Attack and Counterattack
A Speed Racer Fanfic
by "Freddo"
Chapter Six:
"Trixie and the Air Pirates"
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July 13, 1968
Low Earth Orbit
Konstantin
Dereyenko and Sasha Kirinovsky
were orbiting the Earth in a secret Soviet Space Program Soyuz test flight.
They were preparing to rendezvous with a recently launched Russian space
satellite, the Cosmos 912, as a dress rehearsal for the
"You
know, Konstantin, cold borscht tastes terrible
whether you're at home in the Motherland or up in orbit?"
"Da, Sasha," laughed Dereyenko.
"But it makes a good snack. Funny, isn't it, that
we are rehearsing to beat the Americans over their own homeland?"
Both
cosmonauts laughed at that. "Where are we over, exactly?" asked Dereyenko.
"
Dereyenko
looked at a notebook that floated slightly as he moved it around. "Nyet. Have no idea what that
stuff is?"
Then,
Mission Control called in from Baikonour. "What
is wrong up there?"
"General,
there are ten objects approaching the ship. Request
permission for an emergency burn."
"Describe
the objects."
"A
large mass, two smaller ones, and seven small, fast-moving masses we cannot
identify. We..."
"You what?"
"Commander!"
yelled Kirinivosky. "I see those objects! Bozhe Moi, they are not from this
Earth!!!"
"What?"
said Dereyenko. "I...they're red...fast-moving...they..."
"They're
what?"
"Firing...something..."
said Kirinovsky. "Green
laser rays! Coming right towards..."
Then,
Mission Control heard only screams, explosions and static.
A
moment later, there was nothing left of the Soyuz except for a cloud of
expanding debris and burning gasses.
Seven
red R'Khell fighter ships, the first stage of their mission accomplished, began
to glow slightly as the delta-winged ships brushed the edge of Earth's
atmosphere. The evil fighter ships were heading towards
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Below,
on Earth, the race continued.
The
racers were now on U.S 2 in northern
After
nearly a whole days' worth of driving through the forests and mountains of
northern
The
pack was speeding and screeching over a part of
Trixie's
voice sounded over the Mach Five's radio. Speed took the call.
"Yes, Trixie?"
"Speed,
I've just come over a ridge...and the road draws close to a lake in a mile or
two. Not much room to maneuver. I'd put on some speed now!"
"Gotcha!"
smiled Speed. He checked his rearview mirror, saw that the Shooting Star was a
comfortable distance away, and he downshifted and accelerated.
"Careful
with the engine," said Sparky. "You don't want to redline her in
these mountains!"
"I
know what I'm doing," laughed Speed.
The
Mach Five raced on.
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Back
in the pack, back in tenth place, Karnaz raced on. "Mehler!"
he said over his radio. "Do you have the squadron in place yet?"
"We
do," said Mehler up above in space. "We had
to shoot down a manned capsule of some kind...primitive thing. But, we had a
good launch from the mothership. What is our first
order if business?"
"They
have primitive airships spotting the race, Mehler.
Shoot them down, and then attack the lead car from the air. When you make him
crash, then you can take the artifact."
"Our
pleasure," said Mehler.
Mehler
smiled, flicking a switch in his fighter plane. The R'Khell ship began a
transformation, turning from a delta-winged space fighter into a
semi-delta-winged attack helicopter. The fusion jet engines shut down, and
regular turbojets switched on just in time to begin spinning the rotors on the
evil red military helicopters. Soon, Mehler's fellow
planes also turned into helicopters. With a grin, Mehler
directed them down towards the race course and the ten helicopters that were
spotting the race.
Trixie
Shimura, of course, was flying in one of those helicopters. Up in the sky with
her at 13,000 feet were Nova Wildstar, flying Team
Omega's helicopter, a pilot named Brawn Vicland who
was spotting for Alpha Team, accompanied by two IRC 'copters, two Interpol
helicopters, and three New York State National Guard helicopters from
Trixie
spotted a few blips coming in on her navigational radar. What's going on? she thought.
