Episode 6: Speed
No trigger warning/disclaimer this time. People don´t have to die in every episode.
Polizeihauptmeister Uwe Holtmann is frustrated with filling in forms, mainly the ordering of the new cars. Sarah gladly takes over, but her smile tells us that she is definitely up to something…
A few weeks later, a furious Gesine Resch tells Holtmann to follow her outside.
YOU WERE ORDERED TO ORDER THE CARS IN AN UNSUSPICIOUS COLOR. NOW LOOK AT THIS! THEY ARE ALL RED! REEEED! INCLUDING MINE!
I don´t know how, Miss Resch, I was so sure that I told Sarah to write in the color grey…
SARAH? So, you pass your work on instead of doing what you were told? Damn! What a dollhouse here. When I see Mrs. Batimus, she will face consequences!
AH! THERE YOU ARE! MRS.BATIMUS! HERE, NOW!
Yes, madam?
You know exactly what I want to discuss here right now, don´t you?
Red is my favourite color! And well, don´t worry, the cars will last a few weeks only anyway, so you can soon have an all-boring sight out of your window again, boss.
ENOUGH! Don´t annoy me, ONE MORE THING, and you will do radar controls all day, is that understood?
The next day, Berlaus street racing scene is as active as always, this time it´s Peggy Paszkowiak in her IP and Vincent Dieselsky in a BetterDeals with V8 and Nitrous injection, since his fancy Cavaliere Nobile was confiscated and auctioned under a new and strict law against street racing, imposed by Dr. Resch herself. But Uwe Holtmann and Udo Kaportke are already after them, although their IP Bolereo struggles to keep up.
To pass Peggy, Vincent now activates NOS, but the huge flame blocks the sight of a Saarland behind him, and the driver causes a crash, but Holtmann evades it and continues the pursuit.
The DIY nitrous injection is faulty, and the gauges indicate that the BetterDeals is about to blow up, so Vincent Dieselsky jumps off in the last second and is arrested by Hauptmeister Kaportke after the car blew up, Peggy Paszkowiak evades being involved, but spins her car, and Frank joins the party to block the way.
Frank meanwhile arrests the attractive woman.
Kriminalhauptkommissar Frank Batimus, Autobahnpolizei. You are arrested, your car is confiscated, you have the right to call for a lawyer, you have the right to shut the fuck up.
Oh, inspector, can´t we solve it… a different way? My passenger seat is very nice, you know?
My wife speeds as fast as you and is the most beautiful woman in the country, so I don´t see a reason to accept your invitation. Hands behind the back, lady!
Later, the phone of Lars Krüger rings. He is called by a familiar voice.
Yes, it´s me, Marko Zora. I saved your live, and your boss spared me, he was a great guy. A bit stiff, but he had honor. I heard he was assasinated by Nasser Saad, a shame.
Yes. It´s a tragedy.
Now listen to me. A very high-rolling man called “Scarface” is looking for capable drivers. And it is very likely that this underworld boss is Saad, considering his appearance. Before you are too happy: I refuse to work together with the department, because I follow my own interests here. But wants to help you to get Saad to give justice to Schneider. I didn´t like him, but I respected him. You have kill a guy like Schneider in a fair 1 vs 1 duel, not gutless with a grenade through the window. I will let you know where and when. AND DO NOT DARE TO ARREST ME. I am faster anyway.
In the evening, Lars visits the Batimus house to discuss the matter with Frank, and Jenny refuses to go up to bed, as she is now a young adult and doesn´t want to be treated as if she was still 15.
Frank agrees with Lars that the opportunity has to be used, but assumes that Saad watches the races and he knows the faces of him, Lars and propably Sarah as well. Complaining about Zoras resistance to work as informant, Frank gets interrupted by Jenny, who tells that she is a very good driver and totally unsuspicious, as she is not a cop.
Frank strongly refuses, but Lars adds that even if Dr. Brink made Jenny fired, it is very unlikely that Saad knows about her, as Brink did a personal vendetta against Frank and not on behalf of Saad, so she could indeed be the right undercover person for this job. A furious Frank tells Lars to forget about that, and later complains in the kitchen to Sarah.
Lars must be out of his mind. Jenny can´t even harm a fly. She won´t survive a single second among those criminals. I would rather let Holtmann or Kaportke do the job!
Frank, come on. We all had a very hard time, and I think this could be the greatest adventure of her life. Is there a better sign of trust to her than allowing her this? We can look after her any time and step in if something goes wrong. It´s just a street race, and you know how much she enjoys speeding.
YES I DO! I CAN USE THE SPEEDING TICKETS WITH OUR RIGEL AS WALLPAPER!
The next day, Sarah is determined to turn the shy Jenny into a real car girl that is credible in her role as a tough racer, but that turned out to be more difficult than expected.
Do I look good?
You ALWAYS look great, my love. If I was a car, my headlights wouldn´t stop looking at you. You just need to get back your gangster attitude you had before we adopted you.
Really? Should I look mean? Like this?
That´s not mean, this is… ah, forget about it. You´ll succeed no matter what you do. Fuck, where is Franks credit card? Mine is maxed out again…
I just wish I was as cool as you…
You are perfect the way you are, really… I guess, I can try a different make-up. Ah, there is the card. Follow me, beauty.
