Previously… on "The Gang – IN-COLOR"…

Wolfgang sneered, "Who are you?"

An AAW Agent held up her pipe and barked, "I am the great Mami Honda! I represent the AAW, and you drop that kid, NOW!"

"Sorry, lady. He's going to be treated with our way of life. See, he invades my territory, so he gets the beat down, by my good friends-."

"Roger Klotz?"

"How did you know?"

"Oh… I know our ways. Plus, Klotz, Bledsoe, White, and Ned cannot make it today. You see…"

Honda smiled evilly and said, "Ironically, someone replaced me as Ikebukuro's leader… and he took care of your boys."

A figure in a bartender suit beat up Roger Klotz, in a dark alley, ramming his body into a trashcan.

The man barked, "If you act that way again, I'll pretend that you're Izaya…"

Klotz groaned, "Yes… sir…"

CRASH!

A huge vending machine smashed on the pavement, in front of Wolfgang. Shizuo Heiwajima appeared. He was in a very angry look, as he was holding the lamppost, on the street.

"Oh, look who it is… I take it you destroyed my gang members, just for your baby fun?"

He mocked the man and laughed at him, for no good reason. He successfully taunted the man, for being such a loser. Big mistake there, Wolfy.

Mami then turned away and sighed, "Okay. Feel free to rip, jab, and taunt him, for no good reason…"

She smirked, "Don't say I didn't warn you."

The man held onto the post and, in an instant, he ripped it off the pavement. Wolfgang continued to laugh at him, until he saw the man hold the post up, like a jousting sword. His laughs turned into winces of fear.

"Oh… no… OH, NO!" He shrieked.

Mami smiled, as the man charged at him, "What a loser you are, Wolfgang."

WHAM!

Wolfgang was sent flying, as the man smoked a cigarette.

Weeks later, Roger pulled himself out of the trashcan, after the altercation with Heiwajima. He limped off, as he groaned, fixing his red hair. He adjusted his leather jacket and said, "Heiwajima… Glad I won't run into him, other than that other loser."

He remarked, "I'd stay away from Bartender Guy, since he reminds me of Steven Nevins…"

He then remembered his first altercation, before the whole Heiwajima affair.

Roger had a small boy in a dumpster, being picked on. He laughed, as the boy was crying.

"Looks like YOUR down in the dumps, you brat!" Roger jeered, "Maybe it'll take weeks before the smell comes off!"

A Rolls Royce appeared, as a figure stepped out. It was Steven Nevins.

Roger slammed the dumpster shut and said, "HAH! See if you stand the dark and the stench, you fraidy-cat!"

He then laughed, as Steven Nevins was behind him, "Oh, brother! What a-!"

"JIVE ASS MOTHER FUCK-AHH!" Steven N roared in a psychotic tone.

Roger turned around and gasped, "OH, NO! NOT YOU!"

Steven N pummels Roger repetitively, as the boy was still inside.

Roger still remembered that painful bruise on his head. He then said, "This calls for back-up. I better find… him."

What is he talking about, and who is he hiring? One thing is certain… He's headed for Daten City.

Chapter 15
As the Klotz Thickens
(死の徒競走！の巻)
(a.k.a. The Footrace of Death)

The Gang was resting in the church, with Panty and Stocking, watching TV. There was an event going on.

"This week, in Daten City, everyone, all around the alternate universes, will compete to determine who the fastest and most athletic team in history is. Every year, the bright, the boldest, and the fiercest groups of four will compete, in different cities, to determine who the best is."

Heather smiled, "I've heard of that. Before the mind fuck happened, four old ladies from Poughkeepsie escaped through their lives and won in Phoenix, last year. After that, they went into cardiac arrest."

Percival said, "Those races are too extreme for everyone."

Heather cheered, "I LOVE THEM!"

Panty snuffed, "Seriously… What the fuck kind of group of four has to walk and run down the shitty city, like ours?"

She responded, "Panty, you shush! This ain't no walkathon! This is the Footrace of Death!"

She explained, "Lorna told me about this event. She said that it's the real-life version of a Death Race, except without cars. And, what's more, it's NO HOLDS BARRED! People kill each other to get to the flag, in order to achieve victory. Once you reach the flag, which is a skull with a boney hand, you win. In one race, back in Spain, all the competitors were killed, before they even made it to the flag. There was no winner, after that."

Panty said, "Must be during the Running of the fucking Bulls."

Stocking smiled, "You can count us in. Panty and I, and those demon wussies are immortal, except when our weapons hit each other."

"Hell no, chica! We fight as a unit! You, me, Chuck, and Garter!"

