Star Fox: Miyu's Love - Ch 22: The Cornerian Grand Prix: Preparation and Planning by LeoCuttridge < Submission

Keywords male 1132193, female 1021010, fox 236162, cat 202602, rabbit 130591, fennec 17376, lynx 13265, hare 10851, krystal 4155, star fox 3283, fox mccloud 2148, falco lombardi 1693, toad 1499, spaniel 767, bulldog 515, pheasant 278, slippy toad 205, miyu lynx 155, peppy hare 154, fara phoenix 115, hound dog 108, fay spaniel 95, katt monroe 93, bill grey 48, leo cuttridge 34, general pepper 25

~Star Fox: Miyu's Love~

~Chapter 22: The Cornerian Grand Prix: Preparation and Planning~

--The Great Fox, vehicle bay, one week later, 10:51--

“WHAAAAA??? YOU HAVE A WHAT AND A WHAT IN YOUR GARAGE???” Slippy and Fay asked Leo incredulously, their jaws dropping in amazement.
“Hehe... yeah, some collectibles of mine,” Leo said, pulling out his phone and putting it on a toolbox to project images onto the nearest whiteboard.  He then set it up so Slippy and Fay could slide through the many images Leo kept with him of his cars.  Miyu, Fox, Falco, Peppy, Katt, Bill and Fara sat around with him and flipped through the photos.  It was a relatively light day of duties, everyone mostly sticking together and hanging out.  These days of peacetime very rarely called on any sudden duties to attend to like they were used to, so for now, they all spent time together, catching up on time missed during the war.
“Wow Leo, I remember seeing those things on the road when they were brand new thirty or so years ago,” Peppy commented.  “I remember renting a Speedwell Cushman when James and I were going through BT (basic training) and I remember it had the softest seats and the quietest ride I'd felt at the time in an automobile without driving an actual expensive luxury car.”
“Awwyeeeeaaaaahhhh duuuuuuuude, I once drove a buddy's Lancier Road & Transport once.  TOTALLY amazing ride, but his was completely stock and unmodified,” Bill said with excitement.  “That and it was just before the time when people started modifying these cars to be faster.”
“They are very soft and smooth.  Part of why I swapped in the Race & Transport powerplant into the Speedwell... I wanted something wicked fast, yet incredibly comfortable,” Leo replied, blushing a bit, feeling a bit nerdy again in front of everybody.
“Very cool to see something that looks like a very normal and everyday city car become so fast.  TOTAL sleeper!  I highly approve,” Katt said.
“I remember I was just a tadpole when my dad Beltino introduced the first versions of the G-diffuser systems in production automobiles,” Slippy said, still smiling quite excited as he flipped through the photos. “I only got to work on the version 2.x and later modules as the first versions were phasing out of their limited run, so I've never seen one in real life before.”
“Me neither!  I wanna go see these cars!” Fay said adorably and excitedly.  “Take me for a ride, Leo?”
“Yeah yeah, me too!” Slippy said with an equal mix of excitement and enthusiasm.
Leo began to blush a bit in embarrassment.  “Well... the Horace is ready to go, but the Speedwell isn't any good...”
“....oh?” Slippy and Fay said in a bit of confusion.
“I went through that entire engine and drive system and rebuilt it from the bare block up, and it doesn't run right,” Leo responded with a sigh and limp ears.
Soft groans all around came from everybody at that statement.  “Ugh... I sympathize with you, Leo,” Falco said.  “Those series III version engine parts are hard to find now, and even when you were fixing them all those years ago they must have been a pain to locate and buy, weren't they?”
