A/N: Alright, we're back on track with the plot.

Can you spot the Battle Force 5 Easter egg? (DISCLAIMER: I didn't mind BF5; I know it's a completely different series. I just found it to be like a watered-down Teen Titans with cars)

10: A Conflict Primordial
Silencerz HQ
Maila Eiss

"We've got wounded! Get out of the way!" a nurse shouted as he ran past me, Vert, and Gig 2. Medical personnel frantically wheeled two beds carrying two injured scientists across the halls. One of them had grotesque burns on both his hands extending to his upper arms while the other was covered in burn marks from head-to-toe.

"Move, move, move!" Dr. Cortez trailed behind the pack.

"Dr. Cortez, what happened here?" Vert questioned.

"Those two were analyzing the Circle when it suddenly left them with severe burns," he replied. "We're taking them to the ICU right now." The doctor hurried back towards the group.

"We better get there, now!" I said to Vert as we hurried to the Research Room.

The room looked as if a light tornado hit. Some of the wall monitors were destroyed with sparks flying out while several ceiling lights were flickering. In the middle of the room was the Circle, which was crackling with yellow electricity while Major Wheeler and the scientists stood fifty-feet away.

"Captain Eiss, Vert, glad you could make it," Major Wheeler said.

"What's going on here?" Vert questioned.

"The Circle just activated by itself," the elder Wheeler answered back. "We don't know how or why. We just had two scientists taken to the ICU."

"Yeah, we saw them just now," I said.

"Everyone, stay put," Vert said. "I have a feeling this was meant for me." The young surf rat slowly walked towards the Acceleron relic. "WHOA!"

Suddenly, the waves of electricity crackled at a higher rate.

"Vert!" Major Wheeler attempted to run towards his son.

"Major, wait!" I shouted as I extended my arm, blocking him off.

The Circle shot a beam of light fifty-feet away, forming into a circular portal.

"They're calling out," Vert said.

"Who?" I questioned.

"The Accelerons. They're calling out for me." Vert activated a button on a remote. A moment later, Power Rage drove into the room via autopilot, parking next to us.

"I'm coming with you," I said.

"Look, I'm sure they're here for just me," Vert said.

"Well, you brought Sparky along to witness them," I argued as I walked towards the passenger's side. "Besides, I have a few questions to ask the Accelerons, myself."

Road to the Sphere

We entered a realm with nothing but a gray stone track leading straight to a light-blue, electrified sphere where Vert had first made contact with an Acceleron. Everything around the track was a white void of nothingness with smudges of gray that reminded me of Impressionist-era paintings.

"It's as if purgatory was a drag race to the heavens," I said, smiling as I observed the view through Power Rage's right window.

"Never thought you'd be a romantic, Maila," Vert commented.

"Karma teased me about it all the time," I said.

"And I take it the Sphere is where the deceased are judged?" Vert asked. "Whether to enter Heaven, or in Gelorum's case, Hell?"

I chuckled. "If I ever die, I'd be one of the demons making Gelorum my bitch," I answered coldly. Vert rolled his eyes.

Vert stopped Power Rage at the end of the track and got out of the car. "Wait here, Maila," he said as he took off his helmet.

As the young Acceleracer walked closer, a Accelerons emerged from the Sphere with the same threads Vert was wearing, floating in the air. Two more Accelerons followed him; one of them having a more feminine body shape.

"Acceleracer, you have returned," one of them said in a baritone, reverberating voice as his amphibious legs landed on the track. The drivers took off their helmets; the shape of their blue heads resembled that of Racing Drone Heavy drivers. "We summoned you here after overseeing your encounter with the Racing Drones."

"You summoned me?" Vert questioned.

"In a time of great conflict, it is time we shed light on the Racing Drones," the other Acceleron said in an equally alien alto, almost reminiscent of Gelorum. Was she Gelorum's creator?

I got out of the car and stepped forward. "Why didn't you destroy the Drones in the first place?" I questioned. "You know they've been a threat to you; why could you help Vert and the others?"

"Fellow driver, the conflict between you and the Drones has become more complicated than we hoped it would be," the leading Acceleron said to me.

"I asked a simple question."

"Maila…" Vert waved off.

"The Drones were meant to be test drivers for the Racing Realms," the third Acceleron explained in a light tenor voice. "But they were also given autonomy for us to race with them to prepare for Acceleracers like you, Wheeler. However, their desire to win became a desire for conquest, and thus, we were at war with the Drones."

"The war came to a climax when we saw one of us transformed into a Drone, much like what they have done to you, fellow driver," the female Acceleron said, pointing to me. "His power transformed him from a being of creation to a being of absolute destruction."

"So, that was Gelorum's purpose? To destroy everything?" Vert asked.

