Paradoxial
Zoie Hart
KactusPunch
Silent Showers
Alisdragon911
Palindrome
LadyAmber
stormphraxSunday 4th June, 2094
Race Day
Monaco AGP
Circuit de Monte-Carlo, Monaco
1400 EST
Race Day
Monaco AGP
Circuit de Monte-Carlo, Monaco
1400 EST
The Racing Riviera
Soundtrack: Polaris & Nelver - Nexus
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
The launch was clean, as Amy scrambled to try and push into the first corner, but to no avail, the silver-white of the Apex ship not enough against the sheer velocity and tight feel of the Valkyrie's black and blue, Amy's lungs automatically sucking her lungs in as the ship threw itself around the corner and barely over the kerb for the non anti-gravity based racers, sticking into line and giving her a view up the climb to the Casino. Dorian seemingly had cut the line off for her to swing into, but she didn't think about that. She just thought about staying close. And the ship replied, like an extension of her brain at this point, more than her body.
Dorian was locked in. There was no distractions, no feeling. Amy prodding stupidly into Casino Square got nothing out of him as he covered the line and made it clear, if she wanted to overtake, she was going to have to smash through them both. Relationship or not, commitment or not, Dorian was feeling good. He was feeling alive. His neural link made him feel like him and the ship were one, not like how Layla or Kais or even Amy felt, but like he was in a place of trust, like it wasn't bonded but like it was an old friend, dancing on apexes and giving him what he wanted in defending and holding his line. Perhaps not as sharp as Amy, but he could lean on experience to find every little particle on track, and felt frankly, superhuman. Because even in a ship optimised, even in a feeling this good, having Amy Stirling breathing down your neck was the stuff that sent shivers down anyone's spine. There was no noise.
"No talking." Dorian uttered into comms more than anything as he roared back down Portier, knowing Remy would understand this. He would see it on the tracker, all of his vitals, his neural state and where he was right now. This was an old head, someone who had lived his past glories, for one second, deafening all the noise out.
All of the distractions, the commotion, the controversy, the problems, sackings, issues, problems, all of it. All gone for one brief moment.
All that mattered was the track that hurtled in front, from the corkscrew like MAG-enabled hairpin at the old Bus Stop that threw the ship literally above the harbour and seared down even faster, even Amy prodding had nothing to him because he was so on the optimal line, he knew she would be insane to try anything. She was brave, but not stupid enough to write off a ship even for a fight like this. Experience she had just enough of to realise that.
And it was one hell of a scene. Tussling all the way through the hairpin, the two left Paul behind, who had his own fight with Astrid.
Which, she promptly binned into the wall, trying a brave move at La Rascasse at a MAG wall, and instead near spinning the ship into a barrier, clattering carbon everywhere, and losing spaces getting drive back. The ship was limping, sore, like it the pilot itself had fallen down and clambered back onto feet.
As for the rest of the race? The commentators watched on.
"We are watching one hell of a chase up ahead, Stirling is pushing Hornfleur all of the way..."
But that kept going on and on, because they weren't giving each other quarter, but they weren't fundamentally, overdriving. The others, however, a little differently were.
The first to make a mistake, was none other than Jamie Hart, clattering into Han's ship and writing his own Silver Apex ship off, creating another Virtual Safety, before racing started once all the remains of nanite-reinforced composites and carbon were swept off track, allowing racing to continue.
And that was followed by Astrid's already damaged ship from earlier getting into a tangle with Kais, her own ship and defense poor and leading to a mistake. A messy hit that left Kais worse off than her, and Astrid managing a ship that no longer wanted to corner anywhere near as fast. She was holding up Bea as a result, and creating a train of her own of extremely disappointed pilots in traffic.
At the front, it was frantic, with Nora making moves in a manner that most still were shocked by- for such an injured pilot to come back this fast was simply impossible. But if anything was getting the commentators and the crowd going, it was Nitro Nora, who at this point, had proven that adversity seemed to be the thing that fuelled her the most. She had benefitted from avoiding the chaos, but overtaking Max Wedgewood into Sainte Devote, now that was brave for someone who had nearly died doing something similar before. She was piloting it like she was invincible, or at least, back in her own mind again.
