The end of the race was an informal yet meaningful post-race meeting where all the four teams partecipated to join the very first only women podium so far of the sport - the Icy Trio from the ex-Junior Team of FEISAR. As more and more journalists, with their chatty cameramen and even more flashy photographers, swarmed down the road to have more interviews from the twelve Pilots, the ever-watchful members of Pir-hana remained aside to prepare themselves for... something. Barbara felt their eyes mostly scanning them with their inexpressive and impenetrable faces, ignoring the storm of confetti exploded in the air and the loud cheers following beside all around them. They waited and waited until one of the men on their burgundy suit approached each Team to wisper something to each of their Managers, but one of them stopped for longer with theirs.
After what seemed a long conversation going on between them, they waited for the situation to calm down and both went to call each Test Pilot who raced that evening.
"The medics of Pir-hana want to visit each one of you right now, for what they consider a routinary checks to understand the effects of the Mag-Strip Technology. I hope you won't mind that before dinner time." The polite Manager said to all of them, as the burgundy man with golden square glasses scanned each one of them silently, before he opened his mouth to speak with a firm tone.
"It is only a brief check, since we've noted some unusual patterns in your driving up there. We want to make sure that it was only the fault of the machines and not for something related to your bodies."
Surely he wouldn't accept a no with such assertiveness.
Barbara shrunk in her shoulders, while each of the eleven Pilots slowly stepped up to accept the "kind" check-in, watching each other tiredly to have at least the majority of yes between all of them as a way to make their decision to follow him with the rest of the Pir-hana members lesser annoying.
Two hours later, evening time, Pir-hana HQ
The building they decided to use as a sort of temporary base resided close to one of the oldest area of Nova State City, only sided and supported by a giant "mobile base" made by a giant and futuristic truck, striped with their familiar red and yellow colors. It's where this much needed medical check-in was made, with the twelve Test Pilots divided in three groups of four, done in alphabetical order. Barbara, with her surname, ended up beside the last three of the list, Karima, Herkus and Serrano. Inside that mobile base at the small medical section, each person had their own wall of candid curtains lifted around to form half a circle for privacy matter, leaving only the soft mutters of their exchanged words with the Medics to fill the space between each one of them. The two medics in question, a man and a woman, went in pair to work in near perfect sync with all of them, with a remarkable professionalism and precision.
Barbara found herself embarrassed to be barely in her tank top in front of the other woman once it was her turn. As soon as she stepped in to prepare her for some direct and indirect controls after she applied on her body what looked like normal patches, the Italian Pilot realised that she looked more like a model than an actual Medical Examiner of the Team. Her impeccable look and the way she's simply so perfect, from the very curated nails holding her chin up to flash a white light in her eyes, to the way her aquamarine eyes watched and scanned everything that could be wrong with her, down to her plush lips flattening at her visible focused state after she was done with it. While the Doctor looked so self-absorbed while she went to check and note down the monitors which finished their scan on the biometrics collected by those patches applied, Barbara managed to get a peek on her ID hanging on her neck and read part of her name out - M. Lindsday.
The small pen light turned off with a metallic click on its bottom and the Pilot snapped her attention back at her. She watched her placing it back in a pocket of her white coat, humming to herself as she noticed her colleague finishing with his brief check at the same time.
"All good. You can dress up again and leave with the rest, Ms Sant'Elia." The woman in white reassured with a collected tone, before she adjusted, slightly tired, her black hair completely pulled back in a low and firm bun.
Barbara slumped her shoulders after being tensed up since she stepped inside, then she nodded several times with a more relaxed smile on her face.
"Alright, great! Thank you, Doc!" She said after she stood up to stretch her hand for a polite handshake, which the other woman accepted with a firm grip as hers and a composed smile on her burgundy lips. Absolutely charming, despite she looked like she would turn into stone for how rigid everything felt on her after their arms parted.
Once she left the tiny enclosed space to leave her alone to dress up back in her racing suit, her mind continued to feel captivated by her, somewhat, but the magical moment was interrupted by herself as she gave some light slaps on her rosy cheeks to focus back. That's not one of smartest move to get entranced by a member of one of the most enigmatic yet influential Team of their Community.
'Bad brain' she groaned to herself, until she resumed to dress up and soon after leave the small medical area to be with the rest of the Test Pilots, sharing their thoughts and head back to their quarters.
Lindsday, as soon as she and her colleague were left alone in the bay, straightened up with a proud look, presenting to him the results over her tablet.
"No neural damages of sorts, Jiménez. All their organs and neural system worked just fine, down to their body mass on the norm after a race."
The other Medic hummed with an equal delight, adjusting his flower pin and later lock his own tablet to shut also his concerns away with her as soon as the crossed datas shared nearly equal results with each other.
