Takuma Gaiden II: Road to America (Pt. 2) - Page 31: LFA's Song

[RCKakashi14]

Page 6: Showdown in the Mist




Location: Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Time: 4 pm, a month later




With all preparations accomplished, there is nothing that should hold back the 1st round of the FIA WEC that is being held in Spa circuit in Belgium. Thousands of racing fans flock together to witness the battle of the supremacy of racing machines in the highest level.



However, the fog once again joins the festivities. And racing officials are on a discussion.



But this did not hamper all the teams' hopes for success. They are still hard at work at finding the best setting for the qualifying session.




At the bleachers, Sir Shaw McCarthy is being escorted to his seat by a number of bodyguards, and Takuma as well. Takuma hands over a black cane to his adoptive grandfather as a present.



Takuma: "Something for you, gramps."



Sir Shaw: "What? You think I can't walk? Well, I had some share of troubles. I do think I can use this. Thank you."




Takuma: "That fog is hampering the qualifying for hours. And it's going to end soon."





Sir Shaw: "I hope it all goes well. I did not come here to see this being folded."




Takuma: "On to a more serious matter, are you aware of the Vision GT Project?"




Sir Shaw: "Very much so. But I shall let them run in this small championship without them earning a single point since their car is still in the "Prototype" stage. Those chaps sure know how to prepare that bloody thing."



Takuma: "I'm just worried. Alan can run things differently. We'll never how he'll deal his cards."



Meanwhile, Louis' team is ready for another run for the fastest qualifying lap. Rob is out at the pit lane, and is met by shock after seeing Louis turning out to be their opponent. The French racer gets in the 908 and straps in.



Rob: "Hmph. A worthy adversary indeed."


Owen heads out as well, looking at the 908 leaving the pit lane.



Owen: "That's Louis Montagny. Pardon me if I haven't told you about him in the earliest time. Louis is rapidly becoming the fastest racer in mainland Europe."




Rob: "Fastest in the continent... hmph... no wonder. Kinda makes sense why we lost to him a month ago."



Owen: "You will run the qualifying sessions per round, anyway. It's time for you to retaliate. Your turn is next."




Then they see the blue 908 about to start its record lap.

Maria: "I can't imagine driving a car that fast in the midst of zero visibility."



Nigel is always ready to explain with everything he knows about Louis.




Nigel: "Louis Montagny was once a street racer, so a hindrance such as this fog will not disturb him at all."




Maria: "Wow. Such wow. We are in deep trouble if this lingers."

Back in Louis' team, Toru is pretty much amazed at the racing teams working round the clock on their respective cars.




Toru: "This happens when the tension gets so high..."


Nina: "They all have to be very precise, especially that the biggest opponent today is the fog."



Toru: "Any chance of that thing dispersing?"



Nina: "I have checked the latest weather forecast, there will be a slight chance of rain but the fog will stay for days."



Toru: "That sucks. I'm counting on Louis-san to set the fastest lap time. After all, he's used to this."



Nina: "But are you prepared? You are the first driver to race today."



Toru: "I'll make it as fun as possible. Heh. In terms of speed, I handled that 908 nicely. I once drove an Audi R8 that touched 400 km/h, you know?"





In the action, Louis has the lines at the back of his head. The frequency of his practice sessions here pays off.

Louis: "You cannot control the weather. Mother Nature decided it for today. And it would seem this mist would linger for days."




He then actually brakes late, steers at the precise angle and feathers the throttle for the next set of corners.

On to the Vision GT Team, while the crew is also busy setting up the Peugeot VGT, Alan Long and Baptiste just watch the other teams and observe the thick fog as well.



Alan: "Never worry. We shall use all three rounds as means of gathering data, which means we can run today's round. We truly aim for the Le Mans."



Baptiste: "I thought we won't be allowed for joining."




Alan: "Surprisingly, that old man Sir Shaw gave us the permission. No money was involved on that conversation. Still, I have to do something to that old man. He's getting... too senile and annoying. Old people are better off staying in their homes.


So let's just watch these two overlords fight blindly in the fog."

The 908 set a lap time of 2:01.5 which surprised everyone, eclipsing the record by 5 seconds set by another LMP car a few minutes ago.




Maria: "5 seconds faster?! That's just crazy! You'll have a tough time, Rob."



Takanori: "Get him, Handsome Rob!"


Rob is about to get in the Bentley, but he briefly looks at his teammates.



Rob: "Thanks for finally sodding off the Deckard Shaw name, Takanori. Appreciated that."



Rob finally straps in. With the harness fully buckled, he takes off.



During the warm up lap, Rob is appalled at the amount of fog hampering his line of sight.



Rob: "Quite a lovely guest for the afternoon."




But that didn't matter, as he floored it when the recording starts. He has to get even... or can he?

With his basic knowledge of Spa in his head, he takes the Eau Rouge at 260 km/h.

As a result, the Speed 8 hits the highest trap speed in the back straight in qualifying - at 340 km/h.

But Rob brakes in early, having obviously being hindered by the situation.

Rob: "Dennis... we're in for a rough season. Don't expect too much for now."



But even then, the Speed 8 is still no slouch despite its age. It tackles the high speed corners undoubtedly faster than the current crop of LMP cars.

Takanori: "There he is! At the last corner!"

However, they are met with disappointment as they look at Nigel's stopwatch.

Nigel: "No good. 2:02.6."



Takanori: "Rats! A 1 second gap can only be beaten by a miracle!"





Maria: "And it's too late. The race will start immediately after this."





Back at the bleachers, Takuma is informed of the result over the phone.



Takuma: "I see. Got it. *ends call* Looks like even badasses have limits. We couldn't defeat the fastest lap time.


And also, the organizers decided that the race will only last for 4 hours instead of 6, because of this weather."



Sir Shaw: "Heroes are always pinned down at the wall first. Now, can you prevail? This bout will be exciting, no doubt."






Back at the pit lane, Takanori performs his warm-up stretches. But he is surprised by the arrival of Toru.



Takanori: "You..."



Toru: "Looks like I'll be your opponent again! I'll be driving the 908!"



Takanori: "Ha! Route 7 is different from Spa, you know? I'm going to turn the tables this time around!"




Toru: "Looking forward to it! See ya!"



The young man returns to his team, while Takanori's face is already filled with disbelief.



Takanori: "Man, that kid can touch an LMP car already? At this rate, I'm cooked!"






And in a few moments, all the drivers shall get in their respective cars. The first round will begin, business as usual.





End of Page 6







AUTHOR'S NOTES:



- I won't be posting tomorrow, just for all of us to enjoy this upcoming update. But update or not, the club room will be open on Saturday for the three-way battle. I already posted the tunes for the volunteers, and hopefully they are all present.


You can join the club room by simply sending a friend request to my PSN which is stated under my avatar. Then I will send a club invite afterwards.



Looking forward to seeing ya!

 

[RCKakashi14]

Oh hello again, everyone! Before I can go to sleep (and hope that an update is live by the time I wake up tomorrow), allow me to post another teaser for the next arc titled The Streak.

Who is this "Rouge" guy? And why did he come up with that quote?

Yep, Fate (from NFS Rivals) will play a major, antagonistic role.



And the only hint I can provide, is that these two are connected to Louis...




Okay then, that's enough for the teasers! Speculations are once again welcome.

 

[AudiMan2011]

My theory:

1. Louis and Rouge were partners in the European street racing scene until they split up after falling out due to Louis taking the spotlight all the time (hence the shadow part).
2. Fate was one of the most feared street racers in Europe until he was defeated by Louis in a race dubbed the "Greatest Street Showdown of All Time" and is out for redemption.
3. Fate and Rouge meet up with each other and plan to take revenge on Louis for ruining their reputations.

Also, with Louis being a street racer, I wonder what would happen if he were to race Yuki...

 

[RCKakashi14]

Hello readers!

Thanks to the rather uncooperative internet, today is supposed to be the day that the next page will be posted. But since it got fixed just a few hours ago, and with the Spa battle just got done, the next page will be posted tomorrow.


Now, the club room is open. We can simply have free runs and I'll share some info as well.


EDIT: Room Closed.

 

[silverman_GT]

Oh hello again, everyone! Before I can go to sleep (and hope that an update is live by the time I wake up tomorrow), allow me to post another teaser for the next arc titled The Streak.

Who is this "Rouge" guy? And why did he come up with that quote?

Yep, Fate (from NFS Rivals) will play a major, antagonistic role.



And the only hint I can provide, is that these two are connected to Louis...




Okay then, that's enough for the teasers! Speculations are once again welcome.

Will 'Zephyr' make an appearance too? Just wondering........

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 7: Stroke of Luck




An hour has passed, and Dream Alliance is still in a pinch as it faced some mechanical troubles. Takanori spares no quarter in an effort to get to the top. After all, he has to make a comeback...

Of course, the fog makes matters worse.

Takanori: "How many laps has it been? The fog is draining me!"




However, his fighting spirit still burns brightly, a signature trait of the Kanonjis.

Takanori: "Toru is one tough kid. But I won't go down without a fight!!!"





Meanwhile, in the pit lane, no one can relax even in Louis' side. They also faced problems a while back. Nothing is perfect, and endurance races are not always smooth-sailing.




Adrian: "I wonder if that kid can still hold up."



Louis: "He is a kindred spirit, indeed. You never know a street racer's endurance. It won't be over, until we say it's over."



Louis then goes back in the garage, leaning on the wall. However, to his shock, he sees his former manager Baptiste conversing with Alan Long outside.



Louis: "So... you truly did sell yourself and your team, Baptiste. Poor creature...



Whatever, I will show to you how skill can never be bought by money. As usual, Clement Villain is just as gullible."



On Dream Alliance's side, Rob takes a good look on Louis.



Rob: "I'm quite surprised. I never knew him at all. He just popped out of nowhere."



Then he shows a grin on his face.




Rob: "I might have found my nemesis. I don't want a boring season, and I'll make that a point. Heh."






Back in the race, Toru is just as drained out. The fact that the Peugeot VGT is breathing down his neck, despite not eligible for points at all. The pressure is real.

Another few laps has passed, and Takanori manages to catch up.

Takanori: "Yossha! Time to be on fire!"




Background Music

Toru: "They're close. Even I can see a speck of Dream Alliance's car. I cannot afford to let my guard down.


I've gone this far! I cannot afford to turn back!"

The VGT eventually understeers off the track, one opponent down it seems...

Takanori: "All right! Toru's next!"

Toru: "There... there! It's just between you and me now! Think you can really turn the tables?!"

Takanori: "I'll admit. You're as tough and sinister as Yuki!"

Then Takanori makes his move, going to the right side.




Next Background Music

Toru: "Not so fast!"


Toru immediately turns the wheel, using the car's body to block Takanori's passing attempt. As a result, Takanori steps on the brakes and lost his balance.



Takanori: "That's truly a street racer's style!"

Takanori: "Toru is indeed a very skilled driver for his age. He has a bright future ahead of him. But...




...I can't sit behind just praising him!"

Suddenly, Takanori feels a jolt, and he felt the car crashed down to the ground.



Takanori: "What the?!"



He cannot steer properly, and the ride has gotten to its worst.



