Episode 8: Knife's Edge
Rain, rain, rain, it was soothing, but at the same time depressing. And for this instance, quite boring. It was the first day of episode eight, and the rain was coming down so hard that all the events had to be delayed indefinitely.
This apparently worked with KR's plans quite well because he requested a meeting of some sort inside what I swear is the world's largest parking garage.
I sat cross legged on the hold of my favorite Cobretti trying to coax the last few drops of Amp out of its can. Of the four people here and waiting, Monroe sat on his Centaur to the left on me, Carter on his Katana to the right.
As if on queue, Tommi Lyn's 440 drifted around the bend our cars where located around. Her car's supercharger growled as the engine backfired sending a flash of flames from the tailpipes. The puddles of water in the garage damped the wall of smoke that would have been left in her vehicle's wake.
With her driver side window down, she gave a very stereotypical point in the air and loud whoop as her car slide trough the 180 degree left turn and down the ramps again.
"That girl's been watching too much Fast and the Furious." I scoffed.
"Anybody know what set she's on?" Carter asked.
"3rd." Monroe replied shaking his head.
"Wow, when do you think we should tell her that new tires are going to come out of her pocket when she burn's through the week's quota." I said.
"Tch, I wouldn't be surprised if Elites got free tires." Carter responded with a bit of a scowl.
"I wouldn't be surprised either." I said matching his grimace.
"You both know she's not an Elite yet." Monroe said, defending Lyn a bit.
We both swirled our heads in his direction, and said "Shut up." simultaneously.
The massive African American man just shook his head and turned toward the sound of new vehicles approaching.
He instantly went stiff.
A blood red Hanzo FX350 sporting Chinese letting and Vegas Drift logos rolled around the corner followed by as green Hanzo Kanobo, and Elite GT12. Instead of slowing down and backing in like the other two vehicles, the FX350 driver revs her engine and burns into half a donut stopping parallel to Monroe's Centaur.
"What, where's KR, I thought we were late." Bonnie said as she stepped out Dingxiang's Kanobo and walked toward us, the Ying brother in tow.
"Nope, we'll been sitting here for a good 30 minutes." I replied.
Bonnie started to replied but stopped when Tommi's 440 Ultimate slide around the corner drowning every other sound with her own screeching tires and wailing engine.
Bonnie glanced on the ground where Lyn's car had left another smoldering line of burnt rubber.
"How long has she been doing that?" our crew chief asked to no one in particular.
"'bout 45 minutes, give or take." I answered as I began to stretch out over the front of my car.
Ghost made a point of standing in front of Carter's Katana before talking off her helmet.
Her head literally exploded with hair. It was like some sort of spiky, Asian afro. Complete with blonde dyed hair underneath. The only evident that there was a skull in there was the large pair of headphones that covered her ears before disappearing into a sea of hair.
My bad vibes about her disappeared with each bob of her head to the clearly audible music streaming from her headphones. Seriously? Gangster rap?
"What up Ghost, how's the arm?" Carter asked.
What's that supposed to OH MY FUCKING GOD SHE JUST PULLED HER ARM OFF.
The glass of my Cobretti's windshield squeaked as I recoiled in horror. Without even losing a beat she tossed her left arm to Carter.
"HOLY SHIT." I'd tried to hold it down but failed miserable.
"Your arm is, bionic?" Xingyuag half asked, half stated.
"Yep." the amputee's voice was a little high pitched, but very smooth.
"I'm so sorry." Bonnie said, she moved to put a hand on her shoulder, but stopped herself.
"If I have a dollar for every time I've heard that." Ghost said with a chuckle, "If anything he should be sorry." The Elite threw a thumb towards Carter.
"Was this your fault?" I hesitantly asked.
I'm sure Carter's response floored everyone as he began to comically stoke his chin with Ghost's arm.
"In a sense, I guess you could say that. You could also say I helped a little bit."
There were multiple looks a disgust and shock across the board, but it was Ghost who defended him.
"That was a long time ago, when I was still racing bikes, it's behind us now."
"Yeah," Carter added, "I'm just glad my parent's company could finance the research for this arm...hey Konani, catch!
I screamed as the arm flew towards me, I frantically clawed in the opposite direction of that motherfucking creepy arm.
Luckily Monroe was able to catch me before I slammed full body into the concrete below. Within seconds I was out of Monroe's arms and around Carter's neck.
"You asshole! You know that kinda shit freaks me out!"
"Whoa there girlie, let'm breathe." Brawn shouted with a laugh.
He gave the group a wave as he walked up, for whatever the reason it would seem that he had arrived here without his car.
"Well I'm sure he deserves it." he added as he light up a cigarette.
"And I;d be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it." Carter chuckled.
Matthews gave an "oof" as I jabbed him the chest before going to lean against my car.
"And Ghost, put your arm back on, it's fuckin' weird." Brawn said, pointing his cigarette at her.
She rolled her eyes as Monroe handed it back to her, reattaching it with a bone chilling click.
