A/N:
Dun dun duuuun! A major plotline is exposed!

I originally wanted to add the flashbacked scenes as a part of chapter 4, but I wanted to hold any possible suspense throughout the chapter. That and I felt like chapter 4 was long enough. Aside that and some humorous (hopefully) dialogue between the team, this chapter does nothing. We're on chapter five and no action has happened yet. Bummer. Well, no worries, the epic fight scenes are just up ahead! Stay tuned!

Oh, and the second poem in the fanfiction is here. I love writing free verse poetry, and I thought it would be nice to add some poetry with foreshadowing and stuff in it. Each poem describes something happening in the fanfiction (due.) I don't know what to call this chapter's poem, but the poem from chapter 1 is "Vengeance's Chant."

Please tell me you can recognize the easter egg to THW's theme song in this chapter? It was a last minute thing I added that I kinda like. I also referenced a part of the movie Pirates Who Don't Do Anything: a VeggieTales Movie (VeggieTales is my childhood) of a song one character was singing while rowing a boat across the open sea, "Papa's Got a Gumball Nellie." It just crossed my mind and I decided to reference a very underrated but awesome movie.

In case you're wondering, this marks the beginning of the true angst in this fanfiction. Just letting you know that...

...

... Yup.

...

Happy reading! :D
~ Ashla

Several hours into the day and nothing happened. It went clear past lunch time, Gage was still sleeping hard as a rock. Brandon decided to leave him like that, he needed as much sleep as he could get. They all took hourly shifts in front of the cameras, surveying all city life and watching out for any dangers. Of course, how Operation Team Hotwheels worked was that usual crime was handled by the police. It was only reoccurring and massive events that called for the team to step in and help out. At the start of the city's climb to royalty, large scale events were common. From road pirates to Doctor Gary Lake, Larry's brother, the team reached a point of exhaustion by the time the crime hurricane weakened. Since the first several months on the job, smaller scale battles against unusually evasive thugs could be seen scattered here and there on the time line. Aside that, Hot Wheels City had become surprisingly peaceful and economically strong. In fact, "silver" had become the largest thing to trouble the team in a long while. Two weeks into the straggling battle and the boys still couldn't catch their masked opponent.

Outside their watching duty shifts, they did minor tidying up around the lab here and there. Since Larry had taken the robots and Rollie to that science convention with him, the worst they had to worry about was stuff like sweeping and dusting. Rhett's major project today though was tuning up his car with his own two hands. Wyatt, of course, completed his three hour workout schedule between his shifts. Brandon was the one who took use of spare gadgets to make housecleaning a breeze, but purposely took longer shifts because... he needed to think.

The memory from this morning was gabbing at his mind, pulling his cautiousness. As he stared into the unentertaining screens, his mind went back again...

"U-uncle- I mean-!"

"- I'm Benjiman LeBay, yes." A light chuckle came from the man on the other end of the phone line. His voice carried a weird sort of kindness, "You must be Bernadette's boy. Last I've seen of you, you were a tiny thing!"

Cheeks red, Brandon chuckled nervously, "Um..."

"But boy, from even just hearing you! You already sound like the makings of a fine, young man."

"Really?" A for once enthusiastic Brandon asked before realizing... "I-uh- mean - I'm really honored, sir."

Once again, Benjiman laughed, "You are fifteen, correct?"

"Yes, sir." Brandon had finally gained some composure."

Benjiman's reply was earnest, "Less than a minute of conversation, and you already remind me of my sister when she was your age." A moment of silence passed, he continued, "Considering you have your mother's same capacity, perhaps I could offer you a job opportunity?"

A comparison of Brandon to his mother made goosebumps ride up his spine. Being like his mother, oh... It was everything he wanted to be, yet he despised the thought of it. It caused his response to be but a chilled whisper, "Job opportunity?"

"Yes," Benjiman responded, his tone suddenly growing more serious, "As you may know, I run the Lebay Lab in New York. Is that correct?"

"Yes," Brandon responded like he was answering a test, "A massive lab located in the corner of the state, far from New York City... for controversial reasons..."

