Acceleracers Nexus

Chapter nine: Welcome, Eric!

Author: Chase Wheeler

Disclaimer: I don't own acceleracers.

Summary: Eric Wylde's appearance.

Acceleracers Nexus:

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Kurt spun the wheel to the side hard but Chase still passed him up in the corner. The older racer pressed the pedal to the floor to try to catch up with his 'Nephew' but it was no use as Chase had just drifted through another corner. Not knowing the corner was coming, the older Wylde brother had accelerated too much and couldn't take the corner without smashing into the wall. "Damn it" he growled as he hit the steering wheel. "I could have done that in real life. This isn't fair."

Chase turned towards his 'uncle' in his gaming seat. "Don't be a sore loser, Kurt. Now you remember the deal?"

"Yeah, yeah." Kurt clenched his teeth. "Chase Wheeler is the best racer in the world and he can easily kick my ass."

Chase broke into laughter and almost fell from his chair. That is until he heard the voice behind him. "Best in the world eh?"

The young teen turned towards the man he had always called his father. All his laughter died as Vert pushed Kurt aside and grabbed the racing wheel. "We'll see about that."

Chase slid as far down into his seat as he could. He somehow just knew that the destruction of his winning streak was coming. Choosing a track he knew really well, he hoped that might give him an advantage over the older racer who was known all over as the worlds fastest racer. No luck, as soon as the race started, Chase found himself in the dust of his father's tires. He lost.

Vert was grinning at him when he looked over. "I think the best racer in the world needs some practice."

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Katana sat in front of the vanity table that was in her guest room. It was Race Night again and Chase had offered to take her. She wouldn't be able to race since she hadn't taken Kash's tests but she could watch Chase and have fun dancing and hanging with everyone. She really just wanted to go so that she could be near Chase and watch him racing at his best. Still it touched her that she didn't have to ask. Chase had come to her this morning at breakfast and asked her if she wanted to come. She swore her mind was playing tricks on her, for it had looked like Chase was blushing just a bit.

She had happily taken his offer and now she found herself in front of the vanity, combing her dark hair. Usually Katana didn't believe in make-up, but tonight she wanted to look perfect for Chase, so she had applied a small amount to her face. Her outfit wasn't as wild as it could have been but it did show a rather lot of her skin, still only a tasteful amount though. Her red halter top just barely covered her flat stomach, giving just a flash of her lower stomach if she moved quickly. The black pants fit snug on her hips and rear but flowed into bell bottom ends at the bottom of the legs. The red and black jacket she wore over the halter was identical to Chase's but with the colors reversed. Where his was mainly black, hers was primarily red with black stripes. Smiling at the mirror, Katana had to admit that she thought she looked damn good in red and black.

'So does Chase, doesn't he?' The voice in her head returned. Katana glared at the mirror, wishing the voice would go away and just let her enjoy what should be a great night. She did have to agree with the voice though. 'not going to fight the fact you're attracted to him?' The voice asked in disbelief.

Katana shook her head. 'No. I know I'm attracted to him, the question is, is he attracted to me?'

'Find out.'

'I intend to.' Katana smiled.

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Chase had finished the last of his preparations on Rageous and had went to his room to change his clothes for Race Night. Fishing through his closet, he chose a pair of black pants with a red shirt. When he was just about to put on his usual jacket, the racing suit met his eyes from where he had hung it after his birthday. Throwing the black jacket down, he took the racing suit's jacket top from the closet. Smiling at the memory of his party and his meeting with Kurt afterwards, the young racer put on the red jacket instead. He had never tried to put on the suit, but now found that the jacket was extremely comfortable on him. Smirking at his reflection in the mirror he thought. 'This should catch her attention.' Not even he knew whose attention he was wearing it to catch. Katana's or Dawn's.

