Read Online Nano Contestant - Episode 1: Whatever It Takes by Leif Sterling - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Leif Sterling
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attention to yourself, she thought.
Roland didn’t even flinch. “I’m a Tech Games competitor. I’m not a hybrid or a digital.” Roland turned around and walked back to his place in line.
Duke raised both of his arms to address the crowd. “Hear that everyone? This little guy isn’t a hybrid or a digital. He’s got his own home brewed tech, and he thinks he can compete!” Duke gave a loud boisterous laugh. “Watch him, everyone. He won’t even make it off the starting line!”
Skylar leaned in close once Roland got back in line. “Forget him. He doesn’t matter.”
Roland ran his hands through his hair. “It’s almost our turn to register. I just want to get out of here.”
The coach made his way over to Roland and put out his hand. “I’m Lincoln. I wanted to say ‘thanks’ for coming over when you did.”
Roland shook Lincoln’s hand. “I’m Roland. Anyone would have done the same.”
Lincoln shook his head. “No, no one else did.”
Roland looked at Lincoln’s neck. “How’s your neck? It still looks red.”
Lincoln lightly touched his neck. “Yeah, it still hurts, but it’s better. I’ll be ok.”
Skylar grimaced. “I heard him fire you. Surely he wouldn’t do that with the games only a few weeks away?”
“Yeah, Duke has a bad temper, but when he fires someone, they don’t get a second chance. The company just replaces them quickly, because they want to keep Duke happy.”
Roland shifted his backpack around. “What’s your plans now?”
Lincoln nodded again. “I guess this year is shot. I’ll have to start looking for a contestant for next season. It’s kind of a relief, honestly. I coached a couple of other contestants to the semi-finals before, but Duke was the most difficult to work with.”
Roland glanced at Skylar. “Well, I don’t have a coach. So, if you were still wanting to be a Tech Games coach this year, I could really use one.”
Lincoln looked surprised. “Yeah, actually I would be interested. What’s your three mile time?”
Skylar shifted her weight. “His time was 12:42. Why?”
Lincoln rubbed his throat. “I just want to know what I’m working with. Duke’s time was 12 flat. Any time under 13:30 is considered to be in about the top fifty percent. A time under 13 is in the top twenty-five percent. Roland, you probably have a good chance, but there’s no guarantee this late into the competition. The games are a little less than a month away. I can help you, but we will have to do intense training with long hours every day.”
Roland looked serious. “I’ll train hard, but you need to know I can’t pay you. I just don’t have the money, but I can offer you an equal share of anything the team wins.”
Lincoln shrugged his shoulders. “Sounds good to me. I’d do it for free if I got to get back at Duke.”
Roland put out his hand. “Great. Welcome to the team.”
Lincoln shook Roland’s hand. “We start at 4 AM tomorrow.”
C HAPTER F OURTEEN :
O RGANIC
A PINNACLE EMPLOYEE called them forward to register.
Enrique’s team also got called and went to the registration table to the right of Roland.
Skylar and Lincoln both filled out their paperwork, and Roland waited for them to finish. Roland was just starting on his when Duke’s team came up to the table on Roland’s left.
Roland stepped up to the registration table.
Duke came and stood right behind Roland and crossed his arms. He leaned his head towards his team. “Go ahead and get registered. I want a good laugh. I’m going to hear the little leprechaun get registered over here.”
A news reporting team had missed the earlier opportunity that Duke had presented for drama on the Tech Games and wasn’t about to miss it again. They hurried over near Duke and Roland and zoomed their cameras in.
Roland sighed as he watched Duke’s shadow fall over him and the registration lady. Let’s hurry this along, he thought.
The registration lady motioned Roland to come
Roland didn’t even flinch. “I’m a Tech Games competitor. I’m not a hybrid or a digital.” Roland turned around and walked back to his place in line.
Duke raised both of his arms to address the crowd. “Hear that everyone? This little guy isn’t a hybrid or a digital. He’s got his own home brewed tech, and he thinks he can compete!” Duke gave a loud boisterous laugh. “Watch him, everyone. He won’t even make it off the starting line!”
Skylar leaned in close once Roland got back in line. “Forget him. He doesn’t matter.”
Roland ran his hands through his hair. “It’s almost our turn to register. I just want to get out of here.”
The coach made his way over to Roland and put out his hand. “I’m Lincoln. I wanted to say ‘thanks’ for coming over when you did.”
Roland shook Lincoln’s hand. “I’m Roland. Anyone would have done the same.”
Lincoln shook his head. “No, no one else did.”
Roland looked at Lincoln’s neck. “How’s your neck? It still looks red.”
Lincoln lightly touched his neck. “Yeah, it still hurts, but it’s better. I’ll be ok.”
Skylar grimaced. “I heard him fire you. Surely he wouldn’t do that with the games only a few weeks away?”
“Yeah, Duke has a bad temper, but when he fires someone, they don’t get a second chance. The company just replaces them quickly, because they want to keep Duke happy.”
Roland shifted his backpack around. “What’s your plans now?”
Lincoln nodded again. “I guess this year is shot. I’ll have to start looking for a contestant for next season. It’s kind of a relief, honestly. I coached a couple of other contestants to the semi-finals before, but Duke was the most difficult to work with.”
Roland glanced at Skylar. “Well, I don’t have a coach. So, if you were still wanting to be a Tech Games coach this year, I could really use one.”
Lincoln looked surprised. “Yeah, actually I would be interested. What’s your three mile time?”
Skylar shifted her weight. “His time was 12:42. Why?”
Lincoln rubbed his throat. “I just want to know what I’m working with. Duke’s time was 12 flat. Any time under 13:30 is considered to be in about the top fifty percent. A time under 13 is in the top twenty-five percent. Roland, you probably have a good chance, but there’s no guarantee this late into the competition. The games are a little less than a month away. I can help you, but we will have to do intense training with long hours every day.”
Roland looked serious. “I’ll train hard, but you need to know I can’t pay you. I just don’t have the money, but I can offer you an equal share of anything the team wins.”
Lincoln shrugged his shoulders. “Sounds good to me. I’d do it for free if I got to get back at Duke.”
Roland put out his hand. “Great. Welcome to the team.”
Lincoln shook Roland’s hand. “We start at 4 AM tomorrow.”
C HAPTER F OURTEEN :
O RGANIC
A PINNACLE EMPLOYEE called them forward to register.
Enrique’s team also got called and went to the registration table to the right of Roland.
Skylar and Lincoln both filled out their paperwork, and Roland waited for them to finish. Roland was just starting on his when Duke’s team came up to the table on Roland’s left.
Roland stepped up to the registration table.
Duke came and stood right behind Roland and crossed his arms. He leaned his head towards his team. “Go ahead and get registered. I want a good laugh. I’m going to hear the little leprechaun get registered over here.”
A news reporting team had missed the earlier opportunity that Duke had presented for drama on the Tech Games and wasn’t about to miss it again. They hurried over near Duke and Roland and zoomed their cameras in.
Roland sighed as he watched Duke’s shadow fall over him and the registration lady. Let’s hurry this along, he thought.
The registration lady motioned Roland to come
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