{"data":{"id":16533,"title":"The Cup: Part Three","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/16533-The-Cup-Part-Three","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16533","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16533","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"The Cup","images":[{"id":22581,"name":"TheCup.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/zxk3dvpnjkztwr\/source\/TheCup.jpg","alt":"","size":453615,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2018-02-27T19:43:16+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/22581","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/22581\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Part three of The Cup was published originally in Jump Point 1.10. Before reading the final chapter, check out Part One and Part Two.\nRecovering from her disappointing start in the Cup series, Darring has worked her way back to the front of the pack. She is on her way to victory in the Sorrow Sea \u2014 the Boneyard \u2014 when her ship explosively overheats . . .\n\nDarring awoke in a quiet, sanitized room of white walls and beeping monitors. She lay in a medbay tub containing a pale, viscous gel. There were monitoring nodes on her neck and chest. She lifted her arm out of the fluid and tried sitting up. A strong hand kept her from doing so.\n\n\u201cNot yet,\u201d the voice said. \u201cNot until the doctor says it\u2019s okay.\u201d\n\nShe laid her head back against the tub wall and blinked repeatedly until the figure above her came into focus. \u201cZogat,\u201d she said, her voice cracking, her throat dry and pasty. \u201cWhere \u2014 where \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cCarrier infirmary,\u201d he said, \u201cin orbit above Ellis VIII.\u201d\n\nShe tried sitting up again and felt a deep pain in her shoulder as she moved her arms. She reached across her chest and felt a layer of burnt skin, soft and supple due to the fluid, but still present. Terrifying memories flooded back. \u201cMy ship?\u201d\n\nGuul nodded. \u201cUnsalvageable. It\u2019s now a part of the Sorrow Sea.\u201d\n\nDarring massaged her sore shoulder. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d\n\n\u201cThey do not know for certain. But your ship went through a rapid temperature increase that ignited the power plant. It\u2019s a wonder it didn\u2019t explode while you were still strapped in.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo they know what caused it?\u201d\n\n\u201cThey couldn\u2019t recover enough of the fuselage and its monitoring equipment to know the exact cause. But . . .\u201d He paused, letting the word linger there in the space between them. \u201cRemisk has confessed.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s confessed to it. Went mad, in fact, attacked a reporter, nearly ripped off her face. He says he put some kind of capsule into your tank; or rather, hired someone on your crew to do it, which, by the way, has been scrubbed. He even confessed to sending those thugs against us.\u201d\n\nShe nodded, feeling a moment of relief. \u201cThen Mo\u2018tak is finished as well.\u201d\n\nGuul cast his eyes down. He shook his head. \u201cNo, Hypatia. Mo\u2018tak has confessed nothing, nor has Remisk implicated anyone else. He\u2019s gone catatonic, can\u2019t speak, can\u2019t move. He\u2019s on something, but it can\u2019t be detected. They fear he\u2019ll die before he\u2019s interrogated. He\u2019s out, but Mo\u2018tak is still in and has condemned Remisk publicly in the most powerful words. The race has been suspended for a few days so that all remaining crews can conduct a mandatory check of their ships. Then it will resume.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cThere are three things certain in the galaxy, as you Humans might say: Death, taxes and the MCR. The race will go on.\u201d\n\nDarring closed her eyes and laid her head back once again. She fought tears. \u201cYes, but it\u2019s over for me.\u201d\n\nA pause, then, \u201cNot yet.\u201d\n\nShe tried asking how, but on cue, the room door opened and in walked Mo\u2018tak, straight and proud, wearing a fresh jumpsuit of gold and purple. Three reporters followed in his wake, one with a camera. He pulled his mouth back and said in a sincere voice, \u201cAh, I am so glad to see you awake. You had us all worried.\u201d\n\nI bet. She wanted to say those very words, but the strong pressure that Guul placed on her arm with his hand recommended otherwise. She forced her anger down and tried to smile. \u201cIt seems as if the Fates are on my side.\u201d\n\nMo\u2018tak nodded. \u201cIndeed. And it would also seem that Lady Luck has granted you favor as well. With my gift, you can now return to the race.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat gift?\u201d\n\nMo\u2018tak seemed surprised, \u201cYour friend hasn\u2019t told you?\u201d\n\n\u201cI was just about to,\u201d Guul said.\n\n\u201cWell, then let me say it proudly for all to hear.\u201d Mo\u2018tak adjusted his position among the reporters, giving them time to ready.\n\nThe Xi\u2019an cleared his throat. \u201cI and the Xu.oa family corporation want to again strenuously condemn Ykonde Remisk\u2019s actions. His cowardly assaults are inconsistent with what I and the MCR are all about. The integrity of the race must be maintained. Thus, as a gesture of good will and healthy competition, I have donated my personal M50 so that Hypatia Darring can return to the race.\u201d\n\nIt took a moment for the announcement to register in her mind. To help drive the point home, a vid screen activated to reveal a clean, gold-and-purple trimmed M50. It was brilliant, beautiful. Darring loved it, but worried about Mo\u2018tak\u2019s motivation.\n\n\u201cNo way,\u201d she barked, pulling herself up in the tub. \u201cI\u2019m not putting one toe into that \u2014\u201d\n\nGuul applied pressure to her arm once again. \u201cWhat Ms. Darring is saying is that she would be honored to accept your gift and looks forward to further competition in the days ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cHey,\u201d she said, pulling her arm away. \u201cDon\u2019t answer for me. I\u2019m not a child, dammit!\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, let\u2019s leave Ms. Darring and Mr. Guul alone,\u201d Mo\u2018tak said. \u201cClearly, they have much to discuss.\u201d He leaned over Darring\u2019s tub and stared into her eyes, his mouth inches from her face. \u201cI\u2019m so glad to see you well. Please do accept my offer. It would be a shame to lose one with so much talent.\u201d\n\nThey scurried out, but left the image of the M50 on the vid screen. When the door closed, she rounded on Guul. \u201cYou don\u2019t answer for me.\u201d\n\nGuul shook his head. \u201cIf you refuse this offer from Mo\u2018tak, he will have won thrice: by getting rid of Remisk, by getting rid of you, and by further damaging your reputation. Racing is as much about your public image as it is about skill. You already have a bad reputation. Don\u2019t damage it further by being ungracious.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s his ship!\u201d she said, pointing to the vid screen. \u201cHe\u2019s done something to it, I\u2019m sure.\u201d\n\nGuul shook his head. \u201cNo, he\u2019s not that stupid. There\u2019s too much light on the competition now, too much that\u2019s transpired. He can\u2019t afford to offer this gift and then sabotage it. He\u2019s done all he can do. It\u2019s a matter of who\u2019s the best now. There\u2019s plenty of racing left, Hypatia. Go out there and prove to everyone, prove to Mo\u2018tak, that you will not be stopped, that you are the best.\u201d\n\nDespite the logic in his words, Darring wanted to refuse Mo\u2018tak\u2019s gift. On the other hand, to beat Mo\u2018tak with his own ship would be so lovely. But it wasn\u2019t just a matter of getting up and strapping into the cockpit. Every M50 had its own quirks, its own personality. There were always balancing issues, thrust issues, drift issues that needed to be identified and learned. The cockpit displays would need to be configured to her own preferences, which would take time to sort out. And it could take weeks for her to get comfortable on the stick and throttle. She had maybe 48 hours to make it all work. Her burns were healing in this goo around her, but her flesh was tight and still stung beneath her movements. Mo\u2018tak was setting her up to fail. He didn\u2019t need to sabotage the ship, she realized. Her current condition was enough to slow her down.\n\nAnd now Guul was taking advantage of their new friendship. He had no right to interrupt her and speak for her publicly. Guul may admire me, she thought as she pulled herself up and sat on the edge of the tub. Now, he needs to respect me.\n\n\u201cOkay, Zogat,\u201d she said, looking around for a towel. \u201cYou win. I\u2019ll accept his offer. I\u2019ll show him I\u2019m the best, but more importantly . . . I\u2019ll show you.\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nHello again, and welcome to another GSN Spectrum broadcast of the Murray Cup Race. After the tragedy rising from the Sorrow Sea, Darring\u2019s near death experience, and Remisk\u2019s shocking confession, the competition has gotten back on track and has settled into a sweet groove. From the midway checkpoint and out all the way to Ellis XII, the top racers have pushed their craft to the limit. Hypatia Darring has come back with a vengeance, accepting Mo\u2018tak\u2019s M50 and taking two of the last three stages through the asteroid belt and back to the final checkpoint at Ellis VIII. The competition around Ellis IX, in particular, proved raucous, as Darring slowed to allow Mo\u2018tak to gain the lead while dogging Guul\u2019s Hornet, forcing him to flirt with the Eye\u2019s crushing tidal forces. No love was lost between those two during the following press conference. But now the Tevarin veteran has surprised everyone once again by taking the final obstacle course in the outer asteroid belt, showing a refinement that proves he will go down in history as one of the finest pilots ever to race The Cup. Now, the competition enters its final leg with only 65 racers remaining, and the top three positions held by Mo\u2018tak, Darring and Guul. Can these three power-houses hold out, or will someone else fly past and beat them all?\n\nThe final leg awaits. Let\u2019s kick it back to Mike Crenshaw who\u2019s in the thick of it. What\u2019s the mood on the carrier, Mike?\n\n* * *\n\nRaw.\n\nThat\u2019s what Darring was. Just a raw nerve, always ready to spark if given a chance. Guul had hoped to share with her a little of his experience, teach her some wisdom, in a sport just as rough on the spirit as it was on the body and mind. And perhaps she had learned a little.