Ello, Ashla here.
Team Hotwheels has become one of many guilty pleasures, children's shows, that has pulled me in... Something lighthearted and happy after the trauma RWBY Volume III and Star Wars Rebels Season II put me through...
I've watched all three Team Hotwheels movies, and I shamefully love them all. My favorite is Origin of Awesome, but the other two are awesome too. As much as I usually hate those narcissistic, "mememe" characters, Wyatt's earned a place in my heart (also received some awesome character development in Build the Epic Race, so hopefully in future installments he'll be better.) I also love Brandon, he's the cynic and critic in all of us! And his smiles are adorable. I will say, out if all the characters in this fanfic, he's proven to be the hardest to write for me. It's hard to balance his no nonsense, does-not-care persona with the possible more caring side I show him with in here. (I've already written up to chapter 12.) Rhett's like a cute cherry tomato (and slayer of big tomatoes in Skills to Thrill) and he's totally like "being normal is boring." I do think the show's crew butchered his character in Skills to Thrill, making him a clueless idiot instead of the hyper, clumsy, but still intelligent and even clever kid seen in the other two movies. Outside StT he's just so lovable! Not to mention his puns! Love 'em! As for Gage, I do think they stepped up his game in Skills to Thrill with his less cool side ("our cars have been dorc-ed!" Priceless!) but he's mostly shown as a chill, confident kid with an addiction to speed. Unlike the other three, he just... Doesn't spike up as much interest to me... This does not mean I don't like him though, Gage is indeed adorable! So yeah...
Unfortunately, TCW and SWR genius Dave Filoni is pretty much my role model in any forms of story telling (I still remember the Clone Wars crew talking about how they introduced new characters just to kill them off back in season two. "Show up and blow up" they called it) so we've actually got a pretty dark fanfiction you've run into. As much as I'm trying to keep the original THW spirit, this series is going to be more serious and just plain angsty. Not to mention intense explosions, occasional blood, tears, car crashes, tears, car crashes, tears, tears... So yeah, this is rated T for a reason. This is part of a series of three (or more) fanfics, "Disquiet," "Discord," and "Decode" (and maybe more.) All four members have their own subplots and moments of distinct focus, although Disquiet has a slightly stronger focus on Brandon than the rest.
In case you are wondering, several OCs (as much as I'm usually against OCs, they either are done with absolute perfection or are a heap of crap) will be popping up, and many can drive. I will be easter egging several Hot Wheels cars for these distinct drivers, including the silver driver described in the fanfic's description. He is driving a grey/ silver Circle Tracker.
So... That's it. Happy (or angsty) reading! :)
~ Ashla
Congratulations, you've built your empire
Your guardians chosen, you still conspire
You pull all strings, even on government leads
Your quest for power is done
You sit back and laugh, you've reached this at last
And disguise it as charity
You made this place great, you must be a saint
You must of forgotten about me
You ran from your past, you never looked back
You buried your wrongs below
Well now I'm coming back, on the terms that
You could dare forget about me, oh so bold
Thirteen long years
Bathing in blood and drowning in tears
Thirteen long years
Your victims still cry and die
Thirteen long years
You can try to fight back
Thirteen long years
This is what you get for your twisted past
Contradictions to what you inspire
Innocent children protect a fading fire
You pulled the strings, bit the hand that feeds
And now they will mournfully bleed
I sit back and laugh, you get it at last
Your disguise will fail, they will see
With all of this hate, I will make them break
They will pay for your own dirty deeds
Your victims still wait in the mess you made
More than a decade ago
I will lend them my hand, and vengeance's chant
Will lead their defenses to hold
Thirteen long years
Bathing in blood and drowning in tears
Thirteen long years
Your victims will surely rise
Thirteen long years
You have lost this fight fast
Thirteen long years
This is what you get for your hidden past
Your plan has failed
Your knights will not prevail
Darkness will fall
And massacre them all
Your prey become predators
And this is what they starve for
The taste of your blood like you drank their's
And the world becomes aware
And the green eyed monster will be there
Thirteen long years
Bathing in blood and drowning in tears
Thirteen long years
Your victims are posed to strike
Thirteen long years
We are all that you have ever feared
Thirteen long years
Your victims cry...
"We have survived and you cannot hide"
And I shall see you fade at last
"You won't survive, it's the end of the line"
This is what you get for your now exposed past
The bright sunlight, the cloudless blue sky. It was the first thing he opened his eyes to. Several tanagers, so high up, flew across it. Rocking, tempting him to fall back asleep again, caused green eyes to close for a moment. -Wait, what was that? Was that... a voice? A very distant voice. A cry, a scream, a discouraged moan, another shout. He heard his name desperately called out. Begging for signs of life. He recognized that voice instantly.
