“Ah, an interesting choice. Simple but brilliant, as they say. An internal motor drives four wheels. You can set it to four-wheel or two-wheel drive. Steering wheel for direction, throttle and brake pedals to command the motor. Would you like to try a simulation before your actual lap?”
Lily nodded and pulled the sim-cowl over her head, tuning the controls to herself.
Khar decided he would drive the same model. A race only meant something if the variables matched and he still won, as he should have from the beginning.
While Lily inspected every virtual bolt, Khar reviewed the map with Karora and loaded it into his system.
Unlike Lily, he recognized the vehicle on sight. He had not driven this exact model before, but he was certain it would be fine. He left the auto-settings as they were. Engineers had optimized them after tens of thousands of test laps.
Lily peeled off the sim-hood grinning, and for a moment Khar swayed at the impact of that smile.
Damn Usurper.
Not for long. Now everything between them would finally be decided.
“Khar, you’re taking the same one? Great, I’ll watch how you do it and try to copy.”
He grunted, then turned to Karora.
“Top speed?”
This time her smile seemed genuine, as if speed tempted her too.
“Our track has special permission from the IMPERIUM to exceed local surface speed limits by twenty-five percent.”
Lily took her place on the skydeck. Khar settled into his element and rolled to the line.
Divani were famous across the IMPERIUM for fast reflexes, very useful for a species at home in combat, though their arrogance did not earn them many friends. When spectators and staff saw a Divani up next, almost everyone paused. Whether they cheered or glared did not concern him.
He cracked his neck and clipped into the safety webbing. It pinched across his broad chest, but he ignored it. The helmet fit perfectly. He was used to the pressure from Legion service, and the rigid shell left room for his horns.
At the signal, Khar slammed the throttle.
Gravel sprayed from the bright white stones lining the start. The sunny slopes of Lurok gave way to the rains of the Geror Crags, then to the pangaros swamps of Vegrun’s homeworld, and finally to a snow-squall finish.
He carved corners like a sculptor working stone, accelerated flawlessly on the straights, and when he blasted for the line he was himself again.
The undefeated emperor of life.
He cut through the finishing laser and the track erupted in cheers. The announcer’s voice tore through the roar.
“Honored guests, a new record on our brand-new track. Will anyone be able to match a lap like that? Astonishing. Absolutely astonishing.”
Khar parked in the garage and climbed to the skydeck with measured, confident steps, hoping Lily had witnessed every heartbeat of his triumph. Every holo either showed him unfolding from the seat or replayed the most dazzling moments of his run.
He could hardly wait to see her expression. Admiring, or sulking. He was not sure which he wanted more.
At the top, the Dak’ri female almost flung herself at him, but one look froze her mid-pounce. He might accept rapture from Lily. From no one else.
“Khar, that was genuinely cool,” Lily said, smiling when she saw him.
He tasted the word, then inclined his head. Yes. Appropriate.
She had not driven yet, but he had no doubt. He might have lost some battles, yet the war had ended in his victory.
Their host led Lily down to the start. Khar sank into one of the plush seats on the platform, a chair so oversized it felt like a throne. A servitor offered a tray of refreshments. From afar, visitors watched him with shining eyes.
After the torment of recent chrono-weeks, he decided he deserved a little reward.