Percival said, "Well, you four might. After all, it'll be good publicity for you to get along."

Heather squealed, "OH! We get to be in the Footrace of Death?"

Percival chuckled, then meekly said, "No."

"Aw, why?"

"You said so, yourself! Few people ended up as casualties! This is a Death Race! Plus, Steven Nevins wouldn't like the idea, being in a race and all."

"I know. He'd say something like, "Steven Nevins isn't racing for anybody, who risk their lives for the trope of "Wannabe"!"

Steven N appeared and said, "No. Steven Nevins would not race in that deathtrap, since Steven Nevins respects ALL lives, since life is good! Can ya dig it?"

Heather gasped, "AH! Steven?"

Michelle said, "We overheard your commotion over a death race, called The Footrace of Death, and we figured that we'd join in."

Steven N remarked, "Michelle, that may be a great idea, but I don't approve of racing, just to break all the rules. I was to boycott these games, but I cannot, since you guys are in an adrenaline rush. If we compete, we play by the rules, NOT their rules! But Steven Nevins plays Coach, not Captain."

Heather asked, "You're not competing?"

Steven N explained, "I never told you this. I had a bad experience in the huge Footrace of Death, when it made its way to Texas… It was in the final leg."

Steven N was racing in the Footrace of Death, down in San Antonio. He was racing ahead of three men in black hats. He made it to the flag, but two men clotheslined him in the back of the head. They laughed, as they reached for the flag, which was on top of a 50-inch tall (4'2") pedestal. They decided to grab it together, but Steven N got up, thriving in anger. He charged at the men, and began to smash their faces at each other and pummel them, within an inch of their life.

"After that, I didn't take the flag. It felt bad of me to hurt my own kinfolk in Texas," he said, "When I left those two men on the ground, bloodied and hurt, I said to myself, "Yeah! I DO win, by beating their arses! But… what's the point on some innocent people?" I backed off the fighting events, for a long time. But it was before I met Black Dynamite that the fire was still in me."

Michelle said, "We're not in Texas, anymore, Nevins. We're a long way there."

Percival replied, "Besides, we have it going on. We can still enter, if Steven N would sponsor the Angels and Demons."

Steven N replied, "I'm afraid that I will lead you three, while Garter takes the Angels and Demons."

Panty cried, "COME ON! Can't we train with you?"

Stocking responded, "It's a "NO", since he can't get your name coming."

Panty huffed, "I get it…"

Steven N responded, "If we hurry to the Community Center, we can make it, before the sign-up sheets are full. The competition starts tomorrow, and Steven Nevins says that it will be one for the Gang, since we'd get publicities. Of course, my apparent forfeit will be erased, if we win."

Panty asked, "Uh, what happened to Southern Fried Jive Turkey in that race?"

Heather said to her, "He made it, but everything he said was true. He lost to a 24-year old gunslinger from Georgia, after he walked away. He didn't mind. He has his own code of ethics, when it comes to winning. It's his British blood that got the best of him."

Panty sighed, "Eh. Let's hope he gets my name right, for the present."

XXXXX

The Gang and the Angels and Demons arrived at the Community Center entrance, signing for the race.

"Name?" The boy spoke.

Steven N introduced, "Two teams playing, today. Team 1 – The Original Gang: Myself, Michelle, Percival, and Heather; Team 2 – Daten City Homestead – Stocking, Kneesocks, Scanty, and Pandy."

Panty roared, "It's PANTY! PAN-TY! GOD! What the fuck is he doing? He's doing this on purpose!"

Scanty laughed, "Glad it wasn't my name. You must have a messed-up name like that."

Kneesocks added, "Well, he was one letter off. If he did, you'd be called Panda."

They laughed, as Panty growled, "Somehow I want to rip their fucking demon bitch faces off. Do I LOOK like a panda to them?"

They were all signed in, as five more boys entered, with hoods over them. One boy had red hair and green skin, with a leather jacket. He turned to Michelle, as he signed in. They both glared at each other.

"You okay, Michelle?" Steven N asked, "This guy bothering you?"

Michelle said, "I see that you were around, after Heiwajima beat your arse, loser."

It was Roger Klotz, back from his beat-downs. He barked, "You'll see me come back. Your brother entering… well, let's see if he can best my team!"

Stocking smiled, "We'll treat to them, if WE win!"

Roger jeered, "Don't be stupid! I'll mop the floor with you-."

The Demons appeared and glared at Roger. Scanty said, "Just so you know, the competition is all for fairness and the rules. You should learn all about the whole Footrace of Death archives."

Roger smiled, "Oh, I'll play fair."