Takanori: "The front left suspension! DAMMIT!!!"

He then makes a contact to the team.



Takanori: "I'm heading in the pit. The front left suspension got heavily damaged!"




Toru notices the absence of the Bentley from his rear-view mirror installed on the upper right side of the A-pillar.



Toru: "That was close. He really is the Takanori Kanonji. I call myself lucky this time around..."

At the bleachers, Takuma sees the Bentley entering the pit lane once again.



Takuma: "What's wrong with the Bentley again? You know, I honestly start to think that racing cars aren't just as reliable."



Sir Shaw: "You cannot control the tides of war, son. They'll just rise up and devour any unsuspecting ship."

Upon arriving, the mechanics push the damaged car inside as quickly and possible. They rise it up to commence the repairs.


Takanori, frustrated, takes off his helmet and places it on the table. He takes a deep breath, letting no negative feeling conquer him. Maria gives a bottle of water to him.



Maria: "You had it rough, huh?"



Takanori: "Yeah. Let's just say Lady Luck is not on our side today. It will be much tougher to return the position I've worked hard for.



I cannot settle for the second best, that's for sure."



Takanori opens up the bottle, and takes a gulp.






End of Page 7






AUTHOR'S NOTES:



- There will be a second part of this battle, do not worry. It will be Owen's turn, and would he able to bring the team's pride back?

Will 'Zephyr' make an appearance too? Just wondering........

Oh yes, indeed. It would be boring if he isn't, am I right?

 

[silverman_GT]

Oh yes, indeed. It would be boring if he isn't, am I right?

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 8: Saving The Day




It's Owen's turn, and he is to face against Nina and Clement in this final leg of the battle. Luckily for Dream Alliance, the last 2 hours of the race went smoothly for them.


Now, there's just a few laps left, and Owen's concentration is still top notch thanks to a good nap urged by Rob.



However, it seems that the challenge is far from over.

Alan: "Baptiste, I have given instructions for Clement to briefly fight back, just to show our intentions to everyone."



Baptiste: "Not a problem at all."



Alan: "Now let's see how can these LMPs stack up. After all, we are to eliminate the weakness that all LMPs share."




Meanwhile, Rob is observing the Vision GT team and its crew. While it seems orderly, he has yet to take his eyes off them.

But he was interrupted, by none other than Louis.




Louis: "Looks like we share the same enemy."



Rob: "And a goal. Too bad we didn't even drive for this round. Cut short to 4 hours."



Louis: "But I aim to assist today. And I don't care what happens to my former crew, but what I want is to teach Baptiste and Alan a lesson."



Rob: "Former crew?"



Louis: "Yes. I once belonged to them. But apparently, they sold themselves and their souls out of desperation. Money does move the world for them."



Rob: "Quite a nice Exodus story."



Louis: "I've made research about you as well. Rob Hatch - a race car driver and an MI6 top agent."



Rob: "That's right, and I'm doing two jobs right now. I'm that workaholic."




Louis: "Do me a favor. Let me take care of Baptiste."




Rob: "Go ahead. I'm not stopping you. But if he's involved, then let me do my job, whether you like it or not."



Louis smiles at that thought, seemingly approving the idea.



Louis: "Okay then."



Rob smiles back.



Rob: "But let me make one thing clear. We're not allies. We just have a common goal, and that's all there is to it.


I want this season exciting, and neither of us can afford being soft. Just be on top of our game. I'll have my glory next time."





Rob then leaves Louis, heading off to have some refreshments.




Back in the race, the two LMPs also seem to share the same goal - to catch the Peugeot VGT.

Nina: "System check. No glitches found. Engage in full battle sprint mode."

The three race cars brave through the foggy evening. They have nothing to waste at all, since the end is approaching.




As for Owen, he carries his team's burden on his shoulders. He has to turn the luck around in their favor.



Background Music

Owen: "This is my first time to participate in a major championship. Because of that, I cannot afford distractions. Everyone in the team relies on me at this very moment."

The final lap. And the tides have changed their flow, as the Peugeot VGT understeers at the very first corner.

Owen: "Just one more to deal with! I'll pass this 908 for you, Takanori-san!"

Then after the back straight, Owen finally makes his move. He dived in, as a show of aggression.


Nina: "Aggression detected. No damage found."

Without sparing any moment, Owen takes advantage of his distraction and finally takes the lead.

Owen: "I have to make Rob proud of me. I cannot believe that a barista would reach this far!"

Nina: "Target abilities are beyond calculations. Error detected."

And the checkered flag is waved, with the Bentley Speed 8 first to pass through it. It's a miracle for Dream Alliance, despite the numerous challenges the team has faced and just as they had thought their chances of winning were slim.



Maria: "Woohoo!!! WE DID IT!!!"



Rob: "Your kid is going to be so proud right now."



Takanori: "Man, I thought it's game over for us."

At the bleachers, Sir Shaw simply applauds at the result.



Sir Shaw: "You've done well. Dream Alliance will always find a way to win. Your fighting spirit is truly fierce."



Takuma: "I told you, old man. If you believe in yourself, then you can achieve everything. The capabilities of a human being can never be measured by data."




Down at the pits, Alan heads to the caravan along with Baptiste.



Alan: "Let's pack up. We've gathered more than enough data. We have accomplished an important objective."



Baptiste: "I'll instruct the crew."






The Dream Alliance celebrate this blissful moment. But of course, the real battle is yet to be won.

************************************************************

​

Location: Le Mans, France
Time: 8 am, the next day




Even with the fact the town of Le Mans is always associated with motorsport tourism thanks to its proximity within the famous Circuit de La Sarthe, it's actually a quiet town if there are no motorsport activities going on.





But one car breaks the peaceful morning for the dwellers.

Fate: "So, you think by entering the motorsport world means you can escape me? Don't make me laugh, Louis Montagny. I will have my revenge on you just yet."

"Mark my words. I will hunt you down...






...Zephyr."​

End of Page 8

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 9: Petit Frère





Location: Circuit De Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Time: 9 am



Last night, a great battle took place in the legendary Spa circuit, and the Dream Alliance's miraculous victory sparked immediate waves in social media.


Even Owen could not process what just happened. All he knew was he gave it all, and he's now the darling.



But now, the circuit can enjoy tranquility once again, only if this LM55 has stopped doing laps...

And surprisingly, Kaido is at the pit lane, holding a stopwatch. Who is behind the wheel of that ominous car? And why is it running once again?



It is safe to assume that it's running on full power this time, as it blitzed the Bentley's back straight speed - at 350 km/h.

Kaido can already hear the LM55's high-pitched cries from afar. And its cornering lines are ever so precise.




Someone must have taken the brave pill considering the reduced visibility. The driver surely has the track in his memory.

It smashes Louis' qualifying lap record by three seconds - at 1:58.5

Kaido: "Well, that exceeds expectations. Now, if only Takuma can break its seal."




Upon returning, the driver exits the car. Red definitely is the dominating color of his racing overalls.

Kaido: "Great job, Rouge. Is that your real name?"



"Rouge" simply faces at Kaido, folding his arms.




Rouge: "Just my codename. And let me already tell you, that I shall save my identity for only one person."



Kaido: "I've met shady people in the past, and you're no different. But in regards to the payment of your services..."



Rouge: "I don't need money. I only came because I got interested in that car, and the moment you sought help, I immediately popped up. All that matters for me, is that I break Louis Montagny's record."



Kaido: "But you used a car that is clearly not your own. Are you fine with that?"



Rouge: "In the end, the driver skill matters. Cars are merely weapons. And weapons are just tools."




Without any further statements, the mysterious "Rouge" just leaves Kaido alone. Then a gust of wind blows by as he walks along.




Kaido: "That mysterious man. He definitely has plenty of intentions. I can tell. Why would he pop up and volunteer in an instant without a purpose? Trouble is brewing soon..."

************************************************************

​

Location: McCarthy Mansion, Surrey, UK
Time: 12 pm






Takuma is in Sir Shaw's mansion, and had insisted to stay under the guise of knowing his adoptive grandfather even more.


He is in the bathroom of a guest room, soaking wet and just put a towel around his waist to cover himself. He then looks at the mirror, as if having some deep thoughts...




There is a real reason why I insisted on staying in my Old Man Shaw's mansion. Hiroyuki-san gave me an important task, and it's very very urgent and top priority.




For you see, there have been reports that Sir Shaw is a target of an abduction or assassination. Given that Rob is busy with the FIA WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, I am the only one who can come close to old man Shaw. Alan Long has been suspected, and that's no surprise.




Why did I suspect Alan? Simply because Shaw told me that he bribed someone within FIA to allow his team to enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans, knowing the VGT car is banned. He knew that all along, and he just kept silent since he "doesn't want to end the fun so soon". Basically, he's leaving this thing to us. There is a connection.




Besides, I'll let Takanori have the spotlight. He stayed away from racing for far too long.





Then the butler suddenly comes knocking at the door.




Butler: "Sir, the lunch has been served. Sir Shaw is waiting for you downstairs."



Takuma: "Give me a moment to dress up."







Takuma quickly wipes himself dry and heads back to the bedroom in order to get dressed.




Takuma: "I wonder what's for lunch, though..."

************************************************************​

Location: Nurburgring GP, Nurburg, Germany
Time: 5 pm




While Nina and Adrian went back home to Norway at the start of the day for them to rest up, and Stephan along with the crew and the 908 immediately returned to France to fix the car, Louis and Toru decided to have a little drive and ended up in Nurburgring in Germany, where the 2nd round will take place next weekend.



Though the Nordschleife is closed off to the public due to maintenance, the GP circuit is open instead, albeit there are no other drivers taking their cars out for a spin.




So this provided the opportunity for Louis to demonstrate his abilities to Toru. The lead driver has to give encouragement, after their defeat yesterday.

Toru: "Wow! Amazing! First time I sit with a world class racer and witness his driving!"



Louis: "I want you to cheer up, that's why."



The GT by Citroen's body is made purely for downforce, hence taking little effort for Louis for it to tuck it in the corners precisely.

Toru: "Your lines are definitely much better than mine."



Toru's bliss lasted short, as the young man shifts back once again to his disappointment.



Louis: "What's wrong? Hey, you did very well in the first leg."



Toru: "I know. But I wish I could have done something better to secure our victory."



Louis: "You did more than enough, Toru. You deserve credit. And you know what? You are right, we are kindred spirits."

Toru: "We were once street racers, but I think that's the only thing common between us. Sigh... if only I had enough encouragement from my parents back then."



Louis shows a reassuring smile.



Louis: "You know, I too, never really felt what an encouragement was. I was all alone. My parents died when I was young, and so there was no sign of that uplifting feeling that you need in order to push through. I know what you feel.



I fended for myself, like what you did."



Toru: "Plus, I didn't even go well with my brother."



Louis: "Now you're making me feel jealous. I wanted a brother for once, you know?"



Toru: "Really? And honestly, I feel that you show an ideal big brother to me. You try to cheer me up, and encourage me."




Louis shifts back his concentration in order to show the ideal racing lines of the track for Toru. Then upon returning to the main straight...

Louis: "Hey, do you want to be my little brother? I wanted one, you know? I'm curious how it feels like to give love. I'll teach you everything I know. I'll always be at your side."



