02ABY: Swoop Gangs by John Beyer & Wayne Humfleet

Author:John Beyer & Wayne Humfleet
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Hewlett-Packard
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Challenge

“He’s going to cheat.” Chop said, an unusual seriousness in his voice.

Quayce nodded in agreement. She pulled her shades over her eyes — as she keyed the ignition, her swoop roared to life. The noise of the modified swoop drowned out the jeers of the crowd. This wasn’t going to be an easy audience to deal with. Fortunately, the code of the challenge kept the Spiders at bay. Knowing they wouldn’t interfere, Quayce would only have to worry if she lost. She took a moment to fasten the sissy belt — it wouldn’t do any good if she got thrown before the race started.

Beside her on his own swoop, Dean Lado sneered at her. Like most of the Spiders, he was cocky — a dangerous combination when mixed with a cold heart. Lado wanted the Star Slinger prototype swoop for himself, and would do anything to own it. How many of the Spiders had thrown their lives away trying to get the experimental swoop and failed? It was hard to tell.

This time was different. Dean Lado did not target the Star Slinger itself, but Chop’s daughter. Jardra. Jardra was a good kid — Quayce wished she weren’t caught up in this mess. Jardra’s promising singing career had just started with the release of “Trench Warfare,” a rock song that was already on the Empire’s banned list.

“The belt won’t help you any! You’ve already lost! Why not hand over the plans for the Star Slinger and forget it?” Lado yelled with a smile creeping onto his mouth.

“You’re lap-happy, Lado!” she snapped back.

Quayce wished she were as confident as she sounded. Lado didn’t know that she rode the Star Slinger prototype, the very prize he sought. He did have the advantage, though — Lado was an excellent racer, usually winning one way or another at every swoop gang rally he raced in. She, on the other hand, was a competent rider, but had never raced in any of the past rallies. Her only advantages were the Star Slinger and a special “equalizer” she hoped she wouldn’t need. She would have to stay focused. Lado was known to set traps for his prospective opponents, and a mistake could prove fatal.

This race’s only rule was no outside interference. The challenge was simple — three times around the ancient swoop track, which was littered with debris from years of neglect. There was no telling when a piece of the stadium would fall or where. The racers would have to rely on instinct alone to guide them. If Lado won, he would get the plans to the Star Slinger, and Quayce would give up leadership of the Mynocks. If Quayce won, Jardra would be returned to them and Lado would step aside as leader of the Spiders. The code of the challenge bound the loser to honor the outcome. Failure to do so would result in the entire gang losing face.

A hush fell over the stadium as two burly Spiders escorted Jardra to the center of the cluttered lane.

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