[color=gold][center][h1][i][b]DELTΔ HYPER[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color][color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Episode Nine: The Wall of Champions[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color] [hr] The plate of poutine sat in front of the Carrera Condor pair. [color=#7AFFAD]”Oh!”[/color] Ava perked up, looking from the paddock roof toward Turn One where one of the support series’ racers had just passed through, making Bea look as well. [color=#1EFF24]”What?”[/color] [color=#7AFFAD]”You missed it. Someone nearly dropped it into turn one.”[/color] The camera could see that was a lie. It could also see Ava swapping the water glasses - her sparkling water for Bea’s plain - while the Brit was distracted, hoping the Al-Saqr pair answered her prayers. Then she got a little worried when Bea stabbed the pile of fries with her fork like she was putting the sword into the stone, ending up with a sizable bundle of them with a heavy gravy covering. “I wouldn’t want to fall into your grasp if you were a cannibal.” Aurora noted drily. [color=#1EFF24]”Why?”[/color] [color=#7AFFAD]”Because you’d start chewing before she stopped breathing.”[/color] Ava explained, looking at the camera and pointing at Bea, [color=#7AFFAD]”She overslept and missed breakfast again.”[/color] [color=#1EFF24]”What do you mean ‘again,’ it only happened once before.”[/color] [color=#7AFFAD]”That’s exactly what ‘again’ means.”[/color] Ava replied flatly without a millisecond’s pause. [color=#1EFF24]”You talk too much.”[/color] Be grinned as she moved Ava’s hand holding the fork closer to her mouth as if she could silence her with it. [hr][center][h2]Saturday June 3rd, 2094, 14:32 Montréal, Federated American States[/h2][h3]Qualifying[/h3][/center] [color=#129914]”Projected P10. Feedback on the lap?”[/color] [color=#1EFF24]”That was one of the qualifying sessions ever.”[/color] Bea verbally shrugged. The straights and faster corners were working out well, making up time for the chicanes where the ship was bouncing all over like a mountain goat on meth and turn six, where Bea needed to be extremely persuasive to convince the ship it wasn’t a 45 degree corner and they do, in fact, need to turn the other 45 degrees as well. Ava fared worse, stringing together a comparable lap with wiser use of ELS only to drift wide in the last corner and tap the Wall of Champions. [color=#1EFF24]”About what we expected from the sim runs. Still ploughing hard, but Turns 2 and 10 are manageable due to the banking. Where did we lose to Max?”[/color] [color=#129914]”Turns three, four, thirteen and fourteen.”[/color] Alistair read out the two chicanes. [color=#1EFF24]”Stability?”[/color] [color=#129914]”Yes.”[/color] [color=#1EFF24]”Figures.”[/color] [color=#129914]”It’s the rapid direction change.”[/color] [color=#1EFF24]”I know, the AG unit can’t keep up and it unsettles the ship.”[/color] [color=#129914]”Upgrades are coming over summer. Just a bit more patience.”[/color] [color=#1EFF24]”You do realize who you’re asking for patience, right?”[/color] [color=#129914]”Yes. I need a raise.”[/color] [hr][color=gold][center][h1][i][b]DELTΔ HYPER[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color][color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Episode Nine: The Wall of Champions[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color] [hr] [quote]”Bea, how are you feeling about the rumours that Jen is being considered by other teams? Do you feel she deserves it after a long stint in Fitzroy, or do you think she could wait out to see what is coming in Fitzroy's new future?”[/quote] [color=#1EFF24]”She’s definitely earned some recognition. As to what she could or should do you’ll have to ask her, why should my opinion matter?”[/color] Bea simply shrugged. [hr][b][center][h3][code]Sat 03/06 16:06 JEN [Batt: 21%][/code][/h3][/center][/b] [center]———— Monday - 21/06/2094 ————[/center][color=cyan]> Hiya, when are you flying out to the factory?[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> Monday morning, why?[/color] [color=cyan]> Would you have time to meet for lunch sometime this week? I’ve got something big on my mind I’d like to talk through.[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> Throw enough shit at me and see what sticks? 😛[/color] [“Jen” reacted with 😀] [color=cyan]> Eww![/color] [color=cyan]> But sort of.[/color] [You reacted with 😀] [color=cyan]> Thursday work for you?[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> Not unless you consider a croissant at Heathrow breakfast.[/color] [color=cyan]> I thought you were leaving next Monday?[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> For the factory, yes. I’m leaving for Pikes Peak on Thursday.[/color] [color=cyan]> Well, lead with that![/color] [color=#1EFF24]> You asked about the factory. I’m free Tuesday whole day and Wednesday until maybe 1600.[/color] [color=cyan]> Tuesday works actually. I’ve got the whole day off.[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> Whole day you say?[/color] [color=cyan]> Yep.[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> I’ve got an idea.[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> [Image of the Vernal Gale docked in a marina in Hull][/color] [color=cyan]> I’m in![/color] [color=#1EFF24]> Forecast looks favourable. At 12 on the dock?[/color] [color=cyan]> I’m there.[/color] [color=cyan]> What should I bring besides a swimsuit?[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> Lunch?[/color] [“Jen” reacted with 👍] [color=#1EFF24]> Boat has two fridges so go nuts.[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> You ever dived before?[/color] [color=cyan]> In a swimming pool as a kid. Why?[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> Bring some climbing gear and send me measurements for a wetsuit.[/color] [center]———— Sunday - 27/06/2094 ————[/center][color=#1EFF24]> [A photo of sunrise behind the Rockies.][/color] [color=#1EFF24]> [A photo of the original 2018 VolksWagen I.D. R.][/color] [color=#1EFF24]> [A photo of Bea, Daniel Ogier and Max Wedgewood standing in front of Bea’s KrAZ 1055, arms around each others’ shoulders.][/color] [color=#1EFF24]> [A 360° panorama from the top of Pikes Peak.][/color] [color=#1EFF24]> [A drone’s view video of the hairpins near the top of Pikes Peak, a car too far away to be identified racing up the mountain.][/color] [color=cyan]> I thought they installed guardrails?[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> They were going to.[/color] [color=cyan]> Buuut?[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> The fans nearly lynched them over it.[/color] [color=cyan]> Jesus Christ…[/color] [color=#1EFF24]> It takes away from the track’s character.[/color] [color=cyan]> Your nickname really checks out, doesn’t it?[/color] [You reacted with 👍] [center]———— Saturday - 03/06/2094 ————[/center][color=#1EFF24]> Idea for tomorrow: We don’t want Dorian right behind us. Truce to get a ship or two between us and the French charge? I think a candidate is right up the road.[/color] [Seen] [hr] [center][url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TrLdbYUu7LJQf9_6F1zblN3WfwvCU8R3W8Xskd8b3vI/edit?usp=sharing]Carrera Condor NPCs[/url][/center]