The Elite: Antigravity Racing League, #3

By Rock Forsberg

No matter how fast you fly, you can't outrun your past.

 

In this heart-pounding conclusion to the ARL series, Zane Silvering faces his most formidable challenge yet. The young pilot, known for his dramatic past, is back in action with a new racing team.

 

But the shadows of his history loom large, threatening to shatter everything he holds dear. As he hurtles through high-speed races on ludicrous circuits across the galaxy, Zane must confront not only the ruthless competition but also the haunting echoes of his past.

 

Amidst the chaos of the racing world, a spark of romance ignites, and Zane finds himself torn between the thrill of the track and the allure of a love that could change everything. As his heart races on and off the track, the tension pushes at him from all sides.

 

With his racing team's fate on the line, Zane must find the strength to replace his fear with trust when everyone seems to be playing a game. The decisions he makes will not only shape his future but also the future of everyone in the ARL

 

If you've been on this breathtaking journey with Zane from the very beginning, "The Elite" promises an electrifying climax to the series, where the heart-pounding action is matched only by the intensity of newfound relationships.

 

Get ready for one last high-adrenaline ride that will leave you breathless, on the edge of your seat, and believing in the indomitable spirit of camaraderie and love.

 

Don't miss out on the epic conclusion—secure your seat for the final race now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rock Forsberg
• Release date: Jan 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9789526507521

Book preview

1

KARVAMA

The light of the star, Kar-1, glanced off the railings of the Karvama Elite Circuit as Zane pushed the Pistona Hawk to its limits, running a head-to-head race with Pistona’s Carlo Allegri on a track that was new to both of them. The man was good, but he was making consistent errors on the left-hand corners, one of which gave Zane a way past him. As a new team in the Antigravity Racing League, the ARL, Pistona were seeking to hire, but Carlo was their number one, and the reason they’d got into the ARL.

The Hawk was more akin to the old Kispeed Arrow with its nimble, lightweight chassis, but as a new model, it had what could only be described as a raspy sharpness. After only a few test runs before the duel, it had proven the perfect craft for Zane.

Carlo was new to ARL, but Zane had to applaud him for trying. The man hung on his tail like a burdock. Even though he was doing his best, he couldn’t shake him, and when the finish line flashed under them, they were only 0.2 seconds apart. But Zane was the first over the line.

He coasted to the pit lane and parked his craft in the Pistona area. His opponent pulled up beside him.

Zane smiled. He had won the duel, and they would sign him up. While intellectually, he knew his worth, ever since the implosion of Kispeed, he had been feeling anxious about finding a new team. Matt Clay, the champion of the last ARL season, had got him a contact with Pistona via his father, who ran the Reckoner team. They also had an idea that Pistona, a group of racing teams in multiple local feeder leagues, could be one of the best debutants in the ARL. So Zane had said, ‘Why not?’ and they had organised a meeting.

Now, here he was, stepping out of the craft as a winner, ready to join the new team.

The Pistona manager, a sharply dressed middle-aged woman, Marie Modena, stepped over towards him. ‘Good work, Zane.’

‘Thank you,’ he said, and brushed back his sweaty black mess of hair. ‘What happens next?’

‘Well,’ she said, looking at the screen in her hands, ‘first, we will perform a technical analysis on the run against the other potential recruits, and then let our panel of experts have a say about the optimal pilot.’

Zane gulped. He had thought he was the only one, and because he had won, it was only a matter of practicality for them to make him an offer (which, after getting a taste of the Hawk, he was almost sure to sign). But it seemed things wouldn’t be that easy. ‘I understand. When will I hear from you?’

Carlo appeared beside him, slapping him on the shoulder. ‘Well done, spotting the opening; I thought I was being too subtle, but you saw it, and you took it. Would be great to have you in the team.’

He had let me pass intentionally? Either the guy was full of it, or he was the next ARL champion.

Marie said, ‘We are a high-performing organisation. We won’t take long; expect my call by tomorrow at the latest. We will also reach out to your agent: Hermes Humphries, correct?’

