Magic Eight Ball

From within the belly of her beast, the driver assessed her remaining options.  She needed to make a move as they were still stuck within the center of the pack.  But, did her opponents have any tricks left?  It was hard to know for sure, doubt residing within her calculations.  Too soon and it would only go to waste.  Instinct was all she could rely on.  

When a sudden opening manifested, she sprung into action.

Hastily, the driver flipped a switch and stomped her foot down hard as if harshly snuffing out an intrusive insect.  Her beast roared as it picked up speed in response to her command.  A practiced strength prevented her flinching from the sudden and harsh recoil, but the sensation that followed; the rush was unlike anything else.  Adrenaline.  Yes, but it was also something more than that.  As her beast began to outpace the other contenders and bury them within a thick trail of dust, she felt the full force of this favorite sensation.  A twisted bliss mainlined from her mechanical powerhouse.

But before confidence could fully set in, the feeling was swiftly torn away from her.  An impact landed alongside, shifting their momentum just before clearing the final contender standing in her way of the lead.  Jerking her controls in the opposite direction in desperation, the driver tightened her grip.  While she fought from spinning out, a series of colors flashed past them.  Her fingers eventually fumbled.  Tumbling airborne, they flew rolling end over end.  As her head violently whipped back and forth in a flurry that felt as though it might last for an eternity, she found herself questioning everything.

Darkness followed by a flash of light and then… She was back.

An update from her crew rang out over the radio.  Preparations for the race were almost complete.  A bead of sweat ran down her neck as she hastily recounted every decision leading to her ultimate ruination.  This was her final trick.  This time around, they wouldn’t burn out.