The race seemed to glide into slow motion for Jack as the Black Rabbit's pod transformed into a streaking ball of flames and debris. Had it been his fault? No, but during times like these, blame mattered very little. Maybe Talia could have prevented it. Maybe Jack could have come up with another plan. Maybe Arissa could have noticed the Rabbit sooner.
Maybe they should have tried rescuing the Rabbit right along with Jaeek instead of disabling his pod. Thinking of rescue brought Jack back to harsh reality. They were still stuck in the race. The world left its slow-motion state and returned to full intensity as Jack refocused his wits. The past was the past, and as far as Jack knew the puzzle of time travel had yet to be cracked. Even if the F.A. managed to lock that one down, Jack doubted he would be gaining access to it anytime soon.
"I'm sorry, Arissa," Jack said as he made his pod bob, duck, and weave around weapons fire.
"We'll talk about it later." Her words were sharp, curt. Jack knew that voice. It was the voice that said she was putting all of her energy into holding back her emotions, holding back how she truly felt. "I'll find her, somehow."
"We will," Jack replied. Despite his strict policy against promising to accomplish unlikely things, he added: "I promise."
"Thank you."
A few more seconds of muffled explosions blasting against Jack's pod passed before Kane spoke up.
"Talia, are you there?"
"When am I not?"
"Just checking." He grumbled. "How many racers are left to deal with? My pod's getting worn out."
"There are currently thirteen racers remaining," Talia said. "That includes my three favorites."
"You're too kind," Jack said, butting in.
"I never said you were one of my favorites."
"Ouch" Jack said. "Fine, let's get down to it. I'm pretty sure it's time to start talking about our exit strategy."
"You don't have one?" Arissa asked.
"No, I thought you did."
"Only half."
"Great. Look, Kane and I will be able to take down the other racers," Jack said as he blasted another competitor, bringing the number down to twelve. "But when it's all said and done only the winner is going to survive this thing. So what do we got?"
"We were hoping we could disable the auto destructs," Arissa said, glancing at Talia, who only shook her head. "Looks like that's out."
"Seems like a substantial issue to me," Kane said, fully calm.
"It is."
"When do the pods blow?"
"I'm not certain," Talia said. "But it's likely that the device is triggered as the winner crosses the finish line. That would make for the greatest spectacle, and this is an ad-based entertainment revenue."
"I'm sure the crowd will love it," Jack said. "I'm guessing finishing with a tie isn't an option?"
"The finish line is rigged with a laser micrometer. The winner can be determined by a matter of microseconds."
"Not a very wide margin of error."
"No."
Jack thought about the problem, then realized it might be time for a sacrifice. "Arissa. We might have to let Jaeek win and hope Talia can figure out the self destructs anyway."
"You're kidding. And you explode for a good cause? That's way too heroic for you."
"Maybe, but I don't see another way. Jaeek, as soon as you cross the line, you fly directly into the Odin's cargo bay, got it?"
![The Watcher [Alien Nation #1] by CarinaHelix](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/151008459-80-k355662.jpg)
"I understand," Jaeek responded.
"Magnet," Arissa said under her breath.
"What?"
"Jack! You have a cargo mag-net."
"I know. That'll help with reeling in Jaeek's pod but I'm not sure what it does for us."
"You idiot," Arissa said. "Don't know your own ship. It's not a magnet. It's a MAGNETIC NET. You know, for catching metal butterflies."
"No way," Jack replied.
"Yes way!"
"Wow. My girl still has a few tricks up her sleeves."
"Thanks."
"I meant the Odin." Jack grinned.
"Funny. Check your pod. Are you sealed in?"
"Yes."
Arissa looked to Talia and asked, "How about unlocking those doors?"
"Locks are low-clearance systems," the A.I. responded. "I can get them open."
"Alright," Arissa said. "Here's the plan, boys. Take out the rest of the racers and line up for a neck and neck finish. At the last second, Talia will open Kane and Jack's pod doors. They'll hit the breaks, free-fall across the finish line, and hopefully we'll be there with the net to scoop you."
"Hopefully," Kane said. "I love it."
"You're assuming we can actually take down the other racers and come in first, second, and third," Jack said.
"You're the one who said you could do it."
"I was being optimistic." Jack fired at another pod, missed. "Everyone clear on the plan?"
The whole crew responded with a mix of "got it" and "yes."
"Then let's clock in," Jack said. He put his pod into over drive and commenced a series of helix-shaped maneuvers, dodging particle rays and blasting full force at the other pods. "I could use some more firepower, Talia."
"How's this?"
It was great. The cockpit actually got a little hotter. Now, Jack was firing one-shot kills.
