Jano Rajaf reset the lag-bolts to the hull to hold the explosive bolts for the ejection seat. He climbed down the ladder when the door-chime to the hangar went off. He asked his welderbot, "Sparky, who is it?" A voice came out of the air, "Hey, Jano! It's Obba Tkarro. Can I come in?" Jano thought for a moment, and said, "Sure. If you want to see what will kick your ass this year, come on in!" Obba strode in across the hangar bay floor to Jano's Red-Lightning. The red, mauve and yellow Dragon-swoop gleamed in the morning light like liquid speed refined. Obba whistled in appreciation. "Damn, Jano! You got that baby polished to a glow. Too bad you can't fly half as good as you can engineer! She is a beauty. Chiffu would have been proud!" "I'm going to dedicate the race to her", Jano said somewhat sadly. "YOU? She was going to marry ME! You're just the little brother! I was going to dedicate the race to her!" Obba shouted angrily. Jano frowned and shouted, "You crazy, dog-fucker! I'm her blood! You were just the BOY-FRIEND!" Obba growled, "FIANCEE'!! Dammit...we shouldn't fight like this. She hated when we did." Jano sighed heavily, "We dishonor her memory. It's only been a year since her death. We both hurt." Jano looked at Obba who looked around the hangar curiously. Jano asked, "If you're not here to talk over old time, or snoop on my plane, or beg for help for your rusty old bucket of spare parts--what ARE you looking for?" Obba shrugged and rubbed his nose. He shrugged and said ruefully, "I'm looking for a naked lady." Jano laughed, "Tam-Ra isn't here! She's practicing a new dance routine at my Dad's club for tonight." Obba shook his head. "Nope! Not a naked unicorn beastgirl. A human woman with blonde hair and pale skin is running around on the docks somewhere." Jano laughed at him, "God, Obba--I never know when you're joking! You're looking for the wrong thing around here! I wish I had a naked lady around here. I CANNOT wait to win your little brown bunny girl! Never bet drunk with a better racer!" Obba shrugged, and said with raised eyebrow, "The girls agreed, much to our combined surprise! I'm thinking where to put Tam-Ra. I know your dad is torqued up about the wager." Jano shrugged with a big smile, "With your family's stance on slavery, you folks sure do own a lot. You heard about the Queen dying? That creepy turd, Prince Salva, is going to run the whole city down the toilet once he's King." Obba shook his head, and started away for the door. He called over his shoulder, "You aren't the only one worried about THAT disaster in the offing! I gotta run. I'll beat you later!" Jano called with a smile from the ladder, "Good luck with the race! LOSER!" --to be continued-- Media is Poser 6 and Wings3d , and Blacksmith Suite 2.2