Chapter Twenty-three: Flying V
Date: May 7th, 2012
Time: 2 PM
Location: Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
Perspective: Han
:::
I pored over the large amount of data that was streaming past on the computer screen, wondering how easy it would be to make a mistake in drawing conclusions from it.
Sigh... It was just as difficult as when I drove in the World Rally Championship. I'd try to analyze the data my team was getting, but when I would drive the race, it wouldn't ever play out like their data said it would.
That was the biggest problem I had, and what drove me to find other methods of influencing the race. Humans cannot ever be as precise as a computer might be, and trying to run a race by what a machine is telling you is impossible. There's just too many things that can happen, and computers can't predict that.
I took a long drag from the cigarette... although I never smoked before now, and I only started because I was going to die anyway.
What comforting thoughts.
Thing is... after my unprecedented win in the WRC in my rookie year, my consistency dropped like a rock in freefall. I couldn't quite figure it out, and to this day I have some nagging doubts, but sabotage of my equipment cannot be ruled out. That's why I began looking for any advantage I could get... even if they weren't legal.
The experiment with that drug that's supposed to help you keep your focus, concentration, and reflexes sharp is what started it all... and when that didn't work, the train couldn't be stopped. The derailment was a result of sloppy work on my part, and I vowed that it would never happen again.
I could have cut myself off from crime then and there, but I didn't... and I still have no idea why. Cheating is a system I should never have adhered to in the first place... and I'm still paying the debts of that now.
I wonder if John ever has or has had these kind of thoughts...
:::
It's been a long while since I've driven here... but I oddly can't remember when that exactly was.
It'll come to me. Eventually.
Still, running laps around a track such as this one... gives me an odd sense of inner peace. I know that I belong here, and I'm more at home behind the wheel of a car than on my own two feet, but... there's still some lingering doubts in my head about doing this all.
Han's condition had gotten worse, and now the poor soul had taken up smoking to calm his nerves and dull the pain... he had decided to scale back the 'Last Drive' he had planned and only run LeMans. After that, he'd leave the racing side of his operations to the Wind Stars – with the condition that I would be let go to live my life the way I personally saw fit. He had been planning to run the race himself...
Even though he knows that he can't drive.
I would have thought that I'd be having problems with my health far before he did; yet, I don't feel any changes with my increasing age, at least physically – I know that because of the experiments done to me that I'm stronger, faster, more resistant... and then I realize that with all my newfound abilities... that I'm still the same man underneath the shell.
I just hope that I can win this race... just one last win... for Han. Not for myself, or for anyone else... but in reparation for the way I ended up shaping his life.
:::::
A few hours later, still at Spa;
“Woah.”
“Impressive, isn't it?”
The three of us turned to see a man in a wheelchair with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth headed our way. The source of the words we'd heard stopped in front of us and smiled.
“Welcome to Belgium, more specifically Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps. Sorry for bringing you here on such short notice, but time is of the essence.”
“You are...”
“Mr. Han Tzu, former businessman, currently a team manager – and your new boss for the races.”
“...Why'd we need this change? It seems unnecessary...”
“I'd heard that three bright young stars in the racing world were having problems getting a good ride for LeMans and the 24 Hours of Nurburgring... and, since I needed more drivers for my entry, I decided to help you three out.”
“Alright... Why a Corvette, though?”
“Best available option I could find – it was tuned by Pratt & Miller, have you heard of them?”
“Yes, and with utmost praise.”
“Then this will work. Given the track record of tuned Corvettes... this will be a good challenge.”
I noticed the flash of blue that screamed down the straightaway, heading into another flying lap.
“That's the car?”
“Affirmative. The driver of that car is also going to put you through a rigorous training method for endurance racing, as he's very experienced in that kind of race. He should be pulling in shortly.”
“I have to ask this...”
“Go right ahead.”
“...Didn't you run a criminal empire that ruled with an iron fist?”
“Yes...”
“Then... why did our bosses let you take the reigns of our team?”
“To put it in short terms, I had a change of heart and quit all things wrong. That, and I'll probably be dead before the year is over. Month, possibly.”
“...I'm sorry to hear that.”
“Don't be... I made many mistakes in my life. If you don't get anything else out of this endeavor, just see what I've become and make sure you never do it.”
That sobered us all up and forestall any questions that might have been forthcoming.
The blue Corvette pulled in the very next lap, and the crew went right to work on it – with great speed and efficiency, far faster than our own crew back home. The driver slowly got out, and walked over toward our little group.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye that a second driver was getting in the car – one with a decidedly smaller figure. Not by much, but enough to assume that the second driver was a woman.
