Barbara closed the magazine but she kept a finger in between the pages to keep the line she was reading to look outside the plane's window. The skies remained clean for her and to admire the outside without any worry in the world at that moment. Then, her eyes rested on the small screen on the backseat of the next person seated and checked their overall position in the Live map. They were just one hour away from landing at JFK Airport. One of the twelve Pilots, the Swedish young woman herself, Leah, noticed that and she chuckled at her.
"Are you on the edge of the seat too, Ms Barbara?"
The Italian Pilot grinned back at her, she was as readable as a book at times.
"Yes, I am! I cannot wait to step down in this so-called Nova State City!"
"I've read about it. It's basically a repurposed area, half the 'old New York' in short. I think your mother helped greatly on the construction of some sections, especially the glass parts of the track."
Barbara remained silent to contemplate the words of the Test Pilot, tilting her lips to a narrow curve. Only her mother and all the engineers knew about the sense of that structural choice. Beauty? Lightness? Effective usability outside of the AGRC? And yet, she couldn't disagree that such sections of the twelve testing tracks had quite the charm when she floated over them, making her feel that she was flying and not racing. Her heart drummed in her chest with an edge of eagerness to witness the serious stuff in that "city in the city". Another of the twelve grinned as he turned around on the seat to face them, the Spanish Pilot, Hugo.
"We have to see how the other two Teams will go since they come from two renegades of AG-Systems." Leah continued, before she bit in her Second Class sandwich.
"Oh yeah, Auricom and Qirex are up now." Barbara chuckled.
Delia and Holst, what an unusual duo indeed, kicked out because they were bothering each other like kids on a playground, she noted innerly, but her eyebrows furrowed again. In less than three years they demonstrated how serious they could get fuelled only by great Sponsors and spite.
"So it'll be us, Qirex, Auricom and AG-Systems, am I correct?"
"Yes, you are." She grinned.
However, the fellow Spanish Pilot groaned in disapproval. "Man, that's going to be a wild ride indeed, have you heard about their Pilots? Qirex presented a real menace with an ex-Ace of the Russian Air Force, sly bastards!"
"Envious of Solaar? We are scared of what he might be capable of honestly, but I'm more scared of the Auricom counterpart of that guy, Cher… Cerovoski?" Karima, the French Pilot, tried to stammer through the foreign slavic surname stuck in her tongue.
"Cherovoski, another big mystery around beside that man and, honestly, our Pilot Jackson." Corrected calmly Damian, the Romanian Pilot, beside her, without diverting his attention from his book.
The news travelled far and wide about those two allegedly Pilots of the late two teams, glorified already by the media and the Teams themselves, crowned with money and enthusiasm even before they'd sit on a proper AG craft. Hopefully they'll have a direct faceoff on race to demonstrate if they were worth all the hype built on them.
"Hey, let's not forget those twins from Tokyo, Arian and Arial! They are the crazy good duo, I tell you!" Blared the Belgian Pilot, Jie, from a lower seat, earning more chatters around them.
To be barely 18 and be crowned with being Second Pilots each on their respective Teams, it was impressive even for them.
"Are we really sure that they haven't created the Teams just for the fun of these rivalries which have already formed apparently?" Barbara scoffed, as she resumed reading her magazine as well.
The Swedish woman pinched the fingers of her right hand and kissed them in the air dramatically. "Mamma mia. If there's not a little spice in the competition, what would be motorsport or sport in general?"
The small mock from her earned a gentle nudge from Barbara without getting her eyes off the next page, grinning all amused at the cheap Italian gesture from her. But she couldn't get off her mind her words, which sounded true after she had experienced them throughout the few years at the now defunct Junior Team - after its job was completed, it was disbanded, although rumors of its return still echoed in the chambers in case the sport would gain more popularity after the first Season - the rivalries were ignited but they held each other with respect, driven by a pure passion of racing, and for her those were the best part of training to get where she's sitting now.
She turned her attention to the oval window next to her for a moment of contemplation, the skies scattered the sunrise lights as they welcomed them closer to the United States of America, where everything began once more it seemed.
