“This story is fiction. All names of characters, places and organizations in the story are fictional. Follow the traffic rules and drive safely.”
Reflecting back, we see the Plymouth Fury performing an ëinertia-drift’ right in front of an astonished Keisuke Takahashi in his RX-7. The Fury whips round the corner fast, and Keisuke grits his teeth as he cuts round the corner, pulling his car to a stop. The Fury throttles madly and disappears around the next bend, out of sight.
“I don’t believe it!” Keisuke crosses his arms in front of his face. “The first counter-steer to the right was actually a feint setup for the next left corner. Did I just see the ghost of a racer who died here?"
He reflects on the ëinertia-drift’ again, seeing how the back of the car swerved to the left and then drifted right to execute the drift. “That drift was flawless. Only someone with ultimate knowledge of this mountain pass can do that!”
Keisuke climbed out of the RX-7 and waited for a moment. From the distance, he heard tyres screeching from the road behind. Then after a moment, more of the Project D cars pulled up alongside Keisuke’s car.
The two guys that Keisuke had talked to earlier came up to him, absolutely stunned. “Keisuke! Did you see that Fury?”
“Yeah.” Keisuke just turned away, staring out across the mountain-side towards the Great Valley, not wanting to converse. <_< My pride has been shattered like glass, he thought. To think that my own car, the latest Touge Spec-tuned FD, could be beaten by some clapped-out beat-up Plymouth Fury. And not just any Fury either…that had to be ëChristine’, the possessed Fury that had a mind of its own!
His eyes narrowed. What the heck is in that Fury? I’ve got to find out who the driver of that Fury is…and beat that driver! I’ll never be the same if I don’t, knowing that there’s someone out there…better than me!
Act 2: Revenge! The Rumbling Iron!
The next day, the weather is calm. The phone rings from a familiar building. “Hello, Dino Ranger Protection Services,” the man spoke. There was a moment’s pause.
From inside, someone was sleeping upon the bed when the voice called out, “Hey, Michael! Michael! How late are you going to sleep? Wake up and get the phone!”
Michael the Dino Ranger slowly lifted his head up from the pillow, and ran his hand through his hair. “It’s Molly, isn’t it?”
“Just pick it up!”
Michael just sighed, and then let out a big yawn.
Then when he had managed to drag himself out of bed, he walked over to the phone. “Hey, what’s up?” A pause, and then…Michael’s eyes widened.
A little later, everyone was minding their own personal lives as they bustled and hustled up and down the steps of a walkway. But somewhere around the area, a lone figure was seen leaning against a letterbox. It was Ruby, and she was waiting for someone.
After a few seconds, that someone appeared from around the corner.
“Hey, Michael! Over here!” Ruby called to him, attracting Michael’s attention. “Did I surprise you?”
Michael blinked as they began walking down the street. “Yes. I answered the phone thinking it was my human girlfriend Molly, asking me out for another date in the 3rd diemension.” 'The 3rd Diemension is the real world'
“Well, I’ve been wondering if it’s all right that maybe you and I could be friends again,” Ruby asked him.
Michael blankly looked at her. “I didn’t know we weren’t…we never had a fight, right?”
“You guys were talking about cars at school yesterday, right?” Ruby simply changed the subject. “Can you drive, Michael?”
“Yeah, I just got my license,” Michael nodded.
“Okay,” Ruby smiled. “Then let’s go for a drive during summer vacation. You do the driving, and I’ll make lunch for us.”
Michael looked thoughtful. “Well, that’s all right, but…the car I’ve got is used for business, so it is pretty sad-looking.”
“I don’t care about that,” Ruby giggled. “It has a stereo, doesn’t it? I don’t care what kind of car it is. I don’t mind at all.”
“Really?” Michael was speechless.
Ruby nodded. “It’ll definitely be fun. I’m so excited about it.” She began running off with her arms waving up above her head. Michael just watched her go with a suspicious look, and followed.
“If possible,” Ruby continued, “let’s drive somewhere far. Oh, I know! Let’s go to the ocean! It’ll be summer, so we can swim!”
