And whoever was driving it knew what the hell they were doing. Following behind were two stripped down, weapon-ready motorcycles eating up the terrain.
"Bastards!" She jerked the wheel, spinning around as ;he instantly gauged the distance between them and the canyon. The Dragoon was good, damned good, but it didn't jump distance worth a damn. That was why Lance went for the Raiders instead. And to be safe, he had tinkered with both his and Megan's.
"Hang on," she yelled as Braden's curses sizzled the air.
"God darnmit, how did they find us so fucking fast. " He was snarling.
Megan laughed.
"I got your back, baby," she yelled, stomping the gas and heading for the canyon. "Hang on to your ass though. "
The canyon was almost eight hundred yards away, plenty of room for gaining speed, especially with the special booster attached to the underbelly of the Raider. She flipped open the port between the seats as Braden flipped around.
"Fuck. Megan. What the hell are you doing?’ The canyon was wide; she gave him credit for his concern.
"Desert Dragoons can't jump the cliff," she yelled back. "The cycles might follow us, but we'll lose those rockets the Dragoon is carrying. "
"And you think Raiders can jump?" he shouted incredulously. "Holy shit. I'm beating your ass, Megan. I'm telling you. We live through this, and you've had it. "
Her laughter met the threat as she began to count. She passed the
halfway point. Four hundred feet to go. Her speed was rising fast, but not fast enough to jump without help. She fingered the accelerator switch, watching the speedometer as she held the gas to the floor.
"Laser guidance detected. " The Raider's automatic defense system activated, the computer's modulated voice giving the warning. "Firing can commence within three feet. "
Three more feet. If she didn't keep that Dragoon far enough behind her, then they were toast. She watched the rapidly approaching canyon, calculated the distance of landing and then the two seconds it would take to reach the cover of trees. Almost there.
Her finger itched to hit the accelerator as the canyon loomed closer.
Almost there.
"Laser guidance can commence in two feet. "
The Dragoon was gaining fast, but it couldn't jump the distance. Easy maneuverability, but heavy on weapons from what she saw.
Almost.
"Laser guidance can commence in one foot. "
She didn't bother to check rearview mirrors. Speed was hitting one hundred and twenty, almost, but not enough.
Just another second. Another second.
One hundred feet. Fifty feet. Twenty. She aimed the Raider for the natural upsloped lip.
"Hang on. " She hit the accelerator, her breath wheezing from her chest as the Raider shot the last few yards, hitting the dirt ramp and flying through the air.
"Hell yes, baby!" Braden yelled as the Raider cleared the canyon and slammed down on solid earth seconds later, bouncing them in their seats and activating the quick inflate on the seat belts that held them in their seats, preventing possible injury in the event of such a sudden drop.
"Rocket activation, no lock," the computer voiced as
Megan sent the Raider speeding into the cover of the trees, twisting the wheel brutally to avoid the thick trunks as she headed down the sharp slope to the road below.
"Those motorcycles are on our ass. Their mini rockets will do some heavy damage. " Braden flipped around again.
"Security, disengage window, retain security field. "
The wide back window dropped away as Braden began firing.