Race

Race is the 42nd episode of the series, Brandon 10: Ultimate Hero.

Plot
The episode begins on a forest-like planet. A temple is seen in the distance. Inside the temple, alien monks are seen wandering around, tending to their business. One of the monks runs by in a hurry past the other monks. He goes down a flight of ancient-looking stairs and runs slowly down an old-looking hallway with walls made from mossy tan-colored stone and brick until he reaches the end of the hallway at a big, wooden door. From inside the room, the door is seen opening and the monk is seen entering the room as a hooded figure is seen seated on the floor.

Alien Monk: Sir, they have come. The people you have told us about. They have come.

The hooded figure looks up, his face still concealed. An exhale is heard from beneath his hood. The hooded figure lifts up one arm then sticks two fingers out and circles his hand around, giving some sort of signal to the monk. The monk nods then leaves the dark room, closing the wooden door behind him. The scene then focuses on the hooded figure again, who starts to get up from the floor. Outside of the temple, the Interceptor is seen landing by some trees. When it does land, the cargo bay door opens and Sarah and Jenny exit the ship.

Jenny: Should we tell him?

Sarah: No.

Jenny: But you said-

Sarah: I know what I said. I changed my mind.

Jenny: I noticed.

Sarah: I just think that he probably doesn't want to hear it.

Jenny: What about Coco?

Sarah: He's keeping the engine warm. In case, we have to make a quick get away.

Jenny: Understood.

The two of them then approach the temple. Suddenly, they are ambushed by a series of alien monks, weilding wooden spears with sharp stone tips. Sarah prepares her energy discs and Jenny extends her hands out carefully.

Voice: Wait.

The girls look up over at the temple entrance as the monks lower their spears. The hooded figure then approaches them and stands before them.

Hooded Figure: What are you doing here?

Sarah: We're looking for someone. Someone important.

Hooded Figure: Why would the person you're looking for be here at this temple?

Sarah: We don't know. We just want to have a look around, maybe you've seen him.

Jenny, waving her hand around the group of monks: I am uploading a mental image of the person we're looking for.

Hooded Figure: He isn't in the temple.

A few of the monks look at the hooded figure.

Sarah: Are you sure?

Hooded Figure: Yes. You might want to just go back to where you came from.

Jenny: He means a lot to us.

The hooded figure then looks at Jenny, thoughtfully.

Sarah: Maybe we could just look around and-

Hooded Figure: That won't be neccessary.

Sarah: We really miss him.

Hooded Figure: I know...

The hooded figure reaches for his hood and lowers it revealing that he is actually Brandon.

Brandon: I missed you guys too.

The scene then cuts to later on, with Brandon, in his regular clothes, leaving the temple, with a small bag and the monk.

Brandon: Are you sure I should go? I didn't really finish my training.

Monk: When you first came here, I said that you will finish your training when it needed to be finished. Now I think it's time that it finished. Besides, you of all people in this universe, don't need proper training.

Brandon: But my situation-

Monk: Yes, I know of your problem, Brandon, but you already have the solution, you just don't know how to express it yet. When you do, your problems will be solved.

Brandon: Thank you for your help.

Brandon then walks off with the bag while the team, including Coco, are seen waiting for him outside of the Interceptor.

Coco: About time.

Brandon: Sorry had to pick up some things.

Coco: Dude, when I said you needed to think in a quiet place, I meant your room, not some alien planet.

Jenny: I am just glad you are back with us, Brandon.

Brandon: Thanks.

Sarah: So did you solve your problem?

Brandon: I guess. I just need some time to think about it.

Coco: Well you'll have plenty of time to think about it back on Earth.

Brandon: You mind if I do some stretches before we hop on?

Sarah: Seriously?

Brandon: My trip getting here was kinda of bumpy ride. I just can't wait to get in an actual-

A beam then touches down on the planet, teleporting Brandon away, leaving behind a scorched mark on the ground.

Sarah: Brandon? Brandon?!

The team looks around for him. Meanwhile, in an energized container, Brandon is beamed within it.

Brandon: -bed. (looking around) Uh, guys?

Announcer: The 10th Competitor has now joined the Competition! Scanning for Information.

The container then scans Brandon quickly and uploads his data to a large screen posted above an auidence of viewers in some bleachers. On the screen, it reads: "Name: Brandon Tennyson, Origin: Earth, Located On: Domiva, Power Level: 2.5".

Announcer: Brandon Tennyson! Originating from Earth, Found on the planet, Domiva. You're a long way from home. Power Level is 2.5.

