Space Race (Space Race 1)

by Nathan Hystad

  Holland was using the Pod prepped for Space Race, with the number 11 painted on the hull. Mine was an exact replica but was factory gray. The entire unit hummed with energy as I powered it up, and I admired the rounded cockpit, feeling right at home.

  Maybe I’d been short-sighted in my retirement. This was something I should have been doing my whole life. The screen glowed a soft green, with indicators blinking on as I sat through the pre-flight routine.

  My hand found the yoke, and I wrapped my fingers around it. I could fly this thing with my eyes closed.

  I glanced out the window and saw Holland’s Pod ten yards away. We were both pointed toward the first Ring half a kilometer from the island, with sandy beach under us.

  Holland wanted a race, and he was going to get it.

  “You all set, Arlo?” Luther’s voice was in my ear. Jade was Holland’s team contact and would be guiding him from the ground.

  “I’m set.”

  “Let’s show this kid who the boss is, okay?”

  I didn’t reply as the clock counted down from ten. The entire SeaTech population was watching us in anticipation of a glimpse into the real race. I wasn’t about to disappoint them.

  It hit one, and I sighed, gunning it on zero.

  My back pressed into the leather pilot’s seat, and I let out a whoop of joy at the feeling. God, I used to love this.

  We both shot toward the first checkpoint, our Pods neck and neck. He entered a split second before me, but that was okay. I rarely gave it everything I had until a third of the way through. It was a mental trick I’d picked up early on.

  Holland wasn’t pulling any punches. His Pod cut through the air, speeding for a straightforward line toward me. Instead of allowing him to intimidate me, I just lowered, keeping my pace steady.

  “Nice evasion,” Luther said in my ear piece. “Checkpoint is 0.7 kilo from you. You’re slightly off target.”

  I wasn’t used to having someone talk so much. My grandfather had kept silent, being supportive if he felt it was necessary.

  Holland entered the second Ring farther ahead, and I let him take it. Bryson’s son was no doubt feeling confident right now, and that was just what I wanted. It always made the victory so much sweeter.

  I checked the wind conditions and spotted the current I was going to utilize. Most racers paid attention to the wind and tried to avoid currents and turbulence. I was cautious when needed but preferred to use them to my advantage where possible.

  The yoke and throttle vibrated in my hands, and I closed my eyes briefly as I sped toward the third Ring. I was slightly closer to Holland. This went on for a few more checkpoints, with me gaining inches each time. I had Holland where I wanted him. Luther tried advising me, but I ignored it, focusing on my timing.

  The next checkpoint was hard right, and I circled long while Holland went short, cutting the corner the best he could. I caught the wind and sped by him, giving the thrusters everything they had.

  Holland bumbled, nearly missing the checkpoint, but he made it through, and then there was one left, a single Ring at the end of the race, back near the beach where we’d started. My competitor wasn’t giving up, and I could almost sense him beside me. I anticipated his move a split-second before he acted, and rose higher while he dodged left. He lost momentum, while I kept mine, sailing through the final checkpoint to victory.

  “You did it, Arlo!” Luther shouted.

  “Did you doubt me?”

  “Well…if we’re being honest, yes!”

  The people were gathered tightly on the beach, filling it for miles in both directions, and when I settled the Pod back to the starting position and opened the door, their cheers were deafening. The entire race had lasted under twenty minutes, but I was drenched in sweat. I unzipped the SeaTech uniform to the waist and hopped out. Holland landed next to me and walked with his head low.

  Bryson, Jade, and Luther approached, and I set an arm over Holland’s shoulder. “You were amazing,” I whispered past the applause.

  He glanced up. “You think?”

  “Sure. There are a couple areas you could improve, and I’d be happy to discuss them with you later,” I told him.

  He smirked and lost his sour expression. “That would be great. I can’t believe I almost beat Hawk Lewis.”

  “You didn’t expect to?” I asked, shocked.

  “Heck no. You’re a legend.”

