It's Friday, so you know what that means!

First off, the referenced album title of part 3.2 was "Invaders Must Die" by The Prodigy

But now, IT BEGINS...

[Part 4.1] Calm Before the Storm
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Tuesday, November 28th, 2209

Angelus R&D HQ, Perth, Australia

10:01:32

BREAKING NEWS
"Gareth Ardos, second pilot for Angelus in the FX400 AG Racing League has been admitted to Royal Perth Hospital following a traffic accident. The pilot, aged 34, was found in his car, which had crashed off Mounts Bay Road. His car had shown signs of being forced off the road. Gareth was to participate in the final race of the 2209 season tonight. He is in a stable condition. The police are currently investigating this incident. We urge anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the police."

"Grraaaahh!" Brandon yelled angrily, "This was the work of Crinale, I know it! Now we don't have anyone to race!"

"Wh-why don't you let me race?" Tarah quietly asked, scared by Brandon's sudden outburst.

"I just know they will attack you next, that we don't need. Besides, I have a feeling this will be our toughest race yet."

"So what, we just give up then?! BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO!" She yelled.

Brandon just turned and looked at Tarah. "You think I want to give up? You misunderstand me. I will find a way, trust me."

19:28:23

BREAKING NEWS
"For the second time today, a pilot from Angelus' AG Racing team has been injured, rendering them unable to race. Tarah Andrews, lead pilot for Angelus in the FX400 AG Racing League has been involved in a car accident. She was lucky to walk from the scene. However, she has sufficient injuries to warrant an inability to race. With just 30 minutes until the final race of the season, it seems Angelus will not be racing tonight."

Hearing the news, Brandon just stood up, flipped the chair he was sitting on out of his way, and stormed out of the room to his office, where he sat down and put his head in his hands.

"No," Brandon said weakly. "First Gareth, now Tarah. Who's next, me?! You've gone too far, Crinale, TOO FAR! I will murder each and every one of you. AAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!"

This was the first time he broke down and cried under the pressure. Crinale had finally got to him.

It was a good 10 minutes before he calmed down, but it was too late, he was already broken. And pissed. There was only one sane option left that he could think of, and he took it without a moments hesitation, there was not one second to lose...


19:47:51

At night, Omega Harbour looked very beautiful. It was filled with neons running the length of the 12.5km course. Above the start line, in neon there was a large logo of the course, the symbol of Omega, Ω. It was an awesome sight, not that anyone was really paying attention.

Every single team was running about, making final adjustments to just about everything. Except for Crinale, however. They weren't running about, and their ship was the only one sitting at the starting grid. Then suddenly, at 19:50 exactly, the ship's cockpit opened, and an individual stood up. They was wearing a black suit and a full opaque helmet, hiding their face. Their suit was surrounded by orange-yellow neons. Then an angry, computerized voice spoke, which came in the direction of Crinale's racer.

"I WAS KNOWN AS AKUMA NAZO, LEAD PILOT FOR CRINALE. I AM THE GREATEST PILOT IN THE WORLD. HOWEVER, ON THE RACETRACK, I NEVER SHOWED AN IOTA OF MY TRUE POTENTIAL. TONIGHT, HOWEVER, I WILL. TONIGHT, I WILL DESTROY ANGELUS! HENCEFORTH, I SHALL BE KNOWN AS... THE DEVIL_"

Just as they said the name Devil, a set of neons at the side of the ship flickered on and off, then lit up forcefully to form a light series that was never seen before on that craft. It was the number 13. Devil then spoke 5 more words:

"ANGELUS, YOU HAVE ALREADY LOST_"

"Ah, crap! We're so boned." Tarah whined. "Just where is Brandon anyway?"

Just then, she received a text message from Brandon:
"Tarah, I am unable to attend this race, I'm so sorry. That means, for just this one race, you will be our Acting Team Leader. I have sent a racer, they are the very best we have, but they did not want to be a racer, so I accepted their choices. However, since they are an Angelus employee, they know of the incidents that occurred today, and as such is willing to race tonight. They only require that their identity be a secret. They have called themselves 'Angel'. We're Faster than Angels, we can beat Crinale."

At that moment, a black, modified Angelus Razer.X, Angelus' top of the line AG supercar, raced down the pit lane and came to a sudden stop less than a metre from Tarah. A person in a unique Angelus racing suit jumped out. The only thing different about the suit was that it was black with azure neons, as opposed to white with no neons. The individual was wearing a full, opaque helmet with azure neons, like Crinale's. It also hid the individuals face. The race suit bore the team logo, and the name "Angel" written below it.

"Tarah Andrews, I presume? Did you get the text message?" He spoke. It was clear, by his voice and physique, that it was a man.

"I did," She said "Are you our racer?"

"I am an employee, I do not usually race, however, I have chosen to display my unique skill tonight. Crinale needs to pay for what they've done. Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall get ready, if anyone needs me, I will be on the starting grid"

"OK, as far as we know, you are good to go."

"Excellent." He started to walk to the grid, but was stopped by Crinale's mysterious racer, Devil.

"Crinale, we meet at last. The legendary Akuma Nazo"

Devil paused for a moment, then spoke. "ANGEL... FINALLY. I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SO LONG TO MEET YOU. I WILL BE KNOWN AS 'THE DEVIL' FOR THIS RACE. HOWEVER, HOW CAN YOU CALL IT 'MEETING' WHEN YOUR FACE IS CONCEALED?_"

It was clear that Angel was unhappy with Crinale. He forcefully stuck out his arm and forefinger, pointing at Devil. As his forefinger stuck out, he loudly spoke: "OBJECTION!"

"Says the one who concealed his voice along with his face!" After that, Devil seemed at a loss for words, then they spoke.

"YOU WILL BE DESTROYED BY MY SKILL, ANGEL. I WILL DESTROY YOU AND THAT ENTIRE FAILURE OF A COMPANY YOU WORK FOR. I HAVE BEATEN YOU ONCE, AND I CAN BEAT YOU AGAIN. THERE IS NOT A MOMENT TO LOSE, LET US RACE, NOW!_"

"You will see what I am capable of, Crinale." Angel said, pushing past Devil. He got into the KA-AGR1, starting it up. The neons turned on, the individual lines of light moving from the front to the back. He then reached under the cockpit and opened a panel, which housed a switch. He flipped the switch.

One area on the left and right sides of the Angelus ship started to flicker, like the Crinale ship did. The neons then lit up in a certain way. First, a number appeared, 0. Above that, a halo appeared above the zero. Finally, a pair of wings seemingly shot out of either side of the zero. Angel then spoke once more before the race started, taunting Devil.

"Come at me, if you dare."

Since it was the final race of the season, all 16 teams were to compete, the only thing they were qualifying for was their starting position. On a screen to the side of the starting grid, the 16 teams and their position lit up:
01. Crinale
02. Angelus
03. Wyvern
04. AG Systems
05. Jennter
06. Icaras
07. Goteki 45
08. Piranha
09. FEISAR
10. Auricom
11. Assegai
12. Qirex
13. EG-X
14. Triakis
15. Mirage
16. Harimau

"I don't get how Crinale got pole position with such a slow, heavy craft like theirs." Tarah thought out loud.

The rest of the teams took their places on the starting grid and then, at last, the final, and what would be the most epic race of the 2209 season of the FX400 officially began.

"3, 2, 1...


"GO!"