Darien awoke with a start to the sound of his phone ringing madly.
It's probably Serena He thought, smiling Probably wanting to see me today.
Picking up the phone, his smile deepened. "Hello, Meatball head!" He started.
"Meatball head?" the voice on the other side, a man's voice said. "This is Darien, correct?" The asked, confused.
"Yes, Who is this?" He returned, perplexed.
"My name is Coronado Maximillion, and I own and run Team Angel Racing..."
"Team Angel Racing? Where the team motto is 'Beauty Runs Rampant'?" Darien interjected.
"You've heard of us I see." Coronado chuckled.
"Are you kidding? EVERYONE'S heard of you!" Darien sat up in bed. "You guys are on of the top teams in Japan now, and if your season keeps up like it has been, you'll be number one in the points after this next race!" He stopped, dumbstruck. "But what in the heck are you doing calling me?"
Without hesitation, The man stated his purpose.
"I need a driver, and you're my last hope."
Darien was stunned. "A driver? Me? You're kidding right? I'm no professional, just a lowly wannabe... Why me?"
"Well, actually, One of my mechanics saw you the other day on your motorcycle..."
"Oh, the Annual Amateur Races..."
"Yeah, those." Coronado said frankly. "If you can at least PRETEND to drive a car like that, I need you... and I never joke."
"Don't you have a driver?" Darien asked, curious.
"Well, we did..." he sighed, continuing. "Two actually. but recently, we've had both of our drivers end up hurt mysteriously... OFF the track. There's a final qualifying race next Saturday... If you don't want to help, I understand..."
"Are you kidding?" Darien nearly yelled in his excitement. "You got yourself a driver!"
Coronado's voice raised a notch. "Good. Show up at our training grounds Monday morning and I'll get you set up and introduce you around... and do me a favor, will you?"
"Anything Mr. Maximillion." Darien replied eagerly.
"Ok, Two things... first, watch your back... I got bad feelings about this next race."
"And the other thing?"
Coronado laughed deeply. "Call me Coronado."
As Darien hung up the phone, he couldn't help smiling. Ever since he was little, he'd always loved the car races, especially the Grand Prix... and now, he would have his chance to actually be IN one! Then another thought mixed in with already cluttered morning musings.
Will I be good enough? He shrugged. If I can save the Sailor Scouts, defeat the Negaverse and have time to go out with Serena the next day, I can drive a little car. around a circle or two, right? He smiled, pulling on his jogging shoes, it was going to be a LONG week, and he intended to be ready for it.
He had hardly gotten down the street, when, almost expectedly, he was nearly tackled by a giggling Serena.
"Well, you sure are happy Meatball head." Darien said, hugging her and smiling.
"Oh Darien." she said "I have GREAT news! I was just selected as a finalist to be an official 'Team Angel' car model type person... you know, the ones who stand with the cars before the race starts in those WAY cool dresses?"
Darien stared at Serena for a second, then began chuckling aloud. Serena stood back a step, tapping her foot, looking quite peeved.
"Just WHAT is so funny?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"Tell you what... you head up to my apartment and I'll tell you all about it after my jog..." he tossed her the keys, which she dropped. "Unless you want to join me?" He added, smiling as she stood up straight and gave him a look that would have melted glass.
"I don't run unless I absolutely have to, and there is no WAY you are making me run unless there's donuts involved."
Darien laughed and jogged off, his head full of questions, dreams and thoughts of the future.
He jogged for about his usual hour, and finally made it home. After telling Serena all about his morning phone call, taking a quick shower and fixing them both brunch, he found himself sitting on the couch, staring out his huge sliding doors at the city below.
"Something wrong muffin?" Serena asked, seeing the strange look on his face. He looked as if he was in another world, or was someone else altogether.
He rose slowly, pacing toward the window, the wind blowing his hair as he opened the doors and stood on the balcony, peering off into the horizon, as he often did when he had a great deal on his mind.
"What is it?" Serena pressed, leaning against the open doors and waiting for a reply.
"Don't get me wrong," he started, his eyes shining with dreams as yet untouched. "I'm looking forward to the chance to live this dream I've had since I was little."
