"So, what exactly do you want us for?" Rick huffed, crossing his arms.
"A race, the Great Race of Oban to be more exact," Don answered, turning towards a chalk board. "Here, is Oban, in the center of the galaxy," Don told them, drawing a circle. "There are three qualifying races on three different planets, they'll be going on at the same time, so we just need to win the race and make it to the top three. After that, we go to Oban and win."
"If you want out, tell us now," Maya ordered them.
"That's fine with us sir, we're up for the challenge," Jordan nodded.
"You've got a pretty big mouth for a guppy," Rick huffed. "Don, tell me you at least know which planet we'll be on."
"The president said we would most likely be on Alwas, that's some 25 thousand light years away," Don informed them. There was a slight gasp above them and the four looked up to see a hatch open and Eva looking down at them. She laughed nervously.
"What are you doing up there, little mouse? "Rick smirked. "Or should I call you 'little monkey' from now on?"
"No!" Eva huffed, puffing out her cheeks. "I am not a monkey!" Molly laughed and made monkey sounds. "Shut up," Eva muttered, causing Molly to laugh.
"I thought you were working on the Whizzing Arrow 1 and 2!" Don huffed.
"I was," Eva nodded "But, the others are fine without me. Besides, can you blame me for being curious as to where exactly we're going?" Eva sighed.
"Why don't you come down here and join us then," Maya smiled. Eva nodded and was about to when a large explosion went off. Eva gasped and looked over at the surrounding wall.
"It's a Crog!" she shouted.
"Get down here now, little mouse," Rick shouted, holding out his arms. Eva nodded and jumped through the latch, landing in his arms.
"Rick, get the truck, Jordan, Maya, Eva, follow me!" Don ordered, running out of the small building.
"Right," They nodded, each running off. Maya grabbed Molly, picking her up as she ran. Eva froze before remembering her rocket seat. She turned around and ran back to her rocket seat.
"EVA!" Maya and Don shouted.
"Sis!" Molly cried. The teen girl rode her rocket seat into the car and her parents sighed in relief.
"Floor it, now!" she shouted at them. Don ran to the commands and they sped off, Rick following behind. Eva ran to the window and looked at the truck. "He's slicing Rick's tires!" Don nodded and swerved the car to the side. Jordan grabbed his gun and pointed it at the door. