Need For Speed Fortune Valley Stories

Chapter 3 - Desert Winds Part 1

10:45 a.m. Fortune Valley Railway Station. "You the gringo who wants to join our midnight run?" La Catrina asked as she opened her window. "Join. Beat. Multiple at the same time. Name's Branden Lee." I answered. "Lee, eh? Never heard of you." La Catrina replied. "Try to keep up with us." La Catrina commmanded. "I'll do way more than that. I want to say good luck as well. I am this friendly to other drivers that I am competitive with." I replied. " Orale! Time to dance with death!" La Catrina exclaimed. "Alright, let's have a fun morning." I said in my mind as I looked at the road ahead and I revved my car. When the girl starter moves her arms down, it signaled me to go and I floored it on the start faster than the other cars. "Woah! This kid is fast like Gonzalez! But can he keep this up?" La Catrina wondered in her mind as she saw me taking off the start at a faster rate. "It's time to take down the tables, I got something right here." I said in my mind as I floored it and passed my opponent on the outside and inside lane with a standby gutter run move. "The finish line's up ahead! Come on R34! Hold it together!" I exclaimed as the other car went side by side with me but I was a few yards in front of him. "A close side by side finish! But not bad though güero." La Catrina exclaimed. "Wait, Lee... I have heard of you. You got taken out a few days ago and you suffered from a horrific wreck during those moments." La Catrina said. "That was another life." I replied. "And what is now. guëy?" La Catrina asked. "I have a deal with you. If I beat your racers, for one. Then I'll challenge you." I answered. "Lo siento güey. You have no chance." La Catrina replied. "I don't know what you're sayin'. But we'll see about that to prove you that I am not a coward for backing out." I said. 9 Hours later. 7:45 p.m. Fortune Valley Resort & Casino. "Ready to dance with death, Branden? I'm not gonna go easy on you." La Catrina asked. "Good. I don't do easy. I hope you don't, mam." I answered as I nodded. "We are gonna do a lead and chase. You lead the first. If you manage to hold the lead or pull away, you win. But if I pass you, I win. You lose. Got that?" La Catrina commanded. "I got it." I replied as I started off slow until we approached the first corner and passed it and went full throttle. I pulled off a zero counter drift on a few corners. "This kid's definitely got better since the last time I saw him. He's improving one bit. What's improving on him is the way how he enters the corners with a zero countersteer drift. He's a freak of nature performing this method. I can't even do it on my car, nor anyone else. This kid is a god." La Catrina said in her mind as she saw me performing faster cornering drifts with zero countersteer. "This is working. If I perform the zero counter drifts. I'll definitely push this car harder to it's limit and attack the corners twice as fast as I usually enter them. Let's do this!" I exclaimed in my mind as I braked into the corner and drifted with zero countersteer. "Tell me why you returned, amigo." La Catrina commanded. "Payback and revenge for what they have done to me and my girlfriend." I answered. "Ah... that's where the fire is from!" La Catrina replied. "Alright, enough of this mess." I said in my mind as I felt the car and myself warping through the long straightaway. "The House is gonna come after you too someday, you know." I said. "They're city rats... nothing for them out here. They'll leave us alone." La Catrina replied. "Nova won't stop at the city. I know her." I said as I drifted again and after the last corner I saw a highway that leads to the finish. "So Cat... what's with the whole death thing?" I asked. "Just a bit of fun, you know? My family owns a funeral home. We all have our brands. ¿verdad?" La Catrina asked. "The straightaway, the goal's up ahead!" I exclaimed in my mind as I saw the highway. "Come on!" I exclaimed. "Hah! Too slow, La Catrina! You lose!" I exclaimed as I crossed the finish line. "Well fought, Branden... the dance is yours." La Catrina replied. "I was wrong about you, amigo. Something has changed." La Catrina said. "Yeah... I think it may have been that everyone has seen me as a different racer." I replied. "Enjoy the Mustang, Branden. I'll be seeing you." La Catrina said as she drove off. "Enjoy the Mustang? What does that mean? I'd better call Dom." I wondered in my mind. "Hey Dominic, it's Branden. I got a lead to an old Mustang body." I called on my phone. "Is that so?" Dominic asked. "Uh huh. Had to dance with Grim Reaper herself to get it." I answered. "What...? Ah, Graveyard Shift. If you find it, come back to the garage and we'll see what we can make of it. I'll get Gillian to find it." Dominic replied. "I'll see you later." I said as I hung up the phone and I got another call which is from Ellie. "Hello?" I called. "Hey Branden. How was the race between Graveyard Shift?" Ellie asked. "You know, it was okay. It felt like I was racing against Mexican street racers and it was like day of the dead. But I won fair and square against Catrina. I just hope we get the second league down, cause we just got one down." I answered. "Right, it's gonna be tougher up ahead and difficult from the racers we've faced in the Tri City Bay. Stay focused and be careful out there as well." Ellie replied. 