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Alice had wrapped up the automotive racing around her finger as that particular interest grew with more drivers traveling to other worlds to race. Thanks to Tera, the music industry on nearly all worlds was searching for their first intergalactic star. With some careful research and a stubbornness few fields had; the alcohol industry had found a way around some of the other race’s dietary restrictions and was the top import, export industry at the moment.

Nodrog didn’t mind if drinks were the biggest thing to be shipped from world to world. Only one race shrugged at drinking for pleasure and the Grays were collectively known as party-poopers. Though most used more derogatory terms to describe them and their lack of fun. It was now possible to get a good stout Dwarven ale on earth again along with the spiced mead the Amazons produced. Both a little more than most humans could handle in any notable quantity. And they made for legendary hangovers on the unprepared.

Thanksgiving came and went quickly and the only exciting thing to happen was Samantha giving birth to her and Sherman’s first child. A tiny wolf girl with snow white hair and fur, and beautiful violet colored eyes. The white they figured came from Sherman’s mother along with the paler skin tone. Victoria was a quiet child and fussed little, though had a ravenous appetite. Stranger still was she seemed drawn to Nodrog and Roslyn. If either the dragon or the Valkyrie held her, she was as quiet and content as a church mouse. It raised a little concern that she didn’t fuss or cry as much as most babies. Victoria, while small, was in perfect health.

Roslyn smiled coyly as Nodrog adjusted his tux in the mirror. She liked men who were hard workers, but there really was something about a man in a tux. The dragon looked; refined, intelligent and hunky. Those broad shoulders and that playful smile. With other people guarding Marko and Dmitri, Roslyn managed to stay home for this event. “You look good in a tux or suit.”

Nodrog smiled at her reflection in the mirror. “And you look good in a dress.”

“You said that about Alice and Jenny.” Roslyn teased.

“True, though I like the shyness you and Alice have while wearing them. It makes you both more endearing to me.” Nodrog teased back before turning around.

“Oh really, and what about Jenny? She is certainly not shy.” Roslyn said as they headed out to the living room.

“It is her confidence in formal wear. The fact she is unashamed of her figure or even her blood slave collar is quite attractive.” Nodrog smiled.

“You just contradicted yourself. You can’t like shy and confident at the same time.” Roslyn grumbled.

Nodrog leaned forward slightly to look in her eyes. “Of course I can, after all you and Alice both become confident when behind the wheel of a car or the controls of an aircraft.”

Roslyn blushed as he kissed the tip of her snout. “I will probably be in bed when you get home.”

“And you’re cute when flustered. I will likely be late, but you sleep rather soundly now.” Nodrog chuckled and had a slight smirk.

Roslyn got a much more passionate kiss before Nodrog headed down to the club first. He teleported to the club, and would ride to the event with the other guys. It seemed silly to park another vehicle at the club for the night. “Gentlemen.”

“How do you manage to be precisely ten minutes early all the time?” Freddy asked as they waited for Steven and Brian who were usually a little late.

“I would guess lots of practice. Wished they would have let us dress a little more causal for the evening.” Winston spoke as he went over a checklist. Jennifer loved it when he dressed up, but he always felt out of place. “Did Jennifer get a hold of you?”

“She did, you could have asked me yourself.” Nodrog pulled up a chair to wait.

Winston frowned. “I know…”

Nodrog held up a hand. “I told her I would be more than happy to play at your wedding. Already have let some people know I have a commitment that day. I heard your mother would make it out for Christmas this year.”

Winston smiled. “She did manage to get it off, I think having a grandchild to fuss over, convinced her boss to let her sneak out for a visit.”

“Sherman had mentioned that she was rather excited.” Nodrog turned as the door opened, Steven and Brian were actually on time for a change.

With instruments loaded they headed out to the big convention center and were unloaded and set up a solid twenty minutes before they needed to be. It gave them a little longer to tune and do a sound check, which helped all of them relax a little. At the exact time guests were to arrive Winston got them playing. It was an instrumental set only, and was more for pleasant background noise than entertainment. Not that Winston minded, the pay was good, and these gigs were good for business. These kinds of gigs, bought new instruments and helped cover the extra staff the club had when they were out at them.

Sherman gave his bother and Nodrog a slight nod as he stood with Marko and Dmitri. Samantha both a date and security partner, Katie also had a security partner and date. The fact no one accompanied Dmitri was amusing to Sherman, something he was sure Nodrog also shared. Personally he found this tedious, but the food was going to be good and it was the first night he and Samantha had alone after Victoria was born. His daughter was in Jenny’s care tonight as she wouldn’t let them find another sitter.

