Need For Speed Fortune Valley Stories

Chapter 24 - Payback Part 1

Downtown. Parking Lot. "Outlaw's Rush. Lee is in." The Gambler said. "Doesn't matter. We'll beat him. Then I'm coming for you." Mackenzie replied. "Ooh, scary." The Gambler said as he pulled out his chip. "What's this?" Mackenzie asked. "The final piece of the puzzle. Win, and the Demon Lords gets all of Silver Rock. Lose and the Demon Lords will go bankrupt paying me and everyone else back." The Gambler answered. "Your Casino? You want to bet?" Mackenzie asked. "All in." The Gambler answered. "I own the Outlaw's Rush. You wanna be this stupid, you're on." Mackenzie replied. "That's a pretty big bet. What's your boss gonna say?" The Gambler asked. "Well when I hand him your casino, anything I want him to say." Mackenzie answered. "Hope you're right! May the best man win." The Gambler replied. "Oh, she will." Mackenzie said. Meanwhile. Silver Rock. I was driving on the road to my route back to the garage. Then I heard my phone ringing. "This is Branden speaking." I called. "Hello, Branden." The Curator called. "Who is this?" I asked. "You don't recognize me? I should be hurt. Some disgruntled league members say I've become your press agent." The Curator answered. "The voice of the street." I replied. "Your crew's in the Outlaw's Rush. You did it. I would congratulate you, but you're in one hell of a fight. Just know you've got friends across the city who've seen what you can do. Godspeed, Branden Lee." The Curator said. "Heh, interesting call." I said as I hung up. "We're in!" I called. "Wooh!! Yeah!!" Jordan called. "You guys pulled it off. I'll be damned." Letty replied. "We pulled it off, Ms.Disantos. All of us, together." I said. "Good job! Come at the mansion... Time to figure out our strategy for race day." Dominic replied. Garage. "The Demon Lords are gonna throw everything they got at us. Expect killswitch cars and heavy cop interference. Ms.Disantos, we're all set?" I asked. "They'll never see you coming." Letty answered. "Great, Jordan?" I asked. "All good to go. Me and the gang will give the cops a night to remember." Jordan answered. "Dom?" I asked. "I've got a little surprise cooked up, just in case. Oh, and Branden? Once you know which cars you're taking into the Rush, better make sure they're setup just the way you want them." Dominic answered. "Sure, we'll take one last look. This is it, then. Let's bring down the Demon Lords." I replied. I got back outside and went in my M3 GTR. "Branden." I called. "So. You made the Rush." Mackenzie called. "Don't act surprised. You always knew I would." I said. "This isn't some Barrio street race with Letty and the others, Branden. This is the real world, being the best just isn't good enough. Believe me... I tried." Mackenzie replied. "You never could beat me back then, Mackenzie. And despite all the money, despite the Demon Lords at your back... You still can't beat me." I said. "Everything's a race with you Branden." Mackenzie replied. "Always will, always do." I suggested. "I'll do more than beat you... I'll destroy you." Mackenzie replied. Downtown. Boomville. My phone was ringing again and I answered it. "So! You made the Rush! You must be happy!" The Gambler called. "Yeah, I am!" I called. "Me? I made a killing on betting a hundred to one you'd make it, back when nobody cared about you. So I'm pretty stoked right now." The Gambler asked. "That's great..." I answered. "But now I went and bet my casino against the Demon Lords. Win and the Demon Lords goes bust, lose and I'm out on the street, so... yeah... Gooooo Branden!" The Gambler replied. "You what?" I asked. "No, seriously. Better goddamn go, Branden. I bet my whole Casino on this." The Gambler answered. I hung up and Dominic called me. "How's the race and off-road cars coming along, Branden?" Dominic called. "I'll be ready. I'll be there once I get them set up the way I want them." I called.  "Sounds good. Let me know when you're ready to roll." The Gambler replied. "There's a hell of a lot riding on this... Still firm on that "no cheating" policy?" Jordan asked. "Not happening." I answered. "Just checking!" Jordan replied. Lakeside. I arrived at the starting line and got out of the car. I saw a lot of supercars parked at the start. "Looks like you made it to the starting line after all." Mackenzie said. "And I'm here to take you down." I replied. "Oh Branden. Every driver here is out to crush you. Every cop in this city is after your blood. You're just another loser standing in my way... And you're about to run out of luck." Mackenzie suggested. "You see, that's where you're wrong. This has never been about luck." I replied. "Racers, it's about to go down!" The Curator said. Ellie arrived at the start and borrowed Letty's car. She parked it and got out of the car. "Branden, wait one second!" Ellie called as she ran up to me and gave me a hug. "Branden, I want you to be careful out there. Those guys are so fast, so just do your best and win this one for me. Don't lose." Ellie said. I gave a nod and went back in my car. I parked my car at the starting line. "Guys... this is it." I said. "You got this, Branden. Good luck." Letty replied. "It's like I told Nova. Luck ain't got nothing to do with it." I said. "5 seconds to start! 