“This is what you want to do, isn’t it?” I asked him. His hand rested on my seat, and he leaned lower, nodding.
“On Proxima, there will be plenty of opportunity for something like this, though much of the region is habitable.” He spoke low, and I doubted the rest of the team could hear him.
“Captain Lewis, we are being directed to the LunaBase entry point Eight Beta,” R11 advised.
“Good.”
Luther plotted the course, shooting the path onto my right dash screen, and I followed the trail to the docking entrance. There were dozens of spacecraft here, all appearing like the personal transports of the CEOs or their families coming to see the send-off of the great Space Race.
I counted twenty separate docks, and we were third in line. When it was our turn, I hovered twenty meters from the Moon’s surface and faced the dome. A yellow glow blinked out a square, signaling for us to proceed, and I passed through the shield. If someone deactivated the access before we entered, the Racer would be cut in half. I always held my breath for good luck. The luxury liners and transports all aimed for Luna Corp’s private hotel, and I flew toward the Race headquarters.
“I’ll never get used to seeing corn growing on the Moon,” Luther said.
“It was quite the feat,” Bryson admitted.
Five Racers were already parked near a giant warehouse, and when landed, facing the structure, I saw Sage Industries’ craft through the open bay doors. Robots and drones surrounded it, checking the specs and system.
“Bryson, you’re one hundred percent sure we’re going to pass?” I asked, feeling nervous about leaving my new ship in these people’s hands.
“We have some unorthodox modifications, but everything falls within their parameters,” he told me.
“What do you mean, unorthodox?” I unstrapped and rose from the pilot’s chair. The rest of the team looked anxious.
“Nothing to concern yourselves with. I have a feeling our friend Jade Serrano has already discovered some of them.” He smiled at our engineer.
“I did find a few things, and the power converter under the—”
“Let’s not worry about that,” Bryson said, heading for the exit.
I stepped into his path. “If there’s something you’re leaving out, tell us now.”
Luther looked ready to intervene on Bryson’s behalf, but he stopped short, siding with me. It felt great to have a team at my back.
“Safety is a priority for this crew, Arlo. I may have added some weaponry, and perhaps a booster for the Core,” he started.
“You did what?” I asked. “They’re going to find it and kick us out! This is a friendly competition.”
“Impossible,” Bryson shouted. “I don’t understand why you have an issue.”
Jade set a hand on my forearm, and I lowered it. “I do. You’ve given me the option of rerouting systems to activate the weapons and Core improvements.”
“Is that good?” Luther asked.
“It’s damned well brilliant. I saw something off, but couldn’t pinpoint it. If I couldn’t, there’s no way these rookies will be able to spot them. The modifications won’t be visible, not as they are.” Jade smiled, and the expression relaxed me.
“I highly doubt their AI robots and the Luna Tech team lack fundamental skills, but whatever you say,” Luther told her.
“I worked there. They won’t catch it.” Jade closed her mouth, meaning the discussion was over.
“Okay, but what are we going to need high-powered ion pulses for?” I asked.
“With Eclipse threatening to intervene at the end of the Race, we must be prepared. Nothing will stop us from claiming our winnings.” And Bryson was off. Holland shrugged and trailed after his father.
Luther sighed. “I don’t like his tone.”
“Neither do I, but he’s not wrong. This Race has the potential to unite our people for a while, but I have a feeling it’s going to end in bloodshed. With Liberty involved, you never know.”
“What did you say?” Jade asked.
Luther took a step toward me. “Have you been holding out on us?”
“I told you about Eclipse and her viral video that was confiscated after a couple of hours, and you were there when she attacked Primary City. She’s not playing games. Bryson wants us to focus. Winning is all that matters, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
Jade leaned against her seat. “You make it sound so simple, Arlo.”
“R11, you stay here with Jade. Do what she says,” I told the black and red painted bot.
“You want me to interface with the drones, don’t you?” he asked glibly.
“Whatever you have to do. Just don’t catch a virus,” I told him.