“You got that right,” Leo said.  “Probably nigh on impossible to locate anything for them anymore.”
“Awr... what exactly is wrong with the Speedwell?” Fay asked.  “Or at least... does it run at all?”
“It runs and drives, but very poorly,” Leo said.  “It only produces about 50-60% of it's factory output, the response is sluggish and it sounds loud and staticky in the turbine.”
“Huh...” Slippy said, his brain wracking through the possibilities with what little knowledge and hands-on experience he's had with them.  He knew the biggest changes between the version 1.x and 2.x drive units were mostly in the electrical control modules, and very little to do in the actual engine hardware.... except...
“Do you know if the air flow restrictor and diverter port between the turbines and the block is still IN the block?  You said you took the block to an engine specialist, right?”  Fay inquired, Slippy picking up on what Fay could be on to.
“Yeah, I had it refinished, planed, port and polished and bored with bigger turbine blades, but sadly I had it all back together before I even learned about that diverter port, so I dunno if it is still in the block or not.  I bought a couple spares several years back and kept them to put in later, but my life and priorities changed and the car has been sitting since then,” Leo said.
“Ooooohhhhh...” Fay and Slippy said in unison.
“Yyyyyeeeeeaaaahhhh, if I remember correctly, if the version 1.x engines run without that diverter, they lack the proper flow of intake air and speed into the turbines to run properly,” Fay said, in thought.
“Right, and I remember in the version 2.x engines, they took that valve out and put a near-identical sleeve in the gasket which performs the same function,” Slippy replied.  “WHY is that?  I have NO idea, you'd hafta ask my dad,” he said chuckling.
“We should bring it into the Great Fox and tear into it and get it running again!” Fara said cheerfully.  Everyone smiled and nodded with an equally positive cheer of affirmation.
“I totally agree,” Fox said.  “We need to get the flatbed ready to go to Leo's house and see what's what.”
“OH! And Fooooooox,” Miyu said with a smile, nudging up beside him softly. “You DEFINITELY need to see THIS bunny drive that Horace at his best.  He is fucking amazing in these cars,” Miyu said, winking over in Leo's direction, making the white rabbit blush.
“Is that right?” Fox said, nodding with a gentle smile towards Leo.  “I'm looking forward to it. If Leo is comfortable with it, of course.”
“Definitely, Fox,” Leo replied.
Fay and Slippy suddenly came in to nudge into Leo's sides at the same time, all giddy and joyful. “I wanna ride in it too, of course!” they said in unison.
“Hehehe Of course,” Leo said, blushing deep.  He still found it hard to believe even now that he was living the life he was in now... a great job, a damn sexy and strong girlfriend that he considered his soulmate, his lover and protector, and not only was she a member of Star Fox, but the rest of the team got along with him very well too!
“We should get some lunch to bring to Leo's parents if we plan to be there long.  It's been a while since the ceremony and I'd like to see them again,” Falco said with a smile.
“Sounds good to me,” Fox said.
“Oh, Leo, gimme your address where the cars are at, if you would please,” Slippy said as he got onto his phone and made a call.
“Sure thing, Slip,” Leo said.

