower that usual I might add.
"Konani, I'm done here. No way in hell either of us are catching Monroe." KR said as his Cyclone suddenly braked hard.
"Haul some ass, I'll keep Lyn back for you." As soon as we past Raven his Ryback's rear tires light up. He pulled into the 440's slipstream as we slid to the next shortcut. Out of the tunnel we sped single file through the narrow gap caused by the last part of the bridge Power Play. Through the chicane I heard a bam, I looked back caught a full view of KR putting all the pressure he had left on Tommi Lyn as we careened into the left hairpin. I swung around into the next right hander passing a Cascade as it went too wide.
Last turn babe. Down shift. E-brake. Elegant drift. Beautiful Finish.