Meanwhile, near the Dino Ranger Manor, a familiar S13 was pulling down the drive, when suddenly it halted, and backed up towards a car parked nearby a huge garage with many cars from diffrent designs from all over the world. It turned out to be Ben behind the wheel.
He eyed the car suspiciously. “No doubt about it…it must be that Plymouth Fury.” He reflected back on the words the boss of the diner had told him.
“I'm telling you, Ben, the fastest downhill cars on Mt. Akina is a 86 and a Plymouth Fury from the fujuwara tofu shop.”
Ben climbed out and stood in front of the car. "This one? This is the same car?
But…it looks like any ordinary Plymouth." He looked at the nameplate on both sides that said 'Christine' and the license plate saying CQB 241. "An late 1950s model, with total stocks except the Whitewall tires. There’s no way this kind of car can be faster than the latest machines."
He turned away. “What am I thinking, searching all over for this car?”
Suddenly, the Fury lit up and the engine sputtered into life. Ben jumped…and quickly dodged out of the way with a yell as the Plymouth Fury suddenly lunged forward, missing him by inches, and spinning to a quick stop close to the S13.
Ben looked over his shoulder and gaped. "Whoa…what was that all about?"
Its engine revved, almost as if it was ready to lunge at him again. But just then, a figure came running up. "Whoa, Christine..." he yelled. "Cool it...Ben's not dangerous. He's a friend of mine." It was Michael.
Ben just watched, stunned, as the car hesitated for a moment, and then simply rolled past Ben, and parked back in its original position. The motor turned off and the car went still.
Ben turned to face Michael, who asked, “Sorry, she's senstive about people thinking that she's out of date. So? What are you doing around here, Ben?”
“Um, just getting something?” Ben asked him, looking up at the sign on the roof that said 'Dino Ranger Manor.
“Well, It's our house after all,” Michael replied.
The S13 took back down the road as Ben took Michael down to the diner.
“What were you doing over at the Manor, Ben?” Michael asked.
“Uh, well…” Ben began, “I had some things to do, and I was just passing by. But that’s not really important, Mike. Do you know much about cars, anyway?”
Michael looked surprised. Just then, the lights ahead went red. The S13 pulled to a stop.
“Well, yesterday, you said you didn’t like the 86, but the car at our house reminded me of that possesed plymouth fury,” Ben told him.
“What? Hold on a minute,” Michael retorted. “That isn’t a Plymouth Fury. I’m pretty sure it said, ëChristine’ on the nameplates on it's sides.”
“Right,” Ben smirked. “ëChristine’ happens to be one of the Fury models made by Plymouth. How did you managed to tame that car, don't you know that she's a killing machine?”
“...How can I explain it..."
Down at the Diner…
“WHAT? Michael owns freaking who??!! You must be joking me man!"
“Yes, I’m serious.”
“Mike, you idiot!” Zach lunged at him. “Why did you keep it a secret?!”
“What could I do?” Michael retaliated. “I didn’t even know. I’d just say it’s called 'Christine; that's all I could know. You said it’s a Plymouth Fury, but normal people don’t call it that.”
Zach gritted his teeth. “Why, you…!” But then he softened. “By the way, let’s have a little talk. Next Saturday, maybe you could borrow the Fury for a bit?”
“Why?”
“Isn’t it obvious? To go watch the Speed-riders and Project D meet, of course! Since yesterday’s incident, I’m really into the street racing scene! Don’t you want to see Akagi’s fastest drivers, the Takahashi brothers? And why did you buy Christine in the first place?"
Michael’s face remained uninterested. “Um, she was being sold at $50 at the local scrapyard."
“WHAT?!” Zachary suddenly began choking him. “You Idioit, Don't you what happened in the movie named after her?! She even killed her driver!” Michael wrestled him off, and Zach got down to his knees and begged. “I beg you…get rid of that Fury or tame it for carring passengers for Saturday, please?”
Just then the boss walked out. “Hey, you boys, what are you standing around for? Customers is waiting.” At that moment, a car pulling up honked at them.
“Yes! Yes! I’m sorry!” Zach wailed, and rushed to the car, with Michael following him. “Welcome!”
Later that night, Ben was still at the gas-station, fixing up one of the wheels to his S13. Behind him, some of the Speed-riders came up. “You’re putting on brand-new tyres?” one of them spoke. “You must have spent a lot.”
“It’s only the tyres,” Ben replied, “but I need higher grip to reduce my times. I’m also replacing the brake pads. On the downhill, braking’s crucial.”
“Are you really gonna run the downhill, Ben?” the other Speed-riders asked.
“Yes. I’ll attack that downhill as if I’ve got a T-rex behind me.”
“Well, don’t overdo it, man. One mistake on the downhill can be fatal.”
“I understand,” Ben nodded. “But I have to overdo it just a little bit, for the pride of our diemension.” He couldn’t bear to think what would happen if he would let Project D win the clash against the Speed-riders.
At the same moment, Keisuke’s RX-7 was throttling down the dark roads again at high speed, before drifting around some corners sharply. Keisuke picked up the gears, and the car howled harder than before.
That Plymouth Fury hasn’t appeared yet…Keisuke was thinking. It didn’t appear today, either. Maybe the driver wasn’t a local? That’s impossible…he was totally familiar with this mountain. I’ve got to face him again. If I don’t get my revenge, then I won’t calm down!
The car’s exhaust pipe flamed up with anger reflecting off Keisuke’s temper. Show yourself…Ghost of Great Valley! His mind growled. I don’t give a hoot about the Speed-riders…I came here to face you!
Yet again back at the Diner, Ben, Zachary and Michael were watching another car on the TV drifting around the sharp turns. “Wow!” Zach gasped. “The one and only Drift King, Keiichi Tsuchiya! I can’t believe it!”
“It looks like he can control it just by using the gas pedal,” Ben commented.
“Mike,” Zach started up excitedly again, “don’t you wish we could go out right now and drift just like this? Check out this drift! Awesome!”
“Yeah, sure. Sure,” was all Michael said as the boss approached from behind smoking his cigar.
“Mike…”
“Sure. Huh?”
“Hey!” Zach snapped. “You just keep saying, ëSure, sure.’ Do you even know what a drift is?”
“Sure, I know what drift is,” Michael calmly replied.
“Well then, can you tell us what it is?” Zach snorted, crossing his arms. Ben turned to look at Mike as well.
“Uh, in a curve…” Mike began.
“Don’t say, ëcurve’. Dude,” Zach interrupted him. “Street racers call it a ëcorner’!”
“Okay, in a ëcorner’…” Mike started again. “You make the front tyres slide so that the car won’t be facing the inside, otherwise you're toast.”
“What?!” Ben and Zach just stared with bewildered faces. They looked at each other, before bursting out with laughter. “Ah, that’s a good one, Mikey!” Zach put his hand over his face. “If the front tyres are sliding, that’s called ëundersteer’, which is totally uncool and for people with no skill and that will make you eat guardrail!”
Ben wiped a tear from his eye. “A true drift isn’t in the front, Mike…it’s in the rear. You’re really funny.”
“That was great, Michael!”
“It definitely was!”
But from behind Michael, the boss just remained silent, thinking about what Michael had said a moment ago. Though he didn’t show it, he was impressed. Ben, you’re the one who doesn’t understand. While in the middle of a drift, the car is basically understeering. That was the highly advanced answer of those who have mastered the four-wheel drift. I’m impressed.
Just then a honk came from outside. The boss shouted, “Right, Customers. Boys, Earn your keep!”
“Yes sir!” Michael was instantly first out the door, and hailing “Good Afternoon!”
But as Ben rushed out putting his hat on, he got a surprise. “Wha…”
It was a yellow RX-7 with the Redsuns logo on the rear, pulling into the diner's parking lot. An FD, he thought. Could it be Keisuke Takahashi?
The window wound down, showing it was indeed Keisuke. Michael approached.
“Fill it up, High Octane, and I'll take a Dino burger with large fries, and a large soda.” Keisuke told him in a glum voice.
“Sure.” Michael nodded.
As the car was being filled by Zach, Ben took the liberty of wiping down the car’s windows down, and Michael was preparing the food. But as Ben passed by the driver window, he took the moment to say to Keisuke, “You’re a real enthusiast.”