Kneesocks winked, "Make sure that you don't try to hurt yourself. You got a whole 20 hours, before the race begins. Us, we fully read the rulebook and followed the tips, tricks, faults, and hazards, in a mere short time."

Roger jeered, "Cool. See you birdies, later."

Heather shouted, "Oh, yeah?"

Percival sighed, "Too late."

Stocking asked, "What was that about?"

Scanty smirked, "Nothing that you six can understand."

Steven N said, "Well, that's fair. Now that we have prepared ourselves for the competition, let's head home and start training."

Michelle said, "You guys go on ahead. I have to do something."

They all left, as Michelle used her cell phone.

She called Kotoha, "Hello, Agent Kutsugi… It's Agent Nevins."

What is she planning?

At the church, Percival and Heather were in the couch, as Panty arrived with a plate of chicken strips. Percival and Heather share the plate, as Panty sat down, with a bottle of beer. Percival then asked, "You know… There had been a lot of these problems in these worlds. Did you ever encounter anything weird?"

Panty asked, "Well, no. Why do you ask?"

Percival said, "Did anything happen, during your ghost hunting?"

She replied, "Well… Now that you mention it, it was a long story. You see, it's hard to mention it to you, but that fuck-up was a dick move for Stocking and myself."

A flashback shows of Panty and Stocking fighting off ghosts, as Corset was watching on, while Brief was restrained by the Demon Sisters.

"Just when Corset was about to begin the final battle, it then happened," Panty explained, "You see, Geek Boy was used for the Demons and their father's scheme, but just as we were about to begin… The skies began to grow colorful. After that, bizarre characters began to invade Daten City. Realizing we were one of those douchebags that are affected by the Alternate Universe fiasco or whatever the shit is called. Garter and Corset put up a temporary truce, and promised that once the whole thing ends, we continue where we left off, in the battle."

Panty added, "Of course, beforehand, I lost my powers and Stocking was sent back to Heaven. To make matters worse, I had to play with Geek Boy, who was the-."

Heather cringed, "You didn't!"

Percival said, "Well, who would've guessed that the mind fuck would ruin your battle."

Panty snuffed, "Yeah, well, let's hope so that it'll be over. In any case, I had my 1,000th man and have given that Demon Whore a panty scar."

Percival asked, "How did that happen?"

Heather said, "Possibly she threw her panties around and lashed it at her face."

He responded, "Delicate heavenly undergarments… Hellish women… I see what you mean."

Heather took a bite, as Panty remarked, "Well, hopefully this will make me have time to move on in the life here, having sex and having fun. But I now choose to have sex, responsibly, on account that I have been through 1,000 guys, including Geek Boy."

She sighed, "At least I am happy, now. Once whoever did this to Daten City, they'll REPENT for this! Then, maybe, we can have a final battle and some fucking peace and quiet!"

Heather smiled, "Just you wait until the Footrace of Death. You can have some competition on you, as a way of practice."

Percival got up and said, "Well, we got time to practice, soon. Remember, you meet with Stocking and the others, at three in the afternoon. We'll eat first and then stretch. After all, Steven Nevins wanted to make sure he doesn't have a repeat performance."

XXXXX

That afternoon, The Gang and the others started jogging, over the bridge. Most of the members were in athletic spirit, while one was tired. Only Michelle was in a staggering mess.

She panted, "You guys have a way to keep our calves at its liking."

Stocking remarked, "You must be tiring, for a British commoner."

Panty blushed, "He's sexy, when he's in shape."

Stocking sighed, "Idiot…"

Steven N called, "Come now! We have to make through the three legs of the tour."

Percival asked, "Three legs?"

Steven N replied, "It's a cross-country tour, stretching all around Daten City."

Panty sighed, "Cross-Country is right."

Stocking said, "Wrong kind of c(BEEP)."

Kneesocks said, "You guys can keep up the pace, but we have such firm bodies to make it through the exercise regime."

Percival said, "Remind me to give Peter and Steven C this kind of jogging."

Scanty said, "Whoever they are, they must be tricky little butterballs."

Steven N said, "The kid is wafer-thin."

Heather smiled, "And Peter has a huge girth. He's eating right. Be a wonderful way to increase muscles."

They continued to jog, as Steven said, "Five more laps!"

Michelle griped, "AW, BOLLOCKS! Can't I rest?"

She sat down, as Heather stayed by her, "You guys go on ahead."

They fled off, as she sat by her. Michelle held her legs and massaged it, lightly. She said, "Bleeding little Death Race. My body is not for practice and racing."

Heather said, "You need to chillax. It's not every day that you pull a muscle or get a wound."

Michelle asked, "So, how do you tend to be so fit?"

