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Page 13 - New Shining Stars
Kevin is placed in the Intensive Care Unit, after doctors managed to stabilize his condition. The young German racer is still in a vegetative state, while Gerhard, Abel and Mila are anxiously awaiting for him to awaken, even if it's only a fiddle or twitch of his fingers.
And to break that eerie moment of silence, Mila approaches Gerhard.
"I heard you exclaimed that he is your son. Are you... Gerhard Kern?" Mila asked.
"So you heard, Mila. Yes I am." Gerhard replied.
"All this time, you are guiding him?" she added.
"Yes. It was the only way I know how to raise him while protecting him from Maximilian." he replied.
"And now, he's like... knocking on death's door. Are you still going to hide it from him?" she asked, with her eyes about to burst tears.
"I have done a lot of bad things in life, and this is... the worst. I shall regret this forever." Gerhard replied.
"Kevin lost his mother and had no aim in life until he found out what happened to her. All of this... was his product of revenge. You didn't guide him enough." Mila said, then storming out to the hospital corridor.
She leans on the wall, and tears start flowing. She then covers her face. Moments later, Dave, and the Kanonji twins make a hasty walk to Kevin's room.
Takuma sees Mila's moment of despair. He would then hug her. She composes herself afterwards.
"Mila, how is he?" Takuma asked.
"He still hasn't awakened. The doctor told us that... this might... be his last." Mila said.
"I'm sorry..." Takuma said.
Takuma then gets inside, along with the others. He sees Gerhard standing still looking at his son, while Abel merely looks out by the window.
"Mr. Kern?" Takuma said.
Gerhard turns back and looks at the others.
"I can't believe this. I shouldn't have let this happen. My timing wasn't right... I could have told him the truth much sooner." Gerhard said.
Takuma glances at Kevin. Then all of a sudden, he sees Kevin's right hand twitching.
"Kevin?" Takuma said.
Gerhard turns back to look and gets closer. Kevin's eyes opened, and he looks at Gerhard.
"Mister... Gottlieb..." Kevin said in a weak tone.
"Kevin.." Gerhard said, then he turns to look at everyone in the room. He and Mila then look at each other.
This is the golden, yet somber opportunity for Gerhard to unveil himself to his son.
"Kevin... your father... is here. It's me. Gerhard Kern." Gerhard said.
Tears roll down from Kevin as well, having finally known and realized the person guiding him was his father all those years.
"You...? For... real?" Kevin asked.
"Yes... yes. I am sorry for lying... and putting you on such a huge predicament. It's all my fault." Gerhard said.
"All this time..." Kevin said, and he shows a big smile.
"I am sorry, Kevin. I am really... really sorry. I am a terrible father. I wasn't able to save your mother, either. How I wish I could turn back time." Gerhard said, and then he holds Kevin's hand.
"No... it's my fault for being so reckless. You did everything for me. I... love... you... father." Kevin said.
And then Kevin breathes out his last sigh...
"I'll say hi to mother for you..." Kevin utters his final words, and the monitor shows a flat line. Abel quickly rushes out to call the nurses and doctors. They rush into Kevin's side and attempt to revive him with a defibrillator.
But to no avail. The doctor would look at his watch.
"Time of death... 5:05 pm." the doctor said.
Mila cries on Kevin's right side, while Gerhard stands up, and punches the wall repeatedly along with an endless rush of tears. He would then stop, and weep.
Takuma and Takanori look at each other with long faces, while Dave can only look up the ceiling, trying to fight his tears, sniffling his nose.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Location: A cemetery in Stuttgart, Germany
Time: 4 pm, two days later
News of Kevin's passing quickly spread through various form of media. The gaming community spent moments of silence for their fallen friend who gave them inspiration. The cosplaying community would then post various tributes of Kevin in different platforms.
While Gerhard requested for the burial to be private, hordes of fans would then deposit flowers and wreaths. A big flower wreath from Red Bull was also seen, as a tribute to Kevin's contributions to the X Program.
Kevin is buried next to his mother, with a bright ceramic epitaph standing on the ground.
Czarina attends as well, and the first she approaches is none other than Gerhard.
"Condolonces... Mr... Gott-- I mean Kern." she said.
"Thank you. I appreciate your presence." Gerhard said.
"I have extended an olive branch to your son before he passed. I promised him that I will put my father to justice. I won't stop." Czarina said.
"How selfless. I can't believe I am hearing this from you." Gerhard said.
"Then I found out... you're alive after all." Czarina said.
"I never heard from your father ever since he escaped from the Azores. I was the one who provided the breadcrumbs to you." Gerhard replied.
"I'll make it up to you. My search shall not cease. I will update you. This is the least I can do for you both." Czarina said.
"Thank you. You are one daughter I never had. This must be tough for you, considering how much you love him." Gerhard said.
