Highway 35: The Wheel of Power
Day of the Race
Will was not happy. After he asked the Acceleron about the strange symbols on the silver disc thing he brought back, his only reply was 'you'll find out soon.' Trying to ignore his frustrations, Will spent time on construction and built a ramp for the bed of his truck, though he put the sheet shooter back on. Aidan hadn't turned in his music this morning, wanting to properly focus on the race. Luke had taken a special concoction after he woke up. It was supposed to 'wake up better.' He did seem to be very awake, so the drink probably worked. After Ethan and Connor had reviewed and put up the previous race's footage online, they also focused on themselves. This race could very well be the last leg of Highway 35.
Nobody was in the mood for conversation today, only the sound of engines could be heard as everyone prepared themselves for the race. Rolling up to the starting line, the beacon shone red and let out a beep. Aidan immediately focused, entering the zone state, and decided that he would use his secret weapon if he was going to lose again. Luke sat still, the only indication that he was alive was his steady breathing. Will revved his v18, ready to win for real. Connor's usual demeanor was missing, replaced by a more serious look in place of his usual light smirk, and Ethan looked ready for anything under his helmet.
The beacon shifted to yellow, letting out another beep. Engines roared, and it was clear that everyone was raring to go.
…
The beacon lit up the sky with green light, letting out a final beep, as all 5 vehicles immediately shot towards the vacant desert. Seeing their speedometers start to plateau, everyone pressed their red Nitrox buttons. Lighting up light blue, all 5 cars shot forward, leaving flames in the dust. With their red lines climbing once more, the area ahead of them warped and opened a purple and green portal. Ready to face their destiny, the quintet entered the gateway to the race.
–
An orange track stood above the icy glacier below, contrasting the cold terrain with its warm presence, when a portal of purple and green appeared above, producing a quintet of competitors. Landing simultaneously, Will claimed the right side of the track, which was incidentally the inside line. Banking to the right the track spiraled clockwise down, forming a funnel from its 3 loops, before straightening out over the ice below.
Banking to the left, the sun could be seen clearly in the light blue sky to their left, creating a myriad of colors when passing through the freezing ice below, before the track entered an icy cave, filled with spikes from all angles. Will quickly pulled both the lever behind him and one to his right, dumping his sheets onto all the drivers behind him, and causing metal plates to encase his car protectively. Iron Skin smashed through the brittle ice easily, forging a path while nearly all his competitors were fumbling to remove the sheets. Aidan, however, knew Will would use the sheets, and moved to the side moments beforehand.
Twisting and turning left and right through the cave, Will and Aidan emerged back into the sunlight, before flying off a ramp over an icy river. Will removed Iron Skin to improve his visibility, and they both had the speed to make the jump without Nitrox, landing on the other side harshly, giving their suspension a run for its money. Continuing to snake left then right between the mountains of ice, Luke, Connor, and Ethan finally made it out of the ice tunnel with fire in their eyes, trying to catch up.
Snaking left then right under an arch of ice, before turning left again, Aidan was thoroughly stuck behind Will. He'd need something to pass him, but his car would get even less traction on ice than sand. Gliding along the track above the smooth ice, they turned left with the road before diving into an icy valley. Speeding along the straight, the trio they left in the dust took the dip down. Making use of his extra Nitrox, Luke pressed his red button, causing him to shoot forward and the ground to rumble. Moments after Luke passed under an archway of ice, It collapsed behind him. Ethan and Connor came sliding to a halt to avoid a collision. Knowing they couldn't stop, Connor activated his tire spikes and Ethan turned his dial to ice. Spikes and metal chains sprouted from his large wheels, and the duo sped off into the icy maze to find another way around the obstacle.
Continuing forward, the track split in two. Aidan claimed the right side of the track, next to Will, while Will claimed the left. Luke was catching up, but they were sure he would be forced to slow down for stunts like this. Each track tilted inward and moved around the ice spikes in the center of them before reconnecting and turning banked left. Splitting into the same maneuver, Will and Aidan swung with the track, avoiding the sharp ice. Looking back, Luke was no longer gaining ground. Snaking banked right, then evening out and turning left, the track moved over a hump in the road before moving gently right, then gently left, before making another right. Will and Aidan were neck and neck, neither gaining ground over the other, stuck in an eternal duel.
The track continued to alternate between right and left turns, moving along the glacial valley and tilting up and down, before splitting into another swing to avoid more ice. Reconnecting, the track moved right along with the valley, the back left before splitting again. Both split tracks turned banked right before connecting, then splitting again to avoid ice without banking. Connecting together, the tracks split again, performing identical loops before joining once more.