"So what exactly's bothering you?" Serena walked toward him, grabbing him by his hand and standing beside him in one smooth motion, VERY un-Serena like, though neither of them seemed to notice.
"It's hard to explain." he said, staring off into space again. "It's this voice I have in my head, telling me that I'm getting in deeper than I think, and this little voice is usually never wrong... after all, it's the same one that brought us together.
"Don't worry muffin," Serena said, putting on her bravest smile and squeezing Darien's hand affectionately. "Always remember I'm there for you, no matter what, just like you always have been for me."
"I know..." he began, then stopped, looking into her deep blue eyes. "Meet me at Rei's Temple tomorrow after school... and have the other girls join us there."
"OK... but why?" she asked, confused.
Darien just smiled. "You'll see, just be there."
Later that night, after Serena left, Darien returned to his balcony and waited patiently.
"Pretty night." The expected voice said behind him.
Darien just stood there, smiling a little, even though the foreboding presence of the figure behind him made that difficult.
"Never thought I'd hear something like that from you."
The figure chuckled, throwing Darien off guard totally.
"There's a lot you don't know about me."
"That's the truth." Darien said, turning to face the figure.
He stood at least six and a half feet tall, broad shouldered, though it was hard to tell with the long black cape he wore over his dark grey body armored costume that was his trademark. The gold and black bat on his chest reflected the moonlight very dimly, which was normal for the man known as Batman.
"OK" Darien said, breaking the sudden silence like a sledgehammer on a picture window. "Explain this to me again?"
"Sure, now that everyone is here." Batman said, not even looking at the still panting Serena, who was her usual twenty minutes later due to her also normal detention.
"I SAID I was sorry." Serena started, but Batman silenced her with a single glance.
"If this is going to work, your timing will have to be PERFECT." his words laced with iced rage, aimed not at the disguised Moon Princess, Sailor Moon... but at the enemy they faced, the one of which he knew all too well.
"Now," the caped figure stood, looking almost a living shadow in the bright sunshine that filtered through the thin walls of the temple. "This is what you're up against..."
Monday morning brought a new day, one as clouded as Darien's head felt. As he rode his motorcycle to the track, the rain began to pour.
Great. Darien thought to himself as the sky darkened overhead. What else could go wrong?
Before he had the slightest chance to answer himself, a huge delivery truck cut him off. Darien grabbed his brake handles hard and swerved left to avoid a nasty collision. As he turned, the bike found a puddle and went sideways, and he found himself sliding into a mud filled ditch along the roadside.
Darien lay in the muddy water for what seemed like an eternity, staring at the sky above him, glad that the mud was there to break his landing in the ditch. He sat up slowly, making sure nothing was broken or too badly damaged.
"Darien!" a familiar voice from behind him called out, the voice filled with worry. "Are you OK?"
Darien sat up completely as Serena bounded over, slipping and sliding in the wet, muddy grass.
"I'm fine." he said, noticing his bike was wrapped around a nearby tree, looking like a broken toy. "It could have been much worse, I guess I was just lucky."
"Just lucky?" Serena said in disbelief. "I'm not letting you out of my site from now on."
As Serena helped him up, Darien looked at her.
"How'd you get here so fast?"
"I was on the bus."
"Bus?" he asked.
"Yeah, The one that happened to be behind you as you turned onto this street."
"Well, feel like a walk?" Darien asked her, flashing his usual smile.
"Sure" she smiled back, "Someone's gotta keep you out of trouble."
"Well then meatball head, where's Amy?"
Her playful slap was more painful than he let on. Darien walked along side her slowly, he was sure he was hurt, but not bad enough to stop him from what he came here for... to live his dream.
As the two walked slowly toward the racetrack, both soaked to the bone, tired and cold. Darien know knew exactly how badly hurt he really was. They walked in through the gate and made it to a small trailer on the edge of the garage area. Two guys in white jumpsuits came walking out, looks of confusion on their faces, but they helped the two inside without hesitation.
"I see you're a little late Darien." A deep voice said from the corner of the trailer as the two members of the pit crew helped Darien and Serena to a nearby couch.
