Making up for lack of car chases.

. . .

With a terrible roar from the engine, the shining red Phantom shifts and grinds its way up the Autobahn, leaving a dark stain of skid marks in its wake. The intimidating combination of speed and sound elicits only a small smirk and matching shift from the pursuer, our June Action, whose trailing Gillet Vertigo catches and then exceeds the racing speed of its quarry.

Pulling in tight along side her bulkier adversary, June slows and evens her speed, centering her eyes on the driver of the Phantom: August Abenteuer, a handsome if reckless young man. August returns the look with a grin, giving a half-mocking salute as he violently shifts into reverse; more screeching and his race backward down the roadway begins.

June can hardly keep from laughing as she slows and stops, her rearview mirror showing the Phantom burning off on full reverse course, a scene bearing all the hallmarks of some ridiculous parody of an action film. She shifts and makes a complete u-turn, quickly pulling back in to catch the Phantom once again; to June’s shock, there is no driver behind the wheel this time.

The roof of the Phantom folds up on itself with a mechanical jerk, and from the open gap rises the triumphant figure of August, a helmet strapped to his head and dual-rocket pack across his shoulders. His arms extended and head thrown back in a hearty laugh, he clicks down on the stick controls twice with each thumb. Ignition is instant, and with a hard force that nearly crushes the Phantom beneath it, August Abenteuer is thrown skyward.

Its driver now far gone, the Phantom pulls itself out of the traffic lane, the engine sounding relieved as it disables itself. The Vertigo pulls in behind, and slowly, almost reluctantly, June steps out, scanning the skyline with wide eyes.

She laughs.