Night
Houston
It was just like any other night for the past year or so now. Close up shop, go home, clean up then go to sleep. Really, despite the bomb that was her life just a few years back, it had seemed that life, despite being quite different than before, had stabilized for Eileen McNamara. If anything, it was a bit… Boring. Sure she went to the track in this state a few times, admittedly raced illegally a few times… but it wasn’t the same.
Maybe it was fate that landed that red sports car on her driveway.
“That wasn’t there when I left” She thought cautiously, parking her own car by it. Looking at it closer, it was recognizable. A brand new Wyvern GTX. A muscle car with the handling to take it to the European sports cars back home. Though this one was thoroughly modified, with wide arches and an extended rear spoiler. It was absolutely not subtle.
Eileen parked right by the Wyvern and as she got out of her car, its LOUD v8 started right up, absolutely startling her.
“Really?!” She exclaimed, staggering back onto her car. Before doing anything regrettably physical against the car, she noticed the doors were unlocked. She opened it up, with an audio recording playing just after.
“Greetings, Eileen McNamara”
“Hello.?” Eileen responded.
“Your extraordinary driving skills brought you to our attention, and we chose you as one of the finest drivers in the world.
Along with other racers of similar qualities, you have been chosen to take part in what we call the Grand Race.
The car in front of you has been built and tweaked based on your previous driving records, unique driving style, and your preferences.
We are looking for the best driver in the world, so if you really are as good as the records say, follow the map on the GPS.”
“Is this some kind of joke?” Eileen said, with no one replying. Looking at the GPS, it was heading west… to a destination over 1000 miles away. She turned off the engine, and gave the message some thought. Of course, it would be interesting to go to it…
Wasn’t there something similar that happened a few years back? Eileen herself didn’t participate that time, a call to race, with some international drivers going over to race. Of course she wasn’t at the peak at that time… or now really at this time if she was honest to herself. So she wasn’t even there, but from what she heard…
Didn’t end well.
Deciding to figure it out and do some research in the morning, she grabbed the keys and the GPS unit from the Wyvern.
Morning rolled over Texas once again as it had for the… past however long the state has existed. Eileen found herself awake more early than usual, feeling abit… excited. Enough she had to quickly peek out the window to check that the car from last night was not a dream.
It wasn’t.
Still, she hadn’t ruled out the possibility of this being some sort of elaborate prank. The message did say her name, so it was definitely targeting her and not some… misplaced parking job. She ran through the people she knew that could possibly pull something like this off…
Just one.
Without any hesitation, she picked up her smartphone and started a call. A ring, and another, then pickup.
“Lena! What a pleasure to get a call from you this early in the morning!””
“I suppose it is? Hello Ian.” Eileen replied. “Listen, I got a question for ya.”
“Always with the business… Shoot.” Ian said.
“Red Wyvern GTX, 2015, maybe 2016, widebody. Know anything about one around here?”
“Hmmm…” Ian pondered for a moment.
“Okay, he doesn’t know anything about it.” Eileen concluded.
“Nope, why do you ask?” Ian inquired.
“Someone dropped one off at my doorstep. For me to participate in a some sort of ‘Grand race’, figure ya be the only one I know to pull off some silly shite like that.”
Ian laughed. “Hahaha… well, I’m flattered, but uhhh… what makes you think I’d drop a brand new car for you?”
“Ian, ya brought me over to the states to manage your friend’s restaurant that you happen to go to all the time despite myself not being that experienced and kept bringing me expensive gifts because ‘you were sorry my parents died’, despite it being years ago now.”
“Uhh yes, fair point.”
“… Anyways, I got two favors to ask from you.” Eileen moved on. “I’m going to bring over the car to your shop, see what its all about right?”
“Okay, yeah I can do that. A bit curious about it myself honestly. What’s the other?”
“I’ll need to borrow a pickup from you, and a trailer.”
“Wait, why?” Ian asked.
“I’ll fill you in when you check the car, I’ll be right over with it.”
“Hmmm… alright. And hey, you know, favors go both ways…”
“… Ah, yeah, I’ll bring something for you.”
“Thanks, you’re the best Lena.”
“Yeah yeah, I will see you then yeah?”
“See you.”