Soon after, the IP of Peggy Paszkowiak was auctioned. Frank faked the auction, telling the officer in charge that Jenny will offer the highest bid in any case and needs to be handed over the car without any further question. So Jenny now got a competetive car and some credibility, as more or less half of Berlaus street racers attended the public auction.
But the next day, Dr. Resch calls Frank in her office.
Mr. Batimus! How dare you to sabotage an auction of an impounded vehicle, sending your daughter undercover and NOT telling me anything about it?
You would not have allowed it.
CORRECT! I know you want to be in charge of this department, I know you are a good cop, and I also know that you do not care about my opinion. So you will continue your action no matter what we talk in this conversation?
Yes, madam.
So you leave me no other choice. Chief inspector Batimus, you are hereby suspended from duty. Hand me over your badge, gun and car keys. I hate to send a good detective home, but I will NOT tolerate that you are acting up with me. You can report for duty when you reflected your behaiviour and are willing to respect my authority. NOW, GET OUT.
Zora calls Lars the next day, informing him that the first race will be that evening and promising to help Jenny out there. Jenny is not taken serious at first but, after Zora stepped in, approved for the start.
The cars start off with roaring engines, Jenny manages to establish herself up front, while Frank watches everything from a safe distance - even without a badge in his pocket, he makes sure that Jenny is helped in danger, and he has not a total trust to Marko Zora.
ARGH! THE NORDWAGEN! I bet that is the one that Zora stole from me four years ago. This b***tard really wants to provoke me!
After half the distance, Zora is far up in front, with Jenny having trouble to keep up with the pace of the superior Nordwagen, so Zora slows a bit down to let her close up from time to time to give her the feeling of being the best driver in the competition. But Vincent Dieselsky, now having a tuned Eroberung, is also extremely fast and putting pressure on Jenny.
Dieselsky sees both the Nordwagen and the IP directly in striking distance and activates a new feature of his car: The Super Turbo Map, getting absolutely everything out of the engine.
But the extreme boost de-stabilized the car, and the Eroberung skids a bit to the right, ramming Jennys IP and pushing it into a pole, causing a high-speed crash.
A Dalluhan in a red Primus stops, as he was dead last anyway with the underpowered car, so he thought it has no use to continue racing and he can help Jenny out of the wreck. But after getting Jenny out, a red Rigel with police light appeared, and the Dalluhan speeds off as fast as possible.
Jenny is not severely injured and able to limp to Franks car, and a relieved Frank firmly hugs his daughter.
Zora calls Lars the next day, telling him that he won and is invited to a meeting three days later among the others that made it to the finish line. Lars also informs Resch, who is determined to get Marko Zora, despite Lars telling her that he promised Zora immunity.
Zora is told at the meeting that looting the transport from the evidence chamber of the federal police of Hetvesia is the keen plan, and they want to steal the heroine that is on the way to get burned, and that it starts just now. Zora can not provide the information fast enough for the police to protect the truck, and Dr. Resch and Sarah argue in the office.
Come on! Reinstate Frank! We need him NOW.
I agree that your husband would be of help, BUT I will not weaken my own rules. My descision has been made. Get in your car and follow me. INSPECTOR KRÜGER! YOU WILL APPROACH THE TRUCK FROM THE OTHER SIDE. I will take Franks role as senior detective and leave my desk for this.
MY HUSBAND IS RISKING HIS LIFE FOR THIS DEPARTMENT FOR TEN YEARS! I will not accept how you treat him!
Mrs. Batimus, I HAVE NO TIME FOR ARGUING NOW. Either you follow my orders or you join your husband and watch some TV at home. IS THAT UNDERSTOOD? We will have a word later on that matter, WHEN WE HAVE THE TIME FOR IT!
While almost the whole department gets into movement, the truck is already looted.
But just when the whole loot was taken by the drivers to be transported to Nasser Saads assistants, the police force arrived, entering a chase. Sarah and Holtmann and Kaportke take on the Mara first, and Sarah squeezes the fugitive into an ACR, but Holtmann notices too late and slams into the ACR as well, while the Mara - now flying through the air - takes out the other patrol car, a Vaughn, so stopping the gangsters is now left to Sarah and Dr. Resch, having to stop three remaining fugitives with only two cars.
Resch yells into the radio of her Volaro.
ARE YOU CRAZY? WHAT WAS THAT? Stop destroying state property as if they were toy cars!
Madam, I have taken out a suspect. Maybe you can give Uwe a raise so that he can afford new glasses, hmmmm?
Mrs. Batimus, I WILL NOT REMIND YOU OF RADIO DISCIPLINE A SECOND TIME! Behave like an inspector if you want to continue wearing that badge. And now watch that! NOW I ALSO HAVE STOPPED ONE!
Dr. Resch rams the fugitive in the ECA in front of her, causing the car to flip over and skid over the roof of the Volaro.
NOW WE SPLIT UP! I WILL ENTER PURSUIT WITH THE NORDWAGEN! YOU TAKE THE EROBERUNG!