"This will end. Soon." Czarina said with conviction, clenching her right fist.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Location: Trial Mountain Circuit, Washington State, USA
Time: 3 pm, one week later
Life must go on, one said. Loss can be really difficult to get over with, especially when it involves everyone around you.
Under Gerhard's orders, Neo resumes their activities, preparing for the 4th round. They have to qualify after all.
In the pit lane, Alphonse heads over to Neo's pit garage, carrying a small card.
"Excuse me... is Mr. Kern over there?" Alphonse asked.
Gerhard sees the young man and approaches him.
"Oh, you must be Mr. Alphonse Blanchard." Gerhard said.
"I offer my sincerest condolences. Here's something for you..." Alphonse said as he hands over the card. Gerhard flips it open, and it contains a message:
"I have lost a friend, a rival, and a brother. We will meet once again, Kevin Kern."
And attached is another small card, showing a Discord Nitro avatar that he only came up with a quick photo editing.
"The last time we played, I lost against your son. I gave a one-year worth of Discord Nitro subscription as part of the deal. But now..." Alphonse said.
"Thank you, young man. I think Kevin would appreciate it more if you give your all. Do not hold back. Do not be affected." Gerhard said, then he pats on Alphonse's shoulder.
Neo then begins the qualifying session with a different livery on the AMG.
The matte black is a clear sign of mourning, but Dave at the helm clearly does not let emotions get the better of him.
"Everyone in Neo feels down, obviously." Dave remarked.
"No matter what, we all have to move on. Kevin wouldn't want to see long faces." he added.
Alphonse honors Gerhard's request.
"Kevin entrusted me his dreams. I shall not fail." Alphonse thought.
Meanwhile, Giacomo enjoys the upgrades the Giulia received after a disappointing result in Bathurst.
"A new flat floor... makes a huge difference here." Giacomo remarked.
"Can't lose against those Pianizzis..." Giacomo added.
Seems like he has some issues with the Pianizzi siblings. Whatever it is, the Giulia will definitely put up a better fight.
The next day, the race begins.
Neo is placed 4th on qualifying. Gerhard is actually impressed with the improvements of skill seen by the three drivers ahead.
"It seems that we are ushering in the new era. Alphonse... Giacomo... and Charlie. I can sense those three will change the landscape of racing." Gerhard said.
"Kevin... don't you worry. We will do the rest. We will finish this fight. Those three rising stars... better watch them." he added.
End of Page 13
Kevin is placed in the Intensive Care Unit, after doctors managed to stabilize his condition. The young German racer is still in a vegetative state, while Gerhard, Abel and Mila are anxiously awaiting for him to awaken, even if it's only a fiddle or twitch of his fingers.
And to break that eerie moment of silence, Mila approaches Gerhard.
"I heard you exclaimed that he is your son. Are you... Gerhard Kern?" Mila asked.
"So you heard, Mila. Yes I am." Gerhard replied.
"All this time, you are guiding him?" she added.
"Yes. It was the only way I know how to raise him while protecting him from Maximilian." he replied.
"And now, he's like... knocking on death's door. Are you still going to hide it from him?" she asked, with her eyes about to burst tears.
"I have done a lot of bad things in life, and this is... the worst. I shall regret this forever." Gerhard replied.
"Kevin lost his mother and had no aim in life until he found out what happened to her. All of this... was his product of revenge. You didn't guide him enough." Mila said, then storming out to the hospital corridor.
She leans on the wall, and tears start flowing. She then covers her face. Moments later, Dave, and the Kanonji twins make a hasty walk to Kevin's room.
Takuma sees Mila's moment of despair. He would then hug her. She composes herself afterwards.
"Mila, how is he?" Takuma asked.
"He still hasn't awakened. The doctor told us that... this might... be his last." Mila said.
"I'm sorry..." Takuma said.
Takuma then gets inside, along with the others. He sees Gerhard standing still looking at his son, while Abel merely looks out by the window.
"Mr. Kern?" Takuma said.
Gerhard turns back and looks at the others.
"I can't believe this. I shouldn't have let this happen. My timing wasn't right... I could have told him the truth much sooner." Gerhard said.
Takuma glances at Kevin. Then all of a sudden, he sees Kevin's right hand twitching.
"Kevin?" Takuma said.
Gerhard turns back to look and gets closer. Kevin's eyes opened, and he looks at Gerhard.
"Mister... Gottlieb..." Kevin said in a weak tone.
"Kevin.." Gerhard said, then he turns to look at everyone in the room. He and Mila then look at each other.
This is the golden, yet somber opportunity for Gerhard to unveil himself to his son.
"Kevin... your father... is here. It's me. Gerhard Kern." Gerhard said.
Tears roll down from Kevin as well, having finally known and realized the person guiding him was his father all those years.
"You...? For... real?" Kevin asked.
