Edward and Gale pulled up behind Haxx, the other three caught up as well. "That trick you pulled, was BS." said Edward smiling. "I thought it was a victory.?." said Haxx. "Ooooh, he got you." Gale started chuckling. "Okay, that was good." Edward reached over and patted Haxx's shoulder. Haxx looked confused. "Was that supposed to be 'funny'?" Edward looked to Gale, then to Haxx. "Well, to the next race! I heard there is a 'one life only' challenge. If you die, your out." "So, Titan? Why can't we get off our sparrows?" pondered Gale. "If you get off your sparrow before the race is 'over'-" behind them, the hunter jumped down, and exploded! "That will happen." The team was sent to Venus. They summoned their sparrows and waited. The rain had just let up, just in time. Edward looked up, in the air he could see a dragon flying overheard. The six Guardians stretched, checked their gear, or waved to the cheering crowd. The last race set high expectations for this one. "Haxx, you're famous!" Edward looked to his friend and gestured to the crowd. "I am?" Haxx looked to the crowd. He stood up on his sparrow and waved. The cheering grew louder! "I told you..." Haxx sat back down. Inside his head, gears turned and computer chips ran algorithms. There was nothing fit for the occasion, not yet at least. The computers printed something new, a new algorithm. Haxx was feeling joy. Little did the team know, the Winter Baron was hiding and watching. Braxis placed one hand over his left eye. Without drawing attention to himself, he stood up and walked away. He, and the four vandals following him, got on pikes and drove away. As the five Fallen rode, Braxis barked orders! "You two, prepare a skiff! We will intercept those 'Guardians' on their patrol." the two tailing vandals split up and drove away. "You two! Stay with me." the other two vandals continued to follow Braxis. The first five gates formed an S. It was very difficult to stay on target, some drove into the walls after the sudden surge of energy. Haxx calculated the distance the gates sat a part, and the angles they faced. Haxx knew and made the perfect maneuvers to hit all five gates consecutively, placing him in the lead! "He's not winning this time!" exclaimed Gale. Both Edward and Gale pushed the throttles completely forward! The six racers traversed through a small cave, at the end of it was an immediate left turn! One Guardian didn't turn in time and drove straight for the abyss. The remaining five Guardians drove neck at neck across the cliff. Another left turn was approaching! Everyone drifted, making a perfect turn! Through the cave and under a waterfall, drove the racers! Haxx led the pack with Gale behind him, a warlock behind her, Edward, and a hunter in last! The hunter pulled up beside Edward as they approached a steep drop. The sparrow frames grinded against each other as the hunter rammed into Edward! "Hey, bud! You better.... better stop that! I don't appreciate it!" yelled Edward as he kept his eyes on the track! The hunter rammed one more time into Edward! "Okay, that's it..." Edward locked the destabilizers off. The hunter pulled away, then drifted back to Edward. This time Edward knocked out the hunter with one punch. The hunter dropped his head on the handles, arms drooping close to the ground. Edward stuck the landing, but the hunter exploded behind him. Now, Edward focused on catching up to the others. They were weaving through through a Vex temple-like structure. Minotaurs stood guard and shot at the passing Guardians! They drove up a flight of stairs to see two Hydras blocking their path. "Oohh, I have a bad feeling about this!" exclaimed Edward. Everyone squeezed by and entered a portal. Not everyone was unscathed. The warlock's EV-37 Voidstreak sparrow caught flames from the Vex barrage. As the four Guardians crossed the line, a Fallen vandal had watched them and reported the sight. Braxis looked to his soldiers. "They seem to follow the distinct trail. They will be back." he stopped and watched a skiff fly towards them. "I will intercept them myself." Braxis boarded the skiff and left. The other Fallen took a spider walker and went to where their scout was based. Braxis demanded the pilot servitor to direct the skiff just ahead of the steep drop off. The skiff flew as told and stopped. "Let me know when motion is detected." said Braxis as he walked into the rear cabin. The racers exited the cave and prepared for the second turn. Gale had passed Haxx and hit a dreg! "That was a Fallen!" she cried. "Fallen?! I guess we woke 'em." Edward replied. The Guardians passed under the stone arch. "Four moving objects, Baron." said a dreg assisting the servitor. Braxis got up and walked to the cockpit. He placed both his lower arms on his swords while one of his top arms grasped the ceiling. "Fire at will." Gale's mouth widened in shock! "Fallen skiff ahead!!" She turned sharply to dodge a bullet that hit the warlock behind her! A solitary gasp was heard as the warlock fell off backwards. "On second thought... bring them to me!" said Braxis as he hit the video monitor with his fist. Several vandals jumped out of the skiff and climbed up the rock wall. They looked to each other, howled and barked as they slowly approached the Guardians. "I want you two, to go! Distract them, I got a plan!" said Gale remembering the titan's warning. "Gale, I am NOT leaving you here!" exclaimed Edward holding his scout rifle. "Ed, dear, you have yet to win an argument with me. Now go!" Gale shifted her gaze from Fallen, to Guardian, and back to Fallen. "I believe her." said Haxx to Edward. Edward gave a low growl. "Be careful! DON'T do anything stupid." Edward and Haxx drove off the cliff! The Fallen jumped out of the way and watched. They looked back to the warlock. Gale shifted her helmet and gripped the throttle. "Gale, you know what you are doing? Right?" asked Drake as he appeared in front of her. "Yes, Drake. I am aware of what could happen. I just didn't want Edward to see." Gale drove towards the vandals! They jumped out of the way to let her pass, but Gale jumped off the back. The sparrow exploded killing the vandals! Gale was launched by the shockwave. She turned over and propped herself on her left arm. She looked at her work. "Drake? Drake?... Drake?!" Gale got up and looked around. She held her stomach as she limped around. "Oh there you are." Gale picked up her ghost and stood up. Braxis walked through the smoke and snatched up Gale by her throat! She dropped Drake in an attempt to loosen Braxis' grip! Gale punched the captain's chest multiple times. Every punch he absorbed! Drake flew up and looked at Braxis face to face! "YOU LET GO OF MY GIRL!!" he flew around, head butting the Fallen! Braxis caught Drake and drew his sword! "Drake... no!..." Gale's voice grew weak! She pulled Drake from Braxis' grasp and threw him away! Braxis watched the ghost fall off the cliff! He looked to Gale and growled. Braxis gave a bark to the remaining Fallen and walked back to the skiff.