Chapter 8

Like most racers, she had given thought to her own life last. But it probably should've been first. While her pod held a portable air unit she suffered a fairly large dose of radiation poisoning while waiting for rescue under the blue tint of the system's giant blue star. Now she lay in a med bed on Ord Cestus watching that talking heads on HNN blab on about the brilliance of Zheal Taal's victory and her "rookie" mistake. Only the Gran reporter Mok Teesa was effusive in her praise for Geda's entire event, including her fateful final decision which the three-eyed alien was calling "the quintessential decision of any future champion" as her race strategist Bam Vidar walked in through the sliding door into her private room.

"I hope you're not letting that go to your head" he said, pointing at the holoscreen. "She's only saying that so you'll keep making boneheaded moves that help her species keep racking up trophies".

Geda shut off the screen with a word and turned to face the Weequay. "Look, Bam, I'm sorry I made that move".

"No you're not" he retorted with a lopsided grin.

Finally, the relief in knowing he wasn't going to quit flooded her. "You're right, I'm not."

She reached up a hand. "But I am sorry I didn't listen to you. My instinct won't be enough anymore. I need your knowledge too".

With that he reached out and slapped his hand into hers.

Two weeks later they were in Malastare for Teal's homecoming parade as the Gran claimed his second straight win. True to her word she listened to all of Vidar's directions…and finished 11th, failing to get past the second qualifier. But she had to admit afterward that without his directions she wouldn't finished at all as one of her 'instincts' would've turned her into a moving column.

A month after Malastare they were in the purplewood forests of Baroonda, where again she listened to all of Bam's directions, and this time not only made it to the final run, but finished…in 6th. All the while the talking heads became more and more complimentary of her…well except for Mok Teesa, who had undoubtedly cooled on her prospects as a champion racer. It was just a week after Baroonda that Uncle Cyrus commed with an offer from Aitha Drink that would put her on holo-boards across the Outer Rim. But Geda only saw that stuff as payback to her backers. For her only one thing mattered…and she would get another chance at the Mountain Run of Ando Prime.