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

side of the grounds. Bryson was perched on a stage, his hands clasped together in front of him. He addressed the gathering, his voice amplified, loud and proud as he broke the news. “Many of you have seen the announcement this afternoon.”

A deafening roar carried through the space, and I hated to admit it, but I was swept up in the exuberance. I found myself chanting with them after a while. “Space Race, Space Race!”

To his credit, Bryson let them have their moment and waited until they quieted to speak again. “We’re number ten, but is that all we aim for?”

“No!” The word echoed with a bang.

“We’re in the Primary, and I couldn’t have done it without all of your hard work. Your passion. Your dedication to what we’re building. This year will mark our finest ever, and you can glance in both directions and say ‘thank you,’ because it was a team effort that made this happen.”

He let them do just that, and the energy levels rose even higher. Luther looked indifferent as he surveyed the crowd of people. I couldn’t read Jade; her face was quiet and emotionless.

Holland was the complete opposite. His cheeks were rosy, his white teeth gleaming underneath his grin. “Come on. Let’s get up there.”

We walked through the people as they spread apart, recognizing their boss’ son was among them.

Up on the stage, Bryson continued his speech. “We will take SeaTech to another level, one previously unparalleled. We won’t be limited by our solar system, and this will be the first step to expansion into the unknown.” His gaze fixed on our crew, walking through the employees surrounding the countless tables, and he pointed toward us. “Please, help me welcome the team that’s going to make it all happen!”

We advanced up to the stage and strolled up the wooden veneer steps at Holland’s encouragement. Luther stayed at the bottom, shaking his head, but Jade grabbed his arm, dragging him to the platform with the rest of us. Under the scrutiny of the people, with a second beam of light spreading over us, I felt the heat rising.

“I give you… Team SeaTech!” The cheering was even louder than before, and I glanced at Jade, whose lips finally broke their stoic expression. They curled up discreetly.

“The team is comprised of Arlo ‘Hawk’ Lewis, the lead pilot and team captain.” Bryson waved me forward, and I strode out, raising my hand to greet them. I was filled with their excitement. It surprised me that they could be so supportive of someone recruited from another Corporation to join their ranks. Why hadn’t Bryson used people from his own employee pool for this race? It was a question that hadn’t crossed my mind yet in the hectic few hours since arriving at SeaTech.

People in the crowd began chanting my name, or at least the moniker I was given as a youth. “Hawk!” was repeated over and over, the citizens ecstatic at my presence on their SeaTech team. I stood proudly, no longer second-guessing my decision to join up. Maybe this could be fun after all.

It finally subsided, and Bryson kept going. “Next, I give you Jade Serrano, our engineering technician!” She gracefully darted out, giving a grateful bow, before rushing back in line beside me.

“And how could I forget Luther Payne, tactical and mapping,” Bryson exclaimed.

Luther took a tentative footstep, giving a brief nod before returning. Our big security officer’s eyes were always on the lookout for something out of place, and I suspected that after twenty years of protecting the executives, then the CEO of Lotus, it would take him a while to lose the reflex.

“And the last doesn’t need introducing, but I will anyhow, for the sake of symmetry. My son, and future CEO of SeaTech, Holland Kelley! He’ll be racing the Pod.” The crowd went bonkers, and Holland hammed it up, pumping both fists into the air. Hundreds of digital tiki torches waved in the night. Smoke gently rolled from the food stations, and almost everyone held an orange drink in their grips. “With that being said, enjoy the dinner. We’ll commence training tomorrow!”

Everyone’s gazes drifted to the sky, and I followed their stares behind us. A ship had appeared, glowing bright red. A ring flashed across the open space, orange like fire. The incoming vessel was approaching quickly, and I fought the desire to duck and take cover.

As it neared, I realized it wasn’t real. It was another projection, but the largest I’d ever seen. The craft was intricately built, with gorgeous contouring, slick black and red paint, and it rolled to one side, showcasing the top of the object to the crowd. The number 11 was painted in white on the port wing. My heart raced as my adrenaline spiked at the sight. This was a projection of my new Racer.

Suddenly, the insane idea of joining a Primary Race team didn’t seem so out of my comfort zone. The craft completed its roll and sped for the glowing ring, entering it. Digital fireworks cascaded across the star-littered sky as the ship and ring vanished.

The show ended, and Bryson startled me as he spoke from behind. “What do you think of your new digs?”

I turned toward him and squinted. “This is going to be fun.”

 

 

 

Seven

The initial few days were anything but fun. Training, as it turned out, meant various sessions from dawn to dusk for an entire week. I began my mornings in the underwater tubes, running a track with the others. Holland was accustomed to it, and it wasn’t rare for him to finish the hour-long slog a good ten minutes before the rest of us. Luther struggled to finish the first day, but by the end of the fifth, we’d all improved drastically, and Jade and I held pace with Holland. By the sixth morning, she beat him.

“I don’t understand this. Why the physical exertion? Aren’t we flying a spaceship?” Luther wiped his face with a towel, his chest heaving from