Kenneth gasped for air, his lungs burning as Ozzy's presence loomed in the smoke area. He frantically scanned his surroundings, taking in every detail with heightened senses. Despite his short stature, he felt small and insignificant in the midst of the chaos.

"Has anyone bothered to check if there are any survivors?" Ozzy's voice boomed through the thick smoke, reverberating off the walls of the closed garage door. Cord, already occupied with helping Kenneth, shook his head in response.

"I'm trying to save Kenneth here," Cord replied, his words strained as he rolled Kenneth to safety. With a steadying breath, Kenneth took in his surroundings, trying to make sense of the devastation.

"Don't be a halfwit, Cord. Cullen, come with me. We need to see if there's anyone left alive," Ozzy commanded, his impatience evident in his tone. Cullen hesitated, his face contorted with pain, but ultimately followed Ozzy as he pushed the button to open the garage door.

As they stepped into the collapsed cast house, it was like entering a post-apocalyptic war zone. Debris littered every inch of the floor, and the air was thick with dust. The cooling molten aluminum still smoldered on the wreckage, creating an eerie scene. They cautiously made their way towards the cast pit, where logs still hung in the air on the crane, suspended in time. The saw, once a sturdy piece of machinery, was now buried under pieces of the roof and various debris.

A faint cry for help echoed through the chaos, startling Cullen. "Did you hear that?" he asked Ozzy, who looked at him with a dumbfounded expression.

"No, I think your imagination is playing tricks on you," Ozzy scoffed as he confidently strode towards the menacing saw. As they descended the steps, the cast pit loomed to their right, its depths calling out to them. But if they took a left and then a right, they would come face to face with the saw, their fate hanging in the balance. A long table, where the cast men sat, separated the two terrifying machines.

Cullen's heart raced as he heard the desperate cry for help once more. He cautiously entered the pit, his eyes scanning the dark corners for any signs of life. But the source of the plea remained elusive. Suddenly, the cry echoed through the pit again, sending shivers down Cullen's spine. He turned his attention to the room where the furnace's powerful PLC was kept. The walls were crumbling, rubble strewn everywhere, and it seemed as if the room was on the verge of collapsing.

A sense of dread washed over Cullen as he frantically searched for the source of the cries. He knew that someone could be trapped in that hazardous room, and he couldn't bear the thought of leaving them there. With a deep breath, he plunged into the rubble, determined to find the person in need.

As he cleared away the debris, his heart raced faster and faster. And then, he saw him. The figure lying helplessly amidst the rubble, their eyes pleading for Cullen's help.

"Cullen, please, you have to help me," the person begged, their voice trembling with fear and pain. Cullen wasted no time and immediately sprang into action, using all of his strength to clear the rubble and free the trapped person. With a final heave, he pulled them to safety, relief washing over him as he saw the person's grateful expression.

Cullen's heart swelled with pride as he realized that he had saved a life. And in that moment, he knew that he was capable of anything.

Back in the dark, damp basement of Guidestar, "Hello, son" Aronik's father said as he loomed over him, his presence casting a heavy shadow. Aronik's heart raced as he struggled to process the sight of his long-dead father standing before him. He could feel his body freezing in shock, unable to move or speak. Beyond his father, a line of cars pulled into the parking lot, their headlights piercing through the darkness.

The silence was broken by Jai's voice, shattering the tense atmosphere. "Okay, this is beyond awkward. You never knew your dad was alive?" Jai's words seemed to echo in the basement, a reminder of the reality that Aronik couldn't escape.

Aronik's anger rose as he finally found his voice. "No, I didn't. My mother told me he was dead." His gaze shifted from his father to the window, his eyes burning with resentment.

"I told her to tell you that," his father's voice was calm but held a hint of regret.

Aronik's frustration grew. "Why, dad? Why would you tell her to lie to me?"

"Because, he is dead. He is a hologram," Dillman's voice emerged from the elevator behind Aronik. As he stepped into the basement, Aronik could see the half-human, half-robot form of Dillman, his metallic parts gleaming in the dim light.

"A hologram?" Jai's confusion was evident in his voice.

"Yes," Aronik's father replied. "He was a dear friend of mine, and when he passed, I created a hologram of him to keep me company in this ratchet tower. He was also a close friend of Cord's father, so it brought him comfort as well."

The realization hit Aronik like a punch to the gut. His father, who he thought was dead, was nothing more than a manufactured projection. The emotions swirling inside him were intense - anger, betrayal, and a deep sense of loss. This moment would forever be etched in his memory, a reminder of the lies and secrets that had been kept from him.

