"WOOOOOOOOOO- Woah oh! Shit! SHIT!" Finlay wobbled on his hoverboard as he recovered from the jump. It had been a few hours at this obscenely large park, and he had only just gotten the courage to give the ramp a shot. Riding it after a little practice was nearly effortless thanks to Spec's assistance, like surfing an infinite wave. It's almost calming, hypnotic even, if he really focused on the slight pulses through his feet from the anti-gravity plating.

Spinning to both slowdown and stop himself from falling off he glided to a stop next to Hada and Lu. His fellow chefs... CHEFS! They were here to cook and now they're buzzing around on high tech toys...

Finlay: "... I know that it hasn't even been a day since we got on this ship, ...but do you guys think we're kinda... losing the plot? already, I mean?"

Himbo: "What plot Fin?"

Hada: " No... I think I get what he means Lu. We left our homes to explore Food... in the Universal sense."

Finlay: "And now, here we are... Dicking around with little to no access to a Kitchen on a space cruise liner... for months."

Lu: "...I mean, I get it. Things are weird right now, but we'll have personal kitchens in our rooms. so we can still cook just fine."

Finlay: "And how do you know that Himbo?"

Lu: "Well... I don't, but it just seems like a good guess."

Hada: "I hate to say it, But Himbo is right. No WAY they expect every human to live on nothing but take out for months... right?"

Finlay, Hada, and Lu: "....Shit."

To distract themselves from their worries they all started on a lap around the park. It was for the most part synthetic, but beautiful nonetheless. Modified trees lined the paths, most of them alien from the look... unless there was a pinkish trees with purple leaves Finlay didn't know about on Earth.

Finlay looked to both Hada and Lu, trusting Spec to steer him away from any danger while he was Distracted. Lu was already smiling like a mad man as the electric engine of his Harley-Tron cycle kept pace with the group. Hada had the most physically straining of them all. Having to push off the ground to gain speed, but the wheels would somehow maintain the speed while they caught their breath. The Big Question was, did they also add the Neural link capability?

Finlay: "Hey Spec... Queue up something Bass-ey... you guys wanna have a quick race?" Unknown to him, he had just turned on multiple cameras throughout the park with those 7 words."Full lap around the park, on the paths and Jumps only, our Holos can keep track of the finish line."

Lu: "You do know I'm on a motorcycle right? I'll crush you both."

Hada: "Big talk Himbo... 500 UC says I stomp your ass with my skates."

Lu: "Oh, you're fuckin' on."

Multiple red dots turned on as the cameras began to record and stream the shit talk. Screens all over the ship showing the trio. Information crawling across the bottom.

Possible Competition, Stand by...

==================================================================================

Kathy and Berthold sighed almost in Unison as they sat in the air conditioned restaurant. After Berthold got over his initial shock he offered to go on a little food tour, on his dime of course. Well... who says no to a free meal or 5? So she followed along after Berthold finished his shake. The Sweet summer child that he is, actually did go up to the Ur'quanth woman and complimented her on the taste... in great detail and with many flowery words. It was a sight to behold watching as the Cow-Womans' ears twitched and she blushed... Was that their version of flirting?

Eventually the lady killer came back with 2 free cones of Ice cream and offered one to Kathy so they could snack on their way to the next shack. Terrf and Kotko flavors, Terrf seemed to be some kind of tea going by the taste and Kotko according to Berthold was mint, if Mint had somehow had it's soul sucked out and injected with espresso... different, but not unpleasant.

Now they sat in some space age diner, looking over the menu. They had soups and fruit... and that was about it. Very vegan friendly in all aspects, assuming that the images of alien fruits and vegetables weren't in fact small animals.

Berthold: "This is exciting, isn't it? I have no clue what any of this is, or how they use them."

Kathy: "I'll admit there is a bit of a fear factor to this.... Like why does the vegetable soup have a bone warning... unless that eggplant thing is a fish, hopefully?"

As they were debating the details of what really constitutes an animal or a plant in the Universe a notification from Nunny and Yuri would pop up.

Nunny: "It seems an Impromptu event is going to begin soon."

Yuri: "3 participants, all Human. A race by the looks of it."

Berthold: "...And you're telling us why?"

Yuri: "Ah, a Cultural divide. These long trips can be taxing on the mind."

Nunny: "So for entertainments sake, whenever someone proposes a sort of event, physical or mental, Everyone on board is allowed to watch and even gamble on it."

Kathy: "Something to break up the Tedium of extended travel... Alright then. I'll watch."

Berthold leaned back in his seat as the Stream began with an Over head view of the 3 Humans. Finlay, Hada, and Xiao Lu. "Ha! Well fuck me, if it isn't Captain Kolibri!"

Kathy: "Captain Who?"

Berthold: "The Man with the long hair, He has a pretty big fan club... my own sister is a part of it. Didn't you watch the Prelims?"

