Attack
and Counterattack
A Speed Racer Fanfic
by "Freddo"
Chapter Four:
"The IRC's Decision"
-----------------------------------------------------
July 12, 1968
North Woods Raceway
"We're
almost there?" asked Jo Grant as the TARDIS cruised through the time-space
vortex.
"Why,
of course," said the Doctor as he studied one of the controls on the huge
hexagonal-shaped console.
"Why
are we in this control room?" asked Jo, as she looked around at the
imposing room they had gone into for this trip; unlike the TARDIS control room
that she was used to with the usual white roundels in the walls and the
friendly coat-rack, this control room was huge and imposing. It was surrounded
by a large iron staircase, and the Time Rotor went clear up into the ceiling.
"This
is the Tertiary Control Room," said the Doctor. "The Primary's
decided to shut herself down for maintenance."
"What
about the Secondary Control Room?" asked Jo.
"Needs
dusting," said the Doctor as he poured himself some tea. "Tea?"
"Not
now...I'm too scared."
"Nothing
to be frightened of; we're just on our way to
"I
don't know which is worse..."
"Oh,
come off," said the Doctor. "You're acting like a child, Jo. You
weren't even this scared when Omega was about."
"I
just feel apprehensive," said Jo.
Suddenly,
the TARDIS rumbled to a stop.
"What's
this?" said the Doctor as he looked at several controls. "Not good.
Jo, the Time Lords have stopped us?"
"Why?"
"Why
are you doing this?" yelled the Doctor.
A
strange voice resounded throughout the control room. "This is being done
by the command of The President Elect of the High Council of Time Lords, Keeper
of the Legacy of Rassilon, Defender of the Laws of Time, Protector of
Gallifrey."
"Whoever
you are, you've got a right big head!" snapped the Doctor.
A
figure in a black Victorian high-collared suit appeared in a shaft of light. He
had somewhat longish black hair, deep-set eyes that burned in a stern, narrow
face, and he had both an air of command and an air of vulnerability.
"Who
are you?" demanded the Doctor.
"Whoever
you are, you look a hell of a lot like Richard E. Grant gone old!" said
Jo.
(Author's note: The
BBC now has a-semi official Ninth Doctor in an animated Doctor Who serial now available on the BBC's site on the Internet.
The serial is called "The Scream of the Shalka"
and the voice of the Doctor is done by Richard E. Grant, and the animated character
design looks a bit like him, as well...FREDDO)
(Second note: he is
not the same as the Ninth Doctor in the new BBC live-action series-consider
this an alternate universe—FREDDO)
"He's
not," said the Doctor, who immediately began to count on his fingers. "Four...five...six...seven...eight...nine?"
"I've
regenerated about six times," said the black-haired stranger. He spied a
long multi-colored scarf hanging from a coat rack. "Ahh...my old one."
"Yes,
Madame Nostradamus knitted me two of those. Never took a fancy to it; I'd have
to be a Bohemian to wear something like that! All right, what are you doing
here? You know it contravenes the Laws of Time, even though you've just told me
that I'll be assuming a whole rot of titles."
"Doctor,
who is he?" said Jo.
"Me,"
laughed the Doctor. "Future version, not much of an
improvement."
"I
sing better than you did," said the Ninth Doctor.
"I'm
quite insulted...I sing very well," sniffed the Third Doctor. "All
right, what's your business?"
"I
was sent to tell you to be careful of Karnaz. You don't know what sort of
powers he has at his command...the R'Khells are
gaining to ability to mess about with Time."
"I
guessed that already."
"It's
worse than you think, Doctor," said the Ninth Doctor. "And, oh, by
the way, I don't care to be here any more than you care to have me here. But,
do have a care, would you? If you muck up the timestream,
I'll be nothing more than a temporal bubble."
"And?"
"I'll
never get to meet Andy Warhol...what a tragedy," said the Ninth Doctor.
"Remember the Dairazihan Transmat
Code! You once wrote a paper on it back when you were named Theta Sigma back on
Gallifrey. You and the Master collaborated on that one, remember?"
"Unfortunately,
I remember."
"Take
care, now," said the Ninth Doctor as he faded away. "I just needed to
warn you...farewell..."
"He
scares me," said Jo.