But in the end, and in a manner that kept everyone on their edge of their seats, Dorian led Amy through La Rascasse one last time and took the chequered flag from Keira Weaver, swinging the flag in the lightening fast breeze of anti-gravity ships roaring past.
Afterglow
Soundtrack: Justice - Civilization
"Dorian, that is P1, P1 Dorian! Monsieur Hornfleur, you are Mister Monaco, what a race!" The voice of Remy Deschamps on broadcast and in Dorian's ears was finally back, as Dorian replied, his lump in his throat not clearing anywhere near fast enough for him to reply.
"Let's go, thank you everyone, thank you Alexander, Remy, everyone back at the factory, what a ship this has been, what a race! Woo!" Dorian called out, crying a little under his visor, so emotionally charged and feeling alive. This was among the greatest wins in his career, a significant one for Valkyrie, and a milestone. A proof that he still had it, despite a poor season. All the worries, issues, everything. It had all come to this, and he had found it.
Proof an old dog still had fight in him.
The cheers in the Valkyrie paddock were booming, and as Dorian rolled in, the French pilot was flooded with mechanics, as he lept into them, being frankly carried, and the entire team jubilant. The same for Paul, who got the same treatment. A double podium was a moment of pure euphoria, and while Monaco was predictable given the order, to see it confirmed and both ships coming through clean in a dirty race was testament to the decisions, foresight and commitment of the team's pilots and training, talented engineered and pains that had gone into this moment. While future races might tip the balance against, for this moment, it was Valkyrie's moment in the Monegasque sun.
Staring down, Amy had popped out of her ship, and had missed most of her team, cheerful yet wanting to go straight across to Dorian, as the team disspiated. A surprise, to say the least. But not uncommon. Dorian and Amy had fought plenty of times. This was no less intense.
"Well done, Dorian. A good fight." Amy put a hand out, as Dorian took it, shaking her hand with a dap, a grin forming on his face.
"Let me enjoy this one, no?" Dorian was ahead, already seeing the look in Amy's sweaty, stressed face, that look of she was about to say something.
"Well, you cut me off at the first...."
It was Peter that intervened, grabbing Amy back.
"That's enough. We'll talk later. And in the stewards." Peter's Irish tone cut in, looking to Alexander, looking the twin-augmented armed Principal of Valkyrie with a certain grimace. And a certain feeling that sent a look in his eye. Amy hadn't said it, but the Principal had.
"That ain't on, boyo. You trying shit you don't understand." With it, Peter pulled Amy away, to what was a certain moment of confusion, before Remy whooped again, raising Dorian's spare arm up, and yelling and screaming extremely loud in French.
This was not a moment to be ruined, this was a moment to savour and enjoy.
"How does it feel winning at Monaco?" Aurora asked, inside the room once again, Dorian sitting on the couch, dressed casually in his Valkyrie polo shirt and trousers.
"A cherry on top. This was special."
"Would you say this is the high point of your career?"
"Well, the season isn't over. And I still have plenty more races to come. This is maybe the start of things to come as we're back in Europe, at my favourite tracks."
"And what about Paul?
"Well, I saw what it meant to him. And I am so, so proud. This was definitely something I could tell he loved every second of."
Cooldown Room and Podium
The Cooldown Room felt the same tension, as the race was played out, two Valkyrie figures in there- Dorian and Paul. The elder Valkyrie pilot smirked watching Amy chase him, almost as if it was like the intro played out again but for actual, real stakes this time. And Paul holding back Astrid, and running a clean race was a delight too.
Shame about the chaos, and the absolute traffic jam in the late race that had turned it into a bore, but nonetheless, it was still meaningful. Amy had calmed down, and Dorian gave a nod in respect, one that came back from her, albeit hesitant. She would let him have this one. She would have the rest.
Dorian looked to Paul, clearing the lump in his throat with a big swig of water, rather than the energy drink the team always had.