"Sorry sir" Darien said, almost as if he had been working for Coronado Maximillion for most of his life. "I had a little... problem on the way."
Serena looked around the small, cozy office of Team Angel Racing. The two members of the pit crew had since left, but the man in the corner who talked to Darien was an interesting one indeed.
He was only about five and a half feet tall, not as tall as the deep voice led one to believe. He was dressed in an expensive suit, and was actually pretty handsome, for someone she guessed to be at least forty-five or so.
"Something wrong my dear?" Coronado asked. "Not what you expected, am I?"
Serena blushed, replying "No sir."
Coronado chuckled. "Stand up, and let me have a look at you... Serena was it?" He held out his hand as if to ask a lady for a dance, and Serena was stunned.
"My assistant, Marie told me about you my dear, I knew you were coming. Sorry if I surprised you, I've been told I have that effect on people. I think you'll be a great addition to our little team here."
"Sir..."
"Coronado" he interrupted, smiling.
"Coronado" Darien continued. "May I introduce my girlfriend, Serena."
"Interesting indeed." Coronado smiled. "This is unexpected, but not unwelcome. This works out better than I imagined."
"How so?" Serena asked, confused.
"Well, you two can share a trailer, which will save us a great deal of trouble moving everyone else around."
"Trailer?" Serena mumbled, confused.
Darien smiled. "Serena, when racing teams travel the country, they travel in trailers, kind of like a circus."
"Oh." Serena smiled. "I didn't know."
Darien laughed for a second, feeling his hurt ribs send pain rippling through his body. I hope it's not broken. he thought to himself, keeping a smile on his face.
"Well, I've kept you two long enough." Coronado said, turning to leave. "You'll find this trailer is small, but cozy. You might as well take it easy, with the rain out there, there's not much else to do now anyway."
The two sat in that trailer for almost two hours when a beautiful young woman stuck her head in the door, her red hair dripping on the carpet.
"Darien? Serena?" she smiled, seeing his confused looks and her warm smile. "I'm Marie, Mr. Maximillion's assistant. I brought you some warm, DRY clothes."
As Serena walked with her into a back room, Darien took the time to stand and peek out the window. Though he didn't see the expected black car parked in the billowing rain, he knew deep down it was there and felt a little better for it. As he turned, he had just enough time to thank Marie for her trouble, which she insisted was no big deal and show her out politely before Serena smiled.
"First dibs on the shower!" she called and grabbed her pile of clothes and ran for the back of the trailer.
Darien smiled, stretching out on the couch and nodding off from the pain of his ribs.
He awoke to a confused Serena, biting her lip and shaking him gingerly.
"Something wrong?" he asked, stretching carefully.
"I was thinking...
"Yeah?"
"We're gonna share this trailer, right?"
"Yeah?" He replied, still curious as to her mood.
"And we're gonna sleep in here, right?"
"Yes?"
"And we'll be together, right?"
Darien smiled "Unless you'd rather me sleep outside."
"But... I noticed... In the back..."
"...there's only one bed?"
"Yeah." she said simply, biting her lower lip again.
Darien couldn't help himself, and laughed until his ribs felt as if they would melt.
"Serena, relax. I'll sleep on the sofa if that's your problem. and we can change in the bathroom."
"Really?"
"Yeah, really. The last thing I'd want is to make you uncomfortable, and besides, you'd probably hog the bed and knock me off on the floor anyway."
Serena mocked being angry and handed Darien a playful elbow to the ribs, which doubled him over instantly. After she sat there a minute and realized he wasn't playing back, she got worried.
"Darien?"
"I guess I'm not as 'OK' as I said when you helped me up from the motorcycle wreck." he managed through his pain clenched jaw.
"I'm gonna get a doctor. You need..."
Darien laid a hand on her shoulder, which to his surprise was shivering, despite the warm room and her dry clothes.
"Serena." He began, searching for the best words for the moment. "If you get a doctor, he'll say I can't race, and then Coronado will be without a driver again. You'll never get your big modelling break and we will have just wasted our time. Besides, all I have to do is sit up..." He sat up slowly, continuing "grab the wheel..." he put his hands in front of him, simulating a steering wheel. "and push the gas." he tapped his soggy shoe on the arm of the couch to give his words purchase.