"Scares
me, too, knowing I'll end up like that..." shivered the Doctor. He
examined the console for a moment. "Back on our way
again. Good."
"Doctor,
when did you work with...the Master?" asked Jo.
"A
long time ago...he was decent...you could even say we were friends. I don't
care to talk about it...if you'll pardon my rudeness. We're in
How
come he never lets me get any closer? thought Jo. Why
is he always behind that cover of inscrutability?
----------------------------------------------
The
TARDIS faded into existence in a back room of Team Omega's pits.
When
the door opened, the Doctor and Jo were greeted by a rather angry Commodore
Wildstar. "Good thing you made it," snapped Derek.
"Don't
talk to me like that," said the Doctor. "I was momentarily
delayed?"
"By what?"
"A
fault in the TARDIS," lied the Doctor.
"Good
thing you made that thing appear in a storage room. People would wonder what
the hell we're doing carrying a police box around."
"How'd
your trials go?"
"Badly,"
snapped Derek. "Karnaz interfered with things. He was about to attack
Speed when I had to intervene."
"How'd
you do it?"
"Banged into him.
Just a little fender-bender."
The
Doctor stepped into the main pit area to look at Wildstar's black and yellow
race car. "Looks like more than a minor scratch."
"We're
up before the IRC," said Nova. "Go Team's filed a complaint. The way
things are going, maybe I should've been driving."
"You
can't drive a racing car?" said Jo.
Nova
chuckled. "No, but I can learn fast."
"Like
you learned how to fly a Cosmo Tiger?" teased Derek.
"Derek,
I've always walked away from my landings."
"But
you've racked up a few planes..."
"Blame IQ-9.
Good thing we left him back on the Argo."
"What's
an IQ-9?" asked Jo.
"A
robot who has a crush on me. He caused one crash once
when he proposed to me in a recon plane. He caused another one when he tried to
play Roman Hands and Russian Fingers with me in a fighter," said Nova.
"Looks
bad," said the Doctor. "Want me to loan you Bessie?" he teased.
"Not
that antique," said Derek.
Pops
Racer appeared at the Omega Team pits a moment later. "Are you in charge
of this team?" he demanded of the Doctor.
"Yes,
you could say that," said the Doctor.
"Well,
you're late for that appearance before the IRC panel! Get that punk driver to
get his chassis in gear or you'll have hell to pay for playing games with my
son!"
"We'll
be along soon enough," said the Doctor in glacial tones. "I'd calm
down if I were you...it looks as if you're about to blow a blood vessel."
"What
are you? A Doctor or something?"
The
Doctor smirked. "As a matter of fact, yes. Shall
we go, now? Come, Mister and Mrs. Wildstar. I believe we're wanted before the
lackeys of the capitalist establishment."
At
that, Derek and Nova followed the Doctor out of the pits.
"Can
I come?" asked Jo.
"No,
stay behind and supervise the pits crew until I get back. And make sure there's
enough petrol."
"Petrol?
What's that?" asked a Team Omega pit crew member.
"Gas,"
smiled the Doctor.
"The
same thing he's full of...hot air!" yelled Pops. "Whoever heard of
wearing an opera cape to a race track, anyway? Sheesh!"
Damned Brits he thought to himself.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Speed
Racer sat behind a table, angrily drumming his fingers on the wood surface. He,
Trixie, Pops, and Sparky were seated behind one of the large tables in the IRC
hearing room built in the stands of the raceway. Across the aisle from them sat
the Wildstars, Jo Grant, and The Doctor. There was no love lost between the
tables.
The
IRC officials, who were named Eric Vedder, James Fedder, and Olde Codger (Codger
was the chairman of the local committee) sat listening to the testimony of
Racer X, who had been called as a witness by Pops.
"So
that's what happened?" asked Codger.
"You
didn't see all of it, but this young man," he said, pointing to Wildstar,
"was attempting to rescue Mister Racer from a worse crash which was about
to be caused by the Team Rouge leader, Karnaz."
"So,
you're saying that he had extenuating reasons for causing the crash?" said
Fedder as he coughed and adjusted his glasses.
"Yes,
that's exactly what I'm saying," said Racer X.
"All
right...unless Go Team wishes to question you, you may sit down."
