Luke Pettlework is a canon character, but I've never read anything with him in before so I completely invented his character.
Strip hadn't heard Finn McMissile race past him but he had caught sight of the flare sailing up through the trees. He has just assumed it had come from Doc but was surprised that the veteran race car would actually carry one of those. As the red flash reached to just above him, he had tried to get comfortable in the cold and reasoned that someone would come for him sooner or later. He was relived to hear familiar helicopter blades above him and squinted as the spotlight landed on him.
"Strip!" Rotor called out, just making out the familiar blue paint job through the leaves.
"Hey Rotor," the race car grinned.
"You alright?" The helicopter went as low as he dared, trying to catch a glimpse of the car he'd transported for years.
"Yeah, just grounded," Strip replied.
"Hold on," Rotor glanced because towards the compound. "I'll send somebody for you."
"Rotor!" Strip called out as the helicopter turned around. "Make sure someone follows McQueen!"
"I think someone already has," Rotor looked South. "I can't be quite sure but I think the other chopper's grounded. Let me send someone to get you first."
Strip was left alone in the dark again as Rotor flew back to the camp. He had no idea who would come for him, but the realization that he might soon be safe was a huge comfort to him. After about seven minutes (how far had he gotten into forest anyway) he heard the scrambling sound of a small vehicle coming through the bushes. Judging by the fact that he couldn't hear an engine, it was probably a forklift. Strip shifted backwards a little, not entirely sure if one of the forklifts from the compounded hadn't escaped. He really hated being grounded like this.
But he immediately relaxed as he heard the a familiar voice grumbling.
"Of course he had to go and get lost in the forest. He couldn't just stay put, could he? Should have stayed on the track at least another year to burn off all that energy. Now I have to go and find him in the stupid forest. Where is that chopper anyway?"
"Over here, Luke," Strip called out, and turning on his headlights he saw a small forklift with the Dinoco paint job come into the clearing.
"Strip! At last, finally!' The forklift huffed. "Do you know how long I've been looking for you?"
"Nice to see you to, Luke," Strip said to the oldest member of his pit crew. The small guy must have stayed inside of Rotor during the chaos in the compound.
"You as well," the forklift said sarcastically. "Do you know how worried Lynda's been? My wife's been over at her place since yesterday just trying to assure her that you'll be ok. What am I supposed to tell them? That I found you in a ditch? A ditch?!"
Strip just stayed quiet and grinned as Luke prodded him gently. He knew the forklift had been worried and venting was just his way of dealing with it.
"Where are you hurt?" He almost snapped at the race car.
"Rear axle again," Strip grimaced.
"There you go again, not taking it easy. The Doctor told you to take it easy, didn't he?" Luke ranted, lifting Strip up and straightening him as much as he could.
"I heard him, Luke, more times than you."
"Clearly you didn't!" The forklift raved, supporting the race car. Strip started driving back slowly, while Luke kept going. "The minute you get home I'm telling Tex to get your ears checked. He's the only one you listen to. Never mind the fact that I'm in your pit crew and at every race and at every practice."
"Now, Luke, you know that's not true," Strip protested.
"Did I tell you to talk," Luke looked at him irritably. "Be quiet and keep driving!"
Yip Strip thought as he and Luke trekked their way through the forest. It's good to be back.
True to his word, Rotor did go to the road to see if McQueen was alright. He was met by the sight of an airplane whom he had never seen before and a downed chopped. The Hudson Hornet spotted him and called out.
"We'll be back in the compound in a minute! Tell Sheriff to stay put!" Rotor nodded and turned back, wondering what in the world he had gotten into. Back at the compound he landed outside and told Sheriff that Doc and McQueen were safe.
"Excellent," Sheriff nodded. "Although I need to have a word with Doc about driving off like that. Completely stupid!"
"Hud's a good racer," Smokey came up beside him. "But not always the most clever."
"Right," Marshall joined the small group consisting of Tex, Sarge, Smokey and himself. "The prisoners are secure. Guess we'll have to jot this down as a citizen's arrest."
"Even though that wasn't exactly by the book," Sheriff admonished Sarge, whose idea it was to ram the gate in the first place.
"I wasn't about to sit idly while Lightning was in danger!" he protested.
