Chapter 21: Support and bonds

The mood in the Acceledrome was depressing, no one talked or made a sound as the racers mulled around the place. Having just seen Amelia not return from a realm made the danger the racers were in seam that much more real, many were rethinking weather they should stay and work for Tezla or leave in one piece. With the loss of their sister and cousin the remaining five Moonlight Angels stayed, vowing to get Amelia back though whatever means they could.

For some of the racers this loss showed them the real importance of family, Rekkas couldn't stay as he had his family depending on him for an income and Kadeem had to leave as his village needed him, both men left with lots of sorrys and explanations but they insisted they would help in anyway they could, weather it was research or any paperwork they will do what they could while they were away.

Esmeralda and Shrimp both stood their ground when Jet tried to get them to leave with him, both of them saying they would stay and race, Amelia was a to nice a person to leave to fate and both of them will help out no matter what they were needed for. Jet and Shrimp had a fight when Jet tried once more to get them to leave with him, Shrimp told Jet that even if they couldn't find Millie he would never leave the sisters that felt like his family, no matter what he would stay by their sides; He finally got the message when Shrimp beat it into him.

With a glare Jet left without an excuse or explanation, this should have hurt the Moonlight Angels but they knew the git wouldn't stay around for long. They all understood that some of the population won't risk their lives for people they hardly know and some of the racers had other responsibilities that were bigger then themselves, but he could have at least told them why he didn't want to stay, couldn't he.

Banjee, Skeet and Krakatoa gave everyone a hug and a rather sad goodbye before they left, all three saying the really wanted to stay but they all had young ones that need them to be around but if they needed any help with fixing cars, food and anything to do with the well-being of the drivers all they need to do was call and they will come running.

Lani stood up at this moment to say she would stay, she would still be in the safety of the control room with Dr Tezla and do what she did best, help the racers when they were in the realms along with tending to them when they were hurt.

Dan was unsure of what he should do, he wanted to stay but he also wasn't sure if he could put his own life on the line for people he had only known for a week or two, after a few hours of mindless thinking he climbed into his car and drove off. It was devastating to see two grown men leave without a word to anyone, like rats from a sinking ship.

Both Tork and Nolo agreed that as the left over teams had interwoven so much and unbelievable bonds had been made within the three teams both of them would stay, what shocked everyone was Nolo standing up to Tork saying it was time to put the past behind them and work together to get Amelia back, both men shock on that agreeing to start anew.

So here they were a group of twenty seven racers now down to eighteen all having different roles within the Acceledrome but all of them having the same goal, get Amelia back.

To cheer everyone up Shrimp had the idea of having a relaxing movie night, everyone but the Moonlight Angels were game for the idea but after a little persuasion they gave in and now all eighteen racers were piled into the lounge room ready to watch the film. Lani, Karma and Esmeralda noticed a big change to the sisters behaviour from the last time they watched a movie together, they were all sad and depressed not even bothering to show an interest in the movie; Lani had put The Matrix in knowing how much fun they had last time.

Half way though the movie all four sisters and Drew looked at each other from their different perches, it was Drew that spoke first.

"We need the cheer up…" Drew said from the back of the room "…we'll get Millie back, just you wait and see"

"I know that…" Dani said sitting up in Torks lap "…but it still hurts not knowing where Millie is"

"But we have to look at the bright side…" Faith stood up from beside Shirako to face Dani and Drew "…it's not just us five, we have thirteen other racers with us…"

"…all of them wanting the same thing" Mel said as she started to sound more like herself.

"We're not alone, we never were…" Hope stood up beside her twin seeing all the faces around her "…we have everyone here that have stuck with us, that want to help. That must mean something"

"That's what we were trying to tell you earlier" Esmeralda said as she took Mel in her arms.

"Without us knowing everyone of us have formed an unbreakable bond…" Shrimp said as he stood beside Drew, his eyes quickly glancing to the door but back just as quickly a small smile on his lips.