More weapons fire, and the line up was reduced to eight racers.
Seven racers.
Six.
"Kane. Take a few shots at me so the officials don't know we're buddies."
"You really think we're buddies, don't you?" Kane blasted away. Jack dodged the shots. They turned their weapons on the other pods.
Five racers.
Four.
"This is going exceedingly well," Kane said.
"That's because this is the easy part," Jack replied.
"Right. How many more laps?"
"There are two point six laps remaining," Talia said. "You boys are lining up to finish in two minutes and nine seconds. Good work with your timing."
"Thanks."
"Also. It appears as though the only remaining racer is having engine trouble. You can most likely leave him behind and focus on pretending to shoot at each other."
"Sounds good," Jack said, firing a shot across Jaeek's bow. "Nothing personal, buddy."
They ripped around the course, showing no signs of pattern or plan. Jack's pod was trembling and creaking in places it shouldn't be. He had a good feeling that the thing probably couldn't withstand even one extra lap on top of what he needed it for. Half of the lights and indicators on his dash suddenly flickered then blinked out.
"Jack," Talia said. "I'm detecting some power fluctuations in your pod. Can you still fly?"
Jack slammed his fist against the dash. Nothing happened. "Looks like the engines are still running fine. Lost some dash lights but honestly I didn't know what half of them did anyway."
"Understood. Might I recommend not firing your weapons for the remaining duration of the race? If there is a power rupture within your pod, using the particle ray could trigger an explosive reaction. I would hate to see you burned alive."
"So you do love me."
Jack rounded the last bend of the race and entered the long straightaway that lead to the finish line.
"Shouldn't be a problem," Jack said. "We're about to—"
"Jack!" Arissa shouted. It was two late. The fourth pod and only other remaining hostile player scored a hit on Jack's pod and passed it, taking the first position.
"Uh oh," Jack said, struggling against his pod's systems. "This thing should make it but I'm going to have to cut power and reboot." He looked ahead to the fourth racer. "Speedy up there must have been faking his engine trouble. Can anyone take him down?"
"Sure," Kane said, forming up and passing Jack. "What do you think my eye is for?" He pulled the trigger, but his guns released only sparks and smoke. "Come on! Who makes these things?"
"I don't know but they just earned a one star review. Jaeek," Jack said. "Buddy you're going to have to take the shot. Otherwise the three of us are getting cooked."
"I don't even know how to shoot," Jaeek replied.
Kane talked him through it while Jack struggled to keep his pod off the ground. Once Jaeek figured out the weapon systems, he started blasting away a wide spread of shots. Accuracy was reduced to a mere myth. It wasn't looking good, the fourth racer was too far ahead, too small of a target.
"Arissa!" Jack shouted. "We're in trouble. I think this guy is going to beat us. Can you bring the Odin in sooner and scoop us before he finishes?"
"Jack, there's no way! Security is too tight and—"
A tumbling fireball interrupted the conversation.
"EEEEEE!" Jaeek shouted so loud over the comms that his voice crackled. Some how, without training, experience, or a stomach for combat, he had managed to shoot the fourth racer down. "I'm a hero!"
Jack let him have that one. It was part true, anyway. "Alright. Let's form up and make this look competitive. Jaeek, you ready for your big win?"
He confirmed, and the three pods merged into a tight pack, whipping forward and back, side-to-side. "We got our opening," Arissa said. "All systems good to go. We'll see you at the finish, Jack. Don't forget to unbuckle your seatbelt."
She meant it as a joke, but Jack actually would have forgotten. He unclasped the restraint and got ready for the ride of his life. Roughly eight seconds before the finish line, Jack and Kane fell back slightly to give Jaeek the win. Five seconds before finish, Jack and Kane opened their pod doors. Wind rushed into their cockpits.
Two seconds. The Odin's engines could be heard screaming over head as Arissa rushed it into position.
One second. The magnetic net dropped in front of the pods. Jack and Kane slammed on their jet brakes, thus ejecting both men forward, through the air, and into the magnetic cargo net.
Finish.
Jack gripped tight to the net and looked to the side, catching a glimpse of Jaeek's pod and Kane as the three of them were raised up into the Odin's cargo bay. Below lay the fiery wreck of Jack and Kane's once faithful race pods. The moment they were safe and secure in the Odin, the ship blasted off at full speed, escaped the planet's gravity, and made a mad dash for open space.
Jack waited ten seconds before he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to mention it, but he had been concerned that the distance they gained from the race plus the density of the Odin's hull wouldn't be enough to jam the pod's self destruct receiver. Turns out, it was, and the Odin's guts were thankfully not blown out from within.
All together, it was a good day.
