Chapter 12

Godzilla Hunt

Wednesday : March 5th 2025

Vicky had no idea what she was walking into when she returned home. As she turned onto her street, she found an entire pit crew in front of her house, tending to the rear end of the Lamborghini. It looked like a crime scene, SUVs parked outside, several strange people standing around talking or doing something, and in the middle of it was Ruby and her son. Screeching her SUV to a stop, she jumped out as any worried parent would…

“What the hell is going on here!? Who are you people? Where's David!?” She thankfully didn't have to do much else as David quickly came running and gave her a hug.

“It’s okay Mom, this is the racing team Ruby borrowed that Lamborghini from!” David explained, a second wind of pep in his step. He was quickly followed by Ruby and an unknown third person. 

“Sorry about this Vicky…” Ruby muttered, struggling to explain the scene of chaos going on behind her. Luckily, that's when McClaire stepped in. 

“Evening, sorry about all this. My name's Stephanie McClaire, and that's my car Ruby here was driving. Some Vandals came by while she was watching your son and tried to set fire to my car. Stupid Eco-mentalist types…” Ruby was almost impressed how easily McClaire could lie through her teeth. There wasn't a single hint she was lying or holding back anything, and it was this absolute conviction that suddenly switched over Vicky’s tone.

“Oh my God, I'm so sorry… I cannot believe something like that would happen in this neighborhood.” Vicky said, horrified. 

“Yeah, they'll be going to jail I'm sure. Police have already come and gone and arrested them, so I'm just picking up my car after my team gives it a once over, to make sure it's still safe to drive.” McClaire said innocently, before pivoting the conversation. 

“I was just turning your son here into a racing fan!”

“They're racing on the island this weekend Mom! Can we go, can we go, please, please, please!” David begged, and for good reason. McClaire had promised him a ride around the track if he kept his mouth shut about what happened tonight. 

“Uh, well, maybe?” Vicky replied blindsided. She herself was not at all a car or race fan, they were little more than transportation to her. But clearly, McClaire was a master of recruiting new followers to the religion of motor racing.

“Please, for all the trouble and inconvenience, I would love for you to come as guests of my team! We'll have free food and drinks and you can get up close and personal with the cars. You'll love it, I'll have Ruby bring you the tickets free of charge!” Even for someone vanilla on Motorsports, that was too good of an offer to pass up. Vicky nodded and David jumped for joy. Ruby was just stunned into silence, just how easily McClaire could smooth things over like this. As she tilted her head for Ruby to follow, it was suddenly back to business. 

“So black R32, wide body kit, no stickers, no wing, heavy damage on its right side.”

“Well, it kinda had a spoiler, like you see on a drag racing car, but yeah.” Ruby explained.

“Any stickers or decals you remember?” McClaire asked and Ruby shook her head. 

“None…” 

“Okay, here's the plan. Star and Revz are scouting out the local repair shops to see what they can find. We meanwhile are heading to a local street racing meet. I got wind of it on the way up here.”

“Uh, what do you mean be ‘we?’” Ruby asked, not wanting any part of the vigilante justice that was about to occur tonight. McClaire however, wasn't going to let her get off that easily. 

“I mean we, as in, me and you. Unless you want to walk all the way back to Phillip Island to get your car?” Ruby frowned but reluctantly nodded. 

“Fine, let's go.” McClaire's team had carefully removed as much of the damaged carbon work as they could to make sure it didn't catch fire again. Jumping into the driver seat, McClaire fired up the engine, and the car came off the jacks. Ruby took to the passenger seat, and the Hunt was on. The Murcielago was much happier under the command of its rightful owner. Even just driving around in city streets, Ruby could tell McClaire had total confidence in her machine, and it had confidence in her. Simple things like navigating around bumps in the road, going slower or faster to try and time traffic lights so they wouldn't have to stop. McClaire knew exactly what the car could and couldn't do, like she was one with the machine. 

“So… what are you going to do to them, you know, if we find them?” Ruby asked, somewhat sheepishly. 

“Depends on how they act…” McClaire replied bluntly. 

“If they're apologetic that will be the end of it. If they want to fight then we'll fight to end it. History has taught me to keep an open mind in these sorts of situations.”