‘That’s right,’ Zane said. He didn’t know what he’d do with all the legalese without Hermes. Pistona wanted to move fast, and so did he, though he couldn’t imagine what he would do if they said no. He had put all his eggs in one basket, because every interaction with Pistona had made him feel like this was his team, and that he would slide into the racing line-up in no time.

Because he was Zane Silvering. He could have won the team championship last season. Surely, Pistona had nobody better than him. Or did they?

‘Are you guys at Karvama?’ Zane asked as his former teammate, Joanna Locksloe’s face appeared on his handset.

‘We are! Visiting Matt’s folks for the week,’ she said. ‘How did your testing go?’

Zane sighed. ‘Good, but seems I’m not the only one. Apparently they have other candidates as fast as me, if not faster.’

‘I doubt they have anyone better than you,’ said Matt Clay, Joanna’s boyfriend and the reigning ARL champion. ‘They might use it as a tactic to prepare for negotiations.’

‘I wish I had your confidence,’ Zane said, and meant it. When he had been dreaming of getting into the ARL, he had idolised Matt Clay, assuming he’d have his presence and confidence when he was a professional racer himself, but he would later find out that it didn’t work that way. Becoming an ARL racer didn’t magically make Zane look and act like this charismatic hunk.

‘Don’t sell yourself short,’ Matt said. ‘You are one of the elite, the best of the League.’

Hearing it from Matt Clay felt good even though he didn’t feel elite—he had less than a season’s worth of races under his belt, and some of those races had been outright bad.

‘He’s right, you’re one of the best,’ Joanna said, ‘but that’s not the main reason we called. We called because of this.’

She and Matt both reached out their hands, showing off a shiny new pair of rings adorning their fingers.

‘We got engaged!’

Zane smiled. He remembered the drama when Matt had proposed to Joanna in the live post-race media session last season, and the scandal of her refusal. But with everything that had happened since, their engagement seemed a natural progression. ‘Congratulations, you two! But, but… I didn’t see you propose on the newscast, Matt. So, how is it possible?’

‘Ha-ha,’ Joanna said. ‘He learned from the last time, and proposed to me in a much more suitable location: on a rowboat, just the two of us, in the natural quiet of Elanga Fjord.’

Matt grinned. ‘I was afraid she’d push me off the boat, but she said yes, and made me the happiest man in the galaxy.’

Joanna pulled him in for a kiss.

‘So, when is the big day?’

‘It will be during the mid-season break; we have booked the Gaia Lounge on Elvan. You are, of course, invited, though it might take some time for us to get the details for the invitations.’

‘I’m happy for you,’ Zane said.

‘And, mate, the invite is plus one, if you wish to bring someone special…’

Joanna hit Matt on the shoulder. ‘Don’t tease him.’

‘Yeah,’ Zane said, rubbing his neck. ‘I don’t think there will be a plus one for me.’

Both Joanna and Matt’s faces turned serious.

Matt said, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—’

‘Leah was an extraordinary person,’ Joanna said. ‘We all miss her.’

Few dared mention her name. Leah Kairos had been the first racer Zane had got to know on Kispeed, but then she’d left, and, working with Desiree Harmen, had tried to destroy the team. But all along, she had been doing the right thing. She had opened Zane’s eyes, and with her, he had spent the best months of his life. She showed him a love he didn’t know existed, and then, in a sudden missile explosion, she was taken away from him. Zane sighed. ‘She was…’

Joanna frowned. ‘Oh, you poor thing. I know plenty of sweet young women who would love to meet you; just let me know if you’re interested.’

‘Thanks. I appreciate it, I really do, but I don’t think I’m up for a serious relationship right now.’

‘Exactly!’ Matt said. ‘You’re a young superstar. You don’t need a serious relationship, but you could have some fun, eh?’

Joanna hit him again.

‘Ouch! You pack some power!’ Matt rubbed his shoulder. ‘Zane, it was good to talk to you. Keep us in the loop about Pistona; I’m sure they’ll take you.’

‘Thanks, I hope so too,’ Zane said, and with a wave, cut the line.

