Need For Speed Fortune Valley Stories

Chapter 14 - Open Skies Part 6

7:55 p.m. Fortune Valley Resort & Casino. Tires were squealing and I was accelerating hard while a backfired and downshifted to the corner. Ellie upshifted after the corner when the tires squealed. I drove back to the start and parked my car by the support vans. "Give her some gas. Put it up to 10 liters." I said as I got out of my car and closed the door. Dom gave me a water bottle and I took a sip of it. "Branden. Once you've gotten used to the pass. Turn off your headlights and only use fog lights. Once it starts to pour, it will show less visibility. Don't rely on what your eyes can see, it will deceive you. But follow the lines your brain to race. It's an training method you should use." Letty said. "Make preparations for rain... Got it, I'll do my best! I'm leaving mom!" I replied. "Hold on a second... Hmm... looks like the coordinates of the meeting point with the Z are area B2... get ready, 3, 2, 1." Adena wondered. I gave a bye sign and took off. "Hey Letty. I heard your suggestion to Branden. I do not think Ellie needs that type of training. Because if you're looking to compete terms of using the memorized road line instead of your eyes. Like racing with your eyes closed. I don't think anyone is Yajima's match!!" Adena said. The next day. I was sleeping in my car. Ellie walked up to my car and started knocking the windows gently. When I was sleeping, I heard knocking outside of my car. I woke up and Ellie freaked out. "Gyaaaa!" Ellie screamed as she ran off but then came back before I was gonna get out of the car. "Ahhh!" I screamed. "You scared the crap out of me. I thought it was some knife girl coming up to my car to kill me." I said. "I'm so sorry, you might've scared me as well. But, why would you sleep in the car?" Ellie asked. "I'm trying to be prepared for the battle tonight. But after being scared, I can't sleep. But I don't care though for now, it doesn't matter anyway. Wanna grab a bite to eat?" I asked. "Yeah, I'm hungry anyway so yeah." Ellie answered. Minutes later. Burger Babes. "So do you often come to those family or fast food restaurants?" Ellie asked. "Sometimes fast food but I mostly I go to family restaurants. You know racers always eat simple meals. It's very normal and this is good." I answered as I ate my burger. "Wow, this is not bad. This is awesome." Ellie replied as she ate her hot dog. 7:00 p.m. The gang and I heard a blow off revving from a distance. It was a Mazda Autozam AZ-1. "Before this I was guessing, I never thought as expected, something like this..." Adena wondered as she looked at the Mazda. "Letty. I've slowly come to understand those words you said. That this battle, is the toughest challenge Ellie has yet to face. They really tricked us, to think that they'd come up with something like this. The opponent's team has a clever guy in it." Adena said. 2 hours later. Mountain peak. "We're gonna start the countdown! In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!!" Hajime exclaimed as he started the countdown. Both of the cars launched off fast in the rain. When they approached the first corner. Angelo shifted down and drifted. Ellie witnessed how fast it was taking those corners. "Damn, that guy's fast!" Ellie exclaimed in her mind. "The way you gave Yajima advice this time around is not quite the same as before." Jovanna said. "Is that so?" Letty asked. "I think it's better to say it differently. The advice you used to give him was simpler and more detailed. You would simply and directly tell her what she should do. But today seems a bit abstract. As if you wanted Ellie to make her own decision. These are the changes that I have observed." Jovanna answered. "Jovanna, actually. Ellie, that pretty chick has really improved a lot. I've slowly begun to throw the problems at Branden and Ellie for them to figure out on their own." Letty replied. "I had already felt that. That is why Ellie has been able to progress at such a god-like speed. It's just that, today's battle is a bit too much." Jovanna said. "All the conditions of the competition were decided by the opponent. For Yajima, this battle might prove too difficult for her." Letty replied. "Not good!! This is very bad! I've never approached a situation like this before!!" Ellie said in her mind as she saw the Autozam pulling away from her when it was exiting the corners. "What's going on? Isn't that an Autozam AZ-1? That car is very light doing this kind of thing. Isn't it condescending towards us." Jordan asked. "You don't get it, do you? Last year when Ellie joined this team and beat the demon lords members last year during the professional leagues. They all thought she was a joke. They all thought she's scared and she's not good enough. But everyone just got spooked. The shooting stars, the demon lords and the Drifting Hazards were handed their asses