"Welcome race fans!"

The maniacal voice of Benjamin Bright was so synonymous with the IGPX that merely hearing his voice was enough to tell the listener what was coming.

"After a long and hectic off-season the moment all of us have been eagerly awaiting is almost upon us. The new season of the IGPX kicks off in eleven days as Team Satomi, the two-time defending champions of the prestigious IG-1, opens the season against another powerhouse of the top division, Team Sledge Mamma!"

"And if past experience has taught us anything, the upcoming match between these two teams will be another history making affair."

Mark Ramsey wasn't the biggest fan of the emotion spewing announcer, he actually found his voice more annoying than informative, but he had to admit that there was no one else who could call an IGPX race like Benjamin.

After taking the championship the previous two seasons, Team Satomi was, for the first time, the favorites heading into the current season. The group of younglings who had only broken into the IG-1 exactly two years before had suddenly become to the force to be reckoned with in the top division. They had in many analysts' opinion the top pilot in the league in Takeshi Jin, along with one of the most tactfully gifted support staff which included Mark himself.

As the team's chief mechanic, it was Mark's duty to ensure that their mechs were in top condition for each race. That usually meant long nights alone in the shop, making checks and double-checks on each mech's operating systems, and often sleeping on a quite uncomfortable cot in the shop.

However, Mark took such difficulties in stride. He was doing what he loved the most; working with machines like these had been his dream and even the most unpleasant tasks that went along with the work weren't enough to deter him. Of course, winning a championship or two also helped.

The twenty-seven year old mechanic had been with Team Satomi for the past five years; it had been his first job upon graduation from Harvard. He had learned so much more about what it took to be a mechanic in the IGPX during those years. He was constantly changing and re-changing important set-ups on the mechs including those that controlled the handling, throttle, and transformation, attempting to find another ounce of speed that would hopefully give the team another victory.

Having pilots with as much talent as Takeshi, Liz, and Amy didn't hurt either.

While he was listening to Benjamin's preseason presentation on one monitor at his mechanic station, he was tracking the progress of the simulator on the other as Takeshi completed another run against a computerized version of Sledge Mamma.

Mark had been amazed at the amount of raw talent that Takeshi had displayed from the first moment he got behind the controls of one of the team's mechs. Years of experience had only added to his skill not only as a pilot and a racer, but as a thinker and a tactician. It was that mental prowess that had helped propel Takeshi to a level reserved only for the greats of the sport.

When he emerged from the simulator after a successful race, Takeshi looked more calm and self-assured than Mark had ever seen him before.

"You look as if you're bored, Takeshi," the mechanic commented as the team's lead pilot walked slowly towards him.

Takeshi blinked as he stood beside Mark to view the results of his latest run. "Yeah, well simulator runs can only give you so much of a rush. It's only when you get on the track that your adrenaline really gets going."

"Yeah, I know what you mean," Mark admitted. "I really don't start to get anxious until the season starts. Otherwise I've really got nothing to do except hang around make sure nobody breaks in and steals anything."

"Sounds like you've got it easy," Takeshi countered.

Mark grinned. "What? Being one-half of the IGPX royal couple getting to be too much for you?"

Takeshi sighed. Ever since his relationship with Liz had become known to the public and the press, his free time during the off-season had decreased dramatically. The press had dubbed them the Royal Couple as they both were pilot for the IG-1's top team. It was common for them to find endless streams of paparazzi following them everywhere they went. Their dates became social events for the press and their fans yearning to catch a glimpse of the couple together. Although Takeshi had some prior experience with this kind of exposure before, back when he and former IG-1 pilot Fantine Valjean had been in a relationship, he still was not used to or keen to the idea of being shadowed every time he and Liz tried to go somewhere in public together.

"Now that you mention it, it's not as fun as the press would have you think it is," Takeshi surmised. "Don't get me wrong, I love being with Liz."

"No, I'm not questioning you on that," Mark reassured him.

"It's just that with all the press and the fans that swarm us whenever we go out, it…it's…"

"Annoying?"

"Yeah. Annoying."

