Cars 2

It Was Axlerod

Ruby/Lightning POV:

I was talking to Holley about what was going on. Wrench bits are strewn all around Mater as Guido tries wrench after wrench to take the bolts off. No dice. Guido gestures wildly, spitting Italian a mile a minute. I was freaking out, "What's he saying?! What's wrong!?" Luigi faces me in panic, "None of his wrenches fit the bolts!"

I felt myself tear up at this. He's going to die. We're going to die...

"I get it. I get it! I know what needs to be done." Mater spoke, getting everyone's attention. I grabbed his arm, "Then do it!" He stares at me in confusion, "What? No, I can't do it. Look, nobody takes me seriously. I know that now. This ain't Radiator Springs." I shook my head and gave him a smile, "Yes, it is."

"It is?"

"You're yourself in Radiator Springs. Be yourself here. And if people aren't taking you seriously, then they need to change. Not you. I know that because I was wrong before. Now you can do this. You're the bomb." I intertwined our fingers together as I spoke.

"Thanks, Ruby."

"No, no, no, you're the actual bomb. Now let's go!"

"Oh, right! Hang on!" Mater wraps his arms around my waist as a jetpack pops out from his coat, and we take off past Finn, who's in the middle of battling Lemonheads.

"Computer!" Mater calls out.

'Yes, Agent Mater.'

"I need that thing you done before to get me away from Ruby."

'Request acknowledged.'

An extra set of rocket thrusters kick in as we head right for a wall. I tightened my grip on his shoulders, "Mater..."

"Now I need you to do the chute, the second kind, not the first!"

'Deploying chute.'

I watch Mater's chute pop open, catching air and sending us sailing into the air. Mater began steering us in the direction he needed to go as we flew over London. The view was something. I gaze up to see the determination on Mater's face.

EXT. BALCONY - BUCKINGHAM PALACE - DAY

I lowered my gaze to see that we were heading to the palace. "Ruby, look at me." Mater spoke, turning my attention back to him, "It will be alright." We drop from the sky, land, and skid to a halt just before the Queen's guards, who draw their weapons.

"Back up! Back away!"

The Queen turns her attention to me, "It's Lightning McQueen!"

"Get back!"

"No, no, it's okay! Tell them, Mater. Explain." I gesture for him to go ahead. Mater nods at me before clearing his throat, "Okay! Somebody's been sabotaging the cars and hurting the racers, and I know who. Oh, wait... Your Majesty." He bows slightly, accidentally showing the bomb.

 The clock's at T-minus 1:53.

 "- Bomb! - It's a bomb! - Everybody down! - Look out!" The guards shout, aiming at Mater and I.

"Hold your fire! He can't disarm it!" Finn shouts, diving onto the platform and stopping between the Queen and Mater, "Mater, I don't know what you're doing but stand down now!"

"This ain't nothing at all like Radiator Springs." Mater whispers to me.

"Mater, just cut to the chase!"

"Okay." Mater turns to Miles Axlerod and points to him, "It's him."

"What? Me? You've got to be crazy." Axelrod responds with a nervous glint in his eyes. Everyone exchanges confused looks, including Finn and Holley.