Along the Watchtower


Beyond the cloud it becomes obvious, that the graveyard was not from a space battle at all, but from what the racers are fast approaching. Named in part for its psychedelic appearance, but also for the effect it has on passing sailors, it is not uncommon for the veritable laser light show of the Hendrix Nebula to hypnotize pilots and render them helpless by way of extravagant hallucinations. Not long after it’s discovery a lost pilot’s last transmission was, “Excuse me while I kiss the sky,” before ejecting from a fully functioning scout ship into the dead of space. The marooned ships were consumed by the nebula’s beauty and allure. Is it a natural phenomenon? Or is an intelligent force behind the Sirens’ trap?

While Cannibalgirl keeps her composure, Ratfink is trying to steer HELLRACER closer. The two are struggling for control. Whatever effects the nebula has on the rest of the racers, GRIM GOBLIN is oblivious and continues to make a straight line for the next Stargate passing the troubled SHOWSTOPPACHOPPA in the process. Both ARCLIGHT HAMMER and BLACK NOVA switched over to infrared and separate prerecorded audio, ARCLIGHT HAMMER is playing something about this little light of mine while BLACK NOVA is listening to what can only be described as beeps and hums. SHADOW WING and SHADOW BLADE join forces push JACKNIFE forward as a plow to the rubber necking racers. DRAGULA and SUICIDE TANK’s payload keeps them from lingering as it drags them along whenever they unknowingly throttle down. That next beacon can’t come soon enough.

Stargate #2.3 Standings
The Grey Ghost
First Class
Iron Griffin
Stingray
Hellracer
Grim Goblin
ShowStoppaChoppa
GyreJet
ScrapJet
ARCLight Hammer
Black Nova
SAS Hornet
Chaos mk2
Jackknife
Shadow Wing
Shadow Blade
Silverstreak
Dragula
Suicide Tank
The Golden Idol
The Dark Horse
D.E.S.T.R.O.K.
Police RamJet

Missing in Action
Firebreather
RAMeleon Swamp Jetter
Shadow Cycle
Thunder Kiss
Caligula

Out
RahJet

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BARTERGATE

While HELLRACER, DESTROK, and POLICE RAMJET continue their collision course with the Hendrix Nebula, the racers able to avoid the nebula’s trance discover the Stargate is not A gate, but rather 3 Stargates. All are identical except the center one has a crude skull and crossbones carved into its frame.

GREY GHOST pulls up short and gestures a “Ladies first” arm motion to the trailing IRON GRIFFIN who in turn launches her drone into the Left Stargate and awaits readings. FIRSTCLASS too has pulled off to the side so the twins can run calculations. The GRIM GOBLIN goes straight on through the Center gate while Ave on the SHOWSTOPPACHOPPA flips a coin in zero G, snags it out of the air, looks at it and goes into the Right one. BLACK NOVA, calculating the entire time, follows him Right. SHADOW WING and SHADOW BLADE still driving JACKKNIFE as a plow, stop and launch JACKNIFE into ARCLIGHT HAMMER and both go tumbling through the Center gate. DRAGULA and SUICIDE TANK don’t even hesitate going through the Center gate. Unfortunately for the DARK HORSE, he gets caught in the tow cables of the bomb and gets dumped into the Right gate.

***
The GRIM GOBLIN, ARCLIGHT HAMMER, JACKNIFE, SAS HORNET, DRAGULA and SUICIDE TANK come out of the gate. An expanse of destroyed space cruisers fills their field of view. They go to maneuver through it. Dragula and Suicide Tank almost run smack into the rear end of…Is that the RAHJET? The henchmen looks- different. Maybe he changed his hair.


The group makes it through the graveyard, through the purple hazy acid rain, and towards the Hendrix Nebula as if they had flown through it all before. Seeing Cannibalgirl and Ratfink about to self-destruct, DRAGULA and SUICIDE TANK launch their tetraton bomb into the center of the nebula. The destruction causes a ripple that vibrates space-time. The 3 Stargates unify on the Right one and all the remaining racers fly through it.

Stargate #2.4 Standings
The Grey Ghost
First Class
Iron Griffin
Stingray
GyreJet
ScrapJet
Chaos mk2
Shadow Wing
Shadow Blade
Silverstreak
The Golden Idol
Grim Goblin
ARCLight Hammer
Jackknife
SAS Hornet
RahJet
Dragula
Suicide Tank
Hellracer
D.E.S.T.R.O.K.
Police RamJet


Missing in Action
ShowStoppaChoppa
Black Nova
The Dark Horse
Firebreather
RAMeleon Swamp Jetter
Shadow Cycle
Thunder Kiss
Caligula

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The Gang's All Here


The racers start to exit the Stargate into some kind of gravball arena track. The rainbow path has swooping g-force enducing sweeps and curves along with large grey rock lock blocks. Having grown up in and around gravball his entire life the GREY GHOST doens't even appear to hesitate. The front of the pack follows right behind. After the last of the racers starts on the rack, yet another group of racers some who had taken the wrong gate and some thought lost into a gravity well that turned out to be a space pipe, SHOWSTOPPACHOPPA comes blazing out followed soon after by BLACK NOVA, FIREBREATHER, DARK HORSE, THUNDER KISS, CALIGULA, SHADOW CYCLE, and the RAMELEON. They have a lot of ground to make up at this point. SHADOW WING grinds into the GRIM GOBLIN coming around one of the sonic tunnels forcing the goblins into the path of a dropping grav block. The bike appears to be fine, but the goblins are shaken and slow to come to. Hellracer drops back to give Thunder Kiss some support. Hold onto your seats folks, this is still anyone's race!