“Captain Lewis, I have the highest security software…”
“I was kidding, R11.”
He stared at me and slowly turned toward his console. Luther left, and I stayed behind for a second with Jade. “You going to be okay here?”
“Sure. I can handle myself, Arlo. Have a good dinner. Try not to punch anyone without me, okay?” She smiled, melting the tension that kept creeping into my shoulders.
“No promises there.”
Bryson and Holland were already at a private transport, waiting for us, and I jogged to catch up. As we started to lift off the ground, another Racer arrived, darting in our path. It was Travis and the Oasis team.
Our preprogrammed pilot adjusted its path, and carried us to the awaiting reception at LunaHotel.
Thirteen
My buzzer sounded, jolting me from my PersaTab. “Who is it?” I shouted, and Holland’s youthful face appeared on the screen near the entrance. Had I ever been that young and enthusiastic?
“Coming!” I let the guy in, and he walked past me excitedly, an object in his grip. “Nice suit.”
It was red, with the SeaTech logo on the breast pocket. A black dress shirt finished off the design. He’d actually color-coordinated with our Racer.
“Don’t worry. You have one too.” He shoved the bag at me, and I unzipped it, seeing a matching suit.
“You’ve got to be kidding.” I held it over my clothes, looking in a floor-to-ceiling mirror.
“Nope. Dad made them for everyone. Nice touch, hey?”
He was so thrilled, I couldn’t tell him how I really felt about the apparel. “Sure. Let me try it on.”
It was later than I’d thought, and I hurried. Holland stuck around while I finished, trying to comb my hair, and I used the fancy razor in the bathroom to clean up. When it was all done, I stared at myself, not recognizing the man in the reflection. I looked younger, and I tested a smile.
“Doesn’t it feel good?” Holland was behind me, nodding at the results.
“To what? Choke ourselves with these tight buttons and force awkward conversations with our rivals all evening?” I asked.
“You’re way too cynical, Arlo. Can’t you just let it go for once and enjoy yourself?” Holland had a point, but I didn’t think I could be like him.
“I’ll do my best.”
We departed and found Bryson at the end of the hall, he and Luther each holding a glass of liquor. “We make quite the team,” Luther said, indicating our matching suits.
“What are we waiting for?” I asked, advancing for the elevators.
“Her,” Bryson said, and I followed his gaze as Jade exited her room. She walked down the hallway with practiced perfection, and I tried to compose myself. Her dress was form-fitting, mostly red, with splashes of black along the hem and collar.
“I thought you couldn’t come to the dinner,” I managed as she stopped beside us.
“The tests were delayed, so Bryson requested I join the team.”
“What about the Racer?” I asked.
She held her PersaTab out. “R11 has it under control. If they pull the ship in for testing, we’ll be notified.”
“Shall we?” Bryson asked, and offered his arm to Jade. Her hair was pinned up at the back, revealing the shaved s
ection of her head, and the black earrings.
A short time later, we were seated in the hotel’s finest ballroom, the lights dim, the scent of fine dining looming from the kitchens, and I surveyed the place, discovering we weren’t the only team in matching attire. Some wore jumpsuits, while others went for dark tuxedos.
I just wanted the night to be over so we could finally begin the Race we’d been preparing two months for.
The Board was all there. Ten faces. Each seemed content on the exterior, but when I looked closer, I noticed a lot of toe-tapping and hand-wringing. They were nervous. The CEOs were more composed, probably used to hostile takeovers and back-room shenanigans than the Board members. Octavia Post was as cool as a cucumber, moving from table to table, in sequential order of rank, of course, and finally, she ended up at ours.
“Bryson, how wonderful to see you and the team at the reception,” she said.
“Is there a reason we wouldn’t be in attendance?” he asked, his tone friendly.
“Haven’t you heard?” She had the air of pretense, as if holding in a substantial advantage.
“Heard what?” My voice was low.
“You’ve been disqualified,” she said softly.