"Yes, I can confirm your observations with my own with the rest of the Pilots involvde. Perfectly healthy as well, so we're on the good to declare that the Mag-Strip Technology is unharmful and safe for Pilots as we've always presented since we started to work on it."
The woman crossed her arms over her own locked tablet resting on her chest, drumming its soft edge with a happy pace.
"Humphré and the Federation will be delighted as well, I'm sure. Still, we shall remain attentive on the next race with the Mag-Strip activated, which should be around the next weeks. I'm sure that 12 Test Pilots aren't enough to make out a decent chart there. We can do more and we will." She paused, looking outside at the building where they resided.
Jiménez nodded back at her, before he turned around to watch the Pilots being escorted away in a small bus to rest for today, like finally.
Back at the temporary FEISAR HQ of Nova State City, hosted in a large Hotel of the area, the group had their rightful dinner and, like the best dessert, they ended up getting stuffed post-supper at the main hall with all the new informations about the latest news and the most important thing of all, the infamous Weapons implementation. One of their best Technicians, Dave Casei-Jonas, decided to step in beside Robertson, with an holographical device sitting beside a PowerPoint presentation and some documents at hand between them.
The Director was the first to speak, as they are accustomed with by now.
"Everyone sit back and let us explain everything before the next races start next week." As they did as requested with a mix of sighs, creaking chairs and shuffled dresses arranged, he continued "As you might be all aware, Pir-hana confirmed the racing schedule of 2048 with the tracks and areas as follows." He flicked a page on his tablet and cleared his voice. "Empire Climb, Queens Mall, Metro Park, Unity Square and Capital Reach."
Nobody bat an eye about it, so he continued once more.
"Now, before going more in depth with your next step as Test Pilots, the coming races will let you - or better, the winners of the inaugural race - have a taste of the Weapons approved by the AGF."
More rumbles of disapproval and concerns arise, before they were hushed as soon as the Technician stepped up to present them on the screen as eerily yellow and more reassuring green symbols in two different groups, both having their own Pads having their respective colors as presented.
"We have classified them between Offensive and Defensive ones, mostly to slow your adversaries down or destroy them if necessary."
The silence that soon fell in the room felt like an iron cloak weightening everyone down in that moment at the last sentence.
"This doesn't mean that, if you want to win a race, you have to use pure violence and destroy everyone on your path like a Demolition Derby." The Technician tried to address, in order to break the heavy silence. "You can simply use them to slow down your opponents and make your way up to the grid, just as I've said. The latter option isn't a necessity but a possibility if you don't pay enough attention."
Barbara looked beside her and she saw Sofia and Paul looking at each other with unsure glances, knowing damn well that the sole who could make the full out of this implementation would be only Solaar, due to his already high skills on such crafts, and his Second Pilot Arian, due to her more aggressive style on racing as heard through some news about some of their latest tests. Such fear that this would benefit few more than the others will surely spread in the group of Pilots and Test Pilots of other Teams if their concerns would turn real.
"Thankfully, as noted, we also have the more Defensive weapons that will be implemented later in this season that will help you to play smart and less aggressive, such as Turbo and automatic Shields around your AG crafts." He tried to add as he presented them on the next PowerPoint.
The Defensive systems allows to use Anti Gravitational Mines, Bombs, then Shields, whatever meant Leech-Beams yet, and what looked like a good boost of confidence made into form - Turbo. Somewhat that mildly reassured all the Pilots present there, but not enough to let them take a breath and act cool about it all. Weapons remained weapons, and if that was correct about eliminating them, then it meant only bad things ahead.
The meeting continued eventually as they presented the second race next week, at Queens Mall, and even four different events that'll happen in the same days. In short, harder work for all of them. Add the last entry of spicing up races and they had their hands, and more, full.
"Now, for the second part of our meeting today. As these Weapons got implemented, the AGF authorized us to continue the advancement of these AG crafts after AG-Systems suggested to create two more Classes - Agility and Fighter."
He turned on a device as the three symbols describing each Class popped up, with a brief description on each one of them. FEISAR Agility had a longer and far more sleek design, with a major focus on more stabilisers on each side; FEISAR Fighter looked as big as some of the largest Pick-Ups she had ever seen in these lands, or maybe a minivan, clearly aimed for a more aggressive style on the track. The smart thing is that their blueprints were reused assets of the Speed Class but optimized to fit their respective new styles. Barbara begun to feel eager to test both of them as soon as she got a good look on both.
"In our neverending pursuit of pushing foward such Technology for the benefit of everyday life, we have accepted this challenge and we will apply to create these two new Crafts in the coming weeks. This means that the first three winners of the inaugural race will help directly with the testing" he paused as he looked a moment at the three women smiling at each other with great satisfaction, then he continued as he gazed at the rest "while you all will be put to date and use the simulations to get a grip on the new systems that were implemented. Any questions? Good, you are all dismissed for now, head to your sections to start now!"