"I'd
love to question him," muttered Pops. "I think those two are in
cahoots."
"He
has a perfectly reasonable explanation, Pops," said Sparky.
"Are
you saying you believe him?" whispered Pops harshly. "You know he
causes crashes!"
"I
believe him," said Speed.
"You're
not old enough to decide whether you believe him or not," said Pops.
"Yet,
I believe him."
"I'll
bet you believe that Wildstar, too," said Pops.
"I
don't know if I believe him...but I do believe Racer X."
Codger
banged his gavel once for order. "We're almost ready to make a decision,
but we need to hear from one more witness. Would Shirvan
Karnaz please take the stand?"
The
Team Rouge leader walked into the room with an arrogant smirk on his face.
"Do
you swear to tell the whole truth, the truth, and nothing but the truth?"
said Codger.
"In
the name of Lord Ekogaru, I do so swear."
"Who
is Ekogaru?" said Judge Vedder.
"A
great Deity where I come from," hissed Karnaz. "Someday, he shall
return...and it shall be a return in wrath."
"Yeah,
I'll bet," hissed Derek Wildstar under his breath. "Thanks to us and
Aliscea, he's only so much sub-atomic junk now."
"Easy,
lad, you don't need to make them suspect us," whispered The Doctor.
"Now,
for your testimony?" said Judge Codger.
Karnaz
told a sanitized version of the event that put all of the blame on Derek
Wildstar and asked to see a videotape of the crash again. Then, he said,
"You see, I was trying to warn Mister Racer that this Wildstar was
tailgating him when he decided to hit him. That gesture of mine you saw on the
videotape was me...attempting to warn him of our enemy's intentions. However,
it was for naught, thanks to Wildstar's temper and his intentions. I would like
to see him disqualified from this race, and arrested on criminal charges. I
will gladly testify at his trial."
"So,
you're saying that everything, including the oil slick that appeared on the
track, was caused by Wildstar?"
"Oil
slick?" lied Karnaz, who had caused the oil slick himself as an additional
measure in case his powers didn't work. "I knew of no oil slick. Did any
one of you see me create an oil slick? I assure you, my car is in top
condition. Is there anyone who would gladly let the judges know that the slick
came from Wildstar's heap?"
The
door to the hearing room banged open. A threatening voice said, "I know
exactly where that slick came from, my friend."
The
group turned their heads in shock as Captain Terror of the Car Acrobatic Team
stood there. "I was watching the track myself, since one of my top drivers
was about to run his heat. I have a videotape that shows exactly who caused the
slick...and I believe one of my drivers was the intended target."
"Who?"
demanded Speed as he got up.
"Snake
Oiler, if you must know," hissed Terror.
"I'll
bet you're behind all of this!" yelled Speed.
"Speed,
take it easy," said Trixie as she grabbed his arm.
Speed
looked over across the aisle, and saw Nova grabbing Derek's arm as she also
tried to get him to calm down. Maybe we're more alike than I thought he thought
briefly as Codger banged his gavel.
"Any
more outbursts, and I'll see all of you drivers
sanctioned!" bellowed the thin old man. "Now, Captain Terror, I know
that you're under investigation for criminal activity and false testimony in
the events regarding the
"That
matter is under appeal," said Captain Terror. "And, let me assure
you, testimony from the Soviets will prove I was not behind those murders.
Kindly consider this tape. It will show the truth."
The
tape was run. It gave a different view of the race, up to the moment when the
Mach Five neared Karnaz's red car.
"Slow
down the tape there," said Captain Terror. "You see the oil vents
opening on the back of the Number 66? That driver had an illegal oil-slick
creating device. He would have caused a worse crash if this Japanese driver would
not have deflected the Mach Five away from the area, and that hand gesture is
probably a signal to others in his pit crew. I have examined the track, and the
slick is still there. Karnaz is a danger to other drivers. He must be
disqualified."
Captain
Terror sat down near Go Team, with his skull-like face tightening up in a
grimace that sickened Trixie. You see... thought the evil leader of the Car
Acrobatic Team. I'm familiar with such tactics because we use them ourselves. I
don't want anyone else in this race using OUR secret tactics.
