Chapter 1
Playing the Underground.
The revving of car engines, the chatter of excited onlookers and the blaring of techno music, these were the sounds that could be heard within the old abandoned warehouse that would be the starting line to a race over the highway roads outside LA, a race designated to be a team race between two teams of four racers.
Thus the team which called themselves the Shadow Hunters were standing in a circle leaning against their given cars conversing amongst themselves while waiting for the race to be called to a start.
"Alright guys 2 miles across the highway area." Came the voice of the teams' leader Xiomara Backar, a girl who stood at 5 ft 11 with red hair tied into a pony tail and a cold pair of blue eyes wearing a black leather jacket with a symbol on the back of a smiling skull with two crossing daggers... the team symbol.
"Two miles, seems oddly tame compared to what's been going down recently." Came the Japanese accent of Takeo Miraki, the teams' resident daredevil street racer. With slick and combed black hair adorning a pair of calm hazel eyes, Takeo wore a dark black with red lining jump suit also featuring the team symbol on his back.
"Well to be fair I heard rumours people had been complaining at the finish line it took too for us to show up," came the serious American accent of Jessica Muller, the teams' medic. with ear length brunette hair adorning a pair of kind red eyes and wearing a black vest atop a dark purple undershirt with the team symbol on her back and in a badge spot on her vest.
"Yeah heard that too, though I will say I like the new setup… faster race means a lot more action," Said the teams second in command Jole Backar. Jole had greasy red hair that went a little past his ears and the same hazel eyes as his sister and wearing a pair of jeans and a dark grey hoodie with the team symbol on the back in dark blue.
Of course the team of four would have said more but just then the music stopped and a man wearing several sets of gold chains around his neck stepped up onto the rafters.
"Alright ladies and gents, do we have a treat for ya'll tonight, a team matchup between our local team the Shadow Hunters, and the out of town newcomers, the Fiery Streaks." the man said to wild applause from the crowd below.
"Now the rules are simple, you all know the finish line is the starting line after you pass the midway point 2 miles from here, get there by any route necessary, the first person to cross the finish line wins each member of their team five hundred big ones."
The cheering was wild but to the Shadow Hunters it was all drowned out as they all headed for their vehicles
"See you in the real world." Takeo said to his teammates as he opened the door to his sports car the 24/seven, a sports car with a spoiler and a suspension only a few inches off the ground and an almost neon design of black and red. Revving the engine revealed a moderate power behind it but still a clean sports car feel.
"Alright remember, no prisoners," Jessica said smirking as she too, got into her vehicle, the 40 Somethin, a vehicle with dark blue lines across the edges with red lightning streaks across the door. This car was as sleek as they come with a low to the ground build and a suspension that let the body almost touch the ground. Revving of the engine clearly revealed that's what it was with a firmly clean and almost silent and subtle power behind it.
"Hey don't sweat it, we got this." Jole said getting into his own vehicle, the Jester, a truck with a suspension holding the vehicle just a little higher off the ground than 24/seven. The truck itself had a red flame design on it with dark blue lining the skirt and back of the vehicle and once the engine was revved it became clear that unlike Takeo and Jessica this was a far more powerful machine with a satisfying loud rumble from the 600 horsepower beauty.
"Alright kids no non sense time starts now." Xiomara said as she climbed into her vehicle. Easily the most powerful of the group, the three feet off the ground Mega Duty truck was clearly an off road vehicle through and through with large tires and a powerful suspension, all adorning a body with a red hood, black doors and dark blue trim. With the Mega Duty the engine revved with a loud and powerful rumble one would expect out of a 750 horsepower powerhouse.
All four drivers had dawned their helmets as they drove into the starting position, against their opponents who had a series of sports cars with light blue, yellow and white colour schemes.
None of the shadow hunters took too much heed to their opponents each one already beginning to formulate their own line across the desolate ground before them as the flag girl began walking between Mega Duty and the slick sports car that belonged the leader of the opposition.
Turning to the two teams with a smirk on her face the blonde haired girl raised her hands with a white flag in hand and prepared to bring it down to signal the beginning of the race.
Gripping the wheels of each of their respective vehicles with one hand the other on the clutch each driver waited for the countdown.
"3, 2, 1, GO!" The flag girl yelled and the moment she said go every driver present pushed their gear shifter into second gear and pressed down on the gas.
Due to the lightness of the vehicle Jessica was first out of the gate closely followed by two of the opposition and Takeo with Jole and Xiomara falling a bit behind.
The first mile of the race was on a straightaway and not a minute after getting out of the gate had Jole and Xiomara begin catching up Jole smirking as he sideswiped on of their opposition causing them to lose a great deal of control and fall into last place while the leader of the Fiery Streaks began going head on with Jessica causing her to lose some amount of control.
Glaring through her side window Jessica moved her thumb to a red button on her steering wheel and hovered over it.
The leader of the team tried pushing against her with a powerful bump that would have surely knocked the lithe car spinning out of control but just as the driver turned the wheel and turned towards her Jessica pressed down on the button and immediately a burst of blue flame burst out of the exhaust pipes blasting the young girl forward with a powerful burst of speed.
The leader who had not expected the concentrated version of the Noss tried to correct himself having been relying on the push back of the car to do that for him and as he lost his balance found himself being slammed into at the by Xiomara sending him spinning .
"Nice move Jess." Jole said as he watched his friend take the lead followed closely by Xiomara.