Toru's face shifted to a delightful expression. After all, he never felt brotherhood within his family.





Toru: "Oui! And you have to teach me how to speak French too! While I'll teach you Japanese!"




Louis then pats on Toru's head, along with a very genuine smile.




Louis: "Of course, petit frère. T'es mon petit frère." (You're my little brother)




Toru: "Merci beaucoup!" (Thank you very much!)






End of Page 9




AUTHOR'S NOTES:



- So many amazing things happened in one single day, eh? From Fate's debut, until showing Louis soft side.


- I am in need of a French speaker, especially for the next arc. I'll open a separate chat for that purpose.

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 10: Deliver



Location: Nurburgring GP
Time: 5 pm, Thursday




For Louis, even the rain does not hinder his practice. After all, the team needs to be prepared for the race that shall happen two days later.

His entire team is eagerly waiting for his return, to anticipate his feedback. Before his turn, Toru already did some laps, and so does Nina.



Background Music




Toru: "Even the raciest of the race cars can get twitchy on the wet."



Nina: "We shouldn't worry much though. The weather forecast stated that the rain will last until the weekend, but expect no loss of visibility."



Toru: "That's great. I'm fine with rain. But fog? That's a different story. Anyhow, the fastest lap I recorded today was about 2 minutes. I wonder what Louis can set..."

Stephan: "Louis insists that we should practice as much as possible. Even by the time he joined the team, he already enforced it. Naturally, that would be too expensive for logistics, since spare parts are expensive, even the tires. And the reservation of the track can be costly too."



Toru: "I know that mentality. That's just a norm of a street racer. In order to win, street racers practice everyday, with disregard to plenty of factors such as weather and traffic."



Stephan: "That kind of training will help racers by a huge margin. Though money can be an issue."

Stephan: "But there is something that suddenly ticked Louis. A rivalry."



Toru: "Rivalry?"

But before Stephan can answer, he reflexively presses the stopwatch as the 908 crosses the line once again. The lap time sends a surprise to him.



Stephan: "Oh ho ho... 1:56.8! Rarely do I see him go at that pace."

Toru: "Wow! I know my big brother Louis can set much faster. Mind you, it's raining heavily."



Stephan puts the stopwatch on the table and crosses his arms.



Stephan: "There's no mistaking it. Someone has ignited Louis' soul. He wouldn't go all out even in practice. Perhaps the Dream Alliance's victory in the 1st round has something to do with it."






Only Louis can provide the answer. But looking at how the car runs, it seems that Rob has lit his soul on fire indeed...

************************************************************

​

Location: Ahrweiler
Time: 7 am, Saturday



Once again, it's race day. While Dream Alliance is already at the track performing practice runs, Takuma on the other hand is at Ahrweiler and picked up Axel's Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition as he came up with a plan to protect Sir Shaw.


He wastes no time, and immediately leaves Katrine's home, speeding his way to the hotel where Sir Shaw is staying.

Takuma: "Last week, it was foggy. Now it's raining heavily. Perhaps the sun hates the entirety of Europe, huh?"

Takuma: "Surely, we'll get late. I hope we make it even if it's the last leg."




An hour later, Takuma arrives at the lobby. Then he contacts the butler through the phone telling that he's arrived and ready to pick up Sir Shaw.


10 minutes later, Sir Shaw makes it.



Sir Shaw: "We're not going to see the start of the race because of this..."



Takuma simply scratches his head, having ran out of excuses.



Takuma: "Ahahahahaha... sorry, old man. We'll be able to watch it, don't worry."



As they are walking towards the outside to the car, masked men suddenly barge in, aiming their guns at everyone. But most of them are pointing their guns at the two of them.



Takuma swiftly takes Sir Shaw's cane.




Sir Shaw: "What are you doing?!"



Takuma: "Old man, there is a reason why I gave you this cane."



Takuma holds the cane horizontally with his two hands. His right hand then makes a slow pulling motion. A shiny speck comes out, turning out to be a blade concealed within.



Sir Shaw: "A sword?!"



Takuma sheathes the blade quickly, shining brightly under the hotel lobby's vast array of lights. He takes a single step, and he sees the terrified guests and employees around. Then he gives a cold stare to his assailants.




Takuma: "Hmph. Mind if I take your arms and legs?"

************************************************************

​

Location: Nurburgring GP




Meanwhile, the 2nd round of the FIA WEC will start shortly. Maria and Andy are surprised at the absence of the Vision Gran Turismo team, however.



Maria: "Huh? Where's Alan's team?"


Andy: "Strange. And shouldn't they be here if they intend to gather data? I guess the first round was enough for them. They aren't eligible for points the entire three rounds, anyway."




Hiroyuki arrives and checks to see if the preparations are in order. The mechanics have their hands full on setting up the Bentley, after all they want to prevent the problems they have encountered in the past round.



Meanwhile, Rob observes at Louis doing his warm up stretches, with his muscular physique exposed while doing so.



Rob: "Got jacked up too, huh? I am union jacked too."




Takanori pats at Rob's back.



Takanori: "What are you looking at? The race will start in a few minutes."




Then Rob heads straight to the Bentley and straps himself inside. While buckling the harness, Takanori taps at the car's bodywork.



Takanori: "Ready to deliver, Frank Martin?"



He simply winks his eye along with coming up with a smile. Rob just starts up the car, and revs it briefly.




Rob: "I always deliver. No questions asked."






The race begins as usual, despite the continuous shower that lasted all week. Even so, Rob firms his grip on the steering wheel.

Rob: "Where are you Louis? Like I said before, YOU DON'T KNOW ME... BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO!"






End of Page 10




AUTHOR'S NOTES:



- See? Takuma can also do badass stuff. Warning, violence is expected at the next page.


- And I need a volunteer who can drive the Bentley Speed 8. Just remember, it has a 1:1 power to weight ratio.

 

[AudiMan2011]

About time Takuma got in on some physical action and not let Rob steal that spotlight. 👍

 

[RZQSPEED]

Page 10: Deliver



Location: Nurburgring GP
Time: 5 pm, Thursday




For Louis, even the rain does not hinder his practice. After all, the team needs to be prepared for the race that shall happen two days later.

His entire team is eagerly waiting for his return, to anticipate his feedback. Before his turn, Toru already did some laps, and so does Nina.



Background Music




Toru: "Even the raciest of the race cars can get twitchy on the wet."



Nina: "We shouldn't worry much though. The weather forecast stated that the rain will last until the weekend, but expect no loss of visibility."



Toru: "That's great. I'm fine with rain. But fog? That's a different story. Anyhow, the fastest lap I recorded today was about 2 minutes. I wonder what Louis can set..."

Stephan: "Louis insists that we should practice as much as possible. Even by the time he joined the team, he already enforced it. Naturally, that would be too expensive for logistics, since spare parts are expensive, even the tires. And the reservation of the track can be costly too."



Toru: "I know that mentality. That's just a norm of a street racer. In order to win, street racers practice everyday, with disregard to plenty of factors such as weather and traffic."



Stephan: "That kind of training will help racers by a huge margin. Though money can be an issue."

Stephan: "But there is something that suddenly ticked Louis. A rivalry."



Toru: "Rivalry?"

But before Stephan can answer, he reflexively presses the stopwatch as the 908 crosses the line once again. The lap time sends a surprise to him.



Stephan: "Oh ho ho... 1:56.8! Rarely do I see him go at that pace."

Toru: "Wow! I know my big brother Louis can set much faster. Mind you, it's raining heavily."



Stephan puts the stopwatch on the table and crosses his arms.



Stephan: "There's no mistaking it. Someone has ignited Louis' soul. He wouldn't go all out even in practice. Perhaps the Dream Alliance's victory in the 1st round has something to do with it."






Only Louis can provide the answer. But looking at how the car runs, it seems that Rob has lit his soul on fire indeed...

************************************************************

​

Location: Ahrweiler
Time: 7 am, Saturday



Once again, it's race day. While Dream Alliance is already at the track performing practice runs, Takuma on the other hand is at Ahrweiler and picked up Axel's Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 Edition as he came up with a plan to protect Sir Shaw.


He wastes no time, and immediately leaves Katrine's home, speeding his way to the hotel where Sir Shaw is staying.

Takuma: "Last week, it was foggy. Now it's raining heavily. Perhaps the sun hates the entirety of Europe, huh?"

Takuma: "Surely, we'll get late. I hope we make it even if it's the last leg."




An hour later, Takuma arrives at the lobby. Then he contacts the butler through the phone telling that he's arrived and ready to pick up Sir Shaw.


10 minutes later, Sir Shaw makes it.



Sir Shaw: "We're not going to see the start of the race because of this..."



Takuma simply scratches his head, having ran out of excuses.



Takuma: "Ahahahahaha... sorry, old man. We'll be able to watch it, don't worry."



As they are walking towards the outside to the car, masked men suddenly barge in, aiming their guns at everyone. But most of them are pointing their guns at the two of them.



Takuma swiftly takes Sir Shaw's cane.




Sir Shaw: "What are you doing?!"



Takuma: "Old man, there is a reason why I gave you this cane."



Takuma holds the cane horizontally with his two hands. His right hand then makes a slow pulling motion. A shiny speck comes out, turning out to be a blade concealed within.



Sir Shaw: "A sword?!"



Takuma sheathes the blade quickly, shining brightly under the hotel lobby's vast array of lights. He takes a single step, and he sees the terrified guests and employees around. Then he gives a cold stare to his assailants.




Takuma: "Hmph. Mind if I take your arms and legs?"

************************************************************

​

Location: Nurburgring GP




Meanwhile, the 2nd round of the FIA WEC will start shortly. Maria and Andy are surprised at the absence of the Vision Gran Turismo team, however.



Maria: "Huh? Where's Alan's team?"


Andy: "Strange. And shouldn't they be here if they intend to gather data? I guess the first round was enough for them. They aren't eligible for points the entire three rounds, anyway."




Hiroyuki arrives and checks to see if the preparations are in order. The mechanics have their hands full on setting up the Bentley, after all they want to prevent the problems they have encountered in the past round.



Meanwhile, Rob observes at Louis doing his warm up stretches, with his muscular physique exposed while doing so.



Rob: "Got jacked up too, huh? I am union jacked too."




Takanori pats at Rob's back.



Takanori: "What are you looking at? The race will start in a few minutes."




Then Rob heads straight to the Bentley and straps himself inside. While buckling the harness, Takanori taps at the car's bodywork.



Takanori: "Ready to deliver, Frank Martin?"



He simply winks his eye along with coming up with a smile. Rob just starts up the car, and revs it briefly.




Rob: "I always deliver. No questions asked."






The race begins as usual, despite the continuous shower that lasted all week. Even so, Rob firms his grip on the steering wheel.

Rob: "Where are you Louis? Like I said before, YOU DON'T KNOW ME... BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO!"






End of Page 10




AUTHOR'S NOTES:



- See? Takuma can also do badass stuff. Warning, violence is expected at the next page.