"Thank
you for your testimony, Captain," said Judge Codger. As Captain Terror
turned to leave, Karnaz walked down the aisle next to Speed Racer.
Now,
I can get the globe he thought as he walked past Speed and prepared to use his
telekinetic powers to snatch the crystal out of his pocket. Then, it won't
matter if we are disqualified or not...as we will have won...now...just a
moment of silence is all I...
"My
friends," said a deep, sonorous voice from the back of the room as the
door opened, and the black-clad and black-bearded Master came in. "May I
offer some testimony?"
The
Doctor turned in his chair and glared at his nemesis turned ally for the
moment.
"Sir,
these proceedings are finished," said Judge Codger. "We would like
all of you to leave the room while we consider the evidence."
But,
as the Master bowed and turned to leave, he glared at Karnaz for a moment. The
R'Khell felt his hand go numb, and was distracted from using his power on Speed
as the young racer got up, glared at him, and pushed his way down the aisle.
Then,
with a smile, the Master's eyes met Codger's Good he thought. Now, do my
bidding, old man. I am your Master. You shall do as I command!
Codger's
eyes went blank for a moment as the Master smiled at him before leaving.
"Judge?"
asked Vedder.
"Nothing,"
he said in a dull voice as the Master left the room, followed by the others. "Just a moment of forgetfulness. I am getting
old..."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Outside,
the Doctor pushed the Master aside into an empty corridor away from the others
and hissed. "What did you think you were doing, hypnotizing that
judge?"
"Influencing
events to our advantage, Doctor," whispered the evil Time Lord. "After
all, that is part of my brief from the Time Lords."
"Who
are you working for on Gallifrey?" muttered the Doctor. "Which sick
Cardinal would buy the likes of your twisted services?"
"All
in good time, my dear Theta Sigma," mocked the Master in a low voice,
infuriating the Doctor by calling him by the old student name he had used on
Gallifrey. "Everything will reveal itself in good time. When it does, I
think you will be pleased by my efforts."
"I
can out-think you any day of the week," whispered the Doctor.
"What
about that cosmic engineering degree, Doctor? Who holds the honors in that
field? It is not you, I assure you."
"They're
ready!" cried Nova as she found the two Time Lords. "We'd better go
back in!"
"Not
you," hissed the Doctor.
"Really,
Doctor," said the Master. "Stop being churlish.
Isn't he like a child, Nova?" he said as he put a
"friendly" arm around the Doctor's shoulder.
"I'd
trust you about as far as I could throw you," said the young woman.
"But, since you're on our side, come in with us."
"Good,"
purred the Master. "You, see, Doctor, charm can win the day."
"Just
as the serpent tempted Eve," snorted the Doctor.
------------------------------------------------------------
"We
have considered all of the evidence..." said Judge Codger. "Would Gregory Racer, Derek Wildstar, and Shirvan Karnaz stand for our verdict?"
The
three racers stood up. Codger coughed and said, "Gregory 'Speed' Racer of
Go Team. No sanctions are placed upon you since you were the innocent party in
this conflict. Due to the fact that your last time trial was interfered with,
and due to the fact that your clocked speed around the last turn was the
highest speed picked up during these heats, we award you pole position in this
race. Our decision is final. However, you are cautioned against unsportsmanlike
conduct in regard to other drivers, and you are ordered to shake hands with
Derek Wildstar of Team Omega, settle this matter, and race fairly."
"Yessir,"
said Speed with gritted teeth. He was hoping that Wildstar would be
disqualified, but...
"Derek
Wildstar of Team Omega," continued Codger. "We were going to severely
sanction you for causing a crash until we learned that your actions were in
fact intended to aid another racer in a dangerous situation as revealed by
Captain Terror's tape. However, your sixth-place starting position is reduced
to tenth starting position, and your team is fined two thousand dollars for
your conduct both during and after the crash when you intended to fight with
Mister Racer. Such unsportsmanlike conduct is forbidden in professional racing.
You are ordered to apologize to Mister Racer and bury your personal differences
here."
"Must
I shake hands with him now?" said Derek.
Codger
nodded.
Wildstar
walked over to Speed. "I'm sorry about our quarrel," he said as he
extended his right hand. "I hope we can have a fair and square race."