  “But at the beach…”

  “That’s just part of the game. Trash-talk. Jeez, Arlo, where have you been?”

  Bryson went to his son, speaking quietly, and I joined the rest of the team, waving at the crowds of people. Now I was ready for the Race.

  ____________

  I woke that final day before the Race with a surge of energy, and sent my mother a message, telling her I was going to miss her. She replied, saying she still had no word from Dad, and that concerned me. She was proud of the fact that I was in the Race, but she said so with the undertones that I would be the first team booted from the competition. I wasn’t going to let that happen.

  I walked outside as a morning downpour subsided. This island welcomed the rain first thing, watering the lush tropical plants for twenty minutes or so before the clouds dispersed, leaving the place with the fresh scent of flowers, ozone, and life. Bryson had been raised here, and I couldn’t for a second imagine that leaving would be easy for him. It was a true paradise.

  I walked to the edge of the parking lot, between the two high rises, one with Sea on the top, the other with Tech, and used the vantage point to stare out at the ocean. It was such a wonderful sight. There were countless fish and various underwater lifeforms that didn’t understand the complexities of the human struggle. They had their own issues: seeking food, struggling to stay alive from the constant duress of predators. We weren’t that different after all.

  “Arlo Lewis, what are you doing out here all alone?” Jade’s voice was a welcome interruption. She joined me at the end of the road, watching the waves for a few moments.

  “Seeking some perspective.” My PersaTab chimed, and I tugged it from my pocket, reading a notification from Capricious.

  “Your ship’s messaging you?”

  “She likes to keep in touch,” I joked. It was an alert. “Looks like someone or something’s been trying to access my database. I better go check it out.”

  “A pilot working on the network? Why don’t you leave it to the pros?” she asked.

  I watched her, admiring her dark eyes as they glimmered in the sunlight. Her curly hair fell to her shoulders, and she’d left it down, covering the memorial rings in her ear. “Is Jade Serrano offering to help me fix a breach?”

  “Maybe she is. I’ve been hoping to visit this mysterious Capricious since you mentioned her. Come on, we have a few hours before the final meeting Bryson scheduled. Let’s make good use of it.” Jade walked toward an idle Pod, and I climbed in after her, setting the destination. It took us to the pad where my ship waited, basking in the morning sunlight.

  Jade whistled, and I doubted it was an appreciative reaction. Compared to Pilgrim, my girl was a boxy mess. I hadn’t really noticed how out of date she was until this moment, and seeing the dozen patches of various colors on her exterior hull, and the dated thrusters complete with faded lettering, made me a little self-conscious. “She’s beautiful,” Jade whispered, shocking me. “And no ads on these models. That must be nice.”

  “You think this is beautiful?”

  “Sure. Everyone goes for those classic lines, rounded sleek versions, but I prefer this type. The shape allows for greater storage, and in space, who cares about aerodynamics? You’ve put a lot of care into her, without the income of the Corporations backing you. I can already see the thruster modifications. The extra ring below the tail end, giving yourself that much additional boost. And the quick retracting landers, for those fast escapes.”

  I stared at Jade, unable to hide how awed I was by her. “I think I’m in love.” I smiled, and
she waved me away.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I haven’t seen the inside.”

  I used my Tab to access the ramp, and it lowered slowly, the pistons squealing at the movement. “I’ll grease those,” I assured her.

  She smirked and entered before me. The cargo hold was mostly empty after the drop-off of the container. I was grateful I’d taken the time to clear her from top to bottom as I’d waited for Bello and Grid to fix the multiple system failings in the Wastes. That felt like years ago, even though it had been under two months. Everything had changed since I’d landed there, spaceship broken, bank account nearly empty. I’d been homeless, jobless, and desperate. Now I was about to embark on the biggest Race in history, under the banner of a Primary Corporation. It didn’t seem real to me.

  Jade went first through the central corridor, guiding me to my own bridge, and she sat beside my chair, not taking my seat. “Captain, you have to grant me entry.”

