Tezz suppressed a yawn as he closed down his computer's windows. The program he'd been running couldn't quite interpret what the markings meant, but the closest it had come was comparing them to Greek, though even that was a stretch based on some of them. An odd finding for symbols found etched on the walls of an alien structure. He was certain to have quite a few sleepless nights trying to figure it out. Tonight, however, would not be one of them. He exited his lab to go get some shuteye.

The following morning saw the team able to eat breakfast and go about their morning routines before a Storm Shock opened later in the afternoon. Vert, Tezz, Sherman and Spinner, Agura, and Stanford blasted through the portal to find themselves in the middle of a jungle-like Zone. They were immediately greeted by Kalus and his Vandals, who wanted a rematch from their last fight and were rather at home in the environment.

Roughly forty minutes later, with some well-played moves on BF5's part, the Vandals were once again beaten and the team rode through the Earth portal with the Key.

Vert sealed the portal and returned to the Saber, spirits high.

"Man, kicking Vandal butt sure makes a guy hungry," Stanford commented. "Who's up for dinner at Zeke's?"

"Only if it's an extra large, everything topping pizza with anchovies and pickles," Sherman replied, licking his lips.

"Come on, little bro! You can't put anchovies on pizza. I can accept everything else but that."

As the rest of his team bickered about the best choice for pizza toppings, Vert led the way back to base. After dropping off the Key and gathering the others, they headed out to Zeke's Diner.

They finished two hours later and while they were still getting out of their usual booth, a deep, uneven rumble sounded from just outside.

Stanford, having been closest to the window, parted the blinds to take a look. He gasped.

"What's wrong?" Vert asked, turning round to see the red-head's face lose some of its color.

"Isn't that our little spitfire pulling up?"

Vert and Zoom moved between the others to look. There the jet black Camaro sat, a space away from the Tangler, engine grumbling. Its paint was freshly waxed and it looked pristine as ever.

The scout was the first to speak. "What should we do? I really don't wanna get in her way again after the last time."

"Just cool it, guys. This is just a diner, there's nothing weird about us being here. Act natural, okay?" Vert backed away from the blinds before she could spot him.

"I take it that's the girl you chased down by mistake?" Agura asked, not missing the way the three boys' expressions changed to sheepish.

"We told her it was just a misunderstanding," Vert explained. "Besides, this is all just a coincidence." Was it though? The town she was headed towards was in the opposite direction of Handler's Corners. There was no logical reason for her to be all the way out here. Still, he wouldn't lose his cool. They were in their street clothes and as far as anyone was concerned, they were nothing more than a bunch of young adults with project cars. As long as they didn't seem suspicious, she'd have little reason to confront them.

He led the way out of the diner, striding out like he hadn't just been spooked. He eyed the Camaro as it idled several spots down. He pretended not to take notice and hopped into the Saber. As the others got into their cars and Zoom his bike, Vert spared another glance at the odd one out. He could tell Agura was wary as the Tangler lowered her seat, and as she sat down she gave a not-so-subtle stare at the Camaro next to her.

The tinted windows revealed nothing.

Vert backed out and hit the road, the others following shortly after. When they were no longer in sight of the diner he relaxed.

"Well, that was weird," Spinner said when the silence became too much. "I thought you said she was mad at you."

"She was," Vert answered. "Maybe she got a little frightened at the sight of all of us."

"I'm just glad she didn't get out to confront us," said Stanford.

Agura hummed. "What was she even doing there though? She lives miles away from Handler's Corners."

"We have no proof she actually lives there," Tezz piped in. "Perhaps she was visiting family and stopped by at Zeke's on the way back. We don't know anything about her. It's possible she may live in Handler's Corners and we're just unaware of it."

"Let's just try not to let it get to us," Sherman warned. "After the last time..."

Vert didn't miss the dig. "You're right, Sherm. Let's just forget about it." They sped in the direction of home.

Sometime into the evening, Sage called them down. "I have picked up another anomaly," she said, bringing up a screen. "I'm sending the location to your cars. Be careful, whatever it is, it's mobile."

