The race was in full swing, the track a blur of speed and intensity. Land0 N0rris felt the familiar rush of adrenaline, his focus razor-sharp as he maneuvered through the pack. Each turn, each acceleration was a calculated risk, a dance with danger that he knew all too well. But today, something was off. The car felt slightly unsteady, and as he pushed harder, the margin for error grew thinner.

It happened in a split second. One moment he was navigating a tight corner, the next, the world spun violently. The car lost control, skidding off the track and crashing into the barriers. The impact was brutal, a jarring explosion of sound and force. Pain shot through his body, and the world started to fade around the edges. He struggled to stay conscious, but the darkness was closing in.

Through the haze, he saw a blur of movement—paramedics rushing towards him. And then he saw them. His partner, their face etched with fear alongside the paramedics. The pain and the shock were too much as the world went black.

When he opened his eyes again, it was to the sterile white of a hospital room. The rhythmic beeping of monitors was a stark contrast to the roar of the track. His body ached, but the pain was dulled by medication. Blinking against the harsh light, he turned his head and saw them. They were sitting next to his bed, their hand gently holding his.

He tried to speak, but his throat was dry and his voice came out as a raspy whisper. "What happened?"