The first driver came up to us, still wearing his helmet – one with an odd design on it, that strangely seemed familiar...
“How was the car?”
“
Workable. Some fine-tuning is in order, specifically with the suspension settings... they're too soft, I can feel the car floating through some of the turns.”
Han nodded and lit another cigarette. The still-helmeted driver took the cigarette from his hands and crushed it into the pavement with his heel.
“
You should know smoking is bad for you.”
“A man in my condition does whatever the 🤬 he wants at this stage.”
“
True.”
“Excuse me... but are you going to introduce us all, or are we going to wait much longer?”
“Shhhh... Mei, show some respect!”
“
The only introduction I need is to the lady here... it's been a while since I've seen either of you in person.”
“Wait... we've met before?”
“
Affirmative. You should know...”
The driver doffed his helmet...
“...exactly who I am already.”
I looked at Han, then Mei, then Ricky, then back to... John?
What the 🤬 is this?
“Judging by the looks on your faces, you don't believe it's me. Sorry to disappoint you all, but I'm the real McCoy.”
“But... you died!”
“In a sense. All I had before was cut from me, and I was alone. I had nothing left. A part of me died that infamous night... and I'm still unsure if I'm glad it's gone or not.”
“...So you're remorseful for all those lost that night?”
“Except myself, yes.”
I was prepared to be angry and upset at John for allowing my family to die, but... he isn't just saying words to stall what would have been his due from me – he really means it. And I feel... pity for him. Would have never thought that was possible.
“Why didn't you contact me for nearly... seven years?”
“I lost sight of the important things in life, and it cost me.”
“Damn well it did. If I've forgiven him, then you two should be able to as well.”
“I don't want forgiveness, nothing can make up for what I've done and failed to do. All I ask is your cooperation in this enterprise.”
“...Is that all you want out of us? What are our benefits, and what do you get out of it all?”
“Your benefits, besides the normal human body's needs, such as eating and drink, will include driving with a top-tier racing team, and being instructed by the best driver out there. This is the push you need to earn the rightful spots in motorsport you three deserve.”
“...And? What do you get out of this, John?”
“The peace that comes with knowing no one will bother my family and I again.”
“Retirement?”
“More than likely. If I drive professionally again, it will be on my own terms.”
“...Why, though? You're the best there is... none can compare to you?”
“There's the answer to your own question – I'm too good of a driver, or at least I'm told by everyone that I am. I'm beginning to doubt myself as a driver, and because I have no one to measure myself against... I can't get a grip on where my skill lies. One of these times, the doubt will cost me quite severely.”
“...Then why continue to race now?”
“Obligation to friends... and people that I should have never hurt.”
The three of us were quiet for a while, just thinking the situation over in our heads. John and Han drew off by the side, and we could see they were having an argument of some kind – probably over what had been said before.
::::::::
“Why quit, though? You truly mean that there's no one left to challenge you?”
“Not in the professional world.”
“...So... that means what, exactly?”
“I go back to where I learned my craft – the streets.”
“... I don't think it's a good idea.”
“...I can understand your concerns. But, as I said... until I get a grasp on just how well I actually perform... I don't feel as if I can return to professional driving.”
“None of those three have the talent you're thinking of?”
“Just the one does. Kenji does. He's got the skill, even if he doesn't know it.”
“Then...”
“I'm not sure if he still hates me or not. Only after that is determined... will the knowledge be imparted. He needs to understand that it's not all about the skill you have – you have far more important things to deal with than racing. He needs to understand that.”
“So you're training him up to be your protege?”
“No, just making sure he doesn't go about the same path I did. He's getting that personality that I know I had when I began my true driving career.”
“I think I get it now.”
“Then you won't mind if I borrow the Corvette for some informal sessions on a nearby public road?”
“What?”
“You'll see... all part of that training regimen you mentioned I'd put them through. And, while you're at it... disable the ABS on the Corvette as well.”
“...That's risky.”
“It needs to be done in order to get these three to the level they should be at. Most of my training is mental and head games, but there is going to be some difficult aspects of driving that need to be learned before anything else is done.”
“...Alright.”
“Trust me... you won't be disappointed by the results.”
“Nothing could disappoint me at this stage.”
“Morbidness won't help you out here.”
“Doesn't matter.”
Fin Chapter Twenty-three
I've only just started awhile ago getting more into COheed and Cambria... Realized the title is a reference to their album. Chapter 8's title makes me think of that sort of common hospital voice. The one at the start of Queensrych'e Operation Mindcrime ("paging Dr. Blair, Dr. Blair, Dr. J. Hammelton, Dr. J Hammelton.") among quite a few others. 
