I was only trying to help, you know.

He didn't have to go stomping off like that.

Oh well, I guess that's what happens when your best friend throws a book that weighs heavier than you do into your stomach. You catch the grumps.

…but then again, Brandon's always grumpy, so I also guess his mood shouldn't have surprised me. That's what I tell myself anyways, as I slide into the hammock in my pad, and pull the seashell rope hanging from the ceiling. The floor from under the hammock opens up and lowers me down, like I'm a baby in a stork's cloth. Secret elevators INSIDE a secret base! How cool is THAT! Being Red Skull is the best.

I get lowered into the Garage Room, where Gage and Wyatt are already waiting near the Big Screen. I see Gage tapping his foot and looking kinda impatient, until he spots me. I grin at him, and he returns the grin wholeheartedly. It's instinctual for us both. Our town may be in mortal danger, but as long as I've got my best friend, I know things will turn out okay! At least, I know they'll turn out MOSTLY okay. Minimal damage at best, you know?

"Hey man." he says, holding out his hand for a high five, which I gladly return. "What was the holdup?"

"Brandon got crushed by a book.", I reply.

Gage raises his eyebrows.

"Don't worry, though.", I continue. "He's fine."

" 'O Course he is." Wyatt interjects, elbowing me out of the way, "He may be flimsier than a piece 'o trace paper, but it'll take more than Gammy's scrapbook to put that boy outta commission."

"Are you sure about that?"

We all stop at the sound of the raspy old voice. Everyone turns around to see a really tall figure with a white beard and white afro standing right behind us. Wow, I didn't even hear him come in. He's good.

"Heya, Boss!" I say. My grandpa says it's always polite to greet your elders first.

Yep, that's our boss, we call him Larry. That's not his name, but he won't tell what it is, so Larry's what we call him.

"Are y'all ready for this one?" he asks, leaning down and adjusting his tiny glasses to look at us. "It ain't pretty."

"I was BORN ready." Wyatt answers, cracking his knuckles.

"Well, I was born READIER." Gage retorts, cracking his neck.

Ooh, I should say something too. Something cool and heroic, you know?

"-and I'M here too!", I shout as heroically as can.

All three of the people in the room turn to look at me, Wyatt annoyed, Gage slightly disappointed, and Larry mildly confused. …Maybe I should've just kept my mouth shut.

Larry shakes his head and raises an eyebrow at us. I think he might be wondering where Brandon is, but it's hard to tell anything with the Boss. He's completely senile, you know. I, on the other hand, am only half-crazy, so there's only so much I can understand.

"The sooner you boys get on the road, the sooner we can clean up the mess going on out there. Now, where's my fourth kid?", Larry asks.

"I'll text him." Gage says, pulling out his phone.

Wyatt eyebrows seem to ascend above his forehead at this statement. Uh oh. He doesn't seem too happy about that.

"HEY! Since when do YOU git to text my buddy what to do!" he snaps, seemingly offended.

"Uhh, since Wheelie gave me his phone number and told me he desperately needed friends other than YOU." Gage said with a hint of teasing, as he texted.

I can sense this might be a fight if nothing changes, so I slip in between the two guys and smile the best I can.

"C'mon guys, it's just one text. It's not gonna hurt anybody, is it? Also, Wyatt, you CAN'T text remember, you don't know HOW. Gage is doing you a favor.", I say, hopefully disarming the conflict.

Wyatt just grimaces at me, but Gage gives me a wink and hits send.

"Thanks, bro.", he chuckles as he elbows me.

Ok, good. Conflict avoided. I always hate when they argue. It happens ALL THE TIME, but that doesn't make their bickering any easier on the ears...

"All right, listen up Team, because I'm only gonna say this once!" Larry starts. "Hot Wheels City has a pest problem!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Wyatt deflate.

"Pests?" he asks, "...like l'il critters? That don' sound very excitin'."

Larry takes a small remote out of his pocket and turns on the Big Screen. A terrifying picture of a creature lights up the room. At first, I can't really tell what it is, but looking again I realize it kinda looks like a shark, but not…

It had metal skin, and vicious buzzsaws where its lower fins should be. All of its teeth were metal too, all about 50 of them. …and the eyes: purple, glowy and ominous. I'd think I was kinda cool looking if it didn't make me feel like wetting my pants.

"AW yeah!" I hear Wyatt yell, happy as can be, "Now that's more like it!"

...and they say I'M the weird one.

"This…" Larry continues, "Is a Robo-Shark. At least that's what I take to calling 'em. Reports say there are hundreds of them out there with a ravenous hunger for anything they can lay their eyes on."

…AND there go my dry pants.

Is it odd that I'm actually itching to get to the action part of this story? I'm not the biggest action gal, but I want butt-kicking! Despite my hunger for said butt-kicking, I'll be a good writer and take my time to make sure the quality of my is... well, quality.

If you're still here, it probably means you enjoy my writing. Thank you for being here. I love writing, and I'm glad you like it too. The grace of God allows me to still be here, so I do my best.

Next part should be out in a few days! Until then!