The cars were interrupted as a plane flew over them, carrying the helicopter that had been in the compound only minutes before.
"Out of the way, chaps!" The plane called in an accented voice. He placed the scowling chopper down in the courtyard before disconnecting the wires he had been holding him with. Siddeley then landed outside and opened the back door. The five cars crowded around the back of the plane as it opened, the trucks and Rotor looking in from behind, curious. McQueen, Doc and two other cars only the Sheriff and Sarge recognized rolled out.
"Mr. Tex," Lightning exclaimed. "Sarge! Sheriff!"
"Lightning," Sheriff rushed forward to greet him.
"Are you alright solider?" Sarge asked, checking the rookie for injuries just like Doc had done. McQueen chuckled.
"I'm fine, Sarge," he said. "Doc already checked me over. "Thanks for coming all this way." He smiled warmly at the veteran, who only nodded stiffly.
Sheriff in the meanwhile, rolled up to Finn. Doc beat the law-car to what he wanted to say.
"Finn McMissile," the Hudson Hornet turned to the Aston Martin. "You have a whole lot of explaining to do."
"Quite right," Sheriff put in.
"Yes, alright, I think I owe you that much," Finn admitted. "But I'm not sure if right here is exactly the right place for it."
"The Cotter Pin then?" Tex asked, glancing curiously at the interior of the plane. He caught side of a purple car holding a taser along with a sulking Acer and Gremlin car.
"No," Doc shock his head and rolled forward. Even though he was in the presence of a Sheriff, a war veteran, a security official, a billionaire and a secret agent, the Hudson Hornet quickly took charge. "There's a whole lot of explaining to do and best to do it while everyone's together. We'll do it at Smokey's house." He nodded towards the pick up.
"Wait, who's Smokey?" Lightning asked.
Honestly, Doc had never expected his two worlds to collide like this. But looking between his old crew chief and the rookie he realized that the meeting would have been inevitable. Maybe it would have been better at another time, but the look on Lightning's face would be worth this.
"This here is Smokey," Doc nodded towards the faded orange truck. "Smokey, meet Lightning. Lightning, meet Smokey, my old crew chief."
"Wait, what?" Lightning exclaimed. "This is your old crew chief."
Doc grinned and Tex and Sheriff laughed at Lightning's expression. Sarge looked impressed.
"Just wait until you meet his old crew," Sheriff said enthusiastically.
"Fine cars the lot of them," Tex said with the same tone of voice.
Marshall glanced worriedly at Tex, wondering what exactly his boss had gotten up to during his time away from Dallas. It looked like he was forming a plan, which was usually good for the company but meant more work and a lot of uncertainty as far as security was concerned.
Lightning meanwhile was looking at Smokey with a sense of awe. The old two truck glanced at him sternly but there was definitely a hint of a smile there.
"So," he studied Lightning. "You're the Hot Rod Hud's always writing to me about."
"Doc writes about me?" Lightning glanced at the Hudson Hornet.
"Often," Smokey stated, ignoring Doc's glare. Hud hadn't gotten in contact with him for over 20 years after he'd left the circuit. This was revenge time.
"Well, what does he say?" Lightning was bursting with curiosity.
"Lots of things, depending on the day."
"Alright, that's enough," Doc cut in. "Time for the trek back to Thomasville."
"Actually that won't be necessary," Finn said smoothly. "I'm sure Siddeley would be more than happy to take us."
"Of course, Finn," the plane agreed. "Except for the trucks of course." He looked apologetically at the haulers.
"Eh, it's no problem," Mack was completely understanding.
The two trucks and Sarge agreed to drive back and hunt for any stray criminals. A Ford Raptor had managed to get away along with a forklift. Rotor volunteered to fly back Tex and a few other cars to lighten Siddeley's load.
"What about Douglas?" Marshall asked. "I don't want to keep him here." Douglas had been put in a corner of the compound while the conversation was going on, just far enough to not get in the way, but close enough so that Sheriff and Marshall could keep a close eye on him.
"We have Acer and Grem as well," Holley added from the back of the plane.
"Bring em' back," Smokey said. "We can keep them locked up together."