--The Cuttridge's Home, Corneria City, 12:58--

Falco, Slippy, Fox and Bill pulled up into the front of Leo's parents home and backed into the driveway with the flatbed truck, followed by Leo, Miyu, Katt, Fara and Fay following behind in his car.  They all headed to Chalmer's beforehand and ordered a plethora of sandwiches for lunch for everybody and some more sides and drinks.  Leo got out and knocked on the door and smiled as the door opened to see his mother standing before him.  “Hi mom!  We were bored and decided to bring lunch,” Leo said, with everyone else behind him smiling and giving a happy wave while saying “Hi, Mrs Cuttridge!”
Judy was beside herself as she hopped up and down happily with a wide smile as she came over to hug her son Leo happily.  “Ooooohhhh my goodness!  I'm so glad to see everyone again!” she said happily, Rob coming into the living room and seeing everyone in the front yard at the door.
“Heck yeah, come on in everybody!” Rob said happily, giving them all a salute.
Everyone politely saluted back and said “Many thanks, Captain Cuttridge!”  They all happily gave hugs and handshakes to Leo's parents as they came inside, Miyu and Fara coming into the kitchen and setting plates, food and drinks out for everyone.
The afternoon went by slowly and happily for everyone as they all shared drinks and good times and happy conversation, Miyu and Leo sitting together happily, as were Katt and Falco, Fay and Bill and Fara and Fox.  A few hours of good times, cuddling and conversation went by before they all heard the doorbell ring again, everyone staring in confusion at Leo.  “Who is that?  I know eight people, and they're all here...” Leo said.
Slippy then got up and headed to the door.  “I know who it is...”  He then opened the door... “Heya dad!” Slippy then wrapped his arms around another nearly-identical toad with a mustache on his face.  “Hey everybody, this is my dad, the founder and lead engineer of Space Dynamics Incorporated, Beltino Toad.”
Beltino walked in and smiled with a wave to everyone as they all waved and saluted in reply, Rob getting up and giving him a salute, handshake and a hug.  “Well, this is certainly our day to have so many legends in our house!  Come on in, Beltino,” Rob said.
“Thank you, Captain Cuttridge, and thank you son.  Hello everyone! I understand there is something special.... or many things special of mine that are here in this house's garage?” Beltino said happily.
Leo then got up and saluted and hugged Beltino softly.  “Yes sir!  This family is a big admirer of your G-diffuser cars from the beginning days, and I have a couple of the earliest and most powerful examples.”
“He's got a few of the series III engines, dad!  Those performance cars that Horace/Speedwell made!” Slippy said happily.
“Oh my goodness, those are the most powerful and rarest examples of my work from that age indeed!” Beltino said.  “If I may ask for a bit of food to partake before I look at them, because I am famished from a long morning of research.”
“Absolutely, my friend!” Rob said, guiding Beltino to the kitchen for the remainder of sandwiches and food to choose from.  Everyone sat and chatted more for a while while Beltino took in sustenance before asking to see the cars.  Leo then led him into the garage, everyone else following behind them.  Beltino first looked at the Horace Lancier Road & Transport and smiled, hands on either side of his face in awe at it's amazing condition for its age.
“Wooooow.... y'know Leo... I remember talking to Carrolton Silvey personally about the engines for these cars a few years before they became a reality.  He and I were both adamant that transportation come off wheels and into levitation and propelled with jets, and he took my ideas into cars and made them a reality.  I'm sad to think he is passed on now, but I am incredibly happy to see some examples of his work live on here before me,” Beltino said passionately, a tear coming to his eyes as everyone watched in awe of a master of his craft reveling and reminiscing at a product of his creation for the first time in so long.  “Leo?”
“Yes sir?” Leo replied.
“Do you have a permanent marker and a can of clear coat spray?” Beltino asked gently.
“I do,” Rob was already in the process of finding those materials and handing them to Beltino.  He then pulled the hood open on the near-showroom-condition Lancier, wiped a spot off on the front cross member free of what little dirt and dust there was on it, then took the marker and popped the cap off... then proceeded to sign the upper front crossmember of Leo's collectible with his signature, everyone watching in awe at the event.  He then took the can of clearcoat spray and sprayed over his signature, locking it into the bodywork forever as an autographed piece of automotive history.  Beltino smiled and then walked before the Speedwell with its hood open.
“Now THIS car never came with this engine, I know for a fact,” Beltino said jokingly, giving Leo a wink.
“Hehe.  Very true, sir.  But as you know, with the financial turmoil that Horace/Speedwell got into in that time period, they cut corners where they could, and part of that was...” Leo began with a smile.
“Making the drivetrain parts compatible with everything,” Leo and Beltino said in unison.  The statement made everybody smile and a few laughed at the fact both of them knew so much for having just met each other.