to her." I answered. "So you chose to bring your own rain machine huh? Where did you guys find a machine like this?" I asked. "From the tone of your voice, I can tell you've figured out that this person is fairly strong... even though you're the opponent, I'll tell you anyway. Even if this car beats the Z33, we'd have nothing to celebrate about. Honestly, to let you guys see yourselves lose to that car... it bothers me." Shoichi answered. "And I'm telling you, you're full of crap. Believe me, that guy doesn't look like he's gonna win. Talking about the difference between losing and winning is a bit too early. Although I feel for him, he doesn't have any chance at victory." I replied. "Yea. I know that. It's true, when comparing cars, there's not much hope." Shoichi said. "Didn't I make myself clear not to talk about winning now? Nobody knows what might happen between them. But the drivers are flesh and blood." I replied. "Are you saying that our driver is lousy. Yuu is a freak of nature." Shoichi asked. "That's not the point. I mean yeah your guy's good but you won't understand. You haven't seen the strength of this downhill chick. I'm not joking with you at all. Only the people from the same team will know. Some geniuses can exceed normal limitations. Even though you're not satisfied. I know for sure something will happen. Now you just wait and see." I answered. "Damn it! I keep the pace up where this guy is clearing those corners twice as fast as I am! I can't even concentrate on my own rhythm! This is pathetic." Ellie said in her mind as she almost slipped but regained control. Downhill finish. "Sorry I'm still not getting your point." Jordan said. "Oh my god, use your head. How much does the Z weigh?" I asked as I started to get annoyed. "I guess 1,466." Jordan answered. "Exactly the whole thing weighs like 3 tons or 2. But the Autozam AZ-1 is lighter. At most we're talking 720." I replied. "Yeah, so?" Jordan asked. "That's an 800 weight difference. The less the car weighs, the easier it is to control. That's why you don't see em race against modern sport cars, their inertia holds them back. It's simple physics." I answered. "But you can't fine tune an Autozam than a Z can would you? I mean lightweights all it's got." Jordan replied. "Doesn't matter how much you can fine tune it." I said. "Come on Branden, you don't think Ellie's gonna lose right?" Jordan asked. "Jordan what have I told you about jumping ahead to conclusions. What I've said before, when Ellie's behind the wheel. All bets are off." I answered. "Whoa! Look at those dudes sliding like that! Even in such a heavy downpour, they still dare to drift!! Looking at it makes my hair stand!" A spectator exclaimed. "Don't you get it? It's because of the rain that they are drifting." The spectator replied. "As the pavement's coefficient of friction lowers... the effect of not knowing whether you've oversteered or undesteered gets more obvious. There is no car on earth, which can completely bring out it's full potential in rainy conditions. Since it's like choosing between two difficulties. Choosing the controllable option of oversteer instead of the uncontrollable understeer is obvious!! That's I how do it! 4 Wheel Drift Baby! Rally style!" Yuu said in his mind. "Damn it, this chick is keeping up. Although there is some distance between us, seems to be impossible to shake her off. Will this race end before I pull out the deciding factor? This rain is bull crap. Honestly speaking, rain is scary. On a slippery road, it is difficult to ascertain the boundaries of safety for the car and yourself. If you want to compare it this way, isn't the opponent running a greater risk keeping up with me...!? The race just started. I just hope this chick realizes it now. Does she have the endurance to go through the entire race with this level of risk!!" Yuu wondered in his mind. Summit point. "In this battle today. I was unaware what the opponent would choose to race until a few days ago. The fact that they've attained a specific car makes me jittery. I feel that this is quite risky and dangerous... did I make a miscalculation somewhere Jovanna?" Letty asked. "Miscalculation? Letty, you make mistakes too?" Jovanna asked. "It's common for me to make mistakes... although I don't show it in my appearance, my mind is always in the mindset of a struggle." Letty answered. "But this time our luck seems to be pretty good." Jovanna replied. "Because there are many uncertain factors which cannot be calculated. It can be said that these factors may cancel out my miscalculation." Letty said. "Uncertain factors?" Jovanna asked. They were still approaching the corners and they approached the curves and straights. "What does it mean? I don't get what Letty told me. What would Gavin and his crew do? Will it have to mean I have to pass on the straights?" Ellie wondered in her mind. Flashback. "Which position