This particular event had a few guests from other worlds at it, the Velopians and Salaks having a few in attendance. That pleased Nodrog, he was happy do have done some good for once. While a few people took the stage to do their speeches, give out the donation check and a few other things, they sat in the back of house area with the wait staff.

Dinner was less formal back here, though just as well prepared so none of them went hungry. Winston and the others had worked with the catering staff a few times before, so conversation was light as people asked what holiday plans were and how family was doing. It was also the first time Winston thought Nodrog looked relaxed and not on guard as he had been at other events before. The dragon’s comments were less calculated or weighted. Nodrog had always been quick witted, Winston chuckled as the dragon and Brian went back and forth for nearly two minutes with puns.

They also saw a couple of magic tricks, though they were nothing more than parlor tricks. A couple of them could have been sleight of hand, if not for the fact Winston knew Nodrog a little better than the others. Telling someone what card they had was a matter of skill and luck; but telling eight different people what card they drew without ever holding the cards, now that was certainly a trick worth noting. Lighting a few drinks on fire without using a match or lighter also impressed a few who would spend much of the night trying to figure it out while they went back out on stage.

Tonight was a pretty solid night in Winston’s mind. They played flawlessly, though nothing was notably difficult to play. No equipment problems was also a pretty big help to having a good night. With the clocks striking midnight, it was time to pack up and leave. Nodrog stayed with Winston as the two locked up the club after the others headed for home. “Are you positive you don’t want paid?”

“Absolutely. Give it to some of the other staff, or use it for something special.” Nodrog walked with Winston out to his Jeep.

Winston unlocked it and reached inside to get it started. “You know it bothers me, to not compensate you in some way.”

Nodrog chuckled. “You allow me to play with you. My compensation is getting to play music for the sake of playing music. And you have let my constantly changing schedule slide.”

Winston looked at Nodrog carefully. Besides the fog of his breath, you could clearly see a fog lifting off of the dragon in the frigid air. The snow around Nodrog’s feet had melted he had stood in place long enough. “We were going to pay you to play at the wedding.”

“I told Jennifer that it was not necessary. You are my friends, it is the least I can do.” Nodrog smiled. “Trust me, just being asked is an honor.”

“Alright, wish Alice luck from all of us.” Winston said and hopped in the jeep. He glanced at the heater and when he looked up Nodrog was gone. It was a thoughtful drive home, he was looking forward to the next chapter of his life.

Next on his schedule was Alice’s race. The trucks and equipment were loaded onto the starship and the modified container. The ship making the trip out into space before jumping to the Velopian world. Once the starship was making its landing, Nodrog teleported the container to the Velopian world. It was not yet mid fall on the Velopian world, the leaves of the trees just starting to change color.

With highs never expected to go above sixty degrees it was going to be the coolest race thus far. It would also be a two day drive out to the facility where the race was being held. The large hills and low mountains around the capital city opened out to the rolling plains of farmland.

The facility was both impressive and massive. The course the Velopians had settled on would be like the race on the Salaks’ world. The facility was not a dedicated race track, but more of a wide open vehicle play ground. Mixed road surfaces, tight technical section and a sweeping high speed road course. The pit facility was inside a mammoth hanger, with pits on both sides of the building, the race course running down the middle.

Alice and Carly were positively giddy as the Velopian track officials went over the course and facility lay out. The start/finish line was the eastern doors of the hanger. Grand stands were erected in the hanger and along most of the race course. People could watch from various roof tops and grass covered hills. The course would be just under eight miles a lap, and the race would be five hours in length.

Food was served in a substantial cafeteria, and the race crews would be staying in three different building on the facility grounds. As the closest city was an hour away, the other nearly two. Those two cities would be where all of the fans would be staying. Two monorails would bring people in from the cities, a project that had only just finished testing the day they arrived on world.

Velopians had always held large gatherings, even when they were nomadic tribes. The logistics of moving large groups of people came easily to them. Which was why they decided to hold the event out here instead of in the city. They could set up stages and carnival games with plenty of room to spare. Where the Amazons and Salaks had stuck to just racing, the Velopians would make it a substantial festival. An event to match the magnitude of the intergalactic race that was its focus.

This also meant another well known young woman would be present, as Tera was scheduled to be the opening performer. Not only singing a couple of songs, but she would also give the command to start engines and wave the first green flag. After touring the Amazon world and having a few performances on two other worlds, Tera no longer got stage fright before a performance.

When Nodrog met her while Alice was practicing, he noticed the little fawn had become a confident young lady. She did not hide her wings, or even nervously stand next to someone she knew. He was a little surprised she ran right up to him and gave him a hug. “It is good to see you again.”

“It is good to see you too. I wanted to thank you again for helping me out.” Tera stood next to him as Pipes and Cynthia walked over. “Oh the adventures I have had the last couple months.”

