A Lesson In History

**A Lesson In History**is the fourth episode of the second season of Rimba Racer.

## Summary

Waking from a dream in which he relives his long ago accident while hearing voices, including that of Miles, Riq calls Tag to ask his son to come to a meeting. Wearing "disguises", Tag and Miles meet Riq at an old diner, where the old friends greet each other coolly while Tag manages to offend a waitress. Miles questions Riq's inclusion of him in this meeting, as Riq has been distant since revealing the truth of his survival several months earlier. After an angry exchange between the pair, Tag calms them down and suggests that they tell him everything about what happened between them.

The story then flashes back fourteen years to Pinewood Reservoir, where an excited Riq is putting his car through a practice run of the course. Miles, observing Riq, lets him know that another car is coming up behind him, and the two vehicles are soon engaged in a race. After some fancy maneuvering on the part of both drivers, Riq crosses the finish line first, with his opponent emerging to reveal himself to be none other than King. The two enjoy some brief banter, King noting that Riq isn't far from winning another racing championship, though his comments about "next season" give Riq pause.

Afterwards, Riq talks to a young Tag on the phone, and then reveals to Miles that he intends to give up racing after the upcoming race so he can dedicate more time to his family. Miles, angry that Riq would leave after they've worked so hard to get where they are, warns Riq against this course. Later, Riq is approached by a stranger who introduces himself as Smythe, who represents a mysterious group he claims can turn racing into something bigger. He offers Riq the chance to be the face of this new game of racing, but Riq is unconvinced. When Smythe reveals that it would involve fixing races, Riq outright refuses, recognizing the illegality of such a setup and refusing to play the part of a ringmaster.

After Smythe leaves, warning Riq against sharing news of their conversation, Miles and King have a conversation about Riq's impending retirement. King suggest that Miles sabotage Riq's car in order to prevent him from winning the next race, thus giving him the incentive to stay in racing so he can win another championship. King then speaks to Smythe, having apparently accepted the offer Riq refused, but Smythe isn't satisfied with the prospect of Miles' sabotage. That night, Miles sneaks into Riq's trailer to work on the car.

The next day, Smythe appears with a parting word to Riq before the race, and an anxious Riq makes Miles promise to take car of Tag if anything happens to him during the race. Riq is soon out on the track, unaware that Xeno has planted a device on the bottom of his car on Smythe's instructions, something Miles didn't spot. As a result, Riq's engine goes up in smoke and he loses control of the car on the Pinewood Reservoir dam, causing the vehicle to fall into the rushing river below. Riq manages to escape the car despite having his helmet broken and going over a waterfall, spotting Xeno's device as he swims to safety.

Shaken and scarred, Riq makes his way to Daisy's Diner, where he sees a news report blaming the accident on illegal modifications and accusing Riq of cheating his way to previous victories. Knowing the pain his apparent death will cause his wife and son, Riq prepares to call them, but changes his mind after remembering Smythe's warnings. Back in the present day, Riq finishes his story, and admits that he at last knows Miles wasn't responsible for his accident. Miles realizes the same thing, though Riq still holds it against him that he tried to keep him from his family.

Despite their troubled history, Riq is able to express gratitude to Miles for looking after Tag, and Miles is able to express his pride in his son's best friend. Miles and Tag return to Tag's garage, where they are finally reconciled now that Tag has learned the whole truth.