The viewers then boo at his power level.

Announcer: Wait! Wait! Scans detected unknown power. Scanning for additional amounts of power now!

The container then scans Brandon again, now focusing more on the Ultimatrix. A "20+" is added to his Power Level section on the screen.

Announcer: Looks like he has an additional 20+ to his power level. Well, you're going to need it in the race of the century, The Annual 57th Intergalactic Grand Prix!

The scene then shows off the race track and the bleachers filled with viewers, cheering.

Theme Song 

After the titles, the containers are seen lined up, all twelve of them. Brandon is seen standing in his container, he looks to the left and sees the other nine and he looks to his right to see the last two.

Announcer: Looks like that's all the competitiors that'll be joining our racing competition. Now before we start racing, let's explain the rules to any new viewers joining us. The racers will start here, on the galactic track and race each other to the death.

Brandon, to himself: That doesn't sound very good.

Announcer: A warpgate will then be activated, transporting our racers throughout the galaxy to various planets to undertake in this racing competition. The first one over the finish line wins the tournament. They will then be transported back to their home world while the rest are enslaved to work for the competition till they expire. Sounds like fun! Now let's get these racers ready for the race. They've exactly one hour to construct their vehicle using our state of the art technology. Starting... Now!

The racers are then transported from their containers to a room, similar to a garage. Most of the people, aliens of different sorts, go their seperate ways to these power stations.

Brandon: Uh. Hey, you guys know what's going on here?

They ignore him.

Brandon: Anyone?

He turns his head and sees two smaller looking aliens, cowering in fear. One being a furry orange alien while the other is a blue aquatic-like alien.

Brandon: Hey, do you two know what's going on here?

Furry Alien: It's the end! The end of us all!

Brandon: Wow that's very specific. Thanks.

Voice: Don't waste your time with them.

Brandon turns around and sees a blue skinned, female alien in a purple/black skin tight uniform, she has black fingerless gloves on and darker blue hair.

Blue Girl: They're not going to be very helpful.

Brandon: You know what's going on here?

Blue Girl: It's called a race. Get with it.

The Blue Girl goes over to her station and starts typing at it. Brandon looks around then walks over to her.

Brandon: Look, I have no idea what's going on here. I was teleported here and now I'm supposed to race?

Blue Girl: You're from Earth, right?

Brandon: ...Yeah. Why?

Blue Girl: You don't get the service news on Earth. (looks at the cowering aliens in the corner) You don't get it on Aquarix or Morrido also. Basically, it's a game.

Brandon: A game?

Blue Girl: (looking at Brandon again) Yeah. You get choosen, you get to race. (typing on the station) I've been training for this day since I was a little girl.

Brandon: Okay so we just break out of here and-

Blue Girl: There's no escape. They've built this place and improved it every century with the latest and most advanced tech in the universe.

Brandon: Well that can't be true because I'm wearing the latest and most advanced tech in the universe.

Brandon activates the Ultimatrix and slaps down the face plate. He transforms into Drillbit.

Drillbit: DRILLBIT!

Blue Girl: What are you doing?

Drillbit: Getting us out of here.

Drillbit activates his drill hand and drills against the wall. A spark then discharges from the wall, sparking a tiny explosion, sending Drillbit to fly into another competitor, knocking him over.

Drillbit: Ow...

Drillbit is then pushed off as a big, muscular grey-skinned alien looks down at him.

Drillbit: Heh... Hi.

Muscular Alien: You have some nerve trying to mess up my build.

Drillbit: I'm not trying to pick a fight with you. I was just trying to get us out of here.

Muscular Alien: Are you trying to tick me off?

Drillbit: I'm being serious.

Muscular Alien: Hm... You're dumber than you look. There is no escape.

Drillbit: Yeah, I've been hearing that lately.

Muscular Alien: Come over here again and there will be only 11 racers in this place.

The Muscular Alien turns around and goes back to his station. Drillbit then transforms back into Brandon. The Blue Girl helps him up.

Blue Girl: You okay?

Brandon: Yeah I'm fine. Thanks.

The Blue Girl then slaps him in the face.

Brandon: Ow! What was that for?!

Blue Girl: Are you trying to kill us?

Brandon: I'm trying to save you.

Blue Girl: I don't need saving. We don't need saving. You want to save someone? Save yourself by winning this race. (walks away) You can use your terminal to build your vehicle.

Brandon then turns around and sees a terminal station under the number 10 printed on the wall. He then goes over to it and activates the terminal.