Deciding to just leave all that as it was, Chase inserted his red contacts and stepped out of his room, walking to Katana's door. He knocked twice and heard her gentle, soft voice through the door telling him to enter. Twisting the knob, he opened the door and looked into the room. What met his eyes blew him away. In all of the eighteen years he had known her, he had never seen Katana wear makeup or fix her hair up. But she had done both of those things tonight and she looked stunning. All thoughts and memories of Dawn Ambers left his soul as he stared upon what he thought was a goddess taking over his friend's body. He couldn't mutter a word, it was all he could do not to drool.

"You like?" Katana asked, even though even she wasn't blind enough to miss his reaction.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he nodded. "Yeah. You trying to catch the eye of some guy at Race Night."

"I was, but it appears I already have." she said softly, but he could still hear her. It breath caught in his throat as she brushed past him, her hand touching his for mere moments. "We going or not?" she asked as he stood in her room after she had made it to the doorway.

If Chase could have his way, they wouldn't go anywhere. She looked so beautiful and that guest bed looked so comfortable, Chase's mind warped through images of various things that they could do on that bed together. 'Think with your other head, perv.' He said to himself. "Yeah, let's go."

They walked out of the house together standing so close that he could smell her hair, which smelled like raspberries. Chase grinned at the thought since raspberries had always been his favorite. If he only knew that Katana had recently changed her shampoo from vanilla to raspberries, just because she knew as well that they were Chase's favorite. Oh if he only knew, there would be no going to Race Night tonight.

Walking into the large garage, he once again opened the passenger door for her before running over to the drivers gullwing door and sitting in Rageous. Pressing the his finger against the small red pad, the car spoke. "Confirming identity of Driver: Knight. Welcome."

"Knight?" Katana asked. She had never once been given the privilege of riding in Rageous with Chase, so this was all new to her.

"It's sorta my handle. You know like truck drivers have on the CB. It's a racing handle."

"We don't do those in L.A."

"Bayview's the racing capital of the world for street races. And they are so many cars that look alike that everyone gets a handle and prints it on the car." He pointed to the word 'Knight' on his car's hood.

"Sounds cool. Wish I had a handle."

Chase grinned and put that into the back of his mind for future reference. "Let's go." He said as he sped out of the garage and towards the Bayview Arena where everyone was meeting for Race Night this week.

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Kash Jordan was pleasantly surprised to see the red and black car park in the arena lot early. Then he was confused when Chase exited and ran to the passenger door. He was then shocked when Chase opened the door and let out the beautiful teenage girl decked out in red and black just like him. Shocked changed to happiness as he stared at the girl and guy as they stood by Rageous for a second talking. 'They make a cute couple.' he thought. 'Even better than him and Dawn.'

Thinking of the female racer, Kash looked over towards her and the new black civic that she had replaced her eclipse with. She looked angry as she glared towards Chase and the new girl. Severely angry. Kash didn't want to be the target of those green eyes anytime soon. "Wait, didn't she have blue eyes?" Now he was confused again.

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Dawn's glare intensified as Chase took the other girl's hand and led her gently to the back of the car where he popped the trunk and showed her his sound system. Seeing how things were moving along, she knew she had no choice. "I can't allow anyone else to have the gift." she said in a low mean voice.

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Katana smiled as she danced next to Chase to the music and lights from Rageous. The races didn't start till midnight, so it was a huge party from eight till then. Watching Chase dance, she couldn't resist the urge to join him, dance with him, and just be near him. She soon realized that Chase's excitement on Race Night was infectious, as she wanted nothing more then to dance by him now and race with him later. She wondered if that would be ok. "Chase?" She hollered at him over the music. He stopped his movement and with a flick of his wrist the music died down to where they could talk normally. "Can I ride with you on the race?" She asked bravely.

Chase smiled. He had wanted to offer her the chance to do just that, but had been hesitant about asking. It wasn't usual for a racer to carry a passenger, but for her, he'd make an exception. "Sure."

Her smile raised his temperature and he turned the music back on so he could have some excuse to be near her, bump into her on 'accident' during the dance. He was surprised when he bumped into her then tried to back away, because she backed up with him, staying in contact. She had this strange gleam in her eyes as she stared at him. He didn't know what to make out of it, but he liked it. "Let me show you how we dance in L.A." she said as she moved closer to him and started to rub her body against his, she turned around from him while grabbing his hand and rested her chest against his back as she placed his hand on her stomach, dangerously close to the bottom of her breasts.