'Oh' Barbara gulped in silence. That sounded sad and annoying at the same time, but she wasn't too demoralized. It meant that they will be second on testing them directly, herself included, but the itch remained there and it felt annoying to don't scratch it immediately.
The next morning, after the hourly trainings at the presented gym of the Hotel, and a long simulation session to hone her skills beside the rest of the nine Test Pilots, she returned in her small room to sit by the window and realise, with pure wonder and delight, the floating Taxi that she saw back in Bologna, recalling the talk she had with the FEISAR employee about it - Aurora, that experimental AI. Now, in that lazy late afternoon, she can finally admire its full funtion around Nova State City's skyline, like large bumblebees buzzing around in a forest of sky-scraping trees. Her smile grew more as her attention fell over their billboards showing up fast after their race at the Empire State. The now historical yellow ones on the ground remained to swarm the city below, on a calmer pace than the frantic ones of their futuristic alter egos. She watched the scene until she picked up her smartphone and earbuds to make her daily videocall with her mother.
The sharp square glasses of the dear woman appeared under a soft white light of her familiar desk, only in a different place.
"Barbara!" She beamed while she waved eagerly behind the screen "I saw your race yesterday, you were amazing with the rest! How are you, my dear?"
Hearing that made her beam up back with joy and pride, while she waved back at her with equal enthusiasm. "I'm fine, mum! Just resting after a long day with the FEISAR guys. So I bet you saw me racing over your glass tracks, those looked amazing! We never stopped talking about them here!"
"I know, right? Since we tested them on Nevada the first time, we understood how useful they were, both structural and resourceful wise. Did you know that they're made entirely with recycled glass? And you haven't seen the best use of it yet." She ended up saying with a wink of premonition. "If you'd like, I can talk more about it tonight if you'd like. After all, I'm working here at Nova State City, just in a different building."
Barbara pondered about it some more, and after a quick check on her watch, she nodded back at her. "I'd love that, mum. Maybe around 19?"
"At 19 is good for me too. Let's hope that the Pizzeria I saw advertised around is really worth it as we had back in Como." Cristina grinned, before she waited for her daughter to say her goodbyes and close the call.
The small Italian restaurant was right beside one of the next possible racetracks, for now still open for the normal traffic to continue across its wide streets. For a moment, it felt like finally a proper slow down in these frantic days. Between that and Cristina's job to control and supervise the safety and maintenance of the tracks, they barely had any time left for each other - until that lazy evening under the brimming lights of the restaurant in Nova State City.
"Gosh Barbara, you're literally inhaling your slices. Calm down or you're gonna choke on your Capricciosa!" Her mother warned in a low tone, but doing her best to hide behind a chuckle upon seeing how nothing really changed off her, at least like that.
Barbara paused mid-bite as she stared at her with a confused expression, is she eating this fast? She blinked a few times before she finished the action and put down the now pointless triangle, pondering some more if she was mad at her or not for that. In reassurance, her mother lent her another napkin, so that she wouldn't see her favourite hoodie turning into a Pollok canvas if she continued that way. As soon as she cleaned her lips and cheeks from the tomato sauce, she took a sip of her medium Coke and kept her awkward look on her.
"What?"
"You really are a fast eater, or you barely even eat at FEISAR, or something is stuck in your mind. Which one?"
Barbara gulped loud, but she was equally fast to respond once she could speak again. "Fast eater, we have to remain well built to sustain those Gs, mum. Guess I just fazed out, heh."
Cristina sighed out before she resumed her own Margherita at her calmer pace with her cutlery.
Embarrassedly, Barbara resumed to eat as well but this time she preferred to follow her mother and actually enjoying her meal, there was no rush to leave anywhere else or deadlines to follow. Then their topics fell on the race and how incredible everything felt, until it was concluded and they had to follow the Pir-hana's team of medics for the checks. That caught Cristina's attention as well, as she wasn't expecting that as well.
"They haven't told us the need to check on you after that inaugural race."
"I think it was related to that Mag-Strip-Something at the Climb, checking if we had some issues for that, but aside from that it was only another ordinary routine like with FEISAR."
"Hmm, I guess it was a last minute thing because we haven't been warned. Only that the Mag-Lock technology is 'safe to use', and they remarked about it an hour ago already now that I think about. Now I see where they got such data."
Both remained quiet as they tried to link everything once more, but they were left with only more questions than answers so far. Hoping that this wouldn't be something too persistent, since the next track will have none of it for what she had understood, Barbara simply shrugged and resumed her meal.
