system, complete with some of the most advanced radar there is. Only the military or maybe assassins would have anything better. If someone farts a mile away, this thing will warn you."
Kira lowered the mask. "And to think, all I wanted was something to keep my identity a secret."
Jin snorted. "Why would we limit ourselves to obscurity when we could reach for greatness? I have to say, I'm a little impressed Odin could dig that up."
So was Kira. Items like this weren't exactly common.
It made Kira wonder where her hacker friend had found it.
Finished with the first pallet, Jin moved to the second. He sifted through the material exposing a board the color of onyx. It was an older model, one not often seen in races like this. A remnant of a past she rarely dwelt on.
Her preference would have been to leave the board gathering dust in the Wanderer, but time constraints had left it as their only option.
Jin lifted the board out of its packaging and gently set it on the workbench. "Hello, old friend."
Most novice racers wouldn't consider using a board as old as this. They preferred the newer, flashier models with the latest technology. Many of them would switch out their boards numerous times over the years.
That had always been a mistake, Kira felt.
The technology for waveboards didn't really change all that much from model to model. Sure, the bells and whistles would get fancier, but the core of the board remained the same.
Most inexperienced riders never realized it was the drive chain in the board that was the true decider.
A rider could spend years of trial and error adapting and developing a base model drive chain to optimize its strengths.
The more poetic racers likened the drive chain to the board's soul. Without it, the board was a hunk of metal with a few tricks up its sleeve.
Kira's had been with her for nearly two decades—almost since the moment she first stepped onto a board. She didn't have the patience or time to train and tinker with a new drive chain.
"We're going to have to make adjustments based on your new stats," Jin said, already lifting off the under panel to get at the board's innards. "Do you want to make the adjustments or shall I?"
Kira palmed the handheld that would allow her to access the heart of the drive chain. "I'll do it."
Jin made way for her, allowing Kira to take his place.
She removed the layers between her and the drive chain one by one, finally stopping when she reached the glowing ball of golden light. Inside danced countless strands that almost looked like the twisted double helix of DNA.
Kira hummed as she took a look, pressing on one strand before moving to the next.
The entire time Jin hovered over her shoulder. "You're doing it wrong."
"I'm not doing it wrong." Kira made another adjustment.
"I'm pretty sure you are."
Kira closed her eyes, counting to ten.
This was what she got for having a best friend who was also a drone. He was even more of a know-it-all than her.
"Would you like to do it?"
"I thought you'd never asked." Jin shoved his smaller body into the spot she'd been occupying, forcing her away.
The tools she held levitated out of her hand as Jin took over.
"Don't forget to account for the fluctuations in atmospheric pressure," she instructed.
"Yeah, yeah. I got it. Why don't you go review the stats of your opponents?" Jin grumbled.
Kira lingered long enough to thoroughly irritate Jin before making her way toward one of the tables.
Much as she hated to admit it, Jin was probably better at reconfiguring the drive chain.
"Nervous?" Finn asked as she hopped onto the table behind him.
Kira lay down, stretching out and closing her eyes. "Why would I be nervous?"
Finn didn't look up as he continued to check over his weapons. He was methodical, examining every inch of them before moving on to the next.
"The stakes are high and from the sound of things, it's been awhile since you've raced. Such things would be considered normal."
Kira let out a small scoff. "There's not a whole lot that is normal about me."
Finn hummed softly, finishing with the en-dagger he held, storing it in his synth armor, before picking up another.
"That Dragon Circuit—those humans and Haldeel seemed to find it impressive."
Kira gazed unseeing at the bare bones of the ceiling above her. The bays were temporary constructs for the quorum. There was little need for frills, and the architects had left the structure of