  “Who is this, Captain Lewis?” CP asked.

  “CP, meet Jade Serrano. A friend.”

  “Jade Serrano. I am pleased to meet you.”

  “What’s with the voice mods? She’s a southern girl?” Jade asked with a laugh.

  “Never mind that. She’s been with me a long time.”

  “Why haven’t you opted for the hologram version?” Jade asked.

  Most pilots had a virtual hologram to associate their CP to. Mine didn’t even have a name, let alone a face.

  “Never saw the need. She’s a program. Why anthropomorphize her?” In that first year, I’d tried to make her look like Bello, but that hadn’t helped. So I’d washed the image clean and removed it forever.

  I sat down, giving the system my personal code, and Jade scanned through my system. “Looks like you had a log of a projection here…”

  “Ignore that,” I said, embarrassed. “What can you tell me about the attempted breach?”

  Jade sped over the keypad, her brow furrowing the longer she looked at the string of data. She paused. “This is serious, Arlo.”

  “What?”

  “Someone’s been trying to hack your network, but it’s encrypted. I only know a few people capable of this level of security, and I’m one of them.” She continued to type.

  “Did they find anything?”

  “No. Whoever helped you secure this did a great job,” she told me.

  “Must have been Aster,” I muttered. The woman would sooner shoot me between the eyes with a Widowmaker, but she wouldn’t do anything to disrupt her trust with Bello and Grid.

  “Who’s Aster?”

  “Nobody. What can you tell me about the attack?”

  “Nothing yet. I’ll save the data and study it further if you wish,” Jade offered.

  I didn’t like sharing my network with anyone, but it was Jade. If I trusted her with my life on Pilgrim, that had to extend to other facets. “Please. I appreciate it.” She pulled free a Coin from her pocket and placed it on the screen. The clear token pulsed orange at the information transfer, reminding me of the matching Coin in my own pocket. I’d cleared the ship’s details from the Capricious and thought Jade could help me investigate what I’d encountered out there.

  But not today. We had a lot on our plates. When it was done, we powered CP down with a quick goodbye, and I stared at the cockpit, the dash lights off, the wiring all fixed by Bello. It had been my home for much of my life, but now it felt small. Cramped and lonely.

  I placed a palm on a bulkhead and let Jade get ahead. “Take care of yourself, CP.”

  ____________

  Holland paced the room, his pent-up excitement threatening to burst through his skin. Luther was the polar opposite. He sat at the table, dark hands intertwined with one another. He was composed and displayed a quiet confidence.

  Jade was prepared, the slightest of smirks on her lips. I kept picturing the images from Proxima but urged myself to focus. That didn’t matter. All that did was not getting booted from the Space Race over the first leg.

  Bryson finally entered the room, almost an hour after the scheduled time. His eyes were puffy, dark circles stamped under them. It was unsettling.

  “Welcome, team. Sorry for my tardiness. I had matters to see to.” Bryson took a seat, and his son occupied the chair beside him. Bryson looked at each of us, as if expecting us to be leading the meeting.

  I cleared my throat and stood. “Bryson, we’re prepared for the Race tomorrow. We’ll be heading to Luna for the night, and will place Pilgrim in the Board’s care for their inspection.”

  “Are we sure this is a good plan?” Luther asked. “I mean, we’re essentially giving our ship to the enemy, letting them have access without a supervisor.”

  “I’ve been told the engineering technician will be allowed to stay for the duration of the tests,” Bryson said. “Plus, this is a formality, and the Board is not the enemy. We have to lose the distrust and focus on what we can control. Understood?”

  “Yes, sir,” Luther chimed.

  “I’ll also be coming with you to Luna Corp. We’ll be starting the Race with the other nine contestants tomorrow, mark my word. But I do expect some resistance from the rest of the Primaries. I’ve already had an interesting conversation this morning,” Bryson said.

  Holland set his arms on the table. “With who?”