Brandon: Whoa...

The scene then shows a montage of the various competitors designing their cars until they all hit a button at the bottom of the terminal which causes the station to produce a beam which creates a physical representation of each vehicle. Brandon presses his button which causes the station to create a car similar to the Mach 10 with the number 10 labeled on the side.

Brandon: Sweet.

Voice: You call that a car?

Brandon turns around and sees a big turtle-like alien.

Turtle Alien: You're going to lose, kid.

The turtle alien then walks back to his station labeled 4.

Blue Girl: Do you even have any experience with cars?

Brandon: Yeah. Of course. I built a go-kart once.

Blue Girl: Have you ever raced before?

Brandon: Why do you think I built the go-kart?

Blue Girl: I'm Racer 11.

Brandon: 10. But you can call me Brandon.

Racer 11: Maybe I will.

Brandon: You're not going to tell me your name?

Racer 11: I just did.

Announcer: Time's Up! All racers must proceed into their vehicles or else they will be left behind and disqualified and disqualification means (playfully) execution!

Brandon then looks at his racing car and gets in. Once inside, the car then teleports onto the track along with the other racers.

Announcer: Racers get ready.

The racers rev up their engines.

Announcer: 3.

Racer 12, the muscular grey alien, glares to the left.

Announcer: 2.

Brandon glares to the right.

Announcer: 1.

Racer 11 looks straight up, focusing.

Announcer: GO!

The racers then take off. They drive down the track and curve around the curve as the viewers cheer. The scene then cuts to inside a boardcast booth. Drones are seen operating the controls while a short, bald alien with glasses on is seen seated in a throne, watching through the windows. The small alien has a mic hanging down in front of his face.

Short Alien, sounding like the Announcer: And they're off! The Super Sprint has begun.

The short alien then pushes the mic out of the way.

Short Alien/Announcer: How goes operations?

Drones: Operations operating at 100% Capicity. All competitiors are fully contained.

Announcer: What about the one from Earth? He's the most powerful one here.

Drones: Competitor Number 10 is also fully contained based on his previous attempts to escape.

Announcer: Excellent. Let the race begin.

Back on the track, Brandon is seen racing against the other racers. They then approach a warp gate at the end of the track. It then starts to activate. The racers then drive through the warp gate, teleporting elsewhere. On a jungle-like planet, the racers reappear, driving from another warpgate.

Brandon, driving: Whoa!

The racers continue driving through the track while small hovering cameras follow them around. The scene then cuts to the big screen back at the arena with the viewers watching the racers on the jungle planet track on the screen.

Announcer: Our racers are now on the planet, Truncax, the jungle planet of the Navii System.

The scene then cuts back to the racers on the planet. Brandon looks around but then bumps into Racer 4's car which resembles a large hallow shell with wheels.

Racer 4, driving: Watch it!

Brandon then drives away from the car. Racer 4 then grabs some shells, the size of his big hands, and hurls them at Brandon and his car.

Brandon, driving: What the- (dodges shell) Who throws turtle shells during a race? Who throws turtle shells at all?!

Brandon then drives off towards the left side of the track and enters a hidden passageway.

Brandon, driving: Shortcut, nice.

On the other side, the muscular grey alien, Racer 12, is seen driving his car towards the next warp gate. Brandon then bursts from the side of a tree and lands back on the track, next to Racer 12's car.

Racer 12, driving: You again?!

Racer 12 then presses a button on his control panel which accerlates the car at a high speed. Brandon keeps stepping on the pedal.

Brandon, driving, to himself: Almost at the next warp gate.

Brandon's car then stops and is lifted from the ground. Brandon looks around and sees a thick root entangling his car. He then looks up and sees a large alien plant similar to a venus fly trap, seemingly, looking down at him. It opens its mouth and snaps its jaws twice then opens his mouth again, releasing a thick green goo from its mouth. Brandon looks shocked. The plant then attempts to eat him but Brandon dodges, hitting the plant at the side of its head with his foot, causing it to move back, slightly stunned. Brandon then activates the Ultimatrix and slaps down the face plate. He then transforms into Shredder.

Shredder: SHREDDER!

Shredder then grows out his metallic claws and leaps from his entangled vehicle.

Shredder, as he leaps: RAAAH!

Shredder then jumps onto one of the plant's roots, which it uses to stand upright, and slashes it with his claws. He then leaps over to another root and slashes at it, then another until the plant starts loosing its support and starts falling over. Shredder then rolls up into a metallic ball and spins at the alien plant, shredding at its side until it completely falls over, dropping Brandon's racing car back onto the track. Some cars then pass by Brandon's car.