\n\nShe was racing better, maneuvering better, taking to heart his philosophy . . . speed is life. But looking across the carrier bay floor at her as she ran a cloth across the belly of her borrowed M50, Zogat Guul could not tell if Darring\u2019s improvement was motivated by skill or anger. Did it really matter? In the end, if she blew across the finish line in first place, it would all boil down to victory. And that was the ultimate goal of everyone in the race. Go home a winner . . . or just go home.\n\n\u201cHypatia Darring has it out for you, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d\n\nCrenshaw\u2019s face was all perky as if he had just said something infinitely clever and devious.\n\nGuul did not take the bait. \u201cShe is a tough competitor. Like a Tevarin, she shows her enemy no mercy.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut she held back around The Eye just to force you to lose. That\u2019s the move of someone bearing a grudge. What did you do?\u201d\n\nWhat indeed. Perhaps he had come on too strong. Was it when he interrupted her and spoke for her publicly at the hospital? She would not say when he asked; instead, she would change the subject or walk away. But direct action, direct speech was his way. Surely she realized he was right. She had to compete. She had to accept Mo\u2018tak\u2019s offer and finish the race. Not just for herself, but for the honor of her family. Surely she did not blame him for pointing that out.\n\n\u201cScurry away, bug.\u201d\n\nMo\u2018tak appeared, alone this time, and flicked his fingers at Crenshaw as if he were swatting a fly. \u201cThe Tevarin warrior will not condescend to answer such a silly question. Shoo! Go bother someone else.\u201d\n\nCrenshaw pulled a rueful face but retreated nonetheless.\n\nWhen he was gone, Mo\u2018tak closed on Guul and offered his hand. \u201cGood luck,\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cYou want to break my hand like you tried to break Hypatia\u2019s?\u201d\n\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t dream of it, my friend. I merely want to wish you a safe final course. This is your last, isn\u2019t it?\u201d\n\nGuul nodded. \u201cPerhaps.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd you are braced to win it all and be remembered as the greatest racer in the history of the sport. For that, I wish you good luck.\u201d\n\nGuul took the handshake reluctantly. Mo\u2018tak\u2019s fingers were firm but not vise-like. He moved until he was beside the Tevarin. Mo\u2018tak placed his free hand on Guul\u2019s back.\n\n\u201cLook at it all one last time, Zogat. All of it. The bay, the racers, the media, the hustle and bustle of the crews. You will miss it. But I think you will miss that young lady right there most of all.\u201d\n\nBefore Guul had a chance to speak, Mo\u2018tak pushed his hand hard against the Tevarin\u2019s neck.\n\nGuul felt a slight pinch and jerked away. A warm flush spread across his skin. \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d\n\nMo\u2018tak maintained his composure and kept looking forward as if they were having a pleasant conversation. \u201cTo win against racers as skilled as yourself and Darring will be quite the honor,\u201d he said, as the media crowded around once more. \u201cGood luck out there, old friend.\u201d\n\nGuul rubbed his neck. The Xi\u2019an had done something to him, but Mo\u2019tak had again done his scheming in such a way that left very little evidence. Perhaps if Guul called the MCR authorities over now, they could find something, but more likely his accusations would prove to be unfounded. He looked out at everyone suiting up, strapping in, readying for the final course. He could choose not to race. If Mo\u2019tak had drugged him as he suspected, then it would be quite dangerous to climb into his cockpit. But he quickly shoved the thought aside. He couldn\u2019t get out now, not when the end was so close. It wasn\u2019t in him. He had to take his own advice. He had to finish the race.\n\nHe looked across the bay floor, toward Darring. She was putting on her helmet, getting ready to climb into her cockpit. He tried catching her attention with a wave. She did not see him, or she was ignoring him. Whatever the reason, he was grateful that he had had an opportunity in the twilight of his career to race against such a warrior, such a competitor as she.\n\nSpeed is life, he thought as he put on his helmet with shaking hands. But as always, speed also might mean death.\n\n* * *\n\nGuul was just ahead of her, Mo\u2018tak at her six. She was perfectly placed to take advantage of the Tevarin\u2019s erratic behavior. He had been speeding up, slowing down, speeding up, as if unsure what to do. Or perhaps he was playing with her, working to sap her resolve, force her to slow down and deal with his uncharacteristic movements, thus giving the lead away to Mo\u2018tak. But that was silly. Guul did not want the ruthless Xi\u2019an to win any more than she did. So, what was his game?\n\nThey raced in high orbit above Ellis VIII. The final stretch was a long, loping crazy-eight of rings that flashed brilliant reds and greens and whites, keeping a tempo with the natural flow of the racers as they shot past one another near the intersect. It was a dangerous place, for racers coming out of those rings could slam into one another and ricochet into space. Even if your ship survived, the time it would take to recover from such a collision would be race-ending.\n\nTwo orbital grandstands just outside the course held spectators and prominent dignitaries that had come out to see and share in the glory of the winner. The MCR allowed the energy and excitement of the crowds to be broadcast into the cockpits of each racer as GSN announcers gave the minute-by-minute account of the final laps. Some racers thrived on the energy of the crowds. Some reveled in the noise. Darring muted it all, preferring instead to concentrate on the racers around her.\n\nShe maneuvered her M50 to the right of Guul, taking advantage of the loop. He swung his Hornet out a touch too far, and she slipped right in beside him. His wing grazed the invisible walls of the ring course, letting the tip of it cut through the barrier like a shark\u2019s fin cresting a wave. He\u2019d lose time for that, but he didn\u2019t seem to care, keeping his craft pressed against the loop to ride it all the way around. He\u2019s getting old, she thought, letting a smile slip across her lips. Can\u2019t handle the rigors of such a sharp turn anymore. Then she thought better of gloating. She wanted to beat him, to make him see her as a racer, an equal, not as a puppy dog to counsel. But she didn\u2019t want him to leave the race. There was still plenty of track left, plenty of twists and turns, and Mo\u2018tak was right on them.\n\nThe Xi\u2019an thrust his 350r down to run right below her belly, preventing an interloper behind him in a souped-up Avenger from making a move. Darring banked to the right and felt the tug of strong G\u2019s despite being held tightly in the chair. Her skin had healed well and there was a little pain in her shoulders, but such a move reminded her of the frailty of flesh and her own mortality. Bank too strongly, and you could pass out.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re not winning this one, Mo\u2018tak,\u201d she said into her comm. Only her crew chief could hear it, but he shared her sentiment. He gave her directions which she accepted and moved her craft to the left as they cleared the loop and headed for the final intersect.\n\nGuul came up to her side again, but he was still moving oddly, letting his wings wobble on the rebalance. She shook her head and focused on Mo\u2018tak, who had gunned his engine, showing significant burn out of his exhaust nozzles. He wouldn\u2019t dare cross her cockpit now, not with the MCR looking on so intently. In fact, Mo\u2018tak had acted reasonably well since his vanity display at the hospital. He\u2019d let his racing skills speak for themselves. So perhaps he wasn\u2019t such a rotten son-of-a bitch after all. But she wouldn\u2019t be keeping his gift after the race.\n\nRed blips danced on her radar, showing hazards as she crossed the intersect.\n\nShe drifted up in the lane, taking the traditional approach for a right-side cross. Mo\u2018tak followed, but Guul struggled to drift up, taking too long, letting his craft fall behind once more. She fought the urge to link into his comm. Mo\u2018tak tried to force her down. She gripped her stick and moved with him, not letting him gain advantage. The blips on the screen grew brighter. She keyed her focus, thrust her M50 forward and sailed into the intersect.\n\nLagging ships flew past her at the right angle, trying desperately to keep up with the pack. One nearly clipped her wing. She banked left just in time. She tried finding Guul and Mo\u2018tak in the flurry of crimson blips on her screen. It was impossible. She banked left, right, left again, swirling through screaming racers.\n\nDarring flew out of the intersect, righted her ship once more, and prepared for the final run. She checked her radar. The madness there settled to show those that had gotten through and were in pursuit. Damn! Mo\u2018tak settled again beside her, and Guul was not far behind, though struggling still. Why can\u2019t I shake these bastards?\n\nFinally, Guul made the move she was expecting. The Tevarin thrust his Hornet forward, clipping between her and Mo\u2018tak at such velocity that he was nothing but a blur. Her heart raced alongside him. She gunned her engine, falling just behind him, watching as the blips on her radar were replaced by the long green pulsing line of the final straightaway. She could hardly contain her excitement. She, Hypatia Darring, in second place on the final lap around Ellis VIII. The perfect position to make a final move and win it all. And there was Zogat Guul, the master, egging her on, forcing her to put away her silly feud and chase him, chase him for glory, for fame, for personal fulfillment. A laugh of pure joy escape her lips.\n\nSpeed is life.\n\nThey hit the final stretch together. One full lap around rocky Ellis VIII. Full bore speed. There was nothing like it in the galaxy. She could not contain her excitement. She screamed into her comm. Mo\u2018tak tried to muscle his way into her space. She refused him. He tried again. She pushed her M50 even faster, keeping pace with Guul, letting the green lights of the radar draw her forward.\n\nGuul slowed, fell alongside her, slowed again, letting her take the lead. Bullshit, she thought, frustration growing as she punched a panel and said to him, \u201cWhat the hell are you doing?