Full Throttle Heart — 6 — A Great Adventure

[Truck-kun’s headlights cut through the gloom of the ancient forest, and the two heroes emerge a moment later.]

Truck-kun and the bluebird, Al, drove through the forest, leaving Lilith and the ruins behind them. As eager as the demon was to help, Truck-kun knew that there was nothing she could do to help them.

All the while, the package inside Truck-kun’s cargo container hummed with a mysterious power. A power that it needed to decipher if it had any hope of returning home to Joe.

There was one soul in all the land that could help—a powerful wizard, whose identity remained shrouded in mystery.

[Cue montage of Truck-kun and Al traveling through the forest and camping at night. Truck-kun’s headlights flicker as it winces each time Al tries to sing.]

Two more days passed as Truck-kun and Al searched the forest. Al swore he knew the way out, but with each passing day, Truck-kun’s doubt grew.

“Are you sure you know where we’re going?”

Al coughed, the gruff sound causing leaves to wilt and small rodents to scurry away in fright. “Of course, Truck-dude. You just stick to driving. I’ll do the navigating.”

Truck-kun grumbled in defeat, driving on through the ancient forest.

[Montage interrupted by distant Human Screams.]

Al ruffled its feather like he was fending off a chill. “What—what was that?”

“Someone needs help!” Truck-kun replied fearlessly.

Its mighty engine rumbled and its tires kicked up dirt. Moments later, Truck-kun was racing through the forest, passing dangerously close to the giant tree trunks while Al, the bluebird, held on tight.

They emerged into a giant meadow, and the heroes took in the frenzied scene:

Two people stood defiantly in the middle of the clearing—a heavily armored knight and a scholar clad in robes of gray and white. They were surrounded by a hundred plant-men. The green-leafed horde stalked closer, branches cracking as the knight fended off their attacks.

The knight fought valiantly. Their slashes were quick and decisive, but their guard was faltering—a skilled knight on the last legs of their endurance. Meanwhile, the scholar struggled to stay at the knight’s back and out of the plant-men’s reach.

“Dryads!” Al croaked, flying up toward the safety of the high branches. “You have to help them Truck-dude—those things aren’t vegetarian!”

Truck-kun had seen the aftermath of vehicles hitting trees before, and it was fully prepared to give its life for these strangers. Doubt never crossed its mind.

[Quick Cuts between Truck-dude and the horde of plant-men. Truck-kun’s engine revs and the roar grows deafening.]

It was a simple, yet effective, battle-cry.

The heroic box truck sped into the fray, not bothering to transform for battle. Truck-kun floored the pedal, its revometer redlining. Five hundred horsepower and four tons of steel plowed through the meadow.

Truck-kun expected resistance as it plowed through the first dryad, but the creature had the density of dry kindling and exploded on Truck-kun’s bumper, sending a hail of wooden shrapnel flying through the air.

Truck-kun’s chassis cut a swathe through the horde, leaving a haze of dust and destruction in its wake.

It swung around, cutting a tight circle around the two strangers, slowing only enough not to tip over. As it turned, its back wheels slipped and drifted through the dirt, causing its box compartment to swing like a wild haymaker.

In one chaotic minute, Truck-kun cut down the field of dryads like an industrial mower. The strangers finished off the few enemies that remained.

When it was over, the truck and the strangers faced each other in the clearing.

“Stay behind me, Morden,” the knight said in a gruff voice. Though most of him was covered in armor, piercing green eyes and a clean-shaved chin peered out from behind his helmet.

Their partner, Morden, crouched behind the knight’s tower shield, and peered at Truck-kun hesitantly. “I don’t think it means to harm us, Gabriel. You don’t mean to, do you?”

Truck-kun engaged its windshield wipers to clean some of the wooden gore from its front, then concentrated on slowing its engine—the thrill of battle was not easily forgotten.

“I’m just another traveler,” Truck-kun said, reassuringly. “I—we—saw you were in danger.”

That seemed to put the knight, Gabriel, at ease. He lowered his sword and shield, and his shoulders sagged with the weight of fatigue.

“That we were,” the knight said, taking a step back so that Morden could step forward. The young man bowed graciously. “Thank you for your assistance, strange sir, but—”

“Woo wee!” The bluebird’s grating voice drifted down from the treetops, making the Gabriel and Morden flinch.

Al glided down from the treetops and landed on Truck-kun’s cab. The bluebird’s chest heaved as it struggled to speak. “You two… You two were lucky… That we came along… when we did!”

Both raised an eyebrow at the bird.

Morden asked, “This is your companion?”

Truck-kun’s engine rumbled in agreement. “I am Truck-kun, and this is Al.”

Al sighed. “Woo! Retreating is hard work.” Then added, “Pleased to meet’cha.”

The box truck asked, “What are you doing out here alone in such a dangerous place?”

The knight’s eyes narrowed. “I might ask you the same question.”

Truck-kun rumbled. “I asked you first.”

Now Gabriel looked to his compatriot. But Morden reassured him, “It’s alright. I trust them. I was sent out here to the ancient forest to gather herbs for my maester.”

Al ruffled his feathers. “Kid, do you mean master?”

“No. My maester.”

“Tomato, tomato, kid.”

“He’s my teacher and I’m his apprentice. He’s a mighty wizard. Well, he was a mighty wizard. Now, he’s mostly just a professor.”

