The Truth That Lies Beyond The Lies
An AcceleRacers Fanfiction
By: Wings of Speed
Disclaimer: I no own, in no way shape or form. It's not mine.
Summary: Set after 'The Ultimate Race' Vert finds himself in all worlds of trouble, and it's not going to be easy to escape from, especially when he has no clue he's being followed or by who. The Silencerz want him, but he wants not a thing to do with them, he only wants to find his way back to his friends. In the mean time, Shirako meets a nemesis from the past that wants revenge in any form, even if it means taking the Teku driver out permanently. Of course, this person has to have some connection to Vert and it's Vert that leads this person to Shirako. Will both Teku be able to survive what I have in store for them or will one of them meet an untimely fate?
The Truth That Lies Beyond The Lies
Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End
"Son, we need to talk," his father had said to him after removing the strange looking face shield and neck support.
"Dad?" Was all Vert had been able to come up with.
Now, here he was, in the Silencerz headquarters, surrounded by a bunch of people he knew absolutely nothing about and a father he was beginning to believe he knew not at all.
Was this something he should have suspected? Were there clues he had over looked?
"This way Vert," his father said, indicating a path down a long corridor. "There's some people you should meet and things I guess that should be explained."
Yeah, I would think so. Vert said silently to himself.
He followed his father down the corridor, taking in the silver and purple of the walls. It seemed everything to do with the Silencerz was done in purple and silver, not just their cars. The walls were a lackluster silver, the coloring not bright enough to catch and reflect the illumination from the lights above. Doors were set into the walls, numbers and letters in purple giving some sort of identification to what lay beyond each door, but what that information was, Vert didn't know.
At the end of the corridor were a pair of doors, on which was the symbol of the Silencerz. Vert watched as the doors slid open before them. His father walked through without a moment's hesitation. Vert followed through a bit more wearily, not sure if he were walking into a trap or if his father truly had some fellow Silencerz that he wanted his son to meet.
There was a large round table almost perfectly centered in the middle of the room. Fourteen chairs were spaced evenly around the table, also silver and purple like everything else within the Silencerz base so far that Vert had seen. He took notice that there were five others within the room. Three of them were sitting at the table while the other two were standing near some consuls in the back of the room, furthest from the door.
Vert glanced at his father as the older man stopped. "I've brought him as you ordered," his father said to one of the people standing at the back of the room.
All five turned their heads to take in the newcomers. One of the three sitting at the table stood up and it appeared as if they were going to approach Vert and his father. A quick motion from Vert's father had the person stopping and returning to their seat.
Vert's attention was drawn to one of the two standing in the back. They hit a button on one of the consuls then turned to approach him and his father. The person walked toward them, but made no show of being in any particular hurry. After finally reaching Vert and his father, the person stopped in front of them and cocked their head, as if silently regarding Vert.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the person removed their helmet. Vert didn't recognize the man, didn't recall ever seeing him at all in his life. He was a few inches taller than his father and had black hair. There were a few streaks of gray around his temples, but other than that there were no indications on exactly how old this guy might be. His eyes were a deep emerald, almost looking black, and his eyes were to close together and looked rather beady.
His nose had a pinched look to it and was crooked, as if it had been broken at some point and hadn't mended right. His mouth seemed twisted in a sneer, giving him a rather cruel look. Overall, Vert's first impression of this guy was that he didn't like him. Something about him just rubbed Vert the wrong way.
"I'm Admiral Graymond, Co-coordinator of the Silencerz Organization and you I would presume to be Vert Wheeler." The man's voice even sounded cruel, it reminded him of an evil villain from some old 50's movie.
"Yeah," Vert began, only to have the Admiral cut him off.
"I also understand that you've been working for Tezla and our simul-agent Gig." It wasn't a question, more of a statement or observation.
"Yeah," was all Vert could get out again before the Admiral was again talking.
The man's cold green eyes were staring at him, but they almost seemed to be staring through him, as if he were looking at something behind the young man. "I hope you understand you work for us now. Everything that Tezla had accomplished, everything he had discovered has been lost. We are the only ones that now have access to the Wheel of Power and the Racing Realms.
"The Drone's are destroyed. The AcceleDrome has been destroyed. Tezla and your friends have no hope of ever returning to the Realms. All their secrets will be ours and you will help us."
"I really doubt that," Vert said, his voice colored with his anger.
His father put a hand on his shoulder, "Son, you don't have much of a choice, not if you really want to go into the Realms again. Not if you want to race again."
"I won't betray my friends, not to the likes of you!" Vert burst out and suddenly found himself racing from the room, not really sure where he was going. He ran down the corridor, half expecting to hear booted footsteps behind him. All he heard was the sound of his own boots on the corridor floor.
"Vert!" Two voices yelled from behind him, still within the room. One his father, the other he didn't recognize. He ignored them both and kept running.