\u201d\n\nShe was greeted with coughing, spitting and moans. Something was terribly wrong. \u201cI\u2019m glad to speak to you once more, Hypatia.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo you remember what you told me? What you made me promise? If I were in a position to win, I\u2019d win. And now here you are, about to win, and you\u2019re falling back. Explain.\u201d\n\nGuul coughed. It sounded thick, bloody. \u201cIt isn\u2019t important that I win, Hypatia. I\u2019ve won enough in my life. It\u2019s time for others to shine. It\u2019s time for you to shine. Now, go beat him. And remember what I told you.\u201d\n\nHe cut their link. Darring shouted, but he was gone. Guul fell back, and back, until she could not see him anymore.\n\nMo\u2018tak pounced and took the lead. Shit! She gunned it, moved down in the lane, set her craft just below Mo\u2018tak\u2019s. The sleek, long body of his 350r shadowing her smaller M50. There was no doubt his craft had the endurance; in a rough and tumble, he\u2019d prevail. She had to get out from his shadow, his influence. The only way to do that . . .\n\nShe tried pushing her plant, thumbed the throttle hard, but it did not register. She tried again. Her dashboard controls blinked, once, twice, then resettled with different settings, measurements, displays. What the \u2014\n\n\u201cHow\u2019s my ship?\u201d\n\nDarring\u2019s heart sank. \u201cMo\u2018tak!\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is indeed,\u201d he said, his voice fuzzy over the comm, \u201cand now that I have your undivided attention, I will reclaim what is mine.\u201d\n\nNothing she did registered. She tapped panels, flicked switches, tried raising an MCR official over the comm. Everything was null, but her ship responded quickly to Mo\u2018tak\u2019s remote commands. He banked to the left; she did the same. He banked right, she followed. The Xi\u2019an finally settled his 350r beside her, waved smugly at her through his cockpit window, commanded her ship to move slightly ahead, then said, \u201cI\u2019ll let you take the lead for a little while, my dear, then I\u2019ll dramatically pull forward at the last minute, flying on to victory, while you spiral out of control, hitting the royal grandstand and killing dozens. You\u2019ll be remembered as the Butcher of Ellis.\u201d\n\nShe pushed and prodded at the stick, banged at the dashboard. She even struck the eject controls. Nothing. \u201cI\u2019ll kill you first, you sorry son of a bitch.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd how will you do that, my dear? You have no control over anything . . . and your Tevarin is gone.\u201d\n\nAs if on cue, a bright streak soared past them both, a flush of red and gold nozzle fire. It was burning, its power plant pushed beyond integrity. Darring squinted to see who it was. She recognized the blue Tevarin lettering on the hull.\n\nGuul.\n\nHis Hornet barreled ahead, all flame and fury. Darring could hear Mo\u2018tak curse beneath his breath. She tried again to take control of her stick. Nothing. She tried calling out to Guul, but all she could hear was Mo\u2018tak\u2019s agitated mumblings as he commanded her ship to move up and ahead of him. Darring watched intently as Guul flipped his burning craft around, shifted it to align perfectly with her own, and headed straight for her.\n\nHer comm crackled with another voice. \u201cMove!\u201d it said, ragged, faint. \u201cDive! Dive!\u201d\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t!\u201d she screamed back, but there was no response. Only Mo\u2018tak\u2019s maddening cackle could be heard. \u201cSay to him whatever you wish. He cannot hear you.\u201d\n\nGuul banked left. Darring\u2019s ship moved to shadow the Hornet. He banked right; she banked in kind. Guul\u2019s weakening voice continued pleading for her to get out of the way. Tears streamed down her face; her voice broke from exertion. Mo\u2018tak laughed and laughed.\n\nHer ship spun like a cork-screw on its long axis. She closed her eyes, waited for impact, whispering softly to Guul, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m sorry . . .\u201d\n\nThen she remembered.\n\nBeneath the dashboard of every M50 lay a panel, and inside it, a power cut-off valve independent of the main electrical and command systems. Could Mo\u2018tak have forgotten it? He might have, so foolishly overconfident in his scheming and backstabbing, and spending too much time in his 350r to remember all the systems of his secondary ship. But it might be: A mistake . . . finally.\n\nThrough the dizzying haze of her spinning, she reached beneath the dash, found the panel with shaking fingers, ripped it open, and pulled the valve.\n\n\u201cYou lose, Mo\u2018tak!\u201d\n\nThe power plant died, and with that sudden lack of propulsion her ship spun to port. Zogat Guul slipped right past her, hitting Mo\u2018tak\u2019s ship square in the front, exploding on impact, and sending their shattered, burning hulls into the void.\n\nThe cockpit came alive, her stick again responsive. She pulled her ship out of spin, reignited the plant, and blew across the finish line ahead of all others.\n\nHer pit crew went wild, matching her own screaming, but for different reasons. They were joyous, elated, happy that their racer \u2014 the youngest Human to ever win the MCR \u2014 had just done so, and in a blaze of glory. They were happy, and they deserved to be.\n\nShe was not. Oh, she was happy to have won, to have taken the Cup, to have proven to her father that her choice in career was not foolish. She laid her head back into her chair and cried. Cried joyous tears for Guul. She understood fully now his words, echoing loudly in her mind. Speed is life, and there was no life without speed. She understood that now.\n\nThe Cup was just one race in a thousand that lay ahead of her, and there would be no true happiness until she had raced them all and chased down that beast that lay in front of her, that lay in front of all racers. In his fiery death, Zogat Guul had finally caught the beast. Now, it was her turn to chase it, and she would do so for him, for Guul . . . forever.\n\nBeyond the finish line, beyond the grandstands, beyond the accolades and cheering fans, Hypatia Darring gunned her power plant and kept racing.\n\nTHE END","de_DE":"Anmerkung des Autors: Teil drei des Cups wurde urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 1.10 ver\u00f6ffentlicht. Bevor Sie das letzte Kapitel lesen, lesen Sie Teil Eins und Teil Zwei.\nDarring hat sich von ihrem entt\u00e4uschenden Start in der Cup-Serie erholt und hat sich wieder an die Spitze des Teams gearbeitet. Sie ist auf dem Weg zum Sieg in der Trauersee - dem Boneyard -, als ihr Schiff explosionsartig \u00fcberhitzt wird.....\n\nDarring erwachte in einem ruhigen, desinfizierten Raum mit wei\u00dfen W\u00e4nden und piepsenden Monitoren. Sie lag in einer medbay Wanne mit einem blassen, viskosen Gel. Es gab \u00dcberwachungsknoten an ihrem Hals und ihrer Brust. Sie hob ihren Arm aus der Fl\u00fcssigkeit und versuchte, sich aufzurichten. Eine starke Hand hielt sie davon ab, dies zu tun.\n\n\"Noch nicht\", sagte die Stimme. \"Nicht, bis der Arzt sagt, dass es in Ordnung ist.\"\n\nSie legte ihren Kopf zur\u00fcck an die Wannenwand und blinzelte wiederholt, bis die Figur \u00fcber ihr in den Fokus kam. \"Zogat\", sagte sie, ihre Stimme bricht, ihre Kehle trocken und past\u00f6s. \"Wo - wo - wo -\"\n\n\"Tr\u00e4gerkrankenhaus\", sagte er, \"im Orbit \u00fcber Ellis VIII.\".\n\nSie versuchte, wieder aufzusitzen und f\u00fchlte einen tiefen Schmerz in ihrer Schulter, als sie ihre Arme bewegte. Sie griff \u00fcber ihre Brust und f\u00fchlte eine Schicht verbrannter Haut, weich und geschmeidig durch die Fl\u00fcssigkeit, aber immer noch vorhanden. Erschreckende Erinnerungen str\u00f6mten zur\u00fcck. \" Mein Schiff?\"\n\nGuul nickte. \"Nicht wiederherstellbar. Es ist jetzt ein Teil des Trauermeeres.\"\n\nDarring massierte ihre wunde Schulter. \"Was ist passiert?\"\n\n\"Sie wissen es nicht genau. Aber Ihr Schiff durchlief einen raschen Temperaturanstieg, der das Kraftwerk entz\u00fcndete. Es ist ein Wunder, dass es nicht explodiert ist, w\u00e4hrend du noch angeschnallt warst.\"\n\n\"Wissen sie, was es verursacht hat?\"\n\n\"Sie konnten nicht genug vom Rumpf und seiner \u00dcberwachungsausr\u00fcstung zur\u00fcckgewinnen, um die genaue Ursache zu kennen. Aber....\" Er hielt inne und lie\u00df das Wort dort im Raum zwischen ihnen verweilen. \"Remisk hat gestanden.\"\n\n\" Was?\"\n\n\"Er hat es gestanden. Wurde w\u00fctend, griff tats\u00e4chlich einen Reporter an, riss ihr fast das Gesicht ab. Er sagt, dass er eine Art Kapsel in deinen Tank gesteckt hat; oder besser gesagt, jemanden in deiner Crew angeheuert hat, um es zu tun, die \u00fcbrigens geschrubbt wurde. Er hat sogar gestanden, dass er diese Schl\u00e4ger gegen uns geschickt hat.\"\n\nSie nickte und f\u00fchlte einen Moment der Erleichterung. \"Dann ist Mo'tak auch fertig.\"\n\nGuul warf seine Augen nach unten. Er sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Nein, Hypatia. Mo'tak hat nichts gestanden, und Remisk hat auch niemanden sonst mit einbezogen. Er ist katatonisch geworden, kann nicht sprechen, kann sich nicht bewegen. Er ist auf etwas aus, aber es kann nicht entdeckt werden. Sie f\u00fcrchten, dass er sterben wird, bevor er verh\u00f6rt wird. Er ist raus, aber Mo'tak ist immer noch drin und hat Remisk \u00f6ffentlich mit den m\u00e4chtigsten Worten verurteilt. Das Rennen wurde f\u00fcr einige Tage ausgesetzt, so dass alle verbleibenden Besatzungen eine obligatorische \u00dcberpr\u00fcfung ihrer Schiffe durchf\u00fchren k\u00f6nnen. Dann wird es wieder aufgenommen.\" Er sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Es gibt drei Dinge, die in der Galaxie sicher sind, wie ihr Menschen sagen k\u00f6nntet. Tod, Steuern und das MCR. Das Rennen wird weitergehen.\"\n\nDarring schloss die Augen und legte den Kopf wieder zur\u00fcck. Sie k\u00e4mpfte gegen Tr\u00e4nen. \"Ja, aber f\u00fcr mich ist es vorbei.\"\n\nDann eine Pause, \"Noch nicht\".\n\nSie versuchte zu fragen, wie, aber auf Stichwort, \u00f6ffnete sich die Zimmert\u00fcr und ging Mo'tak, gerade und stolz, mit einem frischen Overall aus Gold und Lila. Drei Reporter folgten ihm, einer mit einer Kamera. Er zog seinen Mund zur\u00fcck und sagte mit aufrichtiger Stimme: \"Ah, ich bin so froh, dass du wach bist. Du hast uns alle Sorgen gemacht.\"\n\nDarauf wette ich. Sie wollte genau diese Worte sagen, aber der starke Druck, den Guul mit seiner Hand auf ihren Arm aus\u00fcbte, empfahl etwas anderes. Sie zwang ihren Zorn nach unten und versuchte zu l\u00e4cheln. \"Es scheint, als w\u00e4ren die Schicksale auf meiner Seite.