"Did you see KR or Tory on your way over here?" Bonnie asked Brawn with a worried smile.
"Ol' Rage, and Wheeler? Can't say that I did." he replied.
"Okay, so does anyone even know why we're here?" Unlike his sister, Dingxiang's voice revealed almost no accent.
Brawn's face went dark, "I have an idea." he grumbled before the sound of Lyn's 440 began to echo through the structure again.
"Oh fuck." Xingyuag called before vaulting over her Hanzo and Monroe's Cobretti.
"Wha-?" Everyone looked up at the same time, then anyone who was drift savvy hit the deck.
The distinct smell and sound of overheated tires accompanied by a muscle car piloted by a hyper active adolescent girl slammed in to outside wall of the corner with a horrendous bang.
I tried to get a lock on Tommi but the entire area was engulfed in smoke.
"Well, that was a little frightening." Bonnie commented as she stood and dusted herself off," You aright over there Tommi!"
A fit of laughter came from the 440 followed by its door being kicked open, "I think I wore those tires out!" Lyn said as she stumbled away from the car.
"Holy shit that 440 can take a hit." Carter said before I slapped the back of his head and went to go help Lyn.
Tommi shrugged Bonnie and I off as we approached, "I'm fine guys, I'm too powerful to be defeated." she said before flashing a heroic pose.
I gave a small hug and a smile anyway, "You know we're not cleaning that up right?" I said as I gave her a little nudge.
"Eh..."she replied with a shrug.
We were half way to my car before the recognizable squeal of KR's Ryback echoed through the parking garage. His Cyclone slowed to a stop in front of the group, Tory's truck right behind it.
"Sorry I'm late, the dumb blonde didn't know were to go." KR said as he stepped out of his car.
"FUCK YOU ya little shit!" Tory barked back.
"I would really like to know why we're here." Xingyuag said once everyone had formed a lose circle in garage, either standing or sitting on a vehicle.
"Rage here thinks he's got enough dirt to peg my brother for stealin' cars." Brawn said flatly, a puff of smoke trailed out of his mouth as looked past everyone to KR.
Only the sound of rain falling around us filled the area, everyone stood trying to think of where this extreme accusation came from.
It was Tory who spoke first,"Er, I'm not sayin' I agree, but seriously? Who gives a fuck?"
We looked at her questioningly.
"Besides Tenma, Golden Boy, and training bra over here," she said motioning to me, Carter and Tommi, respectivly. "Who here hasn't gotten their hands a little dirty?"
"I have never done anything unsavory in my life." Xingyuag protested.
"I'd like to think I've been pretty-" Bonnie started before being cut off by Tory.
"Shut up, let me rephrase this." She walked towards KR. Looking down on the man that was inches shorter than her, she speared him with her finger.
"I know you." she growled, "I've known you long enough two know you could give two shit about some punk stealing cars, unless...
Tory stopped her own rant mid sentence. Her finger dropped as her face flashed with realization.
"Yeah, he's killing people over this." KR said, glaring back at her.
In a flash Tory produced her side arm and grabbing Raven roughly by the jacket. Even though her back was too me I could feel her anger, she was seething.
"THE FUCK KR? You dumb ass nigg-" she stopped herself before she could finish the slur.
"Do you know how fucked we might be right now!" she screamed in his face.
"Actually quite a bit lads."
Everyone whipped around to face the entrance to the parking garage's stair well. Leaning against the door frame as causal as he could be, the Elite's British Le Mans driver stood giving us the smuggest look I'd ever seen.
Before anyone could say anything the sound of car's approaching cut through the air. Before KR even had time to pull out his gun we had been cut off from our only two way of escape.
I squealed and covered my ears as Tory's pistol erupted.
Ohfuckohfuckohfuck, not this again!
I dove for the side of car as bullets began to flying all different directions, I wasn't sure from where or who, and I didn't much care.
I lay across the ground, hands over my head, tears streaming from my face. Waiting to die, again.
Nononononono, not again...BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The sheer force and close distance of each blast stopped everyone dead, as if someone had blown a whistle. A massive fucking whistle.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, let's just chill the fuck out for a second." said a voice I recognized.
It was Blitz.
Trembling I clawed my way up and surveyed the damage that had been done. I barely managed to get my eyes over my Cobretti before I heard Tory curse.
She was on her knee, blood flowing from the left arm she now clutched. Next to her crouched Raven, thankfully unscarred.
"Ay, AY! You know what this is! Get the fuck back Evans." Blitz barked. My eye swiveled toward Monroe who had managed to tackled the Hammer a misted the confusion.
Monroe glared at him before getting up, perhaps two slow for Blitz's liking.
I barely resisted the urge to scream as Blitz hip fired his weapon in Evan's general direction, the bullet missed as it blew out the driver side and back window to the Centaur.
The force of the shot was unreal, what kind of gun felt...I blinked at the rifle in the Elite's hand. A few gaming and movie reference skirted through my mind as I registered the shape.
Barrett .50 cal.
"Know if anyone doesn't," Blitz looked at Ghost with a sneer, "want to lose anymore limbs, in the middle where I can see you.
I slowly stood, doing as I was told, my eyes darted across the garage connecting with drivers past.
Blocking off the lower ramp was Maya and Maverick, each lining a pistol with one of my friend's heads. Behind them were two other thugs I didn't know, each with a machine gun. I recognized on to be an Uzi. Live Wire still stood near stair entrance holding his own hand gun with a magazine that went a ways past the grip.
Blocking us from the upper ramp was ever so arrogant Blitz, Mason Sharp, and Blitz's right hand, Rigg.
And Rigg, who is apparently taller, balder, and blacker than I remember. He stood dual welding revolvers with the utmost confidence. And random bit of fire arm knowledge to recall at this fucking moment, but I guess the African Canadian treated the revolvers like derringers because 4 more sat holsters around his torso.
"Pffft, you have got to be shitting me." Blitz said with a laugh after we had been corralled in a line.
"How is it you fuckers all came to know each other?" he asked as he strolled up, waving his large caliber rifle toward us in a hap hazard way.
"Go fuck yer-OUF!" Tory retort was cut short as Blitz jab her stomach with the Barrett's barrel.
"Shut the hell up, ya fuckn' skank. Went I need one of you assholes to talk, I'll let ya know." Blitz growled.
The Elite strolled around for minute before taking a seat on the hood of the FX350.
"You know, I'm not even fuckin' sure what to make of this, what'da think Trel?" Blitz asked aiming his question at Rigg.
The truck driver laugh for a second," I'll tell ya what dawg, this shit is fucked up."
"Tell me about it, how did I manage to get some of the best drivers in this damn city on my ass? And icing on the cake? How you motherfuckers even got to know each other."
The Hammer grumbled something, while Rigg just shrugged.
"Seriously, am I the only one who thinks this line up is funny?"
He pointed his gun as he spoke.
"The kid booster, a rich ass momma's boy, the little Elite that could, and you."
He stopped in front of Tory.
"Fuck I'm pretty sure I was one of you clients a while back, hard to forget a whore that angry at everything."
Oh fuck.
Her hair swept in front of her face as Tory looked down with a blank expression. Blitz raised an eye brow at this before his face creep into a twisted smile.
"No foolin'? No one knows she used to a be a hooker?" Blitz said, looking at one of us to answer.
While I'm not sure how many were aware, I know the one person Tory didn't want to know.
"Wait." Blitz's eyes narrowed. "Anyone know why they called this kid Kaged Rage?" he said pointed at KR.
Raven flinched and looked towards me.
"Or how much this guy pays in child support each month." Blitz said.
My mouth dropped as his rifle stopped in front of Carter.
"Oh, wait, here's a good one." he stopped in front of Bonnie.
I glanced at Bonnie and froze, the smile was there, but she wasn't.
"Anyone know how many men this one as wasted?"
"Bro, just stop." Brawn said with a sigh.
"Shut up, you're the only one I can't get rid of." Blitz shot back, then he pointed his rifle at Brawn, "But you aren't going anywhere either."
"In fact none of you are, damnit!" Blitz shouted.
"As much as I'd love to put a bullet in the back of each and everyone one of your little mothafuckin' heads, I fuckin' can't."
He walked over to KR's Cyclone and gave it a violent kick.
"Every single one of you bastards has a motherfucking connection I can't cut!" I could hear him pacing angrily behind us.
"And how many times have I tried to kill you cunts and make it look like an accident? You little fucks just won't die! Every single..."
Then it was quiet, the only thing I could hear was the labored breathing of those that had in some way been injured.
Tory grunted.
"Except for you..." Blitz chuckled, I could hear the barrel of his gun tap the back of her head.
"I highly doubt your whore of a mother will miss you." Blitz mocked.
Much to my surprise, Tory started laughing, a sinister laugh I'd heard before.
"Go ahead limp dick, you'd be doing these assholes a favor my killing me. You think they give a shit about the drunk truck driving whore?"
The Barret clinked as Blitz hesitated.
Tory turned around, a horrifyingly manic smile danced across her face as she press the barrel of the rifle against her forehead.
"KILL ME MOTHERFUCKER! No one here gains a god damn thing if you pull that fucking trigger! Ya little fucking bitch, fuckin' kill me!"
"Hey don't move ya little-" Rigg said.
With surprising speed Carter swatted the rifle away and stood in front of the Tory.
Damn it Carter this is not the time to be a hero.
"If you're gonna kill her you gotta kill me too." he said folding his arms defiantly.
"What are you doing you dumb fuck?" Tory hissed.
"Saving you suicidal butt." Lyn said as she moved behind Tory.
"And if you kill him, you gotta kill me," Tommi said, " and you know if something happens to me, all of ya'll are screwed."
There was brief moment of shocked silence followed but Blitz laughing. Again.
"Ya got spunk kid, I'll give you that. But it seems you guys are forgetting who the FUCK is in charge here. If you could please remind for me Trel."
