The following is an excerpt from a special report on the IG-1 season:
"Well race fans coming into this year's IG-1 season all of our experts had been saying that the championship would be a contest between three talented teams, Satomi, Velshtein, and Sledge Mamma. However, if the first three races are any indication, it would seem that those predictions had been vastly overestimated. That's because so far this year it's been nothing but domination from the two-time defending champions."
Benjamin was his usual enthusiastic self on television.
"After coming out ahead in another classic duel against Team Sledge Mamma on opening night, Team Satomi has breezed through their previous two races against Edgeraid and Black Egg, scoring 1-2-3 finishes in all three contests. It's been many, many years since we've seen a Team completely dominate the IG-1 like Team Satomi has so far this season. Can they keep it up? Both Velshtein and White Snow would say otherwise, but at this moment it doesn't look like anyone is going to stop Team Satomi."
"It's only fitting then that the focus of our IGPX Exclusive this week is on the two-time defending champions of the IG-1. We all have heard the breathtaking and sometimes heartwarming stories of the Team's three pilots, Takeshi Jin, Liz Ricarro, and Amy Stapleton, but today we're going behind the scenes and taking a closer look at what makes this Team so great."
"Aside from the Team's three outstanding young pilots, the other members of Team Satomi are also relatively young in terms of age. Why just take a look at the Team's intelligent and hard-working Manager, Michiru Satomi. The granddaughter of one of the pioneers of the IGPX, Miss Satomi has been the Manager and the one in-charge of the Team for over five years now, dating back to when the Team was a lowly IG-3 operation."
"Since that time, Miss Satomi has guided the Team to an unprecedented level of success never seen before in the history of the IGPX. And on top of that, she's only 26 years-old!What is her and the Team's secret to all this success?"
"It really comes down to our Team's ability to function as one," she said. "We could have the best pilots in the world, but if we don't have the mechanics and the sponsors, we're never going to achieve anything. The way our whole Team functions as one is the real reason why we've had the success we've had."
"It just so happens that you seem to have one of the best pilots in the sport to go along with great mechanics and sponsors, correct?"
She laughed. "Well, having someone like Takeshi on our Team certainly does help. But Liz and Amy have both been outstanding for us as well. Even Takeshi would admit that he wouldn't be anywhere near as talented a pilot if it wasn't for those two."
"What about motivation? While you've won the past two championships, you're Team is still relatively young compared to others in the IG-1. Is there anytime where you've had to bring them back to the center after they've drifted off for something?"
"Of course. We all lose concentration every once in a while, but I don't think motivation is the right word. We're all highly motivated at Team Satomi and we know exactly what we want to achieve. Sometimes we just need to remind everyone that it takes a total team effort to win and having everyone involved and striving toward the same goal is one of the great strengths of our Team."
"And then there is Mark Ramsey, Team Satomi's Chief Mechanic and Head Designer. This is the man that has designed, fixed, and maintained some of the fastest mechs in the history of the IG-1."
"Ramsey joined Team Satomi a little over four years ago; he was one of the first people hired by Miss Satomi when she took over the Team her Grandfather founded many years before. Ramsey came to the Team with no previous experience in the IGPX, but carried with him a vast amount of knowledge and raw intuition, two things that any master mechanic needs."
"Ramsey's designs have helped Team Satomi win the past two championships and he is considered by many within the Team and outside of it to be the true unsung hero of Team Satomi."
"So what do you consider your role in the team to be, Mark?"
"I'm pretty much the guy that makes sure our pilots have the best equipment available so they can win races," he answered.
"It's true that you're always pushing to find the next great improvement you can make on the mechs, correct?"
"Oh, yeah. You can't expect to win in the IG-1 if you're not trying to make yourself better. If you stand pat on what you have, you're only going to be overtaken by the competition. You have to keep looking for things to improve upon and once you find those things you need to fix them or else it could cost you in the next race. Take for example this week; I discovered something on the mechs that was causing an abnormal amount of drag when they were going through the spiral because of the excess g-forces that part of the track creates. So I've been working on ways to eliminate that before the next race."
"Is there any way you can let us in on what that update will entail?"
He smiled. "Unfortunately I can't reveal that to you because I'd also be revealing it to the competition. You understand."
"Both Michiru Satomi and Mark Ramsey share similar quality traits with their pilots; they're young and intelligent, they're extremely hard workers, and they won't settle for anything less than a third-straight championship for Team Satomi."
