Seymour's Cab, near Brim*Star.

Seymour drove his cab out of Brim*Star.  Hardware, Windhammer, and Melodia (in that order from the looker's left to right when looking at the back seat from the front) were in the back seat.  Zeek was in the front passenger seat.  Mo-Lec-U-Lar and Volt-Ure had sneaked into the hatchback.  Seymour shifted the cab from the OVERDRIVE automatic gear range to the HYPERDRIVE automatic gear range.  "Brim*Star to third-Earth?" said Seymour.  "Oh, we've never had a fare like this before!"

            "Oh, for you, it'll be a real steal!" said Melodia.  Inwardly, she smiled viciously.  She had spoken the truth, but not in the sense Seymour was hoping.

            Zeek dangled a stinky old fish in front of the three evil passengers.  "You wanna buy a fish?" he asked.  Like Seymour, he was little taller than MegaMan.  He was a green, bipedal bird with an orange beak and orange feet.  He could be a real nuisance.  His Jamaican accent only served to make him even more annoying.

            Melodia pinched her nose.  "Peyyyewww!!" she exclaimed.  "Get that nasty thing away from us!!"

            Seymour said, "Hey!  Quit bothering the customers, Zeek!  No one in his or her right mind would want to eat that stinky thing!  Ya know what I mean?"

            "Seymour," said Hardware, "please have your pal drop the seafood, and please pull over on that asteroid."

            "Whatever you say," said Seymour.  He turned the wheel to the right and pulled over on one of the many asteroids.  When he landed on the asteroid, he shifted to PARK, turned around, and asked, "Okay, now what?"

            Windhammer said, "Now, we rip you off!"  Windhammer shoved Seymour out, and Hardware stepped out, opened the right door, yanked out Zeek, and tossed him into Seymour.  Hardware then went around to the hatchback.

            Once at the hatchback, Hardware said, "Unlock the hatch!"  A click was heard from the inside.  Hardware opened the hatchback, and Mo-Lec-U-Lar and Volt-Ure emerged.

            "Take these, Seymour and Zeek," said Mo-Lec-U-Lar, tossing raincoats at Seymour and Zeek.  "These'll do 'til the Silver Hawks rescue you."  Hardware got back in the back seat and shut the door.  Mo-Lec-U-Lar got into the driver's seat.  Volt-Ure flew into the passenger's seat.  Mo-Lec-U-Lar transformed himself into Seymour and Volt-Ure into Zeek, and the two shut their doors.

            Zeek came to the window and shouted, "You'll never get away with this, Mo-Lec-U-Lar!  You'll get yours when the Silver Hawks catch you!"

            "How unfortunate, Zeek," said Mo-Lec-U-Lar.  "The Silver Hawks can never step a foot out of their home in this rain!"  Mo-Lec-U-Lar pushed in the foot-brake and re-started the engine.  He shifted to HYPERDRIVE and lifted the cab up from the asteroid.  "So, want to head off those police officers?" asked Mo-Lec-U-Lar.

            "Act inconspicuous until we reach them, Mo-Lec-U-Lar," said Melodia.  "Then Hardware, Windhammer, and I will shoot to kill!"

            "Sounds good to me!" said Hardware.  "So, move it!"  Mo-Lec-U-Lar sped up to 410 km/h.

            * * *

            Around Brim*Star, the members of the VideoLand Police Squad, completely unaware of the trap laid for them, had arrived and were exploring in their blue-and-white cars with units on top that flashed red lights when activated..  The leader of the investigation, Lieutenant Arthur Tragg of Homicide, said, "Nothing here.  See anything, Steve?"

            Lieutenant Steve Drumm, looking out his window, which was behind Tragg's, said, "Not a thing, Tragg."

            "See anything, Andy?" asked Tragg.

            Lt. Andy Anderson looked out the window of the front passenger's seat and said, "Nothing, Tragg."

            "See anything, George?"

            "Not a thing," said Sgt. George Brice, looking out the window behind the front passenger's seat.

            Tragg picked up a radio and said, "This is Lt. Tragg calling Chief Aran.  Please come in."

            Chief Samus Aran of the Vice Squad of VideoLand, replied, "This is Aran, Tragg.  What the heck do you want?"

            "This is no time to be getting too damned uncooperative, Aran," said Tragg.  "Do you see anything of trouble or interest?"