"No," she replied. Vert and I looked at each other in confusion. "When the Acceleron became a Drone, he threatened omnicide for both the Accelerons and the Racing Drones. Gelorum's goal was to simply destroy us and conquer the world, not transcend us and destroy all creation; Even she feared this."

"And to think that Annette wants this to happen," I said. "To transcend you… she believes she can create this 'utopia' by doing so."

"What happened to the Hybrid?" Vert asked.

"We made an uneasy alliance to help the Drones destroy him," the leader said. "For this, both sides created a truce. We exiled the Racing Drones to Earth and left our fate to the humans. Had Gelorum used her own skills to win the Ultimate Race, we would let them destroy us. If a human won, the Drones would willingly let us destroy the Racing Drones."

"But the Drones are still here," I said. "Why didn't you follow up with that truce when Vert won?"

"Humans have become a part of them," the Acceleron answered. "We cannot destroy all that is organic; we are powerless against the living."

"What about the other Drones?" I questioned.

"Little did we realize that human memories have assimilated into even the Drones that are entirely machines," the female Acceleron replied.

"This truce is one-sided towards the Drones!" I shouted. "How could you be so gullible?"

"But you killed Gelorum," Vert said.

"No. Gelorum was still alive when we cast her into the void," the leader said. "This Annette you spoke of deleted her memories, killing her."

Vert and I stood agape and looked at each other. "So, she was just using Gelorum as a symbol?" Vert questioned.

"That is correct," the third Acceleron said. "She never understood our truce and believed Gelorum was weak. Her defeat was Annette's chance to overthrow her."

"Now it's become another human conflict," I said. "The gods have always forsaken their soldiers in war. I guess you're no different."

"In three Earth months, the Wheel of Power will open new Racing Realms," the leader revealed.

"Wait, you're still giving the Drones a chance to destroy you again?" I asked in an agitated tone. "With Annette in the throne, that's the last thing you'd want to do!"

"We have no control over the Wheel of Power," he replied. "But we can predict when the Realms will open." The Acceleron's hand glowed, and a small tablet of stone, covered in Acceleron symbols materialized. "We cannot be with you in the Realms, but we hope this helps prepare you for your journey. Be warned: While the first series of Realms were tested on by the Drones, no one has ever tested these Realms, but we trust that you and the others will be able to complete them."

Vert grabbed the stone tablet. "Let's hope my luck holds out," he said to himself.

"Maila Eiss," the leader said. "While we do not condone your violent ways, if you truly are allied with Wheeler, we will not make any judgments towards you."

I smirked. "Good."

"But always remember that wisdom is a circle. What you receive, you must give back."

The Accelerons materialized a portal a mile behind us and started retreating into the Sphere.

"I know that you're angry at them," Vert said to me as we went back in the car, "but they have a point. If they show themselves to the Drones here and now, they risk another catastrophe."

I looked at my hands. "Angry, but not surprised," I said calmly as Vert began driving. "It's people like you and Karma that I've always relied on, not a divine power."

As we drew near the portal, the lead Acceleron paraphrased what he told Vert before. "When you two return, you know you will not be alone."

Silencerz' HQ

"Welcome back," Major Wheeler greeted after we returned. "Did you find anything when you were there?"

"The Racing Realms are going to open in three months," Vert explained. "We can predict which Realms will open and when with this." He gave his father the tablet. "What they told us about the Drones is worst than what we thought. We need to prepare for these tracks."

"Vert, Maila, those patients that we passed," Gig 2 said, "they're stabilized. The prognosis is favorable."

The Accelerons, Vert must be thinking.

"Catering hours are about to opened up. We'll discuss everything there," Major Wheeler said.

As we headed towards the hallway, Karma and Taro walked towards us. "Vert, sis," my younger sister said. "We were training Kurt in your absence; he just completed the Junk Realm at level 4."

Vert sighed happily. Level 4 was on par with when we faced them in the first set of Realms. "Glad to hear he's getting back to his old self again, at least driving-wise."

"He finished behind us by five seconds, but he's been improving," Karma added.

And three months later, I let him rejoin the Racing Division…

Approximately seven months after the events of The Ultimate Race

We heard the familiar alarm blare as the Wheel hologram began turning. Our cars were parked in a particular formation. Silencerz Team Loki, which consisted of me, Vert, Alec, Dresden, and Banjee were in front to scout out and assault whatever threats loomed, whether it was Drones or the Realm itself. The Metal Maniacs were behind us, intended on using their heavy weapons (i.e. plows, guns, and missiles) to wipe out a good majority of the Drone force. The rest of the Teku trailed to handle the stragglers with Krakatoa and Esmerelda making up for Vert's absent spot. We were also expected to rendezvous with Team Grim, a squad of three Silencerz from the Southern U.S. Division.

