At the base of Rubin’s Mountain, a high quality stereo system echoes in the breeze.  A shout caster yells updates trying to keep up with all the action as best he can.  Doctor Adrianne Yu uses what she hears to get a general image of the race.

The racers’ vehicles had both flight and climbing abilities.  These powerful machines have to use both abilities to fly and jump though check points in the thick forest course.  The racers stop and change directions repeatedly to stay on the course, all at break neck speeds.  The machines use powerful steel claws to grab a branch after hitting one check point, immediately heading for another.  It would be impossible to keep up unless the caster knew where they were going.

The gravity forces and random  uncut branches make the race very dangerous.  Without gravity reducing suits and fast reflexes, it would be impossible to even start such a profession.  The racers themselves were particularly unkind to each other which made the race even more difficult.  It even seemed dangerous for the caster.  He could suffocate from lack of air or have a heart attack any time now.

It was the broadcast of the final race of the E-Ville racing tournament.  Racers and their teams modified their machines to navigate the forest course as quickly as possible.  Doctor Yu loved machines and what people could do to improve them.  While she was genuinely interested in who won, she needed the sound to be in the background.  She had her own tasks to complete.

Her own specially modified vehicle was parked a small ways away from her near the rock face.  The system stereo was set really high so that she could hear it while she set up the system.  Her defense robots made sure that she was not disturbed by any wildlife or any harmful wanderers.  It was time to test the weapon again.

Checking the devices over again, she made sure that everything was in place.  A heated rock selected from the sloping rock face sat on a launching device.  It was flanked by a few recording robots reminiscent of the small flying robots in the museum.  Instead of guns, the three of them held cameras.  They all sat ready and in position for her to give the signal.

Nervously she presses the button.  Imediately, the rock is launched into the air and the recording bots follow a split second after.  They sailed over her ship as her speakers played the shout casters updates.  As they pass, a missile is launched from her ship.  Seeking the heated rock, it quickly changes directions heading upwards.

“Come on, come on,” she says encouragingly.

The missile catches the rock quickly.  However, instead of exploding on the rock, the rock is engulfed in flames.  It lands, a rolling heap of fire while the recording bots fly back to Doctor Yu with the valuable data.

Checking the multiple angles of the recording, Doctor Yu looks at the high-definition holographic image in slow motion.  She fast forwards the recording to a point just before the impact.

As expected, the warhead splits into eight parts right before it reached the target.  As expected, the hyper-napalm is spread like a net while the eight tips continue to seek and catch the rock.  Unlike her last test, the tips actually catch the rock and dig in, securing a hold on the target.  The burning hyper-napalm follows the hooks and engulfs the rock in flames.

“Yes!  Perfect!”

In a moment of curiosity she walked over to the still burning target.  During the short trek, the flame died and she saw what has became of the rock.  Its once strong features were smoothed out.  It collected dirt and debris as it rolled, it now resembled a dirty glass tube more than a rock.  She knew better than to touch it.  She could still feel the heat from quite a few centimeters away.

Just then, her handheld rang.

“Doctor Yu.  You’re needed at the lab.  We have brain activity from Aa Dee Seven.”

“I’ll be right there.”

#1 – Awakening #7 – Awakening #9