Stories of the Fuel Speedway (Volume 2)

By Bernard Bayede

Set against the backdrop of the paradise Island Province of Azania, the second volume of Stories of the Fuel Speedway brings back the stars of Monday Night Fuel for another season of unpredictable sports entertainment. This season, Amandla's Rebellion looks to make Formula-X King, John Kloof's reign a living hell as ex-King, Mandla Xulu looks to regain his title. Meanwhile, Brenda Koek reflects on her feelings for another racer while a debuting racer looks to change the playing field for her.

Meanwhile, Penny Potgieter and Touch Mkhize go to war over the title of Duke/Duchess while Jim Kieck looks to rise to the top. In this all new season comes all new challenges from a race where the racer who wins the most laps wins to a race where one takes on three. Along with promises of romance, betrayal, suspense, politics, this volume promises something... supernatural.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781291534061

Bernard Bayede

Bernard Bayede is a South African author with a taste for out-of-this-world stories of science fiction and fantasy. Born and raised in beachside province of Kwa-Zulu Natal, Bayede has taken his love for sci-fi and fantasy and combined it with an African setting. Bayede has already published his first three books, The Bowman's Apprentice and Other Stories; Ignighted and Planet of the Rings. He is currently working on his fourth book (a sequel to Ignighted) and fifth book, Planet of the Rings Volume 2.

Book preview

EPISODE 1: AMANDLA’S REBELLION

7th of September – Season 2

FEATURE RACE – 21:17

Vooossh! John Kloof could barely hear himself breathing over the sound of his engine firing on all cylinders. He took a chance and let his eyes dart to his opponent’s vehicle which was keeping pace next to him. The intensity was real as they both sped around the bends of the racetrack at 200km/h. There was no mistaking it: this was a dangerous sport. But dammit, John would have it no other way. He loved life in the fast lane. And there was no lane faster than the Fuel Speedway.

Unfortunately, after the three-month break between Season 1 and 2, the day John had been waiting for was not the homecoming he’d hoped. It had started out quite alright back at the garage when he’d closed up for the day…

BEFORE FUEL – 18:30

John had just finished up with his last client for day (and the last car he could spend all day on now that he’d be splitting his time between work and racing) when Debra pulled up to pick him up. Debra wore a smile on her face. She knew how excited he was, and she was excited for him. But neither of them was as excited as their 12-year-old, Cassie.

Daddy, Daddy! It’s time, it’s time.

Yes, it is, sweetie. Did you remember to bring it?

She nodded excitedly. Mmhmm. Your helmet is in the car.

Cas, remember it’s not a helmet. It’s a Crown. John couldn’t in good conscience fault her for forgetting. After all, Formula-X was the only motorsport where their top prize was an expensive 18 karat gold helmet called a Crown. But ever since winning the Crown at The Formula-X Grand Prix back in May, he tried to teach Cassie the proper terminology.

Right. I mean, your Crown. Now c’mon, Daddy.

Cassie then grabbed his hand and led him to the car where Debra greeted him with a kiss. John had taken note of how much happier Debra was these days. And why shouldn’t she be? Becoming Formula-X King had not only come with the promise of a bigger paycheck per race, but his success on the Fuel Speedway had also resulted in an increase in business for his mechanic day job with his new clients relishing the idea of having their cars fixed by a racing champion.

So, said Debra, "I’ve been checking the Formulary all day and it seems you’re going to have your work cut out for you."

The Formulary was one of Formula-X’s newest creations: a social media network that was some unholy lovechild between Facebook and Instagram, allegedly created by Moodswing who wanted to avoid licensing problems. It allowed the F-X racers to post their thoughts (written, photographed or video-taped) and for fans (who were signed members) to comment on them. Although, it was obvious that Moodswing created it as, yet another means to create drama between the racers to fuel more rivalries.

John already had an idea what she was going to say. Amandla’s Rebellion.

Amandla’s Rebellion, she repeated, in confirmation.

John sighed before deciding he didn’t want to talk about it. You know what, let’s enjoy this while we still can, he said referring to time with his family. I’ll worry about that when I get to the Speedway.