Stargate #3.1 Standings
The Grey Ghost
Iron Griffin
Stingray
First Class
GyreJet
ScrapJet
Chaos mk2
Shadow Blade
Shadow Wing
Silverstreak
The Golden Idol
ARCLight Hammer
Jackknife
Dragula
Suicide Tank
SAS Hornet
RahJet
Grim Goblin
D.E.S.T.R.O.K.
Police RamJet
ShowStoppaChoppa
Hellracer
Black Nova
Firebreather
The Dark Horse
Thunder Kiss
Caligula
Shadow Cycle
RAMeleon Swamp Jetter

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The Rainbow Bridge and Eternal Glory!
As the lead racers pass the previous beacon, a Viking in golden armor engages a rainbow bridge that leads to a golden city off the in the distance. The racers hear the city erupt into cheers even above the roar of their engines.


This is it. This is what they’ve been racing for. Beyond survival. Beyond bragging rights. There is glory in being the best. There is no point in holding anything back now. STINGRAY makes a move past IRON GRIFFIN and the GREY GHOST Can he hold them off for the rest of the way? GYRE JET goes to make a move past FIRST CLASS and ends up locking wings allowing SCRAPJET, CHAOS mk2, and SHADOW BLADE to scoot by. GOLDEN IDOL uses fuel reserves to go all out and ARCLIGHT HAMMER drafts in his jet wake. DRAGULA can’t seem to get by JACKKNIFE. SUICIDE TANK gives DRAGULA a nudge forward into JACKKINFE and the two going spiraling off the cosmic bridge before regaining control and back on the course. SHOWSTOPPACHOPPA, who has been going full bore since exiting the gate puts on his afterburners and is making his move. DESTROK goes left to get around GRIM GOBLIN but they rebuke his attempt. He fakes right, goes back left, and then launches over the goblins. WHAT A MOVE! They didn’t like getting duped like that. FIREBRETHER literally spewing fire gets the POLICE JETBIKE and HELLRACER to make way, but Ratfink spits a glowing green snot rocket at Lugg and now those two are exchanging blows. Here comes DARK HORSE along the outside and rolls some smoke in their direction. CALIGULA uses the robot dragon head to chomp off THUNDER KISS’ engine thruster. She spins out but is able to stay on the curse. Looks like she is dead in the water now as rescue crews make their way out from the city.

The gates of the city are open and waiting. The barricaded edges of the streets are filled with everyone the racers have ever known. As they make their way to Valhalla, STINGRAY and GREY GHOST are neck and neck. IRON GRIFFIN finds her spot on the podium slowly slipping away to SCRAPJET with CHAOS mk 2 and SHADOW BLADE microseconds behind him. This is it folks. This is for all the cookies in the cookie jar. The GREY GHOST is visibly shaking as he holds his thrusters full tilt. SCRAPJET edges passed IRON GRIFFIN, but she is determined not to concede any more lost ground to anyone else today. 100 meters. 50 meters. SCRAPJET better be wearing SPF 1000 because he is driving right through STINGRAY and GREY GHOSTS jet blasts. 10 meters. AND ITS DONE! BUT WHO WON? Photo finish!

GREY GHOST by .00000001 microseconds. Must have been some peeled paint on his bumper. That means STINGRAY in 2nd and SCRPAJET in 3rd. What a finish. What a race. Let’s get a word with Knighthawk back at the RAM Stnad on pit row.


Space Ghost: Knighthawk can hear me ok?

Knighthawk: Yes, Space Ghost loud and clear!

SG: How does it feel to win the final RAMJET Super something or other?

KH: Words can’t even begin to express how I’m feeling right now. I’m overjoyed. My team and I did a lot of work preparing for this race and who knew it would be in space? I saw some stuff out there you wouldn’t believe.

SG: Um-

KH: It was nuts. I’m just glad it is all over and I can go back to my family.

SG: I’m sure you’ll find them there. Thanks for your time. Congratulations on the win now go and celebrate with them!

KH: Thanks. *transmission ends*

Zorak: Why didn’t you tell him?

Space Ghost: What, and be like the kid from the 6th Sense. No thank you.


FINAL STANDINGS
The Grey Ghost
Stingray
ScrapJet
Iron Griffin
Chaos mk2
Shadow Blade
First Class
GyreJet
Shadow Wing
ARCLight Hammer
The Golden Idol
ShowStoppaChoppa
Silverstreak
Suicide Tank
SAS Hornet
Jackknife
Dragula
RahJet
D.E.S.T.R.O.K.
Grim Goblin
The Dark Horse
Firebreather
Hellracer
Police RamJet
Caligula
Shadow Cycle
RAMeleon Swamp Jetter

Did not finish
Thunder Kiss

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0698sTH7mUk



you are all dead, except boogiman he was
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0E0ynyIUsg




for baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPNFVj-pISU



thanks for a great race pluv! other contributors as well!

jm70 this is legacy stuff, thanks for letting me play!

now who wants to buy some used ramjets

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Fitting that the first ever licensed RamJet entry wins the grand finale. If it hadn’t been for that pesky death early on, this would’ve made for a great season.

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