TG Race Week 2 Day 1
“Off to a Flying Start”

Doc watches the skeevo through the front window as he waits to head past the start line across the island in Cape Verde. The skeevo on the cloud calls, “Everyone in your vehicles.”

Doc starts up the van, and pushes the button to the back, “Tracey, are you ready?”

“Yeah, Doc,” the speaker replies with her voice.

The starter goes to one side and throws a switch. Suddenly Doc is crushed into his seat. Land then sea passes in front of his eyes. Why am I … ? I haven’t pressed the … His mind works quickly trying to process the information.

The speaker to his side starts singing, “Somewhere over the rainbow …”

“Oh, knock it off,” he pounds the poor speaker button. Then the information comes together, “So, we’re airborne.”

“Where’re we headed, Captain,” her voice coming from behind.

He takes his eyes off the passing sea out the window, “To a fiery crash.”

“A little pessimistic, much?”

He frowns at her, “It’s a little hard not to be while headed toward impending doom.”

“Aw, C’mon, Doc, We’ll get out of this. This is no worse than Oklahoma City.”

The van is silent as Doctor Cod remembers the zombies, pies, and bomb. “You’re right, Tracey. I’m sorry. Now what can we do? The wings?”

“Actually, they aren’t real wings because they are too short and have no ailerons. But they might be able to help us. But because we are tilted slightly forward, deploying the wings will cause us to head downward.”

“So, we’ll need to level out somehow.” He continues thinking, “And no matter what, we are going to hit the ground hard.”

Tracey’s eyes go large, “The Rocket Rejecter bots!”

“The rocket defense bots might work well minimizing impact. Get a couple of vials and let's coat this thing.” She heads to the back and returns with two.

She opens the top and the wind whips at her. She carefully uncorks the bottle, but the cork flies away. She slowly pours with the wind and watches the roof become shinier. Then she continues in a counter clockwise direction. The bots attach to the hood and progress into the wind. Soon the bots cover the top and start down the sides.

She closes the top. “Now for the bottom.” She open the bottom and the other bottle. She leans down, and the bottle almost rips out of her hand. More carefully she leans down. She tips the bottle and realizes something. “I can’t pour up!”

“What,” he calls from inside.

“Nevermind,” she shouts over the rushing wind. She splashes it upward and hopes for the best. She returns inside adjusting her windblown hair. “The tires! The heat or compression will blow them. I’ve got to coat them, too.” She gets a third bottle.

She pauses before the windy hole below calculating how she’s going to reach the tires. Then it hits her. She opens the top and turns on of the guns down into the van. She fires and the suction cup flies through the van into the air below.  CLANG! The suction cup with electromagnetic help sticks to the back of the van. She climbs down the rope into the air below. The wind blows her this way and that. Somehow she manages to get the bots on the back tires.

She climbs back up and releases the magnet. She pulls on the suction cup and reengages the magnet. Leaning down through the hole she tosses it up and forward as much as possible. CLANG! Her lower body slips and she falls out of the van. Her hands hold the rope for dear life. She heads to the end and after securing herself to the rope again she coats the front tires.

Working her way back, she reenters the vehicle. “E.T.A. Doc?”

“Too soon. Done?”

“Yeah.” She unlocks the magnet and rewinds it to the gun. As she adjust the gun to point forward again she notices something. There next to them is a smooth pointy ship. “The Skunk Wing!”

“What?”

She climbs into the van, “The Skunk Wing. Rikki’s flying ship.”

“So?”

“So, maybe we can get her to help us straighten out.”

“Impressive. It’s worth a try.”

Tracey heads to the passenger’s side window. She waves her arms while Doc futilely honks the horn. Finally the Raccoon woman looks over. Tracey pulls out her cell phone and gestures to Rikki.

Rikki nods. By show of fingers, “5. 5. 5. 6. 2. 8. 9.”

Tracey dials quickly. “BOO! BOO! BEEEEE! We’re sorry. But where you are has no service. If you believe you have reached this message in error. Please hang up and try again.” Tracey shakes her head, “Oh, man. Not only am I out of the area. I’m out of the continent. I knew I should have expanded my service plan for this race.”

Tracey continues trying to communicate with Rikki. She holds one hand parallel to the floor and points to the raccoon. She takes her other hand and does the same. Only she points to herself. She moves the Skunk Wing hand over the top of the VW Bus hand. She then uses the van hand to poke the hand above it. The both hands lower safely.

Rikki nods and pulls into a position above them. Tracey open the Sun Roof and fires two suction cup guns, one at the underside of each wing. Once they stick, Tracey closes the top. “Now, release the wings.”

Doc hits the button and the vehicle fills with wind. The van jerks down for a moment, but the view of the ocean mostly disappears as they level off. The wind resistance on the bus pushes it back and soon the view of Rikki’s tail end is visible.

Tracey and Doc relax as they realize that they are no longer going to crash into the desert. But that doesn’t last long. They watch as part of the back of the flying ship opens. “Uh oh! Tracey backs up toward the safe room. Suddenly all sorts of things fly out at them. Luckily they just put on their Rocket Rejector bots that defuses the energy from all projectiles.