Keisuke looked up, but noticed Ben’s car first. “I see. I thought I’d seen that Slivia S13 somewhere before…the Speed-riders. Can I ask you one thing?”
Ben looked over.
“You’d be the one who’d know…” Keisuke went on, “Is there a ghost in this Prehistoric world…the ghost of a super-fast Plymouth Fury?”
Ben just looked at him uncertainly, but didn’t reply. Zachary just stared at the car. “Wow. He even has a spoiler!”
“Don’t joke around with me,” Ben told Keisuke.
Keisuke just smirked. “The part about the ghost was a joke, but it’s Christine. On the outside, it looks like a normal Fury…but inside, she's the devil's killing tool. There’s no way that a local like you doesn’t know about it.
Ben just shot him a stern ëdon’t think about it’ look.
Keisuke just shrugged. “Fine, play dumb then. If that’s your secret weapon for this Saturday’s meet, then I just got my wish. Tell the driver of that Fury that I won’t lose to the same guy twice. The reason I lost last time is because I didn’t know the course and got careless.” Soon, he was filled up with gas and recived his food. "Get ready to be defeated in this prehistoric world!" He then fired up the engine and drove the RX-7 out of sight. Ben just watched as it faded, transfixed with deep thoughts.
Keisuke Takahashi…lost? What did he mean? I don’t know anything about such a Fury.
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned and saw Michael, who looked at him at the same time. Ben’s eyes widened a bit as he felt like a puzzle piece had just fit into place inside his mind. The Fury I saw at the Manor, when Michael showed up…he said Christine. Was the boss telling the truth? The fastest on the downhill here and in Akina…is still that Fury?
Sometime later that night, back at the Manor, an alarm went off inside. The clock read 3:45am. A hand reached over and landed on the clock, deactivating the alarm.
Michael pulled the clock towards him, took a look, and sighed. He got up and walked to the bathroom, turning on the water and splashing his face to get the sleep out. He looked up at himself for a moment in the mirror.
Time seemed to slip by as he dressed and went outside to do his errand for the night. He unlocked the Christine and slipped slowly into the driver seat. Turning the key in the ignition, the music jived up as he flicked the lights on.
Nearby, Bunta Fujiwara, a friend of Michael and the owner of the Fujuwara Tofu shop, was just filling up a cup with water attached to a hose on a tap. “All right, time to kick it up a notch,” he muttered.
The Plymouth Fury revved up, and Bunta walked up to where Michael the Dino Ranger sat ready to go. Bunta handed him the cup.
Michael looked at it. “Isn’t this a lot more than usual sir?”
“Maybe, but just don’t spill any,” Bunta replied.
“I know sir,” Michael nodded, placing the cup in the holder. Bunta watched as he slowly drove the Fury out of the garage, and out onto the streets. Gradually picking up speed as he moved, soon Michael was shooting downtown and onto the open highway like a lightning bolt as the Manor faded behind him.
While ëChristine’ shot down the dark streets, Michael made sure to keep a firm check upon his movements. As much as speed was necessary he also had to take care when going around corners, as too much momentum could cause the water to overspill. It sloshed around in the cup, and Michael kept a steady eye on it while flicking his eyes back to the road every few seconds. At corners that he couldn't drive around on his own, Christine knew what to do, as she shifted gears and drifted flawlessly. Pretty soon, they had reached the top.
* * *
The next morning, Zachary was complaining as usual when he and Michael met up at high-school. “Your face is sleepy as usual, Mike.”
“Sorry, Zach, but it’s like I was born with this face,” Michael retorted. “Don’t forget the Fury on Saturday, Mikey…”
But when Zachary pulled a disgruntled face, Mike shook his head. “I know, I know. You’re so persistent, Zach.”
“Well, if I don’t make sure about it, you might back out on me! Please, Saturday, come quickly! I’m totally excited!” Zach answered with a dreamy face, making himself look ridiculous amongst all the other students. “Hey, if both of us aim to become street racers, maybe someday we’ll be known as the fastest in Great Valley.”
“I don’t really care either way,” Michael’s face still didn’t change.