\"\n\nMo'tak nickte. \"In der Tat. Und es scheint auch, dass Lady Luck dir ebenfalls einen Gefallen erwiesen hat. Mit meinem Geschenk kannst du jetzt zum Rennen zur\u00fcckkehren.\"\n\n\"Welches Geschenk?\"\n\nMo'tak schien \u00fcberrascht: \"Dein Freund hat es dir nicht gesagt?\"\n\n\"Ich war gerade dabei\", sagte Guul.\n\n\"Nun, dann lass es mich stolz sagen, dass es alle h\u00f6ren k\u00f6nnen.\" Mo'tak passte seine Position unter den Reportern an und gab ihnen Zeit, sich vorzubereiten.\n\nDer Xi'an r\u00e4usperte sich. \"Ich und das Familienunternehmen Xu.oa wollen die Handlungen von Ykonde Remisk erneut scharf verurteilen. Seine feigen \u00dcbergriffe stehen im Widerspruch zu dem, worum es bei mir und der MCR geht. Die Integrit\u00e4t der Rasse muss gewahrt bleiben. So habe ich als Geste des guten Willens und des gesunden Wettbewerbs meinen pers\u00f6nlichen M50 gespendet, damit Hypatia Darring zum Rennen zur\u00fcckkehren kann.\"\n\nEs dauerte einen Moment, bis sich die Ank\u00fcndigung in ihrem Kopf niederlie\u00df. Um den Punkt nach Hause zu bringen, wird ein Videobildschirm aktiviert, der einen sauberen, gold- und violett besetzten M50 anzeigt. Es war brillant, wundersch\u00f6n. Darring liebte es, machte sich aber Sorgen um Mo'taks Motivation.\n\n\"Auf keinen Fall\", bellte sie und zog sich in die Wanne. \"Ich setze keinen Zeh da rein -\"\n\nGuul \u00fcbte wieder Druck auf ihren Arm aus. \"Was Frau Darring sagt, ist, dass sie sich geehrt f\u00fchlt, Ihr Geschenk anzunehmen und sich auf einen weiteren Wettbewerb in den kommenden Tagen freut.\"\n\n\"Hey\", sagte sie und zog ihren Arm weg. \"Antworte nicht f\u00fcr mich. Ich bin kein Kind, verdammt!\"\n\n\"Nun, lassen wir Ms. Darring und Mr. Guul in Ruhe\", sagte Mo'tak. \"Offensichtlich haben sie viel zu besprechen.\" Er lehnte sich \u00fcber Darrings Badewanne und starrte ihr in die Augen, sein Mund z\u00f6llerte sich von ihrem Gesicht. \"Ich bin so froh, dich gut zu sehen. Bitte nehmen Sie mein Angebot an. Es w\u00e4re eine Schande, einen mit so viel Talent zu verlieren.\"\n\nSie huschten hinaus, lie\u00dfen aber das Bild des M50 auf dem Videobildschirm zur\u00fcck. Als sich die T\u00fcr schloss, rannte sie auf Guul zu. \"Du antwortest nicht f\u00fcr mich.\"\n\nGuul sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Wenn du dieses Angebot von Mo'tak ablehnst, wird er dreimal gewonnen haben: indem er Remisk loswird, indem er dich loswird und indem er deinen Ruf weiter sch\u00e4digt. Beim Rennsport geht es sowohl um dein \u00f6ffentliches Image als auch um dein K\u00f6nnen. Du hast bereits einen schlechten Ruf. Sch\u00e4digen Sie es nicht weiter, indem Sie unh\u00f6flich sind.\"\n\n\"Aber es ist sein Schiff!\" sagte sie und zeigte auf den Videobildschirm. \"Er hat etwas damit gemacht, da bin ich mir sicher.\"\n\nGuul sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Nein, so dumm ist er nicht. Es gibt jetzt zu viel Licht auf die Konkurrenz, zu viel, was passiert ist. Er kann es sich nicht leisten, dieses Geschenk anzubieten und es dann zu sabotieren. Er hat alles getan, was er konnte. Es geht darum, wer jetzt der Beste ist. Es gibt noch jede Menge Rennen, Hypatia. Geh da raus und beweise es allen, beweise es Mo'tak, dass du nicht aufgehalten wirst, dass du der Beste bist.\"\n\nTrotz der Logik seiner Worte wollte Darring Mo'taks Geschenk ablehnen. Andererseits w\u00e4re es so sch\u00f6n, Mo'tak mit seinem eigenen Schiff zu schlagen. Aber es ging nicht nur darum, aufzustehen und sich ins Cockpit zu schnallen. Jeder M50 hatte seine eigenen Eigenheiten, seine eigene Pers\u00f6nlichkeit. Es gab immer wieder Balanceprobleme, Schubprobleme, Driftprobleme, die identifiziert und gelernt werden mussten. Die Cockpit-Displays m\u00fcssten nach ihren eigenen W\u00fcnschen konfiguriert werden, was einige Zeit in Anspruch nehmen w\u00fcrde. Und es k\u00f6nnte Wochen dauern, bis sie es sich am Steuer und am Gashebel bequem gemacht hat. Sie hatte vielleicht 48 Stunden Zeit, damit alles funktioniert. Ihre Verbrennungen heilten in diesem Glibber um sie herum, aber ihr Fleisch war eng und steckte immer noch unter ihren Bewegungen. Mo'tak wollte sie zum Scheitern bringen. Er musste das Schiff nicht sabotieren, das wurde ihr klar. Ihr aktueller Zustand reichte aus, um sie zu verlangsamen.\n\nUnd jetzt nutzte Guul die Vorteile ihrer neuen Freundschaft. Er hatte kein Recht, sie zu unterbrechen und \u00f6ffentlich f\u00fcr sie zu sprechen. Guul darf mich bewundern, dachte sie, als sie sich hochzog und sich auf den Rand der Wanne setzte. Jetzt muss er mich respektieren.\n\n\"Okay, Zogat\", sagte sie und suchte nach einem Handtuch. \"Du hast gewonnen. Ich werde sein Angebot annehmen. Ich werde ihm zeigen, dass ich der Beste bin, aber was noch wichtiger ist..... Ich zeige es dir.\"\n\n* * *\n\nHallo noch einmal, und willkommen zu einer weiteren GSN Spectrum Sendung vom Murray Cup Race. Nach der Trag\u00f6die aus der Trauersee, Darrings Nahtoderfahrung und Remisks schockierendem Gest\u00e4ndnis ist der Wettbewerb wieder auf Kurs gekommen und hat sich in eine s\u00fc\u00dfe Rille verwandelt. Von der Zwischenkontrolle bis hin zur Ellis XII haben die Top-Rennfahrer ihr K\u00f6nnen bis an die Grenzen ausgeweitet. Hypatia Darring ist mit voller Wucht zur\u00fcckgekehrt, hat Mo'taks M50 akzeptiert und zwei der letzten drei Etappen durch den Asteroideng\u00fcrtel und zur\u00fcck zum letzten Kontrollpunkt bei Ellis VIII genommen. Insbesondere die Konkurrenz um Ellis IX erwies sich als heftig, da Darring verlangsamte, um Mo'tak die F\u00fchrung zu verschaffen, w\u00e4hrend er Guuls Hornisse verfolgte, was ihn zwang, mit den zerst\u00f6rerischen Gezeitenkr\u00e4ften des Auges zu flirten. Bei der anschlie\u00dfenden Pressekonferenz ging zwischen den beiden keine Liebe verloren. Aber jetzt hat der Tevarin-Veteran alle wieder einmal \u00fcberrascht, indem er den letzten Hindernisparcours im \u00e4u\u00dferen Asteroideng\u00fcrtel absolvierte und eine Verfeinerung zeigte, die beweist, dass er als einer der besten Piloten, die je im The Cup Rennen waren, in die Geschichte eingehen wird. Nun geht der Wettbewerb in seine letzte Etappe, wobei nur noch 65 Fahrer \u00fcbrig sind und Mo'tak, Darring und Guul die ersten drei Pl\u00e4tze belegen. K\u00f6nnen diese drei Kraftzentren aushalten, oder wird jemand anderes vorbeifliegen und sie alle schlagen?\n\nDie letzte Etappe wartet. Lassen Sie es uns auf Mike Crenshaw zur\u00fcckwerfen, der mittendrin steckt. Wie ist die Stimmung auf dem Tr\u00e4ger, Mike?\n\n* * *\n\nRoh.\n\nDas ist es, was Darring war. Nur ein roher Nerv, immer bereit zu funken, wenn man ihm eine Chance gibt. Guul hatte gehofft, mit ihr ein wenig von seiner Erfahrung zu teilen, ihr etwas Weisheit beizubringen, in einem Sport, der den Geist genauso hart trifft wie den K\u00f6rper und den Geist. Und vielleicht hatte sie ein wenig gelernt.\n\nSie raste besser, man\u00f6vrierte besser, nahm sich seine Philosophie zu Herzen.... Geschwindigkeit ist das Leben. Aber als Zogat Guul \u00fcber den Boden der Tr\u00e4gerbucht blickte und ein Tuch \u00fcber den Bauch ihres geliehenen M50 lief, konnte er nicht erkennen, ob Darrings Verbesserung durch Geschick oder Wut motiviert war. War das wirklich wichtig? Wenn sie am Ende als Erste \u00fcber die Ziellinie fliegen w\u00fcrde, w\u00fcrde alles zum Sieg f\u00fchren. Und das war das ultimative Ziel aller im Rennen. Geht nach Hause, als Sieger.... oder geht einfach nach Hause.\n\n\"Hypatia Darring hat es auf dich abgesehen, nicht wahr?\"\n\nCrenshaws Gesicht war ganz lebhaft, als h\u00e4tte er gerade etwas Unendlich Kluges und Verschlagenes gesagt.\n\nGuul hat den K\u00f6der nicht geschluckt. \"Sie ist eine harte Konkurrentin. Wie ein Tevarin zeigt sie ihrem Feind keine Gnade.\"\n\n\"Aber sie hielt sich um das Auge zur\u00fcck, nur um dich zum Verlieren zu zwingen. Das ist der Zug von jemandem, der einen Groll hegt. Was hast du getan?\"\n\nWas in der Tat. Vielleicht war er zu stark geworden. War es, als er sie unterbrach und im Krankenhaus \u00f6ffentlich f\u00fcr sie sprach? Sie w\u00fcrde es nicht sagen, wenn er fragte, sondern sie w\u00fcrde das Thema wechseln oder weggehen. Aber direkte Aktion, direkte Rede war sein Weg. Sicherlich erkannte sie, dass er Recht hatte. Sie musste sich messen. Sie musste Mo'taks Angebot annehmen und das Rennen beenden. Nicht nur f\u00fcr sich selbst, sondern auch f\u00fcr die Ehre ihrer Familie. Sicherlich hat sie es ihm nicht \u00fcbel genommen, dass er darauf hingewiesen hat.\n\n\"Verschwinde, K\u00e4fer.\"\n\nMo'tak erschien, diesmal allein, und schnippte mit den Fingern auf Crenshaw, als w\u00fcrde er eine Fliege schlagen. \"Der Tevarin-Krieger wird nicht herablassen, eine so dumme Frage zu beantworten. Husch! Geh und bel\u00e4stige jemand anderen.\"\n\nCrenshaw zog ein verh\u00e4ngnisvolles Gesicht, zog sich aber trotzdem zur\u00fcck.\n\nAls er weg war, schloss Mo'tak Guul und bot seine Hand an. \"Viel Gl\u00fcck\", sagte er.\n\n\"Du willst mir die Hand brechen, wie du versucht hast, die von Hypatia zu brechen?\"\n\n\"Ich w\u00fcrde nicht davon tr\u00e4umen, mein Freund. Ich m\u00f6chte dir nur einen sicheren letzten Kurs w\u00fcnschen. Das ist deine letzte, nicht wahr?\"\n\nGuul nickte. \" Vielleicht.\"\n\n\"Und du bist bereit, alles zu gewinnen und als der gr\u00f6\u00dfte Rennfahrer in der Geschichte des Sports in Erinnerung zu bleiben. Daf\u00fcr w\u00fcnsche ich dir viel Gl\u00fcck.\"\n\nGuul nahm den Handschlag widerwillig an. Mo'taks Finger waren fest, aber nicht visuell. Er bewegte sich, bis er neben dem Tevarin war. Mo'tak legte seine freie Hand auf Guuls R\u00fccken.\n\n\"Sieh dir das alles noch einmal an, Zogat. Alles davon. Die Bucht, die Rennfahrer, die Medien, das Treiben der Crews. Du wirst es vermissen. Aber ich denke, du wirst diese junge Dame dort am meisten vermissen.\"\n\nBevor Guul die Gelegenheit hatte zu sprechen, dr\u00fcckte Mo'tak seine Hand hart gegen den Hals des Tevarin.\n\nGuul f\u00fchlte eine leichte Kneifung und wichste weg. Ein warmer Flush breitete sich \u00fcber seine Haut aus. \"Was hast du getan?\"\n\nMo'tak behielt seine Gelassenheit bei und freute sich immer wieder darauf, als ob sie ein angenehmes Gespr\u00e4ch f\u00fchren w\u00fcrden. \"Gegen so erfahrene Rennfahrer wie dich und Darring zu gewinnen, wird eine Ehre sein\", sagte er, als sich die Medien wieder einmal dr\u00e4ngten. \"Viel Gl\u00fcck da drau\u00dfen, alter Freund.