When it was time to leave, the two complimented the Pizzaiolo and all the personnel inside, admired by their courtesy and the fact that they were a last generation of Italians who celebrated their one hundred years of permanence there on the American soil. They saluted them warmly after the check and the two returned first at Barbara's place to let her rest for the day. And what a day indeed.
At the glass doors of the welcoming hotel, Barbara was the first to hug her mother, enjoying her familiar perfume over her old coat and the way she stroked her back comfortably.
"See you in the next few days, maybe we'll have some shopping at this famous Queens Mall after they've done their racing session."
"I'm in!" Barbara cheered, before she let go last between them.
At least they were just a block away, and the promise of a new break out sounded even better for her to continue the rest of the week with more determination.
Queens Mall, Nova State City, 22 April 2048
"And here we are back to the second race of the AGRC! My name is Dirk Breakwater and I'll continue to be your Announcer in this season, but now beside our new Announcer, Florence Lavoie!"
The feisty looking woman looked back at the camera and waved in return. "Hello! It's a pleasure to meet you all!"
Then Breakwater resumed his brief presentation, with the Canadian beside smiling in wait for her turn as well.
"This time we aren't too far away from where the first race happened, Queens Mall is adjacent to the Empire Climb we all loved to see already a week ago. Also, as we speak, the Federation is already organising the next Race which will happen tomorrow at Capital Reach, so don't miss that out, at 6PM as today!"
"I can see the eight Pilots descending on the track as we speak, again another lovely sunset with the beautiful sight of the newer New York on their backs as we see through our drones, simply breathtaking."
"And by the forecast, there might be rain tonight as noticeable by the heavy clouds ahead, but thankfully this won't affect neither the race nor the Pilots. So, let's see how they will behave in this second race!"
Barbara and Cristina listened and watched the Live inside the racebox of FEISAR, surrounded by the Technicians and a few of the Test Pilots present. It was another moment to catch their breath and see the results of another Team with their training between the newly implemented Weapons and the new Classes on the line. She counted them while they were waiting to start, there's in total three AG-Systems Speed, three Agility and lastly the most feared of them all, two Fighters. Their First, John Dekka, Second, Daniel Chang, and Reserve, Nana-san, piloted one of each respectively, as shown beside the screen above their heads with their names present at the last three positions. The rest of the five names present were all Test Pilots as herself, shining stars ready to take their part in history as everyone else. FEISAR is still handling their own new Classes for the next races, but seeing the two new AG crafts, perfectly funtioning and loaded up, on the grid this fast was quite the general surprise indeed.
Belmondo knew how to instil pure passion and motivation in the heart of everyone.
The initial part of Queens Mall was fairly simple, a short start to let the Pilots sharpen their reaction time with a sharp turn right after a small tunnel, and then a very long road with a shortcut on its left, both meeting together once more at the very entrance of the immense building that makes most of the Mall. An astounding road of glass tested the maximum inclination that their anti gravity engines could handle, rewarding the bravest with a long trail of Speed Pads to launch them outside at their maximum speed, but making it harder for them to admire the stained glass ceiling above it all. A more hidden road seeps in parallel and stealthily just before that side of the road, helping those who don't fear narrow spaces to have a bigger advantage in the end. Whoever preferred which tactic, it all came together in the end at the last long curve, full of Speed Pads to launch them out at the best momentum, and another sneaky shortcut for the most skilled, before they returned to wave at Victory just standing very close by the track, like another eager spectator as the rest of the cheering audience.
Despite being a relatively shorter track than the more scenic Empire Climb, the charm was all about the more Architecture-driven ambient, which framed just well the spectacular infighting of the eight Pilots between the intense sparks of their chassis getting struck by the thirty rounds of the Cannons to the more violent blues of the Plasma beams blackening the side of the tracks upon their impact, with the booming cheers of the audience feeding more this far more exciting yet mildly chaotic turn of events to the once cleaner races they had not even a week ago.
The only thing which exploded on that day, in fact, was the audience itself at the finish line, with the chequered finish welcoming John Dekka as the winner in his half battered AG-System Speed like a tin can.
His squared jaw, his captivating grin, his sky blue eyes and the most baroque, sunbleached hairstyle that mother and daughter has never seen before, appeared on the TV as soon as he jumped off elegantly from the tattered red craft, waving at the audience beside Daniel Chang and Nana-san, who shown once more that they got some real skills out there even against their five best Test Pilots.
As they were escorted out through one flying car sponsored by their sibling Team, FEISAR, Cristina passed a hand over her mouth and hummed, lost in her thoughts.
"John Dekka… why this name isn't much new to me…" Cristina muttered to herself, before she shook her head and resumed to clap her hands at the victory of the American Pilot beside the rest in their Racebox.