4, 3, 2, 1, Go!!" Cordelia exclaimed as she started the countdown and I launched off the start along with the other cars. Some of them were very fast and I can try my best to keep up with them. "This is it, racers! The race is on!" The Curator exclaimed. I passed the Huracan and the other cars. I was in 5th place. "Drone's up in the air! I'll let you know if Mackenzie tries to pull anything." Jordan said. "These guys are the top racers in the country. Just remember, all you need to qualify for the next round is to place the top half." Adena replied. "Thanks, Mom. But there's only one way I ever do this... I race to win." I suggested as I accelerated hard and passed the Corvette and the R8. We were heading on the next corner that leads to the desert. After I passed the two cars, I've passed the NSX. "Give me a challenge." I said. "I hope you didn't think I was gonna play fair, Lee." Mackenzie replied. I later approached the left turn into the highway. "Branden, heads up! House enforcers on your way!" Jordan called. "Nothing I can't handle." I answered. "I hope so. Bro... I recognize some of those cars." Jordan replied. I passed the under bridge section and took the path to the tunnel that leads to Liberty Desert and Mount Providence. "Marco, Takayuki, Lopez... Take him out." Mackenzie said. "Son of a bitch..." I replied as I gave a sigh. "Oh look, Nobody's boyfriend's trying to save the world!" Melayna said. "Mr.Lee. Are you ready to be taken out?" Gavin asked. "The Collector called in a demolition job, and I'm here to deliver." Joseph replied. "Not good..." I said. Starting point. "What? Branden's under attack by one of the league members?! Ok, check back with me in a few." Ellie called. "Something happened?" Cordelia asked. "Yeah, one of the league bosses are onto Branden. Get in the car." Ellie answered as she got in the car. "Are you nuts?! The race just started!" Cordelia asked. "I just want to make sure he's okay! If he needs our help, we'll have to get there, now come on!" Ellie answered. "Okay, Okay! I'm coming!" Cordelia replied as she got in the car and Ellie took off at high speed. "Oh, this does not look good. We've got trouble incoming, and it's headed straight for Branden Lee." The Curator said. "Fine... you wanna play it?" I asked as I braked slightly and side swiped the Huayra onto the off-road as it lost control and rolled. "Bye bye!" I exclaimed as I accelerated hard. The GT-R went side by side with me and side swiped me. "Watch it!" I exclaimed as I side swiped back. I pushed him into a interstate poll that was hard which caused Gavin to crash. "And you're down!" I exclaimed. The C10 bumped me from behind as I almost lost control but I regained it with my foot pumping the accelerator to gain control. When we were heading into the Forest section. I side swiped the C10 truck into the tree and it caused Joseph to crash head on. "Now to win this!" I exclaimed in my mind. "Ugh! Well, I'm out." Mackenzie said. "Damnit, me too." Joseph said. "Worthless fools, I... I'm out as well." Gavin replied. "Now you get to watch me win. Kachow!" I said as I accelerated hard. "That was the last of those Demon Lords things! Now go win this thing!" Jordan replied. Billionaires Row. "Oh my god, my hearts beating a mile from each turn. Every time we come up to one I keep thinking that the M3 GTR is in a gigantic fireball." Ellie said. "Ellie, relax. He'll be okay, plus there will only be a few scratches on his car." Cordelia replied. "You're right. I think I shouldn't worry for now. But I'm just a little scared he'll crash or something." Ellie suggested. "Racers, our man Branden is off to an amazingly strong start, placing first early on. But the Demon Lords didn't come to play fair... Stay tuned." The Curator said. I am now heading into the mountain section with the hairpin turns and bends. "You're doing great, kid. You're halfway through the first leg." Letty said. I felt a strong sense in my body with the car as I was controlling it. "I feel something strong in my body, i feel like when I'm ahead. I'm just like free but now I'm ahead, I can run my own race the way I want it to be. Time to turn up the tables!" I exclaimed in my mind as I accelerated hard and warped through the corners. "Hey kid. Just calling to say, break a leg! Well; not literally, obviously." The Gambler called. "Yeah thanks." I called. "Just be sure to win, okay? Because if I lose my casino. I WILL actually break both your legs." The Gambler suggested. "Uuuh..." I stuttered. "Just kidding! I'm not kidding... At all, actually. Win the goddamn race." The Gambler replied. I kept warping and warping through every corner. Because this M3 GTR was born for me to drive with. I am in the zone and I am now in my own pace for this race. "Almost at the Observatory." I said. "You're in the lead and your off-road car is waiting! Go, go, go!" Jordan replied. I kept warping through the zone and I crossed the line first. "Branden Lee takes the first leg of the Outlaw's Rush!" The Curator said. Silver Dam. "What are you waiting for? Finish him! Call in other crews, then! What do you mean they're all taken out?!? Call in our friends on the force. Make sure no one gets through but him." Mackenzie called. Liberty Desert. "I hope Branden's doing okay." Cordelia said. "Hmph, maybe we're just wasting our time worrying about him. He's made it this far without crashing. Which in that case, he is adapted to his situation and his advantage on the course with the upper hand on those fast supercars from over the world." Ellie replied. "It seems like Mackenzie must be sweating a lot and being a crybaby about it, don't you think about it?" Cordelia asked. "Yeah, that's funny. She must regret challenging Branden after this leg and the off-road round." Ellie answered. Meanwhile. Marshall Observatory. "The racers have switched to their off-road setups.. Things are about to get dirty. Just the way I like it." The Curator said. "Alright! Here comes down the countdown! 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go!!" Jovanna exclaimed as she started the countdown and the cars launched off the start. "Aaaand they're off down the dirt road!" The Curator exclaimed. I am now driving the off-road M3 Jordan gave for me to use for this race and now I can control the way how I want it to be since it's my first time driving off-road. We were heading down the off-road section to the tunnel sector. "Uh oh, Branden? You've got cops incoming! LOTS of cops." Jordan called. "Wouldn't be a Demon Lords sponsored race without a fix." I called. "Adam-35. We have a 410, multiple subjects off-road headed towards Airfield 73. Code Three." A cop called. "The other racers don't matter. Get Branden Lee." Mackenzie replied. "Control, repeat? I need a confirm on that order." A cop asked. "Affirmative, Adam-35. All patrol cars in pursuit be advised. We have instructions to pursue Branden Lee only. Ignore all other vehicles." The Control answered. "Damnit, not this again..." I said in my mind. "They got killswitches." I called. "Don't worry... those countermeasures should protect you." Letty called. "Should?!" I asked as I got bumped from behind. "Ugnh!!" I exclaimed as I got bumped from the cop car and I side swiped it back. "Adam-13. Killswitch device is ineffective against the subject's vehicle." A cop called. "Adam-13, please clarify. Is your killswitch device out of commission?" The Control asked. "Negative. Control. Only the subject's vehicle seems ineffective." A cop answered. "They just tried to killswitch me. Didn't work." I called. "YES! The countermeasure worked!" Adena called. "Of course it did. Those circuits won't last though, so better get rid of those cops fast. Should last you this leg, at least." Dominic replied. I accelerated hard as I felt the cops trying to attack me but then I dodged their attacks. "Jordan? Those cops are being a real pain in the ass right now." I called. "Just hold on until the airfield... We've got a little surprise in store for them." Jordan called. I accelerated hard to the airfield. "Jordan? I'm here with Fortune Valley's entire police force on my ass!" I called. "You heard him, guys. Go get 'em!!" Jordan called. I side swiped the cop into the wall and took the jump. "League 73 to the rescue!" Udo called. "Free Ember Militia checkin' in! We'll keep hitting those cops until they chase us down the trails!" Faith called. Jovanna bumped the cop car and the cop car crashed. "Wooo!! We've got your back, bruv!" Jordan exclaimed as he ran head on to the cop car and it flipped. "Graveyard shift checking in! We've got la policia on the run from Braxton through Newhaven Lake!" La Catrina called. "This is Riot a Club! We've got the cops chasing their own trails downtown. Go and win that race. Big