"But if you hurt yourself any worse, I'll NEVER forgive myself." Her eyes glazed over, on the verge of tears. "All that matters to me is you." she grabbed his hand, shivering still, struggling to find the words that floated through her head like phantoms. "Not some car race, not the pretty dresses, not the modelling deal, or even having my name up in lights." She tried to smile bravely, but only ended up biting her lip again for a second, holding back the tears as a dam holds back water. "You're all that matters to me Darien... I love you."
The tears fell like the rain outside and Darien's thoughts scattered and were broken like twigs of a fallen tree.
"Tell you what." he decided aloud. "We'll sleep on it and decide in the morning. There's no sense in either of us killing ourselves in this storm over a few bruises, right?"
Serena sniffled and nodded, biting her lip again.
"Another problem?" he asked softly, wiping a few stray tears from her cheek.
"Maybe this isn't the best thing to ask..." she said softly, staring at the floor.
"Serena, you know you can ask me anything, anytime." he said, grabbing her chin and looking into her beautiful eyes.
"Anything?" her eyes sparkled in the moonlight, which shone through the rain, almost like a cosmic lighthouse.
"Anything."
She leaned up and whispered softly in his ear, drawing back and biting her lip again, awaiting his answer.
Darien just blinked, staring at Serena as she stared at the floor, fiddling with the laces of her shoes, which lay forgotten near the side of the couch. He laughed until his already throbbing chest would no longer let him.
"On one condition." he said after catching his breath as she looked at him, making sure he was all right.
"Name it." her eyes glittered in excitement.
"You let ME have the television remote this time."
Her playful slap was answer enough, and it was surprisingly light, almost a feather on his arm.
"But first, I need a shower myself, and some warm clothes couldn't hurt."
The next few days went by in a persistent pattern, Darien spending nearly all of his time in the Team Angel race car, a supercharged Ferrari, custom built from the ground up, even down to the white paint and the angel airbrushed on the hood.
While Darien spent the afternoons tearing around the track at speeds reaching two-hundred-fifty miles per hour, Serena spent her days getting tips from Marie. How to stand, walk and even concentration tips so that when the big day came, the engines of the twenty or so cars in the starting lineup wouldn't effect her.
"I'm still curious Marie" Serena asked from behind the changing screen. "What am I wearing on the day of the big race?"
Marie giggled like a seven year old at a slumber party. "You'll find out on Saturday, Serena."
Serena sighed, walking out in a two piece, pink mini dress, with a white T-shirt and knee-length white socks.
"Nice choice." Marie said, walking around her twice.
"I still think I should wear the red one."
"The dress?" Marie asked "Nah, this is less formal, and besides, if I looked as good in that as you do, I'd steal your Darien away in no time."
As the two young women burst into laughter, Darien was busy on the track.
"It's still turning sluggish." he said over the two way radio built into his helmet.
"Hmmmm" The pit crew chief replied, confused. "I can't see why, it seemed fine to my this morning."
The head mechanic piped in "How's the timing relay?"
"Purring like a kitten." Darien replied, braking and downshifting to perfect an upcoming tight turn.
"Well, bring 'er in kid, and we'll take another look at 'er." the chief mechanic shot back. "You're still runnin' 3 seconds off."
"Damn." Darien said, slowing down and making for the pits.
Later that night, as Darien and Serena were relaxing on the couch, Serena looked at Darien and nudged him softly.
"Yeah?" Darien turned his head, smiling. "Something on your mind, meatball head?"
"How are your ribs holding up... I mean you've only got what, three more days until the big race?"
"I won't lie to you." He began, sighing softly. "They're still stiff and they hurt a little, but they're getting better."
"OK then, I'm going to bed."
"'Night meatball head." Darien flashed a smile as Serena shuffled off toward the bedroom, her silk nightgown trailing the floor like a wedding dress.
If she only knew he thought to himself, smiling.
Finally, the big day arrived, and Serena was a jangle of nerves.
"Oh Darien, can you believe it?" she chimed over breakfast.
"Relax Serena" Darien replied, calm as ever. "You'll do fine, really."
