Do Racers Dream Of Electric Speed?

Two racers speed down the track, and the rest behind them are left in the dust. With the only two in the lead. The wind rushed past them with only one goal in mind: to be the champion of Koiwa! Everyone wants to be number one; number one, they shall be. It’s a close call. They’re neck and neck. The racer on the left takes a sharp turn on the curved track bulldozing past the rider on his right. Crowds were on the edge of their seats, waiting with bated breath. Getting close to the finish line, the anticipation ramps up with excitement in the air. Closer and closer, the two head for the finish line.

“There could be one winner!” Kimo cheered. “...And the winner of the Kiowa is…Mackenzie Jensen, the fastest speed racer in the world!” He lies on his back, sighing in admiration of his idol. For the longest time, he always wanted to be like Mackenzie. There was something about his aura that made people like him. 

“When I grow up, I’ll be just like him,” He looked up at the ceiling at the poster of Mackenzie wearing his motorcycle gear and holding his helmet in his left arm, smiling. “If you want to be like him, can you take this list to Mr. Keaton.” he sat up on his bed when his mom stepped inside his room; holding a sheet of paper.

“The store is going to close soon, don’t be late.” His mother told him. He slipped off of the bed, taking the list with him. He closed the door to his apartment building, heading down to the ground floor where there was a built-in store. The doors automatically opened as he walked inside. There was barely anyone in there except for a small gang near the checkout counter in the front. He walked up to the counter as he saw Mr. Keaton helping out another customer.

“Thank you and come again.” The man said. He turned to Kimo, holding out the list. Mr. Keaton takes the list to gather the groceries. 

“Did you see the race yesterday?” A person said. Kimo turned and saw a skinny guy dressed in a biker outfit. On the back of his jacket bears an emblem that he couldn’t make out. One of the men said, “Yeah, it wasn’t all that great. I still think that Kelly would’ve won if Mackenzie didn’t cheat.” Kimo fumed. Gangs in his part of town were known to be deadly and dangerous groups. His mother always told him not to get involved in one, too. He didn’t like people bad-mouthing Mackenzie, but he let it go. A part of him wanted to yell at them; he couldn’t do that, or a fight might ensue. He kept his thoughts to himself as Mr. Keaton returned to Kimo with his groceries. 

“Here is your stuff that you asked for and your list.” He grabbed his belongings and said goodbye to the owner. He left the store thinking about the conversation all day.

Five years had passed, and when the next day came, Kimo, now a fresh face out of college, went out to the track with the other racers. No one said a thing about the race yesterday. He sat underneath the shelter with the rest of the maintenance crew, watching the cars drive past them. “Kimo.” A young man walks up to him, his blonde hair tied in a long ponytail, and he wears a maintenance outfit like him. “Do I know you?” He asked. “No, but I know you.” The way he said it made him sound suspicious.

“You’re Kimo Tennyson, right? From the Upper North Row?”

“Yes–what do you want?”

“My name is Brogue, I’m a part of the Kiowa Organization of Speed Racers, and I have heard that you used to race?”

Kimo hung his head down. What he said sparked some truth in him. “Yeah, what about it?” He sneered. “I’ve gotten a call from a very special someone as you might know him well…” He looked up, a small smile spread on Brogue’s face. Mackenzie Jensen. He remembers his father taking him to a motorcycle race and seeing him for the first time. The sound of the motorcycles speeding by gave him the thrill of a lifetime. At that time, he wanted to learn how to drive at a young age. His father forbade him, sticking to a more academic approach. After leaving college, he never told his parents about his career. For about a year he’s been living under a new profession of a motorcyclist.

“What does he want to do with me? I don’t even know the guy–”

Brogue pulled out a business card from his best pocket and handed it to Kimo. “How about tomorrow–after work, perhaps?” Kimo takes the card from him and sighs.

He stood in front of a large corporate building. He followed the address printed on the business card like so. He opened the doors to the building; everyone around him looked well-dressed, almost like a spy headquarters. “You’re here.” He swiveled his head around to see Brogue wearing a suit and not a maintenance outfit like before. “So, where is he?” Kimo asked. He followed him up the stairs to the first level. On the first level, a tense atmosphere is revealed in a row of office cubicles, office workers talking, working, testing, and most of all, in the process of creating something extraordinary. 

“What is this place?” Kimo asked. 

“Just a regular day in the office…” Brogue said. “It doesn’t look like a regular day,” Kimo said.

Brogue took Kimo to the very end of the first floor to a room that looked like a meeting room. He opened the door, letting Kimo through. The room looked like an ordinary meeting board room for corporate higher-ups. Across the room, a skinny man was standing in front of a whiteboard full of math equations.