Kathy: "No, I only focused on my own performance... he does look pretty familiar..."

Berthold: "He was the first of the Chefs to crank up the danger rating in the combat simulation... His Holo is a Jamaican humming bird. Kolibri is German for Humming bird so-"

Kathy: "Captain Kolibri, I get it... And the other 2?"

Berthold: "Same as us, high combat proficient Chefs. Hada Ryou, a Martial artist from Japan. They're good at Kendo and Judo. The big one on the... Motorcycle? is Xiao Lu. Also known as The Grand Hammer! Rural Chinese Chef, works the same farmland with his family for his produce. Great guy, from the interviews at least."

Kathy: "...And what do you know about me?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Berthold: "Former military, You used a whip in... Look I'm not a stalker, I just think you're all really cool!"

Kathy: "Mhmm."

================================================================================

The trio lined themselves up at the beginning of a straight on a path around the park. The time for shit talk was over. Rules had been made and now they were just waiting for their holos to give the signal. Finlay crouched low on his Little bird, while Hada got into a sprinters position. Lu was was sitting on his bike with the electric whine on a full cycle, primed for a drag race. It was simple 3rd placed paid 500 for losing, 2nd 250 and the winner got the combined 750. No weapons, no "bumping", No extreme deviation from the path. Then Finlay's music started and was shared with Hada and Lu.

Hada: "...Is that Redline?"

Finlay: "Yellowline mix from the 10th anniver-"

Spec: "On Go. 3."

Finlay Shifted a foot to the back of the board while gripping the front with his hands, dominant foot in-between.

Bai-ze: "2."

Xiao Lu, gave the electric engine another rev... much less intimidating than a gas engine, but still loud enough to hear.

Aiko: "1."

Hada primed themselves, hands on the ground before them. Giving one more glace to Finlay and Lu.

Spec, Aiko, Bai-ze: "Go!"

Lu's tires spun for a moment before really catching grip on the path, while the sound of wind was all that was left of Finlay at the starting position, First for the moment. Hada was trailing behind, only because they'd take the longest to gain speed.

Finlay: "Woah! Here we go!" Just as surprised by his starting speed as Lu and Hada, he almost fell off his board. Now riding down the straight well ahead of the others. He looked at the map so graciously provided by Spec in his glasses to re-examine the route. This straight would soon turn into long winding curves up hill, followed immediately by another straight. Baring any surprises, he's keeping this lead for a while.

Lu: "...What the shit is in that board?" Watching as Finlay rocketed ahead, taking a peek at his own speed... If Lu can go to 0-60 in 10 seconds... fuck the math, Finlay is fast. He turned to look at Hada who was still able to keep good pace, and gaining. "...I may have fucked myself here..."

Hada wasn't thinking much if at all, just kicking off the ground as viscously as possible. her wheels adjusting their own angles to help her with the action. Steadily rolling her way to Lu, and clamping a hand down on the back of his motorcycle... it wasn't bumping... Technically. Taking this moment catch her breathe and keep gaining speed.

Lu: "Hey! who said you could free boot my ride?"

Hada: "Oh hey Lu." pausing to take another breath. "How's the race going?"

Lu: "Worse than I hoped, you?"

Hada: "It's about to get better." Letting go of Lu's ride and kicking off the ground again to get ahead.

Lu: "... I definitely fucked up."

Finlay up ahead was losing ground on the gentle turns, sure he was fast on a straight but he had to go to the very edge of the curve to not spin out or bail on the turn. The downsides of not having wheels, no friction... Half way up and he thought he saw something on the path below him, but it was too quick. He managed to catch more glimpses all the way up the the winding path and Finally he could see a rather relaxed Hada gaining on his ass.

Finlay: "...WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU EAT?! CINNAMON TOAST CRACK!?" Still having a bit of a lead on this next straight, he could afford to look back at the monster athlete slowly but most assuredly crept up on him. He had assumed Lu would catch up to him first since it was uphill, so seeing Hada first... either Lu crashed or he had severely underestimated what those little spheres could do.

Hada: "You haven't seen shit!" Getting back into a crouched position and power kicking off the ground. "Aiko, Sync up and start the Neural link!" showing a devilish grin as the process began.

Finlay flinched as he heard them over the head set "...Shit... I may have fucked up." Watching as Hada's clothes shifted coloring to white and purple, white fur materializing at the collar along with a cat eared helmet. A "Tail" forming and flapping from their belt, as they crouched even lower to the ground, putting even more power to their kick-offs. It was hard to see from the now quickly shrinking distance, but the "Wheels" of her Omni-skates now opened up slightly to get more surface area.

Hada eventually caught Finlay on the straight and matched his speed. A simple LED face gave a cocky smirk to Finlay. "Oh hey Fin, How's the race going?"