No sooner did the words leave his mouth did Rigg fire his revovler.
"Tommi!" we screamed, Lyn went down with a sharp yelp clutching her right thigh.
"You bastar-!" Ghost started to say but Rigg's gun light up again. sparks flashed as her false arm was ripped off.
"What? You assholes think this a motherfucking cartoon? Huh?" Blitz barked. He stomped up to Carter and snatched his neck forcing him to his knees.
"One year of being under the radar and you shit heads fuck it up!" Blitz yelled into Matthew's face.
I've had enough of this, my friends are hurt and bleeding on the ground in front of me. KR, Monroe, Tory, and Xingyuag can't do anything at risk of everyone else. Plus I can feel the manic frat boy's finger twitching over the trigger of that rifle.
Taking imitative, not being saved by KR, no longer losing face in front of Tory's rage, like that shit matters anymore. I don't won't to die here and neither do my friends. Sure I'm scared who won't be? But part of me doesn't care anymore.
It's not like I can blame anyone in particular, shit happens. People move on, that's how it has to work. That why I'm here.
Like Raven I came to city to experience something new, I came here to test my skills and adaptability of being a driver. Something my straight laced driving career hasn't let me do until now.
So what am I doing a motherfucking standoff? I thought I was here to play Spilt/Second? You know, vroom, vroom, drift, explosion.
What in hell am I doing? When did it become about fighting for KR's affection, or trying to fix Tory's past?
KR was right, I am looking for something here, and I'm sure my search isn't all that unique. I want to drive hard and drive fast. I just want to fuckin' drive how I want. No bullshit love triangles, no gun touting car thieves. Hell, I'm not even trying to pull myself up by trying to find some petty ass self-respect.
If good guys finish last, then unlike me, they must be some shitty ass drivers.
Being at far end of our little line up I took the time to sit down on the hood of Monroe's car.
"Hey Blitz." I called out, my voice was as low and seductive as I could manage. It must have been enough because everyone stopped to looked at me.
Rain filled the silence as I got up strolled toward him. Having this stupidly voluptuous body was about to pay off.
"Why are you even bothering Tyson?" I smiled as I wrapped my arm around his neck and gave him a playful poke in the chest.
"You said you can't kill us right?"
"Damn girl," he growled. I resisted the urge to punch him as his left hand took a fist full of my ass, "That's right, all you fuckers seem to be impervious."
I shot an eye across the garage; the only two not buying my act in the least were Bonnie and KR.
Guess I need to be a bit more convincing.
I bore my canines and pushed my chest up against his, I could hear the clink of weapons from a few of Blitz's allies.
"Heres a deal, how's about you waste these fuckers and we go a business meeting somewhere private." I growled.
"You would sell out your boys that quick? My kinda bitch." Blitz replied semi-sarcastically.
"What's wrong Tyson, not convinced?" I asked innocently.
"Ha, I can't say I'm-" I silenced his mouth with mine.
Though caught off guard, Blitz didn't miss a beat, his brown hair brushed against my face as hand dug into the small of my back pulling me closer.
Gag. I don't even think drinking a gallon of industrial grade bleach would completely wash my mouth out.
FUCK, now he wants some tongue...and now I'm giving it to him...fucking Christ where's the god damn...oh, there we go.
"Tyson!" Rigg yelled a little too late. As soon as I was confident I had gotten my hand on a good spot on the Barret. I grabbed Blitz's neck pushing me away and down, the .50 cal right along with me.
Ah, it appears the adrenaline slow down can happen outside of a car, convenient.
I fell, slower, and slower still. In the corner off my eye I could see Rigg begin to pull out another revolver. Blitz had stumbled back, but was quickly regaining his composer.
Dear God I hope this works.
I swung the rifle stock into my right shoulder, imitating how KR used his shot gun as much as possible.
The original plan was two shoot Tory's truck, I figured her machine had the most combustible liquids, gas or otherwise. But in the middle of trying to massage Blitz with my boobs I realized I didn't know exactly where the gas tank was. Plus her trunks armor...
Sorry KR's car.
BOOM! I gritted my teeth as the recoil bit into my shoulder. The first shot was low, which is fucking scary considering that Im still falling backward.
BOOM! The lower part of the Cyclone's rim exploded.
BOOM! And that one was money.
"RAVEN!" I scream as hard as and loud as I could, staring dead center at the sparking remains of Ghost's artifical arm.
The last thing I saw was KR kicking Ghost's artificial arm it toward the puddle of gasoline that trickled away from his car.
My head hit the concrete with a wonderful crack.
Redline...shift...tires...screeching...downshift, redline...backfire...curb?
The jolt slapped me awake, immediately follow by a reminder of where I fell.
The second jolt made me realize I was in the right seat of my car. KR sat in driver seat, aside from the death grip on the steering wheel, there was no indication of panic or anxiety.
I looked ahead to find that we were barreling down the streets of Second City like is wasn't still pissing rain.
"What...happened?" I mumbled.