“Hello, Mr. Jensen.” Brogue greeted. Kimo couldn’t believe that he was meeting his idol for the first time. Jensen turned to face the two with excitement in his brown eyes. Kimo noticed that he looked a bit older than him. His blonde hair was long and shaggy than his shorter and clean haircut. He wore a red turtleneck with a black suit, unlike the employees who wore a suit and tie or blazer. 

“You must be Kimo Tennyson, the world-famous speed racer!” Mackenzie said.

“Yes sir,--How do you know me?” Kimo asked.

“I’ve seen you race before on television and win many championships,” Mackenzie told him. Kimo didn’t know what to say to him. It felt surreal to finally meet with his idol. “Under the name Mayhem Runner.” Kimo’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Not that many people knew of the his alias.

“...Anyway, you’re probably wondering why I wanted to meet you here?” Mackenzie said.

“--I have to go,” Kimo turned to see Brogue heading towards the door. “I have to head to a meeting.” Kimo waved bye as he left. 

 Kimo followed him to the table. Mackenzie sat at the head while Kimo sat across from him. “As I was saying, the reason why I wanted to meet with you is because I am planning a hi-tech development. This is Nexus Engine.” His hands steeple looking into Kimo’s eyes. “Nexus Engine is a new development. He pulled out a drawer from under the table revealing a diagram of an engine that resembles a motorcycle engine. Kimo has never seen anything like it before.

“I heard that the Midtown Row had something like—not the Nexus, I mean! I overheard a few of my co-workers mention that it can outrun anything.” 

“Well, I guess that they’re right about that. I’m testing out a new engine now. I worked out the math and kinks. And the final piece that I need to make it perfect is…you.” 

Mackenzie took Kimo onto the race track behind the building. The track was empty, except for two motorcycles at the start. The atmosphere felt ominous. Kimo walked up to the futuristic motorbike.  He slipped into the seat and looked at his surroundings. There was nothing but empty bleacher seats. “This is the motorcycle my team has been working on,” Mackenzie said. “The one right beside you is the control group, and that’s the one that I’ll be riding in. You are sitting in the experimental bike, loaded with Nexus.” Kimo nods.

He watches Mackenzie get on the motorcycle beside him. “How about a race? Two laps around the track?” Mackenzie looked at Kimo. Kimo could sense something was off. He recalled a memory when was little. A biker gang who mentioned that Mackenzie had cheated. They could be right?

The two motorcyclists revved up their engines and sped off with the sound of tires screeching on the asphalt. The thrill of racing against Mackenzie feels like a fever dream. Mackenzie was right next to him with his eyes on the finish line. Kimo pressed on the accelerator as the motorcycle took off like an arrow. He grasps the handles tightly and tries to hold on. Kimo makes it past Mackenzie like it was nothing. He turned to see Mackenzie trailing behind him. He turned back to the finish line, pressing hard on the gas. As he makes it towards the finish line. A bright flash of streaks passes him. 

His eyes widened when he saw Mackenzie fly past him. He didn’t even see him. And like that. He won the first lap and the second one. Kimo stopped at the finish line. His legs were tired. Mackenzie placed his hands on his hips. “What? The Mayhem Runner has been outgunned by Mackenzie Jensen? How crazy?” He laughed.

“What? What did you do?!” Kimo gritted his teeth. “You…cheated! Wait–don’t tell me. What is the Nexus Engine in your motorcycle?” 

“...What are you playing at, man.” Mackenzie took a step forward towards Kimo. He looked like a tower standing over him. “I never cheat. I’m just that good and you…” He flicked Kimo on the forehead. “You are the perfect candidate for the upcoming race…I challenge you–Mayhem versus Jensen. To be the number one champion of Kiowa Prefecture.” 

“If I win…I want you to confess to the entire world that Mackenzie Jensen is a cheater.”

He scoffed, “And if I win. I want you to be stripped down of your title.”

“Why? What did I do to you?” Kimo asked.

“Nothing…let’s just say, there can be only one champion of Kiowa! That will be me.”

“Funny, usually villains don’t show their sleight of hand to the hero…Okay, you got a deal.” The two shook on it. “The tournament will start on Saturday,” Mackenzie said. “Don’t miss out.”

At the end of the day, Mackenzie was all smiles and sweetness. It made Kimo sick to his stomach. Mackenzie said goodbye to his employees and to him. Before he could walk out the door, Brogue catches up to him. 

“There you are, I have been looking everywhere for you.” He sounded out of breath. “Can we walk together?” “Sure, why not?” Kimo responded.