My heart raced, and Holland looked ready to explode. Bryson was calm when he asked the next question. “How so?”
“We’ve completed the inspection of Racer number eleven, and you broke the rules.” She couldn’t hold back her true feelings about this. Her contempt for SeaTech radiated from her skin.
Bryson rose slowly. “My engineer was supposed to be on board for the inspection. It seems you are the one who broke the rules.”
Jade was checking her Tab, but there was no communication from R11 on it. “What did we fail?”
“The robot isn’t to spec.” And there it was.
“R11? He’s just a bot, meant to assist with minor functions,” Bryson said.
“Be that as it may, I’m afraid you have to ground your Racer, and will not be eligible to compete in the event.” I saw a hint of a smile at the corners of Octavia’s lips.
I couldn’t hold back any longer. “You really had it out for us, didn’t you?” I stood, knocking my chair over. “Your precious Primary Corps, all wanting to push out the rookie in the hangar. Well, I have news for you, we’re not going to be bullied.”
Luther rose, and so did Jade, finally followed by Holland. They came to my side, and other teams began to approach.
Octavia glanced over her shoulder, seeing the incoming crowd. “Captain Lewis, I should caution you to bite your tongue.”
“Or what? You’ll shoot me from an airlock?” I locked gazes with Varn, the Sage captain, and he sneered at me, chuckling to a teammate.
Bryson came between us, turning to face me. “Captain Lewis, she’s right. We should watch what we say, because according to the fine print, we have until an hour before the race to comply with any of their regulations.”
“That’s technically correct, but you do need a robot on board as part of the team. It’s in the handbook, section four, point nineteen,” she said.
Jade nodded and began to recite the reference. “Section Four, Point Nineteen: Each team must include a robotic assistant, a model XE773, RE550, or equivalent.”
“And your R11 is not either of those models.” Octavia started to walk away.
“Theoretically, he’s not, but with a mem wipe, he can be reprogrammed to be equivalent.” Jade followed Octavia, who stopped near Sage.
“That isn’t exactly true.”
“We’re splitting hairs. I’ll take a XE773, then. Surely Luna Corp has one for sale,” Bryson said.
The Lead Chair looked at the Luna Corp CEO, and he shook his head.
“You have your answer. Since you are unable to comply with the regulations, consider yourselves…”
I’d heard enough. They weren’t going to get rid of SeaTech so easily. Not before being televised for the entire world to see. I knew how things like this went. They’d kick us out and release some pathetic story of us trying to break the rules. We’d be shamed, and Bryson had put too much into this for me to allow that. “Way I see it, the other Racers are afraid of a little competition,” I told them.
Varn Wallish tried to step around Octavia, but she raised a finger, setting it on his chest. “Do not be taken by his words.”
If it was a fight they wanted, I was prepared. “Yep. Varn and his cronies can’t stand the thought of losing to the likes of me. Well, I’ll tell you what. I wasn’t afraid of your CEO, and I’m not afraid of you.” I glanced at Frank Under, and he flinched. I smiled at him, knowing full well he still recalled that day five years ago with clarity.
“You are nothing, Arlo. You couldn’t even take the job you were being groomed for, because I was always better than you. I’m a real pilot. You’re out there hauling crap in your piece of junk, and the rest of us”—Varn gestured at the other eight teams in the room—“are speeding through the solar system like comets.”
“Then let us compete. Show me how terrible I am at this gig, that’s all I ask. If I’m as bad as you say, you’ll be rid of me in a week anyways. What’s the harm?” I asked, standing two meters from Varn.
“I’m sorry, but your goading won’t work.” Octavia turned away from us, and Bryson spoke up.
“Let us do the mem wipe on my R11 unit, and I’ll give you the first rights to my latest Elurnium replacement devices.” The entire room went silent, and I felt a shift in the energy. What Bryson was offering was too appealing to ignore.
“Who gets it?” Octavia asked.