"Thanks man." Jess said even as she shifted down a gear knowing she'd want to save the extra power especially now that they were nearing the highway which was were the slick driver would shine most.
Takeo meanwhile had already taken another path that took him to the highway, and so meeting up with Xiomara and Jessica on the road he spoke into the radio, "Fancy meeting you ladies here."
"Shut up and drive Takeo." Xiomara said irritably as she pursed her lips.
Jole was at a back position but he knew that this wasn't the worst position to be in, being in the second heaviest vehicle in this race he was more than capable of driving aggressively to block the movements of at least one driver.
Indeed as one of the sports cars tried passing him he made one swift flick of the vehicle and pushed against the tail end of the car sending it spinning backwards and ended up crashing against a fence which fell over under the cars weight.
"We're doing good drivers, keep going." Xiomara said aggressively as the three drivers out in front took off down the almost deserted highway.
After that opening the race went smoothly enough, the Fiery Blazes practically falling like dominos in the wake of the synergy of the Shadow Hunters. Thus not 10 minutes later Xiomara crossed the line followed a second later by Takeo and Jessica.
"And that is why we are the best." Jess said getting out and high fiving Takeo while Xiomara just got out of her vehicle with a neutral expression.
Two of the Fiery Blaze team members showed up across the line followed two minutes later by a third and then a minute later followed by Jole and finally the fourth member of the Fiery Blaze.
"And there we have it; the returning champions have won once again." The announcer yelled into his microphone as he passed bundles of money to all four members of the Shadow Hunters.
"Let's give one more round of applause for the Shadow Hunters!" the announcer said and as he did so loud screaming and clapping resounded around them as the four teammates all got back into their cars, all but Xiomara waving to their fans as they drove away.
"Another successful run!" Jessica said over the radio as the four drivers headed back into the city.
"You know you all might hate me for this but... I really want to go hunting for a better challenge." Takeo said, Takeo very much having a self-improvement mentality, even if he knew he could never truly achieve it he strove for perfection in his driving.
"And what would you have in mind." Xiomara asked rolling her eyes the leader of the team indifferent altogether
"Well I don't know, we'll ask Kayden when we get back to the garage, see if he knows of any better opportunities." Takeo responded.
"I'm with Takeo on this one; a better challenge would be a way better adventure." Jole said showing his side as an adrenaline junkie.
Xiomara groaned as she said into the radio. "And your thoughts on this Jessica?"
"I don't mind staying, but if we go then I'd follow the Hunters anywhere." Jessica said displaying her great loyalty to the team despite being the latest addition to the team only being with them for several months as opposed to the siblings who had started the team and Takeo who had been racing with the team for two years.
Xiomara nodded even as she spotted the old garage and began pulling into the shed followed by her teammates.
"So you lot how'd it go?" Came the ragged voice of Kayden Smith, the teams' mechanic who was rolling out from under a red Subaru he had been hired to fix.
"Great," Xiomara said holding up her wad of $500 while the other three did the same.
"Alright thanks kids." Kayden said as the four of them handed their mechanic the money. "Now before any of you think of heading to dream land there is someone who wanted to talk to you."
"What about?" Xiomara asked rather suspiciously.
"Said something about needing real good racers so I told her to wait in the waiting room." Kayden said.
"Can't hurt to hear her out," Jessica said shrugging.
"Alright then come on, mind letting me do the talking?" Xiomara asked.
"As long as it stays verbal talking," Jole said making a reference to Xiomaras short temper.
"Fair enough," Xiomara said casually as she stepped through a door that lead to the front office of the mechanics shop.
Sitting in one of chairs with legs crossed and a magazine in hand was black haired woman wearing a blue shirt and grey overalls.
"Thank you for seeing me," the girl said smiling as she got to her feet, "My name is Lani Tam." she said holding out a hand.
Xiomara looked at it and diplomatically shook it saying, "Xiomara Backar, now if you don't mind can we get right to the point with what you wanted to talk to us about."
"Right, right," Lani said nodding, "I'm here working for a man named Peter Tezla, he's recruiting drivers for a mission." Lani explained.
"What kind of mission?" Xiomara asked crossing her arms.
"You'll have to see it to believe it but we're talking about racing in another dimension." Lani explained.
"Another dimension?" Xiomara said disbelievingly.
"If you're willing to hear us out there's a meeting with the other drivers being recruited going on tomorrow out in the desert." Lani explained
"Alright then would we know of these other drivers?" Xiomara asked.
"Drivers from the Teku and Metal Maniac racing teams." Lani said calmly.
"Ay, two of the best teams out there, a chance to speak with their members would be excellent." Takeo interjected.
Xiomara turned to her team, and while Jessica was just leaning against a wall clearly staying true to her "I'll follow the hunters' statement was giving a light smile, Takeo and Jole however were both very much excited for this chance indeed the fiery leader caught quite the glint in her brothers eyes, one she had rarely seen... a glint that made her relent almost instantly.
"Alright when do we head out?" Xiomara asked.
"If the team is still awake we can head out right now actually get a head start against the other drivers.
"Sounds like a plan" Xiomara said with a nod before turning to her team. "Come on Shadow Hunters, it's time to fade from sight!"
A/N - what's up lads and lasses, my name is Ashbringer36 I'd like to welcome you to my new fanfiction.
So hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter of the Shadow Hunters, I hope to have a new chapter up soon (a week or two at most) so until then I will spare you all the long winded Authors note and instead just take my bows and say
Until Next Time Ashbringer36 Out