Capital Reach, Nova State City, 23 April 2048
The next day around the same hour, as announced yesterday at the racebox, it was the time for Auricom to shine, still with the same setting as the one used back on Queens Mall, no Defensive "Weapons" on track. By the AGF explanation, the Defensive type needed a few more time to get fully approved and functional - no one would've wanted to blow up for actual floating bombs and mines on the track, so they were doing what they could to make their charges just not too explosive, just strong enough to chip their energy levels but not enough to blow full holes on AG Crafts that weren't Fighter Classes. So they had to wait, but the American team was having a blast with each other, not only because they were racing in their own home nation, but because this Offense-only race was showing off perfectly their impressive durability of their eight ships present, even the angular yet sleek Speed Classes being bossed around by Arial Tetsuo was remarkably strong to sustain the charged Rockets against its hulls. Their fellow citizens couldn't be any happier to see such an explosive race with their Team involved.
By the time the race was over, while Tetsuo raised her Elite Pass for finishing First, Cherovoski grabbed her Normal Pass as the Third on the leaderboard, framing it in her digital card, before she was immediately escorted away by some anonymous men dressed in black. Her gentle smile revealing the dimples on her yet still tonic cheeks of a middle aged woman, until her rebellious red hair then would hide them away from the camera as she turned away, was the sole polite thing she did to all of her fans while she cutted through the sea of journalists and photographers, nearly shrinking down further her average height until she reached the black limo parked just outside the racetrack. That left the First and the young Reserve Pilot, B.J., standing there with an empty spot just beside them to continue the celebrations broadcasted anywhere.
"And I thought that Paul was mysterious enough as FEISAR told him to keep his personal information to himself, but Auricom... damn, they're literally keeping her in a glass bell." Cristina commented as she watched the scene in the hotel room of her daughter.
Barbara nodded in return, crossing her arms, not sure if she'd feel sorry or neutral about this. After all, FEISAR did the same with their Second Pilot, so she couldn't really bat an eye on Auricom.
"Guess the news telling that everything about her was equally classified was true." She managed to blurt out with a sigh, remembering some of the latest news about her in the magazines sold outside every exit of each track present in Nova State City so far, beside framed QR Codes beside in case they preferred a digital Subscriptions.
She still continued to buy the neat and lucid paper, at least to lower the screen time during her breaks, such as now.
Their conversation eventually fell over the track itself, and how well they blended the old Brooklyn Bridge without making any alteration around it, and Cristina commented that she was equally pleased with that. After all, that remained another strong Architectural Heritage of America, it'd been very inhumane to go and flatten it after being there for over 160 years. Barbara then admired the fast paced second part of the track, with Speed Pads guiding outside every chicane for a more thrilling and fast paced racing to test fully the control of a Pilot, and she couldn't wait to test it herself one day.
While they were discussing some more peacefully, one of FEISAR's men entered the room after he politely knocked the door, smiling at them at first before his face gloomed with urgency.
"Ms Sant'Elia, you are requested to return to the meeting room with the rest of the Pilots. There's something important that you have to know."
Barbara, without wasting any more time, stood up, sent her brief farewell to her mother and followed immediately the employee to the designated area.
Things were shifting and turning again, with a never ending turmoil, as something trying to reach its entropy through a lot of energy going chaotic all around them. The sole who remained unfazed and perfectly composed, like the eye of this storm, were the people of Pir-hana. Without any kind of surprise, the topic fell on them once more beside the Federation.
The calendar shifted once more, and hopefully once and for all. They officially added Time Trials, Combat and a particular type called Zone tossed into the mix. No one in the room was really sure about the latter until they explained that it was set in the same simulation machines they use sometimes to get a grip on the tracks to come and hone one's skills. A weird training session then, Barbara noted innerly.
But what came through this meeting is that the Test Pilots of each Team were fully accepted to participate partially in some races more than others, except for Time Trials and Zones which were reserved to their actual under contract Pilots, while they were left with Races and Combat to balance and fill the occasional spots in case any of the Team would be busy somewhere else, and the most important thing of all, testing the newly built and approved Classes. Nothing new and special from that, other than the ominous fact that Pir-hana would continue to monitor the progress of the Season and supervise the health of the Pilots each time a track had this Mag-Lock system somewhere. Therefore, it became almost a custom to finish a race or conclude a testing with the medics of the Brazilian group to approach them and do their checks with more scrutiny and attention, always finding something new and unusual or nothing at all. But for them it always remained the same result – everything was safe, everything was functioning, and the Federation remained pleased each time. Plus, that meant for Barbara to have more "meetings" with the equally mysterious Lindsday, so she wasn't really minding much.
In one of those check-in, the Italian Pilot decided to remain for a little longer in the Med Bay, as she was always the last to be checked lately.
"So... when did you start working here?"
The ask caught the Doctor by surprise initially, but when she turned around to answer, her expression tried so hard to remain neutral and composed.
"How so?"
An ask for another ask wasn't something she needed right now to break a bit the ice between them, but Barbara did her best to not fumble too much.
"I don't know, you look… new to be here?"
One of the azure eyes of the Doctor twitched imperceptibly, but her answer remained pacated. After all, they had the "Professional Secret" to their advantage in that moment, so they could converse safely. "This is my first year working for them, after I've studied for five years straight in a Medical University at Toronto. I'm still studying to get a Master at the same time though, and thankfully right here in America, so this was a win-win for me when I saw that they were looking for a General Practitioner." She explained as she sat down again to write down the last notes on the medical check, while Barbara just finished dressing back in her racing suit.
Upon hearing that answer, the Italian Pilot was in awe. She finished medical school and now she is doing a Master while working at the same time? And she considered herself a hero for resisting so much between training and High School back then. After she recovered from the small shock, she cleared her voice and continued.
"Damn, that's some amazing skills right there too!" She cheered for her, but she found herself a little embarrassed for the next, rightful question at that point.
"So, how old are you then?"
The answer didn't take too much to arrive, like a whiplash in return to her innocent curiosity.
"I'm 23."
"23?" Barbara edged, if not yelped when she blurted that out. Basically, while she began her FEISAR adventure, she was with her head full of books already. The irony indeed.
"I'm more impressed that you can resist such G forces at your age though." Lindsday said in an attempt to not make her uncomfortable somehow while pausing her typing, but flustering Barbara further.
"H-Hey, just well training at FEISAR, nothing special here, anyone could do that. Just look at the Twins being eighteen and racing for two terrific Teams."
"Hmm." The woman simply nodded as she resumed writing, with the quiet drumming of her fingers tapping the screen filling the now familiar small space of curtains. Whatever she was thinking in her mind, the Italian Pilot was only able to get the slightest glimpse of a smile.
"Anyway, all good, Ms Sant'Elia. You can return to your Team, we have nothing else to add here."
Barbara, however, turned around and stretched her arm for a handshake in front of her. "Wait! Before I leave, I haven't asked your name recently, so um... What's your name, Doc? I mean, at least I would remember you better in case, I don't know, I see you in a crowd or I have to find your room if you move somewhere else?"
The black haired woman looked up at her, squaring her back with her inquisitive gaze, trying her best to not burst out laughing at her rosy blush colouring her face. She cleared her voice elegantly and she went to shake her hand firmly.
"Malina, Malina Lindsay." But before she could say something, she continued. "By the way, the next check will be in two weeks, or shorter if you'll make another test with the Mag-Lock Technology present, just as appointed with the rest of the Teams."
"S-Sure! See you, Malina- I mean Ms Lindsday!" The poor Pilot managed to respond as she retracted her hand as soon as they finished speaking, gleefully walking outside after she finally got the name of the woman.