“And oh the pricklypiples you have ate today.” Cynthia teased. “Always a pleasure, Nodrog.”

“Indeed, we have had some adventures thanks to you.” Pipes chuckled.

“I cannot wait to hear all about them.” Nodrog laughed as they walked over to the main stage. The drivers were not the only ones who needed practice, as the musicians would be doing sound checks and tests nearly the entire week leading up to the race. They walked past: food trucks, games, souvenir stands, and even business set up booths to show off their unique offerings. In the hopes of catching the eyes of off world investors.

Tera’s manager was waiting on stage with a producer and other band members. Her parents would be here to watch her performance and the race, but they would not be determining what she played. They were both thrilled with her fame, and a little perturbed she had soared past their own.

As Tera happily told Nodrog of her adventures, she was grateful to be out from under her families’ shadow. Another year and she would have her degree in music theory, which would allow her more freedom to travel and write. Mostly travel. “Will Roslyn be coming out?”

It was the question Nodrog had been waiting for. “Of course, she will be out the day of the race with Jenny and Harley. She had already said she would come and find you.”

Cynthia laughed. “I think our little Valkyrie was hoping to see Roslyn more than just the day.”

“Then you should have said something to her.” Nodrog smiled.

While Nodrog talked music, Alice was talking performance. The Viper needed a gear change, as the final drive ratio they went with was a bit too low for the track. The Velopians had not settled on a course until recently, so they only sent out the facilities’ general specifications.

The race teams knew: altitude, gravity, air pressure gradients, average wind speeds, average air temp, average track surface temps, track surface compositions. A host of information except the actual course layout and length. Alice needed more speed and a little less front end down force. Carly needed less top speed and significantly more down force. Carly was getting a little light when cresting a few of the hills.

“What are our hosts getting on the longest open section?” Alice asked as she sat next to little Joe on top of a tool box.

Little Joe pulled up a screen and checked some timing data. “Two ten, two eleven. Sidney hit two hundred sixteen once.”

“What are we going to get with the gear change?” Ron asked from his place next to the car.

“Two hundred eight… depending on wind speed and direction.” Little Joe leaned back in his chair.

Alice gave it some thought. “Average lap speed was, one fifty something?”

“One fifty three point six, by my calculations.” Little Joe teased.

“Drafting should keep you on anyone’s tail who is in front of you. Looks like the Amazons brought different cars this year.” Wes added as the two cars motored past for their testing.

“It’s the next model up in line from what they have been running. Mid engine instead of rear. They look sexy.” TJ said as she admired them as they rolled by.

“Too bad the two of you are too damn short to take one for a spin.” Katie teased as she walked out from the garage.

DJ was with her. “I am just glad the Salaks are short… all you tall people are going to give me a complex.”

“Pretty sure Alice feels the same way.” TJ grumbled.

“All too well.” Alice chuckled. “At least Tera is tiny just like us.”

“Where did Nodrog head off too?” Ron asked as they waited for more track time.

“He went to the main stage to talk with Tera.” Alice finished off the last of the water in her bottle. “It feels like it should be lunch time, but it’s still another three hours till noon.”

“Trust me, us old farts have noticed how long the day is. I am going to need a nap before the race.” Jim grumbled as he and Wes brought over the gears to do the swap.

“You aren’t the only one, and I’m starving.” Wes groaned. At least the weather was nice, and the girl watching was phenomenal.

It was a conversation most were having in their own pits. As the Velopians had the longest day of any race, a fact they took into consideration when arranging events and things. Practice and qualifying could be spread out over the long day, and teams could take naps or sleep in later. As tempting as using the long day to their advantage was, the Velopians made sure the race day time line would keep those from short day planets from getting too exhausted.

There was one driver they all kept an eye on, and everything Alice did was noted and scrutinized. Some even noted her bathroom usage, trying to figure out as much as they could in the hope of their driver beating her. Someone even tried to hack into the signal sent from her car to Joe’s computer. He just chuckled at their rather poor attempt, and did not report it, or even tell anyone on the team about it.

While the odds where greatly stacked against her, Alice didn’t seem to notice. Nodrog did have to keep a close eye on her, and while she didn’t like it, Alice was not allowed to go anywhere alone. Security was mostly less intrusive than it had been at the other events, though it was there in mass if one paid attention.

Alyvia and Sephya, along with a fare number of power armored warriors were out in full equipment. Their armor painted and polished to perfection, those not in armor were in parade like uniforms, clean and sharp. They were there to catch people’s eyes, to be noticed and highly visible, so those not in uniform went more easily unnoticed. They might be timid in many race’s eyes, but the Velopians knew how to be subtle about their force.

As fans started showing up in droves, the festivities of the third intergalactic race got fully under way.