The end of the corridor brought him out into the room he had awoken in earlier. There were still suited Silencerz technicians working on various cars and at various consuls. He spotted Reverb sitting in a stall next to one of the Silencerz vehicles and made a mad dash for his car.
The keys were still in it, though he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. There was no telling how long he had been out and what the technicians could've done to his car. He'd just have to take his chances he figured as he opened the door and quickly got in. Within seconds he had the car started and was squealing the tires as he attempted to figure a way out of the Silencerz headquarters.
He couldn't use the Wheel of Power, it was stationary at the moment and there'd be no telling where it'd put him out at even if it was moving. He couldn't return to the AcceleDrome anyhow, not with it being destroyed. He'd have to figure a way out of this base and then figure out where to go from there.
The Admiral turned to look at the three people sitting at the table. He indicated the two sitting the closest to him, "You two will follow him to see where he goes. Do not approach him under any circumstances; we want him to think he's escaped from here."
"Understood," the two said simultaneously as they got up from their seats.
With an air of calmness but a quickness to their step, they left the conference room and headed toward the garage bays.
Vert felt like he was doing circles, he'd swear he had passed through this same hallway at least three times already. There was nothing easy about the layout of the Silencerz base. Corridor's ended abruptly with dead end walls while others just seemed to take you in circles, never giving the impression of having any particular function other than to confuse unwanted guests. Or confuse those who were trying to escape.
He cut around another corner and found himself face to face with one of the Silencerz cars. Gunning the engine and hitting the e-break he forced the car into a 180 turn and started back down the way he had just come. He was just about to turn a left corner when he noticed another Silencerz car coming up that direction. Right was looking a lot better.
He forced the car into a sharp right turn, bringing the car up on two tires and continued to speed down the corridor. He could see both cars following behind him, but he seemed to be gaining distance on them. There had to be a way to loose them in the labyrinth-like maze of the base, but he wasn't sure how. The Silencerz drivers would have the advantage of knowing the layout far better than he.
He cut another sharp right then dodged left as another Silencerz car seemed to materialize out of nowhere. He was really beginning to hate their ability to cloak their cars at the moment, but it would also be a nice ability for him to have. Only problem was, he didn't have it and they did.
Then he noticed something, they seemed to be purposely herding him in this direction. Were they setting up some sort of trap?
He hit the e-break again and forced Reverb into another gut-wrenching 180 degree turn. He silently wondered how well the Silencerz drivers played at the game of chicken. He'd have his answer in a few moments.
The distance between his car and theirs was quickly disappearing and he found himself worrying about who would dodge first. They seemed adamant about not letting him go that way. There had to be a good reason why. Perhaps because the exit was that way?
At the last possible second the two Silencerz cars swerved down into connecting corridors, leaving the way clear. With a sigh of relief he full throttled the car and made a mental note to go which ever way it seemed they didn't want him to go.
At the next intersection there was another Silencerz car waiting for him, he drifted past the car and continued down the corridor. The next few corridors were the same way and he always went down the one they seemed to not want him to go down.
After what seemed like hours he found something that looked like an exit. He only hoped that that's what it was.
"Have you heard anything from Vert?" Lani asked over the communication chip. The AcceleDrome had been destroyed hours ago, the remaining Drones' along with it. Now the drivers were attempting to make some semblance of what had occurred, but they were one driver short and no one seemed to know where Vert was.
"No, not a thing," Nolo answered, his eyes catching those of his teammates as well as those of the Metal Maniacs. "Have you?"
"No," came Lani's reply.
"We're looking for him," Tork started to say, "but we don't have a clue where to start. If he used the EDR there's no telling where he could've come out at."
"Especially with the AcceleDrome being destroyed," Nolo cut in.
"He could be looking for us too," Monkey added.
Everyone looked at each other. It was a possibility. Vert could very likely be looking for them, but he'd be having the same problem as them: Not a clue where to start.
Karma closed her eyes as a thought occurred to her. She opened her eyes again to look at everyone then allowed her gaze to fall on Nolo and Tork. "What if we go back to where it all started?" She asked.
Nolo and Tork looked at her then recognition dawned in their eyes. "The Coast Road," they both said at once.
"We've got an idea Lani, we'll let you know what happens once we get there." Nolo said into the communication chip.
"What?" Lani asked, but they were already gone.
Ok, review and let me know what you think. Should I continue or call it quits here. Though this is not my first fanfic, it is my first AcceleRacers Fanfic and any feedback would be greatly appreciated. If you've checked out my Bio you maybe surprised by my age, don't be, I have a seven year old son and I can blame him for my interest in this fandom. Plus I have a natural attraction for fast and hot cars; my own car is evidence of that. Read, review and let me know what you think. The next two chapters are already completed and the fourth is on its way to completion. Thanks much!