Danny appeared in his red sports car as he turned on the V.R. console. This was the default setting for unofficial racers. When he became an official racer, he could change the setting.
Right now, he was in his private track. “Cane. Cane,” Danny called out. Twenty-four hours had passed, so Cane’s synchronization should be complete. Whatever that meant. He didn’t really understand it, but he guessed—or rather hoped—that since Cane had access to his account, he would also have access to Cane.
This was why Danny called for Cane. Maybe calling him wouldn’t work. Maybe there was a new button on the digital screen that would help him contact Cane or maybe...
“Greetings!” a voice said. Hearing this voice made Danny jerk up from his seat. But then, Danny realized something. He recognized this robotic voice that seemed to come out of nowhere.
“Cane?” Danny asked.
“That is correct, Danny,” Cane answered.
“Where are you?” Danny asked.
“That is a complicated question, but I’ll try to answer as best as I can,” Cane said. “When the synchronization was completed, part of me was transferred to your account. So I am here in the car with you, and I am also where you found me. Except here, I don’t have a body. However, since I have full access to your Overdrive Online account, I am using your audio receivers to speak with you. Have I answered your question?”
“A little bit, yeah,” Danny said. “But it’s kinda freaky how you talk to me and I can’t even see you.”
“Is that so? In that case, I believe I can solve that problem,” Cane said.
The digital screen appeared in front of Danny, showing a lot of information: his racer name, his sports cars, and other details. At the bottom right of the screen, there was an icon of a blue orb with a vertical ring.
“Is this better?” Cane asked. This time, when he spoke, his voice came from the digital screen rather than from inside Danny’s head.
“It is,” Danny said.
“I’m glad you think so, but I must warn you: whenever it is time for a race, it would not be optimal for us to communicate this way. This is far too distracting,” Cane said.
“I understand,” Danny replied.
“Good. Now, are you ready for the qualification race?” Cane asked.
Danny grabbed the steering wheel and gripped it tightly. “No. But that doesn’t matter,” Danny answered.
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Using the blue digital screen, he navigated to a payment page. It was asking him to pay for the qualification race. Danny had access to the internet in the virtual world and some apps from the real world.
He paid the ten thousand dollars fee. Every time he did this, his heart would sink. It was such a large amount of money, and the last five times he did this, there was no guarantee that he would win.
Payment successful. You are scheduled to participate in the next qualification race in ten minutes.
The countdown timer started. As it did, Danny placed his face on the steering wheel.
“Danny, now that I have gained access to your account, I can also monitor your heart rate. My data indicates that due to its current high level, you are anxious,” Cane said.
“That would be the understatement of the year,” Danny said. “Anxious, desperate, hopeless. I’m sure there’s one more negative emotion I’m feeling right now.”
“Cane, if I don’t win this, it’s over for me.”
“As I said earlier, Danny, I will be the one racing, not you. Do not worry; I am ninety-nine point nine percent certain I will win this race,” Cane said.
“If you say so,” Danny replied.
He brought up the digital screen once more to see how much time was left. “Eight minutes, huh? Cane, I’m going to drive along the track. Would that be okay?”
“Yes. The synchronization process is complete, so if you wish to drive, you can go ahead. But may I ask why you want to drive? The race hasn’t started yet,” Cane said.
“I’m not sure. I guess… I just want to clear my head,” Danny answered.
Danny stepped on the pedal and began driving along the race track with great speed. After minutes of driving, Danny felt a little bit better. He found this more relaxing than sitting around and doing nothing. He stepped on the brakes; the red sports car screeched forward a few feet before coming to a stop.
“Did you accomplish what you wanted? Did you ‘clear your head’?” Cane asked.
“A little,” Danny replied.
Danny brought up the digital screen and looked at the timer. Only a minute remained. He decided to stop driving; it wouldn’t make him feel calm anymore.
He just stared at the timer, waiting for it to turn zero.
Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One.
A beam of light surrounded the red sports car, teleporting it to the qualification race track.
Danny appeared on the qualification track along with ten other racers in their sports cars. Danny had no way of knowing if any of these racers had raced with him in the previous qualification races. After all, they were all given the same type of sports car, which they could only modify slightly, and a racing helmet and suit, which they all had. That was the only costume that all unofficial racers of Overdrive Online had, and they didn’t have anything else.
All the sports cars’ engines started to roar as they prepared for the race.
“Okay, Cane, what now?” Danny asked.
“Now I take over your vehicle,” Cane answered. After Cane responded, glowing circuits appeared inside the red sports car and quickly disappeared.
The engine turned on, and loud purrs were heard coming from the vehicle. Danny hadn’t started the engine, and he didn’t make the red sports car do any of this. It acted on its own. No, not on its own. It was Cane controlling the sports car.
Danny let out a sigh of relief. Cane really could take over his vehicle. A part of him thought that Cane wouldn’t be able to, but he had never been so glad to be wrong.
The countdown timer appeared in front of the racers, starting from ten.
Ten. Nine. Eight.
Danny gripped his steering wheel.
“That won’t be necessary,” Cane said. “I already mentioned that I would be the one racing, not you.”
“Oh, right. Sorry, sorry,” Danny said.
Three. Two. One.