Then,
a moment later, she heard an urgent, military-sounding voice coming from one of
the National Guard helicopters. "Dive, dive, DIVE!
We're under attack!"
"What?"
muttered Trixie.
She
looked towards her left, and spotted some red helicopters plunging in towards
the National Guard 'copters. The red ships were firing something that looked
like green energy bolts at the olive-drab National Guard 'copters.
"Speed,
I've got to land!" she cried into her mike as she dove to avoid some
burning debris; one of the National Guard 'copters was hit.
"What's
wrong, Trixie?" he said over the radio. Down below in the Mach Five, the
desire to touch the globe was stronger than ever.
"We're
being attacked up here...we..." Trixie looked back and yelled when she
realized one of the enemy ships was on her tail. "They're after me...they..."
"TRIXIE!"
yelled Speed. He pulled over, shushing Sparky as soon as he stopped.
Racer
X drove past and stopped. "Speed!" he demanded. "It's the middle
of the race. Why are you stopped?"
"Trixie's
in trouble. Their helicopters are under attack of some kind."
Racer
X tried to raise Nova's helicopter. No response. Then, he got one of the
Interpol 'copters. He heard a voice saying, "Two of them hit already,
including one of the Army gunships. We need
reinforcements...."
"What
is going on up there, Number eight?" demanded Rex.
"Enemy
gunships of some kind...they might soon invade the
race...it's a pitched air battle...over."
"Tell
me your location! OVER!" said Rex.
"Agent
Nine...we're at...one hundred..." Then, there was an explosion, and the
signal was cut off.
Speed
and Racer X looked up in horror as, in the distance, the Interpol ship followed
one of the National Guard ships down in flames.
"TRIXIE!"
cried Speed.
"She'll
be all right," said Racer X gruffly as Snake Oiler and Wildstar came to
stops near them.
"What'cha doin', Racer X?"
asked Snake. "Sightseein'? You and baby Racer
there?"
"No,
we're not," said Racer X. "The race is in danger. We're under attack!
You men had better find cover."
"I'm
not staying here when there's a battle," said Wildstar.
"What
can you do?" demanded Racer X. "You're on the ground."
"While
you three chickens talk, I'm takin' the lead," said Snake as he got back
into his car. "See ya at the finish line!"
"Snake,
come back!" yelled Speed as Snake took off.
"Don't
try to stop him," said Racer X. "His mind's made up."
"What's
going on up there?" said Speed. "I..." Then, he touched the
globe. He smiled. It made him feel better.
"Why
are you smiling with Trixie in danger?" said Racer X.
"I
just...feel....like...it'll be all right," said Speed.
The
globe...that damned globe thought Rex. That must be it. That must be why
they're attacking us."
A
moment later, the Doctor's car pulled up. "Stay there, Jo," he
snapped as he got out. "The R'Khells are
about," he said.
"I
know that," said Wildstar. "I haven't been able to raise
Nova..."
"...or
Trixie," said Speed in a subdued voice.
The
Doctor shaded his eyes and looked up. "Two of them are coming. You'd
better find cover."
"Where?"
said Sparky, who was joined by Spritle and Chim-Chim a moment later as they
emerged from the trunk of the Mach Five.
"There,
under the pine trees in the forest," said Racer X.
"It'll
provide camouflage...you're right," said Wildstar.
"Not
from their eyes, perhaps, but it's worth the old college try," said the
Doctor. "Let's go."
"What
about the 'copters?" said Speed.
"If
Nova's still alive, she'll figure out something," said Derek.
"Remember,
Trixie's no slouch as a pilot, either," said Racer X. "She'll come
through this all right. Let's go!"
In
the meantime, Trixie was forced to fly like she had never flown before.
Two
R'Khell helicopters had converged on her, and were firing lasers at her tail
rotor.
I
don't believe this...they're actually trying to shoot me down thought Trixie.