\"\n\nGuul rieb sich den Hals. Die Xi'an hatten ihm etwas angetan, aber Mo'tak hatte seine Intrigen wieder so gemacht, dass nur sehr wenige Beweise zur\u00fcckblieben. Wenn Guul jetzt vielleicht die MCR-Beh\u00f6rden anrufen w\u00fcrde, k\u00f6nnten sie etwas finden, aber wahrscheinlicher w\u00e4re es, dass sich seine Anschuldigungen als unbegr\u00fcndet erweisen w\u00fcrden. Er blickte auf alle, die sich anzogen, sich anschnallten und f\u00fcr den letzten Kurs bereit waren. Er konnte sich entscheiden, nicht zu fahren. Wenn Mo'tak ihn bet\u00e4ubt h\u00e4tte, wie er es vermutete, dann w\u00e4re es ziemlich gef\u00e4hrlich, in sein Cockpit zu steigen. Aber er schob den Gedanken schnell beiseite. Er konnte jetzt nicht raus, nicht, wenn das Ende so nah war. Es war nicht in ihm. Er musste seinen eigenen Rat befolgen. Er musste das Rennen beenden.\n\nEr blickte \u00fcber den Buchtboden, in Richtung Darring. Sie setzte ihren Helm auf und machte sich bereit, in ihr Cockpit zu klettern. Er versuchte, ihre Aufmerksamkeit mit einer Welle zu erregen. Sie sah ihn nicht, oder sie ignorierte ihn. Was auch immer der Grund war, er war dankbar, dass er in der D\u00e4mmerung seiner Karriere die Gelegenheit hatte, gegen einen solchen Krieger, eine solche Konkurrentin wie sie, anzutreten.\n\nGeschwindigkeit ist das Leben, dachte er, als er seinen Helm mit zitternden H\u00e4nden aufsetzte. Aber wie immer kann Geschwindigkeit auch den Tod bedeuten.\n\n* * *\n\nGuul war direkt vor ihr, Mo'tak auf sechs. Sie war perfekt platziert, um das unberechenbare Verhalten der Tevarin zu nutzen. Er hatte sich beschleunigt, verlangsamt, beschleunigt, als ob er sich nicht sicher w\u00e4re, was er tun sollte. Oder vielleicht spielte er mit ihr, arbeitete, um ihre Entschlossenheit zu schw\u00e4chen, sie zu zwingen, langsamer zu werden und sich mit seinen untypischen Bewegungen zu besch\u00e4ftigen, und gab so die F\u00fchrung an Mo'tak weiter. Aber das war albern. Guul wollte nicht, dass die r\u00fccksichtslose Xi'an mehr gewinnt als sie. Also, was war sein Spiel?\n\nSie fuhren in einer hohen Umlaufbahn \u00fcber Ellis VIII. Die letzte Strecke war eine lange, schr\u00e4ge, verr\u00fcckte Acht von Ringen, die leuchtende Rott\u00f6ne und Gr\u00fcn und Wei\u00df blitzten und ein Tempo mit dem nat\u00fcrlichen Fluss der Rennfahrer beibehielten, w\u00e4hrend sie in der N\u00e4he der Kreuzung aneinander vorbei schossen. Es war ein gef\u00e4hrlicher Ort, denn aus diesen Ringen kommende Rennfahrer konnten ineinander schlagen und abprallen. Selbst wenn Ihr Schiff \u00fcberlebt, w\u00e4re die Zeit, die es braucht, um sich von einer solchen Kollision zu erholen, ein Rennende.\n\nZwei Orbitaltrib\u00fcnen direkt vor dem Platz beherbergten Zuschauer und prominente W\u00fcrdentr\u00e4ger, die gekommen waren, um den Ruhm des Gewinners zu sehen und zu teilen. Die MCR erlaubte es, die Energie und Aufregung der Menge in die Cockpits der einzelnen Rennfahrer zu \u00fcbertragen, w\u00e4hrend die GSN-Ansager die letzten Runden min\u00fctlich berichteten. Einige Rennfahrer lebten von der Energie der Menge. Einige enth\u00fcllten sich im L\u00e4rm. Darring d\u00e4mpfte alles und zog es vor, sich stattdessen auf die Rennfahrer um sie herum zu konzentrieren.\n\nSie man\u00f6vrierte ihre M50 rechts von Guul und nutzte die Schleife. Er schwang seine Hornisse eine Ber\u00fchrung zu weit heraus, und sie schl\u00fcpfte direkt neben ihm hinein. Sein Fl\u00fcgel graste die unsichtbaren W\u00e4nde des Ringkurses und lie\u00df seine Spitze durch die Barriere schneiden, wie die Finne eines Hais, die eine Welle kr\u00f6nt. Er w\u00fcrde Zeit daf\u00fcr verlieren, aber es schien ihn nicht zu k\u00fcmmern, indem er sein Schiff gegen die Schlaufe dr\u00fcckte, um es den ganzen Weg herum zu fahren. Er wird alt, dachte sie und lie\u00df sich ein L\u00e4cheln \u00fcber die Lippen gleiten. Ich kann die H\u00e4rte einer so scharfen Kurve nicht mehr ertragen. Dann dachte sie besser daran, sich zu freuen. Sie wollte ihn schlagen, ihn dazu bringen, sie als Rennfahrerin zu sehen, eine Gleichgestellte, nicht als Welpenhund, der beraten werden sollte. Aber sie wollte nicht, dass er das Rennen verl\u00e4sst. Es gab noch viel Strecke \u00fcbrig, viele Kurven und Kurven, und Mo'tak war direkt auf ihnen.\n\nDer Xi'an stie\u00df seine 350r nach unten, um direkt unter ihren Bauch zu laufen, und verhinderte, dass ein Eindringling hinter ihm in einem aufgerauhten R\u00e4cher einen Zug machte. Darring neigte sich nach rechts und sp\u00fcrte das Ziehen von starken G's, obwohl sie fest im Stuhl gehalten wurden. Ihre Haut war gut verheilt und es gab ein wenig Schmerzen in ihren Schultern, aber ein solcher Schritt erinnerte sie an die Schw\u00e4che des Fleisches und ihre eigene Sterblichkeit. Zu starke Bank, und du k\u00f6nntest ohnm\u00e4chtig werden.\n\n\"Du gewinnst nicht, Mo'tak\", sagte sie in ihr Komm. Nur ihr Crewchef konnte es h\u00f6ren, aber er teilte ihre Gef\u00fchle. Er gab ihr Anweisungen, die sie annahm, und bewegte ihr Schiff nach links, als sie die Schleife freimachte und zur letzten Kreuzung fuhr.\n\nGuul kam wieder an ihre Seite, aber er bewegte sich immer noch seltsam und lie\u00df seine Fl\u00fcgel auf dem Gleichgewicht wackeln. Sie sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf und konzentrierte sich auf Mo'tak, der seinen Motor mit einem kr\u00e4ftigen Ausbrand aus seinen Auspuffd\u00fcsen beschossen hatte. Er w\u00fcrde es jetzt nicht wagen, ihr Cockpit zu \u00fcberqueren, nicht mit dem MCR, der so aufmerksam zusieht. Tats\u00e4chlich hatte Mo'tak sich seit seiner Eitelkeitsanzeige im Krankenhaus recht gut verhalten. Er lie\u00df seine Rennsportf\u00e4higkeiten f\u00fcr sich sprechen. Vielleicht war er also doch nicht so ein mieser Hurensohn. Aber sie w\u00fcrde sein Geschenk nach dem Rennen nicht behalten.\n\nRote Blips tanzten auf ihrem Radar und zeigten Gefahren, als sie die Kreuzung \u00fcberquerte.\n\nSie trieb auf der Fahrspur nach oben und nahm den traditionellen Ansatz f\u00fcr ein rechtes Kreuz. Mo'tak folgte, aber Guul k\u00e4mpfte darum, nach oben zu driften, was zu lange dauerte und sein Schiff wieder zur\u00fcckfallen lie\u00df. Sie k\u00e4mpfte gegen den Drang, sich mit seinem Kommando zu verbinden. Mo'tak versuchte, sie zu zwingen. Sie griff nach ihrem Stock und bewegte sich mit ihm, ohne dass er einen Vorteil daraus ziehen konnte. Die Blips auf dem Bildschirm wurden heller. Sie schloss ihren Fokus, stie\u00df ihre M50 nach vorne und segelte in die Kreuzung.\n\nVerz\u00f6gernde Schiffe flogen im rechten Winkel an ihr vorbei und versuchten verzweifelt, mit dem Rudel Schritt zu halten. Eine hat fast ihren Fl\u00fcgel gestutzt. Sie ging gerade noch rechtzeitig nach links. Sie versuchte, Guul und Mo'tak in der Flut der purpurroten Streifen auf ihrem Bildschirm zu finden. Es war unm\u00f6glich. Sie ging nach links, rechts, links, wieder nach links und wirbelte durch schreiende Rennfahrer.\n\nDarring flog aus der Kreuzung, richtete ihr Schiff noch einmal auf und bereitete sich auf den letzten Lauf vor. Sie hat ihr Radar \u00fcberpr\u00fcft. Der Wahnsinn dort lie\u00df sich nieder, um diejenigen zu zeigen, die durchgekommen waren und auf der Jagd waren. Verdammt! Mo'tak lie\u00df sich wieder neben ihr nieder, und Guul war nicht weit zur\u00fcck, obwohl er immer noch k\u00e4mpfte. Warum kann ich diese Bastarde nicht sch\u00fctteln?\n\nSchlie\u00dflich machte Guul den Zug, den sie erwartete. Der Tevarin dr\u00fcckte seine Hornisse nach vorne und klippte zwischen ihr und Mo'tak mit einer solchen Geschwindigkeit, dass er nichts als eine Unsch\u00e4rfe war. Ihr Herz raste neben ihm. Sie schoss mit ihrem Motor, fiel direkt hinter ihn und beobachtete, wie die Blips auf ihrem Radar durch die lange gr\u00fcne pulsierende Linie der letzten Geraden ersetzt wurden. Sie konnte ihre Aufregung kaum eind\u00e4mmen. Sie, Hypatia Darring, belegte in der letzten Runde um Ellis VIII. den zweiten Platz. Die perfekte Position, um einen letzten Zug zu machen und alles zu gewinnen. Und da war Zogat Guul, der Meister, der sie anstachelte und sie zwang, ihre dumme Fehde wegzulegen und ihn zu jagen, ihn zu jagen, um Ruhm, Ruhm und pers\u00f6nliche Erf\u00fcllung zu erlangen. Ein Lachen reiner Freude entgeht ihren Lippen.\n\nGeschwindigkeit ist das Leben.\n\nSie haben die letzte Strecke gemeinsam zur\u00fcckgelegt. Eine volle Runde um die felsige Ellis VIII. Volle Bohrungsgeschwindigkeit. In der Galaxie gab es nichts Vergleichbares. Sie konnte ihre Aufregung nicht eind\u00e4mmen. Sie schrie in ihr Funkger\u00e4t. Mo'tak versuchte, sich in ihren Raum zu muskeln. Sie lehnte ihn ab. Er versuchte es erneut. Sie dr\u00fcckte ihre M50 noch schneller, hielt mit Guul Schritt und lie\u00df sich von den gr\u00fcnen Lichtern des Radars nach vorne ziehen.\n\nGuul verlangsamte, fiel neben ihr her, verlangsamte wieder und lie\u00df sie die F\u00fchrung \u00fcbernehmen. Unsinn, dachte sie, die Frustration wuchs, als sie ein Feld schlug und zu ihm sagte: \"Was zum Teufel machst du da?\"\n\nSie wurde mit Husten, Spucken und St\u00f6hnen begr\u00fc\u00dft. Etwas stimmte nicht. \"Ich freue mich, noch einmal mit dir zu sprechen, Hypatia.\"\n\n\"Erinnerst du dich, was du mir gesagt hast? Was hast du mir versprochen? Wenn ich in der Lage w\u00e4re zu gewinnen, w\u00fcrde ich gewinnen. Und jetzt sind Sie hier, werden gewinnen, und Sie fallen zur\u00fcck. Erkl\u00e4re es.\"\n\nGuul hustete. Es klang dick, blutig. \"Es ist nicht wichtig, dass ich gewinne, Hypatia. Ich habe in meinem Leben schon genug gewonnen. Es ist an der Zeit, dass andere gl\u00e4nzen. Es ist an der Zeit, dass du gl\u00e4nzt. Jetzt geh und schlag ihn. Und denk daran, was ich dir gesagt habe.\"\n\nEr hat die Verbindung abgebrochen. Darring schrie, aber er war weg. Guul fiel zur\u00fcck und zur\u00fcck, bis sie ihn nicht mehr sehen konnte.\n\nMo'tak sprang ein und \u00fcbernahm die F\u00fchrung. Schei\u00dfe! Sie schoss es ab, bewegte sich auf der Fahrspur nach unten, stellte ihr Schiff direkt unter Mo'tak's. Der schlanke, lange K\u00f6rper seiner 350r beschattet ihre kleinere M50. Es gab keinen Zweifel, dass sein Handwerk die Ausdauer hatte; in einem rauen und st\u00fcrzenden Zustand w\u00fcrde er sich durchsetzen. Sie musste aus seinem Schatten, seinem Einfluss herauskommen. Der einzige Weg, das zu erreichen.....\n\nSie versuchte, ihre Pflanze zu schieben, dr\u00fcckte das Gaspedal fest, aber es war nicht registriert. Sie versuchte es erneut. Ihre Dashboard-Steuerelemente blinkten ein, zwei Mal, dann wurden sie mit verschiedenen Einstellungen, Messungen und Anzeigen neu eingestellt. Was zum Teufel -\n\n\"Wie geht es meinem Schiff?\"\n\nDarrings Herz sank. \" Mo'tak!\"\n\n\"Es ist in der Tat\", sagte er, seine Stimme ist verschwommen \u00fcber die Kommunikation, \"und jetzt, da ich deine ungeteilte Aufmerksamkeit habe, werde ich zur\u00fcckfordern, was mir geh\u00f6rt.