Brother! Fighting!" Big Sister called. "Noise Bomb coming in hot! We're tearing it up in Silver Canyon." Aki called. "Silver Six in the Barrio! We got the cops pinned down here and shaking in their boots! Take it home, Lil' Branden!" Tony called. "Armor-22. Control, we've got multiple code threes across the county and downtown. Request immediate backup. Situation is violate and escalating quickly." A cop called. "You can sort that out later! Send all available units after Lee." Mackenzie called. "With all due respect ma'am. We have multiple reckless drivers down endangering public property all over the place. The situation is critical." A cop said. "Copy, Armor-22. Code red. All available units in districts one to four, top priority is to restrain all rogue drivers. Get Fortune Valley under control!" The Control replied. "Nice to see we've got plenty of friends around the valley and thanks for the M3." I called. "We're all here for you, bruv. Now go and win this thing!" Jordan replied. I accelerated hard as I kept attacking the corners with a four wheel drive since I've never driven off-road before while I'm mostly experienced with gravel and on road. "There's just no stopping our man Branden! He's in the top three despite heavy police interference!" The Curator exclaimed. I stepped on the accelerator very hard as I kept drifting in the zone as I felt my body controlling myself and the car. I took the jump as I was on the final section. "Branden is in the top three as we near the finish line of the off-road leg... He can still pull this off!" The Curator said. I did the Irohazaka jump method Kai Kogashiwa did against Mr.Fujiwara which is used to cut the corner and I accelerated hard. "Whoever takes first place in this second leg of the Outlaw's Rush will go onto race head to head against last year's champion! Will it be Branden? According to your magic Curator, signs are pointing yes!" The Curator said. "You're good, Branden. We're all cheering for you, buddy!" Jordan called. "Thanks for the assist Jordan!" I replied as I crossed the line first. "And Branden Lee takes the off-road leg of the Outlaw's Rush." The Curator said. Mount Providence. "Seriously?! He won?! Alright, Jordan. I'll call you back." Cordelia called. "I just got word that Branden won the off-road leg of the Outlaw's Rush. Let's get to Silver Dam." Cordelia said. "Glad to hear." Ellie replied. Silver Dam. "They got pulled away? How many..? EVERYONE?! You know what? It doesn't matter, I'll take him down myself." Mackenzie called as she drove to the starting line. Minutes later. "Wait... We have a last minute replacement. How is this even allowed? Replacing last year's champion in the final leg of the Outlaw's Rush... Mackenzie Nova." The Curator said. Mackenzie parked her at the start next to my M3. "Branden, are you ready for this? You're about to race Nova for revenge." Jordan asked. I looked at Karina and I gave her a sigh. "On second thought, I'm not gonna race." I answered. "What? He's not racing?" Letty asked. "What's going on?" Adena asked. "Karina, you gotta race for me." I said. "Branden, why me? Don't you want revenge on Mackenzie?" Karina asked. "I do, but if our team gets revenge on Nova. Then it's done. You will be the new driver for this team and I have a child to take care of after we take down the Demon Lords. I am gonna retire racing." I answered. "I agree with his decision. He doesn't want to race anymore. So don't force him to race guys. He is now gonna be a dad and we have to respect that guys." Adena replied. "Same here, he wants to do this take care of Ellie and her child to make them happy so let's give him a break." Letty suggested. The Z arrived at the start. "What's going on?" Cordelia asked. "Branden's not gonna race in the final leg. He decided to let Karina do it because he has a child he has to take care of after we take down the Demon Lords." Jovanna answered. "I know that decision. He's doing this for me because he wants me to be happy with our child. Branden is gonna be a dad and I will be a mom. I want him to be here for our child and I will quit racing as well. I am thankful to be with all of the members here. Now it's time to see how the racing teacher of his can do." Ellie asked. "Do you have a car Karina? How are you gonna race?" Letty asked. "Dom,  do you have a secret weapon for Karina?" I asked. "Oh yes I do. Let me take it out of the truck." Dominic answered as he ran to the truck to open the cargo and he got in the secret car. He reversed and took it out of the truck. The car was a McLaren 570S. "Alright, that will do the job." I said. "Yeah, let's do this." Karina replied as she opened the door and got in the car.