30 minutes later. Garage. "Hey Gillian I have a job for you to do." Dominic commanded. "So what's the plan Dom? You want me to look for something?" Gillian asked. "Sort of. Branden told me something about a old Mustang body. I need you to look for the body and the rest of the parts. Some kind of derelict car. The parts are all over the world but you'll need to find the body first and then get the other parts. When you find them, call me and I'll call some guys to deliver those parts to the garage. Can you do that for me Gillian?" Dominic asked. "Yes I will. You can count on it." Gillian answered as she nodded and got in her car and drove out of the garage. 8:15 p.m. Braxton. Footy's Diner. "You mean the street league you went up against was a little like suicidal-ish?" Ellie asked. "It literally was. Like their leader says dance with death. It felt like day of the dead or dia de los muertos. But I felt like I still won the race. She didn't even bother to pass me or make a move. I suppose she was watching how I function." I answered. "You see Branden. The truth on why we no longer do time trials is because other racers are gonna watch how we drive and we don't want to show it them. If we do then we have a lower chance in winning and a higher chance in losing. I'm just glad you won but you can't let them watch how you drive." Ellie replied as she took a sip of her glass cup of water. "I just drive cars." I said as I took a sip of my cola and looked outside at my R34. My phone was ringing and I answered it. It was Jordan on the phone. "Hello, this is Branden." I called. "Hey Branden. I wanted to let you know that I am on to challenging the League 73 team right now. How was challenging Graveyard Shift?" Jordan asked. "It was okay but I won the race against their leader fair and square. Let me know how it turns out. I'll see you later." I answered as I hung up. "Branden, there is something I want to tell you if you don't mind. Do you promise not to freak out if I told you this?" Ellie asked. "Um. Go ahead, I don't mind at all." I answered. "The truth is......" Ellie stuttered. "I'm gonna guess she has something about the race I suppose." I said in mind. "The truth is I am pregnant." Ellie answered. I gasped for a moment and I blushed. "Please don't be shocked if I tell you the truth about it. After you finish racing in the outlaws rush. I want you to come take care of our child. Please Branden. If you decided to quit racing and focus on our child, it will make me happy." Ellie suggested. " *sighs* I will do whatever I can to make your happy. If that's your wish... I'll do it my princess." I answered. "You will? Aww Branden, that means a lot. Thank you so much." Ellie replied. "If that's what you want. There's no reason to go to a hotel together." I said as I got up from my chair and walked outside. "Branden, where are you going?" Ellie asked. "If Jordan or Ms.Chan wants to stop me from taking care of our child, it'll take more than that to stop. Ms.Disantos, mom and the others respect my decisions. I know you will as well. Ellie, it's not that I hate you. I'm not doing this to end my legacy, I'm doing this because I care about you and I want you to be happy. So I guess, I'll see you maybe tomorrow, I'm going home." I answered as I walked out of the restaurant to my R34 and got in it. It was parked next to her Z33. "Branden..." Ellie sighed. On the road. Fortune Valley Solar Project. "It's no big deal... because for a little while there, I was actually falling for her. If her wish coming true, makes her happy... then that's what I want... the guys would probably laugh at me if I say this but I thought she was the one... I really did... I loved her... but I guess... it wasn't meant to be..." I said in my mind as I stopped the car and tears came out of my eyes and I started crying. 7:45 a.m. The next day. "Branden! Wake up!" Letty called. I looked at the roof like it was clear skies and I daydreamed. "Is Branden okay?" Letty asked. "He's locked himself up in his room for hours about something that he just got shocked off. He's scared to say it at some point. I tried to call him but he didn't listen." Adena answered. "Yeah, you may have a point. I think somethings wrong with him and we gotta try to get him in to his racing mind. Maybe you should get something to drink, I'll try to do something with him." Letty suggested and Adena went downstairs. "Branden, it's Ms.Disantos. I want to see you if you were available." Letty said as she knocked gently on the door. I gasped for a moment, got up for a moment and went to the door and opened. "Yes Ms.Disantos?" I asked. "Branden I need to talk to you about something. Your mom told me you that locked yourself up in your room. Do you feel like sharing what happened?" Letty asked. "If I tell you this, don't tell Jordan or Ms.Chan." I answered. "I won't Branden, I promise." Letty replied. "Okay... the truth is Ellie is pregnant and I don't know