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Chapter 7: Peak
this page added by Duchess Dire
disangro@hotmail.com
Vampire fires upon Ace again. And a dogfight is in the agenda.
Manta in jet mode follows Bombay's route, and passes rows of flags onto a rock.
"Whip on," she uses her whip to snap out a flag and moves on.
****
An exhibition race is currently going on to entertain the crowd while the grand finale is going on. Up in the grandstand, a supervisor (the announcer) lady is instructor security guards, "Be sure to bring the trophy from security when the first returning vehicle is spotted." One guard nodded, carrying it down the aisle.
Not far, a peanut seller bellows, "Peanuts for anyone?"
Noticing the trophy not there, he queries, "The trophy?"
"Being taken for safe keeping, back right after the end of the race.
"Oh..good..its sobeautiful. I'd hope we could see it again"
The lady looked at him with interest. The peanut guy became nervous, thnking she is on to him.
"Eh?"
"Peanuts, I'd like some
Miles Mayhem didn't understand what it was and see his tray. "Uhh..ohh sure, here you go." Gives her a bundle of peanuts. "On me."
****
Ali Bombay had taken a route down a clearing in the woods, amidst the rain. Over head, Vanessa flies unsuspected. She gazes over the terrain and her sight on the flags which is on a small hill near the edge of a stream. To herself, "No one can stop me from winning now." Just then a spark of lightning struck her vehicle, it struggled to keep itself airborne. "My controls aren't working," as Manta slowly descends onto a layer of rock. Bullet rides pass her. She frustratingly got Manta airborne again, before it goes down.
Bullet rides across the shallow stream, switching to hovercraft mode to grab one flag before circling back.
Vanessa brought Manta to a halt by the stream and uses her whip to pluck the flag off. Once that's done, she fires two missiles at Bombay. He maneuvered, and just at that time, is struck by lightning. A split second later, some couple of rocks up the stream gave way to the overflow of water. An overwhelment in water spread downstream, about to bring the descending Bullet with it unless a miracle comes.
Bombay exclaims, "A flash flood!
Vanessa battles with her controls successfully getting it operational again. Bombay at the other hand looks around for anything to save him. A tree caught his eye. Bullet spins, simultaneously launching his hook, grappling around a tree trunk at the other side, winching himself to safety.
****
Honk! Honk!!!
A startled peanut seller jumped off his feet. He looked down the aisle to an orange GTO. Bruno Sheppard, waves. Mayhem, er, peanut seller quickly went down to see what his idiot of an agent wants.
"What do you want?"
"Some peanuts." Bruno answered.
Mayhem was outrageous, "Peanuts! You scared me half to death, for PEANUTS!! Here, you want peanuts, you GOT peanuts!!!" shoving his tray at Bruno and stuffing his face. He pulls his shirt, "If you foul things up when we need you. It'll be the last time you do. Got that!"
****
Vampire and Meteor are still at it, apparently with each other not holding the edge over another. In the background, Vanessa is on her way to a big ravine. Seems that the only way to reach the other side is by crossing a bridge. There looks to be a small square hut/post/homestead/post at the other end. She goes on the radio.
"I've finished off Bombay, Birdman. I'm on my way."
"You leave him to me."
Manta comes behind Meteor, unleashing missiles at the shuttle Meteor get out of the way while it ignites against the mountain.
As if as a signal, the square hut began shifting itself. The roof flip back revealing a radar. The two sides go down, each with a lazer turret and missile launcher. Seated in the middle is a bearded man wearing a mask at the controls.
Alex Sector warns, "Ace, venom at six o'clock."
Ace Riker gasps in surprise as a lazer blast from Manta knocked out one of his twin thrusters. Smoke coming from the damage, forcing him to land.
Alex lets loose a missle which ignited, a brilliant flash of light is made, blinding Vanessa.
Meteor lands.
Alex looks to see a blip in his monitor. "The radar, someone is approaching on the ground. Lightning? Megabyte here."
"Alex, the hovercraft is barely working, but Bullet has full cycle power."
"WE have some unwelcome visitors. I suggest you come in at maximum power, and we'll swing it, "Alex advises, all the time firing at the sky with everything he has.
The downed Meteor is not out of action after all. It's wings fold down, tank threads drops down instead of landing gear - making the backside of the shuttle point 45 degrees upwards. A cannon pulled out between the twin thrusters.
Floyd Malloy soon realized the danger when he narrowly escaped cannon fire.
Manta goes for another run, firing a stream of shots.
Prompting Alex to activate his mask, "Disruptor, on!" which catches Manta.
"Birdman, I've lost jet transformation capabilities, lets get outta here!!!" Manta continuing with the race, Vampire following suit.
At the mean time, Ace is attempting to cross the bridge.
"Alex, any word from Ali?"
"His on his way but his hovercraft is non-functional."
By this time, Meteor's right by Alex's 'hut'. Unfortunately, the bridge had collapsed.
"We gotta get him across the ravine." Ace got a solution. "Tell Ali to use that boulder for a ramp. Meteor switches to shuttle mode and flies away using the remaining thruster.
"Ali, the bridge is out, but Ace has a plan. He said to use the boulder to jump the ravine."
Ali Bombay goes for it, "Here goes.." with a slight fear in his voice.
Bullet jumps the ravine, just as soon, Meteor comes up.
"Cruise control, on." Ace's mask helping Bullet to the other end. "Intensity, increase."