The team nodded and ran to their vehicles.

"It's heading East," Agura reported, eyes on her dash.

"Now it's going South," said Sherman.

"Northwest," Tezz said seconds later. He scrutinized his screens. "That can't be right... Its output is dropping. If we do not reach it soon, it will vanish again."

"Alright, guys, full throttle!" Vert charged ahead. He steered the Saber in the direction of the anomaly, changing course whenever it did. Eventually, his sensors stopped picking it up. "Speed up," he called, slamming the accelerator. He would not let them get away again.

Sherman frowned at his dash. "I got nothing, Vert. It's gone."

"Over there!" The Tangler swerved left and raced towards a car with its lights off. A black car.

"Is that...?" Vert turned on his high beams. It was a Camaro. He grit his teeth.

"Her trajectory matches that of the anomaly's last known location," Tezz supplied.

"I knew it... After her."

The entirety of the Battle Force was after her, perhaps that was why she slowed to a stop and allowed them to catch up. She kept the engine running just in case, though they made no move to surround her this time. She watched the leader–the blonde guy from before–take determined strides towards her. She rolled her window down.

"Having another identity crisis?" she questioned his disgruntled visage. "How many jet black Camaros do you know?"

"You've got some explaining to do," he responded. "We've been getting some weird readings out here and they're coming from you."

She quirked a brow. "What's the matter? Haven't you ever been rejected before?"

"Her car is still letting off some unusual energy," came Tezz as he approached. "It's strange, the frequency doesn't fully match that of the anomaly moments ago, but it is still impossible for an ordinary car to cause such a thing." He came to a stop next to Vert. "Perhaps you are not aware, but there is something different about your Camaro in particular."

She gave him an unimpressed look. "Yeah, no kidding. Every time I drive it I get chased down by a bunch of desert weirdos. Hell if I know why."

"We aren't trying to hurt you, it's just that-" He had to step back to avoid taking the door to the abdomen while she got out.

Tezz, who had been too busy fiddling with his scanner, wasn't so lucky.

"I don't know what you call running people off the road, but where I'm from that's a pretty hostile move." Slapping Tezz's arm, she added, "Get that thing away from me and my car or else I'll put it somewhere that was better left unknown." She gave them all a wary glance. "Who are you people?"

"We're just, uh, filming for a movie," Spinner said from atop the Buster. He gulped when she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Do you really think I'm that stupid? I'll ask you again. Who are you and why. Are. You. Chasing. Me?" She looked back at Vert. "What kind of 'readings' are you even talking about?"

"Um..."

"And what do you mean my car's abnormal? You're the ones with project cars gone wrong. That one has a snow plow in the desert," she said, gesturing to AJ. "Just what are you freaks up to?"

Vert contemplated what to do. He couldn't keep playing the fool, they'd gotten too involved now. He glanced back to the others to find them just as lost. He sighed. "Maybe you should come with us. We can explain everything back at our base."

She laughed, the sound strained and hysterical at the same time. "Seriously? I'm not following you creeps back to your 'base.' I don't need to watch too much TV to know that's a bad idea. I'll take my chances out here, thanks." She made to get back into her car.

"There must be some reason you're out here," Tezz argued. "Aren't you looking for answers?" She gave him an odd look that he couldn't interpret.

"Depends whether or not you actually have any," she said after a pause.

"I think we will," Vert answered, "but we can't give them out here. If you come with us, we'll explain everything."

She glared at him, wary. "Diana," she said at last. "Diana Linden."

"I'm Vert Wheeler. And this is my team." He pointed out the rest of the Battle Force one by one, watching her nod after each introduction. "We're the good guys, okay?"

She pursed her lips. "Lead the way," she said as she fell back into her seat. "But if any of you tries something, I'm bolting."

He nodded and headed back to the Saber, motioning for Tezz to follow. They took off, the Camaro trailing back a few paces, and rode to the Hub.