KR didn't answer.
The V10 growled as Raven took another sharp corner, I looked in the side view mirror and saw no evidence of pursuers.
"Stop...the car..."
I could clearly hear the gear shifts now.
"I said stop the car!" I barked.
The tires screeched as the brakes locked, my Severus spun a little as it stopped underneath a small overpass.
The engine killed itself as we sat there silent, the rain no longer pelting the roof of my car.
"What happened back there Raven?" I said coldly.
"The explosion was a good diversion, most of us made it out."
My eyes never meet his.
"Who didn't?"
"Tory, Carter and Lyn were too injured to move, but Blitz didn't seem to care, everyone that was with him came after us."
I breathed a sigh of relief, at least no one was dead.
"How long have you known about Blitz?"
"I've had my suspicions where I was with Vixen. During episode 5, Tory and Carter added to that. When Torpedo drove a 530 with a Forza brand spoiler, that confirmed it."
I glanced over at him, not a hint of emotion.
"So you found out he was making enough trading Split/Second cars that he was beginning to kill for it."
He nodded.
I continued, "Logic dictated that you hold a meeting for everyone you thought was related to this in some way to either stop him or defend ourselves."
He sighed and nodded again.
"I don't get how he's doing this, how has no one called him on this. There's got to be someone higher up than him that knows about what he's doing."
"I was trying to figure that out too until I found out how S2 Productions suddenly had the finances and influence to enter the prime time TV market after a 35 year slump."
Well ain't that a bitch.
"What in the hell are we supposed to do?" I asked, my voice rising," Blitz probably doesn't just run the show, he probably runs this entire fucking city. And now he wants us gone, or better yet dead."
"You're right, with the momentum that he's got, there's good chance as least one person we know will die before the season's over."
I opened my mouth to say something, but stopped.
Why is this happening? When did Spilt/Second become a death race? I didn't sign up for this, no one did. I don't wanna die here, not because-
"Are you gonna quit?"
The question caught me by surprise, there was something with his tone, but I couldn't quite place it.
"Are you?" I asked back.
"The pay is good, the women are hot, and the cars are fast. I can't see why I would." KR said in jest.
I wasn't laughing.
"I'm not like you KR. I didn't grow up street racing, or stealing cars." despite being angry, my voice was placid, "I don't live in the world you do Raven, the most I've ever gotten is a few speeding tickets. This gun fighting and murder, it's not me K', it's just not me."
I looked into his eyes, pleading. As long as we've known each other I don't ever gotten that good a look at his features. It was beautiful how the genes of his Caucasian father competed with that of his African mother.
He was silent as his looked back at me. I can't blame him, I was pushing him away. I was looking down on his past. I felt disgusting.
I turned away from him and looked back toward the front of the car.
"Do you want me to leave?" I asked.
I could hear the seat behind him squeak as his head turned to face the same direction i was pointing.
"Can I be honest with you Konani? I don't know what to say. I want to say yes because I know that'd be safest thing for you to do. But I...I feel like I'd never see you again. And that's a really shitty feeling."
I sighed," Yeah, that is a shitty feeling."
"I don't like shitty feelings." KR said matter of factly.
"Ditto, I guess I just have to stay, God forbid you feel shitty about anything."
"I'm glad you feel, that I feel, that you feel, that I shouldn't feel shitty." he said with a chuckle.
"Well now, I feel like we're getting somewhere. For better or worse K' we should kick the rest of this season's ass." I smiled.
"Amen, halleluiah, and peanut butter." KR replied as he started Cobretti back up.
"Awesome, now drive me to the infirmary, 'cause I'm pretty sure I have a concussion."
Split/Second Championship Race Day
Wow, that was the worst episode, ever. In the history of all time. Contrary to popular belief it wasn't all Blitz's fault, kind of.
Everyone in the garage had put on an iron curtain of some kind of mixture of depression, distrust, and general angst.
I thought we were all in our fucking 20's? The only one that supposed to be angsty around here is Tommi. And she's literally the only one who seems to have forgotten that we were held at gun point last week.
Kudos Tommi.
The last time anyone saw Tory was Event 2, a fact the Carter wasn't taking very well. Bummer his coping mechanism is flirting.
Monroe still lumbered about, noticeably with Xingyuag in tow more often than not. But even while entertaining Lyn, he was quieter than usual.
I felt bad, but I didn't know how to help him. More than anything I think he felt he had failed at being Lyn's pseudo big brother. Luckily Xingyuag would give him a moral kick in the pants if he got too sluggish.
I've unintelligently tried prying on Bonnie, but she would always change the subject using a smile you couldn't help but oblige.
Much to my dislike, Ghost did swing by again to show off her new arm which she and Carter claim has now been bullet proofed.
Doesn't change the fact that the arm is still fuckin' creepy.
Even I managed to get slapped in the face over the course of the week, literally. Because, and I loosely quote, for being condescending, indifferent, and a general bitch. Apparently I changed a bit over the whole ordeal...tch, yeah right. Don't know what the fuck they're talkin' about-
"Konani." KR broke me out of my thoughts.