"Well done, mon amis. This one we did good at, no? Just remember this moment forever. This is your first at Monaco. It will not be your last, and your father, he would be proud." Dorian said, a few tears running down his face as he hugged him, feeling how emotionally charged Paul was right now. And despite the off and on partnership, there was a brief moment that they got to share this in. Paul's legacy, all of it before, and here it was, continued. Marked on, in a rival and his son putting it on the top steps. There was something poetic about that.
"I am going to miss this so much. But you better make the most of it. Come on, let's go." Dorian smiled, as with that, the call came, as they all stood and with it, walked down the LED illuminated corridor, and into the open air behind the trees, the crowd roaring, a sea of yellow and grey, mostly Valkyrie fans, as Dorian put his hand to the sky and smiled for the cameras.
It was unknown if Dorian would ever be back on that top step, he was nearly 40 after all. But he had proven the doubters wrong. And Paul Mulder had proven he could hold his own at Monaco. Down below, Cassie waved at Dorian, sitting on top of her own Zygon ship in the pitlane, surrounded by dozens and dozens of reporters, VIP paddock pass holders, and the various pit crews as the champagne flew from above down to below.
Delta Hyper Interviews
The post race interviews came through thick and thin, as the rookies all got an interview of their own, caught on the way out from the post-podium celebrations. Aurora was back out again, in person with mic and camera drone.
"Paul, congratulations on third, and what an achievement as a rookie to hold your nerve on such a tight, technical circuit. How does it feel?"
"Nora, what an incredible race staying out of trouble, and back on the grid that quickly? Wow, it's unbelievable determination, so talk us through what it was like to adjust and perform?"
"Han, not the best race for Zygon today, where do you think it went wrong?"
"Bea, a quiet race from you and not from Ava either. Was it frustrating to be unable to overtake Astrid?"
"Kais, a disappointing race for Al-Saqr, it looked like you were fighting the ship throughout the circuit. Is that something from your upgrades, or just from learning the track?"
Analysis - Silver Apex
Looking onwards at the footage of the start as part of the analysis, Peter sighed, looking to Amy.
"Fine. Stewards said it was a fair defence. He outplayed you." Peter simply commented, as Amy looked to him, sighing. Dorian was not stupid- he knew the dark arts, and holding that line through Sainte Devote had made it so Amy decided to make a massive accident, or backed down. And while she wanted to win, she wasn't so stupid as giving up points against Harrison and Nora in this moment.
"It isn't good enough. We talked through strategy. Why didn't it work?"
"Why do you think? You're not in his head. He's too old for this whole pressure thing. That's why you left Paul behind. Dorian doesn't crack, and he plays chess when he's given a ship that can hold up. You did what you had to. Let's not push the issue and let's focus on what we can fix." Peter commented, Amy nodding and looking to the wreck of the other ship in the garage, and then hers, cut up but sitting in the rack ready to leave.
"Well, that gap isn't any nicer. Silverstone is next. Can't let the home fans down, can we?" Amy smirked, Peter looking at her with a certain gaze of hunger. Want. This never died in Amy, it was like it was in her blood, in her neurons, in every part of her. It didn't let up. It never seemed to stop, at least intimately when with the team's presence close. It was what drove the mechanics, engineers, designers, everyone here to that goal. Putting her on that top step, and Jamie maybe too. If he hadn't messed up again.
"That we can't, Miss Stirling. We'll do a proper debrief later."
Analysis - Fitzroy Orbital
The garage was positively brimming with positive vibes, as Jenny was hoisted aloft, whooping and hollering, for a single point to be gained was just considered beyond their wildest dreams. It felt like ecstasy, as she giggled, grinning as she came back down, still in her pilot's suit and with her glowing grin that contrasted her red-white hair. The sight of Sally Morrigan, Team Principal even cracking a rare smile, better than her usual misery given how shit things were behind the scene, definitely painted the picture, as she felt her phone buzz, the caller a frequent one once, now much quieter.
"Hello. You saw Jenny get a point?" Sally replied to the caller, smirking, arm against wall, sighing. "Well, it's a good parting gift for you. One more race I guess, Maxwell."