He had been living in the Locksloes’ mansion throughout the break, and Joanna and Matt had become his closest friends. He was happy for them, and was looking forward to the wedding. But there were still months and a lot of racing to go. Before the tragic events at the end of last season, he had been so close with Leah that he ended up shutting everyone else out of his life. It was a mistake he never wanted to make again.

This year, he’d concentrate on racing and spending time with his friends. He had absolutely no interest in rushing into yet another relationship, though Matt’s idea of having fun sounded good, too.

Talking about friends, Ant, his best friend since they were kids, was also applying to Pistona, but as a mechanic. If they wanted Zane, he would make sure they’d get him as well. He was the best race mechanic he knew, and he trusted him with his life.

Ant and his girlfriend, Greta Dromberg, a talented mechanic herself, had visited Zane on Elvan during the season break, but they had both then flown to Karvama, the Clay Family homeworld and the home of the Reckoner team, as Matt had hired her as a race mechanic. Greta had got a big break leading the race engineering team, but with Kispeed’s implosion, that had been short-lived. But apparently she didn’t mind being back…

His phone rang again. It was Marie Modena. Zane stepped over by the wall, and with trembling hands, opened the line. Her face appeared on the screen with a sharp smile, as always. ‘Zane, we have gone through the data about all the tests…’

He gulped. Even after so many races on ARL, and so many high-stakes situations, these sorts of things made him anxious.

‘…and we concluded that unfortunately we won’t be going forward with you.’

He blinked. ‘Excuse me?’

‘We will not be offering you a position with Pistona.’

Zane stared at her image on the screen, his mouth open. He had beat their best racer, and they had even spoken about getting Ant into the team. ‘Who got the job? Against whom was I competing?’

Marie tilted her head and offered a tight-lipped smile. ‘I understand how you might feel. You were my favourite, but our top management decided to stick with our existing roster and grow the ARL team organically. I’m really sorry this has happened so late in the process.’

‘So, you won’t be hiring anyone?’

‘That’s right. Carlo Allegri and Marta Cuverta will headline our debut, and we have a lot of young talent in our local leagues to grow into their shoes.’

She seemed sincere, but it didn’t make Zane feel any better as the realisation sank in. There were only a few weeks until the start of the season, and all the teams had full rosters. There was no chance of him getting into a team before the circus kicked off.

‘Zane,’ she continued, ‘you are a fantastic pilot. Let me assure you, the decision had nothing to do with your skills. I hope to see you on the circuit, and perhaps in the future we may work together.’

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zane ended the call and threw himself onto the bed, where, staring at the ceiling, he considered his options. There was one, Gurtech, to which he had already said no. Matt Clay didn’t think the new team would be up to the demands of the ARL, but still, Zane did his research. They had one experienced pilot, Gala Delana. Zane had heard of her winning in the local league, but Gurtech’s craft weren’t at the level of performance required to win in the ARL. Besides, it had already been a month since they had talked, and they would have filled their roster already.

What other options did he have? If all else failed, he might wrangle himself on board Reckoner as Matt’s substitute, but they both knew it wouldn’t work.

He sighed.

All he wanted was to race. He remembered what Ant had once said about him: that he knew what he had to do, whatever it took to get what he wanted.

He picked up his phone, and tapped a message to the Gurtech manager.

Gurtech invited him over to Folkvang, their mobile base of operations. The ship wasn’t more than one-tenth the size of Kispeed Crux, but it was new—they had procured it for this season, and had named it after an ancient myth.

He arrived on a shuttle from Karvama. The shiny new shuttle bay was impressive, and immediately upon stepping down from the shuttle, he was greeted by a sharp-looking man in a suit, and an Elandra woman in a black leather outfit. This can’t be too bad, he thought.

‘Zane Silvering,’ said the tall Human man with dark stubble and a protruding nose. ‘Welcome to Folkvang. I am Edward Schoolworth, and I manage this lot.’

‘And I am Petra Costa.’ The middle-aged woman was almost as tall as the man, had curly black-and-white hair, and a serious expression on her face that told she wasn’t born yesterday. ‘I’m the Gurtech head coach. It thrills me to have you visiting us. We’ve heard a lot about you.’