“The Board can decide how to divvy the distribution.” Bryson frowned, clearly upset it had come to this, but he was sacrificing a lot to provide us a chance at winning Proxima. I hoped I could back his losses by giving us a real shot.
“Sage demands SeaTech is allowed to enter the Race,” their CEO said smugly. It was obvious the top Primary Corp would benefit the most from such an arrangement.
Octavia looked ready to plead her case, but when the CEO of Sage made an order, even the Lead Chair had to obey. “Yes, Mr. Under.” She faced Bryson and bowed her head slightly. “You are granted entrance, under the condition you wipe your robot’s banks to the bare required minimum. We don’t want any unfair advantages, do we?”
Bryson smirked, accepting her terms, and the party started. Music played, and drinks were served as everyone returned to their allotted tables. I stood behind my chair, watching my team, and Bryson faded into his seat, looking like a man that had lost it all.
I watched the Sage CEO whisper to an aide, and the woman hesitantly walked over to me, holding out a PersaTab. She looked terrified.
“Out with it,” I told her.
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Under has requested I inform you that your parents are no longer employed by Sage Industries, effective immediately.” She showed me a copy of the orders and slunk away, back to the shadows behind Sage’s pristine table at the head of the room.
Bryson caught the exchange. “Tell your mother to be ready outside her building. The Pod will bring her to her new home in an hour. We’ll speed up their retirement package, rather than waiting for the completion of your six-month tenure.”
At that moment, Bryson Kelley won me over.
____________
“R11, do you understand what we’re about to do?” Jade asked the robot.
“You’re performing a neural wipe, rendering me useless. It’s the equivalent of a lobotomy, isn’t it?” R11 was in a chipper mood, despite the fact that we were about to clear his memory banks.
“Good. This will only take a minute,” our engineer said. R11 had a wire harness attached to his lower back, and his eyes went bright orange as Jade flipped a switch in his holding station.
One of the Luna Corp technicians oversaw it, and the man ran a series of tests after R11 regained functionality.
“What is your name?” the man asked.
“R11.”
“What is your funct
ion?”
“To assist Captain Lewis in the Race.”
“What is your system capacity?”
R11 rattled off a series of digits that meant nothing to me, but the tech nodded and addressed Jade. “He’s set.” He was about to leave, but he stopped. “Miss Serrano, I think it was a tragedy that they dismissed you. You were a pleasure to work under, and I’m glad you’re back on your feet.” He leaned closer. “I’ll be rooting for you. I love an underdog story.”
She thanked him, and the guy was off.
Jade and I stared at R11. “Just when I was starting to get used to R11’s wit.”
“I know, it’s so much better than dealing with a sterile voice box,” Jade admitted.
“I’ll have you know, I am still sterile,” R11 said. “But don’t spread the news.”
“R11, is that you? I thought your personality was cleared.”
He tilted his head. “No. But I did manage to conceal my system until they’d completed their overhaul. Speaking of, would you mind pulling the harness from my spine?”
Jade laughed and freed the bot from the sensor check. We were dressed in our formalwear, having left the dinner early. The others had stayed for the evening, with Bryson assuring us he was confident we could handle the situation.
“You want to return?” I asked her.
“Not on your life. Let’s celebrate here. Have a drink and a pack of frozen things Bryson crammed the freezer full with.” Jade walked away, me unable to stop watching her in that dress.
“Okay, but we have to take it easy. The race is tomorrow,” I reminded her. I peered at R11, who was lingering, staring at the cargo hold. “You coming?”
“Me, Captain Lewis?”
“Sure. You’re one of us. Come and hang out for a while.” It was strange treating the piece of machinery like a person, but his personality was undeniable. I suspected a lot of work had gone into his manufacturing at SeaTech.
“I’d like that.”
Jade was already pouring the drinks, opting for a tropical beer instead of the orange nectar that Bryson preferred. In a half hour, our plates were mostly empty, and we were on our second drink. R11 sat beside me at the table, joining in the conversation only when prompted.
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