Shitbox Rally
Stage 5: Itzgarde to Raiegarda
Stage Start: 1 Sun, 23/7/3251, Itzgarde Campsite
Weather at Stage Start: Hot, unpleasantly humid, but breezy.
Weather at mid-stage: Still hot, slightly less humid, still breezy.
Weather at Stage End (First Car): Hot, humid, and breezy.
Weather at Stage End (Last Car): Warm, humid, and breezy.
Stage End (First Car): A little after 3 Sun, 23/7/3251, Raiegarda Campsite
Stage End (Last Car): A little before 7 Sun, 23/7/3251, Raiegarda Campsite
Starting off in the old Itzgarde abandoned logging camp, everyone quickly heads down the twisty gravel road. Immediately obvious to all of the drivers, however, are the rather nasty bumps and dips and slight jumps in the gravel, chucking cars sideways and unsettling everyone. Worse still is when the road transitions to cobblestone, or more appropriately, what probably used to be cobblestone, considering how rough it is. It’s almost worse to drive on the cobblestone road than it is to drive in the dirt, but with the river so close by to one side and trees whipping by on the other, going off-roading is a big risk. However, as everyone closes in on the campsite, morale improves greatly. First, while Itzgarde was a proper good-size town, so too is Raiegarda. Second, and perhaps more importantly, is the crystal clear lake that connects to the Duskwater River. Several of the locals can be seen swimming in the far side of the lake, occasionally pointing at our strange cars, strange outfits, and strange people, though never in a hostile way.
Notes: Randomization is active. Breakdowns are active. Time is in Earth Time.
@Madrias
Team Shift Happens
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 05:32:11
Average MPH: 64.1
Randomizer: 13
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
With Rukari banned from driving, Kaylie not really understanding the manual gearbox yet, Kayden’s crunchy gear changes the day before, Jayde’s dislike of driving, and Kivenaal having the mother of all hangovers, it was up to Malavera to drive today. Apparently, all of his time flinging digital rally cars into the trees has taught him something, because today, he put his foot down and the Bricksley went where he wanted it to go.
@Caligari
Team Wayfarers
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 06:51:30
Average MPH: 51.7
Randomizer: 11
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
Steady and strong, the old Bogatir has no issues with bumpy gravel roads or rough cobblestones. It’s nothing compared to the potholes where it was made, after all.
@Executive
Team Gearknobs
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 07:16:03
Average MPH: 48.8
Randomizer: 9
Refueling Stops: 0
Breakdown: 3 (Tires)
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
The Carica just can’t seem to get a break, as a burst tire a few minutes into the rough cobblestone road leads to some minor delays.
@BannedbyAndroid
Team Fallen Angels of the Past
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 05:52:46
Average MPH: 60.4
Randomizer: 13
Refueling Stops: 0
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
Somehow, the two girls summoned the spirit of the old Group B heroes once again, put a strong foot down on the gas pedal, and sailed their Claussient to victory.
@interior
Team Slow
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 09:19:35
Average MPH: 38.0
Randomizer: 8
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 2 (Chassis)
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
Confidence was high going into this round after putting all the fuses and relays back where they belonged. Sadly, they weren’t all put back into the right places, as the team is presented with another flashing Service Engine Soon light and a gauge-light-party. Time to go check the service manual to see where each of them goes this time.
@TheYugo45GV
Team Oil Crisis
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 05:04:05
Average MPH: 70.0
Randomizer: 13
Refueling Stops: 2
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
A small jump in the gravel section causes two howls of joy to burst out as the two Dyre pups experience their first bit of airtime. Making it into the campsite second is a breath of fresh air.
@Knugcab
Team Hillbilly Rollers
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 05:08:20
Average MPH: 69.1
Randomizer: 12
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
It’s a quick pink brick! Gravel wasn’t a problem for the Hillbilly Rollers, and the rough cobblestone road likewise wasn’t an issue, even if it was uncomfortable. Claiming third, after all, was worth it.
