Luke counted thirty plus in attendance at Beggar's Canyon. They listened to music and drank beer before the race, though Luke remained sober. Tank challenged Fixer to a drinking contest and won, leaving the Skyhopper pilot mean. Next came wrestling matches, which Fixer won by a punch to Tank's crotch. A few girls tossed away their tops and riled the men further. A real fight broke out behind Luke while he double-checked his T-16.

Fixer grabbed Luke's tunic and Luke turned to see the other man's face bloodied and cut, eyes glazed. "Ready for our race, Wormy?"

"You're drunker than my uncle used to get on the weekends. We'll do this some other time, Fixer. These races are dangerous when sober, never mind wasted."

"Put your ass in that cockpit." Fixer hollered for co-pilot Tank and stumbled toward his own T-16.

Luke ran through the crowd and found Camie. She and her friends snorted lines of spice from the back of a shirtless man.

"Convince your boyfriend he's too drunk to race. He's gonna get himself killed out there."

Camie blinked at Luke for a few moments, then giggled. "Get out there, Wormy. Kick Fixer's ass and I'll let you take me back to your place."

"Come on," Windy ran up. "I'm right there with ya, man."