"…a bond that means you're stuck with us though thick or thin" A new female voice said from the doorway, every head turned in shock to see a red head, green eyed woman standing there with a huge smile on her face.

"SUZZIE" Faith and Hope called as they scrambled around people and objects to reach their long time friend.

"How did you get here?" Dani asked confused as the twins enveloped Suzzie into a huge bear hug.

"Well long story short…" Shirako and Pork Chop managed with some difficulty to pry the twins of their friend long enough for her to explain "…Monkey called and told me what happened, he asked Tezla if I could come and then told me how to get here, I then drove for three hours with a moody bundle of fluff and here I am… Oh and I think there's someone else coming" Suzzie added as she greeted Monkey with a kiss on the cheek.

"Moody bundle of fluff?" Nolo asked when just then a small bundle of red fluff timidly came into the room, the fluff ball stayed by the safety of doorway as it's black nose sniffed the air around him.

"SKYE" Mel shouted as she wiggled out of Esmeraldas grip to greet the fluff ball. Two big brown eyes looked up at the shouting woman as a tail wagged happily behind him, his ears pricing forwards when she called his name.

"Suzzie you brought Skye with you?" Dani asked as she looked for the dog. Skye quiet happily pranced around the room greeting and sniffing everyone he could find, with a mouth stretching yawn Skyes big eyes looked around before snuggled into Esmeraldas free lap and fell asleep.

"Cute" Esmeralda sighed as she rubbed the white flash on his feathered chest

"What do you mean by someone else coming?" Vert asked getting back to the point as the green eyed women went to greet Dani.

"As I was driving though the desert I happened to come across another car with a guy in it, I would say he is about the nineteen/twenty mark and he had an older women in the car, maybe his mum…" Suzzie looked around to spot Mel now sitting next to Esmeralda, she quickly kissed Mel on the forehead in greeting before getting back to her story "…this guy got out and ran to the back wheel to see he had a flat and he wasn't to happy about it I can tell you, anyway the guy helped his mum out the car and sat her down on a nearby rock before getting a jack out the back. I pulled over to ask if he needed any help to which he declined saying he was fine, as I pulled away I noticed the lady had a cast on her leg…"

"Did this guy…" Vert interrupted "…have brown messy hair, tanned skin and brown eyes while driving a blue, orange and white car?"

"Why yes…" Suzzie looked up confused "…how did you know?"

"Alec" Was the only word Vert spoke as said man walked passed the open doorway with a women in crutches hobbling beside him.

"Hay Vert dude…" Alec greeted as he came into the doorway "…hi everyone, glad to see you lot here" Alec fully came into the room leaving his mum looking really unsure in the doorway, her brown eyes darted from person to person as if trying to burn their faces into her mind. Drew being the gentleman he was introduced himself and gently guided her to the seat Shrimp had just vacated.

"Would you like anything at all Mrs Wood?" Shrimp asked as he placed her crushes out of harms way.

"Oh dude…" Alec said rushing to his mums side "…I forgot. Everyone this is my mum, mum these are my friends…" One by one Alec introduced the racers to his mum and vice versa, the women known as Alice Wood had pale peach skin with deep brown curls that were pulled into a messy bun. The women smiled at each of the racers as they greeted her.

"Yo dude why did you bring Momma Ali with you?" Vert asked once everyone had settled down.

"Well…when I got a phone call from Lani explaining everything that happened I couldn't just sit around and do nothing but I couldn't leave my mum. Just like any typical mum she over heard everything and then it just tumbled out, I explained everything that was going on and then mum tried to send me on my way, I wasn't having any of it…" Alec looked lovingly at his mother as she was handed a big cup of steaming hot tea.