Leaning down, Chase whispered into her ear. "I like how they dance in L.A. I like it a lot."

Katana shivered from his breath on her neck and ear, that sent wild images through her mind. Images of her and him, together, as one. She liked that idea.

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Kash was beginning to wonder if he was going to have to hose down the two lovebirds over there as they danced so close together. The heat rising from them was only equal to the heat he saw rising from Dawn as she seethed angrily while watching them. Kash didn't blame her. Chase hadn't made one move to talk to her since he got there, he was too wrapped up in the dark haired girl whose hips his hands now rested on. Such a sight.

Kash had once rooted for Dawn and Chase's love with all he could muster, but seeing Chase so happy, dancing with the new girl, he quickly changed his stance. What Chase had on Dawn was merely a crush, but they way he looked at the girl he was dancing with, well, Kash was sure he'd never seen so much love in one man's eyes, and it was all returned in her eyes towards him. "Maybe I should cancel the race." he suggested to Byte.

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Chase's heart had never pumped this fast and it wasn't from the dancing. Just being near her, set him off, but being so close and touching her hips and stomach with his hands was enough to make the racer happier then he had ever been. This thrill excited him more then even racing, which said a lot. This was one night that Chase wished could go on forever.

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The teenage boy inside a dark blue car stared at Chase and Katana just like many others were doing, everyone so taken by their displays of passion and all the girls in the crowd so jealous of Katana. It was close to midnight, time for the races. With an evil grin on his lips the boy pressed the accept button on his LCD screen which read, "Connect with Knight?"

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Chase heard the beeping of the vid-con receiver in Rageous but didn't want to break away from the teenage girl in front of him. Katana caught it too however and turned back towards him. "We can dance more later, you should see what that is." Chase nodded and headed to his car as Katana thought to herself. 'Dance and maybe more later.'

He sat in Rageous's driver seat and pressed the touchscreen LCD to accept the transmission. Instead of a face, blackness stared back at him as a robotic voice spoke. "Greetings Knight."

Chase looked confused at the screen. "Who is this?"

"One of your opponents tonight with a proposition."

"I'm listening."

"If I win I get the girl."

Chase was about to say 'no way.' but Katana had sat in the passenger seat. "What does Chase get if he wins?" she asked.

"How's a million dollars sound?"

Chase blinked. "He'll take it." Katana spoke for him.

The screen announced an ended call as Chase looked at Katana. "Why did you do that?"

She simply shrugged. "No one here can beat you, I'm sure of it, so I've got nothing to fear."

Chase frowned. "I don't know. He might be really good."

"You can take him, Chase. Trust me."

Chase nodded and started Rageous, driving to the line. "I hope you're right."

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Kash stood at the line as Rageous drove to it, followed by Dawn's civic then a dark blue car. The blue car was built like nothing Kash had ever seen. A coupe with a large rectangular hole cut in the door where an Orange panel was placed. It had a large tinted bubble all around the top serving as a three-hundred and sixty degree window. How one got out of the car, Kash had no clue. The car had done extraordinarily well on his tests though, so he thought this might just be a heated race between the blue coupe and Rageous. A race the crowd would love.

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Chase's confidence dwindled as he saw the dark blue and orange car on the line. It was hand built just like his and they'd done an excellent job on it. Katana seemed perfectly ok with it, still confident that he would win. He watched Kash's hands go up and revved his engine, as soon as the race organizer's hands came down, Chase and the blue coupe were gone with the black civic no too far behind. Chase swerved in front of the blue coupe and onto the inside lane. The first corner was coming up and Chase was preparing to drift through it. Left-foot braking and down shifting, he started his drift, watching as the car behind him completed the same technique.

