Race event

[Zapp]

Footfalls sound in the distance. Quick paced, a man in his late 20's runs down the corridor towards the spaceport. He has brown hair and brown eyes, with what appears to be the beginnings of a 5 o'clock shadow. He is about six feet tall, about 160 pounds. His look is hunted, and it appears that he has been running a long time.

As he comes upon a doorway that is open just a hair, he pauses, glances over his shoulder, and ducks in. He sees a hanger, lined with fighters. Hastily looking around for any security-types, he quickly identifies the locker room. Entering, and finding it empty, he picks an olive-green flight suit from the rack that looks like it might fit and puts it on. He stuffs his old clothes into a flight bag, along with a gun. He pulls a few of the items out of the pockets of his own clothes and puts them in the pockets on the flight suit.

The arrayed, he left the locker room and looked for a ship to steal. Nothing too big, but not too small, either. Looking up and down the rows of mostly quiet Starfliers, he notices a man wearing a rather expensive business suit pacing in front of one. Walking up to the man pacing, he asks, "Do you have a problem?"

"Yes," the man in the business suit replies. "My pilot was killed by Xenos near the Colorado Gate, and the race is really soon. I'm not sure if I can find a replacement pilot."

"What race?"

"Didn't you hear? They're racing to Gran Canaria in Starfliers. An endurance race, basically. And my pilot died. Well, I guess that if Xenos could kill him, he wouldn't fare to well in the race, but still..."

"Maybe I can help you."

"And you are?"

The man hesitates, and says, "Arthur Bledsoe, Freelancer." That last bit was a blatant lie, but he had to come up with something. "Just provide that ship there, and I can win the race."

"Yes, you look like the sort that could win the race... and the substantial cash reward, too."

"Cash reward?"

"Yes, cash reward. You see, I sponsor you, provide your ship, and give you a budget to buy any equipment you need. In return, you win, and get ther prize. Then, you share with me, 50/50."

Arthur had been planning to cut and run, but this sounded too good to be true. He considered it for just a moment, then stuck out his hand. The man in the business suit grabbed it, and Arthur's life changed forever.

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OOC: Man, it sure does hurt when you have an idea all day and you don't write it down, but I feel better now.

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