The Ninth Anual Robo-contest of the Grid begins

“So remember to take your preventive measures viewers of the Grid. Remember that, forewarned is forearmed. Isn´t that right Alex?” A commentator said.

“Of course Antoine!” Commentator Alex replied. “Don’t forget that the Columbus Station’s assistance line is open 24/7 fellow viewers or you can visit our website. In case you want to learn more about how to prepare for the upcoming tropical storm.”

“And now, let’s get back to the stadium. Shall we? Where all the participants are lining up on the starting line to kick off the first event of this year’s Robo-contest,” Antoine ceremoniously announced.

“Competitors on your marks!” The start official said through the buzzer as the line of robots turned immobile. “Set…”

The start signal resonated throughout the awaiting stadium and the robots started running.

“And there they go!” Alex said. “There might not be a perceivable difference right now but in a few minutes, we’ll be able to see the first competitors to take the lead. Who do you think they’ll be, Antoine?”

“Well the Mchunu guys always have a solid team in the track and field event,” Antoine commented. “As we’re seeing right now they’re taking the lead as there’s one lap to go before leaving the stadium.”

“Indeed! Mchunu is looking as solid as always on the track but… wait the Kazuhara is staying close, followed by the Amelia and the New Krakow,” Alex continued. “The public is roaring as they leave the stadium! Seems like the Mchunu isn’t going to have that easy at today’s track event.”

“And off they go!” Antoine exclaimed. “Now we’re going to switch to the handler’s room cam to see how well they… handle… this change of relay.”

Ale giggled, “You’re such a jokester Antoine!”

In the handler’s room, Mike passed Oliver the control loop in a swift rehearsed move. Oliver quickly moved to the handling area, Nina activated the antigravity button and Oliver started swimming in the middle of the air at the same time Athena did in the ocean.

“Oh look at the guys from the Amelia, Alex!” Antoine admired. “That was a smooth change!”

“And it paid off for them, Antoine!” Alex awed. “They just reached the Kazuhara team. What a solid swimming technique the Athena’s relayer has!”

“Nina. Are you ready?” Oliver said from the handling area. “I’m almost there!”

“Affirmative!” Nina responded

As Oliver threw the handling ring upwards, Mike pulled Oliver away from the area, Nina jumped inside the area swiftly putting on the loop, and Athena started climbing up the western pillar of Columbus Station.

“Look! The Amelia is ahead of the Kazuhara,” Antoine commented. “It seems that they’re going to pass them…”

The commentator spoke too soon, Kazuhara’s robot kicked Athena on the hip and made it lose its grabbing.

“Oh! That wasn’t a fair move!” Alex exclaimed. “I’m sure the referee will penalize Kazuhara’s team.”

They waited a while for the penalization to appear.

“Well, it seems that the referee doesn’t share our opinion!” Antoine said, his words filled with incredulity.

As Athena climbed the structure, Oliver realized that its grip was constantly failing. He turned to see red-faced Nina.

“Nina, breathe,” Oliver advised his angry friend.

“I can’t believe the referee didn’t penalize them!” Nina exclaimed, losing Athena’s left grip. “This is so unfair!”

“Look. You’re going to give them just what they want if you don’t calm down,” Oliver assured. “Don’t let them! Now get back to being the amazing climber I know you are but stay at a safe distance. If they bought the referee I don’t want to risk Athena.”

The newly motivated Nina started climbing the pillar and she made it seem it was as simple as walking. The gap between the Kazuhara and the Amelia narrowed.

“And arriving at the aiming area is the Mchunu, followed closely by the Kazuhara… and the Amelia!” Francoise acclaimed. “What a recovery!”

“Nina, change!” Mike ordered as he put on the loop and Oliver turned off the zero gravity of the area.

The robots arrived at the hoverport, where a pile of cannonballs awaited.

“Here competitors must be able to throw three cannonballs at a minimum horizontal distance of fifty meters to be able to advance to the next section,” Alex explained. “And there goes Mchunu, three in a row as expected.”

Oliver watched closely as Mike imitated the movement of a shot putter. Athena threw one cannonball, clear.

“Now the Kazuhara is moving to the next stage,” Fracoise informed.

Two, clear. Three, clear.

Athena ran to the edge of the hoverport.

“Change!” Oliver said, as he and Mike quickly changed positions.

Athena crouched to grab the laberynthical monkey bars that bent down to the next stage. Athena grabbed the first bar tightly and let its body fall. The robot started to go down bar by bar. The course twisted to the left, swirled to the right, bent in eighty-degree angles.

“Hang on, you’re almost there,” Nina said.

The bars were hanging from chains in the last segment of the course. Oliver took a deep breath to mentalize, he couldn’t fail now. Athena took the first bar and started swinging back and forth, it grabbed the next bar and managed to stabilize. Ahead Kazuhara’s robot was struggling to stay stable. Athena managed to shorten the gap even more. On the last bar, Athena stretched its lag and clung to the gangway.

“Change,” Nina ordered to Oliver.

“Oh! This is my favorite part!” Antoine rejoiced.

“Wow! That one was close for Mchunu,” Alex commented.

“One centimeter further and the sack would have sent them flying into the sea,” Antoine replied. “But watch out Mchunu! The Kazuhara is getting closer!”

“And the Amelia too!” Alex added.

The sand sacks passed by Athena, just a few spare centimeters, menacing with their mighty weight. Athena crouched, dodged, and jumped the sacks as it narrowed the distance with its rivals. Soon the hangway turned into the Ellipsis Stadium’s roof.

Athena jumped right behind the Kazuhara as the stadium’s roof ended. They descended in slow motion as they activated their propel to land softly on the ground.

“No one can risk a major damage this early in the competition,” Antoine explained.

The moment Athena’s legs touched the floor of the track, Mike ordered, “Change!”

“Change!!!” Emil Bushida desperately screamed from the other side of the room.

“Now it's the hurdles race and Amelia and Kazuhara are head to head closing the gap with Mchunu!” Antoine vociferated, as Alex became a side character in the cabin.

“Run, Mel, run!” Urged the Mchunu team. “They’re cutting the gap!”

This distracted Mel.

“And Mchunu has just stumbled on a hurdle!” Antoine desperately yelled into the microphone. “Their advantage is now nonexistent!”

Mel screamed in frustration.

“Four hurdles to go!” Antoine continued. “Three! Two! One! The teams reached the sprint zone! They’re head to head!”

Mel warcried. Emil miserably complained. The public at the stadium went wild, standing and jumping. Mike's legs hurt but he just kept going, raising his knees as his grandfather taught him.

“One hundred meters!” Antoine shouted, breaking his voice. “Final sprint!”

“GO MIKE!!!” Oliver and Nina encouraged as the three robots were twenty meters away from crossing the finish line. “GO!”