The two made it to the front of the building, it was almost dark outside. Kimo turned to Brogue. He hopped on his motorbike. “Hey, Brogue. Do you believe that Mackenzie won that last tournament back in Onika?” Brogue nearly puts on his helmet, and he looks away from Kimo. His silence told him all. Brogue laughs to himself as he puts his helmet on. “...Well, how else would he win? You have to use more than just ‘speed’ to get what you want.” 

“Like a trick?” Kimo asked. “...When’s the race?” Brogue asked him. “...Saturday, this upcoming Saturday…why?” Brogue pressed the clutch and start button as he saluted to him. Then, he speeds off into the night, kicking up dust. Kimo shields his face. He turned in time to see him gone.

Brogue called him down to the race track where he worked. He found him on his motorbike. “I’m here, what’s up?” Kimo said. Brogue handed Kimo a small blue computer chip. He takes the chip from him, examining it. “This is what he used…this chip is called Challenger. That chip is like steroids but for cars. He uses a skill called Lucky Number.”

“What?” Brogue shrugged. “I don’t know what this power does, but use this chip in the race–wisely not recklessly.”

“Question, is there a chance that it can create a flash of light?” Kimo asked. Brogue titled his head in response.

On the day of the race, Millions of people filled the stands. Roars of cheering filled his ears. Cameras flashing here and there. It nearly blinded him. One thing that stood out to him was the lack of racers. An arm wrapped around his neck, pulling him close. He turned to see Mackenzie with the biggest smile.  

“Are you ready, champ? It’s just me and you today.” He patted Kimo’s back hard and took off for the starting line. He pulled out the computer chip from his racer jacket. He didn’t have the slightest clue what this chip was going to do or Mackenzie’s special. Kimo shoved it back into the pocket of his jacket to catch up with Mackenzie.

Kimo hopped on the bike, eyes focused on the finished line. The two racers had to finish two laps to see who was the champion of Koiwa. His hands started to tremble. When the light turned green, Mackenzie had a head start. Kimo sped off behind him. He pressed the gas harder to catch up to him. When he reaches Mackenzie, a spark catches his eye on  Mackenzie’s wheels. Must be his special. Kimo focuses on the finish line. He managed to drive past him on a sharp curve. 

All of a sudden, Mackenzie trails behind him. In the back of his mind, he doesn't know what he’s up to. Out the side view mirrors, Kimo saw him slip a small device into a slot, then, blue sparks started flying. Kimo grips the handle bars tights, stepping on the accelerator. He bolted down the track. Out of nowhere, out the mirror Mackenzie sprints past him in a blink of an eye. Leaving him in the dust. Kimo kept on going trying to out pace him. It was too late when Mackenzie won the first round.

The whole crowd cheered for him. The second round had begun, and Mackenzie was still in the lead, with Kimo trailing behind. Kimo thought about the chip that Brogue told him about. He took it out of his jacket pocket and inserted it in the slot. At first, it didn’t feel like anything until the blue sparks started zapping from the wheels. He put more pressure on the gas until he was flying down the track. Not a moment too soon, he eventually catches Mackenzie, speeding past him. He figured that this was his special: Lucky Number. That chip.

Mackenzie gritted his teeth, trying to catch up to Kimo. Suddenly, the blue sparks began to slow down, and Kimo’s. Mackenzie and Kimo were neck and neck. Kimo stepped on the gas, surpassing him, he could taste the finish line. His eyes were laser-focused. When he saw the finish line, he closed his eyes, bracing for impact. 

The world had stopped. He opened his eyes, confetti falling from the sky. He looked up at the big screen that said: Winner, Kimo Tennyson. He couldn’t hold himself back from smiling. 

“You!” Kimo turned to see Mackenzie fuming. “You cheated. I saw you.” Accused Mackenzie. 

“You’re the one who cheated…” Kimo said. “I actually saw you putting that Challenger into your motorbike and you took off. That’s Lucky Number, right? The Nexus Engine?”

“Ha! Where’s your proof?” Mackenzie sneered.

“Right here.” The two turned, seeing Brogue holding a camera. “I caught the whole thing.” “You were conspiring behind my back!!” Mackenzie yelled. Brogue laugh it off. “What can I say? You have been stripped from your title…my friend.”

After the race Kimo was awarded the number one champion of Kiowa, and for Mackenzie; he was disqualified for having illegal technology in the race and confessed to his wrong doings. “Thanks for your help Brogue.” Kimo said. “No problem, I’m happy to put a stop to his unlawful ways.” Brogue said.  “What about Mackenzie?” He asked him.

“Well, he decided to step down from the organization, in which I'll be in charge.”

“Wow…”

“Anyway, how about another race? You and me? Champion of Kiowa?”

Kimo smiled, he jumped onto his motorcycle and raced Brogue on the tracks.