"One more. The new buyers will look after you. Sorry it came to this."
"Seller's remorse?"
"Me forgetting how bloody good this can be."
Analysis - Southern Cross
In the Southern Cross garage, things were much more muted, but Nora was certainly getting a round of applause as she had been peeled from her ship, clattering down in her new white and navy blue coloured augments that almost had an etheral glow to them in the LED lighting. Harrison sat with Owen looking at the data points on his side of the garage, thinking it over, still cooling down from how intense it was in the midfield following Paul.
"We're tracking well. You did the best you could with a ship that could fight." Owen put an arm around his shoulder, as Harrison shook his head, looking across the paddock at the other ship, parked up with Nora already working on her side of the garage with the mechanics that were tracking her vitals, and going through the data of her race.
"Sure, but I'm worried for her. Is she going to be alright to keep going?" The concern was not from a place of wanting to outscore her, but a genuine one. Nora had been sheepish getting used to it all, this soon after something so traumatic was near unheard of.
Owen laughed, putting a hand on Harrison's shoulder.
"You leave her to me. She's been through some serious shit, losing a leg and an arm wouldn't stop her even against the strongest advice." Owen began, peeling up the data from both of them.
"She's going to keep going and giving you trouble because she's finally been given a chance at the top level, and she wouldn't run away from it. Use it to your advantage, Harrison. It helps the team if you want to beat Amy this season, and it helps her if she wants to come back and beat Amy too. You know that fire." Owen was blunt to him, as Harrison chuckled, shaking his head.
"Since when have you been so pushing? I thought you liked a conservative approach?" Harrison looked back, almost as if to throw Owen's logic back at him.
"Well, sometimes I think we surprise ourselves when we do what we think is impossible. Let's get packed up and home. Silverstone is one you love, right? Outside of home." Owen added, as Harrison chuckled, nodding.
"Aye, I guess we've had some good fights there...."
Analysis - Carrera Condor
Ava sighed, looking across the room, seeing Bea cleaning up the remains of the media attention, of which there had been plenty. Carrera hadn't done great, but then again, Monaco wasn't their circuit.
"Congrats. Well done on surviving Sainte Devote. I saw you get caught behind Astrid. Not easy to overtake, right?" Ava commented, her feet clicking on the concrete as she walked across, sighing out hard, thinking on it all.
The revelations she'd shared with Kais hadn't come yet to Bea. She didn't want them to, perhaps was that still on her mind? She wasn't sure. And she wasn't quite sure what she'd unravelled by showing that to him. The slate was clean, that much was sure, but was she certain Layla wasn't in her head? Almost the thought of it made Ava wince inside, she had unwittingly propagated the thing she was trying to find. So if Kais found something, great. But the rabbit hole was going to get bigger. Bigger than maybe even Ava was letting on. As she came back to reality, and walking out into the Monaco sunshine.
"Still getting used to my legs. Finding my feet, as they say in English...." Ava grinned, shaking her head at that awful pun, moving inside the Carrera paddock area, Ava waving to her parents in the trailer stairwell above.
"My mother and father came out to see me. Would you like to meet them?"
Analysis - Al-Saqr
Layla sat in the ice bath again, head under, before pulling it out seeing a silhouette appear.
"Fuck." The sight of a FIAR technician caught her by surprise.
The tests ran, and once again, came back clean. Pulling the cable out, Layla nodded to him calmly, with a well practiced, well versed way.
With it, she thought about the race. The ship was twitchy, insanely so, it was as if the bond was itself being rumbled or poked at. She had felt it singing to hear, but it sounded like there was static in that, the FIAR steward leaving the room altogether.
