[hr] [color=gold][center][h1][i][b]DELTΔ HYPER[/b][/i][/h1][/center][/color] [color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Episode Seventeen: Mustang Alley[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color] [hr] [center][h1][b]Friday 3rd November, 2094 21C Mustang Camp Bonneville Salt Flats 1925 Mountain Time (FAS) [/b][/h1][/center] [color=gold][center][h2][i][b]Festival of Speed[/b][/i][/h2][/center][/color] The team was well prepared for the chaos of the Salt Flats. Team Valkyrie's set up was designed to be mobile as they hauled their gear from race to race on the team plane. They had trailers ready to be hooked up to hover trucks to pull them to their destination. The only thing different about their set up this time was that they had added some holographic gear to add to the cyber punk like theme that the event had. They had air conditioned trailers for the command center, a portable garage, a pilots ready room, and the plane could double as hotel space if they needed it. But Salt Lake City was close enough for sleeping. They had a space where the crew could relax and get out of the heat. The outdoor fan area was ablaze with holographic imagery and wizardry. The area was being cooled by a fine mist system and fans. The whole thing is powered by solar panels and retractable wind turbines. Paul was amused as walked around the Festival of Speed. Somehow he had ended up in a costume that read very steampunk. He was wearing a loose long sleeved ivory cotton shirt that had pirate vibes with motocross looking distressed leather pants and boots with a Mad Max style leather vest over the top. His bright golden hair was spiked with the tips frosted a dark gray. He had a pair of stylish high tech tinted goggles pulled down over his eyes. He felt ridiculous but Katherine had talked him into it stating his fans would love it. Usually the ideas their team came up with were right on the money. He had his reservations about this one but he had been out voted. He grinned as he thought about the evil Colonel Sanders look that she had procured for Alexander. He had a long Steam Punk coat in a golden bronze color with a black vest under it and an old west style shirt and cowboy boots. He smiled remembering the top hat with goggles on it that went with the outfit. He couldn’t wait to see if she managed to get Alexander into the outrageous costume. Paul made his way to the fanzone where he began meeting and greeting people during his scheduled time there. Paul’s security already had the area under control. There were food vendors and merchandise vendors surrounding the edges with picnic tables and cafe tables with umbrellas in the middle. Holographic images showing the history of Team Valkyrie had been repurposed again to add atmosphere to match the festival with some additional special effects to entertain the crowd. [hr] Paul had managed to change into a hightech sportswear made for the team by their sponsor Hoodtech Sportswear. They might sponsor their junior team but Paul loved their gear. The high tech gear provided performance and moisture wicking helping keep him cooler in this climate. He carried a thermos that kept his Zap Sports Drink cold. He was wearing shorts and a polo with sneakers for his interview. He was wearing stylish high tech sunglasses that adjusted to the level of light and UV rays. Katherine had caved on what he wore for this interview because sponsors demanded representation. He had a new appreciation for the expectations of sponsorship deals. He found himself sitting on the local set of Delta Hyper alongside Bea, Kais, Nora, Bellatrix, and Han. As Paul noticed Bellatrix he made a point to give her a welcome in person. He smiled as he approached her. He held out a hand offering a handshake to Bellatrix. Paul: [color=fff200]“Bellatrix, it is a pleasure to meet you. I wanted to welcome you to Formula AG. I didn’t get an opportunity in Australia with everything going on. I heard the fans have dubbed you “The Princess of Formula AG.” How are you getting along so far?” [/color] As Aurora arrived already speaking to the camera, he quickly slid into his place next to Kais. [color=ed1c24][quote]Aurora: "Hello, and welcome! Here in Bonneville, how have you found it so far?"[/quote][/color] Paul smiled into the camera, his eyes hidden by the sunglasses. [color=fff200]“It's been hot and dusty but the fans are in good spirits. It feels like a never ending party so far.” [/color] He waited as the others responded before Aurora moved on. [quote][color=ed1c24]Aurora: "So, with the season coming to an end. We thought to ourselves we'd let you do the talking to the audience, and here in Bonneville, we're in a place stepped in history within AG, and the wider land speed record community. So, what's your favourite part of the legacy of speed? I believe you each had a hand in a few short films and will show us what that relationship is?" [/color][/quote] Paul had used the project for Delta Hyper as a therapeutic opportunity. Paul was nervous because he was sharing more about his personal journey with the fans than he ever had before. His therapist had recommended he use the opportunity for closure on the past and to mark the next stage of his career and life. He wasn’t sure about sharing this but he had to admit that making the short film had given him a chance to put things in a new perspective. Paul smiled into the camera even as he fidgeted a little and looked uncomfortable. He hoped his fans were not disappointed that he didn’t do some high octane adrenaline fueled montage. Paul: [color=fff200]“I hope my fans like this peak behind the curtain.”[/color] He gave a nervous smile as his knee bounced up and down. Usually Paul was charming and oozed charisma on camera. So this was very out of the norm for him. The camera started like an old fashioned movie reel starting. The image steadied to a home video of Audrick holding Paul as a toddler on his lap in his Formula AG ship. The reel was taken a few weeks before his death. The image showed Audrick holding Paul as he took him on a hot lap around the track. The image showed the background as a blur as the ship sped past in a screech of sound. Paul’s delighted infant face laughing into the camera patting his father’s hand squealing. Then it became a montage of Paul’s career highlights. Quick images of wins in karting and in the junior league. Then the building momentum of his rookie year. It switched to camera footage from inside the cockpit of his ship and from the races of the year so far. Images of his epic duel with Bea at Spa. Super imposed in the cockpit behind Paul was an AI generated image of his father’s hands on his shoulders. The screen faded to a close up of Paul’s face. [color=fff200]“Racing for me is personal. It is where I feel closest to my father. I love speed because he did.”[/color] He smiled and the camera winked out. [hr][h2]Pilots’ Group Chat[/h2] [b][h3][centre][color=fff200]Pilots Chat. 28-10-2094[/color][/centre][/h3] [/b] [hr][h2]Pilots’ Group Chat[/h2][quote][color=fff200][b]Astrid[/b][/color] [A video of Bellatrix not causing the automatic doors to open and having to jump and wave at it] I present. Princess Tinkerbell.[/quote] [color=fff200][b]Bea[/b][/color] YES! Finally, someone smaller than me! 😂 [color=fff200][b]Bea[/b][/color] [b]@Astrid[/b] I take back everything negative I said about you after Monaco, you just made my weekend. [color=fff200]Paul[/color] [b]@Bea[/b] Wow Bea! I had no idea you were so sensitive about your height! I honestly didn’t notice. You have so much personality you always seemed taller than Han. [color=fff200]Paul[/color] [b]@Bellatrix[/b] Are you sure you want to stay with this crazy group? Welcome to the madhouse! [color=fff200]Paul[/color] Did anyone have to don a costume for their team’s marketing people? I feel absolutely ridiculous. At least I managed to use sponsorship expectations to get out of wearing it for the Delta Hyper interview. [hider= Team Valkyrie Characters] https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zrLx5XUgYiVm6KjTpFTWZtJvXc0MX77enkLzINHujKw/edit?gid=0#gid=0 [/hider]