@Fayeding_Spray
Team Witchlight
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 06:24:45
Average MPH: 55.4
Randomizer: 11
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
It seems Elist is getting used to driving on gravel, because they pushed the car hard through it, kicking up rocks the whole way. Unfortunately, they had to slow down on the cobblestone road because everyone was getting shaken up a bit.
@MrdjaNikolen
Team Mravolinski-Chitco
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 06:19:08
Average MPH: 56.2
Randomizer: 12
Refueling Stops: 0
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
Other than being sprayed with gravel from the EAAC Aphrodite of team Witchlight while trying to pass them, the team makes it through with no delays this time.
@variationofvariables
Team Blazers
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 07:23:50
Average MPH: 48.0
Randomizer: 8
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 1 (Powertrain)
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
When it rains, it pours. After the Yamada threw its serpentine belt twice, the team discovered the culprit in camp to be a loose alternator bracket.
@SurrealCereal
Team Machinas Con Passiones
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 07:12:32
Average MPH: 49.2
Randomizer: 11
Refueling Stops: 4
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
Everyone’s feeling pretty good about themselves because they managed to pass the Yamada. No one’s willing to admit to themselves that they saw the hood was open when that pass was made. Likewise, they felt great about passing the Hakaru, conveniently ignoring the tire iron and jack in the mechanic’s hands.
@AndiD
Team Quick Rally 47
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 04:28:23
Average MPH: 79.4
Randomizer: 12
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
Pedal to the metal, foot to the floor, and askin’ for more! The Mara Kanyon thunders over the rough stuff like it’s perfectly paved asphalt. Being first to the camp just means more time to observe everyone as they try to rest.
@BG004130
Team Mrezhari
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 05:39:18
Average MPH: 62.8
Randomizer: 12
Refueling Stops: 0
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
Team Mrezhari tried their hardest to hold off the pass, but got outplayed by the two-headed wolf behind the wheel of the Bricksley. On the plus side, that pass happened on the cobblestone road, so no gravel hit the Dunav.
@NoahC
Team Jockey
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 08:43:45
Average MPH: 40.7
Randomizer: 8
Refueling Stops: 2
Breakdown: 3 (Tires)
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
“Damn it, Dave! You did it again!” With four flat tires again, the team equips their cart-wheel spares. On the plus side, no more flat tires. On the minus side, they’re as hard as rocks and everyone gets to experience what it’s like to ride in a paint shaker.
@elizipeazie
Team RK Series Racing
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 05:58:29
Average MPH: 59.4
Randomizer: 13
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
Sure, the gravel and the rough cobblestone roads weren’t exactly the best proving ground for the Tangerine Tank Engine, but with Connor behind the wheel and Valentin taking the fireman’s controls, the Dione proved to be quite fast. It’s just clear that it’s begging for some nice flat, smooth roads to go full steam ahead on.
@Tzuyu_main
Team Black Rabbit
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 10:13:53
Average MPH: 34.7
Randomizer: 9
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 3 (Tires)
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
The rough roads of the previous stages left a few of the tires in somewhat sorry shape going into this stage. The rough cobblestone road simply finished them off one by one, requiring plenty of patches on the side of the road.
@SheikhMansour
Team Spy Kids
Distance Traveled: 355.2
Time (HH:MM:SS): 06:06:32
Average MPH: 58.1
Randomizer: 10
Refueling Stops: 1
Breakdown: 0
Total Distance Traveled: 1598.4
No one seemed to be in too much of a rush today, and it somewhat paid off, as the AST Elbrus manages to stay in one piece a little longer.