"There's a prison in Thomasville?" Marshall questioned.
"No," Smokey replied. "But we got a barn."
Grem and Acer groaned in the back of Siddeley.
Marshall had just finished loading up Monroe when Luke returned with Strip.
"Mr. The King," Lightning exclaimed. "Thank goodness you're alright."
"He's most definitely not alright," Luke grumbled.
"I could say the same," Strip smiled slightly. "You were the one carried off in a helicopter."
"Yeah, well, I managed to get out," Lightning shrugged.
"You were rescued by Mater's girlfriend," Doc corrected, making sure to keep the kid's ego in check. Weathers shared a look with Tex.
"We gonna find out what's going on any time soon?" he asked the billionaire.
"We sure will, as soon as we get back to Smokey's," Tex said, glancing over the racer one last time to make sure he was alright.
"Smokey?" Strip asked and Lightning cut in.
"Yeah, he's Doc's old crew chief!" the race car said excitedly. "Turns out we're really close to where his old home base used to be."
"Fine cars, Strip," Tex added, coming next to Weathers and nudging him with his tire.
"Nice of you to say that," Smokey came next to him. "But let's get a move on."
"You can gush later, Hot Rod," Doc rolled his eyes as McQueen grinned, near-death experience seemingly forgotten. "Right now I need to check Weathers as we fly back." The Hudson Hornet turned onto the ramp and added. "I can see the axle's bent all the way from over here."
"Wasn't about to protest," Strip replied, relieved as Luke helped him into Siddeley.
Siddeley took off carrying all three criminal cars, Smokey, Doc, McQueen, Finn and Holley. Sheriff opted to fly with Tex, Marshall and Luke in the Dinoco helicopter. It was the most cars Siddeley had ever carried and he was grateful that it was only a short flight back to Thomasville. He'd have to land on the old racetrack.
Sarge and the two trucks stayed behind to hunt down the Raptor and forklift that had escaped.
Strip was mostly in a tired haze the whole flight back. He had no idea who the Aston Martin was but he and the Hudson Hornet seemed to be running the show. Doc examined him and declared him fit to move a little bit at a time but told him he needed to have an x-ray done as soon as he got back to Dallas. The orange truck (Strip believed his name was Smokey) had clearly never flown before and so Doc went next to him and talked to him in a low tone for the rest of the flight. He was the first out of the door when the plane (since when had there been a plane) landed.
"Wow," Lighting had immediately breathed upon exiting the plane and seeing the old speedway. By now the moon was up and cast a faint light over the beaten track. There had been no time to spare and Doc led Lighting and Strip up towards Smokey's house.
Smokey showed the Aston Martin and the purple car where to lock up the prisoners when Rotor landed outside the building. The helicopter offered to stand watch and Luke volunteered to stay with him. Holley stayed as well and Smokey led Finn, Marshall, Sheriff and Tex to his house. Halfway there he was stopped by a local forklift who informed him that Lou had moved Deborah to her house, figuring that Smokey would need the space.
The six cars all crowded into Smokey's comfortable but small living room. Lighting stood next to Doc while across from him stood Tex and Strip. Sheriff stayed at the back, ready to write up an official police report if he needed to. Marshall settled next to Tex.
Smokey rolled in followed last by Finn McMissile. The orange tow truck pulled up next to Doc and allowed a moment of silence so that everyone could gain their bearings.
"Alright," he said slowly. "You all know me as Smokey, Hud's old crew chief. And I don't know much about what's going on here except for what Hud told me earlier today. So, I want you to tell us," he looked straight at the Aston Martin. "Who you are and what the heck you have to do with this."
Finn took over smoothly.
"First off, my name is McMissile," he looked over at the cars he didn't know. "Finn McMissile. And I came to apprehend the last of Sir Axelrod's associates."
Finn launched into an explanation of how he had traced Grem into the country with the last of the Allinol oil. He was sure to leave out any mention of sensitive information, but he told the group enough to satisfy their curiosity. He explained that when he had heard about McQueen's disappearance, he'd immediately suspected Grem had something to do with it. The spy told them all about Mater's help, knowing that the tow truck would eventually spill the secret anyway. After that, all that remained was the rather boring trip towards Thomasville, overhearing the confession from Deborah in the bar, and finally the infiltration into the compound.