“Yeah, this car was originally on wheels with the V6 Fortuna engine and transmission, but I had another Horace Road & Transport model before this with a crap body, and this Speedwell's body was near immaculate, but needed a new engine and transmission.... so with my help two bad cars made one good one,” Leo said happily.
“That is truly amazing work you have done here, lad,” Beltino said, prepping the upper crossmember of this car for his signature to spray with a clear coat covering as well.  “I understand this is the one you rebuilt and are having trouble with?”
“Y-yeah...” he retold the troubles and symptoms he told to Slippy earlier, then showed him the part he bought to install.
“Oh yes, in that time period, I designed this engine to have this valve to distort the incoming air to make it a vortex to make the propulsion exhaust more potent.  Was a fairly new technique used in these engines at the time, but is now common.  Without this, this engine will run like a slug,” Beltino said.  “What do you say we take this to the Great Fox and start tearing it apart and see if that is the issue?”
Everyone cheered in approval for a few seconds before Falco and Bill raised the garage door to both cars, Leo shaking Beltino's hand and giving him a tight hug that lasted several seconds.  “Thank you so much for your help, sir,” Leo said on the verge of tears, still finding it hard to believe his positive fortune in knowing and having so many connections to so many amazing people.
“Not a problem, my boy!  When Slippy called me and told me what you had, I had to come over and see it.  I don't think I could stand to see another ultra-rare example like this go undriven and unloved,” Beltino said with a wink and a pat on Leo's shoulder.  “You have the key in the ignition?”
“Yes, and I have a battery that should be charged on the bench right there,” Leo responded.
“Alrighty.  Does it start and go on its own?”  Beltino asked.
“Yeah, it'll start and run, but like shit.  You'll hear it and maybe you can tell me what the issue is,” Leo said.
“Fair enough.”
He then watched as Falco and Bill backed up the flatbed truck in front of his Speedwell while Beltino got the battery and put it in the engine bay and hooked it up.  He then walked into the driver's seat and sat down to start it up and listened to the sound of the engine on startup.  He tapped the accelerator to rev the turbines up a few times and listened to the metallic clatter and unmistakable sound of lean-burn ignition in a cold chamber, his eyes on some custom gauges that Leo installed on the dash.  Leo pointed to the air flow part he suspected and shrugged at Beltino, to which the experienced amphibian smiled and nodded, as if to say “Yep, there's yer problem.”
He then engaged the drive system on the G-diffuser and everyone watched as the Speedwell elevated off the jack stands in the garage and proceeded to move forward under it's own power onto the flatbed, where Beltino then shut it off and set its parking brake, while Falco and Bill worked on securing the car by it's corners safely onto the pickup flatbed.  Miyu smiled and hugged Leo from the side and rested her head on his shoulder, Leo smiling and resting his head against hers.
“Bunny's dream is coming true,” she said sweetly.
“Yeah... well... ANOTHER dream anyway,” he said smiling.
“Ooh?” Miyu asked softly.
“Yeah...  I feel like since I met you... I've been... LIVING the dream,” Leo said all teary-eyed.
“Awwww sweetieeee,” Miyu said, turning him to face her to give him a kiss on the lips softly for several seconds.  Their moment of bliss was interrupted quite adorably by Slippy and Fay standing off to their side in front of the red Lancier, hands joined before them in a gentle begging manner with a few soft hops of excitement.
“Leoooo can we go for a ride in this oooooone?” Fay said adorably, Slippy nodding in agreement.  “Canwecanwe? Pweeeeeease?”
Leo and Miyu could not help but giggle at their actions.  “Adorable!  Yeah, we can take the red one our for a spin,” Leo said.
“Yaaaaaay!” Slippy and Fay said as they climbed into the back seat, Fay sitting in the middle and Slippy on the right passenger side.
“How's about an old man join you as well, Leo?  It has been so long since I've seen or touched one of these,” Beltino asked.
“With how much you've helped me thus far, I couldn't possibly say no sir,” Leo said happily.
Beltino smiled and noded with a thumbs up, then got in the back on the left behind the driver's seat.
“Hey Leo... would it bother you if I put a monitor on your wrist and arm while you drove?  It's just to collect health data as you drive,” Fox said.
“Sure thing, Captain,” Leo said, rolling up his sleeve to allow Fox to put a band around his arm and wrist to monitor his vitals on his phone wirelessly.
“You all have a fun drive and I'll see you all back at the base with the other car, mkay?” Miyu said, giving Leo one more kiss on the lips.
“Mkay kitty,” Leo said with a smile, watching her walk over to his own car in the driveway, his eyes on her ass once more, the sight making his spade-shaped tail wag happily.
“Alright guy, you ready to show me what you can do?” Fox asked with a smile.
“S-sure thing, Captain,” Leo said with a tad bit of nervousness.
“Nothing to be worried about, and you certainly aren't being tested for anything.  This is just sheer curiosity I'm monitoring,” Fox said with a smile and a wink.