            "Not a darn thing," said Aran.  "Try checking yourself for anything of trouble, because 'trouble' is your cursèd middle name!"

            "Like hell!" exploded Tragg.  He then cut the communication.  "Oh, how I hate working with that. . . that. . . that. . . that damn woman!!!"

            "You'd be demoted to sergeant if she ever heard that, Tragg," said Brice.  Drumm was giggling quietly.

            "I know," said Tragg, "but it's a living hell working with her.  I hate the ground she walks on!  I hate. . ."  Just then a musical laser blasted above the car.  "What in the living hell was that?!?"

            "It came from that cab!" exclaimed Anderson, amazed.  "I can't believe it!"

            The cab was approaching.  Melodia was on the platform just outside the door.  "Let's have some more rock and roll!" she said.  She performed an encore and just missed the car.

            "I'll blast them into oblivion!" said Hardware.

            * * *

            At this very time, Kevin, Mason, and Steelheart were approaching the asteroid onto which the Mob had 'deposited' Seymour and Zeek.

            "Hey!" said Steelheart.  "Look down there.  Seymour and Zeek!"

            "Uh, oh!" said Kevin.  "I think I know just what the Mob is up to.  Hang on.  This thing's going to dive so fast that I'll have to slam on the clutch and brake to stop."  Kevin downshifted to 8 and slowed to 161 030 kilometres per hour.  He pushed the steering wheel toward the dashboard, and the car dropped very quickly.  When he was a yard away from the asteroid, he yanked the wheel up, slammed on the brake and clutch, and screeched the car to a stop on the asteroid right beside Seymour and Zeek.

            "NICE MOVE!!!" exclaimed Steelheart, trying to control the strength of the slap she delivered to his back.  "I love the way you can manoeuvre quickly!  Somehow, though, my stomach does not want to say the same."  She pressed a 'down' button on her door to open the window.  She yelled into the rain, "NEED A RIDE, SEYMOUR AND ZEEK?!?"

            Seymour came up to the car and said, "Commander Steelheart!  Are we glad to see you!"

            "Hop in!" said Steelheart.  Mason opened the left door and slid over to the right.  Seymour and Zeek entered.  When they both had just entered, Seymour closed the door.

            "Thanks for dropping by, Steelheart," said Seymour.

            "Who did it?" asked Steelheart.  "To be more objective, what happened?"

            Seymour said, "Mo-Lec-U-Lar, Volt-Ure, Hardware, Melodia, and Windhammer ripped off my cab."

            "The situation gets worse and worse," said Kevin.

            "It seems exactly like you said, Kevin," said Steelheart.  "First, Ludwig von(Bowser)Koopa opens a warp between Hawkhaven and the Palace of Power; then, the Mob rips off some innocent party's car, - the cab of Seymour and Zeek - Mo-Lec-U-Lar and Volt-Ure transform into the innocent party; and, finally, the Mob attacks the police.  It all fits."

            Kevin shifted into 2, then quickly released the clutch.  When the clutch was halfway released, he completely released the brake.  He kept releasing the clutch until the engine started moving the car, and then, with less speed, he completely released the clutch while quickly pressing in the accelerator.  He moved the car up to 40 kilometres per hour, shifted into 3, accelerated to 95, shifted into 5, and made the car space-borne.  "To where do you want to go, Steelheart?" asked Kevin.

            "Where'd they go?" asked Mason.

            "They went back toward Brim*Star," said Seymour.

            "Get us over to Brim*Star as quickly as possible, Kevin," said Steelheart.  "You're going the right way.  I've a feeling that we haven't a second to lose.  I'll perform the introductions as we go."

            * * *

            Back at Brim*Star, the attack had gotten much worse.  "Suck laser, good-guy wimps!" said Hardware, blasting a laser pistol.  He hit Tragg's car at Drumm's door.

            "Yaah!" said Drumm.  "Tragg, get us out of this hell!"

            "I'm trying already!" Tragg shouted.  Melodia barely missed them with her next laser shot.

            "That was a damn close one," said Anderson.  "Stand on the accelerator, Tragg!"

            "I have to go a little more slowly than the others because this isn't an automatic," said Tragg.

            "That never stopped Kevin when he was using his learner's permit!!" yelled Anderson.  "Shift to 11 and stand on the accelerator!!"