  “Mr. Under, the Sage CEO.”

  “Is that so?” I asked. “What did the number one Corporation want?”

  “He offered me a piece of his company. Said it would take me to number eight if I accepted.” Suddenly, Bryson’s dark eyes made sense. He’d fought so long to get into the top ten, and here he was, not two months in, being presented a chance to climb the ranks even higher. But it went against his objective now, and I imagined it was difficult to turn off that drive for the top in a man like Bryson Kelley.

  “Tell me you didn’t agree,” Holland said.

  “Of course not!” Bryson shouted as he slammed a fist on the table, rattling the water glasses. “I’m not a fool. We’d have to forgo the Race for the trade to transpire.”

  “Why would they do this?” Jade asked.

  “Because they only want their own ships in the Race. They can’t risk losing to us,” I told them.

  Holland grinned, and the energy in the room changed. “You know what this means?”

  Luther smiled with him. “They’re scared.”

  “Damn right they are, and they should be. Because in one week, SeaTech will be declared victorious in the largest Space Race ever seen, and no matter what happens with the Primary Corps after that day, we’ll be the winners,” Bryson said, cheering up finally.

  “To the Race!” I lifted my water glass, and the others joined in. We clinked in celebration. It was a façade for their benefit. With recent news, I was confident the Board would do everything possible to prevent our leaving the starting line.

  ____________

  Space around the Moon was busier than ever. Hundreds of vessels surrounded it, the main docking station completely full. We were in a compact enough Racer to weave around the clusters, and with our notoriety at being contestants in the Race, we were allowed to sneak ahead in line, leaving hundreds of waiting pilots behind us.

  I hadn’t spent a lot of time at Luna, but this had been Jade’s home. She’d only recently left the confines of the Luna Corp walls. The majority of Luna Corp was located near the north pole, where the sun stayed up for the entire day. It was one of the warmest destinations on the lunar surface, making their city sustainable.

  The dome was expansive, spreading above and beyond the city’s edges. The radius of the contraption exceeded fifty kilometers, making it the largest of its kind. I’d heard the amount of energy required to power it was more than all of Sage Industries’ entire half a continent’s draw, not to mention the solar backups in place. The rows of panels stretched through the region, again creating the leading network in the system. But for Luna, it wasn’t a big deal.

  The technology had been pe
rfected by Harding years ago, and while most of the companies didn’t need extensive sections of solar energy, Luna Corp kept the Primary Corporation in the top ten with their support.

  “Good to be home?” Luther asked Jade.

  “I wouldn’t say that. It’s only been a few months, but it already looks different,” Jade whispered.

  “It hasn’t changed; you have. It’s a matter of perspective,” Bryson told her.

  “Maybe. My parents are here. Told me to keep my head down and my mouth shut. But I couldn’t. It was their son that was killed by Luna’s negligence, and they wanted to stay silent.” Jade’s voice grew in volume.

  “Are you going to see them?” Holland asked.

  “No.”

  “But they’re your—”

  “Son, she has her reasons, and we’re only here for a night. Jade’s staying on Pilgrim while they test the system, so it’s not like there’s time for visiting.” Bryson had saved her from explaining, but I understood it all too well.

  “I just think maybe a message, or a video chat would—” Holland wouldn’t give up.

  “Drop it,” I said. The city started to grow in the viewer, and I was at a loss for words at the sight. Luna Corp had done the unthinkable. Almost a hundred years ago, they’d decided to terraform the dome. It began as a slow project, but after twenty years, they had the base of the power shield created, and within another two decades, an entire lake, created from hauling ice chunks from deep craters on the surface. Now the lake was a kilometer wide, and twice as long. It was used in irrigation, and to supply fresh water to their people.

  Once a year, an unprecedented amount of ice was imported from various spots on the Moon, melted in a giant warehouse outside the dome, and piped in through underground plumbing. It was really a marvel. Even from here, I could spot the acres of farmland, and saw Bryson staring at them too.