"Another day in the office, boys!" Dresden said as he and the rest of Team Loki got in their cars. "Let's take these tin cans down!"

"Let's move some metal!" Porkchop shouted as he began revving Jack Hammer's twin engines as if Hell's demons went to the DMV.

"Here goes," Monkey said with an even mix of nervousness and confidence.

Sling Shot's exterior body opened up as Kurt and the rest of the Teku started entering their cars. Although Kurt still could hardly stomach warfare, he looked more confident with little signs of weariness compared to when I first met him.

After Nolo fist-bumped Tork, the young Teku leader turned to Kurt. "I hope you've still got the touch, man."

"Thanks. I know I will need it," Kurt replied.

"Taro." Karma quickly walked up to her Maniacal lover, reached her hand to the back of his head, and kissed him, feeling his ducktail beard nestle up on her face. "Good luck out there," she said to him as she touched his black leather-clad shoulders.

"Likewise," Taro replied confidently.

"Karma," I called, "I know you got what it takes to survive. Make Mom and Dad proud."

"You too, sis," Karma said, smiling as she walked to Chicane. She had that stare of confidence that defined her from her first street racing victories up to now. Had she been outside in a turbulent day, her wavy, untied hair blowing around her would accentuate the aura around her. Messing with her would mean calamity towards her enemies, whether caused by her, me, or any other driver.

Now I knew why our parents named her Karma.

Some drivers described her like a clone of me from our simulation races, and indeed, she had been studying both my and Vert's driving for months. But she was no copycat.

"Lieutenant Colonel Wheeler to Captain Eiss," the elder Wheeler radioed from Octainium, "I'm off for this set of Realms, and I will be relaying all information from the base. I trust you and Vert will get the job done."

"We've fought dangers like this before," Vert replied stoically. "We will survive this one."

"Good luck in the Realm," Colonel Wheeler said.

"Sir!" I said.

I turned my head towards Vert before he put on his helmet. The Acceleracer's blond hair was slightly less rigid and longer, about two inches away from his shoulders. His goatee was even longer, hanging three inches from his chin. This was Vert Wheeler as he defined himself at this moment.

The Silencerz that were former Wave Rippers described his sixteen-year-old self as brash, daring, and inexperienced. Gig 1 and Vert himself also told me about the various mistakes he had made in past Realms; a part of him he hoped would not carry over. But as I looked at him, he kept looking straight at Reverb's windshield with a matured expression. He was confident without being cocky, daring without the perils going over his head, pragmatic while also creative, and aware of potential failure without a shed of self-doubt; he knew exactly what he had to do.

In our simulation runs, he had slightly more wins than losses against me. Even if he didn't win, I felt like he would play a part in helping another driver win.

"Let's do this right!" I said, to which Vert nodded in response.

The first ring of the Wheel of Power stopped before one of the symbols started glowing. "Alright, switch to slick treads. We're about to head into the Chrome Realm," I advised.

Racing Drones' HQ
Brian Kadeem

I transformed into my RD-04 behind the four vehicles owned by the elite Blå Squadron. Their vehicles, similar to Rød, had black bodies but also had sky blue windows.

Annette rose to the podium in front of the wheel. "Today marks the end of days for the apathetic disgust that you call humanity," she spoke towards the drivers. "For millennia, humanity has revelled in conflict, in depravity, and they have found no cure for their disease. But we have found it!" Her voice progressively became hoarser. As the second ring stopped, Annette continued her speech. "The first Realm will mark the map towards the Accelerons, and by transcending them will we be able to conquer Earth! Vert Wheeler, Maila Eiss, and all the other drivers that stand in our way will know the glory Gelorum gave us!"

"God, does she have to be that melodramatic?" Tom Aarseth, Blå's number four questioned.

"Cut the chatter," Einar Johansen, the leader of Blå Squadron responded. "Team, make sure you keep it tight the second we get in the Realm. We are facing the Murderer and his Valkyrie after all."

"Roger that, Einar," Heather Andersen, Blå 2, said.

"Erich, set jammer levels to 0. We want our arrival to be a surprise Wheeler and Eiss will not expect."

"Roger, setting jammer levels to 0," Erich Zimmerman, Blå 3, replied.

The third ring layered over the Chrome symbol, and the portal activated. "HAIL GELORUM!" Annette screamed as hordes of Racing Drones raced in like a stampede of elephants.

Maila Eiss

We immediately booked it the moment the third ring stopped and drove onto a black and purple ramp into the Wheel hologram generating a purple portal.

"Alright, everyone," I said. "Time to dive into the lungs of Hell!"

The surroundings around my windshield turned to a bright white light as Octainium went in.

A/N: Alright! We're finally getting to how we got to the prologue scene! Sorry if I suck at describing character appearances in the time skip; it's something I am not that great with.