"Hm?"
"You know it's really obvious when you're narrating in your head."
What?
I glared at him, but was surprised to find he wasn't even looking me, but was deep under the belly of his car.
I jumped off the hood of my vehicle, "Hey it's looks you could use some help with-"
"No."
Yeah, that's what I thought.
"It's actually empty in here." Bonnie said as she strolled up and sat on the table in front of our cars. She had a noticeably larger mug of coffee.
"Kinda happens when nobody trusts anyone anymore." I deadpanned.
"That's not true, I have the utmost faith in everyone here."
"Really?" I asked sarcastically.
"Yes." Bonnie defiantly smiled back.
The thin walls of our garage rumbled as the familiar sound of a massive truck rolled in, or crashed in. The only closed garage door caved in a flash of sparks as the Titan barreled in but stopped short.
All 3 of us stared intently as the machine idled in the middle of the room. There were two thumps from within before a white and well toned sneaker clad leg kicked the door open.
As cliché as it sounds, empty beer bottles and cans spilled out of the door leaving crumpled pieces of tin and shattered glass in a puddle beside the truck.
"FUCK." Tory said to herself as she half stepped half fell out of the truck. We would have helped her but she held her Israeli brand hand gun at us as if trying to protect the empty beverage containers.
"Tha fuck you lookin' at, cunts. I'm not the only one who drives...without any fuckin' pants." the blonde slurred as she stumbled past us, indeed in nothing but a t-shirt, shoes, and panties.
Before the episode even started, Bonnie took it upon herself to get everyone backgrounds fully checked to one, discover why Blitz had not killed us, and two find out what was sensitive information and what wasn't. The mistake was leaving the info out long enough for Carter to be nosey. Though it didn't fix the problem, Matthew's was not without shame, he had formally apologized to Tory for stealing her file and offered his as an act of good will.
It's the second time I've ever seen Tory cry while sober, of course it was kind of hard to see underneath all the rage. I won't even lie, it was hard to watch. The not so dirty image she'd being trying to make Carter see was destroyed in an instant.
The killing, the stealing, the prostitution, that surgery; everything that was known to only Monroe and I was now known to Carter. The worst part is that in her hysterics, she didn't even notice that Carter didn't care.
That chain of events more than explained the probably alcohol poisoned Tory before us.
With a few more untellable grumbles, the drunken woman slunk into the living quarters.
"Should we...?"
"No she'll be fine, we've got a race to do anyway." KR answered, as he started his car.
I shrugged and followed suit.
"I'll be there in a second guys." Bonnie said as she waved to us while we backed our vehicles out of the garage.
"Damn, this place looks like shit." KR said as we pulled up into our respective grid. He was right, rain did not do kindly to Ferry Wharf at all, there were grime filled puddles everywhere.
"More important than that, how do you think this is gonna go down?"
"Ever heard of D-Machine?" KR asked.
"Er, no."
"Neither have I. They're last second entries that are expanding the field to 16 again." KR explained.
"You think Blitz brought 'em in?"
"I know Blitz hired them. The file on the starting lineup said that they're the 'Elite Section' of Kinetic Team Racing, but you know that's bullshit."
"No kidding, what do-"
"Long time no see bitches!" Blitz's voice cut across our radios
"Shoulda known putting a few bullets in your friends wouldn't be enough to keep you fuckers down, I mean were contestants on Split/Second, am I right?"
"What do you want Blitz?" KR growled.
"I already told you, I want you motherfuckers dead. How am I supposed to comfortably do business in the automotive market when I have loose ends running around?"
"Well, you can't shoot us, and last time I checked your driving is pretty shitty. Remind me what it is we're supposed to be worried about?" I snidely retorted.
For a moment there was silence, then the crowd around us roared. Blitz had opened up his driver side window, his gloved hand was thrusting "Satan fingers" skyward.
"Take it in motherfuckers, that's the last thing you're ever gonna hear, cause when this race is over the only way you faggots are getting off the track is in body bags. Blitz. Out."
"That was pleasant." the appearance of Carter's voice surprised me a bit.
"No kidding. It's been a while since we've seen you." KR said.
"Look I know you guys think I was ducking you, but I really did need to go out of town." Carter replied.
"Which begs the question of how you're at an Elite race." I commented.
"Hey, I thought I'd be helping. If there's more of us, then there's less of them."
Good argument there.
"Hm, Monroe's here...", KR mumbled.
I craned my neck to see a blue Centaur crawl onto the grid a few spaces back.
"Do you have comms with him?" KR asked.
"No, we haven't spoken for a few days actually."
"Fuck." KR said under his breath.
The helicopter holding the starting lights began to kick water onto our vehicles from the nearby puddles.
"I don't like it when he's neutral," KR said, "he's not a driver I feel like dealing with."
Amen.
"Hey guys, is that Carter's Katana I see down there?" Bonnie's voice flowed out of our helmets.
"Damn straight." Carter replied.