\"\n\nNichts, was sie registriert hat. Sie klopfte an Panels, schnippte an Schaltern, versuchte, einen MCR-Beamten \u00fcber den Comm zu erheben. Alles war null, aber ihr Schiff reagierte schnell auf Mo'taks Fernsteuerbefehle. Er neigte sich nach links, sie tat dasselbe. Er hat nach rechts gebogen, sie ist ihm gefolgt. Der Xi'an legte schlie\u00dflich seine 350r neben sich, winkte ihr durch sein Cockpitfenster selbstgef\u00e4llig zu, befahl ihrem Schiff, sich leicht vorw\u00e4rts zu bewegen, und sagte dann: \"Ich lasse dich f\u00fcr eine Weile die F\u00fchrung \u00fcbernehmen, meine Liebe, dann ziehe ich mich in letzter Minute dramatisch nach vorne und fliege zum Sieg, w\u00e4hrend du au\u00dfer Kontrolle ger\u00e4tst, die k\u00f6nigliche Trib\u00fcne triffst und Dutzende umbringst. Man wird sich an dich als den Schl\u00e4chter von Ellis erinnern.\"\n\nSie dr\u00fcckte und stie\u00df auf den Stock, klopfte auf das Armaturenbrett. Sie hat sogar die Auswurfsteuerung getroffen. Nichts. \"Ich bringe dich zuerst um, du trauriger Hurensohn.\"\n\n\"Und wie willst du das machen, meine Liebe? Du hast keine Kontrolle \u00fcber irgendetwas.... und dein Tevarin ist weg.\"\n\nWie auf Stichwort, schwebte ein heller Streifen an beiden vorbei, ein Rausch von rotem und goldenem D\u00fcsenfeuer. Es brannte, sein Kraftwerk war \u00fcberfordert. Darring blinzelte, um zu sehen, wer es war. Sie erkannte den blauen Tevarin-Schriftzug auf dem Rumpf.\n\nGuul.\n\nSeine Hornet trieb vorw\u00e4rts, alles in Flammen und Wut. Darring konnte Mo'tak Fluch unter seinem Atem h\u00f6ren. Sie versuchte erneut, die Kontrolle \u00fcber ihren Stock zu \u00fcbernehmen. Nichts. Sie versuchte, Guul anzurufen, aber alles, was sie h\u00f6ren konnte, war Mo'taks aufgeregtes Gemurmel, als er ihrem Schiff befahl, sich vor ihm auf und ab zu bewegen. Darring beobachtete aufmerksam, wie Guul sein brennendes Schiff umdrehte, es so bewegte, dass es perfekt zu ihrem eigenen passte, und ging direkt auf sie zu.\n\nSie kr\u00e4chzte mit einer anderen Stimme. \" Bewegt euch!\" Da stand, zerkl\u00fcftet, schwach. \"Tauchen! Tauchen!\"\n\n\"Ich kann nicht!\" schrie sie zur\u00fcck, aber es gab keine Antwort. Nur Mo'taks wahnsinniges Gackern war zu h\u00f6ren. \"Sag ihm, was immer du willst. Er kann dich nicht h\u00f6ren.\"\n\nGuul ging nach links. Darrings Schiff bewegte sich, um die Hornisse zu beobachten. Er hat nach rechts gebangt, sie nach dem Gleichen. Guuls schw\u00e4chende Stimme flehte weiterhin darum, dass sie aus dem Weg geht. Tr\u00e4nen str\u00f6mten \u00fcber ihr Gesicht; ihre Stimme brach vor Anstrengung zusammen. Mo'tak lachte und lachte.\n\nIhr Schiff drehte sich wie ein Korkenzieher um seine L\u00e4ngsachse. Sie schloss die Augen, wartete auf den Aufprall, fl\u00fcsterte leise zu Guul: \"Es tut mir leid, es tut mir leid....\". . .\u201d\n\nDann erinnerte sie sich.\n\nUnter dem Armaturenbrett jedes M50 befindet sich eine Schalttafel und darin ein Stromabschaltventil, das unabh\u00e4ngig von der Hauptelektrik und den Steuersystemen ist. K\u00f6nnte Mo'tak es vergessen haben? Er k\u00f6nnte es getan haben, so t\u00f6richt \u00fcbertrieben selbstbewusst in seinen Intrigen und Verrat und zu viel Zeit in seinem 350r zu verbringen, um sich an alle Systeme seines Sekund\u00e4rschiffes zu erinnern. Aber es k\u00f6nnte sein: Ein Fehler.... endlich.\n\nDurch den schwindelerregenden Schleier ihres Drehens griff sie unter den Armaturenbrett, fand das Panel mit zitternden Fingern, riss es auf und zog das Ventil.\n\n\"Du verlierst, Mo'tak!\"\n\nDas Kraftwerk starb, und mit diesem pl\u00f6tzlichen Mangel an Antrieb drehte sich ihr Schiff in den Hafen. Zogat Guul schl\u00fcpfte direkt an ihr vorbei, traf Mo'taks Schiffsplatz in der Front, explodierte beim Aufprall und schickte ihre zerbrochenen, brennenden H\u00fcllen in die Leere.\n\nDas Cockpit wurde lebendig, ihr Stock reagierte wieder. Sie zog ihr Schiff aus dem Trudeln, z\u00fcndete die Fabrik wieder an und blies \u00fcber die Ziellinie vor allen anderen.\n\nIhre Boxenteam wurde wild und passte zu ihrem eigenen Schreien, aber aus verschiedenen Gr\u00fcnden. Sie waren fr\u00f6hlich, begeistert, gl\u00fccklich, dass ihr Rennfahrer - der j\u00fcngste Mensch, der jemals die MCR gewonnen hatte - dies gerade getan hatte, und das in einem Feuerwerk der Herrlichkeit. Sie waren gl\u00fccklich, und sie haben es verdient.\n\nDas war sie nicht. Oh, sie war gl\u00fccklich, gewonnen zu haben, den Cup gewonnen zu haben, ihrem Vater bewiesen zu haben, dass ihre Berufswahl nicht dumm war. Sie legte ihren Kopf zur\u00fcck in ihren Stuhl und weinte. Er schrie Freudentr\u00e4nen f\u00fcr Guul. Sie verstand nun seine Worte voll und ganz und hallte laut in ihrem Kopf. Geschwindigkeit ist Leben, und es gab kein Leben ohne Geschwindigkeit. Das hat sie jetzt verstanden.\n\nDer Cup war nur ein Rennen unter Tausend, das vor ihr lag, und es w\u00fcrde kein wahres Gl\u00fcck geben, bis sie sie alle gejagt und das Tier verfolgt hatte, das vor ihr lag, das vor allen Rennfahrern lag. In seinem feurigen Tod hatte Zogat Guul das Tier endlich gefangen. Nun war es an ihr, ihn zu jagen, und sie w\u00fcrde es f\u00fcr ihn tun, f\u00fcr Guul.... f\u00fcr immer.\n\nJenseits der Ziellinie, jenseits der Trib\u00fcnen, jenseits der Ritterschl\u00e4ge und jubelnder Fans schoss Hypatia Darring ihr Kraftwerk und fuhr weiter.\n\nDAS ENDE","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Part three of The Cup was published originally in Jump Point 1.10. Before reading the final chapter, check out Part One and Part Two.\nRecovering from her disappointing start in the Cup series, Darring has worked her way back to the front of the pack. She is on her way to victory in the Sorrow Sea \u2014 the Boneyard \u2014 when her ship explosively overheats . . .\n\nDarring awoke in a quiet, sanitized room of white walls and beeping monitors. She lay in a medbay tub containing a pale, viscous gel. There were monitoring nodes on her neck and chest. She lifted her arm out of the fluid and tried sitting up. A strong hand kept her from doing so.\n\n\u201cNot yet,\u201d the voice said. \u201cNot until the doctor says it\u2019s okay.\u201d\n\nShe laid her head back against the tub wall and blinked repeatedly until the figure above her came into focus. \u201cZogat,\u201d she said, her voice cracking, her throat dry and pasty. \u201cWhere \u2014 where \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cCarrier infirmary,\u201d he said, \u201cin orbit above Ellis VIII.\u201d\n\nShe tried sitting up again and felt a deep pain in her shoulder as she moved her arms. She reached across her chest and felt a layer of burnt skin, soft and supple due to the fluid, but still present. Terrifying memories flooded back. \u201cMy ship?\u201d\n\nGuul nodded. \u201cUnsalvageable. It\u2019s now a part of the Sorrow Sea.\u201d\n\nDarring massaged her sore shoulder. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d\n\n\u201cThey do not know for certain. But your ship went through a rapid temperature increase that ignited the power plant. It\u2019s a wonder it didn\u2019t explode while you were still strapped in.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo they know what caused it?\u201d\n\n\u201cThey couldn\u2019t recover enough of the fuselage and its monitoring equipment to know the exact cause. But . . .\u201d He paused, letting the word linger there in the space between them. \u201cRemisk has confessed.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s confessed to it. Went mad, in fact, attacked a reporter, nearly ripped off her face. He says he put some kind of capsule into your tank; or rather, hired someone on your crew to do it, which, by the way, has been scrubbed. He even confessed to sending those thugs against us.\u201d\n\nShe nodded, feeling a moment of relief. \u201cThen Mo\u2018tak is finished as well.\u201d\n\nGuul cast his eyes down. He shook his head. \u201cNo, Hypatia. Mo\u2018tak has confessed nothing, nor has Remisk implicated anyone else. He\u2019s gone catatonic, can\u2019t speak, can\u2019t move. He\u2019s on something, but it can\u2019t be detected. They fear he\u2019ll die before he\u2019s interrogated. He\u2019s out, but Mo\u2018tak is still in and has condemned Remisk publicly in the most powerful words. The race has been suspended for a few days so that all remaining crews can conduct a mandatory check of their ships. Then it will resume.\u201d He shook his head. \u201cThere are three things certain in the galaxy, as you Humans might say: Death, taxes and the MCR. The race will go on.\u201d\n\nDarring closed her eyes and laid her head back once again. She fought tears. \u201cYes, but it\u2019s over for me.\u201d\n\nA pause, then, \u201cNot yet.\u201d\n\nShe tried asking how, but on cue, the room door opened and in walked Mo\u2018tak, straight and proud, wearing a fresh jumpsuit of gold and purple. Three reporters followed in his wake, one with a camera. He pulled his mouth back and said in a sincere voice, \u201cAh, I am so glad to see you awake. You had us all worried.\u201d\n\nI bet. She wanted to say those very words, but the strong pressure that Guul placed on her arm with his hand recommended otherwise. She forced her anger down and tried to smile. \u201cIt seems as if the Fates are on my side.\u201d\n\nMo\u2018tak nodded. \u201cIndeed. And it would also seem that Lady Luck has granted you favor as well. With my gift, you can now return to the race.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat gift?\u201d\n\nMo\u2018tak seemed surprised, \u201cYour friend hasn\u2019t told you?\u201d\n\n\u201cI was just about to,\u201d Guul said.\n\n\u201cWell, then let me say it proudly for all to hear.\u201d Mo\u2018tak adjusted his position among the reporters, giving them time to ready.\n\nThe Xi\u2019an cleared his throat. \u201cI and the Xu.oa family corporation want to again strenuously condemn Ykonde Remisk\u2019s actions. His cowardly assaults are inconsistent with what I and the MCR are all about. The integrity of the race must be maintained. Thus, as a gesture of good will and healthy competition, I have donated my personal M50 so that Hypatia Darring can return to the race.\u201d\n\nIt took a moment for the announcement to register in her mind. To help drive the point home, a vid screen activated to reveal a clean, gold-and-purple trimmed M50. It was brilliant, beautiful. Darring loved it, but worried about Mo\u2018tak\u2019s motivation.\n\n\u201cNo way,\u201d she barked, pulling herself up in the tub. \u201cI\u2019m not putting one toe into that \u2014\u201d\n\nGuul applied pressure to her arm once again. \u201cWhat Ms. Darring is saying is that she would be honored to accept your gift and looks forward to further competition in the days ahead.\u201d\n\n\u201cHey,\u201d she said, pulling her arm away. \u201cDon\u2019t answer for me. I\u2019m not a child, dammit!\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, let\u2019s leave Ms. Darring and Mr. Guul alone,\u201d Mo\u2018tak said. \u201cClearly, they have much to discuss.