Zane smiled. ‘Thank you for meeting me on such short notice.’

‘Of course. What a coincidence this was!’

Zane hadn’t believed it when they’d called back and told him they were stationed in Karvama’s orbit. ‘Agree. I’ve been living on Elvan since last season and was just visiting Karvama.’

‘That, yes,’ said Petra, ‘but there’s also the fact that yesterday, we weren’t looking for a pilot.’

‘That was my impression,’ Zane said, ‘but you are now?’

‘That’s right,’ said Edward. ‘Ranc Lobe, our top man, was found guilty of drug trafficking.’

Petra nodded. ‘It was a total surprise for us and came at a tough time. We have a substitute, Ricardi Nara, but Gala Delana is not happy about it, and I understand.’

Zane knew Gala Delana’s name from the Fendra championships. The Yoonan woman’s success had been phenomenal. ‘You’re looking for someone to partner with her on the track?’

‘That’s right,’ Edward said. ‘Ricardi is no Ranc. But neither of them is Zane Silvering, and that’s why we wanted to invite you over immediately.’

Zane took a deep breath. The Gurtech people seemed very interested, and Gala Delana was a name he associated with winning. Of course, she was in a completely new game now, but once she’d got to grips with it, with her track record, she’d do well among the ARL pilots. Could Gurtech be his team? Matt Clay had thought little of them, and Zane had learned the hard way that if a deal looked too good to be true, it usually was. He would keep his feelings at bay. ‘Sounds good.’

‘The rumours,’ said Petra, ‘tell us you were in talks with the Pistona team. What happened?’

‘How did you…? Ah, of course, this is Karvama. Well, in a rather surprising turn of events, they decided not to hire anyone.’

‘That is truly a surprise. Perhaps they’re not in as good a shape financially as they’ve made themselves out to be. We approach publicity differently: we don’t talk about our stuff. Yes, we do the normal media sessions, but instead of talking about our tech, we do it, and we do it well. It’s our heritage. And now, building on top of it, we’re investing into gaining an advantage through data.’

Zane had never been comfortable with media and marketing—going fast was his forte—so that sounded like a perfect fit. ‘Awesome. You wouldn’t happen to be looking for engineers, as well?’

Edward said, ‘You’re talking about your friend Anthony Ant Goodman, with whom you’ve raced in Amera cup, and who joined you in Kispeed. Correct?’

‘I’m impressed,’ Zane said. It seemed they had done their homework. ‘He’s finishing his studies at university and is looking to join a race crew.’

‘We have recently filled our race engineering capability, and with Gurtech’s prowess and propulsion technology, we’ve no shortage of engineering talent at the moment.’

That was a shame, but Ant wasn’t in a hurry. If this worked out, maybe Ant could join them later, unless he followed Greta to the Reckoner team. ‘I understand.’

‘Let’s focus on Zane Silvering and Gurtech today, all right? I suggest we take a tour through the Folkvang, during which you’ll get to meet our key people and see what makes us proud. Sound good?’

‘Definitely. Let’s do it.’

Zane followed Petra and Edward through the halls and corridors of the ship. The pilots’ rooms were fancier than those on Kispeed. The cafeteria was smaller, but neatly organised, and the gym was a gym, nothing special there. The engineering department was smaller, too—their racing research and development teams were on Fendra, in the Keet Ba system. Everything on the ship was more compact than on the Kispeed Crux; even the simulators were in one corridor instead of in a massive hall, and there were but four (which was probably the norm as opposed to Kispeed’s eight). Still, it had everything he would need.

They entered the biggest open space inside the ship so far, the craft hangar. Four Y-shaped dual-engine craft, finished in glossy green-and-gold paint, stood side-by-side in an awe-inspiring line-up. And before the craft stood three pilots in similarly coloured overalls, holding their helmets in their hands.

‘Pilots. At ease,’ said Petra.

In a short time, they had put a lot of effort into his visit. They seemed keen on having him. On the left, Zane recognised Gala Delana, who, in the flesh, seemed to radiate an aura of confidence. In the middle was a young Human man with a short beard and matching dark hair—he wasn’t Ranc Lobe, so he must have been Ricardi Nara. And on the right, a young Human woman with tanned skin and straight blonde hair, with a fringe.

