Chapter 1: Welcome to DetroitA chime rang throughout the cabin, as the captain began to speak, "We are descending towards Detroit Metro Airport, please place your trays in their upright position and fasten your seatbelts."
"May I Mr. Nicholson?" asked the brunette stewardess.
"Yes, certainly." Responded Rick, taking the last sip of his Scotch on the rocks.
"Ms. Paxton?" she asked Rick's assistant Clarissa, who sat silent and white knuckled.
"Clarissa hates landings." winked Rick as he chuckled and handed Clarissa's glass to the stewardess. He pat Clarissa's hand, "you have nothing to worry about, everything will fine." he assured his nervous assistant.
Rick casually stretched his legs, had he have to fly in couch, he would never travel. Perks of being the President of Vault-Tec's North American sales division. Clarissa remained inarticulate as the plane's tires barked as it touched down. The Boeing 707 taxied to the terminal, Clarissa finally released her death grip from the armrests.
"Welcome to Detroit'" the Captain's voice echoed from the intercom once more, "the current temperature is sixty five degrees and sunny, a gorgeous fall day. We hope you that you enjoyed your flight, please remain seated until the seatbelt sign has been turned off as we taxi to the terminal. Thank you for choosing Pan Am Airlines, the world's most experienced airline, we hope to serve you again."
Despite the Captains words, the sound of seatbelts clicked one after another. Upon reaching the terminal, the now all to familiar chime rang as the seatbelt sign finally turned off. Passengers jumped up from their seats, reclaiming their carry ons stored in the overhead compartments. Rick rose amongst them, he grabbed Clarissa's bag and his briefcase from the overhead compartment. Clarissa gladly took the bag, anxious to unboard the plane. They traversed the stuffy terminal walkway into the concourse. There they saw their limousine driver holding up a sign. He was a short, hefty man, filling out every inch of his black suit.
"I'm Mr. Nicholson, this is my assistant Ms. Paxton." Rick introduced themselves to the short driver.
"How do you do?" The driver asked the two travelers, Clarissa's color was returning to her skin. "Mr. Nicholson, Ms. Paxton, I'm Albert Dimsdale. I shall be driving you today. Your luggage will brought down to the limo straight away. If I may, I'll escort you to the limo."
"Excellent my good man, lead the way." Rick swept his arm offering Clarissa to go first. Her heels clicked on the concourse flooring as she followed the short man.
As they approached the limo, a young man with shaggy brown hair wheeled their luggage out of the employee's door. Albert rushed ahead, opening the trunk for the shaggy haired youth. Albert glided with the grace of a ballerina to the passenger side door, opening it up and bowing slightly. Albert gestured for them to seat themselves in the rich, black leather interior.
"Allow me miss" Albert offered his hand to the pretty assistant. Clarissa daintily took Albert's hand, though unnecessary, it was a courtesy she wasn't always accustomed to. Albert shut the door behind them and clumsily hurried around to the driver side door. He fell into the leather seat and looked back, "I do believe we are heading to the Renaissance Center? Would you like me to stop anywhere else beforehand sir?"
"No thanks Albert, I would much rather get settled in before venturing out."
"Very well sir, Renaissance Center it is then."
Rick noticed the aged brand of scotch he had requested chilling in the ice box. Rick handed two glasses to Clarissa and promptly filled the awaiting tumblers.
"Had this city been like it were thirty years ago, the company couldn't have paid me enough to come here." Rick commented as he looked out of the tinted windows.
"Sir, I understand that you are the president of Vault-Tec? It is quite an honor to drive such an established man as yourself." Albert complimented back over his shoulder.
Rick wrinkled his nose at the interruption, " Actually, I'm President of Vault-Tec's North American Sales Division. Now, if you will excuse us." Rick leaned forward, pressing the button to raise the privacy glass, "I would like to unwind with Ms. Paxton here."
"Aye, I understand completely sir. After a long flight and a..."
The privacy glass sunk into its groove in the ceiling of the limo, cutting off Albert's words. Rick turned back to Clarissa, lifting his glass.
"Here's to the renewed deep pockets of Detroit, may we encourage them to dig deep."
Their glasses clanked together, Clarissa and Rick sipped their scotch as classical music filled their ears. Traveling down the freeway, Detroit's magnificent skyline came into view.
"Well, there it is Clarissa, the Renaissance Center." Rick tipped his glass to his right.