Eileen looked over to the GPS unit from the Wyvern that was sitting on her countertop. The location was all the way out in the west, was she really going to take a day, maybe two day trek to do some racing for some random people. Not to mention the whole sucking up with the “finest drivers” thing. Still, they did send her a car…
Some time later…
“Man Lena, your cooking is still the best.” Ian said, munching on one of the wraps Eileen had bought over. Food bribes had gotten her quite a lot over the years… something something a way into a man’s heart.
“Thanks.” She smiled, then looking out the shop’s office window into the garage area.
“So you’re really just gonna take the time off to go to some place on a GPS? All the way in Cali?” Ian asked between bites. “Just seems shady as fuuuck to me.”
“I figure there’s easier ways for em to kidnap me or whatever than sending me a custom car.” Eileen answered. “Plus ya know where I’m going, and I’m feelin a need for a vacation anyways.”
“Fair ‘nuff.” Ian looked over to the car, still finishing up the wrap. “Still quite a thing that is. Got a custom racing engine, transmission… hell, all the panels have been replaced with carbon ones. And… a buncha killswitches in the ECU.”
“Guess they only wanted me to get it.”
“You know, you could not go and you could make a lotta money selling the thing… even if you have to take it apart.”
“Pffft, since when has money ever been a concern for me.” Eileen stated, knowing full well Ian knows what she meant. (Hint, her parents ran a pretty good business before dying and her sister fucked off…) “I’ll do it for the adventure, and with how loud that thing is, I’m not drivin cross the states with it.
“Right right… Well, I do got that Kuma KO you can use. Got a few mods on it too.” Ian glanced over at the silver truck he had.
“Really, isn’t that thing new?”
“You probably make better use of it for now, better than it sitting in the shop.”
“You’re too kind, really.”
“Well, in return… actually, I’ll wait till you get back.”
Character profile and vehicle
Name: Eileen Sheila McNamara
Nicknames: Lena, Falcon (formerly)
Age: 27
Gender: Female
Nationality: Irish
A previously notorious street racer from a well off family, Eileen is very much a full potential unrealized type. Her go to before was motorway shootouts, with a very hotrodder mentality of going faster: Throw more power and a bigger engine at it. She was beginning to make a name for herself doing it too, especially with the departure of Hornet to the states. Though she was much more of a high speed demon, flying through highways at ridiculous speeds. However, three years ago an accident occured that had taken the life of her father and bedridden her mother. With little choice, Eileen had to stop with the racing and take over the family business, with her little sister to take care of her mother in the meantime. Well, that was the plan anyways. The slight flaw in the plan? Nora had other plans with her life and “did not want to be tied down by family”, leaving rather than to take care of her mother. With little choice, Eileen closed down the family business and stayed behind to take care of her mum. For a year, until further complications had her mum pass away as well. With little left in the UK after that, Eileen left for a career opportunity from a friend in the States, having not returned to Europe since.
There’s not too much good to say Eileen’s relationship with her sister at this point, as Eileen utterly despises her for her selfishness. But aside from that, she has moved on for the most part, being an easy to talk to woman with her rough edges ironed it, easily excitable by the thrill of speed and cars in general. Much unlike her sister, she does tend to think things through and really seems like she has her life under control, despite the fact it has been way out of control.
Stats:
[ Driving ] A : Precise - A bit strange to think of a person using a car with way too big an engine as precise, but being a high-speed specialist the precision is definitely there
[ Cornering ] A : Grip wins Races - You don’t drift on a highway ok
[ Focus ] B : I will pass you. - Though a bit of a mixed bag, Eileen is very capable of identifying what’s quick, who’s quick, and how to deal with them
[ Experience ] A : Natural Talent - Would likely be more experienced than her sister if life didn’t get in the way, but as things stand its really a natural talent why she’s still competitive
[ Nature ] A : Cool as Ice - Unless it has to do with Nora.
Eileen with the Wyvern GTX:
Modified with lightened panels, and removed quality of life features, this Wyvern weighs in just over 1200kg. Not bad, you say. There’s more however: the standard V8 has been swapped out for a big block, 8 litre naturally aspirated pushrod V8, producing nearly 700hp. Its not only mad quick, its got grip and agility for days with a package that could keep running for ages - provided you don’t run out of fuel.
