Built on sand

[Amea Virou]

[member="Loske Matson"] // [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

Being in a hyperalert state came naturally to her at this point. Tombs rarely offered many surprises and when they did it was usually for the absolute worst of reasons. So as Loske began to leave, Amea began to lead the bike towards the track, making sure to run another quick diagnostic of the bike as it crawled over towards the start lines with a nervous hum. Or maybe that was just Amea imagining things. The bike seemed fine but the worry was always there, the sense of paranoia that someone or something bad was about to come over her. It had kept her alive so far, Amea had no reason to doubt it yet.

The bikes roared and hissed past her as the final round of pilots before her made their rounds. She knew the field now and the rules of the game. Her hand touched against the chassis of Loske's bike as the force flooded through the bike to push it just the extra mile. It wasn't cheating unless she was caught, and given the crowd and how she obscured her own little spot within the force it was a safe bet that she would not get caught.

She revved the engine to test it. It was pushed just past its limit, but nothing outside of what it should be able to withstand. Still, the hiss of an engine working partially overtime was hard to mistake for anything other than what it was.

"I know, sweetheart." Amea whispered gently to the bike and gave it a soft caress. "We'll make magic together, you and I. If anything happens I'll be right there with you to make sure you're put riiiight back to normal."

Her assumed identity, Blue Sato, was called out to the field and with a few soft pats Amea began to lead the bike up to the start line...

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Squinting to improve her vision as best she could, she inched forward, holding a hand backward towards Frank so he didn't give her away to much. Actually... she turned, crouching and making random gestures with her hands. He projected the equivalent of an eyeroll, but understood what it was she was trying to say -- they should split up. Especially if this was the group going around sabotaging other racers.

He whirred in a wide loop away, looking to end up on the other side of the group that was focused on money changing hands.

With Frank gone, the lithe figure beneath the hood returned to her observations. Hand shakes. It looked like the member of the pit crew had divulged a sum of finances to the insectoids. Her brow furrowed, and walked closer toward them, clearing her throat once she was within proximity.

"Excuse me, gentlemen, do you happen to know when Phre Thartohnt's race begins?" She clung to the imperial projection of an accent beneath her hood, and squared her posture a bit, focusing on positioning herself in the midst of the group. She'd built up the assumption by now that the pit crew of the one racer had paid off the insectoids to do some damage to the competition.

She just wasn't sure what to do next, though her muscles ached to lash out. She'd await their response.

A sinister chuckle was her answer.

"Something funny?"

One of the insectoids moved something around in his mouth, then shrugged. "She's not racin' no mowr."

"Not racing? I have credits on her."

"You'll be dishin', nowt collectin', then."

"Why is she not racing? Is anyone else not racing?"

They all chuckled, like she'd said something funny. An inside joke she wasn't privy to.

"We'll haffa see."

"What about Blue Sato? I have credits on her too."

"You a feminist or sumthin? Who else you got creds on."

"Who else should I have credits on?"

"If you wanna guarantee win, Max Tato."

Ah-ha!
[member="Jacen Voidstalker"] / [member="Amea Virou"]

 

[Amea Virou]

A slow but steady rhythm of inhales and exhales. To some extent Amea swore she could feel her own heart beat against her throat as the anxious sweats beneath her helmet made the sweltering heat of Tatooine all the more unbearable. With one final inhale Amea filled her air with lungs and held it. She focused on herself, she focused on the track around her and what she had been able to read from the test run. There was no doubt that she was in control of this machine, and that by the time she reached the start line she had set her mind on winning. With a sharp exhale she opened her eyes and glanced at the start light above.

Next to Loske the grins on the pit crew’s lips grew wider. Yet as the ignition came on, and no explosion was had they quickly peeled their eyes in horror. The engine revved once more and they all began to give each other nervous looks. As the first beep of the countdown began they were terrified at what their boss would do, and as the green light sparked to life and the bike set off at a ludicrous speed they began to settle down in their seats.

“M- mehbe stoopid you-men cuh-rash bike by self.” One of the bigger, dumber members said. “My skin no look good on boss floor.”

Yet on the track Amea was pushing hard. For the formerly alive Rodian and for Loske to set a record that the blonde would undoubtedly struggle to beat. Tight corners and near-crashes. The machine that carried Amea forward screamed as it barreled down the track, and by the time that the track had come to its end…

2:45:35 flat.

The crowd erupted into a confused cheer as the pit crew stared at each other in continued horror.

“Ohhhhh nnnoooooo...”

[member="Loske Matson"] // [member="Jacen Voidstalker"]

 

[Loske Treicolt]

Seems Blue Sato was safe, much to the horror of the fellows in Loske's proximity. Their expressions were contorted jumbles of disbelief, frustration, anxiety, anger and fear.

Pretty incriminating reactions. She leaned into them with a knowing smirk beneath her cowl, clearing her throat to get their attention.

Internally, she celebrated the outstanding win from [member="Amea Virou"], but she had a task at hand. She'd congratulate the girl afterwords -- that was a nigh unbeatable time. Loske wasn't even sure she'd be able to make that time, and felt momentarily guilty she'd be getting credit for the showmanship the Lorridian exhibited.

"Now how could Max Tato beat a time like that?"

"Can't.." one of them blubbered, still in disbelief, staring at the track as streamers spiralled from the sky from randomly concealed cannons to celebrate Blue's triumph.

"Hard to beat a driver when they're still alive, hm? That sounds like it wasn't part of the plan."

There was silence that spoke volumes.

"Did he pay you?" She was met with a gulp, and she levelled her blaster from beneath her poncho on her lap, lackadaisically pointing it in their direction. Someone looked like they wanted to say yes, but they sweat profusely instead. The more ansectoid of the pit crew members, who were incapable of secreting liquid, twitched anxiously.

"Would you fine fellows mind rising? There's security that would like to speak with you."

Balefully, they rose. They weren't armed, except with random hydrospanners and wrenches. They were only brutes paid off to cause some mischief so a more lofty fellow could claim prize. What's more, with Loske's feigned imperial accent, she sounded like law authority already. Made it difficult to quarrel with.

 

[Jacen Voidstalker]

"Good time," went Kellan. In his own gruff way he managed to make it sound like a disparaging comment.

"Good time? No one's going to come within a shade of that," Jacen replied. He had a vacant look on his eyes. Slowly, he turned his gaze down the stand. He started to stand up.

"Where you going?" Kellan asked. Jacen didn't answer. "You're going to go interfere with something again? You have that to Trextan too. Gotta learn around here when to keep to yourself."

Jacen turned to his uncle and gave a slight shrug. He was smiling, more at ease with himself than he had been for years.

"I'll be right back."