useless upgrades again."
"Good." Kira set the board on the ground, stepping on it and activating the drive chain.
She listened to its throaty rumble with satisfaction.
While the drive chain in the board she'd used in her last race was still intact, the rest of the board had been pretty thoroughly destroyed.
It had necessitated Odin finding her a new one. From the sound of its engines, it looked like Odin had gone above and beyond.
"Is this a Blair class 500?" Kira asked.
"It's the 503." Odin leaned a hip against the table, her expression one of satisfaction.
"Those just came out. They're still pretty rare."
Odin lifted a shoulder. "I have my ways."
There was never any doubt of that.
Odin straightened and moved behind the monitors. “The race is starting. You’d better get out there.”
Kira nodded. "Jin, you're point. Finn is support, and Odin can help as needed."
"Roger that."
Not wasting time, Kira pointed her board toward the starting line where her fellow opponents were beginning to gather. The friendly banter died down as anticipation and nerves took hold.
Beneath it all, excitement bubbled.
For some, this race was the culmination of years of hard work. For others, it was a chance to prove their worth to the powers that be. For Kira, it was simply a means to an end. Win or lose, it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.
"Stay alert, Kira," Jin advised.
"Understood," Kira responded as she took a look around.
Several racers were between Kira and Raider. He had a relaxed stance as he watched the rest with a bored look.
When his gaze landed on her, she brushed her hand along her shoulder, showing him three fingers. It was an old hand sign meant to warn the other to keep a wary eye out because danger was close.
His expression didn't even flicker before he looked away again.
Kira continued her scan, noting Devon ahead and to her right. Skye, in a bright pink race suit, was next to him.
Unlike Kira and Raider, they'd elected to jockey for position in the front row. Not a bad plan unless another interfered with their start.
It was one of the reasons Kira preferred to stay at the rear of the pack where it wasn't as crowded—less opportunity for someone to sabotage her so early on.
Kira turned her attention to the rest, not immediately spotting the person she was looking for.
Someone jostled Kira’s shoulder, pulling her attention to them.
To her surprise, a racer in faded blue armor stood next to her. A helmet covered their head, hiding their features.
Even with the change in mask, Kira recognized the person. Moonbeam. The mysterious racer that no one seemed to know much about.
Kira didn’t have time to study her longer as a Haldeel appeared from the box next to the royal’s. His robes fluttered as he stepped off its edge, looking like some otherworldly being as he slowly descended.
The Haldeel regarded the racers with a placid expression, the sleeves of the robes draping artistically over his arms.
The Haldeel were a fan of showmanship, and never had that been more on display than now. He looked like a figure out of a fantasy. Impossible and dream like.
As if that wasn't enough, crimson petals began falling from the sky as if out of nowhere. Some of the racers reached out, trying to catch the soft-looking flowers only to have them dissolve into glittering sparks as soon as they touched them.
"Why are there so many theatrics for a semifinal?" Odin complained.
"I don't mind it," Kira said, absorbed in catching her own petal. "It's kind of nice."
"You've got to give it to them; they certainly know how to make a statement," Jin said.
The petals fell until they created a carpet of bright red along the starting lane. Only when the last petal had fallen did the Haldeel before them speak. "Today, you bring glory to yourself and those who support you. Go and show us what you're capable of."
Those Haldeel present among the racers whistled in approval.
Next to Devon, Skye punched her fist into the air, her expression determined. The humans and Haldeel were quick to follow suit until over a hundred racers had raised their voices in challenge.
The Haldeel official gestured and the racers quieted, crouching on their boards as an electric feeling filled the air.
The Haldeel raised his arms, and as if that movement had summoned them, the crimson petals rose too, swirling in the air.
At a sharp movement from the Haldeel, the front line of racers shot forward, the petals leading their way.
The race