Leo and Fox then got into the Lancier while Miyu took off in his car with Fara and Katt while Falco and Bill rode off in the flatbed towards the base.  Leo then drove out to the interstate at gentle speed, putting his racing license in the box on the dash to access the appropriate lanes of the freeway like he did when he gave Miyu a ride.  Fox held his phone and watched Leo's vitals, secretly sending a link to Fay's phone so she and Beltino and Slippy could see the readings as Leo drove as well.
“So what all have you done to this particular car, Leo?” Beltino asked.
“Oh umm... increased turbine output by 30%, installed higher flow injectors and put a wider output nozzle on the jets in the rear for better flow.  That's about it.  Same stock electronics to control it all, so no main computer recalibration like the Speedwell has,” Leo replied.  “Is there anything in particular you need me to do, Fox?” Leo asked as he got into the normal fast lane, physically the middle lane at a freeway speed of 80 mph.
“Nah, just drive your fastest and best for as long as you feel comfortable, Leo,” Fox replied.
“Okay,” Leo replied as he looked in his mirror, then over his shoulder to check his blind spot, signaled for lane change, then merged into the slower of the two racing lanes as he gently went down on the accelerator to the floor, the Lancier's jets whirring louder and higher pitched behind them as they rapidly accelerated well into the triple digits, everyone feeling the G-forces pushing them back into the seats, illiciting a smile and a pleased gasp from everyone on board.
Fox smiled as he watched the dotted lines on the road disappearing at an increasingly rapid rate, his eyes darting down to his phone to read Leo's vitals in real time... and he was quite pleased to see Leo was incredibly calm and sedate in this state of high-speed driving that normal people would tend to be incredibly nervous or would freak out and hit the brake to slow down too quickly.  He saw Leo's heart beating no faster than 80 beats per minute and his blood pressure maintaining a gentle and safe 110-75, his blood oxygen levels in the high 90s.  Everything very much normal and not even close to becoming a health issue or hazard.
They continued to drive for several miles at over 200 mph in the left most lane, passing nearly every one they came up behind.  A few miles later, a sports convertible unexpectedly darted into the fast lane at a slower speed than Leo was traveling, forcing him to gently press the brake to decelerate to prevent rear-ending the car.  His vitals went up slightly as Leo scoffed and shook his head a little at the  inexperienced driver in front of him passing another car.  Leo then flashed his high beams a couple times and the car then moved over to let Leo by, making him go down gently on the accelerator to bring their speed back up again, his 30+-year-old slightly-modified collectible four-door family sedan passing the expensive sports convertible slowly as they once again got back up above 200 mph to cruise at high speed.  “And that is what rear-view mirrors are for,” Leo muttered, barely audible to anyone else.
Fox chuckled silently as he heard it, his eyes still darting back and forth between the road and his phone, seeing Leo's vitals slowly coming back down to the sedate state he was in before, smiling at how concentrated, calm and collected Leo was as he drove.  Miyu was right about Leo, he now knew for sure.  Now if he ever decided to take things further... he wanted to make that a reality for him now as much as he could.
Leo continued their drive on the interstate until he pulled off into a park and ride lot to stop for a little bit.  He then engaged the park brake to let the car cool down some before heading back, the vehicle's A/C working perfectly all the while.  “Well, Fox?” he said.
“Weeeeell...” he started off, taking the monitors off Leo's wrist and arm and shutting off the phone app, then looked right at him with a smile.  “How would you like to do that in the air and space in an Arwing someday?”
Fay and Slippy smiled wide with a silent gasp, Beltino smiling as well as they all waited for Leo to respond.  “Umm... I mean...” he started.  “I guess I could give it a try in the future.  I'll be honest though, I'm not very happy or comfortable in the air, as it is still quite new to me,” Leo said
“I was like that before I joined the Academy with Bill, Fox and Falco,” Slippy said softly.  “After a while, I got quite used to it, and now, I absolutely love it.”
“Me too!  You can do it Leo!”  Fay said with a cheery smile.
“That's right.  And we have the simulator to start out with on the Great Fox, so you can use that any time,” Fox said.  “Seriously Leo, if you are this cool and collected behind the wheel of THIS on the road, you would be stunning in the air and space.  Offer is always open to you, so no worry about hurrying your decision.”
“Th-thanks, Captain,” Leo said with a smile.
“No worries, Leo,” Fox said, shaking his hand and leaning over to give him a supportive hug.  “We should head back to the Great Fox and get to work on your other car.”
“Yeah, we should... Fay? Slippy?  Either of you want to drive this back?” Leo offered with a smile.
The two were like kids in a candy store hopping up and down with excitement, making Beltino, Leo and Fox all laugh out loud happily at their reaction.