"Yes... yes. I am sorry for lying... and putting you on such a huge predicament. It's all my fault." Gerhard said.
"All this time..." Kevin said, and he shows a big smile.
"I am sorry, Kevin. I am really... really sorry. I am a terrible father. I wasn't able to save your mother, either. How I wish I could turn back time." Gerhard said, and then he holds Kevin's hand.
"No... it's my fault for being so reckless. You did everything for me. I... love... you... father." Kevin said.
And then Kevin breathes out his last sigh...
"I'll say hi to mother for you..." Kevin utters his final words, and the monitor shows a flat line. Abel quickly rushes out to call the nurses and doctors. They rush into Kevin's side and attempt to revive him with a defibrillator.
But to no avail. The doctor would look at his watch.
"Time of death... 5:05 pm." the doctor said.
Mila cries on Kevin's right side, while Gerhard stands up, and punches the wall repeatedly along with an endless rush of tears. He would then stop, and weep.
Takuma and Takanori look at each other with long faces, while Dave can only look up the ceiling, trying to fight his tears, sniffling his nose.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Location: A cemetery in Stuttgart, Germany
Time: 4 pm, two days later
News of Kevin's passing quickly spread through various form of media. The gaming community spent moments of silence for their fallen friend who gave them inspiration. The cosplaying community would then post various tributes of Kevin in different platforms.
While Gerhard requested for the burial to be private, hordes of fans would then deposit flowers and wreaths. A big flower wreath from Red Bull was also seen, as a tribute to Kevin's contributions to the X Program.
Kevin is buried next to his mother, with a bright ceramic epitaph standing on the ground.
Czarina attends as well, and the first she approaches is none other than Gerhard.
"Condolonces... Mr... Gott-- I mean Kern." she said.
"Thank you. I appreciate your presence." Gerhard said.
"I have extended an olive branch to your son before he passed. I promised him that I will put my father to justice. I won't stop." Czarina said.
"How selfless. I can't believe I am hearing this from you." Gerhard said.
"Then I found out... you're alive after all." Czarina said.
"I never heard from your father ever since he escaped from the Azores. I was the one who provided the breadcrumbs to you." Gerhard replied.
"I'll make it up to you. My search shall not cease. I will update you. This is the least I can do for you both." Czarina said.
"Thank you. You are one daughter I never had. This must be tough for you, considering how much you love him." Gerhard said.
"This will end. Soon." Czarina said with conviction, clenching her right fist.
*********************************************************************************************************************
Location: Trial Mountain Circuit, Washington State, USA
Time: 3 pm, one week later
Life must go on, one said. Loss can be really difficult to get over with, especially when it involves everyone around you.
Under Gerhard's orders, Neo resumes their activities, preparing for the 4th round. They have to qualify after all.
In the pit lane, Alphonse heads over to Neo's pit garage, carrying a small card.
"Excuse me... is Mr. Kern over there?" Alphonse asked.
Gerhard sees the young man and approaches him.
"Oh, you must be Mr. Alphonse Blanchard." Gerhard said.
"I offer my sincerest condolences. Here's something for you..." Alphonse said as he hands over the card. Gerhard flips it open, and it contains a message:
"I have lost a friend, a rival, and a brother. We will meet once again, Kevin Kern."
And attached is another small card, showing a Discord Nitro avatar that he only came up with a quick photo editing.
"The last time we played, I lost against your son. I gave a one-year worth of Discord Nitro subscription as part of the deal. But now..." Alphonse said.
"Thank you, young man. I think Kevin would appreciate it more if you give your all. Do not hold back. Do not be affected." Gerhard said, then he pats on Alphonse's shoulder.
Neo then begins the qualifying session with a different livery on the AMG.
The matte black is a clear sign of mourning, but Dave at the helm clearly does not let emotions get the better of him.
"Everyone in Neo feels down, obviously." Dave remarked.
"No matter what, we all have to move on. Kevin wouldn't want to see long faces." he added.
Alphonse honors Gerhard's request.
"Kevin entrusted me his dreams. I shall not fail." Alphonse thought.
Meanwhile, Giacomo enjoys the upgrades the Giulia received after a disappointing result in Bathurst.
"A new flat floor... makes a huge difference here." Giacomo remarked.
"Can't lose against those Pianizzis..." Giacomo added.
Seems like he has some issues with the Pianizzi siblings. Whatever it is, the Giulia will definitely put up a better fight.
The next day, the race begins.
Neo is placed 4th on qualifying. Gerhard is actually impressed with the improvements of skill seen by the three drivers ahead.
"It seems that we are ushering in the new era. Alphonse... Giacomo... and Charlie. I can sense those three will change the landscape of racing." Gerhard said.
"Kevin... don't you worry. We will do the rest. We will finish this fight. Those three rising stars... better watch them." he added.
End of Page 13