Mark glanced over at Takeshi, whose jovial mood had disappeared, and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about, man. There's nothing really you can do about them. You know how Freedom of the Press works."

"Yeah, yeah."

"And look at the bright side." Mark focused his attention back on the monitor and his voice volume dropped slightly. "At least you have someone who you can spend time with. Somebody you can talk to when something's on your mind. Somebody who knows you better than anyone else and would do anything for you"

Takeshi managed to smile. Even through all the shit that he and Liz had literally brought on themselves, he had to admit, for her, he would put up with anything. All the paparazzi in the world wouldn't keep him away from Liz. He'd made that mistake with Fantine before. Now, he was determined that he would not make the same mistake with Liz. He couldn't conceive the idea of breaking anyone else's heart.

"Mark?"

"Yeah, Takeshi?"

"Have you ever…felt like that about anyone before?"

"Felt like what?"

"Like you couldn't go a day without seeing them. That if you made them unhappy you'd feel like punching yourself. You know?"

"No, I can't really say that I do, Takeshi," Mark admitted.

"Why? Have you never been in a relationship before?"

"Nope."

"Why not?" Takeshi asked.

Now it was Mark's turn to sigh. "Well…I just never really had the time for it. I've been moving around and working most of my life. Going to school, and then putting in all that time at the shop once I graduated. A relationship probably wouldn't have been possible for me."

"But you never said that you didn't want one," Takeshi pointed out.

"Well I'd be wrong if I said I didn't want a serious relationship," Mark said. "I'd have to be an idiot to say something like that. It's just…complicated."

The ring-tone on Mark's head-set rang at that moment.

"Mark?"

Miss Satomi's voice was like a breath of fresh air to Mark with the way it cleared his mind of the topic that he and Takeshi had just been discussing. "Yes, Miss Satomi?"

"I was going over the inventory checklist you sent me this morning," she began. "Is this really the final tally on what you'll need for the rest of the season?"

"Yes. We should be able to make it through the season with that inventory backing us up." Mark sensed something else. "Why, was there something wrong with it?"

"No," Miss Satomi responded quickly. "It's just that it seemed…well…pretty small."

"Small? What do you mean?"

"Well, I was very surprised that we could make it through the entire season with such a small number of backup and replacement parts."

Mark nodded to himself. "Well, you said you weren't exactly sure what the budget for this season was going to be, so I based it off of what we had last year. I stuck to the minimal amount that I thought we could get through the season with and went with that so the total cost wouldn't be very high."

"If you really need more parts as a precaution, then that's fine Mark," Miss Satomi informed him. "We had an increase in funds from our main sponsors after the end of last season, so if you need to order a little more all you have to do is ask."

"Oh. Well that's good to know then," Mark stammered. He brought up the inventory list he had sent Miss Satomi on his own monitor. "Now that you mention it, it would be better if I could order a few more transistors and another stabilizer for each of the mechs."

"How many do you want?"

"Well, my first estimate would be seven, but-"

"No way!" Miss Satomi's voice was by no means overbearing, but it carried a certain degree of authority that Mark knew he couldn't usurp.

"Okay…four."

"That's sounds fine. I'll place the order later today. They should be in by the end of the week. I'll also try and get into contact with Ichi and see if he can whip something up. You know how he is."

"That's great. Thank you. Is there anything else you wanted?"

"Not that I can think of. Other than checking in on how the mechs are doing?" Miss Satomi answered.

"Oh, don't worry about them." He glanced up at the towering mechs, painted a bright blue and gold. "They're in the best condition they could possibly be in right now."

"Are you sure, Mark?" Miss Satomi asked.

Mark chuckled. "Rest assured. If anything goes wrong you'll be the first one I tell, Miss Satomi."

He could hear Miss Satomi laugh on the other end of the line. "Thank you, Mark."

"And, if there's anything else I discover that we need, I'll be sure to tell you."

"Alright. I'll let you get back to work. I know you hate it when I interrupt you like this."

"Well, I wouldn't say hate…detest maybe-"

"Mark…"

"Okay. I know, I know. Thanks again."

"I'll talk to you later."