FEATURE RACE

As John edged ahead of his opponent, he tried to keep his head about himself, but he struggled. All he could think about was what Debra read on the Formulary: Amandla’s Rebellion. Amandla’s Rebellion (which was purposefully named as such even though it was grammatically incorrect in both English and Zulu) had started the moment John won the F-X Crown from Mandla Xulu at The Formula-X Grand Prix. While it started quietly enough that it had barely registered at the event, over the winter, as the Formulary grew in popularity with the fans (now called the fandom), the Rebellion grew with many wanting Mandla back on the throne.

Thinking about the rebellion distracted John enough for his opponent to take advantage and overtake him. John heard the roar of the crowd which got to him, feeling like it was their way of saying they didn’t want him and would support anyone put in front of him. But John sucked it up, convincing himself that their cheers weren’t against him but for his opponent who was one of the most popular racers in the series in his own right. Fortunately, John had played his own mind games with him before their race. If only those were the only games on John’s mind…

ARRIVING AT FUEL – 19:30

The moment they got to the Old Airport, John knew that reality had set in, and Amandla’s Rebellion was not just an online/winter break thing. Right there in front of the front entrance under the FUEL SPEEDWAY sign was a large group of people dressed in green, holding up signs singing in Xhosa. John knew who they were and why they were there.

Fortunately, he was F-X King now which meant he had special privileges, one of which would allow him to avoid subjecting his daughter to avid fans eager to make their voices known at his expense. After being dropped off right inside the paddock by his family, John was overwhelmed by how happy he was to be back at the Fuel Speedway.

It’s like Harry Potter returning to Hogwarts, isn’t it? John turned to find Brenda Koek giving him a smile.

"Yeah, if this was Order of the Phoenix, said John smiling back at Brenda. How are you doing, Brenda? Holidays treat you alright?

"I feel like I should be asking you that. Me, I had to deal with my sisters teasing me all winter about that damn kiss. You, on the other hand, had to deal with an entire Rebellion."

I’m sure our King managed, said a familiar face, interrupting John’s response.

John smiled at the man known as ‘The Cryptic Crusader’. Styles. Man, is it good to see you. How were your holidays?

Styles scoffed. "Holidays? Uthini lo? Bra, I’ve been training. These weren’t holidays for me. And I’m happy to say that The Cursed Conundrum is better than ever. In fact, I’ve just spoken to Glen and guess who’s in a race where the winner will challenge the Duke of Drag for the title at Arbour Games?"

John knew the answer as did Brenda whose eyes bulged open. Wait, what? How did you swing that? I wanna challenge Touch too.

All I did was ask, said Styles. He then pointed to Glen across the paddock. Glen is busy now sorting out the racecard.

Well, who’s your opponent. Maybe there’s still hope.

Styles shook his head. Sorry sisi. I already have an opponent. And you’re not going to like who it is.

As long as it’s not the freakin’ Playboy, I’m fine with it.

"Actually, Jim Kieck is your opponent tonight. Glen wanted to give you another chance to beat him. You know, after he humiliated you at the Grand Prix."

Losing to him was not humiliating.

Well, I was talking about the kiss afterwards. Both Styles and John watched Brenda blush. "You’re not, like, into him, are you?"

What? Of course not. Just, she said, now with beet red cheeks, leave me alone. She then started away from them, leaving John alone with Styles.

So, said Styles to John, technically this is your first Fuel after winning the title and you know what that means: you’re getting coronated tonight.

"Wrong!" The person that had so rudely interrupted them was none other than the host of the now-renamed Touching Base talk show, Touch Mkhize. I’m sorry to tell you that you’re not getting coronated tonight, said the smug Duke of Drag.

What are you talking about, Touch, said Styles. I saw the racecard and it said right there under opening segment: The Formula-X King’s Coronation.

"Well take it from someone who – as the host of Fuel’s first and only talk show – has the inside track on the night’s latest schedule, His Highness’s Coronation has been set aside for an address by one Mandla Xulu."

Mandla’s making an address? asked John. Why?

Amandla’s Rebellion. Just as Touch had spoken the words, the title sequence music boomed on all the speakers as all eyes turned to the big screens to see Monday Night Fuel come onto the air. Just as Touch had said, Mandla opened the show by going to middle-stage to the sound of praise songs being sung by Mandla’s supporters in green. Mandla quickly addressed the unrest in the fandom and asked that they remember that at the end of the day, the racers were there to entertain them. Mandla successfully managed to quell any lingering unrest by announcing that Moodswing had just sanctioned the feature race of Arbour Games: a return race between himself and King Kloof.

