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Arthur

Ipulledmy bike out onto the track and to the starting line. Gregor's orange monstrosity was already there, taunting me with its sheer excess. He'd purposely chosen his competitive bike to try and intimidate me, to remind me that he was a pro and I was not. I wasn't worried. Any worry that I'd had before was gone now, thanks to Perry's news. I was fighting for one more, now: my ownchild.

Icouldn't seeGregor through the tinted cockpit window, but I knew he was looking at me, goading me on. I remembered the practice races, and how he wielded his own overconfidence as a weapon against weaker opponents. I could use that against him, if I didn't fall to itfirst.

"Perry here,"his voice crackled over the radio. "Here comes therain."

Just as he said that,specks of water spotted the windshield. I hit a button, and a light flashed across the glass, adding an augmented view that electronically removed any rain from my view. I wouldn't be inhibited visually, but racing on a wet track would still be different, no matter how many assistance electronics the bikeshad.

"No problem,"I said. Through the controls, I felt the shudder of the engine through my paws. I revved the throttle a bit, letting myself get in tune with thebike.

"The announcer is introducingyour race now," Perry said. I couldn't hear anything except him and the immediate sounds of my engine. "Hounds of Hell. You should hear the crowd right now. Alright, Arthur. Here we go. Get ready for thelights."

Gregor startedto rev his bike, its engine spitting jets of flame from the twin exhaust. The bike shook with each rev, like an angry beast wanting to escape a pen. Asshole would do anything for intimidation. I ignored him, focusing on the track ahead. I took a few deep breaths and quieted mymind.

For Perry.

For Jupiter.

For our baby.

The signal lightsappeared on my heads-updisplay.

Red.

Yellow.

GREEN!

Throttle,clutch, the explosive force of takeoff. My engine screamed as the numbers on my speedometer climbed with blistering speed, the world around me pulling to a streaked blur with Gregor to my right. No ghost, this time. The real deal. I could feel the force of the rain through my controls, and the way the tires responded to the now slickened pavement. I gritted my teeth, gravity tugging on my chops as I blasted through the first turn. Gregor was on the inside. When we emerged from the corner, he pulled up aggressively, coming within a few feet of me. A red collision warning message flashed on mydisplay.

"Shit,"I growled. I knew what he was trying to do. He wanted me to flinch, to swerve away from him. I held thecourse.

"Bastard,"Perrysaid.

"Yes he is,"Isaid.

"Upcoming turn.Reduce by thirty. Watch your three o'clock. Don't let him intimidateyou."

"Copy that,"I said, and followed his instructions into the turn. Gregor again edged close to me, so much so that I could actually feel the report of water jetted from his tires vibrating against the side of my bike. My heart hammered.Hounds of Hell, he came close. How fucking close was he willing to get tome?

Don't lethim psych you out,I toldmyself.

"Here comes the first obstacle,"Perry said, "Get ready. The dangerous part startsnow."