Upon their arrival at the JFK Airport, journalists from all over the world were already swarming them around like mosquitoes, flashing them repeatedly beside the loud commentators in the background describing their arrival in front of equally invading cameramen. Barbara rubbed her eyes tiredly, trying to not catch their attention and get any sort of interview so early in the morning. She blessed under her breath the pullman waiting just for them at the parking spot, with their name written on, and with a few more swift steps, they all hopped abroad.
The FEISAR Team, despite being the last to arrive that bright day of April, arrived just in time to their vintage Hotel to be declared by the golden-pinned men of the AGF to be the ones racing the Opening race at the Empire Climb circuit.
"The Empire State Building? What? We'll be in the middle of the historical city centre…!" Barbara muttered under her breath in front of the holographic map of the track, smoothly rotating around its axis that was the aforementioned structure, but not quiet enough to avoid the sharp gaze of Humphré.
"And thankfully I have to say. In the past twenty years or so it was in near shambles, abandoned on its own. As soon as we have chosen this place to begin our first season, this place flourished once more. A new building surrounded the Empire State Building, becoming another beautiful example of a vertical garden and another advancing building toward more sustainable uses, aimed to represent a new utility of flying and AG cars too. Beside Queens Mall, the second track your second group will race on, the entire area was perfectly repurposed."
The brunette felt her cheeks flare up upon being corrected by the CEO, and rightfully she averted her gaze to focus on the map. The structure was… curious, to say the least, with the most impressive section being the nearly 440 metres tall section of the half glass and half Tarmac track, all focused on its verticality for a double spectacular scene there, even if it was a tiny model that she and the rest of FEISAR was admiring in that moment. If that's something which her mother worked on, she was getting as good as their Sant'Elia ancestors.
"You will be given the first race as you were the first to emerge from the shadows of the FEAGR, just as Belmondo wished. We plan to begin around 12 p.m. next week, so you have plenty of time to organise, train and rest before then."
Barbara's eyes shone as more mutters echoed through the room, filled in bliss. The 15th of April, right on time for the 13th anniversary of the Nevada's Maiden Flight, truly on spot and very well thought beside the remembrance of the now defunct group before them.
"The rest of the calendar will be given to you tonight after our first press conference. In the meantime, I hope you've all had a good trip, this first season welcomes you all beside the other three teams." He concluded formally before he dismissed himself from the hall, letting them remain there for as long as they wanted, mostly in awe in front of the twirling hologram.
Nova State City was nothing like Milan, or really any other places Barbara had been in the past, she thought in mild distress after they were given the permission to feel accustomed with their surroundings with a walk around the city. The forest of buildings, still so vibrant of life all around them, was in trepidation to start the season, with many billboards and newspapers, including the newest addition to another official Magazine of the sport, Float Nation. To not feel too lost in the disorienting place, she picked the first copy and handed over her money to the newsagent from her SmartWatch on her wrist. A soft chime confirmed her transaction and she went outside to the nearest Cafe in town. Nested in between the old and new city, the insignia inspired her enough to step inside and take a full breath to a more bearable enclosed space. Her old fashioned style, with a full matching set made of sweatshirt and sweatpants, crowned by a pair of vintage Jordan , blended surprisingly well with the rest of the people there, making her feel more at home than ever. After she asked for an Iced Coffee, she remained to read there by sitting in front of one of the round glass tables present there.
She couldn't help but smile in that moment, recalling when her mother told her when she'd spend her free nights to read the very first Forums created by the Anti Gravity Community and the scientific magazines about the newest advancements of their situation, at least until the Symposium stopped everything. And the years of fleeing constantly from region to region, state to state…
She shook her head, focusing back on the excited expression of her mother presenting her Thesis and later when she'd talk about her friends to her. All the sacrifices they've made alone, all the restless nights, the few friends and allies they had beside them despite all the odds, these were all the things which were worth fighting for until the very end. Being here, reading a new magazine of the AG Community, so openly and without any fear to look out for everyone in that space, was only made possible with all those sacrifices on their backs. Her smile faded to a pleased curve on her lips, sipping delighted her cold drink to resume her focus on the pages below her gaze.