The pressure was on. One small mistake could spell defeat, and neither side wanted to lose again. Turning right under a mound of snow and ice, Will spotted a chance to take first. Breaking to the right, he traveled up a ramp of snow, cutting off a turn Aidan was taking, before landing safely on the track ahead. Knowing he wouldn't chance a maneuver like that on ice, Aidan resolved to take incredibly tight lines to cut time, and catch back up.
The track continued to shake along the valley, moving through a set of spikes, It began to lightly snow. Turning right through a short open tunnel of ice, the track led onto the open water. While the ice was gone, there was no end in sight, but Will decided that what he did was a win.
As the ice in the water grew less frequent below them, the sun to their right sank below the horizon, producing a beautiful sunset, before letting the night sky take its place. With their headlights on, Aidan passed Will on his left, as large arches of metal appeared over the steady track. Rushing under them, the track began to ascend. Seeing land, the duo sped ahead.
"Hey Will, whoever wins, no hard feelings?" Aidan asked over the radio.
"Of course. I think I won the ice section anyway so I'm happier than I was." Will replied, partially in disbelief that he was the frontrunner for the whole race. Passing under a rocky arch, the area became visible. It was a city. An entire city with tracks built around skyscrapers with a needle in the center of it all.
"Somethings glowing at the top of the needle. Think it's the Wheel?" Aidan pointed out, wondering if this was truly the end.
"I'll bet it is." Let's finish this!" Will said, as Aidan sped off on the stable roads. The track was incredibly wide, and could easily fit 8 cars across, before it started splitting off, looping around the towering buildings. Unsure which one to take, Will turned left onto the second split while Aidan continued forward. Will moved up and over the main road, before diving into the streets below. Aidan turned right at the final split, turning banked right around a monstrous tower, before zooming under another road and turning kept between two buildings.
With other tracks narrowly missing his own, Aidan turned right around another building, feeling partially nostalgic at the feeling of driving around a city at night, with his engine being the only source of noise. Banking right, the track dipped down and right, still above the streets Will was patrolling below before taking a huge turn around and up to the right, rejoining another track at the top. Now facing the huge needle, Aidan could see the glowing object more clearly than ever now.
It consisted of 3 golden rings, spinning around a center that looked to be made of pure energy. Will was right, this must be the Wheel of Power. Almost at the base of the needle, the track looped up and left, before doing a banked counter-clockwise loop, then leasing straight for the needle. Aidan pressed his Nitrox button one final time.
His car began to glow light blue, and he shot up the nearly vertical track, leaving blue flames behind him as the Wheel of Power drew closer. Leaving the track and putting down his window, he moved toward the spinning rings, before reaching the apex of his jump right next to the Wheel. Reaching toward the artifact, it began to glow more and moved toward his hand. Upon contact, Aidan and the Wheel vanished in a flash of gold.
–
In a bright flash of gold, 5 vehicles appeared in the desert, 3 of their drivers confused as to how they got there.
"Wait what? How did we get here? Weren't we just on that bridge?" Ethan asked.
"Yea, what gives?" Connor chimed in.
"I wanted to see the city dammit!" Luke said, agitated that he didn't get to see the whole track.
"So you got it?" Asked Will knowingly, eager to see their prize.
Aidan pulled out the glowing rings, showing it to the group.
"I got it alright. Guess Will and I won that leg." Aidan said, glad to break his losing streak.
"Looks like things will start to get interesting now, right Acceleron?" Will asked, wanting information.
"Yes, I can now inform you of the challenges that lie ahead, however I ask that you wait until all the drivers are assembled and know that the Wheel of Power is very important. I will explain everything in due time." The Acceleron spoke, annoying Will with more waiting, but exciting everyone at the prospect of new competition.
"Two new drivers. How exciting!" When will they arrive?" Connor questioned.
"The remaining drivers will be here within the week, and before the next set of races begin, your base will be complete." The Acceleron explained in an authoritative tone.
"Well then, let's get to work!" Will exclaimed.
Everyone got back in their cars and sped back to the camp, wondering just who would be joining them in their competition to become the greatest driver ever.
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Aidan's Music Playlist:
This chapter's music choice is: Super Ultra by MDK. Enjoy!
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Turns out when you ignore 3 drivers and don't have a lot of dialogue chapters get shorter. Who knew. In all seriousness I find HW35 rather boring so I'm very happy to be moving on, even if it'll take longer to write. Before we get to the realms though we have 2 new drivers to introduce and some things for the Acceleron to explain. Until then, have a good day, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
Next Chapter: Origins: Pollen, Petals, and Nitrox