\u201d He leaned over Darring\u2019s tub and stared into her eyes, his mouth inches from her face. \u201cI\u2019m so glad to see you well. Please do accept my offer. It would be a shame to lose one with so much talent.\u201d\n\nThey scurried out, but left the image of the M50 on the vid screen. When the door closed, she rounded on Guul. \u201cYou don\u2019t answer for me.\u201d\n\nGuul shook his head. \u201cIf you refuse this offer from Mo\u2018tak, he will have won thrice: by getting rid of Remisk, by getting rid of you, and by further damaging your reputation. Racing is as much about your public image as it is about skill. You already have a bad reputation. Don\u2019t damage it further by being ungracious.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut it\u2019s his ship!\u201d she said, pointing to the vid screen. \u201cHe\u2019s done something to it, I\u2019m sure.\u201d\n\nGuul shook his head. \u201cNo, he\u2019s not that stupid. There\u2019s too much light on the competition now, too much that\u2019s transpired. He can\u2019t afford to offer this gift and then sabotage it. He\u2019s done all he can do. It\u2019s a matter of who\u2019s the best now. There\u2019s plenty of racing left, Hypatia. Go out there and prove to everyone, prove to Mo\u2018tak, that you will not be stopped, that you are the best.\u201d\n\nDespite the logic in his words, Darring wanted to refuse Mo\u2018tak\u2019s gift. On the other hand, to beat Mo\u2018tak with his own ship would be so lovely. But it wasn\u2019t just a matter of getting up and strapping into the cockpit. Every M50 had its own quirks, its own personality. There were always balancing issues, thrust issues, drift issues that needed to be identified and learned. The cockpit displays would need to be configured to her own preferences, which would take time to sort out. And it could take weeks for her to get comfortable on the stick and throttle. She had maybe 48 hours to make it all work. Her burns were healing in this goo around her, but her flesh was tight and still stung beneath her movements. Mo\u2018tak was setting her up to fail. He didn\u2019t need to sabotage the ship, she realized. Her current condition was enough to slow her down.\n\nAnd now Guul was taking advantage of their new friendship. He had no right to interrupt her and speak for her publicly. Guul may admire me, she thought as she pulled herself up and sat on the edge of the tub. Now, he needs to respect me.\n\n\u201cOkay, Zogat,\u201d she said, looking around for a towel. \u201cYou win. I\u2019ll accept his offer. I\u2019ll show him I\u2019m the best, but more importantly . . . I\u2019ll show you.\u201d\n\n* * *\n\nHello again, and welcome to another GSN Spectrum broadcast of the Murray Cup Race. After the tragedy rising from the Sorrow Sea, Darring\u2019s near death experience, and Remisk\u2019s shocking confession, the competition has gotten back on track and has settled into a sweet groove. From the midway checkpoint and out all the way to Ellis XII, the top racers have pushed their craft to the limit. Hypatia Darring has come back with a vengeance, accepting Mo\u2018tak\u2019s M50 and taking two of the last three stages through the asteroid belt and back to the final checkpoint at Ellis VIII. The competition around Ellis IX, in particular, proved raucous, as Darring slowed to allow Mo\u2018tak to gain the lead while dogging Guul\u2019s Hornet, forcing him to flirt with the Eye\u2019s crushing tidal forces. No love was lost between those two during the following press conference. But now the Tevarin veteran has surprised everyone once again by taking the final obstacle course in the outer asteroid belt, showing a refinement that proves he will go down in history as one of the finest pilots ever to race The Cup. Now, the competition enters its final leg with only 65 racers remaining, and the top three positions held by Mo\u2018tak, Darring and Guul. Can these three power-houses hold out, or will someone else fly past and beat them all?\n\nThe final leg awaits. Let\u2019s kick it back to Mike Crenshaw who\u2019s in the thick of it. What\u2019s the mood on the carrier, Mike?\n\n* * *\n\nRaw.\n\nThat\u2019s what Darring was. Just a raw nerve, always ready to spark if given a chance. Guul had hoped to share with her a little of his experience, teach her some wisdom, in a sport just as rough on the spirit as it was on the body and mind. And perhaps she had learned a little.\n\nShe was racing better, maneuvering better, taking to heart his philosophy . . . speed is life. But looking across the carrier bay floor at her as she ran a cloth across the belly of her borrowed M50, Zogat Guul could not tell if Darring\u2019s improvement was motivated by skill or anger. Did it really matter? In the end, if she blew across the finish line in first place, it would all boil down to victory. And that was the ultimate goal of everyone in the race. Go home a winner . . . or just go home.\n\n\u201cHypatia Darring has it out for you, doesn\u2019t she?\u201d\n\nCrenshaw\u2019s face was all perky as if he had just said something infinitely clever and devious.\n\nGuul did not take the bait. \u201cShe is a tough competitor. Like a Tevarin, she shows her enemy no mercy.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut she held back around The Eye just to force you to lose. That\u2019s the move of someone bearing a grudge. What did you do?\u201d\n\nWhat indeed. Perhaps he had come on too strong. Was it when he interrupted her and spoke for her publicly at the hospital? She would not say when he asked; instead, she would change the subject or walk away. But direct action, direct speech was his way. Surely she realized he was right. She had to compete. She had to accept Mo\u2018tak\u2019s offer and finish the race. Not just for herself, but for the honor of her family. Surely she did not blame him for pointing that out.\n\n\u201cScurry away, bug.\u201d\n\nMo\u2018tak appeared, alone this time, and flicked his fingers at Crenshaw as if he were swatting a fly. \u201cThe Tevarin warrior will not condescend to answer such a silly question. Shoo! Go bother someone else.\u201d\n\nCrenshaw pulled a rueful face but retreated nonetheless.\n\nWhen he was gone, Mo\u2018tak closed on Guul and offered his hand. \u201cGood luck,\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cYou want to break my hand like you tried to break Hypatia\u2019s?\u201d\n\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t dream of it, my friend. I merely want to wish you a safe final course. This is your last, isn\u2019t it?\u201d\n\nGuul nodded. \u201cPerhaps.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd you are braced to win it all and be remembered as the greatest racer in the history of the sport. For that, I wish you good luck.\u201d\n\nGuul took the handshake reluctantly. Mo\u2018tak\u2019s fingers were firm but not vise-like. He moved until he was beside the Tevarin. Mo\u2018tak placed his free hand on Guul\u2019s back.\n\n\u201cLook at it all one last time, Zogat. All of it. The bay, the racers, the media, the hustle and bustle of the crews. You will miss it. But I think you will miss that young lady right there most of all.\u201d\n\nBefore Guul had a chance to speak, Mo\u2018tak pushed his hand hard against the Tevarin\u2019s neck.\n\nGuul felt a slight pinch and jerked away. A warm flush spread across his skin. \u201cWhat did you do?\u201d\n\nMo\u2018tak maintained his composure and kept looking forward as if they were having a pleasant conversation. \u201cTo win against racers as skilled as yourself and Darring will be quite the honor,\u201d he said, as the media crowded around once more. \u201cGood luck out there, old friend.\u201d\n\nGuul rubbed his neck. The Xi\u2019an had done something to him, but Mo\u2019tak had again done his scheming in such a way that left very little evidence. Perhaps if Guul called the MCR authorities over now, they could find something, but more likely his accusations would prove to be unfounded. He looked out at everyone suiting up, strapping in, readying for the final course. He could choose not to race. If Mo\u2019tak had drugged him as he suspected, then it would be quite dangerous to climb into his cockpit. But he quickly shoved the thought aside. He couldn\u2019t get out now, not when the end was so close. It wasn\u2019t in him. He had to take his own advice. He had to finish the race.\n\nHe looked across the bay floor, toward Darring. She was putting on her helmet, getting ready to climb into her cockpit. He tried catching her attention with a wave. She did not see him, or she was ignoring him. Whatever the reason, he was grateful that he had had an opportunity in the twilight of his career to race against such a warrior, such a competitor as she.\n\nSpeed is life, he thought as he put on his helmet with shaking hands. But as always, speed also might mean death.\n\n* * *\n\nGuul was just ahead of her, Mo\u2018tak at her six. She was perfectly placed to take advantage of the Tevarin\u2019s erratic behavior. He had been speeding up, slowing down, speeding up, as if unsure what to do. Or perhaps he was playing with her, working to sap her resolve, force her to slow down and deal with his uncharacteristic movements, thus giving the lead away to Mo\u2018tak. But that was silly. Guul did not want the ruthless Xi\u2019an to win any more than she did. So, what was his game?\n\nThey raced in high orbit above Ellis VIII. The final stretch was a long, loping crazy-eight of rings that flashed brilliant reds and greens and whites, keeping a tempo with the natural flow of the racers as they shot past one another near the intersect. It was a dangerous place, for racers coming out of those rings could slam into one another and ricochet into space. Even if your ship survived, the time it would take to recover from such a collision would be race-ending.\n\nTwo orbital grandstands just outside the course held spectators and prominent dignitaries that had come out to see and share in the glory of the winner. The MCR allowed the energy and excitement of the crowds to be broadcast into the cockpits of each racer as GSN announcers gave the minute-by-minute account of the final laps. Some racers thrived on the energy of the crowds. Some reveled in the noise. Darring muted it all, preferring instead to concentrate on the racers around her.\n\nShe maneuvered her M50 to the right of Guul, taking advantage of the loop. He swung his Hornet out a touch too far, and she slipped right in beside him. His wing grazed the invisible walls of the ring course, letting the tip of it cut through the barrier like a shark\u2019s fin cresting a wave. He\u2019d lose time for that, but he didn\u2019t seem to care, keeping his craft pressed against the loop to ride it all the way around. He\u2019s getting old, she thought, letting a smile slip across her lips. Can\u2019t handle the rigors of such a sharp turn anymore. Then she thought better of gloating. She wanted to beat him, to make him see her as a racer, an equal, not as a puppy dog to counsel. But she didn\u2019t want him to leave the race. There was still plenty of track left, plenty of twists and turns, and Mo\u2018tak was right on them.