Vulnerability of a Hero

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Set off from Rick's Lament and based on the events of Lap 8, The Secret Within. It highlights over Rick dealing with his survivor's guilt as well as pangs from his dark past. Dark Million just awoke someone from his dark past as a way to have the upper hand in the competition and eliminate Rick. How would he endure all these challenges?
It was set in a fateful, jumpy race with Rick and Jack against Bio Rex and Octoman! Multiple pilots were eliminated excepting the four, and Jody urges Rick to win this race! He shut off the comm and went on the pursuit, the leading pilot as the carnivorous creature! It was his chance for major moolah as he and Octoman blocked him off! From a sudden nudge by the Deep Claw, the Dragon Bird knocked it off course! Rick still was clipping Rex's coattails till the lanes widened, and he and Jack whizzed passed him! The teammates cheered for Rick's success, although Stewart muttered, winning races stir up bad memories for him. Sure enough, it did as he drifted off to 150 years ago while he won the Big Apple tournament.
At the winner's circle, he wasn't very thrilled, even when he appeared on a mag cover Lucy was ogling over, till Jack was pouting over his success. She scorned he should be grateful, otherwise he'd be dead last; he refused his help as he claims to be the best driver on the circuit. Rick wasn't fond of Jack's obsessiveness for stardom either. Meanwhile Tanaka kept adoring Rick's trophies and isn't taking Dark Million's threats seriously, as said by Jody they'd go after him for stealing their chances on winning prize money.
Somewhere distant, Zoda was irritated on allowing losers around, though Black Shadow shook him up for failing; apparently, he was cut out for the job as he hired two new recruits: the black magic sorcerer, the Skull, as well someone he conjured. Someone Rick hasn't seen in 150 years.
Meanwhile, Rick was heading home but his mind wouldn't stop drifting away to 150 years, even when he was eligible for the last round! Haruka congratulated him on his success, and he wouldn't have gotten this far if it wasn't for her support. Winning the tournament may be good, but he has his sights on a more important prize. But...it was all a memory, and Rick lamented more. He soon headed to the Falcon House, and The Skull, and even Tinsel, were watching him.
This would kick off the songfic, as Rick discussed with Burt of his lost past; he even closed shop for some private time. Though, it only increased his desperation to kill Zoda and lament over his loss. He then flashed back to when Haruka spotted a ring she wanted, and he never drank his sweet coffee. The Skull mocked Rick, haunted by a ghost, a girl. As he tried to ease his mind, he faded away when Rick took a swap at him. Though, he took some of his hairs.
Late that night, Jody informed Rick there was an emergency as a woman is defecting from Dark Million. He found her and escorted her away to his flat. He offered her coffee, admitting he's not much of a cook. She went by the name of Sophia, and Black Shadow attacked a space cruiser, one her father was orchestrating as he took her and her mom along. He threatened to hurt them unless they worked for him. She lost her parents and managed to escape; Rick sympathized, but...something was troubling him. He thought Haruka might be--
He forgot to contact his CEO and rushed upstairs, though Sophia had an ulterior motive. Rick forgot to contact HQ and she asked what the name of the woman was he once knew. He uttered her name, much to the completion of the Skull's spell, closing up his airwaves!! It was a trap! And the assassin was onto him. Rick was losing strength quickly, but just enough to gaze into her eyes, thinking there'd be an ounce of good in her, then tossed her back as Tinsel was calling him. From the ruckus, she woke up and wandered in. The attacker leapt out of the window and rode on the Sonic Phantom. Tinsel was startled when she saw Rick lifeless.
She desperately lifted his head onto a pillow and performed mouth-to-mouth.
A whisper and a faint light greeted Rick in the darkness. He followed it and he wound up in the beautiful heavens, reunited with his lost love! She, however, wasn't content, as she said it's not his time, much to his dismay. Rick suddenly sputtered and coughed a lot as he regained consciousness. He saw Tinsel over him, asking if he's alright. Tinsel shed tears of relief, and she offered to write down the code he needed to contact their team. They slept till sunrise, when officers approached the disarray.
Rick was recovering on the futon with Lucy, and Jody came to the conclusion that the woman he faced is working for Dark Million. She urged her team to stay alert on and off the racetrack as Dark Million would stop them while they win more victories. Hours later, Rick was grateful for Haruka for watching over him, and the ring as her memo. Tinsel then promised she'll protect Rick, and someday heal his deep past wounds.
== Trivia ==
* This was set after the songfic, Rick's Lament, and inspired by episode 8 of GP Legend, The Secret Within.
* This does center around RickxHaruka, as well as his Survivor's Guilt.
* This was when Ikran began to adore Rick a lot more, as she can relate to his dark, tragic past; she lost her mom since she was 12.
* Unlike the episode, there was a plot twist, as Rick meets Haruka in the heavens, and she functions more like a spiritual guide later on. Rick DID succumb to the Skull's dark magic and nearly died till Tinsel gave him mouth-to-mouth.
* The title was an excerpt from Chris Stuckmann's advice on making a good action movie, having a hero be vulnerable, and more realistic. When she/he meets certain death and comes back after unlocking their potential.
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