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 had begun.
"It's time, Kira," Jin said. "Conditions are clear. You are a go."
Directly in front of her, a racer bashed his board into another's, the sharp crunch of metal warning that neither was likely to continue in the race.
Kira eyed them "Exactly what criteria are you using to call that clear?"
"Aren't you the Phoenix? The mythical being who rises from her own ashes?" Odin teased. "So rise, little firebird. This should be nothing for you."
"Do a couple of stupid things in your youth, and you never hear the end of it," Kira muttered, stomping the heel of her back foot down.
The board roared to life, its rumble vibrating in her bones, bringing with it a sense of homecoming.
"Looking good across the board," Odin said. "No signs of stress. All systems are well within the green. You are clear for your run."
Kira started to shift her weight forward when movement on her left had her veering abruptly.
“What the hell? Did that racer just try to dethrone me?” Kira shouted.
Moonbeam’s board roared as she lifted off.
“She didn’t just try; she nearly succeeded,” Jin said. “That racer’s got skills.”
Kira cursed and followed.
In seconds, she cleared the snarl in front of her, weaving back and forth through the struggling bodies.
She passed under the Haldeel official, noting how his gaze seemed to follow her. Then she was free with no more time to worry about others.
Kira followed the efficient movements of the other racer.
"How far behind the lead am I?"
There was the sound of clicking. "Eighteen seconds."
Kira whistled. "They're booking it."
"Do you blame them with you on their tail?"
Not really.
"You've got company," Jin said in the next moment.
Kira looked over, finding Raider closing in on her port side. In front of her, Moonbeam slowed way down, nearly clipping the front of Kira’s board.
Kira dove right, swinging wide for the next obstacle.
“Damn it,” she cursed when Moonbeam and Raider followed.
“They’re trying to shut you down and hamper your movements,” Jin warned.
