Hey peeps. This story isn't going as well as the last one, hmm? Oh well. The sequel's never better than the original, I know. Oh and I can't wait for the fan art! Holy cow I forgot and now I'm all 'cited again! I hope you all like Jonna as a new character. There'll be more of her. I'm also putting a drawing of her on my DeviantArt. But that'll be later.

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I buttoned my driving gloves and stared at the opposing racers as well, glaring and trying not to seem afraid. But deep down I was a bit nervous and occasionally my body would tremble briefly from anxiety.

Torn and Keira were inspecting my car and Daxter was posing and looking at his reflection in the glossy red paint. I wasn't sure where Jak and Ashelin were. It was bright sunny day and not too hot. I could enjoy it if the tension weren't so thick in the air. But in a way I was also excited about getting to race. I had driven quite a bit back home but never raced anyone.

I turned around and cracked my neck on both sides. Torn said all the arrangements were made for the track and that my car was fine. The race would start in five minutes. He walked off to get ready and left me and Keira. Daxter also went to find Jak.

"Wish me luck." I sighed.

"Good luck." She smiled reassuringly. "I wish I could race, too."

I looked at her. "Why can't you?"

"My dad."

I thought. "Oh, Samos."

"Yeah, he's afraid I'll get hurt. I'm old enough to handle myself."

I agreed but didn't say anything. I didn't want to contradict Samos' choices.

"Ah, well." I shrugged. "If my dad were here he wouldn't let me either."

I was all geared up and got in my car, and steered it to the starting line to wait. Cutter was there as well. I parked and sunk in my seat, hoping he wouldn't notice me. I was really sure he did but to my surprise, he said nothing. All for the better, naturally.

Gradually all the other racers made there way to the starting line also. We would all shoot off in thirty seconds. I leaned out of my seat to look at everyone else. Jak was to my left and Edje to my right. I looked at Jak and waved, smiling. He smiled also and gave me a thumbs up. I returned it to him. I was okay. I wouldn't get hurt. When it comes to missiles and junk, just return the favor. Don't start anything. Yeah, just race don't battle.

I inhaled and exhaled audibly. I could here someone say something occasionally through my headset. Everybody's voice was audible. On the dash, I also saw a small line of switches for private talk. If I ever needed help, Torn was two switches to the right, Jak was four and Ashelin was seven. And if I ever felt the heavy need to curse, there was everyone else's. I think Jonna was six.

The animated buzzer sounded at the count-down. Hairman was already talking into the loud speakers, only worried about his ratings and not his life.

Three. Two. One.

I jammed my foot on the accelerator and darted through the air ahead of me. Felt my heart beating rapidly as my hands clutched the wheel. But everything else disappeared except for everything ahead of me. I concentrated on my breathing to block out other distractions and kept my foot pressed down. I could hear Shiv cursing and Ashelin yelled out. I looked to my right and saw Jonna ramming her into the wall. My shoulders tensed and I almost started to shout at her.

I peered at the road ahead of me and then back at the two older women. Ashelin finally fell behind her and Jonna was ahead. And then I did something before I even thought about it. Ashelin was behind Jonna so it was only her in between me and the wall. I jerked the wheel to left, cutting off Shiv and then swung back to my right. My car pressed right against Jonna's causing her to smash into the wall. I looked at her reaction and wished I hadn't. Her face was briefly surprised but when she looked at me, her look of shock changed to a knowing smile. Everything seemed to disappear and I couldn't look away. My heart was beating and neither of us was paying attention to the road.

And then I was forced to look away. The track had turned abruptly to the right and the very tip of the left hand side of my vehicle nicked a wall. I cried out as my car spun crazily out of control. I thought for sure I was going to crash into somebody. But someone barely missed me and I was in last place when I finally braked successfully. My hand flew to the base of my neck as I tried to calm myself down. I had almost gotten seriously injured. That could've been a train wreck of a crash.

And then the sound of Hairman's voice brought me back to reality. The race. I looked around in a panic and quickly put the car in reverse to turn around. When I was pointed in the right direction, I switched back to drive and hit the last of my turbo to speed forward in attempt to catch up. I squealed to myself as I tried to steer. Turbo dashing still frightened me to a certain degree.

I raced for a certain amount of time and eventually the race ended. I rushed through the starting line and drove off the track to the car port. From what I could tell, everybody finished quite close together. I parked hastily, almost hitting Jak. I turned off the ignition and sunk back in my seat, listening to my own breath come out in uneven wheezes.