- And I need a volunteer who can drive the Bentley Speed 8. Just remember, it has a 1:1 power to weight ratio.

my Bentley has over 1000 horsepower, so i think it doesn't match the fanfic's 900 horsepower which has a 1:1 power to weight ratio

 

[RCKakashi14]

my Bentley has over 1000 horsepower, so i think it doesn't match the fanfic's 900 horsepower which has a 1:1 power to weight ratio

Sigh...



...ever heard or seen the "Power Limiter" function?

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 11: Union Jack vs. Tricolore



Surrounded.... and intimidated.


Those are the actions done by the masked men who barged in the hotel lobby, with a clear objective of eliminating Sir Shaw McCarthy as almost all of them point their guns at both him and Takuma.


But Takuma simply wouldn't go down without a fight, as he unsheathes a blade concealed within the cane that he gave to his adoptive grandfather as a present.





Takuma: "Mind if I take your arms and legs?"



In a blink of an eye, Takuma makes a strike, and slices the arm off the goon in front of him. While the next one attempts to pull the trigger, Takuma simply makes a horizontal slash across. Blood starts to scatter, and the ensuing chaos prompts the employees and guests to leave, but Sir Shaw is left terrified at what he's seeing.




Sir Shaw: "I'm seeing... a beast ensnaring its prey!"



Hack, slash, and another hack. Takuma butchers the assailants, living up to his statement of taking whatever's left of them, literally. He has a deadly proficiency of the samurai sword ever since his teenage years.


Not even a shot was fired, considering how advantageous a long-range weapon such a gun against a melee weapon like a sword. Takuma storms through the lobby, mowing down his opponents like a hurricane on a field.


Then, having felt someone is to strike him from behind, Takuma points the blade backwards and impales his attacker on the abdomen at the right moment. He then turns back to give a cold, murderous stare at the goon, and twists the blade slowly to increase the degree of pain inflicted.



Takuma: "Even the quietest of men can have a savage beast within. And too bad, you've awakened it."



Then he rapidly takes out the blade, allowing more blood to scatter while the goon falls down for dead. Seeing that it's the last one, Takuma approaches Sir Shaw.



Takuma: "You're hurt?"



Sir Shaw: "Not at all. What in the world is happening?"



Then Takuma notices an ID on the floor, upon picking it up, it belongs to one of the men and sees a "GT" logo on it.




Takuma: "Alan..."




He approaches a janitor, and hands over some paper bills as he takes a towel, using it to wipe the blood from the blade.



Takuma: "Here's an extra. You've got a lot of cleaning to do. If they're squirming, jam your mop on their faces and call the police. You know what happened."





Both Takuma and Sir Shaw make their way to the exit.



Takuma: "We're really going to be late. Sorry, old man."




The two enter the SLR and then they storm off the hotel.

************************************************************


​

Location: Nurburgring GP




Meanwhile, Rob fights his way past the competition, very much eager to catch up with Louis. Not even the rain can put out the fire in his soul.




Background Music

Rob: "I'm going to be right up your arse shortly, Louis. Where are you?"

Rob: "You are a worthy adversary. It's a fact."

Meanwhile, in the pit lane, Takanori is left wondering at the whereabouts of his twin.



Takanori: "Hmmmmm... Aniki should have been here even before the start of the race. Something holding him up?"



Maria: "That is strange. Takuma-san is never late."



However, Nigel arrives with a sudden news.



Nigel: "Everyone! Takuma-san and Sir Shaw will be arriving really late. Estimated time of arrival will be around 10 in the morning. I just got contacted by them."



Takanori: "Did Aniki tell anything why?"



Nigel: "He didn't really state the reason. I'm sorry."




Takanori: "That's okay. But it's rather strange of him to be late."



However, their anxiety is cut short as they hear the crowds cheering louder. It turns out that the 908 and the Speed 8 are going head-to-head.



Background Music

Nigel: "Look! Mr. Rob and monsieur Louis are neck-and-neck! The crowd is going wild!"






Takanori: "And yet, we're still at the first half of the race! This is insane! What's going on between them?!"

Owen, however, decided to keep his mouth shut. He wants to keep the excitement.



Owen: "For the spirit of racing, and to make things fun for a bit, I'd rather not tell the root of their rivalry. Let Rob tell the tale."





However, Louis manages to get the upper hand again, as the Speed 8 understeers at the hairpin.



Rob: "Tch! Too fast!"

And to Rob's surprise, he sees the rocket-like acceleration of the 908 out of the turns, despite the decreased traction thanks to the wet surface.

Rob: "This is bad. But I'm impressed on how can he control the wheelspin."






Back at the pit lane, the Dream Alliance can see the footage, and they cannot take their eyes off the tense race.



Takanori: "That 908 has crazy acceleration!"





Nigel: "That's partly because of the diesel engine. The GP layout of the Nurburgring favors cars that have plenty of low-rpm torque."





Takanori: "Yeah... and to top it off, the only long straight here is the main straight."





Nigel: "This is when we will see a fascinating battle between a diesel and a petrol. Allow me to explain."







End of Page 11

​

 

[Thomas__633]

I can drive the Bentley especially at the Nur GP, because I practise there.

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 12: The Brakes of Doom






It's midway of the rather dangerous rain race at the Nurburgring GP. For Rob, it's time to get even, no matter what.

He then brakes late approaching the chicane, just to seemingly gain an edge.



Rob: "I asked the crew to strengthen the brakes. I know that's quite stupid in a rain race, but there is a real reason behind it. Nonetheless, I still have control. I'll save it for later. Heh."

Back in the pits, Nigel takes the moment to explain the pros of cons of both Diesel and Petrol engines.



Nigel: "You see, diesel engines are making their way to Le Mans Prototypes, such the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, and the Audi R18. The greatest advantage of a diesel engine is its massive bottom-end torque, which is very helpful in tight courses like this, in order to make up for the engine's extra bulk thanks to heavier components. Along with those, fuel economy is also superior. In Le Mans nowadays, endurance is much more prioritized than outright speed."

Nigel: "On the other hand, present them a long straight, then that's where the petrol-engined car shines. Petrol engines rev higher, and can be geared shorter to achieve equal or even better acceleration than the diesels. Plus, you can play with the powerband easier."

Owen: "No wonder I kept up easily with that Peugeot in the previous round at Spa. But since diesel engines have so much torque, won't that trouble Louis at all? It's rainy, and more torque can prove deadly on the wet surface. More wheelspin is the result."



Nigel: "That's correct. But that all now lies within Louis. He still has the fastest qualifying lap time here. Maybe he has trained deliberately for this.



But on our end, Rob simply asked the crew to strengthen the brakes. I find it peculiar."




Takanori: "Stronger brakes on a wet road can actually prove fatal. You can easily lose control. The best way to slow down in that situation is to "feather" the brake pedal."





However, Nigel's point starts to present itself, as the Peugeot easily keeps up.

Rob: "Persistent, aren't we?"




With that comeback, Rob gets in too fast at the next corner, losing the lead once again.

Rob: "Dammit... only you and Takuma are the only persons who can make me sweat!"




However, in the spirit of competition, Louis backs off from the pedal a bit, allowing Rob to gain ground.

Louis: "Let's play!"



Louis defends his position, and demonstrates his masterful acceleration control.

Louis: "I have to admit, you are highly skilled. You had me pushed this far ever since my days as Zephyr."

Louis: "Wait... what?! Why did I suddenly remember that?! I thought I have abandoned that name for all eternity. But this excitement and tension are on par to my street racing days."

As if sensed that this is the perfect moment, Rob steps on the pedal hard.




Rob: "My turn now."

Another lap has started, and now's the time for Rob to unleash his trick. He steps hard on the brake pedal at the most sudden moment.

Naturally, this prompts Louis to do the same, but this cost the control of his car. He rapidly makes steering movements to restore the car's composure.




Louis: "Tch! I lost control. What the hell are you doing, Rob?"

With his strategy working, Rob puts up a grin.






Rob: "Ever heard of "Brake Check"? Now it's time to play. Now's the time you'll about to know me!"







End of Page 12

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 13: Heightened Alert




As the first half of the 4-hour endurance race comes to a close, Rob goes on to the offensive revealing the reason why he asked the mechanics to strengthen the brakes - to perform a disturbance tactic to his adversary, Louis.

The said tactic is called "Brake Check". It's one of the most common racing techniques that involve sudden braking in order to disturb the rhythm of the pursuing opponent. It's even more effective when the road is wet, which increases the chances of losing control even higher.




This arises a new challenge for Louis, as brains now get involved in their bout.




Louis: "Tch! What the hell are you doing, Rob?!"



Background Music

Louis: "Haven't I reacted properly, I would have completely lost control of the car!"

Rob: "In racing, you have to employ every single technique in the book. It's all that simple."




Regardless, Louis' 908 still manages to keep up.

Rob: "Ready for another go?"

At the middle of the high speed corner, Rob slams on the brake pedal again. Once again, the trick proves to be effective...

...as the Peugeot wiggled about, forcing Louis to feather the throttle as two of the car's tires land the grass.



Louis: "Not again with that braking!"

And treading through the last corner...

With impeccable timing, Rob hits the brakes once again.



Louis: "Shoot!"

The moment Louis stepped on the brakes, the Peugeot's balance was immediately destroyed. Sudden braking in mid-corner can cost a car's balance, especially in the wet.




Louis: "You want to play that way, huh?"

With his stint successful, Rob smiles in triumph, and then contacts his team.




Rob: "I'll be pitting in after this lap. Driver change."

Takanori: "Roger that!"

************************************************************


​

The two drivers pit in to their respective garages. Rob simply pats on Takanori's back for good luck, as it's the latter's turn to drive. Tires are changed, and then the car's fuel got topped off as well. All set.



Rob then leans on the wall, taking off the top part of his race suit to cool himself down. Moments later, he is approached by Louis.



Louis: "Hey."



Rob: "Bonjour, monsieur Louis. You must be sweating too."



Louis: "Heh... do you think it's a good idea to unleash everything you got already? It's just the first half."



Rob: "In battle, you have to employ every tactic. Simple, right?"



Louis puts up a grin after hearing that answer.



Louis: "Heh. You have yet to see me in top form."




Rob: "Hehehehehe... you're having excuses. Say, why don't we have another go at the last 5 laps of the race?"



Louis: "Why not? Then you'll see if I'm truly bluffing or not. Catch you later."



Louis heads back to his team, leaving Rob just smiling and scoffing off.

********************************​

But then all of a sudden, Takuma and Sir Shaw finally arrive, prompting him to approach the two.



Rob: "Hey! You missed the show!"



Takuma: "Sorry..."



Maria then notices a tinge of blood on Takuma's cheek.



Maria: "Ummmm.... you have blood on your cheek."



Takuma: "Oh."


Takuma gets a handkerchief, and to their surprise, it's filled with blood. He continued on wiping it.



Maria: "What happened?"



Takuma: "We're having a big problem here. Old man Shaw here is the target of assassination, by none other than Alan Long."


Andy shows a brief gasp, finding it hard to believe that his dear friend would resort to such evil act.



Andy: "I can't believe this. Alan would...?"



Takuma: "That's right. Your best pal sent a horde of goons to kill old man Shaw. Proof? Here."



Takuma then shows the ID from one of the goons.



