Friends and Nemeses

He strokes his chin. ”Fortunes can be one and lost betting on the races.” He looks around before leaning in close, talking in a low voice. Which is completely uncharacteristic for the main you met on the cruise liner. ”You lot looking for insider information? You want to know who’s gonna win?”

Runt heard the questions posed by Gallath, not realizing that he didn't know they had their own ship and not realizing that he probably shouldn't say anything either, was upset that this man was questioning his friends' abilities and their ship. "We are going to win! Vo and Buimo are best two pilots around and Exiles' Redemption is fastest ship!!"

Gallath slightly pulled back with a shocked look. ”So you’re planning to enter aye?! Well then you should keep a wary eye. The winner has already been decided. Of course you didn’t hear that from me!” He chuckled at the last bit. ”And here I thought you were looking to place a bet!”

Buimo can't help but chuckle. "Yep. Things have changed a bit since we saw you last. We're racers now. But what's this about the race already being decided?"

Runt looks to his friends confused by the words were said, they didn't seem like the good kind of 'Taken care of'. "What he means, taken care of? It normallys goods thing right?"

"'Taken care of'—uh... it's a finger of speech, Runt. Means they make bad things happen to you. Maybe we picked the wrong place to race." Buimo grimaces. "Why all the rigging? Who's behind it?"

He merely shrugged. ”The powers that be? Anyone who has power uses it to gain more power. Power plays my boy!”

"Me no's wants bad things happen," Runt says quietly, as the conversation continues. As he listens he wonders how they are going to bribe anyone with the limited amount of funds they have.

”Well not so much like that. It’s more like the current Imperial Governor is nearing retirement. So the big influential families are trying to gain more power and favor. So with the popularity of the races around the galaxy they think this will help. But that’s merely speculation. Did you lot become rich enough to make power plays like this since we last met?! If that’s the case YOU should be buying the drinks and not me!” Again letting out a loud and hearty laugh at his own joke. A quick glance around you get the sense that the locals are used to his ‘unique’ behavior.

"We're still pretty low-tier," Buimo sighs. "But we can't just stand by and let 'em steamroll us. Maybe we need to see who the favorites are. At least know who the higher ups are favoring. Know a good bookie?"

Buimo finishes his ale and wipes the suds from his lips. "Not nervous. Indignant. What's the point of competing if it's rigged? Let's talk to that bookie of yours!"

Buimo nods and waits for the others to finish up.