As much as his head pounded with pain, he sat up. His clouded vision adjusted, he recognized the... glove box of the passenger side of his vehicle? Everything around his own body, in the seat, from old pictures to spare change, was scattered. They had fallen from their perches above. This could only mean one thing... his vehicle was on its side.
His eyes widened, he snapped back into reality.
His truck felt suspended, like it was being held in midair. It was swaying back and forth unstably, like it was ready to fall again. He lifted his hand to his helmet, pressing the comn button. He finally answered that voice's cries. "Brandon?"
His friend's relieved cry was his reward. None the less, he was still confused, "Brand-Oh, what's goin' on?"
The reply made his stomach fly up to his chest, "Your truck is basically in midair, swinging by its tow cable at the side of this lot's fifth floor on the side that is to the ocean. You could fall any second!"
He shook his head, "Nope!"
Another voice, surprised, cut through the comn channel, "'Nope'?!"
He smirked, jumping up to the front and opening the side window, "Nope! How does it look up there? Can I climb out?"
"What?!" That voice exclaimed.
Brandon actually answered his question, "The only person there right now is Rhett. Gage and I are on the way now!"
Without second thought, he pressed the comn again, "Rhe-"
The sound of metal smashing interrupted his questions, "-Kin-kinda busy, Wyatt!"
More smashing sounded, then Rhett spoke again, "Gage, out of all the times you can't go fast enough-"
"-We're coming as fast as we can!" Gage retorted.
Wyatt sighed, turning the comn off, "Oh, 'fergit it, if 'ya need somethin' done right..." He pulled himself out of the window. His long, black hair hung suspended many feet above pounding waves. Muscles tense, Wyatt refused to look down. He simply climbed carefully to the trunk of his vehicle.
*Crash!*
The sound of tires screeching made his ears ring. He gritted his teeth, reversing as he kept his hazel eyes locked on his opponent. A silver car glistened in the sunshine as it raced towards him. Moments later, Rhett was struggling in another bumper lock. His hot rod was actually in worse condition than that silver vehicle. He revved and backed away. He could tell this mystery driver was attempting a push him away from his teammate. He needed to think fast. His heart pounded, blood warming his ears, as he revved again.
The silver car revved in return.
Rhett smirked.
The redhead slammed the pedal, speeding towards the vehicle. It was like jousting, two riders racing to spear each other. It wasn't quite what the silver rider was expecting though - Rhett was playing chicken. The crimson hot rod slipped right past the silver sports car at the last moment. No time to celebrate though, as the unpredictable redhead leapt from his vehicle. He tumble rolled onto the ground, adrenaline bursting, then took no time to rest as he ran over to the tow cable of Wyatt's truck.
Almost there, he was suddenly stopped when a hand grabbed his shoulder. An unfamiliar, raspy voice snarled, "Not so fast..."
Tears threatened to fall from Rhett's eyes, he whispered, "No!"
He was thrown against silver's car, pain exploding, as he fell on his tush. He looked over the person who had yanked him away. A slim young man, about his age, dressed in shiny grey. His helmet's black glass hid his face. Rhett, a black belt in karate, jumped up in attempts to somehow get past him. His attempt to get past him only received a heavy punch in the gut. Hazel eyes widened, the last thing they saw was an iron gloved fist.
A hand slapped the concrete, exhausted gasps for air escaping his burning lungs as he hoisted himself. Climbing how many feet on nothing but a metal coil took the stunt man's wind out of him.
But what he saw made his blood boil.
Rhett unconsciously fell to the ground. His teammate acted immediately, running up to the unidentified person and slamming his fist against his head. The silver boy flew against his own sports vehicle, falling unconscious himself.
So, this is that racer we've been chasing for two weeks straight... he smirked for a moment, Not so tough outside your car, eh?
His smile faded away though, he bent down and checked on his fallen teammate. "Rhett?"
The sound of two more cars pulling up barely registered. Wyatt pulled Rhett into his arms and checked his pulse. It was strong. The stunt man sighed in relief as footsteps grew closer.
"Guys!" Gage shouted in a worried tone.
Always professional, Brandon pulled a glove off and checked Rhett's vital signs. After several moments, he smiled, "He'll be okay, thank goodness..."
The other two sighed in relief. Gage's smile widened as he walked past them, "Hey, Wyatt, I think you got him!"
Green knelt down to the silver driver.
Wyatt smiled proudly, "I sure did!"
Gage lifted a hand, reaching for his helmet, "Okay, time to see who you really are..."
Unfortunately, that would have to wait. Whoever he was had quickly recovered, lifting a leg and kicking Gage back. He then managed to quickly climb into his car and speed away.
As Gage recovered from the wind sucking kick to the chest, the other two conscious members of the team watched their opponent drive off. "Whoops."
Brandon rolled his eyes, "Rhett doesn't need a hospital run, just enough time to wake up. And maybe some Tylenol."
"So back 'ta the base?" Wyatt asked.
Their green leader sighed, "Sure."