"I hope so, I'm nervous."
"Just do everything like you practiced and be yourself." He smiled, standing to go live a dream.
As he walked out the trailer's little door, Serena placed a delicate hand on his shoulder, and he turned to look at her.
"Be careful muffin." she said, handing him his custom painted helmet with an airbrushed picture of the Moon Princess with a set of angel wings across the back.
He said nothing, and leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips for but a brief moment, before turning and walking toward the garage area.
Serena watched him go, smiling, yet her eyes on the verge of tears. Not only tears of joy, but of other things as well. She turned and closed the door, walking into the black folds of Batman's cape.
"He'll be OK." Batman said with certainty "Just keep your mind on the plan."
"I'll try" she said, looking away and hugging herself slightly. "That's the best I can do."
"Your best is all I ask." He said, turning and walking toward the middle of the room and reaching into his utility belt for a batrope.
"I just hope nothing bad happens" She said, looking at Batman as he aimed the batrope toward the open skylight. "for Darien's sake."
"Me too." He said and with only a faint pop and a whirr of the electric winch he was gone as he came.
The pit crew was wearing mixed expressions as Darien walked up, smiling despite all the problems they'd been having.
"How's it looking?" Coronado asked, seeming unconcerned, yet the hint of raw curiosity edged his voice like a knife blade.
"Not bad boss" said the mechanic, a bald man in his late forties. "We still got that timing mystery though, but it shouldn't hinder us too much." he mentally added an I hope to the end of his sentence.
"Good"
Darien stepped forward, putting on his helmet and gloves.
"You ready son?" Coronado asked him seriously. "If you want out, I'll understand."
"Are you kidding?" Darien replied without hesitation, smiling under the helmet. "I've lived this moment in my dreams a million times, now it's time to REALLY live it."
"You heard the man fellas." said Coronado, smiling. "Fire her up and lets win one for the fans."
Darien flipped down his visor and crawled into the seat of the 'Guardian Angel' car. The roar of the engine drowned out the symphony of cheers from the pit crew and the few fans with pit passes who were around to witness this moment. For Darien, it was a dream within a dream.
"I hope this moment lasts forever." he said to himself aloud, though no one could hear it, not even him.
As the starting grid slowly rumbled up to their starting positions, the car models were already in position, among them, Serena stood smiling, dressed in a white skirt, sleeveless top, knee high white boots and a pair of golden wings with a golden crown on her head.
As Darien pulled to a stop about 2 feet behind her, he smiled.
"Team Angel racing gets it's guardian angel, eh Coronado?" Darien chuckled through the headset in his helmet.
"That's right, Darien." said a mysterious voice over the two way radio.
"Who is this?"
"Just a fan with some advice."
Darien looked around the track as the voice continued.
"You're gonna lose this race, by choice or by force."
After the static died off from the secondary broadcast, the pit chief broke in again, sounding worried.
"...going on? Kid, you there? Kid?"
"Yeah, I'm here, I'm OK, did you catch that?" Darien asked still scanning the crowd.
"Every word, we've called the track security and the police, they'll find this guy, don't worry."
"Just do me one favor."
"Anything kid, just name it."
"Look after Serena for me."
"Consider it done." The pit chief replied. "Now get out there and win one so when we catch this guy, we can rub it in his face."
The car models slowly started leaving the track, and the engines roared to life anew. The crowd cheered as the green flag dropped, starting the race.
The first lap found Darien fighting for fifth place, swerving around corners like a pro. The training paid off I guess Darien thought to himself as he made his way into fourth through a chicane.
The first forty laps or so went without any problems, Darien fell into a pattern, saving fuel and tire for the later race for the finish.
"How you doing kid?" The pit chief broke the monotony of Darien's ride with his check in.
"Things are looking good with the car. That timing problem seems to still be there, though it's not too much of a factor yet."
The pit chief hesitated. "But?"
"But... I'm worried about Serena and this nutcase."
"Keep your mind on the race, kid, let us old guys worry about this stuff."
"OK." Darien said, the smile returning to his face.
Halfway. Darien was drafting a Frenchman for and fighting for second place. Firing around a hairpin turn, he nicked bumpers with the second place French racer and barely kept in control himself.
