The Full Circle Six Read Free Page A

like the fire color of the key. Drake picked up the key, drew in a deep breath, and turned it in midair directly in front of him. Nothing happened. He thought for a bit, and deduced that the red key either was a fake of some sort, or it just had to be turned in the appropriate position or coordinates. He placed the key back in the long, slender case, and shoved it back into his inner pocket.
    Drake then, with a flick of his index finger, triggered his holochart gazers, and set them so he could study current charts. While he races, this feature is almost always left on. The next race crept into his mind again. The newcomers would be arriving within the week.
    The week after that, it begins. Drake did not sleep as planned. He merely stood arms crossed staring through his gazers, trying in his head to map the most suitable course.

CHAPTER TWO
Fresh Meat
    A round twelve hours later, Drake switched his gazers back to intercept chart mode, and forced himself to the consuming quarters for some nourishment. When he arrived there, he noticed Kraus was having a cup of coffee, and joined him at once. Drake ordered bread, meat, and coffee from the delivery dispenser tubes, with a couple of button punches, and began corresponding with Kraus as he seated himself.
    â€œAre you prepared for the big one, double k?” Drake began devouring his bread and meat after asking this question.
    â€œI am prepared, as much as one could expect to be.” Kraus knew his weapons instruments, and he was always exceptional in hand-to-hand combat. Kraus was a physical specimen at six feet two inches, two hundred and twenty five pounds. He had no hair detectable with hazel, catlike eyes and a sort of distorted face.
    â€œWhat do you got for me this time?” Drake was referring to any special weapons that might be useful during their upcoming race. Kraus always had something up his sleeve. Drake took a long drawl of coffee and listened intently to Kraus’s response.
    â€œWell, I do have one fully charged time disrupter. It’s capable for forward or reverse … maybe a total of thirty days.” Kraus gave hand gestures while talking, trying to demonstrate. After looking slightly confused with himself, Kraus continued.
    â€œI got some external shield protection again.” Kraus continued to eat his food steadily as he spoke. Drake knew that external shield protection meant a shield energy de-stabilizer, within the third and last layer of shields. This can come in useful with sparring racecrafts that get in Drake’s way. It works by moving outward from the outer layer of shield, thus not affecting their equipment.
    â€œThat’s good stuff, double k let’s just make sure you know how to operate it.” Drake stared hard at Kraus after he said it, as if challenging him to argue his qualifications.
    â€œI believe I’ll manage.” Was all Kraus said before leaving Drake to finish his meal alone. There was obviously still a little tension between the two from the last race.
    â€œDrake Judge! It’s time to wake up from your nap, there’s a highly anticipated message waiting for you on the navigation deck.” Freddie’s anything but masculine voice rang throughout the transport. Drake immediately made haste to the navigation deck to receive his message eagerly, leaving the remains of his vittles behind.
    Once on the navigation deck, Drake leaned over the racecraft’s message display unit and opened his message. It read as follows.
N.C.P.O.
Navigation Command Post Operator
Drake Judge
L.S.S.O.
Life Support Systems Operator
Iriarte Croxon
 
Secondary position medical assistant
M.O
Medicine Operator
Priscilla Youest
S.S.T.
Shield And Ship Technician
Samelek Riordin
W.O.
Weapons Operater
Kraus Klatzki
E.F.O.
Engine And Fuels Operator
Frederick Stallworth
C.E.
Communications Expert
Zarocostas Jozwiak
F.B.R.
Food And Beverage Regulator
Juhaen
M.S.C.
Maintenance and Sanitation Control
Ouldsid