Truck-kun’s engine revved eagerly. “Your teacher is a wizard?” When Morden nodded, Truck-kun added, “We need to speak with a wizard. Maybe we can help each other.”

Morden looked to the knight, deferring to his protector. Gabriel looked over both Truck-kun and Al thoughtfully.

“I think that can be arranged,” Gabriel finally said. “It is safer to travel in numbers, and I cannot help but notice that you are carriage shaped.”

Truck-kun glanced through the treeline apprehensively. “I don’t know the way out.”

“That’s alright,” Gabriel said. “We will show you the way.”

~

[Cut to Truck-kun driving through the ancient forest, while Al, Gabriel, and Morden riding atop its box compartment.]

Al had just finished regaling them with their recent run-in with the demon, Lilith.

Gabriel spat off the top of the truck. “Demons… They’re horrible, evil creatures. They defile the innocent and corrupt the hearts of men.”

Al groaned. “I know! I tried to get defiled, but Lilith only had eyes for Truck-kun’s package.”

Truck-kun grumbled apprehensively. “Al, they do not need to hear about my package.”

“But you need to show it to this wizard guy, don't ‘cha?”

Morden asked, “What’s the bluebird talking about, Truck-kun?”

[While Truck-kun narrates, Cut to Montage of Truck-kun’s Accident and Arrival in the Ancient Forest.]

“...And that’s how I wound up here,” it explained.

Morden said, “Wow! That’s quite the story… And that does sound like something my maester or his brethren could decipher.”

Gabriel added with a smile, “Then we shall journey back to the city and to the mage’s college. Together.”

Al jumped around on the roof excitedly. “We’re just like one of those adventuring groups from the days of old! A knight… a priest… a Truck… AND A BARD!”

Morden muttered, “But I’m not a priest.”

Al croaked excitedly, “I’ll sing our praises!”

All together, the others answered, “No, no. That’s alright, Al.”

~

[Outtro — Slow, Instrumental version of Theme Song — “Hātofurusurottoru” by Gunpowder Audition]

[Outtro Still Shot of Joe driving Truck-kun on the highway. Al is sitting on Joe’s shoulder with tape over his beak. Gabriel and Morden are waving to be picked up on the side of the road.]

~

[Local Commercial Break]

[Camera view of the Belport Bulletin anchor desk. Bethany Wonder sits alone at the desk with deep blue hair and a brilliant purple dress. Bethany looks up from her papers and flashes a smile for the audience.]

“It’s been almost a month since the frightening attack on downtown Belport that left the city in shock and the Summit of Heroes scrambling for answers. Tonight we finally have them.

“A rogue super, acting alone, used stolen technology to cause the blast. The device is said to mimic the abilities of reality warping supers. This was how Paragon was able to quickly intervene and stop the device before any permanent damage was caused to the city.

“I think we can all agree that Paragon and the Summit of Heroes are looking out for us.

“Tonight at ten, we’ll go live to Johnny Armour, who’s got an exclusive interview with Paragon—the savior of Belport. Here from the hero himself, in his own words.

“Remember, the Bulletin is on your side.”

~ ~

[Camera view of Belport Bay pier. Reporter Johnny Armour pulls down a thick red scarf as he talks. The end of it billows in the wind.]

“Good evening, Belport. I’m standing here tonight on our beautiful bay with none other than our savior, the leader of the Summit of Heroes, Paragon.”

[Camera pans to the most iconic cape in the world. Paragon stands head and shoulders above the reporter—his height and physique cutting a silhouette that would shame ancient marble statues. His skin is albino white, and his long, pale hair hangs lifeless across his shoulders, completely unaffected by the wind of the bay. Despite his status, he wears a plain silver bodysuit.

[Tonight, his eyes are tinged with red, not from his powerful heat vision, but from weariness. Still, as he talks, he manages faint smiles, as if he’s reassuring not just the audience, but himself as well. Together, these things make the pinnacle of supers seem human.]

“I’m glad to be enjoying a quiet evening with you, Johnny,” Paragon said. His voice is measured, his tone sincere.

“Quiet evenings must be rare for a super like you.”

“Yes. Yes, they are.”

Johnny cleared his throat. “I’ll get right to it then. Everyone in Belport is grateful for what you did for us that day.”

Paragon nodded. “Just doing my job.”

“Still, can you tell us what you were thinking during the attack?”

Paragon stared over Johnny’s shoulder, off across the bay as if searching for the words. When he finally spoke, the words were heavy.

“I wasn’t thinking. I just did what needed to be done.” A moment later, Paragon smiled playfully. “Truthfully, my job is easier than people think, Johnny. The Summit tells me what to do, and I do it. It’s easy to fight a natural disaster—even if it hurts.

“I’d rather go up against a meteor than try to solve our current geopolitical conflicts, or try to solve world hunger. Those things are hard. They require much more than one person—no matter how powerful.

“I wish I could do those things, but there are better people than me working on them… At least I hope there are. I’m just fine—”

Concern flashed across Paragon’s face. “I’ve got to go.”

A moment later, Paragon erupted into the sky and streaked out over the bay. A few seconds later, three quick sonic booms were heard over the water as he sped up to mach 3.

The stunned reporter turned to the camera and pulled his scarf down to speak. “A short conversation with the leader of the Summit of Heroes, but I’m sure wherever Paragon is heading needs him much more than we do. This is Johnny Armour signing off. Remember, just like the Summit, the Bulletin is on your side.”

~ ~ ~