Chapter 41 - Engineering Beyond the Competition
The awards ceremony would not take place until the following afternoon.
With judging complete, many students relaxed.
Alex couldn't.
He returned to the workshop area reserved for exhibitors.
Version 15 rested on its stand, still covered with traces of gravel from the testing course.
Emma laughed.
"You know judging is over, right?"
Alex nodded.
"I know."
"So why are you already making notes?"
He pointed toward the front suspension.
"It reacted half a second slower on the wet incline."
Emma looked surprised.
"I didn't even notice."
"I did."
Coach Daniels overheard them.
"You realize most teams would celebrate first."
Alex smiled.
"We will."
He tightened one bolt.
"After I write this down."
Nearby, Professor Chen watched the conversation with interest.
She approached quietly.
"May I ask something?"
"Of course."
"If funding weren't a problem, what would Version 16 look like?"
Alex hesitated.
Then his eyes brightened.
He began describing adaptive terrain mapping, modular wheel assemblies, and machine-learning assistance that could personalize stability based on each user's movement.
Professor Chen listened without interrupting.
When he finished, she handed him a business card.
"Our university runs a youth innovation program."
Alex looked at the card.
"We invite students with promising ideas to work alongside engineering researchers during the summer."
Emma smiled immediately.
"That's amazing."
Professor Chen shook her head.
"It's only an invitation."
She looked at Alex.
"What matters is whether you're interested."
Before he could answer, another organizer entered the workshop carrying fresh news.
"The security review has expanded."
Apparently, investigators had discovered similar anonymous online activity involving two other teams.
Not project theft.
Information gathering.
Someone had been quietly monitoring multiple competitors throughout the event.
May you like
No one yet understood why.
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