Madam, Lars has given Zora his word.
He can keep his word. But I didn´t give Marko Zora mine, so I CAN DECIDE FOR MYSELF IF I ARREST HIM!
Vincent Dieselsky speeds the next intersection, and a Globus having the right of way crashes into the Eroberung, pushing it full force into a parked Authié et Dallier. The chase is over for Dieselsky, as the car is totally wrecked, and Sarah arrests him without resistance.
All other involved police vehicles came from the other side under the lead of Lars, and they blocked the road to stop the Nordwagen, although Lars, not willing to break his promise, told the others to block the road BEHIND a trailer, and Lars lowered the ramp for Zora to use it. Lars then gave Zora a sign to use the trailer for his escape, and Zora signals him with his headlights that he understood, going sharp right and sending his Nordwagen far up in the air.
KRÜGER! HOW COULD YOU NOT HAVE SEEN THAT TRAILER!
Sorry madam, I didn´t think he would be such a daredevil. Maybe we get him next time.
I will get him NOW!
Boss, NO. Your car is not equally fast and way too heavy. YOU WON´T MAKE IT!
Resch ignores that and goes after Zora full throttle, also turning her car into a temporary plane.
While the 50/50 balanced Nordwagen with good aerodynamics made a more or less well-steered landing, the Volaro Grand Verlyn of Dr. Resch was not really going straight and plowed nose-down into an oncoming car, thankfully only skidding on it and not causing a harmful accident. More than a minute later, Lars and Sarah arrive at the scene, while Zora speeds unbothered into the sunset.
Madam, I told you so.
You placed the barrier too far behind on purpose, right?
I even lowered the ramp. You just should not have a leadership against us.
Inspector Krüger, I am not working against you. I know, you are used to another person on my position. Please remind yourself that I am only replacing the position of the Kriminalrat being your superior, NOT replacing Bernd Schneider. Nobody can replace a person, just a function. And I think this is what you need to remind yourself of, before being hostile to me. If the discipline in this department doesn´t rise to what it was before, I need to find other measures nobody of us really wants. NEITHER ME!
A week after, Sarah entered Dr. Reschs office, smiling and with a document in her hands.
Boss! Do you have a calculator?
Yes, why? Do you really have to ask me for that?
Yeeeha, of course. Please type in: 35.700
For what?
A Volaro Grand Verlyn, one that YOU destroyed, the new one is now delivered, aaaand heeeeere is the … invoooooooice!
DO NOT MAKE FUN OF ME! Is my new one at least grey?
Of course not.
Good, because the red really looks nice, I just did not want to admit it to you yet.
DAMN! I should have ordered it grey then as I was told.
Sarah. I am fed up with this hostility. And it will end TODAY.
How so, boss?
YOUR HUSBAND. HERE, IN MY OFFICE. AT 8 PM TODAY.
Frank appeared as ordered, and Resch invited him with a bottle of expensive wine.
What is this? Just call an escort service for a date, not me.
SIT DOWN AND LISTEN! There are a few things we should speak out openly, without having ranks in mind. So, for every thing you feel like confronting me with, you take a glass in advance and then speak it out. After my experiences, Alcohol helps speaking the truth. The same for me, I have a glass as well.
Then I prefer you to start, ladies first. I guess I have to do it with you to get my badge back?
A gentleman, huh? This goes into a direction I like and yes, I might hand you back your badge, if we are able to solve our issues once for all.
Are you sure, Dr. Resch?
This conversation is not held by me as your superior, it is absolutely informal. Call me Gesine.
The next day, Jenny strays around Berlaus largest tuning meet, in order to find the guy who helped her out of the car, but doesn´t dare to speak to him after she spotted the red Primus. Marko Zora approaches her, handing her a torch.
Oh, Marko… eh, what am I supposed to do with that?
Hey, girl, if you are standing here like a lightpole, you can as well become one.
That was mean.
You are focussed on Metin Kaya, hm?
Is it that obvious?
Almost as obvious that he is focussed on you. Come on, lets go there. I can´t watch that helplessness of both of you any longer. EH, METIN! GOOD TO SEE YOU HAVE A BETTER TASTE IN GIRLS THAN IN CARS!
Marko? You here? What do you have against my Primus?
Metin, I know, I know, you drive that ugly thing just to compensate for the beautiful girl you are dating, right?
I am not dat…
Well, if you don´t do this, I might assume you REALLY have bad taste. So, I think you should take her out now… well, depends if she is willing to be seen in your trashcan.
A shy Jenny giggled.
Well… I guess he compensates with a shitbox for something else being …superior than average…
All three cracked up laughing, and Metin invited Jenny to King Ronalds.
Another few days later, Metin and Jenny are a couple in love, and Marko Zora watches the scene. Zora doesn´t smile, as it would not be in-character for him to do so, but one could tell that he is very proud of his work and happy for Jenny to finally experience real love.
*cars featured by @moroza, @AndiD, @66mazda, @Mikonp7, @Knugcab, @shibusu, @azkaalfafa, @S_U_C_C_U_L_E_N_T, @DoesStuff, @Djadania, @Riley and @Skygel14 *