‘Zane Silvering, meet our pilots.’ Edward gestured towards the group. ‘Gala Delana, Ricardi Nara, and Dawn Brume.’

Zane had done some homework as well. While Gala was a star in the Fendra league, Ricardi and Dawn were talented newbies with only a handful of races under their belts.

‘Hi, I’m Zane.’

Gala nodded. ‘You don’t need an introduction. We’ve all seen you race.’

‘You looked bigger online,’ Ricardi said.

Zane chuckled. ‘You’re not the first person to say that.’

‘How come you’re not in a team, pretty boy?’ asked Dawn.

‘Well…’ —Zane gave himself a moment to gather his thoughts— ‘… I had a deal all set up, but it fell through at the last moment.’

Dawn kept quiet, but eyed him, as if she were sizing him up.

‘Good for us,’ said Gala.

‘Zane is just visiting today. We haven’t even spoken with his agent yet.’

‘I’m sure you’ll reach an agreement,’ Gala said. ‘Zane, come, check out our Valkyries.’

Zane followed her to one of the craft, which had its cockpit open and steps down. She gestured for him to step in and followed behind.

Inside the sleek cockpit, Zane sat on the black leather seat. As he did, it moved to contour and support his body, and the screens lit up with sharp, colourful indicators. The comms screens were bigger than those of the Kispeed Bullet, and the cockpit seemed to surround him. His hands found the controls right where he needed them to be.

‘What do you think of the Valkyrie?’ asked Gala.

‘She’s beautiful, but does she fly?’

‘Oh yes, she does. We have run myriad tests on Fendra. And well, Blue Dash, Sterotech, and Poorelline all use Gurtech technology. They know how to build a craft.’

‘Sure looks and feels the part.’

‘I can’t offer you a test drive on this one, but our new simulators are almost the same thing. Why not do a friendly race?’

‘If that’s all right with your folks, I’m game.’

‘That’s what we’re here for.’

After a dozen minutes, Zane wore the full green-and-gold overalls and a helmet, and sat in a perfect replica of the Valkyrie’s cockpit. Gala’s face was on the comms screen, and outside the cockpit, a perfect visualisation of Amera racetrack.

‘This is my home circuit,’ Zane said. ‘You sure you want this one?’

‘Of course. That’s why I picked it.’

She didn’t lack confidence, which was understandable considering her achievements, but ARL was different.

‘You wanna warm up first?’ she said.

‘Sure. Let me do a few laps.’ It had been a while since he had been in an ARL simulator, and with a new craft, he would benefit from a bit of practice.

‘Gotcha. Do as many as you need.’

Zane took the Valkyrie out to the pit lane. While it was a simulator, the controls and the craft were smoother than he had imagined, and not in a bad way. Entering the track, he gave it more power and felt the immediate response. The Amera circuit ran through his home city, Dawnia, and held the corner—now called ‘the wrecker’—which his father had crashed through to his death. Even now, so many years later, it reminded him of that fateful day.

It took him a few more corners to find the craft’s limits were better than he had anticipated, not because he was out of tune, but because the craft hung on to the turns tighter and he could go harder than he thought possible. If the simulator was an accurate indicator of the Valkyrie’s performance, he was sold.

After two laps, he eased onto the grid beside Gala, who was waiting in a similar craft. Hers was number one; his, number two.

‘Three-lap sprint race good for you?’ she asked.

‘Sure!’ While he had more experience on the Amera track, Gala knew the craft better. In such a short race, there would be little time to practise.

‘It’s my favourite heat,’ she said. ‘I have everything set up. You ready?’

Zane reconfirmed the settings and the craft status. ‘I’m ready.’

The starting lights appeared and filled the view with bright red as Zane preloaded his thrusters. All the lights on, Zane tensed, and when they disappeared, he let go and unleashed Valkyrie’s full power.