            Tragg pushed in the clutch, shifted to 11, released the clutch quickly but not quickly enough to pop it out, and, just when it reached the friction point, he slammed down on the accelerator and finished releasing the clutch.  The car blazed up to 1 610 305 958 kilometres per hour.

            Tally-Hawk came along and saw Melodia and Hardware blasting at the police.  Unfortunately for himself, he made his ominous squawk.  "It's the Silver Hawks' tin-buzzard-satellite!" said Hardware.

            "I'll take care of him," said Windhammer.  "I'll blow him right into Brim*Star with a space blizzard!"  He clanged his huge tuning fork on the back of his seat.  A ray was fired out of Hardware's door and into the motionless cloud.  A space blizzard formed over the immediate area.  Tally-Hawk was frozen and blasted into Brim*Star Fortress.

            Just as they entered the area, Mason said, "What happened?  Now a blizzard is occurring."

            "It's Windhammer's idea, Mason," said Zeek.  "He's trying to freeze your pals.  Zeeek!"

            "This is where I get out," said Steelheart.

            "In this weather?" said Kevin.  "You must be crazy!"

            Steelheart said, "I know how to deal with Windhammer, Hardware, Melodia, Mo-Lec-U-Lar, and Volt-Ure, Kevin.  I'll show them not to assault police officers."  She opened the door, stepped out on a platform beyond it, and closed the door.  She flew off the platform, activated her visor, and clipped out her wings.

            In the cab, Windhammer looked out the back window and saw her.  "Uh, oh, Melodia!  Guess who's here to foil your plan!"

            "Who the hell would have the stupidity to be out in this mess?" asked Melodia.

            "Steelheart!" Windhammer answered nervously.

            "WHAT?!?" exclaimed Melodia.  She turned around and saw Steelheart.  "You're dead meat, Silver Hawk!"  She blasted her Sound Smasher at Steelheart.  Steelheart easily evaded the evil music.

            "No offence, Melodia," said Steelheart, "but that isn't my favourite tune."  Steelheart blasted a couple of shoulder-lasers at Melodia.  Melodia barely evaded them and stayed balanced on the platform outside the cab.

            "Whoa!  Yaah!  Aaah!  Whew!  BLAST YOU, SILVER HAWK!!!" screamed Melodia.  Steelheart landed on the landing and pushed Melodia back into her seat and slammed shut the door.  She then went to the other landing, kicked Hardware into the seat, and slammed shut that door.  She then forced open the driver's door.  She whacked Mo-Lec-U-Lar's hands together so that Mo-Lec-U-Lar and Volt-Ure would transform back to normal.  She snapped handcuffs on all four of the perpetrators and snapped a ring on Volt-Ure so he could not fly or use his eyes to shoot lasers.

            She recited, "You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.  You have the right to an attorney.  You are not obligated to answer questions unless your attorney is present.  If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you by the court."

            * * *

            Steelheart's Office, Hawkhaven.

            Back at Hawkhaven, the VideoLand Police Squad and the Silver Hawks were conferring.  "And that's what they did, Lt. Tragg?" asked Steelheart.

            "True," said Tragg.  "If it weren't for you, Commander Steelheart, we would not be talking to you right here and now."

            "Do not forget," Steelheart said, "that Kevin is the one who put the pieces together."

            "Thanks," said Kevin.  "I just did what any other Game Master would - or should - have done.  If I know Ludwig, he's watching right now and is vowing to get revenge.  I'll be ready for him."  A radio beeped like a phone.

            Steelheart answered the radio by tapping a button, picking up a phone-like receiver, and saying, "Hello, this is Hawkhaven.  Steelheart speaking. . . . Yes, he is here.  Hold on a minute, please."  She handed the receiver to Mason and said, "It's for you."

            "Thank you."  Mason took the receiver and said, "This is Mason. . . . Hi, Paul�!  What's up? . . . Oh!  Okay, Paul.  He and I will be right there. . . . Okay.  'Bye."  He handed the receiver to Steelheart, who hung it up.  Mason said, "Paul needs you and me to come to his office, Kevin."  [� - One may be wondering just how the heck Paul Drake, Sr., called Mason!  Perry's call to the VideoLand Police Squad was made known very shortly afterwards to Princess Lana, who let Paul Drake and a few others know about it.  Then, Paul used the current position of Mason's car-phone to hone in on him, and he called the central communicator of the place where the car was.]

