Page 52 of Hyperspeed
I gripped the steering wheel so hard it creaked. I wanted to shake things up, but not at the expense of Jax.
“Is he okay?”
“He’s fine.” Sam replied, and I exhaled a long sigh of relief. “The medical shuttle already picked him up. Nothing more than a mild headache from the light.”
“Big baby,” I chuckled.
I glanced in the wing mirror. No sign of Dray, just empty space. The light was still harsh but dimming fast. I’d slowed more than I meant to, so someone should’ve caught up by now. My lead couldn’t be that big.
Could it?
“Where’s Dray?”
“He got glued. Ran his tyres too hard and they melted,” Sam explained. “They’re peeling the vehicle away but should be gone by the time you pit.”
“Anything else?”
I pressed harder on the accelerator. The heat pushed back, rising fast. Dray hadn’t pitted before he DNF’d, so his tyres were probably in a similar state to mine.
Five turns until I could pit. I was determined not to get stuck before I made it.
“Shit,” Sam hissed.
“What’s wrong?” I gritted out.
“There’s another solar flare.”
“Already?!” I barked. A second one rarely came that quickly. “How long?”
“Sixty seconds. Zylo’s engine died, so he’s out. Rev is coming up behind you.”
Rev’s vehicle grew larger in my mirror, creeping closer with every second.
Another burst of light cracked across the sky, brighter than before. My eyes burned. I flinched, blinking hard, then eased off the accelerator. For a moment, I drove blind. Just a breath. Just a prayer.
When the glare faded and I looked again, Rev was still behind me. But barely.
“How the fuck is he still moving so fast?” I snapped.
A red light blinked on the wheel—cooling systems were failing. Not ideal, but as long as the heat shields held, I could keep going. Still, the cockpit was stifling. The air pressed against my skin, heavy and hot, sweat clinging like a second suit.
“He was the first to change tyres,” Sam said. “Pure luck that he was by the pit lane when the first flare warning came through.”
I shook my head, clearing the beads of sweat dripping into my eyes. “Lucky bastard.”
I hit the button for my additional thrusters, hoping to gain some speed.
Nothing.
My stomach dropped. “Second thrusters have gone!”
Sam grunted in confirmation, and Rev kept closing the gap. I pushed as hard as I dared without tearing my tyres to shreds. But his were fresh and heat resistant, while mine were half melted and slipping.
At the next turn, he dived in for the overtake. Somehow, I held him off. The tyres fought back as I exited, no grip left, almost locking up.
I flicked to driver comms. “Nice try, rookie.”
“I’ve got all the time in the galaxy, Mercer.” Rev’s voice, calm and controlled, sent a chill down my spine despite the heat. “Your tyres look a little glossy.”