Doc notices that needles are being shot at them. All of them bounce and drop away to the water below.  TWING! “Ouch,” Tracey cries out. But then a different voice speaks, “Doc, I feel funny.”

Doc looks back at his copilot. He almost falls out of his seat in surprise. There he sees a human sized animal. She is a Purple furred bunny like thing with a purple lizard like tail. On its back are purple wings with light blue veins. She is wearing a purple and blue dress that matches her wings. To top it all off, she wears a conical princess hat that matches the rest of the outfit. A syringe lies on the floor behind her.

Her eyes are filled with fear, “What is it, Doc?”

“I have no idea, but you are an animal of some kind.”

“My … My stomach feels funny.”

“Maybe you aren’t done changing yet.” She nods a little. “But whatever the case, we need you back in action as soon as possible. I’m sure I’m going to get tired quick during the time you are changing back. Let’s get you into the chamber in the back.”

Sure enough, after several attempts to get her into the clear tube in the safe room, they manage to fold her wings and slide her in. Doc pushes the button to start changing Tracey’s DNA back to normal cell by cell. He prays that it won’t take longer than the usual 6 hours. Then he returns to the driver’s seat closing the door behind him.

The sun has come up and has blinded him. He looks below to avoid the light. Below him he sees a beautiful blue sea. “What wonderful shade of azure,” he comments to himself. The land grows larger as the spaceship begins their slow descent. Doc closes the wings allowing the sun to warm the inside.

Their guide returns to its position above them as the van loses its streamlined shape. SKREE! The van bounces and jerks as the wheels touch the ground.

BANG! Something hits the windshield.

BOOM!  Something explodes nearby.

BANG! A second thing hits the windshield. The GlasSteel falls in onto Doc’s lap.

BOOM! BOOM! Both hovering bombs explode after they come through the window. One in Doc’s face and the other farther back.

Doc feels funny. His feet can’t reach the pedals. He also feels extra weight pulling his body forward. And his clothes don’t feel right. He looks down at himself and finds he is a woman. With a large chest! And a sexy looking maid outfit!! “I’m barely wearing anything.” His dainty hands cover his perky mouth as a high pitched female voice comes out.

“I need to do something.” She heads back to Tracey still changing in the chamber. “Tracey?”

“Uhhh,” asks the groggy person.”

“We’ve landed. What do you want me to do?”

Silence as the half done, very pregnant, animal girl thinks. “Uhhhh, drive. I want you to drive.”

“Ok,” agrees the happy maid. She heads back to the driver’s seat and starts the van.

Rrrrrrrrrr. Rrrrrrrrr. Rrrrrrrr.

The very unhappy maid exclaims, “Oh dear. We are stalled. Now I can’t do what my mistress wants.” She pouts for a moment, “I hope she doesn’t punish me for this.”

Two hours and 36 minutes later, Tracey wakes up in the chamber. She gives herself a once over and finds herself in the same Royal gown and hat. She steps out and realizes that they aren’t moving. Se exits the safe room to find a sexy maid crying. When did we get one of those? Where’s … “Doc?”

The crying one looks up frightened. “I’m sorry, Mistress. I tried to drive the car, but it wouldn’t go. Please don’t punish me!”

In a calm voice she asks again, “Doc, is that you?”

The maid nods. With hope in her eyes she asks, “What do you want me to do?”

Tracey thinks a moment. “Well, we aren’t going anywhere. I might as well give you something to do …” She pauses for effect, “I want you to go into the chamber in the back.” The maid scurries as fast as she can to the panic room. By the time Tracey reaches it, she is already locked in. Tracey hits the preprogrammed ‘Doctor Cod’ button and heads out to figure out what is going on.

She starts the car to the same tune as before. Stupid new engine. If Toby hadn’t … She reaches for her cell phone and remembers the in flight call. “Drats! Foiled again …”

She then remembers their guide that was bringing them down. With a bit of anger she heads to the other side where the Skunk Wing is parked. There she finds all sorts of other princesses all playing together politely. Her anger dissipates. “Rikki?”

“Yes,” answers the largest raccoon princess.

Her fire gone, “Ummm, do you have…? Does your phone have coverage?”

“Why, yes, it does.”

Hope arises, “May I borrow it and make a long distance call to the states?”

“Absolutely, it would be my pleasure,” she answers politely.

“Great! Thank you.” Tracey gets the phone and dials quickly.

RING! RING! RING! RING! A sleepy voice answers, “Hello?”

“Toby? What are you doing sleeping?”

“Sis, it’s Midnight here.”

“Oh! Sorry. I’ll call back.”

“No. No. I told you to call what is it?” Tracey relays all the events and sounds. “Oh, you know what that is? That’s a hose. I was just finishing up when the truck came. I forgot to finish tightening it up. I’ll walk you through it.” Tracey heads to the back and gets under the engine. Sure enough the hose is dangling and she connects it and tightens.

She hangs up and hands the phone back. She turns over the engine and it roars to life. She pulls forward, but suddenly stops. She looks around and sees her suction cups still stuck to the bottom of the flying vehicle. She detaches them and rewinds them.

“Rikki. Land that thing on our roof and let’s go. Let’s make some tracks!”

And with the additional weight, they do.