"I know how important beating the drones is so after much talking and a lot of shoving Alec finally gave in as long as I came with him. I can't keep up with any of you at driving but I'm a mean cook and I have a medical degree under my belt, I can help keep you kids stay in not only physical but mental shape to" By the end Mel was standing there with tears in her eyes, no matter how many hugs the young women got they were never the same as a mums hug and as her wasn't there Mel had to go for the next best thing.

When she couldn't hold back the pain she had been holding onto any longer it all burst forth as deep sobs shock her small frame. All it took was Alice Wood to open her arms and the young girl ran forward into Alec's mums arms, Alice wrapped her arms around Mel and held onto her tightly her as she cried. Every eye in the room had a sparkle of tears within them and it wasn't long before Tork had his arms around Dani, Faith was buried in Shirakos chest and Drew was hugging Mel from behind.

"Thank you Mrs Wood" Mel sobbed when the tears had slowed

"Please…" Alec's mum replied "…call me Momma Ali, everyone else does" Mel smiled shyly as she tried to wipe her eyes dry, but being a mum Momma Ali got a tissue out of her handbag and offered it to Mel with a smile of her own.

"Open the portal" Hope demanded much to everyone's surprise, no one knew what was going on until they noticed that Tezla had finally joined them and was standing in the doorway, looking a little out of place.

"I can't…"

"Open the portal, now…" Her voice was barley over a deadly whisper as she glared at the white haired man "…open it or you will be sorry" The room was frozen in shock at the Hope that stood before them, what had happened to the Hope that was all similes, laughter and always falling over.

"I've tried, but I can't…"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN'T?"

"Just that…" Tezla whimpered "…I have tried and it won't respond"

".again" Each word was spat out of her mouth like it was poison, Hope was angry.

"I have tried, over and over and nothing has worked" Tezla took a step back ready to run as fast as he could.

"Don't you fucking dare…" Correction Hope was VERY angry "…I'm not done with you yet" For very step Tezla took back Hope stepped forward with two, soon Hope was right in the Docs face, her eyes ablaze with hatred as they started down at Tezla.

"H…" When she didn't respond Faith tried again "…Hope, it's ok. We will get Millie back…"

"OPEN THE FUCKING PORTAL, NOW"

"Can't you see I have tried…" Tezla begged "…I can't do anything more then I have already done"

"WELL IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH…" Hope bellowed in Tezla's face, her blue eyes a mix with stormy grey "…TRY HARDER"

"There is nothing more that I can do, I have followed up every lead I have found and they all come up dry" The man flinched when in a blur Hope drew her right fist back.

"It's ok Hope…" Wylde desperately begged as he leapt behind the angry women and grasped her wrist "…we will get Amelia back no matter what…" Wylde took his left arm and wrapped it around Hope's waist trying to tug her away as she struggled in his firm grip "…nothing can be accomplished though anger and violence, trust me I should know"

"Bu…B…But…" Hope stuttered "…it…it's…h…his…" Tears streamed down her face as her eyes showed the only emotion she felt, defeat.

"I've got you…" Wylde whispered when Hope fell onto a heap on the floor "…I've got you" Hope fell into a crumpled mess of despair and misery as she tried to scream out her pain, Wylde wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled Hope into his lap making a wall of muscle between Hope and the outside world, he gently rocked backwards and forwards trying to sooth the young woman, the only word leaving her lips was her sisters name, Amelia.

"We'll get her back…" Wylde whispered to the sobbing girl in his arms "…I never break a promise to someone I love and I promise you we will get Amelia back" With gentle lips Wylde kissed the top of Hope's forehead, squeezing the women gently as he pulled Hope closer into his chest.

A.N. Well thats all folks, that is the end of this story. It's been a long road of rewritten chapters, long waits and an endless list of betas but here we are. Do not worry, I'm working on the next story as you read. Getting Millie Back will be up soon so keep an eye out. Thank you all for taking the time to read my story and some of you have even reviewed so an extra thanks to them, I love to hear what you all think so please don't hesitate to let me know. Thanks again and I hope you enjoied it.