Styles could almost feel John’s mood as he watched him clench his jaw at the news. It looks like you now know when your first title defense will be.

However, that wasn’t what was on John’s mind at the moment. Instead, John couldn’t help but feel slanted by Mandla. It wasn’t just that he took the spot on the racecard that was rightfully his now. It was also the fact that he was acting like he was still King. And the fandom was treating him like he was still King. While John could understand why the unrest needed to be quelled, it was still important that he be treated like a King. The title needed to carry that respect else it meant nothing.

John looked over at the still smug Touch suddenly eager to punch him. But there were serious rules against that. Fortunately, there was another way of sorting out issues on Monday Night Fuel that was not only allowed but encouraged. And if he couldn't have the opening spot, then he was damn sure going to have the closing spot.

FEATURE RACE

As John fought to regain his lead position in the race, he thought about the makings of this race. While it hadn’t taken much to get Touch in the feature race (as Moodswing loved the idea of a monarch vs. monarch race for the premiere of Season Two), it had taken a little more to work out the psychology of the race: how he was going to get into Touch’s head. As it turned out, all he needed was a friend.

After successfully winning his race against Penny Potgieter, Styles marched right into the Winner’s Circle and proceeded to call Touch an immature child. From that moment, John knew what he needed to do to get a psychological edge and proceeded to use reverse psychology on Touch moments before their own race. Perhaps that’s what was going through Touch’s mind when John successfully regained the lead and captured the win.

AFTER FUEL – 21:55

By the time John walked out through the concourse and out the front entrance, most of the fans had already left. He’d asked Debra to fetch him half an hour after Fuel ended so he expected the racer’s parking lot to be empty. But it wasn’t. There was one car still there and someone standing in front of it…

What are you doing by Styles’ car?

He offered me a ride. While Solo’s away, he needed someone to carpool with—

"And he asked you?"

Mandla sighed. These aren’t the questions you want to be asking me, surely?

No, said John honestly. But John didn’t need to ask them.

I didn’t do it for you. Quelling that crowd, he explained, that wasn’t for your benefit.

I know. You did it for you. What, to show me that you’re the rightful King?

Mandla nodded. "And this is my kingdom."

This time John sighed. And here I thought you only did these macho confrontations in front of the Winner’s Circle. Where the people can see you. Because that’s what you’re about, isn’t it? Making yourself look good in front of your people?

This clearly irked Mandla who got in John’s face. Be careful now, Kloof. Racism doesn’t look good on you. And it’s not really becoming of a King.

That’s not how I meant it and you know that.

"I know. I also know that this island is a paradise that knows no color. But it needs me as Formula-X King, not you. So, mark my words, Kloof, that title is coming back to me."

John responded just as Mandla turned away. Consider them marked. And Mandla, he said just as his rival walked away, "it’s King Kloof to you."

EPISODE 2: THE THAWN OBERHAUSER HOMECOMING

14th of September – Season 2

MONDAY MORNING

As Thawn sat in his office, he contemplated the evening ahead. He'd made a decision not to appear on last week's episode anticipating that all eyes would be on the Crown. He'd been right except that it had been Amandla's Rebellion that was the talk of the episode rather than John Kloof's Coronation. Either way, Thawn wasn't going to have any of it. If he was going to return to Fuel, then he was going to do it in the biggest way possible. And for this, he needed to have all eyes on him.

While all his colleagues were aware of his so-called night job on Monday nights, Thawn tended not to talk about his racing life at work. That didn't stop some of his colleagues from chatting about it, like brothers Jeremiah and Zachariah (who amusingly had another brother not in business named Isaiah). Thawn met up with them in the break room which had a big screen mounted on the wall.

What are you two watching? asked Thawn as he got a cup of coffee.

We're watching the Deputy Mayor call Fuel bull sh–

Zach, said Zach's older brother, mind your tongue.

Thawn ignored the brothers and watched the TV where he saw the D.M. on a talk show on Top One telling the host that as a sport entertainment franchise, the showrunners should have autonomy on the outcome of the racers. All three businessmen were shocked when none other than the Formula-X Racing Club President, Terrance 'Moodswing' Moodley walked onto the talk show followed by his Vice President, Glenwood Jacobs who naturally contested the D.M.'s beliefs. As they went back and forth, the host got agitated until she eventually asked about the protesting and Mandla' s part in it.