Finlay: "Worse than I hoped..." Looking ahead on the mini-map on his glasses, this straight would eventually turn in to a long curved path, followed by 4 intense Hairpin turns and another straight. "Might get better though... Spec, Sync and Link!"

Finlay crouched low to his board again as the shift in his uniform began. His glasses changing shape from rectangular to round and goggle like, a mask forming over his mouth and continuing to his neck to link with the rest of the uniform, and a long black "scarf", both ends unfurling in the wind, ending in green tips. "No idea what those do yet..."

Hada: "It's a good look."

Finlay: "I'm not done yet." Gripping the board as wings swung out from the sides, he could hear the air intake working over time. "See you around." Grunting as the speed picked up again, having to lean into the the curve to keep a constant arc. Hada following by a good 200' ... Lu was only halfway down the straight.

Lu: "...Bai ze... can we do that?"

Bai ze: "You didn't install that component... you do have the Auxiliary engine though. Be warned you'll kill your battery if you do it too soon... save it for now."

Lu: "They can't put us out just yet..." It was his turn to creep on them, it's a straight and a slow curve, and he can put the hammer down. "86... 87....88... 89." Counting with the speedometer.

Finlay was having a bit of a crisis, up in first place. Sure he could murder a straight away, but that hair pin turn... he was setting up a night with a tree and planning to kiss on the first date. His goggles said he could make the upcoming turn, but it sure as shit wasn't telling him how... He could see it coming up ahead... and hear Hada picking up speed just behind him. "Seriously, how the fuck are they this fast?"

Finlay: "...Gotta risk it for the biscuit." Retracting the Wings on his board, he spun into a 180 and reopened them to reduce speed before the turn. "So this is what G-force feels like..." Hada was maybe a good 40' behind with Lu a good 80'. Nice to see him again in these trying times... by the time he was reaching the hair pin turn Hada was 10' behind, having to repeat his hard turn again, he could see just how Hada was making these harsh ass turns.

Little hardlight claws sprung out from their finger tips and they dug them into the path to FUCKING DRIFT?! Finlay was in so much shock as Hada passed him on the turn that he didn't even see Lu make the turn behind them in almost similar fashion. Though with much less grace thanks to not linking with his Motorcycle. Lu didn't lose any ground but he didn't make any either... Hada made another 20' lead by the time they reached the next straight.

Finlay: "Gonna have to Superman this shit." laying down fully on the board to reduce resistance and going full speed, catching back up with Hada finally. This was risky for him, no magnets to keep him stuck tight to the board. "Hey Hada... How's the race going?"

Hada: "Better than I hoped."

Though their heavy breathing said otherwise... he still had a shot at this... Looking ahead on the map they were maybe 3/4ths of the way done with the lap. Another slow curve followed by a harsh downhill slalom... he could jump that... maybe, and at last another long straight all the way to the finish...

Hada: "Thinkin' about that jump? looks too risky for me... then again I don't have a humming bird holo..."

True enough, he was thinking about it, until he heard the loud roar of a Harley... fucking what? both of them seeing Lu Rocketing to them to catch up. The Auxiliary engine working in tandem with the electric to boost it's output... he'll overheat eventually... but he was back in the race.

Lu: "Forget about me?"

Finlay: "Almost, but nice move on the second engine... sounds like a beast."

Lu: "The Tiger has Pounced!"

Finlay had inched out the lead again while Hada caught her breath, and Lu was close behind, all of them leaning into the curve as the drop came into view. Hada with a burst of energy pushed ahead of Finlay into the downhill slalom, while Finlay kept going straight and into the air. Lu slowed down a bit but also proceeded to go over the edge of the hill. Passing over Hada on the road below him, and landing on the on the ground around the path as it curved again, and jumping over Hada again as she stayed on the ground.

Finlay: "C'mon you shitty scarf, please be wings, please be wings, please be wings." Praying as he began to fall after the jump, thankfully as the scarf caught the wind rushing up to him. They seemed to stiffen up, and do their fucking job, he was gliding instead of falling and he'll god damn well take it! It wasn't as fast as simply hovering, so he felt safe enough to get his board under his feet again.

Hada and Lu came out neck and neck from the slalom and caught up to Finlay as he landed on the straight. The three of them equally surprised by what waited for them at the finish, a whole crowd of people, cheering their names. it was too close to the finish for any quick quips. so they just kept bolting towards the neatly presented ribbon. Lu's engine was maxed out, Hada was panting like a black cat in a Florida summer, and Finlay couldn't force himself into another superman without slowing down.

Finlay and Lu: "Damn."

With absolutely herculean effort Hada forced a third wind and pulled ahead at the ribbon, Finlay 3 inches behind and Lu in last just 3 more inches behind Finlay.

Hada rolled to a rest as people swarmed them, to give her water and congratulations. Various mechanics charged at Lu to look after his bike, probably to stop it from blowing up... and for some unknown reason to Finlay he was swept up by a team of medics taking him to a nearby vehicle.