When Barbara finally reunited with her Team members, the sneakers and giggles of her colleagues and friends made her raise an eyebrow with suspicion.
"What's going on?"
Hugo grinned at her, as if he was able to read through her face like an opened book. "Who got you as red as a tomato, Barbara?"
At first she wasn't really sure what she meant, but when she touched her face, the warm sensation on her skin was more eloquent than anything else.
'Bad brain' she groaned innerly one more time.
Metro Park, Nova State City, 30 April 2048
The golden lights of sunset shone down on the already bright yellow Speed craft of Sofia de la Rente, with only its azure cuts making it pop out better at the starting grid. She was the last Pilot of the day facing the greener streets of Metro Park, or what remained of the once greener Central Park, entirely moved somewhere else on the newer metropolis.
"For now, we can see by the list on screen that Dekka is still on the podium beside Solaar and Tetsuo of Auricom, but I'm sure that de la Rente is more than ready to mark down her fastest time on our very first Time Trials." Lavoie commented as she looked at her feed, waiting in trepidation for the First Pilot of FEISAR to start.
As soon as the countdown dropped to zero, Sofia did an exceptional boost start, giving her already a good push past the stained glass tunnel past the starting grid, opening to a more airy section of the track, mixing the lightweight bluish glass to the old concrete of its original streets. A sudden turn brought her to a forked "road", where surely once there was more green than the yellowish and dirt tints it has now upon her passage.
As she made past another Liberty-style structure built as a Triumph Arc, she had in front two roads, one was to jump down and take the tight turn to the right, else she could've used her single Turbo to be brave and move atop the glass bridge elevated just a few hundreds metres in front of a large and crowdy track stand, brimming with cheerful fans. She opted for some spectacle and headed for the second, testing her reactions skills as soon as she landed there after the strong push to the glass bridge. The strong AG engines kept her perfectly afloat, while she made her elegant passage showered with cheers from the right side, well protected by its Energy Barrier Tech.
On the next two laps, she took another direction entirely to get a better timing each time. The tall fall was less elegant, but it was enough for her to make a barrel roll, gain a speed boost from it and barely hit any breaks now, following with crude precision the next line of Speed Pads reaching a more beautiful artificial lake above a skillful shortcut to get the best time. The white boat docked close by, swung lightly under her violent passage, before the air returned peaceful on that picturesque corner - at least for now.
Sofia crossed the finish line with her Turbo available, giving her the right boost to catch up with the final lap time of Dekka, snatching it away from him by barely 0.800 seconds on the leaderboard.
"And with an astounding Turbo close to the finish, she managed to get the first position! Another amazing show of skills from the French Pilot this evening beside the rest!" The Announcer cheered as she remained there for that hour, right in time to have a nicer view of the whole track on the TV station upon the setting sun.
The show continued and terminated with the premiation, as the FEISAR Team lastly welcomed back their Pilot with proud hugs and pats after she stepped off the Podium. The Europeans for now were doing pretty well, although they were all eager to see how the Russians of Qirex would go at the actual next race in a week, sided on the same days with another Time Trial on Queens Mall and the very first Zone being held on the more Metaverse simulation approved by the Federation, with a fully reconstructed Empire Climb to face, as to say "it's time to feel once more the same rush of the very first race".
The AGRC continued at its fast paced rhythm across the streets of Nova State City.
Nova State City, 2 May 2048
After the brief break celebrating Labor Day, all the Pilots resumed the next Time Trial on Queens Mall, this time won by Arian with her Qirex Speed and her mix of brutally mawing the road to her fastest lap and precision use of the shortcuts available on the track. Kel Solaar ended up second, third Daniel Chang. It was clear that the heavyweights of Qirex wouldn't go down this easily with any of them if their Speed Class was already this well loaded with such higher stats than the rest, only rivalled by those of AG-Systems thanks for their exceptional handling so far.