Takuma: "See the GT logo? Anyhow, I had fun butchering them."



Hiroyuki steps in, and clears his throat.





Hiroyuki: "Very well then. I will simply hand over Takuma to Sir Shaw temporarily. We'll take care of the racing. We're having a hard time as it is."





Sir Shaw: "To be blunt, I hope this doesn't present too much of a trouble for Takuma, and to all of you as well."




Takuma: "Leave the slashing to me, old man. I'll make sure you breathe freely all the time."






End of Page 13




AUTHOR'S NOTES:




- Oh Rob, if Jason Statham doesn't let his guard down, then so do you. You will see Louis' true skill later.


- For that purpose, I need a volunteer once again for the Bentley Speed 8. I'll open a club room tonight, at 8 pm (GMT+8)



(And you are free to use the Power Limiter, if its power is higher than 900 HP. No need to whine about it. #commonsense )




- Next page will be titled "The Blue Streak".

 

[Thomas__633]

turns out I can't use it after all...

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 14: The Blue Streak





2 hours have passed by smoothly. No mechanical problems were detected by either team. Tension is still rising as always as both the Bentley and Peugeot battle for the lead.


It's time for them to change drivers, which confused everyone since it's just 4 laps left to prove themselves. What the audience don't know, however, is that they're in a treat once again as they will witness another exciting bout.



Once they see Rob and Louis getting in their respective cars, the audience had a standing ovation. They cheered even louder as the two cars leave the pit lane.



Their battle begins. Who shall take the checkered flag this time?

Louis: "I've rested more than enough for this."

Back in the pit lane, Stephan looks at the scenario rather happily.



Adrian: "What is there to smile about?"



Stephan: "Hehehehehe... watch as Louis truly embodies our team's name - Blue Streak Racing."




Toru: "No wonder you got that team's name. They say that the cars are so fast that opponents only see a blue streak because of the car's chrome blue color."




Stephan: "Only Louis can perform that perfectly."



In Dream Alliance, however, Nigel shows a pessimistic look. Quite surprising from a robot. He acts more of a human ever since he got that major update.




Nigel: "We're... doomed from the very beginning."



Takanori: "Huh?!"


Takuma: "What are you talking about?"

Nigel: "Monsieur Louis' qualifying lap time is a sign. The 908 will truly prevail here. I know you said that driver skill matters, but this time around, both the driver and car are in perfect sync which explains that lap time.


For you see, I made an analysis. Since I watched the footage from our car, the Peugeot's movements show a sign that it's responsive. And then Rob's steering movements show that our car is peaky."

Nigel: "You could never say that diesels are clunky anymore. They're responsive, and put that into racing application, and they can outperform even the petrol cars. With the low rpm thrust, Louis can already tell how much boost it provides, hence he can control the amount easily and accelerate out of the corners with efficiency. A peaky car like the Bentley can't tell you when the power will burst, hence catching you always off guard."

Nigel: "And with their clash in the first half, Louis have learned a lot from that. Naturally, he has come up with a counter offensive."




Back in the action, Rob waits for Louis' move. It seems that he has set a distance.



Rob: "Come on, what have you got? We've got to make this exciting for everyone."

Then Louis, stepping harder on the accelerator and firming his grip on the steering wheel.


Louis: "No need to wonder now, Rob. You truly are a worthy opponent. Hence, you deserve to see my brief demonstration...




...OF MY TRUE SKILL!!!"

Background Music




The 908 shows signs of aggression, as it steals the Speed 8's line.

Louis: "I don't want to relive my street racing days, but those were the times that I am always in top form!"




Then the entire Dream Alliance is shocked to see the 908 blazing past the main straight, setting a huge gap from their car.




Maria: "WHOA!!! It's just 2 laps left! How can this be?!"



Even Hiroyuki couldn't hide his shock, but he stayed silent and crossed his arms.



Hiroyuki: "Rob... I know you're suddenly in a pinch. But don't rush things. This entire small championship is just our way of expressing our intentions to take on the world once again. You don't have to panic and make drastic decisions. These can only take things for the worst.


For now, you have to finish. Regardless of the position. The world already knows what you're capable of. The 24 Hours of Le Mans is our true battlefield. Save your energy for that.



Plus, you will now see how very important having a nemesis is. I had felt that once. Those people encourage you to grow for the better.




We will acknowledge your skill, Blue Streak Racing. You caught us off guard."

Rob is left gasping at his opponent's sudden spurt of speed.

Louis: "You said that we have to employ every single tactic in the book, right? I agree. Hence, I'm applying that right now!"

The gap keeps on spreading despite Rob's best attempts. The wet road and the peaky Bentley, however, hinders him from keeping up.




Louis: "Let me reiterate what you said before.




You don't know me. You're about to!"




It's the final lap, but Rob has no choice but to settle for second.

Rob: "My pride made me misjudge you. I will admit my defeat, even though it hurts my pride."

The checkered flag is waved. And to everyone's amazement, The last lap is Louis' best lap, closely matching the qualifying lap time.

Toru: "Yossha! I'm happy having him as my "brother"! I want to be that fast... So cool!"

************************************************************


​

The second round is filled with so much tension and excitement. In a matter of minutes, the news broke out in social media and racing forums, creating heated discussions about the future of Blue Streak Racing.




With the teams packing up, Rob assists the crew hiding his disappointment. Hiroyuki, however, approaches him and gives a pat on the back.



Hiroyuki: "You've done well, Rob. Do not feel bad."



Rob: "I don't. Actually, I'm quite glad that I have found someone to trifle with, in a good way. I have always thought that I'm top of my game. Louis showed me that I still have a long way to go."



Hiroyuki: "From here on, you'll learn what it truly means to have a nemesis."



Hiroyuki gives a reassuring smile, which lightens up Rob somewhat.




Hiroyuki: "Okay then. Let's finish packing up. Do not leave any trash."






Meanwhile, while Blue Streak Racing's crew has finished packing up and is ready to leave, Louis goes to the bathroom for the last minute. Everyone in his team is in their respective caravans.



After briefly urinating and then fixing himself up, he goes on the way to his caravan as well. However...




...the mysterious racer codenamed "Rouge" arrives from behind. Still clad in a red racing suit and helmet, he makes a slow clap, prompting Louis to stop on his tracks and turn around.







Rouge: "Bravo! Bravo! Looks like you're still on a hot streak... Zephyr."





Having mentioned his former street racer codename, Louis takes it as an offense as shown by his clenching fists.



Louis: "Who... are you?"



Rouge: "Let's just say I'm a fan. No.. a hardcore fan. Wait. No... ah! Your shadow! I am your shadow! I know every step you make. Well, you deserve a credit. To think you can beat the Dream Alliance. What an astounding feat!"




Louis: "Why don't you take off your helmet?"





Rouge: "Ep ep ep! Not so fast! I wanna keep the suspense floating. It's more fun, right?"




Louis: "Whoever you are, stop messing me around. I don't appreciate strangers just popping out of nowhere."



Rouge: "So, does that mean you turn away from your fans?"



Louis: "No. Only to people like you."



Rouge: "Man... you're so cold. You really do fit to wear a blue racing suit, which represents your coldness."



Louis: "You don't get me. Anyway, I have to go. I don't want to drag this useless conversation even further."




Louis simply walks his way to the caravan, leaving Rouge to reach out his arm.



Rouge: "Wait! Let's get to know more of each other!"



But Louis has already shut the door. The caravan leaves in an instant.




Rouge: "Oh never mind...




...well, at least I have planted the seeds."






End of Page 14




AUTHOR'S NOTES:



- Pompeii (Kat Krazy Remix) is Louis Montagny's theme. Expect this background music to pop up in the next arc.



- Now Rob has something to be worked up on. This is pivotal if he is to win the "Three-Way Brawl" at the Nurburgring.




- Reaching the 14th page, normally this would end an arc; but not this time. We still have 24 Hours of Le Mans to deal with. In fact, this arc may even surpass the 20-page mark. Let's see. After all, I can manage how long or short the page should be.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Oops, one of the images in that last post is not showing... It's the one which comes after the "background music" bit. Other than that, great end to a great race.

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 15: Fueled


Location: Dream Alliance Headquarters, Nurburg, Germany
Time: 8 pm



Despite finishing 2nd in today's round, Takuma takes it upon himself to cook dinner for his team. He felt obliged to raise his teammates' spirits.




All he does right now is wait for his signature roast beef to get cooked. Everyone loves his roast beef, solely because of its juicy meat.



He prepares the knife that he shall use to slice the meat.



Takuma: "I think this shall do."





After 10 minutes, dinner is served. Takuma summons everyone at the dining area, including Sir Shaw.



Before they can enjoy themselves, Hiroyuki calls everyone's attention.




Hiroyuki: "Everyone. I know for the fact that we finished 2nd today. But that's no bad thing. We still won, no matter what. We won something more important today, and that is growth. This applies especially to you, Rob. Growing does not always entail successes. Failures too, make a person grow. Mistakes are then used to learn, so that we can come back up to be better persons.


We will never be what we are today if we didn't fall even for once. Always remember that.



Use that experience, for us to prevail in the future.



And to end this, I must apologize for my miscalculation. I never thought that Blue Streak Racing would have a powerhouse driver within their ranks. I even learned that they are to start a driving academy soon, for aspiring drivers. I have no choice but to commend their skills, especially Louis.



That's all I have to say. Let us feast."






While eating, Maria raises a question.



Maria: "So, about the third round..."



Hiroyuki: "Ah yes. It will be held in Silverstone next week. The three drivers must head there the day after tomorrow, and help Ricky in track reservations.



Owen: "Got it."




Hiroyuki: "And moving on to another topic, Takuma will be on heightened alert. You now know that Sir Shaw's situation is dire.


Sir Shaw, you must not return to your mansion until my further instruction. Your safety is our top priority. We cannot let that young prick Alan Long to take over the FIA. We will teach him a lesson. Let your grandson accompany you at all times."




Sir Shaw: "But then I do get to watch the races. I can't be a hermit, either. Kids today are rather drastic."



Takuma: "Naturally, Alan will deny any accusations. But soon enough, he'll fall in ways he cannot imagine."

************************************************************​

Location: London, United Kingdom
Time: 12 pm, the next day



Louis Montagny, applying his ideals on racing, is already in London the next day. The rest of his team will follow suit and will be in Silverstone first thing in the morning tomorrow. Thankfully, the car didn't suffer major performance issues, hence maintenance work was simple last night.



After having lunch alone at one of the posh restaurants, Louis heads out and decides that window shopping is in order. But along the way, he is taken by surprise as he meets two individuals...



...who were his former colleague and manager in his team - Clement and Baptiste, respectively.



Baptiste: "Well well well, look who we will bump to, Clement. It's Louis."



Louis: "Heh. Why did you chicken out at the 2nd round?"



Clement: "Because we will pour all our energy in Le Mans. We gathered all data we need thanks to your performance even by just watching. You could have stayed with us, Louis. My life has gotten a lot better."




Baptiste: "He's right."



Louis: "Sorry, but I do not intend to sell myself and my skills just to get what I want. I work hard for my dreams.

Clearly, you failed to see that Alan saw the team as a threat, and bought you. He thinks money can move mountains.