if I should quit racing or continue racing while having the child around after I complete the Outlaw's Rush and I didn't want you or the others to get mad at me or Ellie." I explained. "Branden, when I was your age. My mother would have a child like me and she would give up racing but unfortunately when I grew up to be a teacher and train Ellie. She past away. Me and your mother would never be mad at you. If you want to quit racing, that's fine. It's not like I'm gonna stop you from doing anything. It's your decision, Branden. You make the choice on if you should quit or not. If you ask me, I definitely think you should quit racing and take care of the child. I understand you want to make Ellie happy and I respect that decision. So is your mother. We respect your decision. Now the others though I don't know if they are gonna respect that. I won't stop you from whatever decision you or Ellie makes. We'll also support you guys no matter what we do, cause this is our team. We're designed to help each other." Letty said as she gave me a pat on the shoulder. "Thank you Ms.Disantos for respecting my decision." I replied. Minutes later. "Ellie is gonna have a child? I can't believe it, congrats to her." Adena asked. "Yeah, that's why Branden locked himself up. But the truth is he wants to make her happy by quitting racing and taking care of the child after he wins the Outlaw's Rush and he doesn't know if he wants to take care of the child or continue racing. I told him it's his decision on if he wants to quit racing or not. Would you respect that Adena?" Letty asked. "I agree with what you're saying Letty. I think he should focus on the child more to make Ellie happy and quit racing after we win the Outlaw's Rush. It's his choice on if Branden wants to quit racing or not, but we haven't decided yet cause we're not at the Outlaw's Rush. I mean we're in the final stage, but the Outlaw's Rush, we need to beat every street league and every racer in this country. Let's try not to stress him out. I hope Ellie doesn't get stressed as well." Adena answered. "I get that, I'll call Karina so we can start training Branden to help him increase his speed and skill level. It seems like he's not fast enough to beat Mackenzie and we gotta train him to drive faster. I'll see what happens then." Letty replied as she went to Karina's room. She knocked on the door. "Come in!" Karina called as Letty opened the door. "Oh, it's you Letty." Karina said. "Karina, do you want to start training Branden now?" Letty asked. "Yeah, let's do this. I'll go wake him up." Karina answered as she and Letty walked out of her room and to my room. Karina knocked on my door. "Who is it?!" I called. "It's Karina." Karina replied as she opened the door. "Branden, get up. We're gonna start training." Karina commanded. "Training? Alright, then. Let's do this." I replied as I got out of bed. Airfield 73. "Now Branden. I want you to drive as fast as you can to that speed camera from start. It's basically a mile down. You can use the Nitrous as well." Karina commanded. "I got it." I replied as I closed my window, shifted to 1st and floored it. "60 mph." I said in my mind as I floored it and shifted from 2nd to 3rd. "125 mph." I said in my mind as I saw the camera from 0.5 miles down. "170 mph." I said in my mind as I shifted from 4th, 5th and 6th Gear. "195 mph." I said in my mind as I passed the speed camera once it flashed and I stopped my car. I got out of the car and ran up to Karina and the others. "How did I do?" I asked. "Unfortunately, you're 40 miles per hour behind Mackenzie. Her speed limit is 231 and your speed is 195. I don't think you could be able to catch up to her. She's too fast Branden." Karina answered. "Damn it! After of this training I did all of this for nothing! I'm going to back to bed!" I exclaimed as I walked in rage and walked back but then I stopped. "Branden, calm down! We can try to help you get some upgrades for your R34. Maybe that'll help or we can find a new car. We haven't made a decision but don't worry about it now. You're not close to the Outlaw's Rush yet." Letty commanded. 4 hours later. 11:45 a.m. Diamond Peak. "I hope Branden's not mad at me. I just want him to be happy that we're gonna have a baby. I still love him and I know he cares about making me happy. I really want our future to be happier than ever. Branden, thank you so much for being precious to me. It means a lot." Ellie said in her mind as she shifted down from 3rd Gear and drifted on the hairpin turns. Highway. "What do we have here? Fresh meat!" Udo wondered as he opened his window. "You're Udo Roth? Name's Jordan Douglas." Jordan replied. "I know who you are... you're HashTiger's drifting buddy, you're here to take a tiger selfie Jordan?" Udo asked. "Screw that. I'm an off-road racer, same as you. No. Better!" Jordan answered. "Prove it. Beat my racers. Then we talk." Udo replied. Garage. "Hey Gillian have you found anything?" Dominic asked while he was fixing a car. "Not anything, but I've found the body and I called some friends of mine to deliver it here just so you can look at it. I'm sure what Branden's saying is true, so let's see what