Thirty minutes later, she was back to roam outside the city, with its map on her screen sitting on her palm and a new spirit to explore the roads around her. So far, the racing scene would encircle the oldest areas of Manhattan, with the Empire State as its fulcrum. After she called a "grounded" taxi to take her back to their Hotel, she watched in marvel the beautiful statue of Victory - companion and contemporary twin of Liberty at the other side of the coast - constructed in record times with the help of the Anti Gravity engines used from placing her pieces to the more spectacular way to let her hover a few metres off the ground, balanced only by her bronze rod sticking to its rock base. The few advertisements gave no justice indeed upon seeing her in real life, despite it was just for a minute before she disappeared behind the engulfing forest of buildings at the next turn.
The race was delayed a few hours as there were some issues related to the hovering machines used to put the AG crafts on track safely. The twelve pilots took that opportunity to step out of their racebox to see the sea of people around the seats at the starting grid, in trepidant wait. This was way more different than the enclosed and secretive testing tracks they've all experienced in the past, this felt already alive and eager to be furrowed by their roaring engines, leaving nothing behind than the cheers of the fans, like a distant but persistent brontide only held by the high presence of the Police to protect and keep on check the perimeter. Simply thrilling for everyone present there.
Despite the countdown present on the screen as the sole way to reassure everyone that the first race would've happened, the impatience was seeping through everyone, including the pilots there. However, the walk only helped to ease their legs for the few hours ahead, the last one was spent with their mechanics and Team members to get comfortable and prepare themselves for their first race, which felt more like a giant presentation than an actual race at least. Barbara, like the rest, remained with the canopy wide open as the rest of the Team members continued with their meticulous checks and the same mantra repeated over and over again, no swaggers, it was only a pure race to follow - the only one ever, ironically maybe. The news for the implementation of non-lethal weapons in the next races made her feel a storm of emotion. Anger? Annoyance? Nervousness? She wasn't really sure about it all, but as long as Belmondo was even the slightest approval of it all, they had no power to dispute any of his decisions, yet.
The billboard reached the last thirty minutes, and as giant birds were falling down the skies, the "flying pinchers" arrived to retrieve them from the open air hangars, at last. Immediately their canopies closed down softly with a near choreographic motion, a shining wave which sealed each pilot in their seats below once it stopped.
"Hello and welcome! I'm Chuck Hoffman, the Executive Director, and beside I have Dirk Breakwater, ex- beloved actor and now one of the Executive Chairman of this sport. Today, we're here to be your announcers to the very first race of the Anti Gravity Racing Championship in Nova State City! Fasten your seatbelt because this is going to be the ride of a lifetime!" Hoffman cheered at the camera in front, presenting in their respective spots at one of the balconies present above at the left side of the starting grid.
"Indeed! After five long years of preparations, we can finally put the starting point of this sport under the sunset lights of Nova State City. Are you excited, Chuck?"
"Absolutely! We are more than excited to see where this will lead us. Fifteen more minutes to go and we'll be right back to witness the start, stay tuned!"
Barbara looked up as the flying machines grabbed them and placed them gently, in a slow choreography, on the track, but without leaving them yet to hover freely on the city street underneath. The gentle buzzing of their AG engines rumbling side by side to echo in her full helmet was rather pleasant in those minutes before they'd depart at high speed on the track. The sight of the golden hour bathing everything under its warm hues was almost poetic - a sunset that'd follow a full sunrise of a new era, as foretold in the magazine. The glimmering glass section in cool blues made her smile behind her helmet, the hard work of her mother was also finally paying off. Then a click brought her back to reality, followed by a gentle bump as her AG engines bounced her slightly in the cockpit as it settled properly on the right antigravitational push, and the pinchers elegantly moved off to leave the track, signalling that the race would soon start. Time flew, she noted mentally, before she clutched on the double-handled steering wheel in front.
The countdown began on the large blue and white screen, blinking in sync with her heart.
"Three! Two! One! GO! And lights off for the first time in the very first race of the season, with an excellent jump start from Svennson, taking the lead in a heartbeat!" Hoffman exclaimed excitedly, following the streaming through the cameras and drones above to follow the racetrack and its AG racers, catching up with their speed.