you want? Leading or chasing?" Hajime asked. "In rainy conditions, leading would be facing wind resistance and the rain. But I still want to be the leader. And if we're talking about the power to pull distances, he won't be chasing close behind." Yuu answered. "I understand, I feel the way. Okay then, you lead. But end it quickly." Shoichi replied. "Ellie, after this race starts. You'll know this opponent will be so fast that it will be a bloodbath. On the corners, he'll pull away from you and you'll be left behind. You can only close the gap on the straightaways. It will be totally different from the other battles you've raced in. I'll give you a piece of advice is to think back to the toughest battles you've been in. The technique that you hate to do but you have to use it today. What I mean is think about Gavin. He and the Bushido members. How do you think they can perform their techniques in a rainy situation like this. You have to remember this as well, Yajima. Turning the tables is gonna be the only way how it's gonna decide the winner of this battle." Letty said. "Ellie, use this towel to clean the water off the foot pedals. If it's too wet, the feeling will not be precise anymore. If your foot slips off, then it's game over." Jovanna replied as she gave Ellie a towel. Changes back to present. "It's not that simple! Damn, what should I do? He's pulling away, I can't keep up. How can I possibly beat him?" Ellie wondered in her mind. "The uncertain factor I mentioned points to the rain." Letty said. "It's just the opposite. You're thinking that this rain is a factor that is advantageous for Ellie?" Jovanna asked. At that moment, the heavier the car is the one with an added handicap. As the road loses its friction, both cars tires will lose grip. But there is an uncertain factor. If this was a racetrack, during daytime, the dominant position would go to the opponent. However, a mountain pass in rainy conditions is different. Besides lower visibility, too many unknown factors start to surface. At this moment, the focus of the race will shift from the car to the quality of the drivers. Besides. This is not only a comparison of driving skills. But also to see if the driver has a little extra something." Letty answered. "Extra little something?!" Jovanna wondered in her mind. "The chance is in that moment. It is this unknown factor that has changed the race from what I thought was too difficult into a perfect situation for Ellie's ability. Ellie's luck has just kicked in. Will the rain save her?" Letty wondered. The gap started to close as the Z caught up with the Autozam. "The gap has closed on the straights... if the straightaways were a bit longer, there would be a chance to pass. This is a first, winning on the straightaways and losing on the corners. Damn! This pressure is massive! No choice but to use the straights to decide the victory!" Ellie thought in her mind as she approached the straightaways and saw the Autozam pulling away on the corners. "I want to catch up and crank the pressure on him! Seeing him running so smoothly in that piece of crap makes me frustrated." Ellie said in her mind. "Is that Gavin's ways of techniques? It's obvious though." Ellie wondered in her mind. "It's obvious that Gavin and his guys do those kinds of techniques! But if I am gonna use that technique, I'll have to close the gap between us to make it work! I'll catch up to him no matter what!" Ellie exclaimed in her mind as she figured out how Gavin and his team perform their techniques. Summit point. "They just passed the hairpin turn where the gutter crosses the road. They have about 10 - 15 meters between them." Fumiya said. "I don't really understand. My mind is becoming muddled. The Z is still able to catch up with the Autozam. It should've ended on the first part of the pass. If it doesn't end within the first half, it's going to be tough. The plan that I have thought of which was based on the skills of the Z33's driver and the 100% chance for victory is starting to fall apart!" Hajime wondered in his mind. "I think I get it now. The entire body of my Z is listening to me and telling me something. I can feel the tires on the slippery road surface almost sliding but it's like I'm gripping them with my bare hands. This feeling is very unclear. Even though the amount of water on the asphalt. This car is saying I must catch up to him! I've got 1 or 2 chances to make my move!" Ellie said in her mind as she was catching up. "There's one thing I feel very worried about. Speaking of Gavin Takayuki's techniques. The first thing that comes to mind is a counterattack. I'm worried about the decisions that a flustered Ellie might make in the thick of things. I'm worried that even using this method won't give her the chance to win." Jovanna wondered. "You know Jovanna. What you said is true. If Ellie uses a counterattack. It will fail 100%!" Letty