While the First and Second Pilots each were finishing with their awards ceremony, their respective Reserve Pilots were dislocated to a different place to start the very first Zone set in one of the regulated buildings of the Federation. It was nothing too different from a normal simulation space, with the inside being similar to a cockpit of an Agility Class with a dome of screens rather than actual tempered glass over their heads. The only difference is that they wouldn't have to wait for one of them to end to continue with the next Pilot - they would start altogether in unique sessions, with the other three simulators present in the wide room. As experimental as it'd sound, the four Reserve Pilots had a mix of enthusiasm and eagerness on their faces before they were prepared to get inside each real life sized sim.
Each Technician prepared them to sit down comfortably, lending them a helmet that'd increase the tridimensional space in their visual cone, then they booted up both the giant machine and the helmet by pressing a few buttons over each surface. Next, all they had to do was remain there, holding the familiar steering wheel and see the new world lit up in front of their eyes with new kaleidoscopic colours and forms, while admiring the same starting grid of Empire Climb. Few chuckles escaped through the closed domes of each sim upon reading the quirky INSERT COIN where the countdown would've appeared instead.
The target was simple, for a winning Pass they had to reach at least 15 Zones, but if they wanted the highest Elite Pass they had to aim for its double, 30. It didn't take them too long to understand what they meant with Zones and how to adapt eventually. The acceleration was immediately automatic, starting at D Class, a snail speed to what they've been used to so far. After twenty seconds, the Class category, present on the left side of their screen in proximity with their energy level, increased to the normal Speed they were used to, C Class. But from now on, there were no brakes to stop them from the infinite increase of speed, but neither the world unfurling between them, with spectacular visuals and colours embracing their vision in any direction, pulsating with a sort of life in its own.
The best visual part is that each Class had its vibrant palette, with the most spectacular being the golden hues of the A+ Class, nearly unimaginable for them to reach, and yet it was there, within their grasp, as they tried their best to remain in the flow.
Between Nakajima, Nana-san, Kurlov and B.J., only the first three managed to reach such speed, with B.J. unfortunately dropping off around 25 Zones. Kurlov resisted for ten more, around 35. The duel then was between Nakajima and Nana, with the latter gaining the upper hand once he was able to regain some lost energy by doing Perfect Zones, but Nakajima was more agile in comparison. Both crossed the line of the 40 Zones, Mach 1, as the colours around them began to feel bleached, reflecting well the sense of acceleration they were reaching around the climb, too.
Mach 1.1
Mach 1.2
... Mach 1.3
Something creaked outside, it was Nakajima's dome opening, who ended the Zone session around 1.3 after she couldn't keep up with the speed and ended the energies with a last fall off track. The winner was Nana-san in the end, but they waited for him to reach his final score, which ended up to be a single digit away from 1.4. Next time, he noted in his mind with a soft sigh as he got set free from his own sim space after everything turned off from the once colourful space.
"Whoops, I guess I went overboard this time." He smiled, but shook the hand of everyone present and Ami as well, who bursted out in a crystalline laugh in front of the fellow compatriot.
Unity Square, Nova State City, 7 May 2048
The familiar faces and voices of Lavoie and Breakwater were now a pleasant constant during every pre-race and beyond, pleasantly entertaining the public or whoever was there watching any screen at disposal. The woman was the first to speak as soon as the cameras were pointed at her rosy face.
"At last, the very first actual race with full Weapons allowed is here! Also, it's the very first night race of the season as well, so we can expect many good things from now on!"
Dirk continued, crossing his legs comfortably on the blue sofa. "As we can read from one of our cameras, a friendly newsreel says 'Unity Square welcomes hi-speed drivers!', just to let you know how enthusiastic they are to be here tonight for this next intense three laps race!"
"On the track we have also the first official grid composed with de la Rente and Jackson on the first two spots with their duet of Agility, followed behind by the AG-Systems Fighter and Speed of Chang and Dekka respectively, lastly we have the FEISAR Fighter of Nakajima, Auricom Speed of Arial Tetsuo, Auricom Agility of Cherovoski and, by the surprise of many, the Qirex Speed of Solaar, last entry of the qualification this afternoon!"