By the time he realized he was still in the race and got his bearings, his headset crackled to life.
"You OK kid?" the pit chief said, worry filling his voice even through the static.
"Yeah" Darien replied, his throat dry. "How'd the guy in front of me end up?"
"He's out of the race, but he's OK. You'll have a full course yellow next lap so back off the throttle a bit and bring 'er in for a quick juice and checkup."
"You got it... I could use a drink anyway"
"You'll need more than a drink when I'm done with you."
"You again!" Darien said, taking the last turn before the pits. "What do you want anyway?"
"Oh it's simple... I want to break your dreams."
"After I WIN this race, we'll settle up face to face."
"If you win, I look forward to it... Tuxedo Mask."
Darien almost swerved into another car before slamming on the brakes and sliding into the pits.
As soon as he ground to a halt, Coronado jogged up, Serena right behind.
"We've got a lock on his broadcast location..."
"But?" Darien said, waiting for the bricks to fall.
"But, It's from OUR pit!"
Darien said nothing, grabbed a drink handed to him and swallowed a mouthful and tossed it aside into the passenger side cargo netting.
"Serena... it's time."
"I know, I'm on my way." she said, running off and into the crowd.
As she squirmed her way into the crowd, she looked for the Dark Knight. She finally broke through the crowd, she ducked into a bathroom and transformed into Sailor Moon.
No sooner had she done so, the voice spoke.
"The Pit Chief."
She turned around to see Batman standing next to the sinks and gasped in surprise.
"Go, now." he said, raising his portable grappling hook and firing it soundlessly.
As he swung through the skylight, he scanned the crowd, looking for a telltale white jumpsuits. By the time he landed on the Announcer's building roof, he saw the man running down victory lane.
He's fast, but he's limping slightly, probably tripped over something while running. Batman ran the details through his head as he always did before he attacked. He's carrying a .45 in his right hand... meaning he's probably right handed, so his left side could be a weakness. If I can keep him in the open he'll be easy bait, he's got home court advantage.
He swung, connecting with both feet to the pit chief's back, knocking him forward and sideways.
"Drop the gun Joker."
"Batman?!" The Clown prince of crime screamed as he jumped up in surprise.
"Who else would mess with the 'timing' on a race car when he sabotaged it, so he can take over the Team. using it for smuggling things across national borders was fairly smart, but I'm not stupid Joker."
Joker chuckled madly. "That's right Batman, but you forgot one thing..."
"What's that?" he said as he walked toward the Joker, ready for anything.
"The PUNCH line!" the mad clown cackled as he leaned into Batman with a flurry of punches, sending Batman on his back as he tripped over a concrete curb.
As the Joker laughed and skipped off, he saw a man in grey standing near the entrance to the garage area.
"Impossible!" he screamed, backing off slowly. "I saw you get in the car! I TALKED to you over the radio! you CAN'T be here... you're THERE!" he pointed to the track as the man walked closer and closer.
His screams were drowned out by the crowd cheering madly for the winner of the race.
Darien.
"They found him where?" Serena asked again, puzzled.
"Hanging upside down from the backdrop to Victory Lane, muttering something about a 'grey shadow'." Darien said, sharing Serena's confusion.
"So all's well that ends well I guess." Coronado said, donning his Fedora and Trenchcoat.
"Yeah, I guess so." Darien said. "Thanks again for the trophy Coronado..."
"And the dress!" Serena chimed in, smiling.
"You two earned them. Now, Enjoy the hotel and may your trip home be safe.
"Yeah, your drivers coming back was a stroke of luck I guess.
Coronado finished his goodbyes and walked out to a waiting Limo.
"All went well sir?" The driver said, starting the car and adjusting his rear view mirror.
"Perfectly Alfred." Bruce Wayne said, removing his make up and leaning back. "This 'Grey Shadow' should be an interesting chase indeed."
As the car drove off into the night, Serena and Darien sat quietly, pondering.
Watching them from the window, a man in grey smiled, planning his next encounter. Indeed Sailor Moon, I will return, and next time, you won't have your Dark Knight to help you.