Ayr was standing on the parking lot, a silver flyer was landing a few meters from him. From it came a tall and lean man, he had long silver hair combed back perfectly, he was dressed in grey sport clothing.
-I am sorry kid, you know I do not like to make people wait for me, I really got lost- He said to Ayr as he came near him.
-You also got lost when you came to visit my house for the first time as well- Ayr replied as he approached him.
-Yeah, it seems like ages ago though- They reach in front of each other and laughed, they traded a handshake and a small hug.
-Thank you for coming, Vander- Ayr said as they started walking from the parking lot to the workshop.
-I had already told you, I would kid. When you told me, you wanted to create your own team
right after our first season together in the team, I had no doubt you could do it. Then you said, that if you managed to create your team, you wanted me to coach it, I have to be honest with you, I laughed. I had thought that you were just very kind and grateful for what I had taught you that season- Vander stopped.
-What? That is hurts man, I know, I was pretty green back then, but I truly meant it- Ayr smiled- When did you changed your mind then?
-After the second season I was certain that you meant it, by the end of that season, I told Sasha what you had told me- Vander said in a more serious tone
-And what did she say? –Ayr had stopped next to Vander
-She told me, she had not seen me enjoy racing ever since my first season as a rookie, but from moment you entered the team, I had enjoyed having someone to teach -Vander laughed as he remembered -She also said that I should earn a better place next season because she was now certain, I would not be a lousy father, and that she wanted kids- Vander and Ayr looked for a moment then laughed.
-Damn, I know she is the one that makes the calls, but man, she was testing you?, what would she had done if you had not passed the test? –Ayr asked
-You see kid, there are question to which a man, does not need to know the answers – Vander said with a serious face, like an old philosopher.
-You were just scared to ask right? – Ayr said with a smile
-Would you be brave enough to ask Sasha? -Vander replied with a grin
-Well… - Ayr was hesitant, he was still not brave enough to counter anything Sasha said. He believed that Vander was the bravest man, for having the guts to ask her to marry him.
-Yeah, that's what I thought- Vander smiled, having won the argument -Anyway, I am here kid, as I promised to you the day I retired. I had been waiting for your call-
-Thank you, Vander- Ayr and Vander just nodded at each other– It is gonna to be hard, we are banned to make any announcements or reach out for contracts until, the committee reveals the team to the public which will be in a month.
-So we will only have the 3 months of preparation to really work as a team- Vander was frowning - And we are missing 2 pilots.
-I don't think we can count on the regular pilots for our team, by the time we might reach for prospects most of them will already have a team-
-WHAT? come on man, we are gonna have to wait for the crumbs of the table, and see what we can get. We'll have less than 3 months to start training the team, you do know it is my first time coaching right?, I can't perform miracles man- Vander was talking faster
-I do believe you will be an excellent coach, but for your coaching to show, you will need as much as you can before the season starts but don't panic, there is still a way we can get 2 pilots soon- Ayr was calmed
-HOW?, we will be penalized if we try to reach any sanctioned pilot in the circuit- Vander stopped an looked at Ayr, who was smiling.
-You are right, but we can look outside the pro circuit- Vander
-You are telling me, we are gonna be scouting for pilots from the ascension league and the amateur circles?, and you are certain we are trying to become a champion team¡ -Vander felt dizzy and nauseous
-Don't worry, that is why we have the best coach in the circuit -Ayr laughed and patted Vander on the back -Did I not asked you before to start watching the ascension league last season?
-Gentleman my ass, you told me to watch it, because the quality have been increasing on the last years, not because I would be looking for candidates once we started the team- Vander's stomach felt like turning inside out.
-And did you watched it?- Ayr asked amicably
-Of course I did, you told Sasha it might prepare me as a coach if I watched amateur pilots and thought of ways to improve them. She made me take notes you piece of shit- Vander was fuming -You have already told her didn't you?
-I told her it would be a possibility, and now I feel relieved that you have already made notes -Ayr smile was from ear to ear -Did you by any chance, brought those notes with you?
-WHY WOULD I, I was expecting to look at the facilities an discuss our plans for the team, not this SHIT-
-That is ok, Sasha sent them to me, when the league ended, so there is no need for you to worry about it. But you really need to step up as a coach, it would look bad if your wife needs to be sending the things you forget to bring to work -Ayr was laughing whole heartily
-You little piece of shit. I suppose you have read them- Vander was calming down, when Ayr suggested him watching the ascension league, he did watched, but it was not until, he called Sasha that he began doing it with a coach mentality. It truly had served him.
-Yeah and I have some ideas as well, that is why I have been telling you to come sooner. I have already a lot of videos to discuss with you. I believed picking the pilots should be our priority-
-If you have told me, or Sasha we would be doing this, I might have been able to come sooner. She would not have been so picky with choosing a house here -
-Sasha accepted to move to Beta Prime, how the hell did you convinced her?- Ayr was dumbstruck, Vander had always rented a house near Gauss Relay facilities, and Sasha visited him there, but their house was on Dunedan. Vander had tried to convince her to move, but she always refused.
