C HAP T E R 2
The track for the qualifying race was just a
straight path bordered by two bright red lines.
It was wide enough for all sixteen pods to line
up next to each other with little space to spare.
Other than the lines, there was just darkness—
the most basic of basic tracks.
The pods were smooth and sleek. They
looked like cars except that every edge had
been rounded off, leaving them without any
corners. All of them were identical, each
glowing in the color of its team. They hovered
just slightly off the ground with two engines
on the back. The tops of the pods opened up
for the drivers to get inside.
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