--The Great Fox, one hour later--

Fay drove Leo's Lancier into the base and into the vehicle bay of the Great Fox where they saw the others all sitting around Leo's Speedwell with the hood up.  When they all got out Peppy waved them over as he sat on a rolling chair with a built-in toolbox in it, a beer in the other hand.  “Bout time you kids showed up,” he jeered.
Beltino chuckled and playfully started to softly punch at Peppy's arm from the side.  “Hah!  Well, if I'm a kid, that must mean yer the old fart, yeah?”
“Takes one to know one!”  Peppy said, making them both laugh out loud and hug tight.  “Wonderful to see you again, Beltino.”
“Likewise, Peppy!” Beltino said, walking over to the front end of Leo's Speedwell, looking into the underhood area and then over down by the jets in the rear quarter panels.  “Well, I think we should get started on this and see if we can get it running right.  I'm itchin' to know how this thing performs with Leo's mods.”
“Labor guide says 4.2 hours to do a main gasket replacement on this, which is essentially where the valve is at, so a couple hours to know for sure,” Leo replied.
“Sounds right to me,” Beltino replied.
The air was then gently filled with the distant sound of a highly tuned diesel engine revving up high.  Everyone looked out to the source of the sound and saw a big ancient pickup truck that must've been at least 50 or 60 years old, it's suspension and wheels having been converted to a lifted height with tank treads.  They watched as it accelerated towards them on the Great Fox, it's twin exhausts coming out from behind the cab pointing straight up emitting a gentle black smoke.
“Who in the world is that?” Leo asked.
“I have no idea,” Fox said.
The truck continued to move its way towards the loading ramp of the Great Fox, then turned to face its passenger side door towards everyone in the vehicle bay as it stopped and turned off.  The driver's door opened up and someone of a large stature hopped down from the cab, walked to the front and turned...
It was General Pepper! “My goodness, it feels so great to bring my off-roader out of the garage!” he said, the entire crew aboard smiling in awkward surprise as to who was driving the truck, TOTALLY not expecting that.  More surprising, he wasn't in uniform!  He wore a set of tan cargo shorts, sandals on his feet and his shirt was a red and gold tropical shirt which displayed a mythical dragon which started on one side of his shirt and wrapped around to the other side, a pair of gold-rimmed aviator sunglasses on his muzzle.  He was also carrying a few papers in one of his hands.
“Well, hey there, General,” Fox said with a smile, then pointed to the dragon on his shirt.  “Is that shirt supposed to repel invaders?”
Pepper guffawed happily at Fox's words.  “Hahahaaa... well, you're not exactly in uniform either, Junior,” he said happily giving Fox a gentle pat on the shoulder.
“Fair point,” Fox replied, chuckling with a smile.  “What's with the truck?  I never knew you had this rig.”
“It's part of why I wanted to come and see you all!  Star Fox,” he started, handing the papers to a few people.  “I am proud to announce that the Cornerian Racing Council for the first time in 5 years since the war started will be bringing back the Cornerian Grand Prix!”
Everyone gasped and smiled at the exciting news, everyone looking at the papers in earnest. “OOOHHH HECK YEAH!!!” Slippy belted out, hopping up and down excitedly like a kid.
“Hella nice!”  Falco and Bill exclaimed in excitement.
Pepper continued.  “It will be a 5-day event with multiple classes and styles of competition.  They are currently setting out detours on some of the highways outside of the city to set up for one of the race tracks, as well as dusting off the mile-long drag race strip nearby, the off-road circuit and even a lane from the port for speedboats!  There will be three member tag-team competition races on the big circuit, a 24-hour endurance race, mile-length bracket racing, off-road competition at the dirt track for said vehicles... they're even doing mile-long bracket racing for powerboats and water craft.  The events start next month, so that should give you all some time to modify your vehicles to be adapted to race.  Every vehicle is open to apply and there are G-Diffuser classes for vehicles that have them.”
