SHUTTLE LAUNCH SITE, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. Thank you for your patience. Here are our three lucky finalists in the world's first 'Billion Dollar Lunar Lottery'!
"From the Czech Republic: 22 year old Daniela Vlaklavic!"
"From the USA: 45 year old William Chen!"
"And from the Independant Republic of Scotland: 29 year old John Stevenson!"
"All have been fully briefed on the rules of the contest and have signed the waivers absolving the Lottery Committee of all liability. There's time for a few questions before they must take their places in the shuttle."
"Emma Barak, NetNewsDaily. Ms. Vlaklavic, do you feel you are a role-model for women all over the world?"
"If they want to see me as a role-model I have no problem with that."
"Ed Gruberman, NBC-dot-com. Mr. Chen, I understand you are a former Navy Seal. How will your Navy training help you in your bid for the billion dollars?"
"I think my survival skills will give me the edge to put me over the top. I intend to return to Earth one billion dollars richer."
"Art Dodge, New York World Press. Ms. Vlaklavic, what in your background can you count on to aid you in this contest?"
"At college I'm on the soccer team, so I think my athleticism is my greatest asset."
"One last question, then our Lunarnauts must go."
"Derek Thompson, Glasgow News-Gazette. Mr. Stevenson, as a fellow Scotsman I speak for all your countrymen in wishing you good luck and God-speed. My question is: What will you take with you to remind you of home?"
"I have a hip flask of Scotland's finest export. I just hope there's room for it in my suit!"
The Lunar Lottery was only the latest in a series of spectacular games of chance combined with some sort of dangerous or foolish stunt to arise in the middle years of the 21st century. Previous games had contestants camping in the Antarctic, dragging dog-sleds across the Mojave desert (in August), and swimming with piranha in the Amazon. Each time the prizes got larger, the risks increasing exponentially; a treasure hunt on the Moon seemed an almost logical progression. Billions of tickets were sold world-wide, protesters decried the misuse of Earth's only natural satellite as well as the risk to human life; politicians looking for a platform declared it a waste of money and resources while secretly pulling strings to get the necessary clearances for their corporate bedfellows; kickbacks flew and corporate sponsors got richer. The game went on.