"So
do I," snapped Speed as he took Wildstar's hand and shook it once.
"And thank you for trying to help me...although a shouted warning would
have been better than denting the Mach Five."
"We'll
meet again in the race," said Wildstar.
"And
I'll beat you fair and square," said Speed.
Derek
only smiled. "We'll see. I was once a naval fighter pilot in my country.
I'm not afraid of a good race..."
At
that, Wildstar sat down. Speed looked at the young man, and thought, Fighter
jock, huh? Arrogant, but at least he's fair. I'll bet he's not as good in a car
as he probably is in the air, though. We'll see who'll win this race
"Shirvan Karnaz," said Judge Codger. "As revealed
by the tape, your conduct can only be described as disgusting. You are an evil
man, and your actions with your oil slick generator could have caused a fatal
crash at the speed that both of those cars were travelling. While you are not
immediately disqualified from this race, you are demoted to the very last
possible starting position. You have twenty-four hours to remove those illegal
devices from your cars, and you will submit to a mechanical inspection right
before the race tomorrow. If any cars from your team are found carrying those
devices, your entire team shall be disqualified. You are also fined sixty
thousand dollars and ordered to apologize to Go Team and Omega Team for your
actions."
"I'll
apologize to them when we meet in hell, your Honor," said Karnaz. "I
am informing you that my team is putting this matter under appeal."
"Your
fine is increased to one hundred thousand dollars for your arrogance!"
snapped Codger as he banged his gavel. "And it must be left in trust with
us even if you appeal."
"As
for your inspection?" said Karnaz. "I assure you, that my
device..."
"Was
designed to sabotage other cars," said Codger. "You will remove them
and submit to inspection if you desire to compete in this race!"
"As
you wish," said Codger. He bowed and left the room, like a thundercloud.
"I
would like to thank all of you for your cooperation today," said Judge
Codger. "For your testimony, Racer X, and Captain Terror, this committee
is most grateful."
"Thank
you," said Racer X. "I only wish to see that this is a fair
race."
"And
I also wish to see that this is a fair race," growled Captain Terror.
"Why?"
said Speed.
"Because,
Speed Racer, we are going to humiliate you tomorrow and finally have our
vengeance for the Alpine Race in which Snake Oiler was almost killed,"
said Captain Terror. "Prepare to go down in defeat to the Car Acrobatic
Team! Ha ha ha
ha ha ha
ha!"
At
that, Captain Terror left the room as Speed gritted his teeth.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Later,
Captain Terror and The Master met over drinks in a fine cafe.
"Good
job you did there, my friend," said the Master as he handed Captain Terror
a bundle that contained two hundred thousand British pounds.
"I
would not have come forward if it were not for your...payoff," whispered
Captain Terror. "But, remember, I am not your friend."
"As
I do not condescend to be anyone's friend, either," said the Master.
"I find people such as you to be my intellectual inferiors...useful idiots
here on this suburban wasteland of a planet."
"If
you were not so persuasive...and so forthcoming with advice...I would throttle
you for that," said Captain Terror pleasantly. "Do you have the plans
we agreed upon?"
The
Master smiled and handed Captain Terror a portfolio containing blueprints.
"Follow these directions to the letter. I know the plans are complex, but
they will enable you to keep your...extra-legal enhancements in your cars...and
keep them in such a way that they shall evade inspection."
"We
will most certainly use them on Speed Racer," said Captain Terror.
"Not
him...not yet...leave him to me..."
"Who
do you want us to eliminate?"
"Car
Number Seven, first. One Doctor John
Smith. He shall be racing with a Jo Grant. A little
crash on a mountain road, far from all aid...that will eliminate my
competition...for quite some time."
"Time?"
"Yes,"
purred the Master. "Time is something I have plenty of."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
How
did Captain Terror and The evil Master agree to work together?
Will
Karnaz try to kill Speed and Wildstar again?
How
will the race turn out?
When
will Captain Terror and Snake Oiler have their revenge upon Speed Racer?
And
what did the Ninth Doctor tell the Third? Can this new incarnation of the
honorable Time Lord be trusted?
Stay
tuned for Chapter Five: "Race Day"
TO BE CONTINUED....
To Return to the Introduction for "Attack and Counterattack" click here