Stage Finishing Order:
Team Quick Rally 47 (Xenoanthropology Department)
Team Oil Crisis
Team Hillbilly Rollers
Team Shift Happens
Team Mrezhari
Team Fallen Angels of the Past
Team RK Series Racing
Team Spy Kids
Team Mravolinski-Chitco
Team Witchlight
Team Wayfarers
Team Machinas Con Passiones
Team Gearknobs
Team Blazers
Team Jockey
Team Slow
Team Black Rabbit Corporation
Previous Chapters:
Another One Bites The Dust - Stage 2 Run / Stage 2 Campsite
Repairs / A Good Meal - Stage 2 Campsite / The Green Crystal (Written by TheYugo45GV and Madrias)
A Good Night’s Sleep? - Stage 2 Campsite
“Here Comes the Hound of Death” - Stage 2 Campsite Battle - Written by Elizipeazie, TheYugo45GV, and Madrias.
Fright Night Forest Stage - Stage 3 Run / Stage 3 Camp
The Free Day - Stage 3 Camp (written in collaboration with @Elizipeazie) (Part 1), (Part 2), (Part 3)
Safe Arrival - Stage 3 Camp (Written in collaboration with @TheYugo45GV)
The Rescue - Stage 4 Drive and Stage 4 “Camp”
The Rebuild - Stage 4 “Camp” (Written in collab. with @Elizipeazie ) (Part 1), (Part 2), (Part 3), (Part 4)
“It’s 6-Fucking-Moon!” - Stage 4 Camp
Breakfast with RK Series Racing - Stage 4 Camp Final (Written in collaboration with Elizipeazie)
Raiegarda Campsite, 1 Sun
Despite getting some sleep after the chaos of the day before, most of the team was tired, even after their good breakfast earlier. While the long days did mean that it was possible to get some extra sleep, spending more than 24 Earth hours awake was rough for all of them. Well, all except for Malavera, who admitted to the team, “I’ve never quite adapted to Earth’s 24 hour days. Where I am from, or at least, before my exile, our day cycle was 46 Earth hours long. Doesn’t take much to adapt to a 48 hour ‘day’ and, well, I’ve been mostly keeping to it.”
“Think you can drive?” Kaylie asked, feeling content after breakfast.
“Sure. I’m probably the one best suited for driving today anyway. Rukari wrecked the truck. Kayden and Jayde are both stick-shift rookies. I don’t think you’ve gotten much practice with manual gearboxes. Kivenaal looks like he hasn’t properly slept in three days. That leaves me,” Malavera replied.
“Right,” Kayden said. “Then we’ve got our driver picked. Everyone, into the truck.”
Malavera took the driver’s seat, Kayden took the mid-bench because Malavera wasn’t trusting that Rukari would keep his feet off of the pedals, and Kivenaal took the shotgun seat, still looking a bit tired. In the rear bench, Rukari was behind Malavera (mostly so he couldn’t interfere with the controls), Jayde sat in the mid-bench, and Kaylie held her usual spot commanding the radios.
As they rolled out of the old logging camp, there was the sharp note of a steam whistle, followed by Tim of Team RK Series Racing yelling out of the open window, “Choo Choo, Motherfuckers!”
Kaylie laughed. “Good to see they’re in such high spirits after what they went through yesterday.”
On the Road
Malavera gripped the wheel in his left hand, his right loosely resting on the gear stick. He knew better than to do that, but in the moment, when he kept having to change gears while on the gravel, he wasn’t going to keep moving his hand back to the wheel. The Bricksley’s big V8 roared menacingly beneath the hood as he mercilessly stepped on the throttle, throwing several tons of over-loaded American “pickup van” around. “Looks like we’re actually running cooler,” Malavera said.
“Willing to bet we lost a lot of coolant. Also, straight water is better than antifreeze for cooling potential. Antifreeze might lower the freezing point, but… Water’s water, it’s a great carrier of heat,” Kaylie said. “How are the brakes?”
“A little softer than I’d like, but,” Malavera said, stepping on the firm pedal and wheeling the truck around another bend, “the pedal is solid, so it’s not a system problem. Just we’ve probably greatly exceeded the weight limits of this poor old truck, and if we try too much to use the brakes, we’re going to fade them into non-existence.”