It was at that point that the Deputy Mayor got defensive and claimed that despite appearing to be named after him, Amandla's Rebellion had nothing to do with Mandla. When the host asked why he appeared to be speaking on his son's behalf, the D.M. claimed that Mandla was training. It was at this point that the host asked why Mandla needed to train if sports entertainment was staged.

Wow, said Zach. It seems Moodswing just owned the Dee Em.

Yeah, said Jeremiah, just like Mandla owned you at the Scramble. The brothers laughed just like they did when Mandla had won the Crown from him. Ever confident, Thawn had done well to ignore the sniggering back then and continued to dominate. And he wasn't going to stop until he was back on top again.

You two laugh it up. But tonight, I'm making my return: my re-debut if you will. Mark my words, gentlemen: tonight will mark my re-ascent to the top of the food chain.

LATER AT THE FUEL SPEEDWAY

By the time Thawn arrived at the Fuel Speedway, the fandom had already packed the Old Airport to capacity. The show hadn't started yet but it was about to. Thawn was currently waiting at the Clubhouse, having gotten special permission from the Club Committee but still needed to confirm final preparations. The Club Sectary was there too.

Okay Thawn, so here's what I got, said the young Colored woman. At eight o'clock on the dot, the title sequence kicks in and then we play the music you requested–

Princes of the Universe, by Queen. I requested that song very specifically, Marion.

"Yeah, I know. The song from The Highlander."

Thawn rolled his eyes. I'm sorry, where's Ellie? Shouldn't the Committee Events Officer be organizing all of this.

She's busy. On race night she's always busy. But rest assured, she was the one that put this plan together. We need only follow the plan.

Well, I sure as hell hope so. I want this to go perfectly. Now talk me through the rest. Ellie was only a year or two older than Marion but a little more mature. Part of Thawn commended Moodswing for giving youngsters straight out varsity a chance to gain experience. But another part wondered where on earth he found these people. After walking him through the rest of the plan, Thawn was satisfied and went outside to get in the bright white limousine parked on the clubhouse training track. As the Fuel intro music boomed, the limo started down the piece of asphalt that joined the training track to the Fuel Speedway. It was time.

As soon as the intro music ended, Queen boomed on the loudspeakers,

"Here we are, born to be Kings. We're the princes of the universe..."

At first, the crowd wasn't sure what was going on. The white limo slowly made its way onto the racetrack, with the crowd beginning to stir, not sure who to expect but knowing that it was something worth anticipating. Thawn waited for the cue before showing himself. 

"I am immortal. I have inside me blood of kings, yeah, yeah. I have no rival..."

When the chorus hit, Thawn stood up through the sunroof and the crowd immediately began to boo loudly. But Thawn didn't care. This wasn't about them. It was about him. Thawn's smile broadened when he saw the balloons and confetti falling over the Fuel Speedway. 

The limo, as planned, did a slow lap around the O.G. section of the racetrack (the old oval-track) before coming to a stop in front of the grandstand. As Thawn got out of the limo, he continued to beam, despite the fandom persisting to boo because everything was going as planned, meaning he would be at the center of the middle-stage by the time the song ended. 

Indeed, the song ended just as Thawn hit center stage. He managed to grab a microphone, prepared to address the crowd.  That was when everything went to crap...

"Buddy you're a boy, make a big noise, playing in the street, gonna be a big man someday..."

Thawn didn't know what the hell was going on. He had not asked for another classic Queen song to be played. But he knew this wasn't an administrative mistake when Longitude and Latitude came out of the front seat of his limo. They climbed onto the roof to the cheers of the crowd. While Latitude led the crowd in singing WE WILL, WE WILL ROCK YOU, ROCK YOU, Longitude transported two buckets onto the roof. The brothers then dumped the contents all over the paint job, revealing the contents to be bright green slime. 

As the fandom continued to cheer, Thawn immediately climbed down from the middle-stage, eager to kill them for destroying the rental. He began chasing Latitude around the limo, clearly trying to make a game out of Thawn's pursuit. But just before Thawn could lay a hand on Latitude, Longitude had grabbed another bucket from somewhere and dunked it over his head. Now covered in green slime like the limo, Thawn began to scream in anger which only brought louder cheers out of the crowd. They had humiliated him... All of them! They had ruined his homecoming!