It felt strange, to say the least, as she flickered through her glass-fronted tablet and holographic display, sending new tweaks to her, and more vitally, emails to a certain Lunar corporation interested in her new little advancements. The ship being off had certainly left a hole in her again after the race, but more and more, she was dreaming, seeing things from a very different view that even the neural link couldn't quite explain. It was like being set free of her own biology, it was vivid. More and more, it felt like this body was just a shell, just a suggestion of a person when she stared in the mirror back at her undersuit-covered body and biological hardware, that felt like it was more and more disappearing. She may not have been the most modified human on Earth, no, some freak in Japan had that figured out, but that was because they thought themselves a toy rather than...something beyond. The next step. Layla hated losing, but felt it would just take the right track, the right link, the right feeling, and she'd be there. And she could already hear the others, every now and then.
It felt like the deep end and all of it was coming into a hypercolour, as she broke from looking in that mirror.
"Kais, you next door? Actually, what am I saying, I can see you're there....." Layla forgot that of course, intrusively, the AR ping of him came through in her very eyes. Letting him finish up his bath before she intruded, and actually being dressed, she poked her head around.
"Hey. You weren't at fault for Astrid crashing into you, just so you know. But you get a lot into these things." Layla stated the obvious, sighing, looking across at him, hoping not to get her head removed from her spine. She had no backups.....yet.
"You sure you haven't got some neodymium inside of you that seems to attract idiots on circuit?" Layla may have been half machine at this point, but she was no less willing to give a little bit of banter in a moment that for Kais, must have been quite a low one, as she sighed, shrugging her shoulders.
"It was shit. Let's be honest. But this is a joke of a circuit. And hardly a place for AG ships to really show what they can do." Layla's brutal honesty was not from a place of mistrust, but absolutely, a place where they knew this wasn't what they wanted. But after Luna, anything could have gone twitchy, wrong, or mis-set. Silverstone was normal, and they'd be there soon enough.
"I might be delayed coming back to home. I have some bits to sort out first. Nothing serious, just....you know. I need a bit of time for some personal stuff."
Au Revoir, Monaco
".....that race was certainly up and down, and from looking over the highlights, we certainly got a tense fight on our hands. The championship is still certainly open, and with it, Valkyrie have punched their way back towards Al-Saqr. Over to you Aurora." Rosie's cheerful demeanour wrapped up, as Aurora picked up into the camera feed, looking on from the yacht in the harbour that Delta Hyper had borrowed for this shot.
"Thanks Rosie, and yes, we have seen quite the display today from our drivers here in Monaco. While some may say the circuit is too tight, too complex for Formula AG, the scenes you're going to see I think show there's still a beauty in our racing here. Thank you, and we'll see you all at Silverstone, where we anticipate the top teams will all be fighting for points, but if anything this season has proven to us, there's always surprises to be had. Thank you, and see you next time."
Soundtrack: Pink Floyd- The Great Gig In The Sky
The outro played, showing the fights throughout the race, Astrid's nasty scrapes, Dorian and Paul getting carried and running into their crews, the vivid ocean contrasted by the AG ships roaring along the coastline, and the iconic views of the hairpin at the Hotel where ships crawled before hurtling out at speed.
And ended with Dorian hugging Paul, and the two on the podium, together, tears still visible in Dorian's eyes.
The crews packed up, and bit by bit, the helicopters, personal VTOLs, anti-gravity ships and more conventional boats left Monaco behind, with the teams headed home.
Prep for Silverstone was not a small affair. The place was virtually a festival now for Formula AG's arrival in amidst an old farmland landscape that had been mostly been rewilded with oak, pine and wildflowers, the British countryside's former intensity turned into a landscape left to itself. The teams would return to a situation unlike Monaco, less glitz and glamour yet more like feeling the pilots themselves were the royalty, the rock superstars of the grid. Silver Apex was always a firm favourite and actually the home team, but not if other teams had something to say about it.
It was a chance to regroup, and once again, prepare for the next round, two weeks from now. One thing was certain- the track was balanced, and finding an advantage was going to be tricky, but in a way, that meant the rookies that had arrived at Auckland would now be put into a spotlight like never before, at the original circuit of Formula One, and Formula AG. If Monaco was the jewel, the heart of the sport, then a sun-baked, or rain-soaked Silverstone was the head, where the brains of this all began, and where it all started with the machines, rather the people piloting.