Leo's smile and eyes opened wide at that bit of news.  He had been in bracket racing at a quarter mile track twenty years prior with a previous car of his, but he had yet to put his Speedwell in any events due to its complications.  “Honey, isn't the bracket racing what you were most interested in?” Miyu asked him.
“Y-yeah... I did bracket racing many years ago with a slower car with some buddies of mine, but I've never done that with my Speedwell or Horace.  In fact, the Speedwell's entire purpose to me was to compete in bracket racing regularly,” Leo said.
“You should definitely sign up, my boy!” Pepper said happily as he gave Leo a pat on the shoulder.
“Oh he will,” Beltino said, walking up to Pepper with a smile.  “We just have to check one or two things on his car here and he'll be ready.”
“You're the master as always, Beltino!” Pepper said happily, giving him a high-five and a bro-hug.  He then eyed Leo's Speedwell with interest.  “Ooohhh...?  A Speedwell.... gorgeous cars.  And a Series III engine?  Amazing!”
“There's another one there, General,” Fay said as she hugged Leo from his left side, pointing to the red Horace of Leo's that he let her drive into the Great Fox back on the highway. “And he's got another entire Series III powerplant in his backyard as a spare!”
“That is some serious brand loyalty there, Leo,” Pepper said proudly with a smile.
“They've always been a favorite of mine, for sure,” Leo responded with a smile.
Slippy continued to hop and dance around in joy as he read the flyer for the Grand Prix, everyone smiling as they took notice.  “Hehehe... Slip is in the zooooone!” Bill commented.
“I SO am!  I got so many ideas for the Arwings, Landmaster and even the Blue Marine!”
he said excitedly.
“Most of it will be modding and tuning for ground travel as well as disarmament, I suppose,” Falco said.
“Correct. All military vehicles must be totally disarmed, according to the rules,” Pepper said.  “But first, I insist we get Leo's Speedwell here running right.”
“Totally agree,” Beltino said happily, everyone that was mechanically inclined going to specific areas of the car underhood with certain tools.  “ROB, can we have the repair manual for this car and engine for removing the main gasket, please?”
“Certainly, Mr Beltino,” ROB replied, standing by with a display to give a visual of all the procedures and instructions and what was needed.  The labor guide stated 4.2 hours total to replace the part with one mechanic working on it in a shop, putting removal at 2.1 hours, but with several people working together on the car, they were able to get to the area in question after only 30 minutes.
“Okay.... moment of truth...” Beltino announced as the heads and induction ports were removed from the main block of the engine, the amphibian shining a light into an orifice in the block for a few seconds...  “...well, good news... you were right Leo.  No valve in the block, which I am certain is causing your problem.  Do you have the part?”
“Oh, yes sir,” he said, going to the trunk of the car and retrieving the part and giving it to Beltino.
“That's the one, yes,” he said, moving it into position and tapping it into the block gently with a brass hammer.  “....okay.  That should do it.  Now to put it back together, put fluids in it again and start it up.”
Another thirty minutes went by before Leo was able to sit in the driver's seat again for startup, this time with Beltino sitting in the passenger seat with a scantool hooked up to the factory diagnostic port to read the engine parameters real-time.  He then turned the key to start the engine, and it started with a second of staticky sounds that Leo was saying it had, but it instantly cleared up and gave a prominent whistle that showed the engine operating properly, Beltino smiling wide at the readouts on his scantool and giving a thumbs up and a nod, indicating the engine was working properly.  Everyone then applauded and cheered for a few seconds at the result of their labor.
“Well, should we take this out on the runway and see how it goes, Leo?” Beltino said as he sat in the passenger seat, putting on his seat belt.
Leo smiled and nodded, putting on his seat belt as well.  “I like the sound of that,” Leo replied.
Beltino then went into his pocket and grabbed a military radio and tuned it into Corneria Air Force Base's departure channel in the ATC tower and began to speak into it, the crew on the Great Fox listening in on the military band radio.