"Fantastic, "Bombay yelled when he landed, roaring forward, Meteor right behind him.
****
A series of timely brakes and bursts of speed help prevent Vampire and Manta from slamming against the mountain to their left or fall into the cliff on their right. At the same time traveling speedily.
Vanessa checks her fuel gauge, pushing a button.
"I've activated auxiliary fuel Birdman. It'll be enough to win."
"I'm running low on engine fuel myself. Gotta pull by the pit stop right ahead." Floyd said, noticing a small pit stop at the clearing with Sly Rax manning it.
"Rax, mask is behind us, stop them." Vanessa orders as she goes pass him.
Vampire circles around and hides behind the mountain.
****
"Ali, Vampire's pulled behind the rocks ahead of you. I'll distract them while you get by."
"A minute or so would be quite appreciative. Bullet's fuel supply's quiet low."
"I'll give it my best shot, partner"
Bullet is fired upon as soon as it entered the clearing. Meteor flies towards Floyd, who knocks himself down. He quickly got up and switches modes. "I'll get him for that."
Before Bullet can proceed, the pit stop also switches modes. The fuel pumps roll round becoming a launcher for his spiked tires. Rax loads one up and lets go.
Bombay thought fast and the tire sailed past him. But he had to tilt Bullet down to escape another one, leaving him helpless on the ground. Pit stop's tank threads are up and saw are coming towards him.
"Ali, I'm comin' in. When Meteor hits the ground, take off."
Bombay waits anxiously
Ace escaped Floyd with a little bit of flight wizardry and lands next to the 2 vehicles. Meteor quickly switches modes and blasts pit stop.
"Aaahh, that's not funny, "Rax scrambled.
"Ali leave this to me, you win the race." Ace assuring as the cockpit part of Meteor detaches, Bombay getting to his feet and speeding off before pit stop's explosion destroys itself 2/3 of what's left of Meteor.
****
At the arena, the same organizer lady takes off her binoculars.
Get ready, the first vehicle's in sight." She orders.
"Uh, what's the vehicle look like?" the same peanut seller by the aisle asks.
"You again. Aren't you supposed to be selling peanuts?"
"Er, sold 'em all. Just stopped by to look at that beautiful trophy."
"You'll have your chance very soon."
****
Vanessa held the brakes and walks off and calmly takes the flag before coming back in.
"Racing's so relaxing when there's no competition." She said, taking off her mask.
Bullet's fuel alerter is going crazy as the only highlighted bar is flickering. Nearing the flags
"No time for the hook, so.." Bombay guns Bullet till it's riding on a single tire and snatches a flag before going back down on all twos.
The sight of a biker in her mirror made Vanessa gasp.
"Bombay!!! Just enough to do it. Bombay you first, then the victory."
Bombay knows defeat when he sees it, obviously when the rider right in front of you is so close to the finish line. He stops his bike and pulls out his mask, he lost.
He could not believe it when Manta made a U-turn on a course straight at him.
"She has won, why come back?" he puts his mask.
"Your mine Bombay."
"It is your choice I fear, To proceed to victory, or to return for destruction. Which trophy is more important?"
Vanessa puts the pedal to the medal in retaliation. Checking her very low fuel gauge and raising her missiles. Bullet purring with the twists its master is giving it from the handle.
Manta fires all her missiles. Bullet goes to hovercraft mode for a sec for going back to cycle, landing on top Manta screaming down ahead.
Manta swerves around and goes back
****
The crowds are on their heels, screaming, and making various chanting sounds.
"That stupid maniac, "Miles was saying. "Plan B, get ready," he gestures at Bruno whose putting on his mask.
One of the security guards who happens to be mask agent Calhoun Burns heard this and went to tell the news.
****
It's right at the peak of the match right now as Manta has caught up with but Bullet just inches behind. Manta looks to be the one going faster, but moments later is head to head with Bullet. Manta appears to be slowing down but Bullet going in steady speed. Ten meters from the finish line, Manta has stopped with nothing in its fuel supply.
It ended up by Bullet 'snailing' to the end, winning it!
****
Fireworks the crowd noise add to the climax. Bombay lifting the trophy up aloft. An orange GTO runs by, the head of a helmet out.
"Magnabeam, ON." A magnetic force plucks the trophy from Bombay's hands, the orange GTO high tailing out of there.
****
Background: Manta being towed away
On the grandstand, Vanessa teasingly, "Too bad, all that hard work and someone took the trophy."
Ali Bombay replied matter-of-factly, "Venom took A trophy Vanessa."
"What do you mean?"
"Vanessa, they took an imitation. At least, that's what Matt told me." Looking at the security guard.
Both of them took of their security helmets and heaved onto the table a container. They opened it, revealing a similar trophy.
Vanessa was outrageous, "Huh, but if you know all along, why try so much to win?"
Ali Bombay said, "My Father would say, that you must try your best, or not at all."
Matt Trakker explained, "Besides, there was only one way to find out for sure that the microfilm really was in the trophy. That was so that Venom would let us know." All smiling, "Thanks for your help Vanessa. And thank Miles too."
Vanessa leaves everyone laughing.
****
Finally Bombay rejoices to the now totally excited crowd with the new trophy in his raised hands..
If any 1 is interested in knowing what these characters and vehicles look like, please email me. disangro@hotmail.com
What do you do now?
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