Chase The Horizon: Prologue - Night Shift

With the sun slowly diving toward the horizon the city of Bayport begins to slow down from it's fevered pace into a relaxed rhythm. The dockworkers trade their heavy machinery and grease covered tools for mugs of beer, pool cues and well-earned merriment. So too do the traders, engineers, and executives of the city's profitable market and corporate districts. Bayport University finds itself transformed from a well respected education establishment into a city within a city teeming with youth unwinding after their studies and enjoying the nightlife on campus.

As the day winds down further the orange glow of sunset gives way to the black of night. With the stars twinkling overhead restaurants, clubs, theaters and the rest of the night establishments begin to empty and close as people head home. Soon the streets have emptied of life and the city readies itself to repeat it all again tomorrow. But for now, Bayport rests. Or, most of it does.

Near the edge of the city, on Route 5, there is a faint screech of tires and the rumble of an engine revving from top to bottom and back. A streak of dark blue can be seen attacking the asphalt before it is gone again.

 

The scream of a tuned V6 can be heard coming through an underpass and up a hill.

The driver quickly hits the brakes and quickly downshifts as he prepares to blast through a hairpin turn.

As the small hatchback settles through the apex the throttle drops and all four wheels rocket the car forward into a right hand turn, and another toward a second underpass.

In the driver seat, Tyler Scott smiles widely as he rows through the gears.

"Wow! What an incredible machine this little hatch has become! The pace is nothing like before and the stability is unbelievable."

"Yeah, and the headliner is still nice and hard."

In the passenger seat, Calvin, Tyler's best friend since either of them could remember, sat rubbing the side of his head. His big framed body looked almost comical in the small car. He had bounced off the headliner, side window and anything else his head could touch as Tyler put the car through its paces.

"No one to blame but yourself for that, bud. I told you to put on the harness instead of the regular seatbelt."

"Yeah, but your car was sissy compared to what it is now. Where did you say to took it?"

"RKM Motorsport. Kyle and Roj are supposed to be some of the best in the business. Driving this thing there is no question. Just a couple weeks and they turned my car into a monster! If you want I'll see if they can take in that sad Aston you're driving."

Calvin shot a look over at Tyler.

"Ha! Nooooo thank you. I prefer not to have to ice myself down after I get out of the car thank you."

Tyler smiled.

"Suit yourself. I think I'm about done. Let's head for home."

After twenty minutes of running around the city Tyler decided he loved his little VW more than he had before. The R32 was a potent car to begin with but having it tuned brought its performance into the realm of much more expensive cars; less weight, more power and infinitely more fun. He was definitely happy with how his beloved car had turned out.

As he turned to get up on the expressway a pair of lights flashed behind him. He glanced in the rear view mirror and saw another car practically up on his bumper. Tyler watched as it weaved behind him and passed on his right side. He quickly glanced over and recognized it as a late nineties Honda Civic.

There were a couple guys inside laughing and pointing out the window. It's driver was gunning the throttle, trying to goad him into a street race. Calvin sighed.

"Man, I should have worn the harness."

The Civic took off down the straight section of Route 5. Tyler shrugged his shoulders.

"I owe you a bag of ice."

Tyler dropped a gear and tore off after the little Honda with Calvin grabbing for the handhold above his shoulder. The tuned all wheel drive Volkswagen quickly caught up to the front wheel drive Civic. It's driver definitely noticed the headlights closing in on his bumper as the Civic immediately tried to increase its speed and pull away. Tyler kept up easily. The Civic's brake lights lit as the downhill right into the tunnel came up; Tyler was surprised and slammed on his brakes to avoid a collision.

'Why is he slowing here? We aren't going that fast.'

Tyler decided to back off a few feet to give himself some room. The Civic's body rolled mightily as it entered the tunnel, first to the left and then right as it proceeded down the sweeping left hand curve.

'Oh, that's why.'

Both Tyler and Calvin could immediately tell the car's suspension wasn't tuned well if at all. They felt as if they were crawling following behind the Honda. They came out of the tunnel and toward the right hander. Out of the corner of his eye, Calvin saw Tyler's eyes narrow and he tightened his grip on the handhold, setting his feet on the floor to steady himself. As the Civic came to the turn the brakes flashed. Tyler expected it this time and made his move. He took the outside line through the turn slowing only slightly. The Civic flashed past his right side and into his mirrors. As the left hander came up he tapped the brakes and stormed through as the Civic struggled to keep up. When the Honda cleared the next right hand curve Tyler's R32 was long gone into the distance.

Tyler glanced into the mirror again and saw the Civic's headlights falling further and further back. He relaxed and slowed the car. Calvin also relaxed and released his death grip on the handhold. Tyler looked at his friend who grinned at him. Both enjoyed a laugh as the car steered for the exit home.