Jak came up to me and helped me out. "So?"

I looked at him. "That was absolutely terrifying."

He laughed and hugged me. I pressed against him as though I were going to die. He rubbed my back and stroked my hair which actually successfully calmed me and I closed my eyes, tightening my grip. The effect he had on me was astounding. No one had ever made me feel this safe in my entire life.

Later on everyone congratulated me and we relaxed. That is, after Hairman gave us more criticism than needed. He was foolish and didn't foil our plans of relaxation though. Everyone was surprisingly calm the next day. I was to also drive in the rest of the races unless I continued to do a horrible job, than I was positive they'd kick me off.

The race went by quickly. I was cut off more than once by the opposing team members and wound up in fourth place. Jonna won that race. Normally fourth wouldn't be too bad for me to handle. It was just the fact that she was so smug when she glanced my way that made me want to shoot her. She was going to complicate things. Thoroughly.

Later that evening, Jak, Daxter and I were touching up his car after it had taken some minor damage from the race. A dent here and there and one flattened tire, Courtesy of Shiv. I bent over to brush my fingers across a deep cut in the metal's flesh. Daxter was sitting on the hood, licking his fingers after finishing off some sort of cream-filled pastry thing. I could hear his lips smacking pathetically. Jak was under the car, looking at the under carriage.

I stood up. "I wonder who Mizo is exactly and why he refuses to show his face?"

Daxter shook his head boredly. "I bet there is no Mizo. It's probably run by some retarded freak. Like Torn on crack or somethin'."

I laughed. "Wow. That would be typical."

"Yeah torn would be kinda scary on crack."

Jak sat up and wiped his hands. "He'd be kinda like you."

I shook my head. "I didn't mean Torn doing crack. I was talking about some freak trying to knock us off. Errol was a freak. Maia was a freak. Any of your enemies normal people?"

"No." Daxter said. "Normal would be like……Torn on happy pills."

I turned and glared at him. He shrugged. "Just trying to keep the conversation interesting."

And out of the corner of my eye, I spotted something red. Then somebody spoke.

"Ahh. Well, well, well."

Daxter and I turned while Jak climbed from the floor. I felt a chill run through me. It was the man from the club. With the red coat and the piercing gaze. Shadows fell across his face and a cigarette was tucked between his two fingers. And slightly behind him, a large red and silver robot glared from behind artificial green eyes.

I backed up and nearly fell into the car. Jak stood to his fullest height and walked around the front of the car to confront the mysterious dark-haired man.

"You must be the infamous Jak!" He sneered and waved his cigarette around. "How pleasurable to meet you."

"Not sure if I can say the same thing." Jak said suspiciously.

"Well I just wanted to you to meet the new racer. And one of your most deadly opponents. UR-86."

He gestured to the robot behind him and it stepped forward, its arms twisting mechanically and its steps brief and hard on the floor. He bragged on UR-86's capabilities and pointed out every detail of how badly we would compete to him.

He finished and Jak glared. I spoke up. "And who are you exactly?"

He turned to face me. I almost stepped back again but restrained myself and stood up tall, though I remained the smallest, other than Daxter.

"I," He started. ", am the great Razer. But of course you will not be on the track with me for some time. I'm far beyond the capabilities of the others. I don't think you're ready for me."

I frowned. "I think you'd be surprised at all we can take on, Razer."

The boldness in those words surprised even me. Jak glanced at me but then continued to stare at Razer.

He studied me behind the cigarette smoke, his bright eyes searching my face for some sign of stupidity perhaps. But then he smirked and chuckled slightly, like he did that night at the club.

"I can see you've managed him, Kirsten." He said nodding at Jak. "But I am a completely different kind of man. Possibly one too psychologically intimidating for such a young precious girl as yourself."

I felt my face burn in embarrassment and familiar rage. I tried to remain from trembling. Then I heard Jak growl slightly. He stepped forward so he was only inches away from Razer. He murmured into his smug face.

"You'll stay away from her, or I swear you will get hurt."

He seemed slightly amused by Jak's anger. But he turned and beckoned the mechanism to follow him out. I watched them exit and all was silent. The doors closed and I could here my heart beating.

"What an ass!" Daxter boomed.

Jak and I said nothing. He went back to work and I leaned against the car with my arms crossed, thinking about how sick I was of these age jokes.