“So, what exactly is this about?” His friend Trey asked with a curious gaze.

  Both of them were currently on a lounge sofa in the Tsunami Foods paddock at the race track where Trey pced fifth pce just a few days ago. His friend’s dark blue maglev race car was standing just a few meters next to them.

  “I told you st night, right?” I found a way for you to win.” Leon answered but Trey only rolled his eyes.

  “Yeah, I got that much. Putting two things together wasn’t that difficult but my question is, where exactly is this coming from?”

  “Isn’t it only right for me to help out my best friend? I mean, I’ve seen you moping around for several days now, no reason to hide it. How can I just sit back and watch?”

  “Sure.” Trey leaned back and ughed. “Helping a friend is nice and all but the Leon Harper I know does nothing he has neither interest nor curiosity in. So, considering I had to force you to go to your first ever maglev race, I doubt friendship and kindness is your only angle.”

  Raising his hands in defeat, Leon smiled curtly. “I confess, it’s not just that. I was hoping that in exchange I could get a little favor from you.”

  “A little favor? If it’s just that you could have simply asked.”

  “I want one of those androids GenoTech is making.”

  This earned him a gaze of stunned silence which soon turned into a questioning expression. The gears were certainly turning in Trey’s head but he couldn’t make the connection.

  “Sorry, I think I don’t quite follow. You want what now?”

  “One of those androids from GenoTech. Like the one whose arm I broke at the afterparty.”

  That was Leon’s pn. When he thought about the video game analogy the old man, Howard, was telling him yesterday night at the park, he found a solution to his current situation.

  His progress with the Phoenix Project file was stagnant while his opinion of Dr. Irvine, and Alpha Dynamics who stands behind him, remained skeptical and vigint after his abnormal expression of anger regarding their industry competitor.

  That’s why he decided to get Trey’s help in securing one of those androids, so that he can look closer at their code to find any clues about the AI technology that acts at its foundation. He would effectively get a chance to find out more about Project Phoenix without relying or including his sponsor Dr. Irvine in any way while using Trey as a middle-man to ensure no connection to him is made.

  Of course, that would only be on the official side.

  Unofficially, he would do something of equal measure for his friend in return.

  Leon felt rather uncomfortable asking Trey to buy an over-a-million credit android for him which is why he pnned to help him win the championship as payment. After all, he wasn’t rich or anything but his prodigal mind was something else.

  “I heard their next Tech showcase that is scheduled in three months includes the new android prototype but I don’t know if they take advance orders. They have older models, though, if you want one earlier. But why do you want one in the first pce? Did you get intrigued during the party?”

  “Something like that.” Leon nodded before adding. “And I want both.”

  “Both.” Trey chuckled slightly, shaking his head. Leon was an eccentric person, unpredictable to the core. Better said, it was his hyper-functional brain that made his actions seem so atypical in the eyes of the average person.

  Luckily, Trey has already gotten used to it after rooming together with Leon for over half a year. He was originally aiming for excitement and freedom when deciding to live in the apartment dorms during university but his expectations were surpassed when his roommate turned out to be Leon. There was simply never a boring day with him, despite his cking social game.

  “I can certainly do that.” Trey answered. “Buy a GenoTech android for you to py around. However, I still don’t understand how you want to help me win. I know you’re hel smart and all but racing is about skills, reaction and practice.”

  “True but nothing of that is relevant without the most vital component—the car.” Leon said as he pointed with his thumb towards Trey’s dark blue maglev race car behind them.

  Trey looked over at the car for a moment, then turned back to Leon and chuckled.

  “That, my friend, is a race car that is considered to be industry standard. It means that its specifications are designed to its maximum capabilities for human control. G-forces, reaction speed and perception assistance. Every car in the race is using the highest capabilities possible.”

  “I understand, but that is not how you’re going to win that champion title.” Leon replied as he nodded his head. “I’ve done some research and I pretty much singled out the deciding factor to one thing.”

  “... One thing?” Trey raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes. Say, why do you think Jade Kotova has been the undefeated champion for the two years ever since she started to compete?”