--Corneria ATC, this is Star Fox Speedwell One requesting clearance on runway 2-6-0 followed by immediate return to Great Fox onto taxiway Charlie, over?
--Roger that Speedwell One, you are cleared for usage of runway 2-6-0 followed by taxi onto Charlie for return to Great Fox.  Is that you, Beltino?
--That is a-firm.  Just taking a vehicle out to test in preparation for the Grand Prix, over.
--Understood, best of luck in your testing, Mr Toad.  Tower out.

Leo drove his car onto the runway of the airbase and stopped it at the foot, allowing Beltino to load some programs to monitor the car's electronics and performance while he did a high speed run. “Alrighty, Leo. I'm ready whenever you wanna take off at your leisure,” Beltino said.
“Yes sir,” Leo said, focusing his eyes and mind forward as he put his left foot firmly on the brake pedal and his right on the accelerator and began to gently press down on his right, the whirring and whistling from the engines slowly and gently increasing for a few seconds before Leo suddenly let go of the brake and gently went all the way down on his right foot. The take off was a bit sluggish as the Series III engine was known for, but it was still enough to push Leo and Beltino back into their seats with a few Gs of force. Once the turbine blades in the jets started getting into the really high RPMs, the car began to accelerate even more, rapidly passing hundreds of miles per hour in such a short time, Beltino focused on the readouts on his scantool as they drove.
From a distance, everyone on board the Great Fox and indeed those in the Air Traffic Control tower watched the car rocket down the mile and a half long runway had their jaws drop at the incredible acceleration, and when the car went past the mile marker, there was a sudden loud booming sound that filled the air, surprising everyone around.

--Uuuhhhh Speedwell One, this is Tower, is everything okay and what sort of speed did you achieve at the end there, over?
--Tower, my instruments recorded a 791.86 mph at 6.788 seconds, over.
--Oh my goodness, that is astounding!  We thought we heard a sonic boom at the end there.  Please give us the name of the driver we need to pour all our money out on during the Grand Prix, over!
--You and be both, Tower!  That would be Captain Leo Cuttridge, over.
--Roger that, Speedwell One.  We will happily remember your name next month and will watch in anticipation, Captain Cuttridge.  Proceed to taxiway Charlie for return to Great Fox.  Tower out.
--Speedwell One, out.

Everyone on the Great Fox was clapping and shouting out in joy at the results of Leo's car's performance, the first time it was run as he intended it to when he started to tinker and modify it all those years ago.  His project dream car finally a reality with the help of some really great people.  Leo smiled as he drove down the taxiway, his heart a flutter in bliss and excitement to feel this was all finally happening for him, totally blown away by the numbers he heard Beltino shout out on the radio of that run.
Once he drove back into the vehicle bay, everyone applauded his run and gave thumbs up as he parked and got out of the car, everyone giving him high-fives, hugs and salutes.  Even Bill came up and picked up Leo in a tight hug and hopped up and down comically in excitement.  “Duuuuuude that is one helluva fast car you built!”
“Yeah, it is!” Beltino said as he got out and looked over his scantool with all the data he captured.  “Not a single driveability issue either.  I think this car is ready for the bracket races!” he proudly announced.
“Now we just need to modify some Arwings, a Landmaster and I wanna try something with the Blue Marine for the watercraft race!” Slippy said in excitement.
“This is a wonderful start, Star Fox!” General Pepper said enthusiastically.  “Let us all do our best and be safe and have fun at this event!”
“OO-RAH!” everyone replied in excitement.
Leo couldn't help but smile, still finding it hard to believe all that was going on.  He was then met by Miyu who hugged him softly and closely.  “Congrats on that run, speedy bun,” she said smiling wide.
“Thank you, love...” he said, holding onto Miyu softly, his face a bit dreamy and blushing gently.
“You okay?” she asked gently, softly rubbing his nose with hers.
“Yeah... I'm just... still finding it amazing all this is happening to me... feel like I need to be pinched to make sure I'm not dreaming,” he replied with wet eyes and a smile.
“Aaawww...  I'll do something better...” Miyu said.  She then leaned in to kiss him passionately, deeply and very slowly, her tongue rubbing very slowly along his for many moments as her hands lowered to give his butt a deep squeeze for many seconds, the sensations making his heart beat happily and his spade-shaped tail wag happily.
“Hey now, you ain't in Victory Lane yet, kiddo,” Peppy said with a chuckle, watching Leo and Miyu kiss deeply.
They couldn't help but giggle and hug each other tight.  “Hehehe... very true... gotta check out the track and circuit when it is available.  I wanna do the bracket races as well as the tag-team races and  be the best against all.  I started this journey over a decade ago, and now it is finally happening.”
Miyu couldn't help but smile as she held close to her bunny, her eyes filling with tears of joy, feeling once again, he was stronger than her in this moment.

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Star Fox: Miyu's Love - Ch 22: The Cornerian Grand Prix: Preparation and Planning

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