“So that’s why you’ve been using the gears,” Kayden said, suddenly getting it. “Engine braking. 427 cubic inches of mechanical brake.”
“It’s a smart move,” Kivenaal said. “Kinda have to do that in a lot of my favorite trucks, they just don’t like to stop.”
“That’s because you like those big military fuckers that I can’t get parts for,” Kaylie replied.
As they transitioned from the gravel onto the rough cobblestone road, however, the Bricksley’s cargo started protesting by rattling and clattering, while the truck itself surged onward, gathering speed as the engine roared. Malavera finally got the gearbox up into fifth gear and kept his foot down, the huge truck barreling along. He flashed the high-beams in fair warning of a pass, put his signal on, and sent the big Bricksley sailing around the smaller Dunav of Team Mrezhari, again signaling and finishing the pass. Sooty smoke poured out of both side-pipes as the Bricksley tried to pull a significant lead, though with as much weight as they had onboard, it just wasn’t happening.
When they rolled into the lakeside camp at Raiegarda, Malavera walked the truck down the gears to slow down, prowling around the rim of the camp until he found a good spot, then parked the truck.
Raiegarda Campsite, Just Before 3-and-60 Sun
Kivenaal jumped down out of the Bricksley’s cab, already looking a little tired. Kayden and Malavera were next to leave the truck, and it didn’t take long for Kaylie, Rukari, and Jayde to get out, either. No sooner had they gotten all the doors closed, the clock in the nearby town of Raiegarda struck one high chime, announcing a quarter hour had passed.
“Let’s get our tents up, then we can relax,” Kivenaal said.
Jayde’s response was just to wave his hand, making their five tents unpack themselves, then set themselves up. “Now the tents are up,” Jayde replied. “If anyone wants to go for a swim, by the way, that lake is wonderful. It’s clear, slightly cool, quite refreshing.”
“Huh. Might take a swim, then,” Malavera said, grabbing his supplies from in the cab and storing them in his tent. He disappeared into the tent and switched out of his usual clothes into a pair of light gray swimming trunks, then made his way over to the lake with his white fur gleaming in the sun. He waded in, then settled into the cool water, just casually treading water at that point.
Jayde and Kaylie crawled into their tent and decided to get a little more sleep, even if it was only just a little bit.
Kivenaal grabbed one of his cigars and sat on a tree stump, lighting it with a flame held at the tip of one of his claws, just trying to unwind a bit. “I wonder,” he muttered to himself, “if anyone here happens to have anything with cinnamon in it.”
Rukari stared at his brother, then chuckled. “To think on Earth you avoid that like it is a deadly plague, yet here, you are considering it.”
“It’s hard to be here, you know. Where the End began. I know that there are thousands of years before that will happen, but… I… I keep reliving that night. I just want that to stop,” Kivenaal replied.
Kayden gave a slight look around, making sure no one was watching, then opened up the back door of the Bricksley’s cab, reached into his personal supplies, and pulled out a tube of ready-to-bake cinnamon rolls. “I shouldn’t be enabling this,” he said, looking to Kivenaal as he held out the tube, “but bake those and you’ll have delicious cinnamon rolls.”
Kivenaal stared at Kayden, then said, “I have to ask, why exactly did you bring those?”
“Was tempted to make some for breakfast one of these days. Those have been sitting in a battery-powered micro-fridge for the last few days, the battery is nearly dead, so… They have to be cooked and eaten now,” Kayden replied.
Kivenaal nodded, then grabbed a few supplies out of the toolbox to bake the cinnamon rolls over their campfire. He cracked open the can, placing the rolls out on the pan and placing the pan over the fire, watching as the rolls baked in the open heat of the fire and the hot Crugandr sun. Once they were done, Kivenaal added the sweet icing, then set the pan aside to cool down for a few minutes.
“How badly are those going to affect him?” Kayden asked Rukari.