Look at Dream Alliance, they have gotten to what they are today because of their determination. They didn't sell themselves."




Baptiste: "You still think hard work will solve anything? Pretty soon, the Vision GT Project will take away all the burden the novice drivers have to take."




Louis: "And what? Let mediocrity get to the top because the cars are easy to drive? Pretty soon, even clowns can take the wheel and find crashes humorous.



Sure, the Dream Alliance is my rival, but we share one goal:



To kick your arse."




Baptiste: "So, you're a fan of the Dream Alliance too? No surprise."




Louis: "I'll make sure that you and your team will never ruin the fun, even if it means helping them.


Send this message to Alan as well."



Louis then raises a middle finger.



Louis: "See you at Le Mans."





Louis storms off, more determined to crush his former team. He clenches his fists as he walks along the street.




Louis: "Mark my words. I WILL CRUSH YOU ALL. My ego and pride got insulted the moment you accepted the check from Alan. He clearly got threatened by my abilities.


Racing is not business. I hate to think that it's starting to shift that way."

************************************************************


​

Location: Silverstone GP
Time: 10 am, the next day




As planned, Blue Streak Racing begins their practice session at Silverstone. Even though the round will take place on Saturday, Louis insists on practice as frequently as possible, as stated before.



However, they all notice Louis' sudden increase in pace during the practice laps.




Stephan: "Looks like Louis is once again on a hot streak."


Toru: "I think he's always been like that."



Stephan: "Trust me, even before we joined the FIA WEC, he's more of a laid back driver. He drops his pace and raises it at the final lap. But even if he has a large lead, he'll lower his pace down.



Adrian: "And yet, he became feared in the entire continent. Quite the irony. I think Dream Alliance set his soul on fire."





Stephan: "You could say that. But I think it has something to do with his former team..."




Adrian: "Former team?"



Stephan: "There was a rumor that he immediately left his former team, without even a separation pay. Disappeared like a puff.


But he never really told the truth, up until this day."




Meanwhile, Rob, Nigel, and Ricky arrive as well. And they immediately see the 908 tearing up, along with the entire team's presence.

Rob: "Look at them. They're already hard at work."



Nigel: "Louis Montagny encourages his team to practice more often."



Rob: "Practice makes perfect, indeed. Nigel, run a lap time check."







Nigel: "Understood."



Nigel starts recording on cue, the moment the 908 passed the line.

The 908 follows the ideal race lines of the track, which mimic that of Rob's.

Once again, its responsiveness prove to be effective in Silverstone, showing no signs of peaky movement.

Louis points it at the apex as usual, even making the car leap.



Upon passing the line, Nigel records a lap time of 1:45.8



Nigel: "1 minute and 45.8 seconds."


Ricky: "Wow. You have a lot of catching up to do, Rob."



Rob shows his trademark smug look on his face.



Rob: "Heh. Challenge accepted, then."

However, little do everyone know, even his team, that Louis has been fueled even further, reinforcing his desire to defeat his former team, and to destroy the Vision GT Project.





It seems that he now shares a common goal with the Dream Alliance...









End of Page 15

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 16: One Fight



Location: London
Time: 8 am, the next day



Louis wakes up early in his hotel room, and today his race suit and helmet are tucked away, as the team will have to work on the car yet again much to his chagrin.


Nonetheless, he has to start the day right, and he does so by first checking his smartphone and access the internet.

He checks various racing forums, and all of them still have heated discussions as to who shall prevail in the upcoming Le Mans, with half of the racing fans rooting for Blue Streak and the other for Dream Alliance.



Louis: "Never really thought I'd garner so much attention. Now everyone expects highly of me. I hate pressure as much as everyone does."


He then opens a new tab, browses for another news. Another news article catches his attention, which is the incident about the assassination attempt on Sir Shaw.

"Investigations are still ongoing as more and more witnesses volunteer to tell this gruesome tale, which apparently turned out to be an assassination attempt on one of FIA's executives named Sir Shaw McCarthy. One of his bodyguards single-handedly fend off the attackers, albeit in a brutal manner as most of them were mutilated to their deaths.


Sir Shaw has already spoken about the incident, and confirmed that he had received death threats before that happened. He pointed his finger at the Vision GT Project, a team that also allegedly bribed other senior members of FIA for them to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.



However, Alan Long, the director of the Vision GT Project has yet to issue a statement regarding this horrible event."




​

Louis fixes his hair as he stands up from the bed. He could only show a brief grin.




Louis: "What you're up to, Vision GT? So you can simply dispose of people? No wonder Dream Alliance keeps on chasing after you. I now see why the team claimed to have a "moral obligation". It all makes sense now. I used to think they were just meddling.





Deep down, I wish I have the same initiative as the Dream Alliance. I, too, will step in and end this mess once and for all."





Suddenly, before he can get in the bathroom, his phone rings with Stephan as the caller.




Louis: "Hello?"


Stephan: "I just have to bring this news. Friends of mine claim seeing that black Peugeot from the Vision GT team having daily runs at Le Mans."



Louis: "Looks like they're really serious for Le Mans. They have gathered more than enough data from us, anyway."



Stephan: "But that Peugeot reportedly hit 350 km/h at the Mulsanne straight before hitting the first chicane. That's already a big deal."



Louis: "No matter. I have a plan for that, and I shall save it for the Le Mans. Dream Alliance will not be alone in their fight..."



The last sentence sends a shock to Stephan.



Stephan: "What are you implying?"



Louis: "It's time for the entire racing world to awaken and erase the scum that is the Vision GT Project. Much like I did in the past..."




Stephan: "Huh?"



Louis: "Let me reveal to you one part of my past. And only you will know it.



I led a war against the cops when I was a street racer. I called upon every street racer and joined arms with me on that incident two years ago. If I'm good with that, then perhaps I can truly unite everyone, this time for a good cause."





Stephen: "Hehehehehehehe... so you're truly turning over into a new leaf and totally eradicated your memories of the past. But you gotta remember, the skills you have right now were spawned from your street racing days. They brought you to where you are today. Never disregard them."

************************************************************

​

Location: Silverstone GP
Time: 10 am




The Dream Alliance has the track all by themselves, and has arrived early in the morning to start practice and experimenting various set ups for the final round.



The drivers take turns after completing a set of laps. When it's Rob's turn, on the other hand...




...he took things rather seriously, aiming to beat the lap time Louis had set yesterday.




Background Music






Lap after lap, one can tell he's attempting to break the record.

Nigel: "1:45.8 is very hard to beat. Rob's fastest was at around 1:47."



Takanori: "Damn! I think we're up against a god!"

Nigel: "Our car is faster than the 908 in terms of top speed. In fact, it clocked in at 320 km/h at the Hangar straight while the 908 only did 310. But as what you said a while ago, our Bentley is peaky."

Nigel: "If I could put up a hypothesis..."

Nigel: "Our only chance of winning is at Le Mans. Circuit de La Sarthe is primarily a high speed stage. I'm afraid we can probably win on brute speed alone, and that chance is very small either, 20% at least."



Takanori then smiles and pats on Nigel's back.



Takanori: "Nigel, we keep on fighting, even if there is 1% or a fraction. Human beings and their abilities can never be measured by figures or data. They're unpredictable beings. And a person with ambition can surpass even the most advanced weaponry."





Nigel: "I guess you're right! I knew that feeling when I raced against Abram Volkov at the Nurburgring. I knew how it feels to be determined, and to be cheered upon. I believe we can do it."




Takanori: "That is one kind of thinking that Dream Alliance has. Never give up, Nigel."

Completing another lap, Rob smashes his personal best - at 1:46.9. Though it's 1.1 seconds short, Nigel's beliefs were reinforced thanks to Takanori's urging.



Nigel: "I know we still cannot beat it today. But that improvement is one proof your statement, Takanori-san! You're right!"




Takanori: "Lap times do not matter right now. Anything can happen during the race. Even the pole position car can end up losing."

After that lap, Rob returns to the pit lane, and instructs his crew to change tires and replenish fuel. Then he approaches Nigel for his lap times.




Rob: "Nigel, how did I fare?"



Nigel: "Your fastest lap was 1 minute and 46.9 seconds. Even though we're one second slower, it's an improvement over your personal best."




Rob: "Car is really peaky, no matter how much adjustments they've done. But I guess Mr. Hiroyuki is right. Time for me to accept the fact there is someone better than me, and that having a nemesis is actually a good thing.




I'll take a break for now. Maybe I'm pushing too hard. But I'll try one more adjustment."




Then Rob grabs a bottle of water, and refreshes himself.






End of Page 16










AUTHOR'S NOTES:



- Quite a short page, I know. But this is one turning point for the story, especially for Louis. Will he truly seek allegiance to the Dream Alliance? After all, they share the same fight.

​

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 17: Next Step - Le Mans





Location: Toulouse, France
Time: 5 pm, Sunday



While the final round of the FIA WEC is underway at Silverstone, the Vision GT Project team is having their hands full on testing the new setup for the Peugeot VGT.

And with the summer season officially arrived, it's the perfect day to test the car out. With all the necessary data gathered and simulations done, the car has undergone major improvements based on those. For Alan, there is nothing for them to lose, nor there is reason for defeat.



While Alan is awaiting for Clement's feedback, Baptiste is talking to someone on his phone.

Alan notices Baptiste giggling, but assuming it's a casual conversation, he doesn't give a damn.



Alan: "Honestly, we cannot afford to guffaw around. Dream Alliance is indeed showing a very strong performance. I admit that it made us difficult to gather data because of their sudden improvements in speed.


But what we have gathered is more than enough. You clearly exposed too much, Dream Alliance. Our car shall not have the usual plagues that an LMP car has. It's built to overcome those issues."





When Baptiste ended his call, he still has a hint of giggling while approaching Alan.



Alan: "What's so funny about?"




Baptiste: "I just learned that Blue Streak Racing had to retire at the last moment as their 908 had major
mechanical issues. Poor Louis. Luck wasn't on his side."

Alan: "Lady Luck doesn't side on who's the strongest. She's like a butterfly, landing on one flower to the next."





Baptiste: "So what's the next step?"




Alan: "We simply participate in Le Mans and pour everything we have."

Baptiste: "Though we have to sort out another issue. Did you really send men to attack Sir Shaw?"





Alan: "Why indeed, yes. Sir Shaw is nothing more than an old prick who thinks he's above anyone else. Takes out all the fun with those new rules and sanctions. We resorted to bribery because of him. Now he's not that simple to take out. Bad weeds indeed live long and difficult to pluck out."





Baptiste: "Seems like you have some big plans there."




Alan: "I'll take control of the FIA soon enough. But then I have Dream Alliance to take care first. Seems like a simple assassination won't do."





Baptiste: "You know, I have something in mind. This is originally for Louis, but it can also serve as a perfect distraction for Dream Alliance too. You won't believe this at first, but it only takes one person to set the chain of events."




Alan: "All right. I'll hear you out."




Baptiste: "You see, the person in question is..."

************************************************************


​

Location: Silverstone GP





Meanwhile, it's just the last lap of the final round. With Blue Streak Racing out of the way, Rob simply floors it and tackles for one last shot.