The Renaissance Center had remained Detroit's tallest skyscraqer for many years. Its cylindrical center tower dwarfed the surrounding buildings as it rose seventy five stories reaching for the clouds. Rick began pointing at various structures, sharing some insight to the city's rich history. Clarissa hung on every word, this being her first time in the automotive capital of the world.
Albert stopped the limo, expediciously walking to open their door as the bellhop unloaded their luggage. "Mr. Nicholson, Ms. Paxton, it was a pleasure driving you today. If I satisfied your needs, please, don't hesitate to request me in the future."
"Thank you Albert, I'll definitely keep you in mind." Rick slipped Albert a handsome tip. He turned to look at his attractive assistant, "shall we Clarissa?"
Clarissa was taking it the nearby sites, and looked across the Detroit River to see the Windsor Casino. She mindlessly followed Rick inside the luxurious lobby.
"Tha...this place is amazing, you get to stay at alot of hotels like this?"
Rick chuckled, "another perk of the job, wait until you see the presidential sweet."
They progressed to the lobby counter, the rich wood was spotless. Polished mahogany spanned thirty feet in length.
"Hello, welcome the Renaissance Marriot, did you have reservations?"
"Hello, why we certainly did, Rick Nicholson, I'm here for the Vault-Tec conference."
"
Oh yes, pleasure to meet you Mr. Nicholson, and?"
Clarissa managed to snap from her viewing for a moment, "Clarissa, Clarissa Paxton."
The woman typed away at the keyboard, she slid two plastic keys through her machine. She placed them into an envelope and motioned for the young bellhop.
"Timothy, would you show Mr. Nicholson and Ms. Paxton to their room?"
"Of course, please, right this way."
Rick and Clarissa followed Timothy to a roped off elevator, "Mr. Nicholson and Ms. Paxton are staying in the presidential sweet."
The elevator attendant checked the room number then unhooked the red velvet rope and allowed the trio through.
"Welcome to the Renaissance Marriot, I am Walter Forrester, may I call anything to your room?"
"Actually Walter, I do believe my representative from Vault-Tec has that taken care of." Rick smiled as he watched the numbers illuminate as the elevator ascended the tower.
"Very well sir, here we are, I bid you a good day."
"Thank you Walter, you too."
Timothy led them to their room, which was more like a ranch style home in the sky. Clarissa's mouth hung open as she explorered her temporary home. Rick tipped the young bellhop and closed the door.
"So. Clarissa, what do you think? Beats the office back home doesn't it?"
"It's bigger than my house" Clarissa walked to the window and drew open the curtains revealing a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape, "it's absolutely amazing."
The clatter of ice cubes sounded behind her, Clarissa giggled, hardly able to contain her excitement. Rick filled two glasses with some amber colored liquid. He had to laugh at his assistant's enthusiastic reaction to the room. He flipped on the radio and tuned into a classical station. Walking next to Clarissa, Rick shared in the view.
"Beautiful isn't it Clarissa?"
"Yes, from what I have heard, I never expected anything like this."
"This city has gone through some tough times, but seems to bounce back after awhile."
"Must have been quite a bounce" giggled Clarissa, stirring her cocktail with the straw.
Suddenly, static burst through the speakers of the stereo. The faint sound of the air sirens could be heard through the windows.
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Becky vivaciously flipped through the pages of the old car magazine, perusing the glossy pictures of the feature cars. She blew a couple stray strands of hair from her forehead, tossing the magazine on top of the toolbox with a slap.
"Trev? Are you almost finished yet?" Becky moaned.
"Almost babe, just need to do a once over, make sure there's nothing loose."
"Hurry up would you, I wanna go for a ride." the young blonde childishly stomped her feet and pouted.
"OK, OK, we'll be eating those damn Chryslus sedans for lunch soon, real soon." Trevor peered from under the hood of the old Mustang into his anxious girlfriend's blue eyes.
Becky tilted her head and smiled, "OK sweetie."
Trevor ratcheted down the last V-band clamp, securing it to the intake. He tossed the ratchet into the toolbox, wiping his hands on the shop rag.
"WOOHOO, let's fire this [censored] up."
Becky jumped up off the milk crate, clapping her hands together dancing over to the side of the tuxedo black fastback. Trevor looked at her devilishly from behind the steering wheel. He twisted the key, VROOM the Mustang roared to life, settling to a burbling idle.
"OH baby does she sound mean" Becky's eyes looked lustfully over the sleek body lines.
"I'll take a quick look under the hood, check for any leaks then we'll roll over to Rudy's."