Jesse had managed to make it all the way back from the grocery store with a paper bag that was brimming over with food and other materials for the Team.
Someday I've really got to invest in a car, she told herself as she approached Miss Satomi's office.
Normally she would have to press the door chime so that Miss Satomi could unlock the door for her, but today Jesse was surprised to find the door ajar.
Maybe she was expecting me.
Jesse was about to squeeze through the open door when she heard someone talking on the other end. It was Miss Satomi and it sounded as if she was on the phone. Deciding that it would be best to wait until Miss Satomi finished talking, Jesse waited outside.
However, she could hear every word that Miss Satomi was saying and despite knowing that she shouldn't, Jesse couldn't help but eavesdrop on the conversation.
"Oh, I'm alright," she heard Miss Satomi say. Her voice was its usual gentle self, but to Jesse it sounded as if she was happier than usual. "The typical daily routines of running a championship IG-1 team aside…that's good…yes, I know…I'm looking forward to it too…"
Is she talking to a sponsor? Jesse wondered. No. She wouldn't talk like that to a sponsor. She wondered who it was Miss Satomi was speaking with.
"What's that…Wednesday? Oh, I can't…I have a meeting." Now she sounded sad. What about Thursday...? Uh-huh…oh…I see. Well, I can't ask you to cancel that…no, I don't have any other time available this week. I'm so sorry."
The question of who Miss Satomi was talking too was now looming large in Jesse's mind.
"I know…yes, I know how much you want to go out. I really want to go out with you too."
Go out? Wait a minute!
"What…? After the season's over…well, maybe…that may be the best time…I know it's a long way off, but…okay…yes, I know…that may be for the best."
Is she trying to set-up a date with someone?
"Okay…I will…I know. Okay, if there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to call me. Okay…thank you…I'll talk to you later. Bye."
Jesse opened the door slowly. She could see Miss Satomi sitting behind her desk. She was looking down at the floor with her head down, hands on her desk, her expression sad.
It looked as if she was on the verge of crying.
Miss Satomi finally took note of Jesse's presence. She snapped her head up and managed to smile. "Oh, Jesse! I didn't see you there. Come in."
Jesse stepped into the office, brandishing the bag of groceries. "I got the stuff you asked for, Miss Satomi."
"Great, thank you."
Jesse set the bag down on Miss Satomi's desk and said, "I said to myself about halfway here, 'I really need to get a car'."
Miss Satomi laughed. "I'd gladly lend you mind Jesse, but-."
"I know, I can't drive stick," Jesse interrupted. They'd had this discussion before. "So what do our prospects look like for the next race?"
"Against Velshtein? Well, I just got off the phone with Mark."
Mark?!
"He said that he's testing a new system that will reduce the drag of the mechs through the spiral and give us better cornering speeds. If it works he says we stand a really good chance of winning."
"Oh…that sounds great…"
Mark? Does that mean…?
"Are you alright, Jesse?"
"Uh…" Jesse realized that she'd been staring at nothing with an exasperated look on her face. "Oh, it's nothing!" she said quickly. "I was just thinking!"
"Thinking?" Miss Satomi said suspiciously. "About what?"
"Oh, nothing! I-Is there anything else you need me to do, Miss Satomi?"
"At the moment, no," she responded. "But I may need you later on this afternoon, Jesse."
"Okay, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Miss Satomi." Jesse promptly turned and exited her office, leaving Miss Satomi to wonder what had gotten into the peppy girl.
Once she made it to the hallway, Jesse pressed herself against the wall and sighed heavenly.
Mark and Miss Satomi…oh, that's so romantic!
Somewhere inside her, and for some odd reason, she had always hoped that the two of them would get together. She didn't know why, but she thought that they would make a cute couple at least. The hard-working mechanic and the well-dressed businesswoman; it was almost straight out of a romance novel.
But then she remembered the conversation she had heard them have on the phone.
It makes sense…they're so busy working with the Team it would be hard for them to find free time for the both of them.
But that doesn't seem fair. They put 110% into everything that they do and we've won so much because of them. They deserve some time to themselves.
It was then that Jesse made a decision.
I'm going to help them. I don't know how…but I'm going to help them. If Miss Satomi and Mark want to go on a date, I'm going to make sure that it's one they'll never forget!
But I'm going to need help…
She sprinted down the hallway to find those she knew would help her.