Why can't this stupid Drone get off of my back? I've tried fighting it off, but he just keeps pushing me closer to the edge. Why is it that no one's ever around when you need help?

What the-He pushed me off! I'm flipping! Agh! I hit my head…it hurts. A lot. Did I stop moving? I can't tell…blackness…can't…stay awake…

Hmm? Why does my head hurt? Am I upside down? I can't tell…everything feels really weird…like a dream…did I hear something?

Fresh air…something's touching me…I think I'm being pulled out of the car…I don't know. Maybe I'm dreaming. My helmet…it feels like it's being pulled off. I can fell something warm stroking my head. Like Dad used to do when I had a fever. Just stroking my hair, out of my face…Dad…

Last time I talked to him, we didn't really agree. Ever since Mom died, our relationship has been kind of rocky. I wish it wasn't. I wish Mom was still alive.

Mom. It's funny…everyone say I look like Dad, and act like Mom. I miss Mom so much. Her hugs, her smile, her laugh. Everything. Even the trips to Church.

Church…I wonder if all that stuff is true. Mom said it was. Dad never talked about it. I think I remember some of the stories. David and Goliath…Noah's ark…Adam and Eve, and...the Easter story. Mom's favorite. I could never decide if I liked it or not. I guess it was hard to believe that God would send His one and only son to die for sinners. But, Dad has war stories about guys that die for their buddies. Just so they can live…

The hand left. Why? I want you to stay. Is that a car driving away? Everything still kind of feels like a dream…did someone just drive up?

"Vert?" huh? Sounded like Kurt.

"Vert!" Someone's shaking me. I crack my eyes open. It is Kurt.

I try to sit up. He helps me. Now that I'm awake, I realize that my helmet is off.

"Kurt?" I ask. I'm a little surprised at how weak I sound.

"Yeah." He said that absent-mindedly, it seems.

"Did you pull me out?" He looks at me a little strangely.

"No," he answers. "But, I thought I saw something drive away, when I pulled up. When I looked again, there was nothing there. Must've been a Silencer."

That's odd. "What?"

"Well," he shrugs, "Even a Metal Maniac would have the decency to give you a ride, or at least wait for one of us to come by, and pick you up."

I think about this. It's possible.

I'm suddenly aware that Kurt's looking at my head. "What?"

"With that bump, you shouldn't use EDR," he tells me.

This puzzles me. "Why would I have used EDR?"

"My car's a one-seater." The look on his face is one that asks, 'haven't you noticed the obvious?'

"Great." I roll my eyes. "What now?"

"We wait for the next driver to come by to pick you up."

"What if the next driver's a Metal Maniac?"

Kurt gives a half-smile. "Then let's hope it's not Markie."

I smile back. Then the most random thought hits me. "Kurt? Do you think the Silencerz are government based?"

He gives me a strange look. "Why?"

"I just thought that, if they were, the Silencer that pulled me out, could've been my dad."

Now he looks at me like I'm crazy. "Your dad."

"He can race!" That statement didn't have too much to do with our discussion, but I had said it anyway.

"Does he?" Kurt look interested.

"Well…that's what I've been told."

Kurt kind of nods, and we both become silent.

Why did that thought pop up in my mind? Not five minutes ago, I was living in blissful ignorance of not having a single idea of who those guys were! And now, I think it might be my dad.

Great.

Blissful ignorance. At the moment, that sounds lovely.