Streaming side-by-side across the main straight, Zane smiled. He had missed the feeling of an ARL race craft so much on the season break. The feeling of a craft under him, albeit a simulator, reminded him of who he was.

The first corner to the left and up approached, and with Gala on the inside, they entered the corner with her in the lead.

Zane had to admit she was fast. He was struggling to keep up.

Her voice sounded in his ear. ‘How do you like the Valkyrie?’

‘Still getting to grips with it,’ he said, trying to concentrate on the corner up ahead.

‘It’s an excellent craft, but needs a skilful pilot,’ she said.

‘What are you saying?’

‘Ranc was good, but Ricardi and Dawn don’t have what it takes to succeed in ARL.’

Before this simulator run, he hadn’t been sure if any of them had a chance, but Gala had surprised him with her speed. ‘Why are you telling me this?’

‘I want you to know what you’re getting into. Besides speed, I need a partner who I can trust.’

They whizzed past the finish line to complete the first lap. His lap time was only six-tenths of a second slower than his best first lap on the Amera circuit. Not that he was lagging; she was really fast.

‘Agreed. It’s a team sport,’ Zane said, and hunkered down to catch her.

She had great precision and boldness in the way she piloted the craft, but corner by corner, Zane was inching closer. The Valkyrie’s power curve suited his style. If what she’d said was true, with a bit of training, he could become blazingly fast.

After the second lap, his lap time was almost on par with his best, and he was again close on her tail. But she wouldn’t give in. Though she must have had her hands full, because she wasn’t talking anymore.

She took the corners with systematic precision, and with little difference in speed, left no spots for Zane to overtake.

He pushed harder the more familiar he became with the craft. On the last corner before the main straight, he left braking late, and squeezed himself past her on the inside.

‘Good try,’ she said, as she overtook him again with better exit speed.

They crossed the finish line with Gala first, and Zane second. He was sweating after just three laps.

Stepping out of the simulator, he wiped his hair back. Edward, Petra, and the substitutes came out from behind a screen. Petra said, ‘Good racing, both of you. What do you think of him, Gala?’

The direct question surprised Zane, but it was also a sign that the coach cared about what her team thought.

Zane felt awkward after losing the race, but in his defence, he had never flown the Valkyrie before.

Gala had got a bit of red on her almost grey Yoonan skin. ‘What’s there to say? He’d kick Ranc’s ass any day.’

Zane raised a brow. He had thought her to be more critical.

‘Thanks, Gala, and team,’ said Petra. ‘We’ll continue the process with Zane.’

The team left, with Gala waving at Zane, Ricardi squinting, and Dawn looking as if she wanted to hide. There was something about Ricardi and Dawn he couldn’t place, but then again, Gala had told him the substitutes weren’t up to the ARL level of skill. They must have worried about their position with the new racer coming in.

‘So, Zane,’ Edward said. ‘How do you feel about Gurtech? Do you have any questions for us?’

Zane took a deep breath. ‘I’m impressed. If the Valkyrie is at all like it is in the simulator, you could have a chance at the championship. Also, Gala was faster than I thought. I feel I’ve seen enough. How do we move forward?’

The next day, Zane boarded a cruiser back to Elvan, courtesy of the Pistona team, who had flown him over. They had provided him with a first-class cabin. In style, Pistona had beat Gurtech, but Gurtech’s understated confidence mesmerised Zane.

Edward had sent him a contract. This time he wouldn’t rush it alone like he had done with Kispeed. Instead, Hermes, who had become his de jure agent, would cast his eyes over the document to identify any problems. He would also talk with Matt Clay, to better understand why he had been so reserved about Gurtech. But if he had to guess, it was about the style—Matt never had gone for the understated.

Flying back to Elvan, Zane had time to think, a sudden space of free time. With a highly scheduled life, racing practice had become his meditation. And after the season was over, living with the Locksloes and organising everything with Kispeed had kept him busy.

His grandmother and the owner of Kispeed, Love Harmen, had been proven guilty of various crimes and confined to a high-security prison on Ammaraban’s moon for a sentence of multiple lifetimes. It was the end of Kispeed, and though Zane had lost his racing team, he had