“Does this happen a lot?” Ruby then asked, and McClaire laughed.

“When you're famous, really talented at something, or in my case immortal, people won't just take you at your word. They have to test you, force you to prove your abilities so the world makes sense again in their head. It can drive people crazy, make them do things they normally wouldn't. Even the most idiotic street racer wouldn't start ramming his opponent at highway speeds to get their attention, unless he thought it was the mysterious Stephanie McClaire of course…”

“But how would he know? I know Lamborghini’s aren't that common, but…”

“Run the plate, not like people don't database every car I've ever owned or driven. But anyway, that's all just a theory for now. He could just be some young punk that doesn't know how to act on the streets too. We'll get some answers soon enough.” McClaire said, and Ruby nodded, feeling at least somewhat better. At least McClaire didn't have a bloodlust after this guy. 

It wasn't long before they reached the street race, held in an industrial park outside of the City. It was a sea of highly turned Japan American and European imports alongside some classic Aussie V8 and turbo 6 muscle. Among them though, the Lamborghini still stuck out like a sore thumb and all eyes were on them as McClaire brought the car to a stop amongst the pack of vultures. 

“We're just asking questions for now, stay close to the car.” McClaire instructed, and with that she swung the door open and stepped out. A small cluster of people quickly descended on a yellow Lamborghini as Ruby stepped out too.

“Wow, that's a hell of a car for a couple of pretty girls to be driving. You come to party or you come to race?” A man with a rough cut and muscular look said.

“More looking for someone, a black GTR wiped out on the M1 tonight. I need to know where I can find them.” McClaire announced to the crowd, and murmurs started spreading like wildfire. 

“Mate, there's a dozen black GTR’s in this city. Even if we did know, why exactly would we tell you?” 

“Fair enough, you don't know me or owe me anything…” McClaire admitted, kicking the ground. 

“But would $1000 cash change your mind?” The murmurs kicked up again, along with some gasps of disbelief. The man who had been talking crossed his arms, almost chucking. 

“Nah mate, get the hell out of here.” McClaire shrugged and turned back to Ruby.

“Let's go.” Ruby, obviously confused, climbed back into the car. Just as fast as they had arrived, they were now leaving.

“I don't get it? They didn't tell you anything?” Ruby eventually asked, McClaire shook her head.

“They didn't need to…” and with that, McClaire's phone buzzed.

“Is that the car?” Handing the phone over, a picture was pulled up of the banged up GTR inside of some sort of warehouse or shop, clearly taken from a skylight. Ruby was shocked they had actually found it this quickly. 

“Uh, yeah, it is.”

“You can always count on Star when you need to find someone.” McClaire said with a proud smirk. Ruby hit the back button, revealing a short string of messages.

“Found it, I think?”

“Climbing up top to get a better view…”

“Driver got dropped off while I was up here by another tuner, possibly broken arm, scars on face.”

“Pic sending…” 

“Sounds like he's as banged up as his car.” Ruby remarked.

“Good! Means he'll be in a more apologetic mood vs wanting to fight. We better get over there before his friends tip him off.” McClaire said, and with that, the pace of her driving picked up considerably. It wasn't long until they reached the warehouse district. Ruby often came out here to camp with her UTE. It was quiet at night and relatively safe with all the cameras around, plus it didn't inconvenience anyone so the police typically would leave her alone. But tonight was very clearly different. As McClaire and Ruby got close, eventually Star called. 

“Hey I can see you, see my flashing.” Star said over the phone, as a light blinked on and off from the roof of a distance warehouse.

“Yeah, we got you. Is he still in there?” McClaire asked.

“Yep. Working on his car right now.” Pulling up outside the warehouse, McClaire left the car running as she climbed out.

“Ruby jump in the driver's seat. When I tell you, rev the engine.” Ruby nodded, and quickly scurried around to the driver's seat. McClaire meanwhile leaned on the front corner of the car facing the warehouse. 

“Do it.” The V12 howled into the night, the exhaust popping and splitting out flames as unburnt fuel worked its way through the system. 

“It's working, he's coming to the garage door.” Star said over the phone, McClaire nodded, it was showtime.