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

the empty spaces, and Bryson’s face was somber as he neared the exit. “Okay, folks. Today is a monumental day for all of us. The Race begins in a week, so smile for the camera and offer short, positive comments. Let’s be gracious, and kind, and not play into whatever games may arise from the other teams.”

“You expect trash-talking?” I asked.

“You really have been out of the circuit for a long time.” Holland shifted in his seat. “Trash-talk. It’s not uncommon for some punches to be thrown before a race too.” He smiled like this was an important part of the event.

Luther stood tall. “Anyone wants to hit me, they can damned well try.”

“Don’t worry about that, team. We’re above calling people names and getting physical,” I said. “Right?”

“Sure, Cap. Let’s get this over with.” Jade brushed past me, and I saw her reach for her left ear. She was anxious to run into anyone from Luna Corp again, or maybe she was just nervous like the rest of us. I was dreading coming face to face with Varn Wallish from Sage.

We were greeted by a black-uniformed Board assistant, and she ushered us onto a temporary bridge attached to the floating platform. Soon we were entering the top floor of HQ.

“Sage Industries, the home of the Space Race contenders, and creator of the highly innovative SunScorcher. Melt ore twice as fast as the next best competitor.” The projection cast on the wall as we walked by, and I tried to ignore it, until Varn’s face appeared as a blue-tinged hologram. “SunScorcher. I know I’d use it. Link your PersaTab to learn more.” He was in his Race uniform, with the number 1 on his chest, and his right pointer finger in the air.

“What a jerk,” Luther whispered as the ad vanished.

“You don’t know the half of it.”

The entire floor smelled sweet, like flowers and honey, and everyone inside was dressed in their finest. A man near us had on a silk suit, the woman on his arm in a matching green dress, and I recognized the CEO of Lotus, Li Huang. His team stood next to him with frowns and green jumpsuits.

No one greeted Bryson Kelley, and I took that as confirmation that they didn’t feel he was worthy. Bryson accepted their silence with elegance, moving toward the space in the vast room adorned with SeaTech’s logo. We followed him, and finally, someone from the Board arrived. It was their Lead Chair, Octavia Post, the woman I’d seen announcing the Race in the first place.

“Hello, Bryson. We’re pleased to have you.” She smiled and sounded genuine, but it still left a sour taste in my throat.

“And we’re thrilled to be present for this momentous occasion. Octavia, you know my son, Holland?”

She appraised the young man. “He’s grown since I’ve seen him. You sure are a handsome one.”

Holland beamed at the praise, and she walked over to me. “Arlo Lewis, I presume?”

The fact that the Lead Chair knew who I was shocked me, but I reasoned she’d seen the teams in their entirety on digital feeds sent by each Corporation. “What a pleasure to meet you,” I told her.

“Likewise.”

Bryson introduced the last two members, and I hardly heard them as I saw the cocky gait of Varn, the Sage Industries pilot, enter the room. His eyes surveyed the premises, and when they locked on me, he actually grinned.

“Excuse me,” I said, walking away.

We headed for one another and stopped a meter apart. “Varn.”

“Hello, Huck. Oh, my mistake, Hawk.”

“It’s Arlo,” I muttered.

“Sure, whatever. I can’t believe you managed to weasel your way into a real competition like this. You realize this is important, don’t you? SeaTech. What a joke.” He wasn’t pulling any punches.

“I know. What kind of fool wants to work for the only Corp to advance through the ranks with this kind of efficiency? You should also see the Islands. It’s so destitute. Everyone living in squalor.” I slapped a palm to my forehead. “Wait, sorry, that’s Sage.”

His finger jabbed my chest. “Watch it, Hawk.”

“Or what?” I stepped closer, and Luther was there, grabbing my arm.

“What the hell, Lewis? Didn’t we just discuss this?” he whispered in my ear.

I brushed my shirt off and nodded. “See you at the Race.”

I hated that the guy could so quickly incite anger in me. I’d considered myself more even-tempered than that, but obviously, I wasn’t.

“Can’t you keep it together for an hour?” Bryson was irritated, and I couldn’t fault him.

“Sorry about that. Varn is a thorn in my side. Always has been.”

“I don’t care if he slept with your wife. We’re professionals,” Bryson said through his teeth as another group entered from the floating parking pad. I didn’t recognize them but saw the Orion logo. The constellation’s stars were pinpoints on a round patch.

“They look serious,” Jade said softly. We stood off to the side, near the SeaTech logo on the floor, and over the next twenty minutes, the rest of the teams filed in. The huge room felt compacted with each CEO and their four team members positioned in neat rows around the space.

Bryson rubbed his hands together. “This is it.”

The SeaTech CEO had been anticipating this Race for some time, and he’d orchestrated a jump into the top ten. It was inspiring, and in my opinion, that either made him a little erratic or brilliant. Only time would tell.

I peered at the CEOs around the room. Most were older than Bryson, but a couple were around my age. The Barret leader was probably thirty, with a tightly trimmed beard and long hair. The left side was shaved over his ear, and he’d pinned it back to showcase a tattoo of his company logo. The captain of his team was young, with his gaze straight ahead like he wanted to bore a hole into the wall.

I was only thirty-four years old, but I felt old compared to most of the contestants. No wonder I didn’t know most of them from my time