Lightship Chronicles
Book 1 : Sacred Warriors
copyright©2015
Florin Nicoara
From the Author
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Chapter 6 : The Race
Lightship Chronicles
Book 1 : Sacred Warriors
copyright©2015 Florin Nicoara
Governor Brandberd Bret is standing in front of one of the purple embossed panels, in the oval walled hallway, that is missing the light filaments and bust. He is gently taping the upper corner of the panel with his three middle fingers, and as he does a small square lights around them where he taps. After three or so of these taps an intercom voice becomes audible.
"Go away. I'm not talking to you."
"Son. Last race you almost died, and you haven't talked to me since. Now you're going to race again, and..."
"I almost died because you left me to die! Are you going to end me for good this time?"
"Son please let me in so we can talk." The doors slide open.
Brandberd enters with a hint of trepidation. The room's decor is similar to his office. It looks quite formal, like an appointment or waiting hall of some sort. Ricio is standing in front of a 3D mirror-hologram of himself, while two beautiful female attendants are helping with his white pilot uniform.
"I need to speak privately with my son." The Governor directs his words towards the attendants with an authoritative tone. The two beautiful young women rush out.
"You were not going to die. I had a plan." Ricio shakes his head without a word, adjusting his collar with his eyes on the mirroring hologram. "I want to wish you good luck. And be safe. You will become a champion, but it takes time. For a rookie just finishing the race is a win, even for a Bret. We Brets are a great people, but you need to humble yourself to the race, and be patient. Do it step by step, and you will be a champion."
"Don't worry. I won't crash, and I won't have secret conversations with Carpati who happened to rescue me and save my life."
"Son, I just want you to be safe."
For the first time turning to his dad. "Then why the hell did you force my doctor to take me off intensive healing the day after the race? And then you erased part of the recording. You cared more about what that stupid Carpati saw than my life! Get out!"
"No! Son, listen to me. You don't know who that kid is."
"How can I, you tell me nothing."
"You know that's how the system works. Until you finish The Regime, until you enter Husarii training, you will know nothing. Only after the crossover, only after you prove yourself, only then, can you know it all."
"Why?"
"Because that's the system. If we change it, it will fall apart."
"Are you telling me that kid, who didn't even know what a hopper is, is a threat to our entire civilization?"
"More than you realize."
"Then tell me!" Looking at his father with intensity.
"What did I just say? What have you been trained since you were a boy?"
"Maybe it's time to change things. You expect me to go through The Regime, endure the insanity of becoming a Husarii, all without incentive? Without knowing why? Give me a reason, and then I'll gladly do this."
"You know why. It's knowledge and power. More important, you are a Bitani and a Bret. We are ordained by virtue of our birth in keeping structure and order on this world. That's reason enough."
"No, it's not. I need to know that I'm doing this for the right reasons. The fact that you refuse to tell me the reason, makes me doubt it even more."
"Son, you're 19 years old. Remember, the only reason you're racing is because of me. You're still a teenager. Your heart is bigger than your brain. That's why you crashed and why you refuse to listen to me now. You are all impulse, act first, think later. You want to know everything, now. You refuse to accept that some things can not be known until the right time. I'm not holding information from you because it's entertaining. It's just not the right time. You will know, but only when you're ready. When you are trained to know. That's what The Regime is for."
"I've heard this line a million times. I don't need to hear it again. If that's all you have to say, leave." Ricio turns back to the 3D mirroring hologram of himself and continues adjusting his suit. Brandberd stands watching without a word. Ricio stops and turns his head to face his dad. "How do you not understand that you were willing to kill me? What you did almost guaranteed my death. Me, your son. How can I ever forgive you for that?"
"When you're done with the regime and pass the crossover. When you will no longer be just a citizen but an administrator and a Husarii yourself, then you will know, and you will see that I made the right choice."
"Get out! I don't want to see you right now. Leave." With his face pulled down by disappointment Brandberd walks to the doors. "And this time, I'm not crashing, so there's no chance for you to let me die." Ricio snaps at his dad just before the doors sweep shut.
The outcrop is thumping. Someone brought up their powerful audio system and the Prave music is filling the air with its rhythm and riffs to the dance sound's base and beat. It's a party atmosphere for another evening at the races. It's been two hours since first horizon and the giant red sun is half hidden behind the distant Crags. Lit from behind the huge pillars look like burning effigies of stone, in the fiery light of the bubbling orange setting sun. In fact, the sky above the horizon is a bloody crimson red as far as the eye can see. The whole western scape of Carpatia is bathed in a hazy crimson glow. Even the many mesas with their giant table tops of stone, doting the split between the ground and the sky, are painted in the mystic haze. It is a sunset unlike any other. A truly beautiful site to behold, yet no one on the outcrop cares. The teen and twenty something's gathered here are far more focused on their party, and the upcoming race, to notice the daily setting of this huge majestic sun.
Nayaa is first to step up from the trail. A minute later Mykee huffs and puffs onto the outcrop with Andee following. It's full of people, twice as many as last time. The three head into the crowd when suddenly someone yells at them.
"Hey, there he is! That's the guy!" Andee, a bit startled, looks around while half the crowd turns to look at him. Some begin to cheer, others applaud. Andee looks at Nayaa baffled, as does she and Mykee at each other, but a moment later it all makes sense to her.
"Ah, wow. I guess you really are famous." Nayaa turns to Andee but is interrupted when several people approach to shake his hand. They push her and Mykee aside while congratulating Andee for his amazing rescue at the last races. He humbly nods not knowing what to say. As the congratulations come to an end, and the people step away, Gono approaches. Dirin and his buddies aren't far behind, but keep their distance, turned away but looking over their shoulders. Seems they are a bit afraid of getting too close to Nayaa, who is now a few steps behind Andee, and focused on Mykee's panel. On impulse she looks up and notices them. She focuses her glare on Dirin and gives him a giant friendly smile with a slight twist of her head. Dirin quickly looks away.
"Hey, hero." Gono greets Andee stepping in between the long distance tension.
"That was weird." Is Andee's response.
"Sure, Mr. Humble. People respecting you. So weird."
Gono counters while Andee smirks sheepishly. "What have you been up to man? I've hardly seen you in weeks, and guess who was asking for you at the prave last weekend?" Andee looks at him questionably, but doesn't say a thing. "Oh sure, pretend, you know who, that beautiful Bitani light-fairy, Silestra. She came to talk to me. She wanted to know where you were." Just as Nayaa and Mykee turn towards Andee.
"Silestra?" Nayaa blurts with a disgusted look on her face. "What kind of silly-ass name is that?" Gono suddenly gets nervous as he turns to her.
"Yeah-ah, it is kind'a dumb, that's true. Yeah, your name is much, ahh..." But his words freeze up when Nayaa locks her eyes on him, a bit squinty, and with an aggressive glare. She's not angry, just focused, staring right through him trying to read him. Gono quickly looks away even more nervous.
"I'm sorry man, I've been so busy helping out Old Tom. So did you get that job up in the city?" Andee cuts the tension by changing the subject.
"Ah