Becky scurried over to the other side, pouring herself into the contoured leather seat. Trevor inspected his hard work. Satisfied everything looked good and tight, he shut the cowled hood. The pride he felt radiated from his grin. Trevor had dreamed of this day since he was a child, his basically life long project finally reaching completion. He strut around the front of the Mustang and jumped in the drivers seat.
"Oil is good, reactor output's good, engine temp good." He looked over to Becky, succumbing to his own excitement, "[censored] it baby, let's hit it."
Trevor shook the shifter of the five speed transmission as the car rumbled in neutral. Ka-click, the car jerked as Trevor engaged reverse. The Mustang growled angrily as it's antiqued wheels began to roll backwards. Becky shuddered and giggled like a school girl.
"Trev, ya should call her Nightmare ,ya know? Since a Mustang is a horse and all?"
"Nightmare eh?" Trevor briefly considered, "It'll be those Chryslus' worse nightmare."
Trevor put the car in first gear, inching it out of the driveway onto the road. A quick blip of the throttle and the tires erupted into a plume of thick, white smoke. The ass end kicked to the side.
"OOOOHHH BABY!" squealed Becky.
Trevor peddled the throttle enough for the tires to bite the asphalt. He pressed down the gas pedal again, the car lunged forward, shoving them into the back of their seats. Trevor grabbed second gear, the Mustang charged harder, by the top of third gear, the Mustang was careening down the rural road. Trevor never let off, nailing fourth gear, allowing the old horse to really stretch her legs. Becky hollered out the window as the trees and fence posts blurred by. Trevor got out of it, glancing over at Becky with a [censored] eating grin on his face.
"Best take her easy until we get to Rudy's and Mikey puts a good tune on her. After he tunes the old girl, we'll really romp on her."
Mike Davis stepped outside of the speedshop, sparking up a cigarette as he leaned back against the wall. It was just after lunch, and things were a bit slow. Mike inhaled deeply, the smoke filled his lungs while he propped his foot on the wall behind him.
"What the?" Mike squinted, hearing the exhaust notes spewing down the road from a barreling car. The car was approaching quickly. Mike took another drag and watch curiously.
Holy [censored]!!! Mike threw down the cancer stick, stamping it out with his foot. He stepped away from the wall.
"No [censored] way! You finished it, you really finished it." Mike yelled across the drive.
Trevor and Becky"s faces were both plastered in grins. Mike jumped and ran to the end of the drive, meeting them as they pulled in. Trevor pushed in the clutch throttling the pedal, letting the Mustang's tailpipes sing it's thunderous tunes.
"No [censored] way Trev, I can't believe it." Mike was astonished, he ogled the black beauty, practically dancing around it.
"Yeah buddy, told ya it wouldn't be long" Trevor proudly stated.
"Damn Trev, I've done heard you say that since we were kids. I thought the Ol'girl would end up in the back of the barn collecting dust."
"You know how much one reactor is, let alone two Mikey."
"Yeah ba...let's get her tuned up. I'll put a sweet tune on her, and those Atomic V-8's wont stand a chance."
Mike ran inside, opening up the overhead door. Trevor idled the car into the garage and shut it down. The engine crackled as the motor started to cool off.
"Whatcha guessing Trev? Eight hundred? nine hundred?"
"[censored] man, more like a thousand to twelve hundred. Them new Chryslus sedans come from the factory with eight hundred. I'm looking to shut some down on Fisher freeway."
"Haha, hell yesss, going out tonight then?"
"After you work your magic on her we will." Trevor winked.
"We're gonna call her Nightmare." Becky chimed in.
"Nightmare huh? Kinda catchy." Mikey hooked the Mustang to the dynometer.
The Mustang roared ferociously as the RPM's climbed, the chains holding the car down were taunt. Mikey let off the throttle allowing the dynometer to start spitting out engine performance, and diagnostics data. Mikey typed in a few codes and let the Ol'girl loose again.
"
Good God Trev" Mikey shook his head in disbelief.
"What? Is it good?" Becky fidgetted next to Trevor, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Trevor merely raised an eyebrow, Mikey just looked in awe.
"Eleven hundred fourteen ground pounding ponies. All I did was tweak the air/reactor ratio a little. Ida swore you already dyno'd it Trev."
"Well, what can I say, it runs in the family." Laughed Trevor, "let's get cleaned up and head out, round up some players for later."