Benjiman scoffed, "With how much people whine over us testing life saving drugs on rats, it was needed. Either way, my assistant manager has recently walked out. He was a man I trusted for years on the job, he simply thought it was time to retire. Of course, I understood and let him go. However, I can only trust a... special person... as a suitable replacement. I spoke things over with my sister, she says you've been in the work force for several years now, and may even be part of something larger... Is this correct."

Brandon's heart beat started to accelerate. Sweat collected on his hands as he thought it over. Operation Hotwheels was something very few were allowed to even know details of aside a minority. Larry, the boys, the boys' primary guardians, as well as the mayor and the police and rescue departments were in on it. Speaking of it even in public places was highly constricted. Brandon gulped, he had to be careful in his wording as he spoke.

"Yes," he responded, "I have indeed worked before. Since I was twelve."

"Wonderful," Benjiman responded, "A bit young, but not a problem. Of course, this is an important job that will pay a hefty amount. It will be enough for beyond decent living."

"How much?" Brandon could not help but ask, only pulling his hand over his mouth a moment after it slipped out.

Benjiman only laughed, "Unafraid and bold in questioning, just like my sister. Of course, here is all you need to know, my dear nephew..."

Job information from salary to specifics on his possible occupation was certainly all good. His chin rested in the palm of his hand as his eyes glossed over the video monitors. Worry filled his brilliant mind as the conversation's closing drew in upon his memory...

Brandon could not help but whistle at the semi-annual salary offered to him. A slight chuckle escaped him as he responded, pacing back and forth with the phone in his hand, "Wow, that's an offer I can take interest in."

Benjiman chuckled, "Well, young LeBay, money has always been a strong attraction in our bloodline. Of course, you do know that we would need to give you time for the move over if we move onto contracts."

"Yes, wel- wait! Move?" Brandon skidded to a halt.

Benjiman laughed again, "Indeed, LeBay, we are located in New York after all."

Brandon lowered his phone, "Oh yeah..." He lifted the phone back up, "W-well, what exactly are we talking about, moving?"

"You still are a bit young to even rent out an apartment, so until you are at least eighteen you would be staying with me. Mansion's huge, you'll have lot's of room. Also, it would mean moving residence, changing phone numbers, switching your college courses over. Basically, you're bringing everything vital with you. I would become your new official guardian, instead of your mother, so you'll have to adjust to that too-"

"-Waitwaitwaitwaitwaitwaitwait," Brandon stopped him, "So, we're talking about a several thousand mile move, with the distance between here and where you are being about three day's travel?"

"Yes."

"So, if I took this job, I would be leaving everything behind?"

"Yes."

For once in his lifetime, Brandon's mind turned to static.

A moment of silence passed. Sudden tsunami force waves of multiple thoughts and emotions slamming against him from all sides. Even physically, his knees started to vibrate. Over the phone though, zero evidence of his stress and trauma would be heard. Calmly, strict but open minded in business like tone, Brandon maintained his family's dignity. "May I have time to think about it?"

"Of course you can," his uncle's soft voice responded, "Unfortunately, I can only give you so much time to contemplate. I need to have another manager hired via signed contract by the end of the month."

"Great..." Brandon whispered to himself, rolling his eyes.

"I can give you until Friday at the most, by that time I need a definite answer."

Today was Tuesday, so Brandon had only three days to make a life shattering decision that would completely morph every little thing he knew. Well, this was great. Once again though, family pride was enough to keep Brandon from freaking out the slightest. Choosers couldn't be beggars now, could they?

"I'll let you know by then."

It was many hours since that fateful phone call, and Brandon's mind was still racing. So much, so little time. Like trying to hastily build up blocks to a block tower, causing it to fall each time, Brandon simply could not even come to yet in even beginning to thoroughly think this through. Three days? How on earth could he figure out what was pretty much his life plan in this short of a time period? His eyes faded away, beyond the video screens, and into a world of chaotic and discombobulated thought life. Racing faster than Gage's hyperspeed, nothing gave and no doors opened. It just kept raging on in a tornadic spinstorm until his thoughts were finally interrupted by...

"-My turn!"

Brandon literally leaped from his chair, a scream escaping him as a jumped away from the sudden appearance of a wild Rhett. Massive breaths, deep inhaling, was what happened in Brandon's lungs as his eyes slowly dilated back to normal.