            "What about?" asked Kevin.

            Mason smiled.  "You'll find out," said he.  "Let's go.  We'll see you in a little bit, Commander."

            "See you later, Mason," said Steelheart.  Kevin and Mason went to Mason's car.

            "Sorry, Kevin, but I have to drive now," said Mason.  "Don't worry.  You'll get your chance."  Mason got into the driver's seat and Kevin into the passenger's seat.  Mason put in the clutch, shifted the manual transmission into AUTOMATIC, shifted the automatic transmission into PARK, switched the switch on the steering wheel to AUTOMATIC, put the key into the keyhole, turned it to START, held it there until the engine started, and turned the key back to ON.  He put on his seatbelt and Kevin put on his.  Mason readjusted his seat, readjusted the mirrors, locked the doors, shifted into REVERSE, backed out of the space so that the car's front would face the exit, shifted into OVERDRIVE, drove out of Hawkhaven, turned around, entered the warp zone to the Palace of Power, pointed the end of the car down, landed on the road, went to the garage, set the parking brake, shifted to NEUTRAL, got out, went over to the identification window with his ID card, had the guard open the door, got back in his car, put his foot on the foot-brake, released the parking brake, shifted to LOW-1, drove into the garage, and parked in his designated spot.  He set the parking brake, got out his complete record of Kevin's success, let Kevin (who closed his door) out, and locked all the doors with his door-lock device.  Kevin and Mason entered the elevator and went up to the level on which Drake has his office.  Drake mostly did detective work, but he, like Mason, did some work for the VideoLand Royal Department of Vehicles (the VLRDV) also.  Kevin and Mason entered Drake's office through the main door.  Mason said, "Kevin and Mason are here to see Drake."

            The receptionist said, "Okay, I'll tell him."  She plugged in a wire.  "Mr. Mason and Kevin are here to see you, Mr. Drake. . . . Okay, I'll send them in."  She unplugged the wire.  "Mr. Drake will see you now."

            "Thanks," said Mason.  Mason opened the door, let Kevin in first, then entered the door and closed it behind him.

            "Hello, Perry," said Drake, smiling, a stopwatch in his hand.  "That took a good two and a half minutes."  He dropped the stopwatch into a drawer and shut the drawer.  "What the hell did you do, break the sound barrier?"

            "You might say that," said Mason.  "You said you wanted Kevin's autograph?"

            "Right," said Drake.  He showed something to Kevin.  "Look at this, Kevin.  Want it?"

            Kevin looked at it and said, "You bet, Mr. Drake!!"  It was a driver's licence.

            "Sure. . . as soon as I examine Mason's records of your driving," said Drake.  Mason handed a folder to Drake.  Drake opened it and examined the contents.  "Uh, huh,. . . uh, huh,. . . everything is well in order.  You passed all of the tests with flying colours.  Now, just sign your driver's licence at the specified point, and I'll laminate that thing for you."  Kevin signed 'Kevin Keene' on the licence.  He handed it back to Drake.  "Thanks, Kevin.  I'll get this fixed for you."  Drake left.

            "Tell me, Mr. Mason, how many points did I lose?" asked Kevin.

            "Not one little fraction of a point," said Mason.  "Your interaction with traffic was excellent, as was everything else you did.  You did the best on the clutch of anyone else I've seen, including myself.  It's especially surprising how easily you took to driving on the left side of the road rather than the right. . . an adaptation which, I see, is of little use in Limbo, since it appears they drive on the same side as Americans.  Am I correct in saying that you are now almost nineteen?"

            "Let's see,. . ." said Kevin, ". . .yes, you're right.  I was born on 9 January 1974.  Gee, I sure waited long enough to get my licence!"  Drake came back in with the licence coated in plastic.

            "Keep this in that little envelope attached to your key ring until later, Kevin," said Drake.  "It's still a bit warm."  Kevin got out his key ring.  The key ring had attached to it a plastic envelope just the size of the licence.  He inserted the licence into the envelope and snapped the envelope shut.  The only thing the key ring had on it was a key to his room, the back door to the Palace of Power, a key to Mason's inner office, and a key to the service elevator.  He put the key ring back in his pocket.

            "Thank you both very much," said Kevin.

            "The only thing needed now," said Mason, "is to get you an automobile."  Kevin's eyes widened.