Space Race (Space Race 1) Nathan Hystad (ebooks children's books free .TXT) 📖

clapped me on the back as he headed for the exit. “I’m looking forward to working with you, Arlo. I don’t know if it’s the drink talking, but I haven’t been this excited in ages.”

“Me too,” I admitted. Holland’s enthusiasm had rubbed off on us, and suddenly, I was anxious to check out the Racer in the morning.

He left me in the meeting room, and I brought up the image of Proxima again. No one had ever traveled there and returned. Why? I pictured the last visit from my grandfather, me not understanding why he’d even bother going on such a trip when he had family at home.

Even if the rights were truly being handed to the winner, Sage and Luna were too prepared. They spent billions of dollars a year on training racers and making technological improvements to their machinery. Where did that leave everyone else? The pressure Bryson had placed on our shoulders was immense, and on his own son’s too. Not only was Holland supposed to follow in his footsteps and become CEO of SeaTech, but he was expected to help finish the Race and win the prize.

With a sigh, I headed out of the room, deciding to take a walk before I returned to suite eleven. I finally escaped the residential sector, and the corridor changed from plush and inviting to cold and sterile. I looked out the clear slit in the tube walls, and noticed there were no lights on the exteriors on this side of the underwater structure.

I passed fewer and fewer employees and eventually ended up at a modest doorway. It was locked, and at the end of the line. The slab was painted in a dark red tone, and I set a thumb to the keypad. It buzzed and blinked, denying me access.

“Can I help you?” A man’s face appeared on a screen embedded in the slab. He wasn’t thrilled at my presence.

“I was just out for a walk. I don’t suppose I can see what’s down here?” I asked nicely.

“No. Please return to the residential wing. You do not have access.”

“I’m Arlo Lewis, the Race captain.” I wondered if that carried any authority.

“The what? No.” His response told me it didn’t. The man’s face disappeared, and I turned around. I’d had enough mysteries for one day.

It wasn’t even close to dinner, but I was emotionally wrecked after the trying day, and maybe a little drunk from the sweet, potent drink. My bed was inviting, and I sank into the comfort of the sheets with the lights off.

My parents would be okay. Even if we didn’t win the Race, I still had the contract that would pay me a lot of money and take care of them. For once, I’d be able to really ease their burdens. Move my dad off Mars, and show them there was more to living than endless work for Sage Industries. It was all going to be worth it.

I dozed off, only to be woken later by a knock on the door. Groggily, I crossed the room, stumbling into a chair along the way. “Lights on!” They slowly rose in ambiance, and I hit the keypad, opening the door to find Jade standing patiently. She wore SeaTech blue, a stylish jumpsuit with the top two buttons undone. I averted my eyes and stepped aside, letting her in. “Hey, Jade. What brings you here?”

“How can you sleep?” she asked.

“It’s what I do. I’ve flown solo for years now, and I never know when I’ll be able to sleep next. If something goes wrong out there, it’s up to me to handle it, so I nap when I can.” I realized I had no shirt on, and she tossed a bundle at me, her gaze lingering for a split second.

“Have a jumpsuit. We’re meeting for dinner. Bryson’s celebrating with his people on the island, and he wants us to join them.” Jade walked around me, surveying the room. “Nice place.”

I slipped into the outfit, and after a quick freshen up, we were out the door. Luther was chatting with Holland in the tubes, and we all left together.

The trip to the island was accomplished in a larger Pod, and we were told Bryson would meet us at the dinner. It was dark when we landed near the festivities. We exited, and I stepped onto the sandy beach. Lights lined a pathway toward a massive beachfront dining area, their artificial flames flickering in the wind. The ocean smelled wonderful, and Jade held back, facing the water. The Moon rippled off the surface, and I joined her as she stared at the crescent in the sky.

“How long did you live there?” I asked, indicating the Moon.

“Since I was a girl. I’ve only been to Earth on five occasions.” She didn’t break her gaze. “I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to leave, to come to the beautiful green and blue marble I used to stare at. Now I miss it. Isn’t that funny?”

“It makes a lot of sense. We always long for the familiar.” We stayed for a few more seconds, and she finally turned, leading me to the festivities. Music carried through the air, and the food smelled delectable. This was unlike anything I’d ever seen with a Corporation. We climbed a few wooden steps, and I took in a great view of the event. There were thousands of people crammed along the endless rows of tables. At the far end were bamboo structures, with drones and robots preparing the meal.

Everyone was ecstatic, a few of them dancing in the middle of the chaos, laughing and cheering. Drinks were being handed out by serving robots, each faceless and humanoid in shape. Countless stars twinkled in the cloudless night, adding to the ambiance. Bryson Kelley knew how to put on a show.

“Glad you signed that contract now?” Holland asked me, and I just nodded.

We mingled around the crowd, and a spotlight from a hovering drone shone near the right