Space Race (Space Race 1) by Nathan Hystad (book recommendations for young adults .TXT) 📕

all of this, his protégé taking part in the biggest Race ever created, and Proxima as the prize. There’s some irony in there.”

“How do you mean?” I asked.

He sighed. “Proxima. It’s where my dad was heading when he and his entire crew vanished.”

Preston Lewis had disappeared almost twenty years ago. When the follow-up robot-controlled vessel had searched for them, all it had found were particles of their ship. Someone or something had destroyed them. The news had crushed me, and even thinking about it now caused the room to shrink.

“The best thing I can do to honor him is to win the Race. To gain Proxima’s rights for SeaTech, and to help in the expansion of the human race. It was his dream too.” I recalled all the times Preston would go on about his mission to Proxima. How he’d be one of the first men to step foot on the distant planet. He’d been so excited, thrilled to be part of such a significant assignment.

My dad patted me on the knee. “He’d like that, Arlo.”

“Now tell me about the factory floor, and what exactly you were building,” I said, and listened intently. All I could do was try to win this contest and secure Proxima. Bryson had the right idea. Maybe leaving Earth behind was the best solution.

____________

Dad ended up staying in the guest room, and after several hours of catching up, he left me alone. Holland and Luther would be back from the track, and I sent Jade a message on her Tab to join us for a bite to eat.

The moment I stepped foot in the lobby, I knew it was a mistake.

“If it isn’t the Hawk, looking for a place to perch,” Varn said, laughing with the rest of his team.

“Varn, I’m surprised Sage let you off your ship. What with all the rumors,” I told him, not about to back down to him—or to anyone, for that matter.

“What rumors?” In this light, Varn looked haggard, his eyes dark.

“That you’re romantically involved with your robot,” I finished.

A female teammate of his laughed, but one glare from Varn cut her off.

“Hey, Arlo,” Holland said, walking up behind me. Luther was at his side. Jade arrived from the elevators, and there we were, four against four, the first place and sixth place teams facing off in the lobby.

“Let’s get something to eat,” I told them, choosing to walk directly toward the Sage team.

Varn didn’t budge as I strode by him, shouldering him out of the way. The others followed me, but the Sage crew stepped aside, granting them passage. I smirked at Varn as I passed by and waited for his taunts to continue.

“Give up now. You don’t stand a chance. There’s a reason you retired, Hawk,” Varn called.

I turned, taking the bait. “And why’s that?”

“Because you don’t have the guts to do this anymore. Why else would you be sending the kid to race the Pod instead of yourself? I thought you were the best.” Varn knew how to push my buttons.

“Holland is trained in his… Why am I even talking to you?”

“Because you like to be in the presence of winners.” Varn chuckled to himself. “I can’t wait to destroy you. I have a feeling SeaTech will be toast once the Pod Race is finished tomorrow, right, Ren?” he asked the woman beside him.

She nodded, arms crossed. “You better believe it.”

Holland didn’t let it bother him. “Come on, guys. I’m hungry.”

And it was over. Nothing wrong with a little banter among competitors.

We ate, and I filled my team in on the news of Sage’s war machines. We discussed what it might mean, and Luther theorized it was for protection against the potential Liberty assault. It was possible, but it felt like overkill, from what my dad had told me.

I sat with my back facing the giant screens showcasing highlights from the Race, and tried not to listen as the various announcers mirrored Varn’s comment, dismissing our chances for the Pod Race. Holland stared at the screen while he finished his food, but his eager attitude was replaced with a quiet and subdued version of himself.

Instead of giving a rousing speech, I let him have the doubts, and offered a few words of encouragement before he entered his suite after dinner. “Don’t listen to what Luther said earlier about coming in seventh. We’re going to win tomorrow.”

He tried smiling, and his posture slackened. “I like the sounds of that.” His stomach grumbled, and he looked down as he clutched at it. “Arlo, I don’t feel good.”

 

 

 

Seventeen

“Welcome to the Pod portion of the Race. This event is sponsored by Auto Shuttle, property of Orion, the number one android-operated taxi service. If you need a ride without the awkward small talk, consider a private pod today. Auto Shuttle: Your destination awaits. Link your PersaTab to learn more.” Octavia Post looked solemn as she read from the prompter, with an Auto Shuttle projection spinning beside her, but when it vanished, she almost glowed with anticipation.

The entire area was encased in a dome, blocking the incessant wind and cold air that accompanied being this far from the cities on Mars’ ever-angry surface. The Corporation’s each had around a thousand people in attendance. There was a mixture of the executives and their families. SeaTech was noticeably absent, but no one spoke of it. Bryson Kelley was always a bit of an outsider, and since none of the other Primary Corps wanted SeaTech in their midst, they were probably amused he didn’t show.

“You ready for this?” Luther asked the young man, and he straightened, wearing his jumpsuit with pride. A second later, he leaned over, dropped his helmet, and threw up on the ground.

“I can’t race,” he muttered, wiping his mouth with his uniform sleeve. “I’ve been sick since last night.”

“The food. I bet the bastards spiked his dinner.” Luther looked down the line, and I noticed Varn working very hard not to laugh a short distance away.

“Are you