-I did not, she said that this was an opportunity I could not pass up, and our kids were on an age, where they needed to be with their father. She believes in the team, hence, she will do everything she can to help us -Vander laughed as it was his turn to watch the surprised Ayr.
-Now I really owe you- Ayr said with a worried face
-No, you owe Sasha, and she said that we better make her decision worth it- Vander smiled
-You should have told me man, I could have help you find a place-
-You know Sasha, she had to choose the house, and the schools and everything-
-And where have you settled, the Nova district is the best in Ruan- Ayr said as he thought on what Sasha liked.
-No, she liked Ruan, but she decided on Lumiere, and it is just half and hour away by flyer- Vander answered
-Yeah, that makes senses, it its one of the biggest cities on Beta Prime. I have to thank Sasha for coming then-
-Yep, she expects a dinner invitation soon -Vander laughed- With that said, we should really start reviewing my notes, and watching the vids. We should focus on getting 2 pilots then.
-Yeah, I have already compiled a lot of vids, based on your notes and a few more I believed we should discuss -Ayr said -Come I'll show you around the workshop.
They both went towards the workshop entrance, located at the middle part of the building. A simple glass door in a sea of concrete. They went through it, and towards the reception.
-Good afternoon Mr. Lite- A young man with a blue uniform sat at the reception desk.
-Hi Ori, these is Mr. Vander Meir, he will be working with us from now on. Vander. Ori here is part of the security within the workshop -Ayr said, and both Ori and Vander traded a small handshake. Ori seemed astonished
-A pleasure to meet you Ori, I will be in your care then- Vander said smiling as they saluted.
-The pleasure is all mine sir- Ori said as he shakedhands with Vander -I am sorry sir,but my I add, my father has always been a fan of the "Cold Silver". He always believed you deserved to be the main pilot and not Lance, we never understood why coach Len did not made the change sooner.
-There are a lot of things going on backstage, Ori, coach Len had not the liberty to pick his pilots, but I must say, he was a nice coach all in all. I sure hope, I don't make the same mistakes he did as a coach- Vander explained
-You mean to tell me that you will be the coaching our team?- Ori was flaggerblast -Aww man, wait until my father hears this, he has been having some trouble in continue supporting Gauss Relay, now that he knows that there would be a team from Beta Prime, but once he hears you would be the coach, man he is gonna change colors.
-I thought, we are not allowed to advertise the team yet - Vander said with a confused expression to Ayr.
-Aww shit, I am sorry sir, I know about it but my father won't tell, you know him sir- Ori was concerned after Vander mentioned he should not be divulging information on the team.
-It is ok, Ori, there is no harm done, just please try to keep the information to yourself, there will be an announcement in a month, but until then, try to calm down- Ayr said
-Yes sir, I promise- Ori replied.
The reception was a big open space, it was located at the middle of the building, 2 concrete walls isolated the reception, splitting the building in two.
-On the left side we had the actual workshop, tomorrow you can actually see the MACs we have already prepared- Ayr told with pride -I have worked really hard with our engineering team, still we are waiting for the last pilots to make the final adjustments, that is the most advanced part of the team.
-Nice, I did expect them to be ready, you have been testing them I suppose?- Vander replied expectantly, Ayr had from the moment he joined Gauss Relay, worked together with the engineering team, they did not let him participate at first, but by his third season, the head engineer really valued his opinion though they often clashed with each other.
-Yeah, I believed you might find them a bit different, but wait for tomorrow to test them, we have more urgent matters on our hands. Come, here on the right side we have the team headquarters- Ayr and Vander left Ori behind on the reception and went to the right door.
-This building was originally a warehouse for he harvesting machinery, I have slowly been adapting it so that it can serve as our headquarters- Ayr was proud of the headquarters, he had been slowly investing on the building, apart from the ceiling and the outer appearance there were no traces from it -On the lower part on those rooms, are the simulators, they are the latest available so they should serve us well with the new pilots. Front from there is a small dining hall for everyone to use-
-I like the distribution, I am honestly impressed- Vander said, his wife Sasha was an renowned architect, so he had a lot of experience when judging distributions, an from a team headquarters in particular.
-I am glad you like, otherwise Sasha would need to show your place, since it is her design- Ayr laughed, Vander changed his know it all expression on an instant.
-Come follow me- Ayr said, as he took a small stair next to the simulators that took them to the next level. An open space with various coms and a central table, with a display on the middle was at the center of the room. On the back where 3 separated door, and last was a big office that led to open space -This here is the team's heart. There are lots of coms so that we can watch vids, and the center display is for the coach to use. The 3 small offices are each for a pilot so that they can make adjustments or watch vids on their own- Ayr paused as he looked at Vander who was serious as usual, but there was a spark on his eyes.
-And that office at the end?- Vander asked already knowing the answer
-Well Sasha insisted you would like to be here a lot, so she designed an space that would be to your liking, that is the Coach's Office-