"The more the merrier I guess, Monroe said he's keeping radio silence, but he won't play hard ball unless he has to." Bonnie explained.
Unless he has to? The fuck does that mean?
"Even so, if you ask nicely enough, you might be able to find an ally out of the devil's pair." Bonnie said confidently.
"I don't wanna be snide, but why do Raptor and Vixen care? That I checked we weren't exactly friends." KR asked, his voice being over powered by in between engines revs.
"You can ask them yourselves. 15 seconds to green, and guys." Bonnie paused for a moment.
"Please try to play nice, we don't want to hurt each other."
Guilt babe? I feel it too, and I'm not even sure why.
Event 6: Elite Race
Location: Ferry Wharf
Just over the roar of engines and complaints from traction control, Vixen's voice filled my head.
"Ola senhoras, heard Blitz has fucked up a few things inside your circle. Tough deal, but I don't like it either. If you need a little co-op, we'll see what we can do, RIGHT Raptor?"
Raptor mumbled something in German before is mic cut out.
"Don't mind him, Caio."
Couldn't if I wanted to, the first corner roared into view as everyone began pitching their cars right. Blitz's 440 roared as it's exhaust pipes spat flames, purposely over revving his shift in order to fall behind.
I paid it no mind as my car screamed out of the corner. The closer he got to Monroe the better, like hell I'm gonna stick around when the Vulture decides to start picking people off.
KABOOM! The silo Power Play detonated in force as even Rigg's Goliath fought to remain stable. Ghost's rim's flashed as did Vixen's tires as the two powered through the shockwaves. I quickly retracted my car's spoiler before it could be ripped off by the oh so forgiving concrete wall.
For a spilt second my vision went white as the smoke from a Cobretti GT500 and Hanzo GT blinded be.
Any idiot could have figured what the "D" in D-Machine stood for now. The two cars fished tailed tandem in front of me as we flew underneath the gas canister Plays, setting up for the next corner one when off behind me.
My Severus growled as the shock wave pushed me enough to hit the wall, again.
"Back in gear, Tenma." KR said as his Cyclone flew past.
And I was doing just that until Live Wire's GT12 sideswiped me. Motherfucker.
I power slid into the wide right hander behind the Brit. Lights on the end of his spoiler, similar to an airplane, gave an obnoxious blue flash as they adjusted themselves to maintain the drift.
There was a moderate BOOM! ahead of me before Bonnie explained, "The D-Machine Hanzo hit the first route switch, Vixen and The Ghost are on the original path."
The tach' danced as my car powered through the 90 degree apex perfectly, I even caught a few sparks from the chassis as my Cobretti stayed flat through the corner.
Live Wire and I flew side by side, and what the fuck? That was some abnormal hang time, even for a GT12.
The Elite's car landed a good distance in front of me as we navigated the sliding jets meant to imped our progress.
"Bonnie, can Live Wire use his spoilers to generate lift?" I asked.
"Hm, that would certainly explain how he did that." she replied in astonishment, "you used your spoiler to form a wall of air once, nothing says he can't do something similar."
Good point.
As me car drove off the air craft carrier, I heard a familiar V12 behind me.
"You still here Carter?"
"Really Konani? Still no faith?" I could hear him smiling. His Katana pitched a dangerously fast angle as we drifted past the explosive containers, passing me in stride.
The fog horn signaling the next Route switch was deafening, "Carter, did you?" I yelled over the accompanying explosions.
"You, at first I was trying to be nice." Blitz's voice was low and brutal.
I looked around but couldn't find his car. I was forced to brake as the falling beam Power play slammed down into front of me. Carter and I were barely able to squeeze through the gap.
"Now granted, I think I was taking my sweet time a bit too long."
"Fuck, we're on a god damn circuit, where is he?" Carter growled in desperation.
"For six episodes I've been quietly trying to get you turds out of the picture."
I heard the rumble of an over powered supercharger behind me.
"The real reason I can't kill you homos? As it turns out you motherfucker just die hard!"
The roar of Blitz's 440 over powered the sharp whistle of the passing tunnel supports, the flames around us literally ebbed and bowed in the wake of the Elite's approach.
"One, Second City. Two, Second City. Three, Second City. BLITZ!"
Carter and I grunted in pain as our cars were blown into the outside walls from the force of the ram. Our dented vehicles had barely made contact with the bridge below before Blitz active the train Power Plays.
The shockwaves push our cars side ways, and then back again as the second Play detonated.
"DIE MOTHERFUCKER!" The 440's exhaust pipes exploded as the car's nose dug itself in the driver side of Carter's Hanzo.
The pipes flashed from orange to burning blue as the supercharger spun back up. Pushing the Katana in a wave of sparks, the 440 accelerated forward.
"Arrgh! Fuck this! Konani, his power's low, get this asshol-" Carter's voice disappeared as he manually activated his S.A.F.E.
Don't worry Carter, I will gladly carry out your request.