“A few of them? Not too much. Might take his mind off of things. If he eats all of them? There won’t be anything in this world that could bother him,” Rukari replied.
Kivenaal picked up the first still-quite-hot cinnamon roll and took a bite, enjoying the sweet icing, the decadent cinnamon and brown sugar in the pastry itself, and the feeling of mild satisfaction at having a good snack. It didn’t take him long to go for another one, and while he enjoyed each bite, he could feel a powerful sensation of calm washing over him, washing away the pain of his past for a moment.
There were only a few rolls left on the plate when the two Dyre pups from Team Oil Crisis wandered over, grabbing a still-warm roll each. Kivenaal was aware of their presence, but wasn’t bothered by them, simply grabbing the last roll and finishing it off as well. For the first time in a very, very long time, he felt at peace. He closed his eyes to relax a bit, letting his mind wander as he rested there, having eaten nearly a whole plate of cinnamon rolls by himself.
Raiegarda Campsite, just before 4-and-40 Sun
Kaylie and Jayde got out of the tent, feeling quite refreshed as they both looked for their wayward teammates. Malavera was still near the lake, having found a large enough flat rock to sit on where he could keep both heads above water and just relax. Kayden was wandering around, just relaxing as far as Kaylie could tell, taking in the sights of the new area. Rukari was returning from the town of Raiegarda with supplies for a meal. Then they saw Kivenaal sitting next to an empty tray, near a cooking fire that had long since burned out.
Kaylie got closer, and with one whiff, she sighed. “Really? Who gave him cinnamon rolls?”
“Really? He ate food with cinnamon in it?” Jayde asked. As Kaylie nodded, Jayde shook his head and chuckled. “I suppose that is one way to, as some would put it, ‘Just be.’ Maybe it will be good for him to get a few hours of relief from whatever has been troubling his mind.”
“I can’t believe you’re saying this is a good thing,” Kaylie said, staring up at Jayde.
Jayde smiled, before explaining, “When we are in pain, we want something to ease that pain, yes? You and I know this physically, between your arm and my leg. What do you do if your pain is from your mind and memories?”
“So, by getting stoned out of his mind, he gets a bit of peace?” Kaylie asked.
“The stronger effects of cinnamon on his kind wear off quickly. This will fade, and yet he’ll be more at peace for a day or so afterwards. He must have had quite a lot of it to get to this point, but it’s possible he didn’t realize how strong those were,” Jayde replied. “Or if they tasted good, he might have eaten a few too many just because he was enjoying the taste. He’ll be hungry later, though, so it’s good that Rukari is making food. Likely, he’s making extra for Kivenaal because he’s going to need it.”
Kaylie shrugged, then went around the back of the truck to grab a bag of chips out of the toolbox, only to spot something they’d all missed the day before. A smear of atomic-bubblegum-pink paint across the driver’s side of the truck bed, near the tail-light. With a scowl, she stalked over to where Rukari was sitting and grabbed his left ear in a left-handed pinch.
“Ai!” Rukari yelled, suddenly startled by Kaylie’s sudden and aggressive grab, followed by his ear being pulled. He stood up with a grimace, only to realize Kaylie still had a firm grip on his ear.
“Yeah, you’re going to apologize to the Hillbilly Rollers for side-swiping their van,” Kaylie said, switching her grip to her right hand and blocking Rukari’s tail with her left hand, before grabbing it just ahead of the venomous tuft. “Try that again, Rukari, and I swear by the Twin Suns I will tie a knot in it,” she said, before marching Rukari over to the IP Freeway Star.
“Rukari here,” Kaylie said, having since let go of Rukari’s tail, but still having a firm, though natural grip, on his left ear, “has something to say to you. Don’t you?” Kaylie glared at Rukari, and despite all the battles he’d been through, there was a moment of mild fear as he knew what Kaylie could potentially do.
“I apologize for side-swiping the van,” Rukari said, grimacing slightly as Kaylie still had a strong grip on his ear.