"Now the question arises, who's going to win tonight?"
The eight Pilots waited for the start, then the few Pilots who did a boost start at the finished countdown had the upper hand almost immediately. The group almost divided in two blocks from that point, the fastest ones were cramped on the double chicane right past the starting point, while the heavier AG crafts remained on the back, surprisingly more composed. Or get ready for more trouble. As soon as they passed past the brightly lit tunnel, they returned more on the open, facing a liberty style arch of triumph with a pretty large garden part beside an artificial lake.
"Right now they've just passed past one of the green sections of Metro Park, flying past to reach the city centre soon. As we can see on the leaderboard, the Fighters, despite being slower, are proving to throw fists to the lighter Agility and Speed, but they seem to defend each other just fine on this first lap!"
The airy section of the track closed up in a more claustrophobic road filled with roads all around them, surrounded by the actual train rails and crowded roads above them. Then, another glass section filled with Speed Pads helped most of the Speed and especially the Pilots to keep up with their positions. Solaar tested his luck and jumped down to the shortcut right beside it, giving him the second position behind Arial. The wide roads ahead were filled with both Speed, Defensive and Offensive Pads, they had a split second to decide what to pick.
"Qirex and Auricom are right back with their shenanigans tonight! Will Arial keep her position with the ex-Ace Pilot this up close to her?"
A single Missile was shot with deadly precision on the white chassis of Arial, but an azure shield protected her before the impact, saving her from losing the position beside the crowd cheering at the last wide turn before the finish grid, concluding the first lap safely.
"The second lap has just begun, and so far we have Tetsuo in first place, second is Solaar and third we have Dekka! Feels like the Fighters of each Team are acting like the bodyguards of this tight group, and they're doing their job pretty well! Look how Chang is swiftly making his way to the fifth position with his agile Fighter between Missiles and Rockets!"
The pace of the race was frantic and a bit chaotic throughout the next two laps, but only Tetsuo and Solaar were able to race neatly with at least 5 seconds of detachment from Dekka and the rest of the group, still keeping up with his pace while being protected by the Fighter of Chang with a remarkable a moment, Solaar had the upper hand on the last half of the race, but Tetsuo thought faster. Testing the steering abilities of her Auricom Speed, she took the penultimate shortcut just above the finish section and, with a last second barrel roll, the two crossed the line with a fantastic fotofinish for the people to cheer on with wild enthusiasm.
"A wonderful finish for our talented Arial Tetsuo! Solaar couldn't stand a chance tonight, but both of them were a joy for the eyes tonight!" Dirk commented as he clapped, while the premiation began a few minutes after they were all retrieved from the track, with Dekka remaining third beside the veteran and the enfan prodige.
"And this concludes the fourth race of the Season. Stay tuned tomorrow for the next race at Metro Park and the very first Combat session of the season for more action! It has been a pleasure staying with you tonight, I hope we can see you again tomorrow at 5PM. Stay tuned!"
Empire Climb, Nova State City, 8 May 2048
At last, the very next day they were able to reach the next two events of the week, another race at Metro Park, with the full arsenal available for all the Pilots, and the first Combat of the Season at the Empire Climb. On the new Race at Metro Park, there were present Chang, Tetsuo, Jackson, Cherovoski, B.J, Dekka and lastly Nakajima, with the previous Classes as back in Unity Square. This meant that most of the other Pilots were having a short break to face the penultimate race of the season back at Capital Reach, aiming to score a point more for their Team.
Paradoxically, if not very unfortunate for the slight lack of resources, they went to fight on with a mix of Speed and Agility Classes, with only one Fighter on track. The one of Kurlov. The Fighter Class of Qirex was imposing to say the least, bigger and far more loaded than the one of AG-Systems and FEISAR but barely matched by the Auricom one - if only there were any of them present right now than being left there with such a beast on the track, ready to lunge at each one of them - holding proud the white, magenta and violet hues of the Russian Team.