“Well, even if you tried, it’d be hopeless for you,” this time Zach didn’t falter. “After seeing you scream in the back seat of Ben’s car, it’s obvious you don’t have an ounce of talent. But I’m different! I was a little bit scared…but I was able to look at the corner exit with my teeth clenched! Even Ben has faith in me! He must think Mike is hopeless, but I have a bright future! Eh…huh? Mike!?”
Unfortunately in his moment of pride, Zach had failed to notice that Michael had walked away, disinterested in what he had to say, and was nowhere in sight.
Zach whizzed all around the school until he finally caught of Michael walking up the stairs. “Wait a second!” Zach wailed. “What’s wrong with you? I know you’re jealous of my talent, but aren’t you being a bit cold?”
“I’m not…” Michael began, but suddenly the boys’ attention was drawn to the approaching of two girls coming down the stairs.
“And then Rumiko told my boyfriend all about it. He got really mad!” The girls giggled as they walked past.
Out of the corner of his eye, Michael looked at Zachary. “Jackpot baby!”
“You like that kind of stuff?” Zachary inquired.
Mike flinched. “Oh heck no! It must be a crime to let them make their skirts that short. The school should make a new rule…” Then looking up, he nudged Zachary as suddenly, another girl came down the stairs. “Sunshine @ 12:00!"
But this time, the girl turned out to be Ruby. “Good morning, Michael!”
“Uhhhh…” :blink: Michael and Zachary stuttered.
“Oh, that’s right,” Ruby suddenly remembered. “I have to talk to you about something. Come along, quickly!” She quickly dragged Michael up the stairs, leaving Zachary bewildered. “I HATE MY LIFE, I HATE MY LIFE, I HATE MY LIFE, I HATE MY LIFE!!!"
A moment later, Michael was alone with Ruby. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Well…I…there’s something I want to tell you, Michael,” Ruby looked worried, holding her hands behind her back.
“What is it?”
“Well…I…I bought a new bathing suit! It’s totally cute that you'll die!” she squealed, holding up two fingers as a ëpeace’ sign.
“Is that what you wanted to tell me?” Michael hung his head.
“Bingo,” Ruby held her hands together in an excited way. “I was so happy that I just had to tell somebody about it. Wanna see it? Are you wondering what colour it is? You want to see it soon, right?”
“Well, I’d want to, but…” Michael began, but was cut off by Ruby. “I’ll let you see as much as you like when we go to the ocean, okay? Until then, just you wait and see! How about this Sunday? Are you free?”
“Yes. I have a break from work.”
“Okay, it’s decided. This counts as a verbal contract so I hope you realize, if there’s anything I hate more than smokers, and I hate smokers, it’s people that can’t keep their word.”
That night, the Great Valley Speed-rider's S13 was revving madly across the roads of Great Valley. Ben kept a steady grip on the gears as he changed them to keep his momentum. On the dashboard, a clock-timer read upwards and counted up slowly.
The S13 shot down the road, and Ben changed gears again as he drifted across another bend, the back-end of the car dragging slightly as the drift was executed.
Sweat trickled down his brow as Ben concentrated. This is too tough, he thought. The corners that I never thought of as corners are becoming more and more dreadful. These corners that I’m so familiar with…they’re beginning to show their fangs!
The clock continued to count upwards. The S13 continued to barrel down the roads. Then a sharp right loomed up. Ben drifted, but came so close to the guard-rail that for a moment he thought he was going to hit it. But the S13 barely missed, and wobbled on the road before straightening up again.
Then the timer on the clock stopped.
Ben pulled the S13 to a halt on a nearby bend, and sat outside the driver’s seat, looking very discomforted.
It’s no use, he thought. Even if I push myself to the limit, I just can’t cut my times down. I thought that if I gave it more throttle I could cut them down. But it isn’t that simple. Is this really, the ëlimit’ of my technique? There’s no way I can compete with them! He shut his eyes, regretting ever having taken up the challenge in the first place.
* * *
Another day had come. At the local donut shop, Ben entered through the front door.
“Hello! Excuse me! Hello?!” he called out.
At first, nobody answered.