happens ongoing." Gillian answered. "You know there's something in Branden I can't think of." Dominic replied. "What are you thinking of?" Gillian asked. "He's got this badass aura that either any of his rivals or one of us can see in him. It's like when he's the chaser or the leader, he never lets his opponent pull away from him or pass him. If it's a movement his pulls off when's he's chasing, he can try to pull the same move or he can use his own techniques to break their own weakness. Branden Lee, the unstoppable legend. I wonder if he is gonna continue racing as well. The question is how long will he run out of miracles." Dominic answered. Highway. "Fresh meat is on the lunch menu, boys and girls!" Udo exclaimed. "You better watch out cause I bite back. Alright, here we go." Jordan replied as he shifted from 1st and started off with a perfect start along with the other cars. "Give me a challenge." Jordan said as he passed his opponents on the outside of the off-road track. "Push it Jordan, step on it!" Jordan exclaimed as he floored it high and the boost pushed out as it was rising up and it helped him pass 2 cars and reach in 1st place and they're on Airfield 73. "Hello this is Jordan at your service." Jordan called. "Damnit, Jordan. I have enough trouble keeping these kids off the airfield as it is. Don't encourage them!" Dominic exclaimed. "I'm sorry Dom. You left me no choice but to do this." Jordan replied. "You're not goddamn sorry." Dominic said. "Okay maybe you have a point, I'm not sorry at all." Jordan replied. "Whatever. Just... kick their ass for me, alright?" Dominic commanded. "I got this Dom. Trust me." Jordan replied as he hung up. "Don't let up! Just a little bit longer!" Jordan exclaimed in his mind as pressed the nos buttons for maximum boost pressure and he crossed the line. "Yes! I did it!" Jordan exclaimed. "Huh... not terrible." Udo replied. "Tolerable job, fresh meat. We might make an off-road racer out of you after all." Udo said. "That's where you're wrong, bro. I live for this." Jordan replied. "Say, I recognize you... you're with bitch ass Dominic's crew." Udo barked. "The only thing crazy about him is what he can do with engines and cars." Jordan replied. Fortune Valley Railway Station. "Hope you're ready for this Udo!" Jordan said. "Oh yeah! We're gonna have some fun!" Udo replied as they started off the line at a perfect start. "Time to kick it!" Jordan exclaimed in his mind as he floored it. "When I learned you wanted to race us. I was sure you'd be a pompous ass." Udo said. "Hahah and?" Jordan asked. "You're a pompous ass alright. But you can ride." Udo answered. "We'll see about that once we're at the finish line." Jordan replied as he floored it and drifted into the corners with a zero counter drift and crossed the line and it turned to the last lap. "Last lap baby! Come on!" Jordan exclaimed in his mind as he drifted again and he warped in the zone. "Woah! He's fast!" Udo exclaimed as he saw the Civic warping. "Say, "League 73"... any connection to the airfield?" Jordan asked. "Yeah, man! We used to sneak in there to scope the UFO's back when it was still a secret military base. Had to off-road out of there when they'd find us."  Udo answered. "Now that's amazing! Wait, for real?" Jordan asked again as he floored it as he saw the gravel section and he warped fast. "AAAARGH! Goddamnit!" Udo exclaimed. "I did it, I clinched the win!" Jordan exclaimed as he stopped his car and did doughnuts. "That trail's tough as hell but you handled it like a champ. The location of the derelict 240Z is yours. You're legit off-road in my book." Udo said. "Thanks. But you're not bad as well. I would say we're both good." Jordan replied. "We'll stay off the airfield from now on. You earned that much." Udo said. "Well you can, but you can stop by the shop as well. I can try to get Dom to set you up with a engine worth a damn." Jordan suggested. "Heh, I'll think about it. See you 'round, fresh meat. We'll be here if you want a challenge!" Udo replied as he drove off. "It was fun, but I managed to pull it off." Jordan said in his mind as he took out his phone and called Dominic. "Dom? I might know where to find a 240Z body." Jordan called. "Excellent. I'll have you or Cordelia bring it to the garage if you find it. Since Gillian is finding parts for a car that Branden told us on what he found from Graveyard Shift, I'll get either one of you to find it. With the right parts, you might be able to fix it up." Dominic replied. "Also, the League 73 boys will leave you alone from now on." Jordan said. "You're the man, Jordan!" Dominic replied as he hung up. He got another call again. "Jordan here." Jordan called. "You... Branden's best friend. Where the hell is he? I need to talk to him... pronto." The gambler called. "Who's this?" Jordan asked. "Who's this? Santa Claus. Who do you think? I got something for you guys. An early Christmas present." The gambler answered. "Okay... but we're still in September." Jordan replied. "An opportunity to strike at the Demon Lords. Tell Branden we gotta meet, I'll send him the info." The gambler commanded. Jordan nodded and hung up. To be continued.