The 6-hour endurance race was entirely uneventful, setting some disappointment for Rob. However losing is definitely not an option.

And the checkered flag is waved. Dream Alliance takes the overall victory.




Takanori: "All right! We got the FIA WEC taken care of!"



However, Takuma has the same line of thought as Rob's.



Takuma: "Kinda boring today. The only thing interesting is the fact that the 908 had to retire at the final moments. Never thought the final round would be lame."

Hiroyuki: "All right then, we can finally shift our focus on Le Mans. Good job everyone."




Louis then watches his nemesis standing on top of the podium holding a gold trophy and bathed in confetti.


Then when the overall points were tallied, Louis is then called since his team placed second in overall. Standing on the podium, Rob and Louis briefly looked at each other. However to ease the tension the former sprayed champagne on the latter and then eventually to everyone.



The rivals didn't interact at all since Rob was busy with an interview. As Louis steps down, Nina hurriedly gives his phone to him.



Nina: "I think this is urgent. Please answer it."



Louis takes his phone and answers the call. What he heard next made him gasp.





Louis: "My house is on fire?!"








End of Page 17




AUTHOR'S NOTES:



- First of all, I would apologize if loading will take time on this page since I uploaded the photos directly. Flickr is in a mess.



- Louis' home is on fire, but so does his soul...

 

[Thomas__633]

1. Wasn't the Pug grey/red before?
2. Wow, things are getting serious...

 

[RCKakashi14]

1. Wasn't the Pug grey/red before?
2. Wow, things are getting serious...

It's really meant to be black. Apparently the volunteer in the Spa race used a grey one...

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 18: This Means War




Location: MI6 Headquarters, London
Time: 9 am, the next day




It's back to work for Rob, at least for a month. He goes in at the usual early bird fashion, and waits for his superior as he is playing with Mark's Rubik's Cube.


Shortly, Mark arrives on his desk, prompting Rob to throw the cube with all of its sides having their respective colors.



Mark: "Congrats!"



Rob: "Honestly speaking, that round was easier than finishing that cube."



Mark: "Typical Rob Hatch... always finding tasks easy."



Rob: "Still, I got Le Mans to take care of."



Mark: "Well I got a new assignment. Apparently it's meant for you, but Sir Conrad gave it to me knowing you're still racing."



Rob: "Time to explore new ventures, Mark."




Conrad arrives, and as usual summons Rob to his office.



Rob: "Catch ya later."




In the office, Conrad puts his coat on the backrest of his seat as Rob locks the door as always. Rob then puts his hands at his back and taps his right foot repeatedly.




Conrad: "Congratulations, Agent Hatch."



Rob: "Thank you, sir. But the real fight is yet to begin."



Conrad: "Right, you've got Le Mans left. I know you have a month's worth of preparation, but you need to complete this little "side quest" I'm assigning you. It's actually related."




Rob: "Is it the failed assassination attempt of Sir Shaw?"



Conrad: "No. But actually your "stepfather" Bill Murray had told something to me when he requested to see me in the prison."



Rob: "Do not call him my stepfather. He's a bloody leech."




Conrad: "Hehe. Okay, then. So this "bloody leech" had told me of an abandoned experiment. It was actually a rival for the NH Project, but folded after it seemed to be a failure."



Rob: "So if it deemed to be a failure and has been abandoned, then why's that a concern?"




Conrad: "Because a witness apparently saw a naked man walking away from the facility nestled in a forest in France two months ago."




Rob: "Naked man? Probably an experiment subject."



Conrad: "That's also my assumption. Oh, you must have been wondering what task I gave to Mark that was also originally meant for you."



Conrad then opens the projector and connects his laptop with it. It flashes a photo of a man in his 30s with shoulder-length brown hair.




Conrad: "Here is "Fate". He used to be one of the most promising high-ranking police officers in America. However, because of his rather brutal methods in stopping street racers, he was dismissed from service.

But why is he of concern too? And why is CIA asking help from us? Because upon dismissal, he stole highly-classified data and is on the run. CIA sources reported that he is in hiding in Europe."




Rob: "Sounds like a tough job for Mark."



Conrad: "Which is why we're needing your full assistance after your stint in Le Mans. I have a sneaking suspicion."




Rob: "What is it?"



Conrad: "That Mark's assignment and yours are connected. It's just my crazy hunch."

************************************************************


​

Location: Louis Montagny's home, Le Mans, France
Time: 10 am, the next day




The sun may set a cheerful atmosphere in the neighborhood nearby the famous Circuit de La Sarthe racetrack, but its bright rays also show the grim fate of Louis' home. Burned to a crisp and no trace of any valuables left.


Louis and his teammates arrive, to check the extent of the damage.



Toru: "Oh no. Who could have done this?"


Louis: "Even my 205 wasn't spared."


Nina goes in further, and suddenly manages to find a letter on the porch.



Nina: "Look! Here's a letter for you..."



Louis reads the contents:

"It's not yet over, Louis Montagny. This is just the start of my wrath...


- Baptiste


​

Louis: "Baptiste..."


Crumpling the paper, it's a sign of silent rage.



Nina: "We're sorry. Let us know if we can assist you in any way we can."




Stephan: "For starters, you can drive the GT by Citroen demo car as much as you want. I have already taken care of your living arrangements."





Louis: "Thank you very much. Because of that, I have no reason to fail you. I will repay your kind deeds soon enough.


But first... this means war."





Stephan: "You think Baptiste would resort to this? It's rather too much. Even though you burned a bridge, it shouldn't be enough to burn your house."





Louis: "Baptiste has his blood boiling on me. I'd expect he'd do this."




Toru: "To be blunt, it's hard to put a blame on someone. I'm sure the police will do their job as investigators."




Stephan: "Right now, you should focus on Le Mans. Pour all of this energy to that race. Someday the truth will come out.


And besides, you should return to the one thing you love to do here. DRIVE."




Louis: "Yes. My everyday routine at Le Mans will be back."




Stephan: "But won't you mind waiting for a week?"




Louis: "Not at all. I want the 908 in top form for my everyday practices in Sarthe."




Stephan: "That's what I want to hear. Abhor vengeance and shift your energy to good use."

************************************************************​

Location: Circuit De La Sarthe
Time: 10 am, one week later




Exactly three weeks before the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans, Louis Montagny now goes all-out in practice runs. He is very well-known by the locals for his frequent runs at the track regardless of any car type. After all, the bulk of the circuit are public roads.

His heart is all set, not on vengeance, but on winning the race he had once dreamed of.



Louis: "I'm not going to sink low and exact vengeance like you did, Baptiste. Winning this race will be enough like a slap on your face."



The 908 clocks in at 350 km/h at the first part of the Mulsanne straight, before hitting the brakes approaching the first chicane.

Then he controls the massive power and torque by footwork as he clears his way through the first chicane.

Louis: "I guess this could use a low downforce setup, to increase my fighting chance against the Bentley."

Meanwhile, while the bleachers seem empty, only two people are spectating. One would wonder the reason as to why, especially that there is only one team in the track.


The first one is Rouge, still covering his identity and then the other person beside him is none other than Fate with a patch on his left eye. Rouge eventually breaks his silence which had been dominating ever since the two arrived an hour ago.





Rouge: "I did what you asked. Burned down to the ground."



Fate: "That shall be a good start. Zephyr's fighting spirit must be revived if I am to square off against him soon."




Rouge: "I added a little bonus. Poor Baptiste will get what's coming to him."





Fate: "Framing Baptiste is not part of our plan, but that old man thinks he controls everything."

Fate: "It's time for him to shut up... permanently. Thank you for doing that little initiative."

Rouge: "I am just doing what you asked - plant the seeds. And of course, I have to make them grow."

Fate: "Baptiste will never be part of our plans. But since he knows the gist of it, he needs to be silenced."

Fate: "The real war will begin after Le Mans. Oh Louis... I have prepared so much for this."






Rouge: "I'm shaping him up right now, the way you want him to be."






Fate: "Indeed. But let's not rush. Patience is a virtue."







Rouge: "However, let me do it my way. I want a piece of Louis Montagny too. I have to surprise him."









End of Page 18

 

[AudiMan2011]

Looks like my theory is on it's way to being proved mostly correct.

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 19: Truce





Location: Le Mans, France
Time: 10 am, a week later



In preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Rob heads to France and settle in a hotel nearby the circuit. He is also made aware of Louis Montagny's strong and frequent presence in the Sarthe circuit. The rest of the team will follow within the week.



And of course, he drove himself all the way. His McLaren 675LT is surprisingly comfortable according to him.




To catch the rays of the sun, he heads out for a stroll and look around the shops. He wears branded sunglasses to protect himself from glare.


But as if destiny guided them, he meets Louis, carrying a small paper bag filled with toiletries for his new home. He is still adjusting, especially that he spent most of his days in his old home all gone in flames.




Rob: "Hey."



Louis: "What a surprise. Le Mans is 2 weeks away, but nothing wrong with being prepared, right?"



Rob: "Of course. Because of you, I've got all worked up. Plus, I know you blaze through the Mulsanne straight everyday so that means I have no reason to put my guard down."




Louis: "Practicing everyday will make your skills sharp. In fact, you can master pretty much anything if you get to know it always."



Rob: "What's that you're holding?"



Louis: "Just some bathroom stuff. I moved to a new home. Baptiste burned down my old house."




Rob shows a slight hint of surprise from his face.



Rob: "Baptiste? Oh, I get it."




Louis: "Which is why he is mine and mine alone. I will be the one delivering the coup de grace."




Rob: "Your old manager had the guts to burn your home. Maybe I can add this to my report regarding Alan Long."




Louis: "I guess this happens when you're popular. You cannot please everyone. I somehow deserved it, for burning bridges."




Rob: "But clearly you don't. Anyhow, good luck. See you at the track."





The two men simply walk away in their respective paths, but they mimic a scene similar to a Mexican standoff, albeit they didn't turn to each other at all.





Moments later, while resuming his stroll, Rob receives a call from Hiroyuki.




Rob: "Mr. Hiroyuki."




Hiroyuki: "Get ready. We will practice tomorrow at Sarthe. The car is ready and new parts have been installed. The trailer will arrive nearby to your location tonight, and please assist the crew."



Rob: "Understood."



Hiroyuki: "And concerning your rival, do you know that his house got burned?"



Rob: "I know. He just told me. We met a moment ago."



Hiroyuki: "Takanori had read Louis' blog, and it's stated that he blamed the Vision GT Project. Because of that, we also have to be careful. I have increased security around the headquarters in response to that incident."



Rob: "I see. What you said further supports Alan's ruthlessness. We will not have a smooth sail at all."




Hiroyuki: "But do not worry about it. You should focus on your practice. You are stepping into enemy territory. Louis is well-known in Europe for practicing everyday in Sarthe."

************************************************************


​

Location: Circuit de La Sarthe
Time: 1 pm, the next day




The team is in full attendance, though they are shocked to see Louis alone, who turns out to be waiting for the 908 to arrive.



Though the chrome blue GT by Citroen grabs all the attention.




Rob: "GT by Citroen. Only 6 were made. You've got good taste, Louis."




Louis raises his hand, as a sign of greeting. Then he approaches the team.