I pulled into Blitz's draft as we sailed through the s-turn. Setting up the capitalize on the unused silo Power Play ahead, I heard the last thing I wanted to hear.
I never thought twice as I slammed the brakes letting Rigg's Goliath pass me as me entered the right corner.
I didn't even bother with the barrel Play ahead, and I stand corrected. Going toe to toe with Rigg through the aircraft carrier is the worst case scenario of any plan, past, present, or future. Forever, of all time. Period.
Though Raptor didn't seem to share the same idea. He flew out of the sharp right hander, passing me on the outside. He didn't miss a shift as he pulled alongside the Goliath making rough contact as they leap into the downed ship.
And just enough contact for me to slip in between them. Suck it Rigg.
The second he gained his stability, the truck driver tried to run back over top of my low slung Cobertti but failed as the pressure sensitive canister caved in the Goliath's nose and exploded.
Raptor and I when two wide out of the ship and onto the dock. Near us Blitz's 440 came out of burnout and pulled in front of us, no doubt trying to make it look as if he was putting his car back in gear from stall he feinted.
We sailed into the Power Play filled warehouse I slipped into-
"Tenma! Pull Back!" Raptor's voice screamed into my helmet, just as I saw an unfamiliar red light flash from my dashboard.
The area to my right burst into flames, the shock waves pushing my car wide through the corner, I couldn't hold it steady.
The tanker truck exploded slamming my car into the left wall...
What happened next was so surreal...so euphoric...I could see, hear, feel, smell every detail.
And it happened so slowly, so excruciatingly slow.
Blitz's 440 kicked up dust and debris as it's tires flashed bright red. In front of me.
I could barely see, but i could smell. The distinct smell of small scale turbo fan fuel. A smell I only registered once, on a race in Airport Terminal.
As the front of my car connected with the left side of the 440, there was no S.A.F.E. to be found. The windshield of my Severus shattered as my helmet fell through it, the seat beats keeping me within the car failed to do so.
The last thing I heard was Vixen's voice yelling something before I thought:
Wow, I'm going to die.
No pissing my pants, no flailing or screaming, no profanity oddly enough.
I just thought I was going to die, and accepted it. Man I'm such a quitter.
Hm, I wonder If I'm going to hell? I mean I wasn't evil, but I wasn't awesome either, ya know.
Man this sucks.
They'll be no more KR, no more Bonnie, no more Carter, no more Monroe, no more KR, no more Tory, no more Tommi, no more KR, no more Amp, no more Xingyuag, no more racing, no more KR, no more cars, no more KR, no more KR, no more KR, no more KR, no more KR, no more KR, no more KR...no more Raven...
"UUGGH!" I grunted as my spine landed on something that did cave with it, but not enough for it avoid hurting like absolute shit.
The back of my helmet connected with something hard before popping off from the impact.
"Grab the hood!" Raptor's very nearby voice barked. Things began to click as I realized the track of now upside down-
"Ufuh!" I grunted again. For whatever the fucking reason, Raptor, his S510, and me lodge upside down in his windshield came crashing to the ground. The impact pushed me up and out, with an awkward second of weightlessness, I slammed stomach first on the hood of the Elite's car.
"Shi-!" I screamed as my boots came in contact with the track below. I hooked my hand into the part of hood protruded out near the beginning of the windshield before the asphalt's friction could throw me off the car.
"Stay in the center!" Raptor commanded before panels at the front of his car opened up revealing nozzles of some sort.
The nozzles themselves flashed as bright blue before-
"AAAAAAGGGHHHHH!" I screamed through my clenched teeth, my eyes slammed shut as the flames from the booster rocket cut through my fire retardant racing suit instantly.
And just as quickly as they appeared, the boosters where hidden away again. Ejecting small canisters of something before the completely disappeared.
My muffled cries was drowned out by the sound of the falling beam Power Play skimming the top of the S510, barely missing my own unprotected head.
Raptor's heavy braking brought back my focus as I was forced to make sure my body impacted the damaged windshield first.
The glass shattered as I fell in the cockpit of the S510. As the car grinded backwards to halt against the wall, I could hear Blitz's voice through speaker in Raptor's helmet.
"Another day motherfuckers..." his voice trialed off with a laugh. Outside the S510 I could make out the sound of Blitz's 440 drifting by.
"Tenma, are you okay?" Raptor asked, patting my shoulder.
I couldn't help but cry. "I'm afraid to look." I said as I desperately avoided touching my burned body.
Raptor took off his help helmet and tried to offer me smile, in a cold emotionless German kind of way.
"Why haven't they stopped the race?" I asked weakly.
"Good question." Raptor replied as he leaned his head back and sighed.
It took me a bit but I sat up straight as well.
"Thanks for saving my life man." I said with a hazy tone.
"Thank Vixen."
I turned my head and raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't even think I could make it to you in time. But Vixen demanded I did."
I could hear a little disappointment in his voice.
"Heh, don't worry," I said as my eyes began to droop," she'll come around."
Raptor turned to say something else, but I have no idea what. I was out.