Rhett, who had been beaming joyfully at his appearance, raised a judgmental eyebrow, "Dude, I was so loud when I opened the door you should of known I was here."

"I didn't?" Brandon half answered, his voice hoarse.

Rhett just scoffed, an amused smile crossing his face, "Thinking over the potential flaws of Newton's Laws of Physics again?"

Brandon finally recovered, returning to his usual, no nonsense self, "Laws of Motion. And just pay attention to the monitors. Let us know if anything pops up."

"Dude, I know," Rhett said, taking his seat, "This is my forth shift."

"Yeah," Brandon rolled his eyes, "Whatever. Just stay awake and alert." A slightly softer expression crossed his eyes, "Need any soda or caffeinated tea?"

"Just had my fifth cup of caffeinated tea while working on my car, I'm good." Rhett responded.

"Okay," Brandon shrugged, "Now get to it."

"Got this, buddy." Rhett smiled. He turned to the video monitors, lightly humming to himself.

A moment or so passed before Brandon, who was still standing there, growled, "Could you please stop that?"

"What?" Rhett turned to Brandon, eyebrow raised again, "'Papa's Got a Gumball, Nellie' is a great song!"

"'Papa's Got a Porkchop, Sue' or what's its face gets old after the thirty second verse." Brandon retorted, "Besides, it always makes me hungry..."

"I still say it's a great song!" Rhett argued, turning defiantly back to the cameras.

Brandon was steadfast against the team's youngest, "I'm trying to think."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Rhett's voice was sharp with annoyance, "I didn't know you had to think here and now. You could leave the room, ya'know! It is my shift!"

Brandon scoffed, turning to leave the observatory, "Fine by me..."

As he turned to leave though, an alarm could be heard beeping through the system controls. Brandon quickly turned around at the sound. Rhett's hazel eyes were already glued on the cameras, face hardened with sudden seriousness, "It's silver!"

Brandon raced back up to him, eyes tracing that familiar car, Circle Tracker, just snooping around the city outskirts. Sure signs of the location, its desert sands and bumpy roads, marked the outermost regions of downtown. It was actually pretty close to the garage itself. All thoughts of family life and job opportunities flew out the window, Brandon reached for the red alarm button. As it rared quite loudly, Rhett shouted into the microphone, "Round I've-lost-count-of-how-many-times-we've-done-this, here we go!"

Of course, now fairly experienced at emergency response, all four members of the team, including a half awake Gage, had swiftly changed into their uniforms and were jumping into their vehicles. As Wyatt pulled his helmet over his luxurious hair, Gage's shocked shriek echoed across the comn channel, "Oh my goodness, it's that late?"

Wyatt rolled his eyes, a light smile on his face, as Rhett responded, "Yeah, you needed it."

"But I missed lunch!" Gage retorted.

"It was bland ol' peanut butter 'n jam," Wyatt responded, "You didn't miss nothin'."

"Hey! hey," Brandon shouted, trying to get everyone back on track, "Let's go!"

I'm not that smart
I just don't know when to stop
I'm so stubborn, I'm the dullest whip
And sure enough, slowly, my broken heart is caving in
But I won't give in...

I'm not brilliant like you
I can't think like you sure do
What your thoughts are of me now I have no clue
But I will never give up on you
Brother, I love you

I've always looked up to you
I've suffered a lifetime of abuse
So I know what you're going through
But what am I to do?
Cause maybe it's time to put this dream aside
It's true
But I'll never stop chasing you

This would not be the first time someone close left
This is not the first time my patience has been tested
But I will keep fighting to the very end
Chasing your tail, when you're my worst friend

So go ahead, pour on more
Buckets of rain and thunder storms
You don't know how many times I've cried over you
Push me away, you can't shove me off, I'm too shrewd
I won't give up just yet
But at the same time how long can I pretend
Like you're not hurting me
So go ahead, criticize me, talk down on me
To the grave I'll proudly bleed

I've always looked up to you
Despite what you put me through
I will never stop chasing you
The final choice is up to you
But if you were to reject me, what would I do?