Louis: "You're going to practice here everyday too?"



Rob: "I'd love to, but I do hope that's possible."




Louis: "You should.... if you want some chances of beating me."





Rob: "Since we're bored to death here, why don't we have a little run? The Bentley's being worked on for the moment."



Louis only nods followed by a grin.



Seeing the two having at each others' throats again, Maria shakes her head.



Maria: "It's UK vs. France all over again."



Owen: "The English Channel could have been a better battleground."

Having taken off after exiting the pit lane, the McLaren gets a jump start thanks to its torque figure.




Louis: "Let me take a look at you, and see if you can prevail Le Mans!"



Background Music

As the two cars go side-by-side at Mulsanne hitting speeds of 330 km/h, the rivals look briefly at each other.

Their eyes are filled with flames of pride, and their feet clinging and deeply buried on their respective accelerator pedals.

Reaching another chicane, Rob blocks Louis' passing attempt at the entrance, and then maintains his lead while clearing the corner.

Louis notices the 675 LT's traction advantage.




Louis: "You have good footwork too. But it is clear enough that McLaren did a wonderful job on developing the 12C's chassis. The 675 LT is the penultimate form."



On the latter part of the straight, the Citroen drafts behind to gain speed and even the odds once again. Once again, they hit 300 km/h in an instant, and climbing fast.

Rob: "Hmph. You call that practicing everyday? I should have been struggling by now! Bloody French..."



Louis: "Give me more, baldy! Don't be spoiled by racing cars!"




The 675 LT demonstrates its improved capabilities even further, taking high speed corners with much ease thanks to McLaren's further work on the downforce.




Louis: "Impressive! You got me on that, I gotta admit. However, what if we are driving our LMP cars?"

Louis: "Road and race cars drive differently, that's for sure. That air brake can be easily dismissed as a gimmick, but you need that here! High speed braking is also a chore."

Louis: "You win for now. At least you show promise on this track. Although..."







Rob maintains his lead up until the goal, surprising even the Dream Alliance.



Maria: "Wow. The 12C is bonkers already, but the 675 is a different beast."

Takanori: "I think Louis is on a slump. Brought about by the burning of his home, I suppose."



Hiroyuki: "I don't think so. It shouldn't be enough to put him down. I can tell that Louis is agitated even further thanks to the recent events.


He is simply measuring Rob's potential, and see if he can be a worthy playmate."






The two cars immediately return to the pit lane, using the pit exit as an entrance instead of going another lap.






Then Takanori and Hiroyuki observe the two drivers staring briefly, but a conversation immediately breaks the tension...






Rob: "You're clowning around. I don't like that."



Louis: "No I'm not. I'm observing you, and see if I have a playmate in Le Mans. Turns out that I have."




Rob: "Hmph. I am more than just a playmate, monsieur."




Louis: "I'm hoping that's true. But for now, I have something in my mind."




Rob: "What's that? Another crazy idea?"





Louis: "You very well know what happened to me, and even though it offends my pride, I will help you. Playmates sometimes team up."



Hearing that, Rob crosses his arms, despite the shocking statement.



Rob: "What kind of help?"





Louis: "Both of us became victims of Vision Gran Turismo's conquests. And being a concerned and responsible racer, it is my initiative to help out. I'm sick and tired of people who think money makes the world spin.


Let's take down that VGT car, so that our real battle will go smoothly. We'll make sure that car won't mess with our fun. The fun is ours alone."





Rob: "That's what I have in mind too. In fact, the idea of thrashing them is etched forever in my vocabulary.


But do not forget..."






Louis: "I know. I am your rival."







Rob: "That's loud and clear. Let's call it a truce...


...for a while."






The two men shake hands. Takanori and Hiroyuki are surprised.




Takanori: "Huh? Shaking hands?"



Hiroyuki: "Quite odd, for a heated rivalry. But let's not eavesdrop further. Rob is coming."







End of Page 19

 

[RCKakashi14]

Page 20: Dispose



Location: Paris, France
Time: 4 pm, the next day



Taking advantage of the brief period of rest before Le Mans, Baptiste is already in Paris a week ago visiting his relatives and as well as having a leisure time of his own.



In a coffee shop, having just finished his cup of coffee, he is about to read a magazine he bought when suddenly...




...Rouge calls him. It's been a long time since they have last met.




Baptiste: "What a surprise. And impeccable timing too. I need him right now. Hello?"



Rouge: "I assume you're in Paris."



Baptiste: "Yes indeed. How'd you know?"



Rouge: "Remember, I am a shadow. I can stick behind you. And your scent can be easily picked up."



Baptiste: "Okay. I'm heading out right now. Actually, I want to meet you. There's something you must do."



Rouge: "Roger that. Let's meet at the Place Denfert-Rochereau."



Baptiste: "Huh? Why there? It's the Catacombs."



Rouge: "You have always said in the past, that we have to meet in the most awkward of places. Even bathrooms."



Baptiste: "Heh. You never forgot that. Okay, I'll meet you there.

*****************************


​

Baptiste arrives first in the meeting place. Being the place where the dead lay, it's an eerie sight all around. Plus, the entrance is closed off to visitors.



Then Rouge arrives.



Baptiste: "You're still wearing that race suit and helmet, eh? You're saving your face for Louis?"



Rouge: "Of course. He is given the honor of seeing my precious face. But a face that will haunt him in eternity."




Baptiste: "Good. Well, right now he's blaming me for burning down his home. He deserved it, but that's not something I would do in retaliation."



Rouge: "Hmph. I did. And I put your wonderful and holy name on to that piece of paper."



Having known that he is framed, Baptiste steps his right foot in anger and clenches his fists.



Baptiste: "How could you?! REMEMBER, I FOUND YOU! Why are you...?"



Before he could agitate further, Rouge steps forward, takes out a butcher's knife and stabs Baptiste on the guts. He slowly twists the knife to induce excruciating pain.



Rouge: "I am a shadow no more. The only person who can ever lay a hand on Louis... is me. You can no longer call me a tool. I'm sick of it."


With blood coming out of his mouth, Baptiste writhes in pain while trying to take out the knife from his belly.



Baptiste: "How... could... you..."




Rouge: "You should have used your head a while ago. This place is a graveyard. A perfect one for the likes of you."



Rouge then rapidly takes out the knife, in order to let blood flow at a dangerous rate. Baptiste falls on the ground, crawling with his last bits of strength while he sees Rouge walking away.



Rouge: "Au revoir."

************************************************************​

Location: Circuit de La Sarthe
Time: 10 am, the next day




Having liked the idea of honing skills frequently, Rob makes it a point as well if he is to have a fighting chance.

He's been running for several laps. Most of the team are present as well.




Takanori: "Man, we've been making return trips here."



Hiroyuki: "Rob copied Louis' everyday routine. Well, it's effective if you want to stay sharp."




But Takanori notices that they are the only people present.



Takanori: "Speaking of Louis... where is he?"



Nigel: "According to the track marshals, while he practices everyday here, the time varies. He was here at dawn."




Hiroyuki: "Hmmmm.... perhaps he's simulating the 24 Hours of Le Mans, without actually having to run for 24 hours. For a race like that, he is to master driving at night as well."

Takanori: "Any info on what's our Bentley's top speed in Mulsanne?"



Nigel: "At the previous lap, the Speed 8 hit 360 km/h before hitting the first chicane according to the telemetry being uploaded to me every millisecond. Right now, it hits the same top speed."

Takanori: "Wow! Consistent, even though the tires should have been worn out by now."

Nigel: "This just in. Rob sent a pit-in message. I'll inform the crew immediately."



Owen, having heard that, puts up the upper part of his race suit and dons his helmet on.



Owen: "It's my turn next. I still have to master this simple-looking, yet difficult track."

When the Bentley enters the pit lane, the crew prepare the tires and fuel. A driver change is in order.



Rob: "Your turn, lad."



Owen: "Thanks."



Rob: "I assure you, this is not peaky anymore. You can relax for a bit."

************************************************************


​

Location: MI6 Headquarters, London, UK
Time: 3 pm




In the large entrance hall of the building, walking among the employees is none other than Dexter Heidelberg. What business does he currently have concerns the intelligence organization after all.


For these past few weeks, he is feeling rather anxious, something that even his robotic son Nigel finds it hard to comprehend. Now, he has to release them all, in this very place.



He sits on the sofa, waiting for Conrad Banks to arrive. The superior then appears immediately.




Conrad: "Dr. Dexter Heidelberg? You're here to see me?"



The scientist nervously stands up.



Dexter: "Y-Yes."



Conrad: "All right. Please follow me to my room."





Inside Conrad's office, the superior offers Dexter to sit down, and having noticed the mood, he provides a glass of water placing it on the desk.



Conrad then sits on his chair, crossing his legs.





Conrad: "Dr. Heidelberg, what brings you here? You called for an appointment two days ago."



Dexter: "There's something I must let off my chest. It's also plaguing me with nightmares. This is somehow related to the NH Project."



Conrad: "NH Project? Wasn't that case closed down for good? Your good friend Bill Murray is in his cell."



Dexter: "I know. But what I'm here for, is a rival of that project."



Conrad: "Rival?"



Dexter: "The moment I exhibited the wonders of my nanoparticle technology to the world, every scientist vied for it. I made a living out of it, and I was satisfied.


While Bill enticed me in an idea of making an array of robots using the nanoparticles of race car drivers for the NH Project, there was a group who immediately stood up as an opposition.


They also planned on using the nanoparticles, but in a different approach."




Conrad: "Which is?"




Dexter: "A human clone."



Conrad: "Clone?"




Dexter: "Two years ago, a team of French scientists managed to acquire the nanoparticle data of one of the race car drivers who apparently was in a coma. They were observing it...



...however all of a sudden, the growth of the body stopped. They did everything they could. Of course they have to win. Hence after seeing no progress at all, they decided to call it quits, shutting down their hidden facility in France."




Conrad: "If that was shut down, then why are you so worried?"



Dexter: "Two months ago, a French news channel reported that a camper had seen a naked man asking for help, and that man claimed to have come from that abandoned facility.



And that man could have been that clone. We never realized that it actually grew all this time.



My research spawned me those nightmares. Those nanoparticles... I should have never shared it to anyone. I never thought that it would be used for selfish purposes."

Dexter: "Research can be such a trivial thing. What could be used to benefit everyone, can turn out to be in harm's way instead."



Conrad: "If that clone is said to be alive, is that the only one? Or were there any other examples?"



Dexter: "Unfortunately, they only came up with one. And that example was even believed to be a failed product, hence abandoning their research."

Dexter: "Who knows. That clone might be roaming around as we speak."








End of Page 20




AUTHOR'S NOTES:




- Oooooh! So many revelations! The next arc will definitely have a lot more! Don't worry though, Baptiste will live to tell the tale (even though he's clearly a villain...)


- Once again, I need volunteers for the Peugeot VGT and Bentley Speed 8. The VGT must have RS tires.

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Er, one of the pictures is not showing up, again. This time it's the picture before the shot of the red Citroen GT's interior.

Also, this arc is becoming darker with each passing event... It just won't be a simple Le Mans 24h race this time around.