Shredder, noticing: RAH! STUPID PLANT! YOU'RE MAKING ME LOOSE THE STUPID RACE! THAT MAKES ME ANGRY! RAAHH!

Shredder then hops into the car and attempts to rev up the engine but it only sputters then stops.

Shredder, jiggling the knob: Come on... Come on... Stupid- ugh... (jiggle the engine knob again) Stupid engine. Just- Work and-

The engine sputters again.

Shredder: RAHH! YOU'RE MAKING ME ANGRY, ENGINE!

Shredder extends his metallic claw and stabs the engine knob, causing the car to start up.

Shredder: There! That's more like it!

Shredder starts driving off when he is bumped by another racer.

Shredder: What the- Did you just bump me?

Racer 5: Uh...

Shredder: DID YOU JUST BUMP ME?!

Shredder then flips him his metallic claw and leaps onto the other racer's car. He then stabs the back of their car several times, causing fuel to leak out. Racer 5 then fires a blue laser from his hands at Shredder, knocking him back into his car. Racer 5 aims for Shredder with his laser hand which his car suddenly stops. It is then dragged into the ground by a battle damaged root.

Racer 5: AHH!- (rest is muffled by dirt)

Shredder, noticing, yelling: Sorry! That was my bad! ...BUT I'M STILL ANGRY AT YOU!

Shredder then transforms back into Brandon who drives the car through the warp gate, teleporting to an icy track which is sloping downwards. The cameras follow through the warp gate, boardcasting the race. The scene then cuts back to the main arena where the race is being seen on the big screen.

Announcer: Now the track has taken a turn to the ice planet, Glactus, in the Dura System.

The racers are seen drifting around an icy ridge however two of the racers end of drifting off of the edge and into an abyss.

Racers 7 and 9: AHH!

They then vanish from sight.

Announcer, announcing from one of the camera drones: Looks like Racers 7 and 9 couldn't catch their drift.

Racer 12 notices the floating cameras and squints at one of them. Meanwhile, Brandon is attempting to catch up to the other racers, after drifting the ridge and suceeding. Up ahead, the track comes to a dead end with a series of massive icicles propped into the abyss between the next part of the track. The racers then drive off of the edge of the track and drive from platform to platform.

Brandon, noticing the obstacle ahead: Oh come on!

Brandon then drives off of the track and onto the platforms. Racer 8, a slender looking technical-humanoid with one eye, looks behind him and sees Racer 11 approaching behind him. He then looks back at his dashboard and places his hand on a sensor, activating a special ability. His car then fires a small rocket from its exhaust port at the ice, exploding and breaking the area it hit. Racer 11 then curves out and her car gets stuck on the edge of the newly made ledge. Brandon notices this and looks down at his dashboard. He then presses a button with a hook picture printed onto it. He presses it and a grappling hook launches from the front of his car and onto Racer 11's vehicle. He then stops the car and drives in reverse, reeling Racer 11 off of the ledge and back onto the platform, while other racers passby him. Brandon then presses the button again, deactivating the hook. He then drives over to her and stop next to her.

Brandon: You alright?

Racer 11: Why did you do that? You just lost your spot!

Brandon: After seeing what happened to those other guys, I didn't want to loose anyone else to this race.

Racer 11: You barely know us. What do we matter to you?

Brandon: More than you think. Come on, maybe we'll be able to catch up.

Brandon is about to drive off.

Racer 11: Brandon.

Brandon stops and looks at Racer 11.

Racer 11: Thank you. For saving me.

Racer 11 then starts her car and drives off. Brandon then smirks and drives off after her. The scene then cuts to the boardcasting room where the Announcer is watching the screen from his throne.

Drone: Sir, we are picking up activity for a cosmic disturbance on the next track.

Announcer: Will it ruin the event?

Drone: Calculations present at low percentage of this distrubance disrupting the event at hand.

Announcer: Then proceed. After all, how much damage could one little storm cause?

The scene then cuts to the next warp gate in which Brandon and Racer 11 both drive out of, continuing on the track on a planet with a massive solar storm above them, emitting hugh streaks of lightning down on the planet's surface, cracking the surface with each strike. The camera drones then follow through the warp gate, boardcasting the event until they seemingly deactivate and fall onto the track. The cars then run over the camera drones, destroying them, as they approach closer and closer towards the solar storm. Racer 12, in the lead, looks around, noticing the empty skies, he then hits the brakes and stops his car in the middle of the track. The cars behind him then stop as well. Brandon and Racer 11 finally arrive a short moment later, stopping before the blockage of cars. They then get out of their vehicles and approach the other racers who are also out of their cars.