Mark switched off his headset. "Same old Miss Satomi, huh?" Takeshi inquired.

Mark chuckled somewhat. "She's not changing anytime soon. And would you have it any other way?"

"Nah." Takeshi focused his attention back on the monitor so he could analyze his simulator run. But then something else popped into his head. "Say Mark…you said you wouldn't mind being in a relationship, right?"

Mark sighed. "You're still on that whole relationship thing, Takeshi?" he asked exasperatedly. "I already told you, I don't have time."

"I know that. But let's just say that you did have time for a serious relationship."

Mark rolled his eyes. "Okay…"

Takeshi balanced his head on his palm. His next words came out in a rush. "Would you ever consider dating, Miss Satomi?"

Mark's fingers froze. He slowly turned his head to the right, to where Takeshi was standing casually, and gave him a look that was a combination of surprise and incredulousness. "What?"

"I'm just asking," Takeshi quickly added. "If you had the opportunity, would you like to date, Miss Satomi?"

"Takeshi…" Mark started. He turned back to his console, but didn't commence typing again. "You're thinking about this whole relationship thing too much. Plus…you know she's our boss, right?"

"Mark…you're not saying no," Takeshi reminded him.

Mark sighed once again. "Well…I guess I'd be lying if I said no."

"Then you would date her, then."

"Yes. It would be pretty nice to date Miss Satomi. Now is that what you want to hear?"

Takeshi nodded. "I knew you wouldn't say no."

"Really? And why might that be?" Mark asked sarcastically.

"Just because of the way she is," Takeshi began. "She just seems like the kind of girl a guy like you would go for."

"And just what kind of girl would I go for, Takeshi?"

"Someone who's smart, someone who knows how to organize and plan things, someone who isn't too overly critical of everything and most important of all, someone who understands who you are and what makes you tick."

Mark shrugged. "You may be right about that," he admitted.

"Plus," Takeshi added. He moved closer to Mark and lowered his voice so that no one else would be able to hear him. "She's hot."

Mark gave him almost the exact same look he had earlier. "Takeshi…you have a girlfriend."

"That doesn't take away from the fact that Miss Satomi is pretty damn hot."

"I really hope Liz doesn't hear you say this," Mark said.

"Once again, you're not denying it, Mark."

"And once again I'd be stupid to say otherwise." Mark was surprised that those words had come from his mouth.

"See! Even you have to admit that Miss Satomi is capable of turning a few heads."

"And you would know this because…?"

"Because of just seeing her around the shop everyday," Takeshi answered. "Come on, Mark you've been seeing the same things I have."

"Okay…" Mark responded.

Takeshi continued, "She always wears skirts, which means you've seen how great her legs are. She's got the body of a cheerleader with hair and eyes to boot. You probably wouldn't be able to tell otherwise because she always wears those uptight business suits, but if you saw her in something more casual your mouth would probably drop." Mark didn't respond to that. "Come on, Mark. Can you imagine what it would be like to see Miss Satomi in a t-shirt and blue jeans? Or in a formal dress, low cut with a long seam? Or even in a bik-"

"Alright, now you're just trying to put images in my head!" Mark said, cutting Takeshi off before he could finish.

Takeshi laughed. "I'm just telling the truth, Mark. And you know it."

Mark sighed once again. "Okay. If I tell you that I could be interested in a serious relationship, that I would like to date Miss Satomi, and if I admitted that she is hot…will that be enough for you to drop this entire subject?"

Takeshi considered it. "I think so."

"Fine. That's how it is then. Now can I please get back to work?"

"Sure. Whatever you want, Mark."

Takeshi turned back toward the simulator and began to prepare for another run. Mark began to reset the machine's systems, but Takeshi's little diatribe had indeed placed thoughts of Miss Satomi into his mind. He found himself contemplating the very same things that Takeshi had asked him and that he had been so quick to push aside.

Could he actually see himself asking Miss Satomi out on a date…or even being in a serious relationship with her? He had to admit that it could be pretty nice and that he might enjoy.

Yeah…like that's ever going to happen, though.

Mark shook his head to get the thoughts out of his mind and readied the simulator for another run.