If there was one thing that set Chase off it was being mimicked. With his anger growing slowly, he sped up and grip braked into the next corner. The blue coupe braked too. Flooring the accelerator, Chase spun the car around a hundred and eighty degrees so he was looking right at the coupe and put Rageous in reverse. Driving backwards at incredible speeds, Chase came up on the next corner and purposely over shot it just a bit, before shifting into first and flooring it through the corner then shifting into higher gears. The blue car stuck to his tail. It swerved to his passenger side and tried to pass him, but chase pulled in front of it. It tried the other side, but he blocked it there too. The car accelerated, going to try to push his bumper, and the young racer waited. When the car was almost to his back bumper, he hit the switch on his steering wheel and he and Katana were thrown back in their seats as the NOS shot him forward like a rocket, while the fire from his exhaust scorched the front bumper of the coupe.

With the NOS still flowing through his engine, Chase took the next turn at a hundred and fifty miles per hour by initiating a drift and counter steering against the g-force. He looked into his rear swivel monitor and caught the blue coupe taking the corner not too far behind. 'This guy is good.' A black civic that looked familiar was right on the coupe's tail, trying to pass him, but he was blocking it on all sides. Shifting into the next gear Chase accelerated on the straight-away. Watching his rear monitor again Chase's eyes widened as the black civic jumped over the blue coupe. The black import floored it as soon as all wheels were on the ground and soon it was on Rageous's tail. As the young racer started into the next turn the black civic accelerated and hit the passenger side hard spinning the car around and out of Chase's control. Chase watched as his car, spinning like a top was nearing a small little gas station's fuel pumps. He turned the wheel in the direction of the spin and accelerated, but his tires weren't picking up the traction needed to right the car.

He pulled the handbrake and the squealing sound rose to his ears, Jamming the foot brakes down as well, Chase watched as the car miraculously came to a halt a mere inch from the fuel pump. Sighing, he felt relieved until he saw the blue coupe shoot by the small station. He raised the handbrake and let off the brakes as he gave the car some gas. He wasn't going to lose.

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Dawn's face was highlighted in the green glow coming from the neon tubes on the inside of her black civic. Her vid-con screen was out but all that could be seen was static. "I've taken care of Chase, no one else can take the gift." She reported to the static filled screen.

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Chase however, was perfectly fine as he tailed the blue coupe. "You ok, Val?" He asked since the young girl hadn't said anything since she entered the car.

"I'm fine. I just know you don't need distractions while you're driving."

"I'm skilled, girl. I can drive and talk at the same time."

"So then who was that that tried to kill us?"

"I really don't know. I don't remember that car."

"I do. That was the girl that you slept with, Chase."

"Dawn?"

"Whatever her name is." Katana sighed. "How could you forget her car?"

Chase blushed. "I can't remember anything about it, Val. I mean come on, I don't even remember the fun part."

Katana rolled her eyes. "All guys are the same."

Chase swerved to the left of the coupe and shot some NOS off before the driver could block him. "That's not true. I really don't remember it." He told her seriously as he took the next corner.

Katana raised her eyebrow, staring at him. "You don't remember anything?"

"Not at all. Guess it couldn't have been all that good." he joked.

Katana blushed catching the meaning of his statement but also thinking to herself. 'Would he remember me if we did...it?' Taking a brief glance at Chase she found determination in her soul. 'I'll make sure he will. I mean...If that ever happens.'

Chase gunned the engine and watched as the coupe got smaller on his rear monitor. He knew why the coupe wasn't on his tail. The hairpins up ahead, no sane driver would take them at his speed, But everyone knew that Chase wasn't all that sane at times.

"Aren't you going to slow down?" Katana asked.

"Nope." he answered simply.

She looked in front of the car, The inside of the hairpin was filled with rocks from the road construction team that had been there earlier today. And she knew not even her uncle Vert could take this hairpin going two-hundred. She looked over at the driver and all doubts fled from her. She trusted him, with her life if need be. He knew what he was doing.