To say that the outcome was predictable, it's nearly offensive. With Kurlov having in his hands the full arsenal of three available Rockets to fire, faster Missile aiming, Bombs and the feared Quake, the three minutes around the circuit ended up to be the infamous Demolition Derby that everyone, especially at FEISAR, feared and wanted to avoid. The only Three Speed Classes got obliterated off the track with each elimination being a spectacular explosion, but thankfully the Pilots from the other Teams remained perfectly unharmed, only frustrated as soon as they got picked up from their small protective pods.
Kurlov scored in the end the 100 Points out of 100, gaining his first important Elite Pass in his career and crushing the competition almost entirely. Barely two Test Pilots of Auricom and AG-Systems managed to take the crumbs to end up respectively Second and Third.
It wasn't much a Race in fact, it was pure chaos, but the audience loved and lived for it in that moment, therefore nobody seemed to bat an eye, for now.
Nova State City, 23 May 2048
Two weeks later, all the Teams remained frantic with their work in and out their temporary HQs across the old city, therefore nor even their Pilots had a break, especially the Test Pilots. As they were having an overall good advantage on points scored by all of them during this second half of the season, the European Team wanted to keep up with their good pace. After weeks of planning and designing, the HQ back in Strasbourg gave some interesting news at their base in Nova State City. They terminated a Prototype which would be sent over to them in the next days prior to the final race of their first Season in order to see how their idea would work out with what they had at hand already.
"Hm, a particular Speed Class you say? I see. We'll see how it'll behave within the city after some authorizations from the AGF... oh, understood. If the guys of Pir-hana were warned initially, we'll simply ask them again. Thanks for calling, have a nice day."
The Technician closed the call and looked back to Robertson, a glint of joy shining through his glasses.
"It was the CEO, guess we'll having soon in our hands something really important. Call everyone to report here and warn them of the good news!"
"A new project you say? That sounds interesting, Barbara!" Cristina commented in the call as she was preparing her dinner at the videocall, finishing to cook a saffron risotto with caring circles in the pan to don't let them glue on the surface of the pot, the familiar fizz filling up the call as a nostalgic white noise in her room.
"Yeah, they seem to keep it all at secret though, like Paul and Anastasia, only about another AG craft underway it seems? We don't really know unless we are there directly."
"I understand. So, tell me more about your day, if you'd like."
Barbara continued the conversation until she was also ready for dinner. Before the call would end, she was also able to say hello to some other employees and technicians on the call, friends of Cristina, who warmly greeted her in the call. She stared at the screen of her smartphone a few more moments, with a photograph of them together when she was back in Nevada, a mere tent protecting them from the scorching sun of that fateful April and the proud smile of her mother behind her stylish sunglasses to crown it all. She locked it silently and placed it back on her desk, turning on the TV to roam around the news from that side of the world.
The latest news were kind of juicy, with the first one popping in the newsreel saying Underground AG-Racing scene is no more. Better for all of them, a well conjoined effort to keep everything as legal as possible, despite the second reel made her frown. Belmondo calls for standardization.
Of what?
So far everything felt pretty ordinary for a fast paced world as theirs, but she couldn't disagree that maybe it was better if they didn't ended up in that first Combat session with only Kurlov piloting the sole Fighter Class out of seven Pilots.
"... And now let's have a look to the results of a Poll to all of our spectators in which we have asked Debate - Barrel rolls in AG Race, Y or N. As we approach the third day of the Poll, an astounding 70% has voted No, while a struggling 30% has voted Yes. Will the Anti Gravity Federation keep this in mind for the next seasons or will we continue to enjoy the-"
Barbara closed the TV with a deep sigh. Some people truly hated to have fun sometimes.