LATER THAT NIGHT

When Thawn stepped out of Moodswing's office, he was somehow angrier than when he went in. The Club President had just informed him that Longitude and Latitude would not be punished for what they did. Good sports entertainment was what Moodswing had called it. In fact, the only consolation for Thawn was that at least he wouldn't have to compete tonight which was actually a backhanded consolation prize. It would have been nice to take his frustration out on someone in a race. 

Instead, Thawn would have to hide out until his Taxify driver arrived since he couldn't very well take the limo home. He managed to find a good hiding place on the roof which was perfect because it also allowed him to look down on the racetrack and watch the last race of the night.

What the hell are you doing up here? 

Thawn was surprised to find Brenda Koek standing there. She didn't look at Thawn, instead staring off like a lost soul. I'm avoiding further humiliation. Can't very well stand among my peers still cover in this green crap. He'd tried his best to wipe it off, but his three-piece suit was stained and ruined.

Yeah, sucks what happened. Believe me, I understand the need to hide from the world laughing at you. 

Who the hell is laughing at you? said Thawn rudely. 

Haven't you seen what's been going in between Jim and me? He keeps flirting with me and kissing me and I can't stop him. 

Thawn rolled his eyes. There are ways of dealing with guys like that. It tends to end with them fired. 

I know that but here's the thing: I don't want him to stop. I like it. In fact, I think I like him, and I don't want to. I mean, I know what he's about.

Well, I see why everyone's laughing at you, said Thawn insensitive as ever. Stupidest problem I've ever heard. 

This time it was Brenda that rolled her eyes. Unbelievable. You're right, I am stupid, she said, for telling you any of this. 

Yep. You should tell someone who cares. 

Oh, I will. But she only gets here at the end of the month. When Thawn gave her a confused look, Brenda explained how she made a deal with Penny last season while she was still Duchess of Drag to get Moodswing to lift the hiring freeze so she could get a new relay partner. 

And? said Thawn, waiting to hear the rest of it. Who's your new partner? 

Someone more sensitive than you. Reaching a silent agreement, the two of them turned their attention to the feature race down below. The race was a relay race which pitted Formula-X King, John Kloof and Duke of Drag, Touch Mkhize (his opponent from last week) against Styles Sithole (Touch's PPV opponent) teaming with Mandla Xulu (Number One Claimant to the F-X Crown). Thawn was impressed by how Moodswing was not only building on the events of last week's episode but also developing not one but two rivalries heading towards Arbour Games. 

The race itself was thrilling as they got to see a taste of what's to come with Mandla and Styles showing that they were ready for their respective title shots. In the end though, it was King Kloof and the Duke that pulled out the win. As Thawn watched the F-X King and his partner for the night enter the Winner's Circle, he couldn't help but be jealous. Thawn wanted nothing more than to get that Crown back. But after tonight, there was one way he was considered the threat he was supposed to be. And that was all their fault. He was going to make them pay. Come hell or high water, Longitude and Latitude were going to pay! 

EPISODE 3: THE FINAL TEMPATION OF BRENDA KOEK

21st of September – Season 2

EARLIER IN THE DAY

"You want me to file what?"

Sexual harassment charges.

Brenda Koek looked at her younger sister like she was crazy. She'd just told her what she'd told Thawn on the roof last week and Doris was now basically telling her what Thawn had alluded to. Doris, I'm not filing anything of the sort.

Why not?

Because that's not what this is.

Then what is it?

Brenda found herself lost to explain and ended up doing some combination of a shrug and a head shake. "Look, I dunno what this thing is between Jim and me. All I know is that sexual harassment always starts one way: with a guy – or a girl – doing or saying something to someone else and that other person saying no, they don't like that. The problem, in this case, is that I haven't told Jim that I don't like what he's saying or doing."

Why not?

Because she likes him. It was their youngest sister that spoke, sticking her head out from her room where she was supposed to be doing her homework.

Teresa, stay out of this, said Doris.

Teresa never listened well. Why?

Because I asked you to, answered Doris.

No, I mean why should Brenda file these charges. Aren't you listening? She's into him.

That's not... started Brenda who then struggled to deny it. Doris is right, said Brenda. "Stay out of