Brandon: Hey, why'd we stop? Don't we have to a race to win?

Racer 8: Things changed.

Racer 11: How so?

Racer 12: We're on Malpha IV in the Grak System.

Brandon: You know this planet?

Racer 12: I live in the Grak System. I know it by heart. The Malpha planets orbit our twin suns and while inhabited planets like my own gain strength from the suns, the Malpha planets grew weaker from the constant radiation until they were destroyed by the solar storms caused by the flares of each sun interacting with one another.

Racer 4: What's your point?

Racer 12: My point is, this is our chance to get out of here.

Brandon: Oh now you guys want to break out? What happened to the whole "this place is unescapable and you have to win a race in order to escape" thing?

Racer 8: The technology used to contain us is advanced but it requires an energy source that doesn't function normally within the area of a solar flare, it distrubs the equipment.

Racer 12: And the announcer loves a show so he'll have to come here on his own in order to get one. That's when we'll make our move.

Brandon: Great so we'll all just hop on his set of wheels, teleport to the arena and go back to our home planets.

Racer 12: Yeah, that's not exactly going to happen.

Racer 11: What are you talking about?

Racer 12: We're overthrowing the Announcer and taking his power over his competition for ourselves. We can teleport some of you back to your planets but we'll need to keep the rest. With his power, we'll make money, we'll get rich and we'll get to see creatures from all over the galaxy drive into each other and explode for our amusement.

Brandon: I can't let you do that.

Racer 12: Well someone's gotta blow up. You wanna take their place?

Brandon: If I have to.

Racer 12: Ha! You're weak. You have no skill. You're no racer so you wouldn't be any use to us.

Brandon: I don't know about you but I've got all the skill I need.

Brandon attempts to activate the Ultimatrix but it fails to do so. He attempts again but it doesn't work. He then looks down at the Ultimatrix and attempts to activate it again.

Brandon: Uh... Give me a sec here.

Racer 12: Heh. Let's go, boys.

Racer 12 then walks off the track with Racer 4 and 8.

Brandon, attempting to activate the Ultimatrix: Come on...

Ultimatrix, in cybernetic female voice: Solar Disruption in Progress. Main functions can not be accessed at this time. Brandon: Dang it.

Racer 11, pointing up: Look!

Brandon looks up and sees the boardcasting booth teleporting overhead and hovering above them.

Announcer, announcing from the boardcasting booth: Why aren't you racing?! You think because the cameras are offline that you're not allowed to race?! Get back in your vehicles and continue or so help me I will-

Prisoner 12 then bursts in from the ceiling and approaches the throne where the small alien is seated.

Announcer: AH!

Prisoner 12: Show's over.

The drones then surround him but Racer 4, takes some out with his brute strength, and Racer 8 fries the rest with an electric blast.

The boardcasting booth is then seen teleporting away again, leaving behind the rest of the racers, including Brandon.

Characters

 * Brandon
 * Coco
 * Sarah
 * Jenny
 * Jaina (First Appearance)
 * Racer 1 (First Appearance)
 * Fiox (First Appearance)
 * Gibble (First Appearance)
 * Racer 5 (First Appearance)
 * Racer 6 (First Appearance)
 * Racer 7 (First Appearance)
 * Racer 9 (First Appearance)
 * Viewers

Villains

 * Racer 4 (First Appearance)
 * Racer 8 (First Appearance)
 * Racer 12 (First Appearance)
 * The Announcer (First Appearance)
 * Alien Plant (First Appearance)

Aliens Used

 * Drillbit
 * Shredder
 * Electrix
 * Hackoid

Trivia

 * This episode was inspired by the video game, Ben 10: Galactic Racing.
 * The Ultimatrix not functioning in a solar storm is brought up again. The first time was in The Ultimate Pollution.
 * The special features on Brandon's racing car were inspired by Speed Racer's car, the Mach Five.
 * Coincidentally, the name for Brandon's actual car, the Mach 10, was inspired by the very same car.
 * Jaina's name was based on Jaina Solo Fel, the daughter of Han Solo from Star Wars.
 * There are various racing game/movie references in this episode including Super Sprint, Fast and the Furious and Mario Kart.
 * The planet names mainly came from Latin translations.