"And yes, I was the one who shoot that bullet," he looked towards Doc. The Hudson Hornet just nodded in thanks as McQueen looked confused between the two.
"So you've pretty much been following us since we left?" Tex asked.
"Sorry about all the of secrecy, but we needed the element of surprise," Finn said apologetically.
"Spies," Sheriff muttered, grateful but just slightly annoyed at all the mystery surrounding the operation.
Everyone was so exhausted that there wasn't much to say after that. Marshall called in officers from Atlanta to come to the compound and officially arrest all of the employees. Finn assured Sheriff that the Allinol oil would be confiscated along with Grem and Acer. Marshall left to go collaborate with Sarge about the latest news on the round up of the escaped cars. Smokey went to his room and Strip fell asleep in the living room. Doc took the guest bedroom along with McQueen who was too tired to go to his trailer. Tex stayed with Strip.
Sheriff went to join Luke at the barn but ended up sleeping right next to it. Holley and Finn went back to Siddeley.
It had been a long day of turmoil and adrenaline, of fear and all sorts of other emotions, and while Doc didn't want to process any of that he couldn't help but say one thing to the kid before he drifted off.
"Hey, Lightning."
"Yeah, Doc?"
"I'm glad you're alright."
There was a moment of silence as Lightning beamed in the dim light.
"Me too."
A very miserable and cold Ford Raptor was making his way through the rough terrain. He only had one head light working and used it on dim. He didn't want that Jeep to find him... Not after everything that had happened. He was the one with the bent grill, no thanks that that annoying 43 race car. He just hoped he'd make it out of the forest alive in order to enjoy the 75 000 Monroe had paid into his account.
"And where do you think you're going?" A voice to his left startled him. He jumped to the side and put his remaining headlight on to see an old lady car driving towards him, her paint job indicating that she used to be a racer. Not another race car... He was so SICK or race cars.
"Look, Lady," he bit back a snarl. "I don't wanna hurt you. So why don't you just let me go on my way and forget you ever saw me."
The Lady didn't seem threatened. In fact she smirked.
"Hurt me, huh?" Lou asked. "Oh, sonny, you're not gonna hurt anyone where you're going."
"Yeah? And where's that?" The Raptor grit out, ready to shove past the old car. He was bigger and could take her on any day. A sudden high pitched buzz from his side caught his attention. He felt a sudden pressure on his left back tire.
"What the?" He exclaimed as he was tilted to the side. A little bit more pressure on his other back tire and he was tireless at the rear.
The old car in front of him started laughing.
A small blue forklift with a drill appeared on his right along and a smaller yellow car from behind a bush.
"No where!" Lou cheered, still laughing.
"Manufiche, Guido!" Luigi cheered.
"Pit stop," Guido revved his drill.
The Raptor stomped his tire on the ground, angrily. Not only were race cars stupid, their crews seemed just as bad!
Lou led the way back through Thomasville with Luigi rolling back the raptors' tires and Guido acting as the Raptors back wheels. In front of the now-closed Cotter Pin bar they met River and Moon, escorting a tipsy forklift.
"I'm going back... To Indiana!" The forklift sang in a squeaky voice before hiccuping. Lou looked at the two cars with a frown on her face.
"Don't look at me," River shook his head. "Moon here was the one who decided to feed him some shine."
"It was only a drop!" Moon protested. "And he was absolutely parched."
Guido dropped the Raptor with more force than necessary and examined the singing forklift.
"Hey..." the forklift slurred. "Haven't I seen you on tv?"
Guido responded with a quick whack on the other forklift's side. He fell over and was out cold. Guido picked up the Raptor again and muttered something in Italian.
"He says he doesn't want to wake the others," Luigi explained and followed his friend towards the barn where Sheriff had just parked. The three race cars looked after them, impressed by McQueen's pit crew.
"That little guy sure has a lotta spirit," River observed.
"He seems to go ape quite quickly," Moon agreed.
Lou grinned.
"I like him."
Go ape: 50s slang for getting mad or exploding in anger. And can I just saw how cool I think it sounds to use Hudson Hornet and Aston Martin in one sentence?