"Simple. I cut down on sweets, after I had Beth born. I also didn't like milk, since dairy products are fattening. So, in the name of fitness, I stopped having pizza, ice cream, and any sorts of dairy foods, and have limited my sugar consumption."

"And when you had Beth, what brought you to do so?"

"Well, after my brief stay in the hospital, after I had a binge of foods, my waist was a bit chunky. I realized that I had to keep this body trim, before I manage to return to The Gang. And I did… but sacrifices must be made."

Michelle sighed, "Fine. We all admire your willpower."

She thought, "Maybe I should decrease my weekly lager count."

She got up and was about to jog, but then a huge flying stag beetle appeared in front of the girls. It was purple with two arms and legs. It flexed, as Heather was shocked.

Michelle trembled, "Uh… Who is that?"

Heather gasped, "AAH! Lorna and I met him in Kirby's Super Star!"

"Who is he?"

"Bugzzy!" Heather exclaimed.

Bugzzy grabs Michelle by the mouth and lifted her high, about to be given a Suplex. Heather was shocked, but was angry.

She growled in anger and clutched her fist, without knowing. She then roared, "LEAVE HER ALONE!"

She charged at the bug and punched it in the chest, piercing into its stomach. But as the punch connected, her arm started to glow in a red aura. She started to sparkle, like Peter, and consumed Bugzzy's power. Michelle fell down, as the huge bug was destroyed. Heather dropped to her knees and moaned. She said, "Whew… That was terrible… Heather thought you'd be bug chow."

Michelle shivered, "Uh… Thanks?"

Heather dashed off, as Michelle followed. She then saw Heather running in perfection, as she was completely focused. Michelle grew worried about her.

"She's too amped, all because of her notice of that sodding death race. I always thought she'd die in those races. But Steven would be hurt over that. I better watch for her in that race. It is my civic duty as BOTH a Feral Beauty agent and her sister-in-law."

She smiled, as she and Heather caught up with the rest.

Then, came the day of the race. There was a crowd gathering in the edge of the Daten City border, as four teams were lining up. The Gang was on one side, the Angels and Demons were on another, and two more teams were on another side each. The Gang was wearing red and blue shirts and shorts, while the Angels and Demons wore their white and black shirts and shorts.

Steven N barked, "Okay, guys! Now since we are in this race, and we know the rules to this Footrace of Death, but let's go easy on the brawling and cheating. The Gang believes in doing the right thing."

Michelle nodded and said, "Good idea. Heather and I will man the first leg, since she is very athletic and cunning."

Heather blushed, as Percival asked, "That reminds me. How'd you get that cut, Michelle?"

Michelle had a scrape on her left arm, as she replied, "Yesterday. Heather fought a huge bug and saved me. I think that giant stag beetle was too much for me."

Percival said, "You'll be fine."

Heather laughed, "Yeah! It was a Kirby Bug that I destroyed, which was like a huge fist. Bugzzy was no match for me, after I saved Michelle."

A voice cried, "A Bugzzy from the fallen Video Game World? Joey Cucamonga! You guys are fast!"

Roger, in his black jacket and jeans, was by three other boys in cloaks.

Steven N said, "I see Mr. Green Skin just came, after your sudden insults at us."

Roger barked, "Oh? That was a warm-up! With these three on my side, we'll win this race!"

He then sneered, "Now, which one of you is the weakest."

Percival said, "Physically speaking, Michelle is."

Michelle gasped, "WHAT?"

He whispered, "We don't want Roger to know."

The fourth team appeared, all in green shirts, and with black and purple armbands. They were all in perfect fit, as Roger huffed, "Ew, what freaks."

Heather sighed, "This is going to be tough."

A man appeared, with a red suit, announcing the rules.

"Welcome to the Footrace of Death! This is the race to end all races. The rules are simple – each member race through the path, all the way to the middle of Daten City, where you must grab the flag, atop a four-foot pedestal, located atop a flight of stairs. In this race, it's every man and woman for themselves. But some ground rules – NO knives, NO guns, NO weapons, and best of all… NO shortcuts! You take the path to the flag, on your map that you'll receive."

Heather called, "Uh, we don't have a map."

The man huffed, "You are not assigned a map, yet."

He added, "And also, when most of you, on different teams appear, it's all about fighting."

Steven N cracked his knuckles, as he glared at Roger, who gulped, seeing his stare.

"Oh, boy…"

First – The teams must run through the forest and head to the playgrounds.
Second – The Teams make a run across the city, straight down, heading to the location of the flag: City Hall
Finally – They must climb the stairs to get the flag; you must fight each other, in order to go ahead and grab it

The race begins… in the next chapter…

To be continued…