“Excuse me…”
But just then, a curtain was drawn, and Bunta Fujiwara revealed himself. “I can hear you. Just give me a minute,” he replied.
“Sure,” Ben nodded.
Eventually, Bunta emerged. “Welcome.”
Ben just stared at Bunta for a moment. Is this really the Plymouth Fury driver and the fastest on Akina and Great Valley? Is this the guy who defeated Keisuke Takahashi’s RX-7?
“What do you want? Sir?” Bunta asked.
Ben, finding himself distracted, tried to think up of a quick excuse. “Uh, some Green Valley Dounts, please.”
“Coming right up.” Bunta stepped away for a second.
What am I doing?! Ben thought to himself. “Um…I…my name’s Ben, and I’m the president driver to a street racing team called the Great Valley Speed-riders.”
No reaction came to Bunta after Ben finished speaking. Feeling uncertain, he decided to take it up a notch. “The truth is sir, I’ve heard this strange rumour that the fastest downhill driver on Mount Akina and Great Valley is a Plymouth Fury driven by the owner of the Fujuwara tofu shop. I assume of course that means you must be the same person.”
Bunta turned to face him. “I don’t know who told you that, but it’s not me.”
“Don’t play dumb,” Ben began to get impatient. “I’ve searched the whole city, and this happens to be the only place where a Plymouth Fury is sitting outside!”
Bunta just ignored him and held up the bag with the donuts. “Here you are…140 coins.”
Not wanting to seem like a jerk, Ben reached into his pocket to pay.
“Thank you.”
“Well…I’m kind of in a tough situation,” Ben continued. “Can you please listen to what I have to say?”
“What a bother,” Bunta sighed. “Right in the middle of my work…”
“But you’re not doing anything! I’m the only customer here!” Ben demanded, making Bunta grimace. :blink:
“That was rude, saying something like that…”
“I’m sorry,” Ben apologized, “but I’m desperate. The truth is, a team called the Project D challenged us to a time attack battle. Project D have some drivers with outstanding technique, and nobody on our team can compete with them. But since this is our terrtiory, we definitely don’t want to lose!”
Bunta turned inquiringly to him. “So what do you want me to do?”
Ben looked right at him. “Mr. Fujiwara…please teach me how to tackle the Great Valley Mountain Range.”
Bunta just stared at him, before puffing out a bit of his cigarette before speaking. “That’s an impossible request.”
“Please!” Ben insisted. “Even just enough to make me a tenth of a second faster! I beg you!”
“I know how you feel,” Bunta muttered, much to Ben’s dismay, “but driving technique can’t be improved in two or three days. In order to make your car do what you want, you have to think continuously and practice on your own. When I was actively racing, I was tackling Akina even in my dreams. Technique isn’t something that can be taught. It’s something you find on your own.”
Ben was left without another word to say.
Back outside, Ben just stared at his S13. “I’m sorry I can’t help you,” Bunta remarked from behind him.
Ben just looked at him with a firm look. “Mr. Fujiwara, I’ll be back again…and it won’t be just for sweets, you understand,” he spoke with a promising tone.
All Bunta did was watch Ben as he took off with his S13.
Later that night, Ben continued to throttle his S13 down the roads. The Speed-riders favorite spot to race is along Great Valley Interstate #74, because there's sharp corners and a tight hair pin called 'Dead Dino Curve' His mind was reflecting on Bunta’s words…“Think continuously and practice on your own…” I’ve done that, but my times haven’t improved a bit. Why don’t they!? No matter how hard I try, I just can’t get it the way I want it!
Then as he angrily drifted around a corner, a trailer truck carring steel beams was coming from the steelworks bound for a Great Valley Railroad warehouse in the other direction and appeared from around the bend. Ben jolted as he realized they were going to collide!
Crap! Go into the inside!
Both Ben and the other driver gasped as they came so close, but barely managed to avoid colliding. Ben held his breath for a moment, and then looked ahead…
“NOOOO!" The incoming guard-rail was coming straight at him, and he was too late to stop or turn…
The sound of metal creaking hinted the evident crash that could be heard across the hills of Great Valley Interstate #74.
To be continued…