"Fakhr just used the shortcut on the right to feel a nice push against the Speed Pads of the track, nice strategy, look at him go out the corner to surprise Ciobanu. But Shu has none of it, and between the two litigants the third takes the cake - well done Shu!" Continued Breakwater. "The next section is more straightforward, grazing a section of Queens Mall in its narrow section under one of its paved bridges. Right now I can see that Shu is doing well despite it's been a little squished between Ciobanu, Fakhr and Serrano, but overall it seems a clean race for Svensson above everyone else. Will the Icy Trio get the podium already?"
In fact, Svensson, Soley and Eder managed to maintain the first, second and third position respectively, followed by a chaotic group which tried to reach an entropy within their positions, all the while Barbara was doing her best to move herself and squeeze her way out from the other Pilots at least to maintain her sixth position safely, although Kostantinou persisted just a little behind.
The statue of Victory and two oversized mascots peeked through a large space between the buildings as the road took an high speed curve, filled with a few more Speed Pads on the way, with a halo of sunset rays bathing them and the larger drones lazily hovering around with their sponsors, with the new city's skyline in a dramatic backlight. It almost felt as time froze for a moment, the time to catch a breath and resume her focus on the track once the blinding sight disappeared at the next group of buildings, guiding them further into the depths of the city fabric.
And there she saw it, at the end of the tight chicane at the end of the previous turn, the impressive 90 degrees climb facing one of the buildings protecting the American heritage outside of them, in a nearly claustrophobic tube to the skies. Her eyes dared to look up at what appeared to be an endless part of the track, with the initial fear and shock fading when she noticed that the other FEISAR Speed chassis weren't falling down but they were going higher and higher, with no signs of them falling backwards or falling down. How would she be if no one else was? She pressed the accelerator and followed the path of the azure arrows on the tarmac section that felt... odd. A magnetic force of sorts was anchoring her successfully down on the path of the climb, sustained also by the constant boost of speed to keep the momentum from letting her continue the climb safely, until the road returned stable on another high speed curve made of glass, showing the city just below in a dizzying height - more than the 440 metres indeed.
But as the climbing wasn't enough, she didn't have to process it that she was already on the path of its descent, and man if that felt more spectacular than she'd ever imagined. Following the same "magical pull" of the Mag-Strips, the Speed Pads glued her against her seat as her stomach nearly turned upside down by the strong push caused by the high Gs she was sustaining over every inch of her body, stronger than anything she'd have tested before, and some others were getting affected it as well by their erratic patterns created by the glowing streaks of their engines on full throttle on the track. At least the end of the controlled freefall was more merciful at the end, with two jumps to guide them at the grid to end the first of the three laps.
The crowd now was on literal fire as well by the sight of such outwordly combination of fear, surprise and stupor altogether.
Crazy, simply crazy.
"And with that scene in your eyes, my lovely people, you've just witnessed the experimental Mag-Strip Technology, kindly made possible by the scientists and engineers of Pir-hana." Declared Hoffman all proud, with pride in his tone while the twelve Speed crafts zoomed past them below, nearly silenced by the exploding crowd.
"The second lap out of three just started, and Svennson still leads this first friendly race, but what an incredible race it is so far, Chuck! This was the biggest surprise that Pir-hana kept so secretly from everyone huh?"
"Yeah, who would've expected that they'd go this far to bend even more the Anti Gravity technology above and beyond, literally!"
The statue of Victory, just past the starting position, seemed to wave them back at the second turn, and hopefully the crazy effects of the climbing and descending sections were more merciful on the pilots. It was either adapt to it fast or fall behind even lower, just as Barbara suffered since the strong pushes and pulls slowed her down to get surpassed by Kostantinou at the third lap, not realising a subtle yet important shortcut on her left just beside the ascending section of the circuit. The Italian pilot chuckled to herself, those were some rapid reflexes right there.
And at the finish line, she would proudly gaze at the rest and see her name blinking on the HUD at the seventh place.
"Well, at least I've ended up with my favourite number."