  Trey thought about it for a moment but the answer was rather obvious after a short time.

  “Gene Editing."

  “Exactly.” Leon’s mouth curved into a grin. “Jade Kotova has been genetically engineered at birth to be better at, well, everything. Not just her looks but also other qualities that surpass natural human limits beyond what other members of high society have access to due to her status as the princess of the GenoTech Conglomerate. This means that her reaction speed is naturally faster and she can also withstand more G-forces than any other driver.”

  “So, you’re basically telling me that no matter how much I train, there is no chance for me to ever beat her in the skill department.”

  “Correct. Which is why you need a new car. A better car. If ability is what is restricting you and others, then better technology is what sets you apart.”

  “And you can build me a better car? A car that surpasses the current industry standard that all collective manufacturers agree on?”

  His question almost made Leon roll his eyes. “Come on, Trey. You know me.”

  “Yes, I’m aware that you’re a genius, Leon.” His friend leaned forward, putting his arms on his knees. “However, this is a big thing. You’d be working with senior mechanics of the Tsunami Foods team that would need to cross-check and verify your modifications to ensure the car is legal per the standards. Besides, I thought you were a software guy.”

  ‘My father was a mechanic.’’ Leon almost wanted to say but held himself back at the st minute.

  “I can do this, Trey.”

  “We have bi-weekly races until the mid-seasonal Grand Prix in three months where I have to make at least the podium to get enough points to contend for the title. This is a very narrow time frame to make changes.”

  “I know that but you need to trust me on this, Trey. I can deliver.” He assured him again, leaving his friend sitting in thought. He was weighing his chances, Leon could see that. But still, despite the fact that his idea sounded absurd, he knew that his friend was already persuaded.

  If any of his racing team’s managers, technicians or any stuff, really, heard about this they would reject it no matter what. Guaranteed. After all, the risk was too great.

  Trey, on the other hand, was different. He knew he couldn’t beat Jade Kotova under normal circumstances. He needed an ace.

  Leon might be just that.

  “Alright, I understand. If you say you can do it, then I believe in that too.”

  “Ha, I knew you’d come around.” Leon ughed while Trey only shook his head in return.

  “I’ll set you up with the senior mechanic of the team. I gotta do some admin work but you’ll have full authority as long as that goes through.”

  “Got it.”

  “And make the car better, not worse. You hear me?”

  “We’ll see about that.” Leon grinned to himself as Trey didn’t say a single word. He was already starting to regret the idea but he couldn’t just pull back now. He decided to commit, so he would do exactly that right to the end.

  “Anyway, this is the number of the mechanic, Zoe. You can contact her ter but let me fill her in beforehand so she knows who you are.”

  A moment ter, the new contact was saved in Leon’s phone, achieving his goal. He would build Trey a car worthy of the champion title and get a million credit android in return.

  He was about to turn-off his phone when a sudden message popped up on the screen.

  Dr. Jim Irvine.

  Clicking on the chat, he quickly read the short text, his face turning into a slight frown. Looking up at Trey, Leon spoke with a hint of embarrassment.

  “Hey, I wanted to fill you in on some more things regarding the car but something came up at the b.”

  “Don’t let me stop you. Just fill me in ter.”

  Seeing that his friend didn’t mind, Leon stood up from the couch and started to leave the building. Midway, he took another gnce at the message, confirming that he read correctly.

  ‘Meet me at The Providence. They have a strict dress code, so don’t forget to wear a suit. There is something important we need to discuss.’

  Dr. Irvine’s message was about a meetup. A meetup in a high-end restaurant, above all.

  As long as he’s known the man, this was certainly a first. This is why Leon felt a bit confused about the nature of the meeting. Did he want to talk about Project Phoenix or was it something else. Either way, he wouldn’t ask to meet him in any other pce than his work office if it wasn’t anything important.

  “Wear a suit.” Leon muttered under his breath. “Let’s hope it’s worth the effort.”

  ……….

  “The impossible always seems out of reach until one person proves the world different.”

  ~~Dr. Benjamin Harper’s Memoirs~~