\n\nThe Xi\u2019an thrust his 350r down to run right below her belly, preventing an interloper behind him in a souped-up Avenger from making a move. Darring banked to the right and felt the tug of strong G\u2019s despite being held tightly in the chair. Her skin had healed well and there was a little pain in her shoulders, but such a move reminded her of the frailty of flesh and her own mortality. Bank too strongly, and you could pass out.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re not winning this one, Mo\u2018tak,\u201d she said into her comm. Only her crew chief could hear it, but he shared her sentiment. He gave her directions which she accepted and moved her craft to the left as they cleared the loop and headed for the final intersect.\n\nGuul came up to her side again, but he was still moving oddly, letting his wings wobble on the rebalance. She shook her head and focused on Mo\u2018tak, who had gunned his engine, showing significant burn out of his exhaust nozzles. He wouldn\u2019t dare cross her cockpit now, not with the MCR looking on so intently. In fact, Mo\u2018tak had acted reasonably well since his vanity display at the hospital. He\u2019d let his racing skills speak for themselves. So perhaps he wasn\u2019t such a rotten son-of-a bitch after all. But she wouldn\u2019t be keeping his gift after the race.\n\nRed blips danced on her radar, showing hazards as she crossed the intersect.\n\nShe drifted up in the lane, taking the traditional approach for a right-side cross. Mo\u2018tak followed, but Guul struggled to drift up, taking too long, letting his craft fall behind once more. She fought the urge to link into his comm. Mo\u2018tak tried to force her down. She gripped her stick and moved with him, not letting him gain advantage. The blips on the screen grew brighter. She keyed her focus, thrust her M50 forward and sailed into the intersect.\n\nLagging ships flew past her at the right angle, trying desperately to keep up with the pack. One nearly clipped her wing. She banked left just in time. She tried finding Guul and Mo\u2018tak in the flurry of crimson blips on her screen. It was impossible. She banked left, right, left again, swirling through screaming racers.\n\nDarring flew out of the intersect, righted her ship once more, and prepared for the final run. She checked her radar. The madness there settled to show those that had gotten through and were in pursuit. Damn! Mo\u2018tak settled again beside her, and Guul was not far behind, though struggling still. Why can\u2019t I shake these bastards?\n\nFinally, Guul made the move she was expecting. The Tevarin thrust his Hornet forward, clipping between her and Mo\u2018tak at such velocity that he was nothing but a blur. Her heart raced alongside him. She gunned her engine, falling just behind him, watching as the blips on her radar were replaced by the long green pulsing line of the final straightaway. She could hardly contain her excitement. She, Hypatia Darring, in second place on the final lap around Ellis VIII. The perfect position to make a final move and win it all. And there was Zogat Guul, the master, egging her on, forcing her to put away her silly feud and chase him, chase him for glory, for fame, for personal fulfillment. A laugh of pure joy escape her lips.\n\nSpeed is life.\n\nThey hit the final stretch together. One full lap around rocky Ellis VIII. Full bore speed. There was nothing like it in the galaxy. She could not contain her excitement. She screamed into her comm. Mo\u2018tak tried to muscle his way into her space. She refused him. He tried again. She pushed her M50 even faster, keeping pace with Guul, letting the green lights of the radar draw her forward.\n\nGuul slowed, fell alongside her, slowed again, letting her take the lead. Bullshit, she thought, frustration growing as she punched a panel and said to him, \u201cWhat the hell are you doing?\u201d\n\nShe was greeted with coughing, spitting and moans. Something was terribly wrong. \u201cI\u2019m glad to speak to you once more, Hypatia.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo you remember what you told me? What you made me promise? If I were in a position to win, I\u2019d win. And now here you are, about to win, and you\u2019re falling back. Explain.\u201d\n\nGuul coughed. It sounded thick, bloody. \u201cIt isn\u2019t important that I win, Hypatia. I\u2019ve won enough in my life. It\u2019s time for others to shine. It\u2019s time for you to shine. Now, go beat him. And remember what I told you.\u201d\n\nHe cut their link. Darring shouted, but he was gone. Guul fell back, and back, until she could not see him anymore.\n\nMo\u2018tak pounced and took the lead. Shit! She gunned it, moved down in the lane, set her craft just below Mo\u2018tak\u2019s. The sleek, long body of his 350r shadowing her smaller M50. There was no doubt his craft had the endurance; in a rough and tumble, he\u2019d prevail. She had to get out from his shadow, his influence. The only way to do that . . .\n\nShe tried pushing her plant, thumbed the throttle hard, but it did not register. She tried again. Her dashboard controls blinked, once, twice, then resettled with different settings, measurements, displays. What the \u2014\n\n\u201cHow\u2019s my ship?\u201d\n\nDarring\u2019s heart sank. \u201cMo\u2018tak!\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is indeed,\u201d he said, his voice fuzzy over the comm, \u201cand now that I have your undivided attention, I will reclaim what is mine.\u201d\n\nNothing she did registered. She tapped panels, flicked switches, tried raising an MCR official over the comm. Everything was null, but her ship responded quickly to Mo\u2018tak\u2019s remote commands. He banked to the left; she did the same. He banked right, she followed. The Xi\u2019an finally settled his 350r beside her, waved smugly at her through his cockpit window, commanded her ship to move slightly ahead, then said, \u201cI\u2019ll let you take the lead for a little while, my dear, then I\u2019ll dramatically pull forward at the last minute, flying on to victory, while you spiral out of control, hitting the royal grandstand and killing dozens. You\u2019ll be remembered as the Butcher of Ellis.\u201d\n\nShe pushed and prodded at the stick, banged at the dashboard. She even struck the eject controls. Nothing. \u201cI\u2019ll kill you first, you sorry son of a bitch.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd how will you do that, my dear? You have no control over anything . . . and your Tevarin is gone.\u201d\n\nAs if on cue, a bright streak soared past them both, a flush of red and gold nozzle fire. It was burning, its power plant pushed beyond integrity. Darring squinted to see who it was. She recognized the blue Tevarin lettering on the hull.\n\nGuul.\n\nHis Hornet barreled ahead, all flame and fury. Darring could hear Mo\u2018tak curse beneath his breath. She tried again to take control of her stick. Nothing. She tried calling out to Guul, but all she could hear was Mo\u2018tak\u2019s agitated mumblings as he commanded her ship to move up and ahead of him. Darring watched intently as Guul flipped his burning craft around, shifted it to align perfectly with her own, and headed straight for her.\n\nHer comm crackled with another voice. \u201cMove!\u201d it said, ragged, faint. \u201cDive! Dive!\u201d\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t!\u201d she screamed back, but there was no response. Only Mo\u2018tak\u2019s maddening cackle could be heard. \u201cSay to him whatever you wish. He cannot hear you.\u201d\n\nGuul banked left. Darring\u2019s ship moved to shadow the Hornet. He banked right; she banked in kind. Guul\u2019s weakening voice continued pleading for her to get out of the way. Tears streamed down her face; her voice broke from exertion. Mo\u2018tak laughed and laughed.\n\nHer ship spun like a cork-screw on its long axis. She closed her eyes, waited for impact, whispering softly to Guul, \u201cI\u2019m sorry, I\u2019m sorry . . .\u201d\n\nThen she remembered.\n\nBeneath the dashboard of every M50 lay a panel, and inside it, a power cut-off valve independent of the main electrical and command systems. Could Mo\u2018tak have forgotten it? He might have, so foolishly overconfident in his scheming and backstabbing, and spending too much time in his 350r to remember all the systems of his secondary ship. But it might be: A mistake . . . finally.\n\nThrough the dizzying haze of her spinning, she reached beneath the dash, found the panel with shaking fingers, ripped it open, and pulled the valve.\n\n\u201cYou lose, Mo\u2018tak!\u201d\n\nThe power plant died, and with that sudden lack of propulsion her ship spun to port. Zogat Guul slipped right past her, hitting Mo\u2018tak\u2019s ship square in the front, exploding on impact, and sending their shattered, burning hulls into the void.\n\nThe cockpit came alive, her stick again responsive. She pulled her ship out of spin, reignited the plant, and blew across the finish line ahead of all others.\n\nHer pit crew went wild, matching her own screaming, but for different reasons. They were joyous, elated, happy that their racer \u2014 the youngest Human to ever win the MCR \u2014 had just done so, and in a blaze of glory. They were happy, and they deserved to be.\n\nShe was not. Oh, she was happy to have won, to have taken the Cup, to have proven to her father that her choice in career was not foolish. She laid her head back into her chair and cried. Cried joyous tears for Guul. She understood fully now his words, echoing loudly in her mind. Speed is life, and there was no life without speed. She understood that now.\n\nThe Cup was just one race in a thousand that lay ahead of her, and there would be no true happiness until she had raced them all and chased down that beast that lay in front of her, that lay in front of all racers. In his fiery death, Zogat Guul had finally caught the beast. Now, it was her turn to chase it, and she would do so for him, for Guul . . . forever.\n\nBeyond the finish line, beyond the grandstands, beyond the accolades and cheering fans, Hypatia Darring gunned her power plant and kept racing.\n\nTHE END"},"links_count":2,"comment_count":12,"created_at":"2018-04-25T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"8 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 23:19:00","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":16532,"next_id":16536}}