Triton's foot slammed down on the gas, the roar of his newly bought car echoing through the streets as he raced towards his destination. The hot black pavement blurred beneath the wheels of his speeding black Ford Focus, the drone of President Glama hot on his tail. Glama watched with a sinister grin as the feed from the drone streamed onto his large 80" television in the Oval Office.

"I need you to track him down and kill him," the President barked at a group of military men gathered around the large oval table. They rose from their seats, their expressions hardened with determination, and marched out of the room. Down the hall, they piled into an elevator that took them to the basement of the White House, where their cars were waiting to take them on their mission.

"These vehicles will be your cover to take on Triton," the President declared, his voice dripping with malice. "I advise you to race to the death. Failure is not an option. If you return without him dead, it will not be pretty. Do you understand?"

The soldiers saluted in unison, their faces grim as they prepared for the task ahead. As they marched towards their cars, one soldier turned and looked back at the President, his expression unreadable. The President nodded, satisfied that his brainwashing had paid off.

Six cars, six soldiers, six chances for Triton's death. The President prayed that at least one of them would succeed. He watched with glee as the soldiers revved their engines, squealing their tires in a show of strength and fearlessness. This was his idea of making the vehicles look like street cars, ones that street racers would prefer to drive.

But Triton was no ordinary street racer. He was a man on a mission, a man with a past that haunted him and a determination that drove him forward. Steel's son was in danger, and Triton was willing to risk it all to save him.

With a final look in the rearview mirror, Triton turned onto the freeway towards Washington D.C. It was a risky move, but he knew that Steel was counting on him. And as the soldiers roared out of the White House garage behind him, Triton knew that this was a race to the death. May the best man win.

Steel sat in the passenger seat, his body tense as he watched the world fly by outside the window. The cool glass of the window sill pressed against his bare arm, a sharp contrast to the heat of the sun beating down on the car. He rested his elbow on the sill, his head heavy in his palm as his mind swirled with a million thoughts.

From the possibility of his son being alone, to the painful memory of the woman he loved - the only one he had ever truly opened his heart to. The weight of his past and present, crushing down on him like a heavy burden.

But it wasn't just about survival or victory in war. It was about the deeper scars that never truly heal. The ones left by heroin, its touch like a burning sting that never fades.

Steel's thoughts raced, his mind a battlefield of conflicting emotions. He had kept a secret from Triton, one that could change everything. He had hidden his true identity, afraid of the consequences.

But now, as they sped down the freeway, Steel couldn't keep it in any longer. His mind was a chaotic mess, his thoughts echoing like the ramblings of a madman. He had to tell Triton, the one person who had been helping him reach his son.

"Triton," he finally spoke, his voice trembling with emotion. Triton kept his eyes on the road, his foot heavy on the gas pedal.

"What truth?" he asked, his voice calm but his eyes flickering with curiosity. Steel took a deep breath, his heart racing in his chest.

"The truth is...I haven't been completely honest with you," he confessed, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. Triton turned to look at him, a mix of shock and concern in his gaze.

"What do you mean?" he asked, his voice softening as he saw the turmoil in Steel's expression. Steel could feel his resolve crumbling, his walls breaking down as he looked into Triton's eyes.

"I've been keeping a secret...about who I really am," he said, his voice barely a whisper now. The weight of his confession lifted off his shoulders, but a new fear settled in its place. What would Triton's reaction be? Would he still help him? Steel could only wait, his heart in his throat, for Triton's response.

"I wasn't paired with you by accident," Steel's voice shook with intensity. "My father is behind all of this. He's the one who wants your brother dead." Triton's grip on the steering wheel tightened as Steel's words echoed in his mind.

"He told me I had to work with you," Steel continued, his eyes burning with a mixture of fear and anger. "He told me if I didn't, he would kill my son." Triton's heart clenched at the thought of someone threatening a child's life.

"My mission was to help you kill your brother," Steel's voice cracked, revealing the turmoil he was feeling. "Which is the leader of the organization. The organization that is getting in the way of his plan. He really wants to enact his plan and your brother is in his way."

Triton's mind raced, trying to make sense of the information Steel was throwing at him. His brother, the organization, his father's plan... it was all too much to take in. But then Steel dropped the bomb that made Triton's blood run cold.

"However, after I helped you kill him..." Steel's words trailed off, the weight of his confession hanging heavily in the air. Triton could feel the tension in the car, as if the walls were closing in on them.

"I was to kill you," Steel's voice was barely a whisper, but it felt like a punch to the gut. "If I befriended you, then he would kill me along with my son." Triton's mind was reeling, trying to process the fact that he had been working with his brother's killer this whole time.

"I knew about your brother the whole time," Steel's words cut through the silence. "Because my brother is a part of the organization as well." Triton's eyes widened in shock and anger.