Becky and Mikey nodded collectively in agreement, Mikey wiped his hands off after unstrapping the Mustang. Trevor backed the car into the parking lot and they jumped in. After a brief stop by Mikey's, they were off.
"
Boy, I feel our pockets will be fatter by the end of the night." Mikey burst into laughter.
"Yeah sweetie, maybe we can get that dress I've been looking at tomorrow?"
"If I win a couple of races, I'll buy you that dress." Trevor smiled into his mirror back at Becky.
Trevor turned the radios dial, tuning in a rock station. It only amped up the energy more. The car's interior was filled with the sounds of guitars and drums, it abruptly went to static. Trevor turned the dial, attempting to tune it back in.
"Hmm, every station is static."
"Next on the list, a new radio" Mikey pretended to check off a list.
"
Hey, hey guys, look" Becky pointed
"What the?" Trevor rolled down his window.
It was then they could hear the warning sirens over the cars loud exhaust. Trevor jammed on the brakes, Becky screamed, Mikey swallowed as they looked at the skyline ahead in the distance.
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"Look at that kids, The Ambassador Bridge." Jared pointed and the massive suspension bridge.
"Whoa Daddy it's...
HUGE!!!" Johnny gasped, his face distorted on the cars window.
"Way big, are we going over it Daddy?" asked Johnny's twin sister Jordan.
"Maybe if I were driving, you know your father is afraid of heights kids." Patty rubbed Jared's shoulder.
"Awe man" the twins groaned in unison.
"If your mother drives home, then maybe we will. But today we're taking the tunnel."
"Tunnel?" Jordan scrunched her face.
"Yeah, tunnel under the Detroit River." Jarod chuckled.
"We're going to go under the water?" Johnny pulled on the back of his father's seat.
"Yes we are, it's over five thousand feet long"
"
WOW! do we have to hold our breath?"
"Oh Johnny, no honey, it's like driving under an overpass, just alot longer" Patty looked back at the twins.
"COOL!!!" Johnny leaned in between the seats to see the mouth of the tunnel grow closer.
"Mommy? I don't want to ride in the tunnel." Jordan whined.
"It'll be ok honey, it wont take long." Patty assured her nervous daughter.
"But what if the water gets in?"
"It wont, I promise. This tunnel has been here for a very long time sweetheart. Why don't you try to relax, cover up with your blankie if you don't want to see."
Jordan pulled her blanket up over her head while they waited in line.
"Alot of traffic, too bad we couldn't have left earlier." Patty frowned.
"Sorry hun, I had to wrap up a few things at work before we left. I need to make sure Roger knew how I planned to pitch the new add to Mr. Jenkins. Sometimes Jenkins pops in unexpectedly and asks a bunch of questions."
"Doesn't matter, we're almost there now anyways."
The line to enter the tunnel to Detroit dwindled down, Patty prepared their passports. Despite Johnny bouncing with anticipation, Jordan had fallen asleep enveloped in her blanket. Jarod's elbow rest on top of the door panel, his head in his hand. He groaned as they had been waiting in excess of an hour.
"Honey, you had to expect this, with all of the conflict that's been going on."
"I know, but we haven't stopped for anything other than a bathroom break since Niagra Falls."
"I'm sure I can find something to take the kids and do so you can relax in the hotel. Maybe even just taking them to the swimming pool at the hotel pool for awhile?"
"Maybe, I guess we'll see how I feel when we get to the hotel."
Patty remained quiet, rubbing the back of Jarod's neck. Johnny's bouncing dulled down for a minute. The border patrol guard strolled up to the car.
"G'afternoon, passports please."
"Here honey" Patty put them in Jarod's hand.
"Good afternoon sir" Jarod gave an half assed smile and handed the guard their passports.
The guard carefully inspected them, leaning down, "What's the reason for visiting us today?"
"Family vacation sir'"
"hehe" the guard chuckled, "not too awfully long ago i would have said your crazy. But, things have changed drastically since back then."
"Daddy said we were gonna go see some lions, a whole bunch of them running around a field."
The guard laughed out loud, "Yeah, all these years, and those Detroit Lions are still running around with that football without a clue." The group shared a laugh, "Ya'll have a nice visit now, here ya go." the guard gave their passports back.
"Thanks sir, we will." Jarod placed the passports on the seat.
"
Whoa" Johnny's eyes gazed around the concrete tunnel in amazement.
About halfway through the muggy tunnel the lights flickered and all went dark. Only the vehicles lights cast an incandescent glow as people stopped their cars.
» Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:31 am 