Well, I'm not gonna let them do that!
She
pushed down on her control stick and pushed the rudder pedal hard to right. Her
'copter almost turned on its side as she dodged another fusillade of energy.
Trixie
was evading the predators well, like a mouse outchasing
a pair of vicious cats. However, the cats drew closer and closer.
"Damn
you, would you get away from me?" cried Trixie.
"Trixie?"
came Speed's voice over the radio.
"Speed,
I'm in a real jam up here!"
"One
of them's after us, too! We're about to...no...here he comes!" he said over the radio right before
Racer X grabbed him and pulled him under cover in the trees.
Then,
there was no answer. "SPEED!" cried Trixie.
A
moment later, one of the enemy 'copters got in a lucky shot, taking out the
main turboprop engine in Trixie's 'copter. Both rotors went dead and the ship
began to plunge for the ground.
"And
I don't have a parachute!" yelled Trixie out loud. "I'll have to try
and..."
One
of the enemy pilots flew in closer as her 'copter continued to plunge.
Unexpectedly, a shot of blue energy hit it in its tail, and it exploded.
Trixie
looked back in just enough time to notice a yellow and black helicopter
approaching in a power dive. It was Nova's helicopter!
The
young woman in yellow and black sat in the left seat of her ship flying with
one hand; the other was extended. "TRIXIE!
JUMP!" she yelled over the prop wash.
"Can
you catch me?" asked Trixie.
"NO
time to argue! Do it!"
So,
Trixie unbuckled her seat belt and reluctantly abandoned her blue and red
helicopter, jumping towards the yellow and black one with all of her strength.
For a moment, she thought it would be the end of her, since her hand skidded
against one of the landing pontoons, fetching up on nothing. But, Nova got her wrist
just in time.
A
painful tug-of-war ensued as Nova braced herself and used an amount of strength
a little surprising in such a slender woman. Luckily, Trixie's elfin frame
didn't weigh that much, so, Nova was able to support her with one hand, and
then with two. Taking a deep breath, Trixie climbed up onto the landing pontoon
and then into the 'copter as Nova pulled her in. Trixie lost one of her loafers
in the process, but she didn't notice for the moment.
"Buckle
in!" cried Nova as soon as Trixie got into the left seat. "This is
going to be a rough ride!"
Trixie
craned her head back, in just enough time to notice two more of the enemy
helicopters. One of the National Guard gunships was
in the process of shooting down one of them, but a second one was coming at
them.
Nova
took some sort of bluish-grey pistol off her belt, pointed out the opening in
the side of the bubble, and fired at the 'copter one-handed. To Trixie's
amazement, a surge of bluish energy flew from Nova's gun towards the enemy
ship. Nova missed, but she jinked right to avoid
enemy fire that blasted all around them. Then, Nova fired again. Her shot hit
the enemy ship, causing it to break off the attack as it roared upwards,
climbing right out of the battle area.
"How
high can those things go?" asked Trixie.
"Higher
than you think," said Nova. "We've fought them before, back where I
come from."
"And
where's that?"
"Long story.
I'm getting you to safety. Try reaching Speed. I have the proper frequency up
already."
Trixie
nodded and took the mike.
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Trixie
finally reached Speed just as the remaining enemy 'copters were finally
repelled.
"Speed,
are you all right?"
"Yes,
I am. They appeared and shot at us once...but then they went away. Are you all
right?"
"My
'copter was shot down, but Nova picked me up just in time. I'm all right. We're
landing at
"What
about the race?"
"I've
been in touch with the IRC," said Nova. "They're telling you to go to
"What
a dirty trick," said Wildstar over his radio circuit.
"You
sure got that right," said Speed.
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Will the race
continue?
Have the R'Khells
succeeded in stopping Speed Racer and UNIT?
What does the attack
on the Russian Soyuz mean for world peace?
Stay tuned for
Chapter Seven: "In the
TO BE CONTINUED....
To Return
to the Introduction for "Attack and Counterattack" click here