"That's how my father found out about it," Steel's voice was laced with regret. Triton could see the pain and conflict in his eyes.

"Is that why there was a drone behind me..." Triton's words trailed off as he looked in the rearview mirror. The sound of racing engines filled the air as the soldiers, sent by the President, closed in on them.

"...and now there are people racing up behind us to finish the job," Steel's voice was filled with urgency as he turned to look behind them. Triton could see the desperation in his eyes, as if he was trying to make amends for his past actions.

The soldiers were getting closer, their cars pushing Triton's vehicle, trying to force him off the road. Triton's grip on the steering wheel tightened as he prepared for the worst. But he refused to go down without a fight.

As two soldiers collided with each other, Triton pushed the gas pedal harder, jolting forward and causing the remaining four soldiers to swerve to avoid a collision. Pieces of their cars flew in all directions as Triton raced ahead, determined to stay one step ahead of his pursuers.

With Steel by his side, Triton knew he had a fighting chance. Together, they would take down his brother's killer and put an end to his father's twisted plan.

"FUCK, my father is getting FUCKING crazy." Steel's voice trembled as he watched the soldiers step out of their cars, yelling and arguing. His hand shook as he reached for his gun, but before he could even touch it, a drone appeared out of nowhere. And then, the sound of gunfire.

Bullets tore into the soldiers' flesh, screams of agony filling the air. Blood spattered in every direction, painting the ground and cars with a gruesome red. Steel's heart raced as he watched the chaos unfold in front of him.

"This is a battle for the fittest, Steel. We need to save your son," Triton's voice cut through the chaos. "And then, we have to get back to GuideStar. My brother will protect us."

Steel slumped in his seat, his arm draped over the window sill and his hand on his forehead. "You're still going to help me, even after I lied to you?" he asked, his voice filled with guilt.

Triton's gaze softened as he looked at Steel, still sitting in the same posture as before. "Yes, because you need it. And right now, no one wants to kill the president as much as I do."

Steel sat up abruptly, removing his hand from his forehead and his arm from the window sill. "I've wanted to kill my father since I was a kid, Triton. If anyone has the right to end this and take him down, it's me."

Triton slammed on the brakes as a soldier raced up behind his car, crashing into the back and flipping over the top. The soldier's car skidded across the road, sparks flying.

"What the fuck do you mean? Your father is the fucking president!" Triton exclaimed, his eyes widening in shock.

But before Steel could respond, he heard the sound of an engine. One of the soldier's cars was approaching them, fast. He caught a glimpse of it in the passenger side door mirror, and his heart dropped.

Three cars were coming at them, almost as fast as Brian drove in The Fast and Furious franchise. Steel felt a surge of adrenaline as he prepared for the imminent danger. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for, his chance to finally end his father's reign of terror.

"Yes, I thought you got that from what I had told you." Steel bellowed, his voice echoing through the deserted streets. The last three soldiers had finally caught up to Triton's car, the situation growing more intense with each passing moment.

"No, I didn't get that from what you told me." Triton's voice was filled with frustration and anger as he faced off with Steel. The other three soldiers had now abandoned their vehicles and were approaching Triton's car, their guns drawn and ready.

Steel's attention was suddenly diverted as he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. "Triton, drive, now!" He shouted, his eyes widening as he saw the soldiers approaching. Without hesitation, Triton slammed the car into reverse and ran over one of the soldiers, the other two barely managing to dive out of the way.

The car lurched forward as Triton shifted into drive, the tires screeching as he accelerated away. He swerved around the flipped vehicle of the soldier he had just run over, the adrenaline pumping through his veins.

As they sped away, Triton's thoughts were racing. "Look, we need to make a plan," he said to Steel, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. He knew he shouldn't be mad, but the betrayal and danger he was facing were too much to handle.

Steel's next words caught Triton off guard. "Drop me off, I will kill my father. You rescue my son," he said, his voice filled with determination. Triton wasn't sure if he could trust Steel, but he knew he didn't have much of a choice. They were only four miles away from the White House, and the last two soldiers were already catching up.

"Deal!" Triton exclaimed, his foot pressing harder on the gas pedal as he pushed the car to its limits. He could feel the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his senses heightened as they raced towards their destination. The characters in this situation were complex and intriguing, their actions and motivations constantly shifting. Triton's anger and Steel's determination were palpable, evoking strong emotions in both themselves and the reader.

In his head, Triton repeated his mantra - "I shouldn't be mad." But in this moment, it was difficult to hold onto that thought. The situation was dire, and they needed to act fast if they wanted to make it out alive. The only thing he could do was trust in Steel's plan and hope for the best.