replied. "Eh?! The distance... she's closing in?!" Yuu wondered. "I think I get it now." Ellie said in her mind as she shifted up. "Deja Vu. This is exactly what it was like when I raced Gavin on Lookout Pass." Ellie said in her mind. "When your opponent is faster than you at cornering. Give up a bit. Decrease the speed and get into a position where you can take the quicker acceleration timing. Then punch it at the exit." Ellie said in her mind. Downhill finish. "I can't help it alright! This whole situation bugs the shit out of me! No point of denying that those douchebags are a bunch of cheaters with an acts to grind." I said. "There's nothing in the rulebooks that's says they can't use a lightweight vehicle." Adena replied. "Don't just stand there and think that losing to those jerks make your skin crawl. If Ellie gets beaten we're gonna have a serious problem during next Tuesday!" I said. "Well it's good to see you keeping it cool head, look all I'm trying to say is she's got her work cut out for her. I just hope the rain gives her that extra push Letty has given for. The second half is coming so she'll have a chance of overtaking soon. There's no next to incline that the straightaways are long. She should know what to do." Adena replied. "You do find this ironic don't you?" I asked. "How can I not, when Ellie faced stronger opponents and knows their style that is used to win on downhill corners. But today, the downhill corners have given Ellie a disadvantage because of her opponent's faster cornering ability." Adena answered. There was a difference between the Z and the Autozam. The Z's driver had an upper hand while the Autozam's driver starts pushing his limits. "Does she know the meaning of fear? Even I'm afraid, driving an FR in the rain doesn't offer much stability! The closer she gets, the water spray from the car should block her vision, turning on the headlights won't make a difference. That's why I chose to lead. Poor visibility starts to run at night. That along with the water spray, she shouldn't be able to see a thing. She's gaining on me?! But how?! How can she take corners that cannot be seen so quickly?! What kind of a demon am I up against?!" Yuu wondered in his mind as he saw the Z catching up to him. "You won't get away! Not until I have my chance to counterattack!" Ellie said in her mind. "No matter how close she may get, she won't be able to pass me. I just need to switch over to the plan that I can't lose!" Yuu said in his mind. Ellie saw an opening on the outside. "That's it!" Ellie exclaimed in her mind as she saw the opening point and attempted to make a move. "Didn't I told you not to mess with me you little bitch!" Yuu exclaimed in his mind as he blocked Ellie and prevented her from making her move on the next corner. "Damn, no good!" Ellie exclaimed in her mind as she braked and the first try failed. "I figured counterattacking someone that has an upper hand on the corners wouldn't work at all. I've gotta do an alternative plan. I can't just give up after the first attempt. I'll do it on the upcoming consecutive corners. I have one more chance! If Ms.Disantos thinks I can do it! Then I know I can!" Ellie wondered in her mind. Goal point. "It'll be over soon. Looks like she's keeping up." Adena said. "Yeah." Jordan replied. "I don't know how much of a difference the weight of the car makes. Ellie's not gonna lose in the rain." Jordan said in his mind. Ellie saw another opening again and took it. "Go for it!" Ellie exclaimed in her mind as she floored it and made a move. "Seriously! Now?! Hey it's your funeral girl." Yuu wondered in his mind. "Oh no, I'm gonna fall and go in!" Ellie exclaimed in her mind as she fell into the half road between the gutters. "Not good! Break it!" Ellie said in her mind as she broke through the gutters and overcome it. "That was close. I didn't know what was gonna happen but it was lucky. But the gap started to spread. Counterattacks aren't gonna work. But if I don't use a counterattack..." Ellie wondered in her mind. "Is that so? I understand." Letty asked. "It's probably because the suggestion I gave was too hard to understand however. What I really wanted to say is actually very simple. Ellie is now chasing the Autozam? This means even if she doesn't completely understand what I said, she can grasp the crux of what I said." Letty said. "Ellie she... has hope doesn't she?" Jovanna wondered. "During the front and middle sections, all she's gotta do is keep up. Because that is the most difficult situation. The most important part is the last. Overtake the opponent when the weight difference is no longer an advantage. If it were Gavin, he would exploit this point. Because this is the safest, most secure method of overtaking. Although it's the safest most secure method of overtaking. Whether Ellie has the resolve to do it. That is the biggest obstacle!!" Letty explained.