About twenty feet from the hairpin, Chase turned Rageous sideways. Katana's doubts came back. 'He started the drift way too early.' She grabbed her seat, holding to it with all the strength she had. The car slid down towards the hairpin sideways, but ten feet from the apex of the turn, Chase gunned the engine and counter steered. They were now heading towards the large boulders. Katana was just about to close her eyes, when she saw the small car size gap in them and watched as Rageous squeezed by without a problem. Clearing the boulders, Chase righted Rageous and accelerated to the finish line. The black civic wasn't there and he knew he hadn't passed it, so for some reason it hadn't finished the race.

Chase squealed his braked to a halt as he passed the line and all the crowd cheered. Stepping out, he ran quickly to the passenger side and opened the door, Katana had just barely gotten her harness of when his strong arms lifted her off her seat and into a tight intimate hug. Being caught off guard for only a second, she quickly returned the hug and leaned her head on his shoulders as the blue coupe stopped beside them.

Chase let go and stepped in front of her, blocking her from the other racer. Katana's heart beat as she thought of him as her knight, protecting her from danger. Of course there hadn't been any real danger and she knew that as a section of the coupe lowered from the drivers side like a loading ramp. Small stairs were built into the metal of the door and the section of the orange bubble that had also started to lower retracted into it before it touched the ground. A fog machine belched out mysterious fog as the driver stepped onto the highest step and began to walk down. With his feet now firmly on the ground, Chase identified the driver as being about his age and a little more muscular. Chase wasn't afraid of that, His cousin Eric was more muscular then him yet he always won their fights because he was faster.

The driver started the walk towards Rageous. Stopping right in front of Chase, he reached up slowly to remove his racing helmet. Chase started to make out familiar features as the helmet rose, showing the driver's chin, mouth and nose. Once the helmet was completely off Chase stood in shock for a mere instant before pounding fists with his cousin, Eric Wylde. Kurt Wylde's son and one of Chase's closest friends. Katana simply stepped up and smiled. "You owe me three hundred bucks, Eric. I told you he'd win."

"Yeah, yeah. I see you two are all chummy now. Always knew it wouldn't be too long before the shagging started between you."

Chase and Katana blushed. "Its not like that." They both said in harmony. Which caused them to blush more.

Eric just rolled his eyes. "Sure. Not yet."

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There's the intro of Eric Wylde, who is based on my friend, MagusMitsuda. Hope you all enjoyed it, and no burning Dawn on a stake just yet. I still need her alive to finish the story. Then you can burn her all you want.

Once again. To my reviewers:

MagusMitsuda: You're welcome, and no problem. I hope you enjoy your own character in the story. And don't worry the bubble car is only temporary. Things will heat up a while between Chase and Val before they finally come to a boil. I might have to change my rating when that happens.

Wings of Speed: I am so sorry about my mistake. I had been interrupted all day. But I fixed it and posted the chapter again. I am ever so sorry though. Please forgive me.

I think we all have to say that Kurt deserves to be forgiven after all he has done for the kid.

I can't wait to read your next chapter.

Moriko: Just don't mess with the stereo too much, Cardiac Arrest is really loud.

KawaiiYamato: Hugs I would never call you anything like that, and I'm sorry to hear about Japanime Goddess. I am sorry that the beginning of that chapter made you sad. It made me sad writing it. I hope you enjoy the story still though. And thanks for the New Years Ecard. It really lifted my spirits when I got it. Thank you.

Maniac475: Welcome to the list of my reviewers and thank you for reviewing. Rageous is just something I thought up, but OverLoad is based on my car which was also dubbed OverLoad. I'm a big music fan, almost to being up there with Shirako, so I had to put a killer system in my car. When I turned the sound on in front of my friends at work, one of them said it overloaded his ears. Such is how the car got its name. There will be a lot more car designs soon so don't miss them. Thank you.

FastGurl: Sorry to hear that it wouldn't let you review since MagusMitsuda already had from that computer. But thanks for reading, Sin. All your poetry is so good that to get praise from you means a lot. I've missed you at the office and I hope you get better soon. And you had better be better by your birthday at least or I'll drag you out and make you have fun anyway. JK. Feel better and send me some more poems, please. I love reading them. Thanks.