Oh great…

A Code Purple.

Honestly, I don't even know why we HAVE a code system. All of our problems are usually Code Purples anyway. Code Reds only happen when Rhett accidentally sets something on fire, Code Windshield happens usually when a person is using Liquid Imagination to do something that will destroy us all, Code Grease is when our boss needs us to do something important, and so on and so forth… Not a very efficient system if you ask me, but no one ever has, so I keep my mouth shut.

No reason to say anything if nobody wants to hear it.

I watch Wyatt crack his knuckles and grin confidently at the sight of the flashing violet lights. Not surprising, he's always been like this, loving danger, ever since we first met, three years ago (...at least I think it was three years, sorry, my memory is about as efficient as an Aquarius PC from 1983). What IS surprising, however, is the fact that, instead of rushing off to the Garage Room to beat Gage there, like usual, Wyatt turns back to me and dumps the giant scrapbook he brought into my arms. The weight hits my chest like a truck, and I fall off the spinny chair I was sitting in and onto the ground. A blunt pain in my backside crawls upward, giving me a slight headache. I have to shut my eyes to staunch the pain. Guh, really wish he would give a warning sometimes…

"Brandon…" I hear him say, "Go on, and put that with my stuff, will ya?"

I can't see him, as my eyes are still closed, but I can hear his footsteps fade as he walks away. I lay there, sprawled out on the ground for a minute.

"Sure, go ahead. Don't worry about me." my mind says, without me telling it to.

I open my eyes and let the pain flow to shut it up.

As my head aches, my eyes detect a blurry image of Rhett standing over me.

"You okay, man?" he asks.

His help is the LAST thing I need, so I force myself to stand before he can fully extend his hand to pull me up. It seems a little mean, I know, but if you understood how much a walking hazard this guy is to me, physically and mentally, it would be more understandable why I chose to walk out of the door without acknowledging him.

I don't really have time to put this huge book in Wyatt's Den, so I decide to set it in the Laboratory, next to Jerry.

"I was never here.", I whisper to him, as I see his head peek out of his recharge station to see what I'm doing. He technically can't talk, but I've seen him rat us out to the Boss quite a few times without saying a word. If only I were a robot who didn't have to talk to people, life would be so much easier…

"BZZZZZT!"

AGH. My phone. Who is texting me right now? I pull my phone out of my pocket as I make my way to the Garage. It's Gage (his number was something I only managed to get because someone -she doesn't like to be credited- was nice enough to convince him I wasn't a waste of time to talk to). He must've dashed down to the Garage before I saw him, because he's definitely already there.

"Hurry it up, dude." the text says, obviously unaware of what I'm doing. "Larry's already started the briefing."

I sigh. They started without me.

"Of course they did." goes my thoughts again, "Who would wait for someone like you, anyway?"

I try to ignore myself as I sit down in a blue bean bag in the corner of the Lab. Reaching behind myself I feel the back of the wall, searching…

…where was it, again?

"CLICK." goes a tiny switch, as my finger slams down on it much harder than I intended it to.

Oops.

I know. It's short. Don't worry, the next part is on it's way as you're reading this.

-but also

Brandon!

My favorite character out of the four boys! Finally got to write him. Jazzed about that. He's most certainly a little angstier than the Brandon you may be used to (and quieter, hmm). Keep in mind, this is a reboot fic, so none of the characters are exactly like their originals, but I promise any changes I've made to them were somewhat necessary to make this series as enjoyable and cohesive as I can write it.

I also realize I haven't set the setting up as well as i would have liked to (darn pacing). Just know up until now this story has taken place in a very updated version of the secret "Garage under the garage", aka Team Hot Wheels' Base.

Have a lovely day 3. Looking forward to seeing you in the next chapter!