Eightieth Mission [Audio // Common]

[shadesofeco]

Anyone looking for a racing challenge?

It's been a while since I got my hands on a decent zoomer.

[Locked to Keira // 60% unhackable]

Keira, there's something I need you to take a look at when you've got time.

Comments

[ecopiracy]

[After five days of fairly heavy practice - mostly inspired by his intense dislike of Erol and his determination to show the man up - Phoenix no longer considers himself a novice. However, he still needs practice against real people...

And this is Jak who just offered the challenge. Suffice it to say that Phoenix is interested.]

If your skill with a zoomer is anything like the way you handle a plane, I'd hardly consider that a challenge.

[But first, the traditional exchange of insults.]

[shadesofeco]

Tough words. You even know how to start one of these things?

[Jak revs the engine, just to be a dick.]

[ecopiracy]

I've known how to start them since before you hit puberty.

[Which is technically true, if a bit misleading. He'd learned about their basic mechanics in one of his Academy classes.]

Of course, the start isn't the issue at all, now is it? It's the finish that you and I are concerned with. Do you know how to finish what you start? Or do you just like to run your mouth?

[shadesofeco]

Why don't you stop trying to insult me and get down here to find out, Phoenix?

[Is that arrogance? Why yes, it really is.]

[ecopiracy]

[Arrogance from Jak is familiar territory, and one Phoenix knows how to respond to.]

Who says I am not already on my way? There you go again, jumping to conclusions. No wonder Keira was so willing to discourage your pursuit.

[And he is on his way to Deck Twenty. In fact, in just a few moments, he's going to step out onto the deck.]

[shadesofeco]

[He'll find Jak with his comm already set aside, huddled over a zoomer as he tweaks the settings. Sure, he's already tweaked it at the control panel, but the chance to get his hands on a real zoomer for a while means he always spends a while fine-tuning it.

He completely ignores Phoenix's entrance.]

[ecopiracy]

[Which is just fine with Phoenix. He goes over to the control panel to call up the zoomer he's come to prefer. Somewhere in the back of his mind, though, he notes the oddity of Jak's silence. The volatile young man he'd known back on the Brink would never have let that last barb pass unchallenged. He hadn't even heard a growl.

Still, he doesn't think on the matter for long.]

Do you have a preference for difficulty setting on the track?

[That might be the first civil question he's asked Jak since encountering him on this ship.]

[shadesofeco]

[He lets another moment of silence pass as he finishes adjusting the angle of one of the tail fins, then stands up and leans on the zoomer.]

Why don't you choose. I heard you're not so familiar with these things.

[Why yes, Zelda did tell him.]

[ecopiracy]

[The comment earns Jak a flat look, almost a scowl, then a shrug as Phoenix decides it doesn't really matter.]

I'll admit that my talents are stronger with aircraft, but I've spent a good amount of time recently accustoming myself to a zoomer.

[He lets a cocky smirk cross his face.]

I imagine I'm good enough to at least be a challenge.

[His fingers dance across the keypad and select HARDCORE. He hasn't used that level all that often, but pride demands he make this as challenging as possible. Besides, this is supposed to be for practice.]

Whenever you're ready.

[shadesofeco]

Is that so.

[Ooh, Jak is surprised at the difficulty choice. Pleasantly so. He can't imagine the other levels are anywhere near close to fun.

And so he saunters over to the controls and selects a track at random. Hmm, volcano track. Good choice.]

Ready when you are.

[He starts the countdown, then hops onto the zoomer, yanking his goggles down and adjusting his weight as he revs the engine.]

Temporary change of tense

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix adjusted his own goggles with a nod. The moment the countdown reached the end, the two racers took off in a streak of metal and wind. The heat of the volcanic course bit at them, but with the speeds they were going at, it had no time to burn. They whipped through the turns with hardly a care that they were inches from ending everything

[shadesofeco]

[Jak was anything if he wasn't a reckless racer, and skimming close to the lava, feeling the heat scorch his clothes made him feel truly alive. As he flew across the finish line, he let the zoomer crawl to a stop, yanking his goggles up with a shit-eating grin.

He was drenched in sweat from the blazing heat, hair whipped up from racing against the wind, he sits back on the zoomer and beams. This is Jak in his element.]

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix isn't in any better condition when he pulls to a stop not too far from Jak. He pulls his handkerchief from a pouch on his belt and blots at his forehead before pushing his goggles up.

He doesn't say anything at first - but if Jak ever turns to look his way, he'll find Phoenix studying him with an odd look on his face.]

[shadesofeco]

[Wiping his cheek on the back of his arm, Jak hops off the zoomer, turning to grin at Phoenix. He tilts his head at the look, raising an eyebrow.]

What?

[ecopiracy]

You genuinely enjoy this.

[It isn't a question, just a statement of fact - a fact so obvious that it leads one to wonder why he is stating it at all.]

You genuinely enjoy racing for the sake of racing itself. Do your opponents even matter at all?

[shadesofeco]

[Jak blinks. Yeah, that is pretty obvious.]

Not really. I mean, it's all about the race, the thrill.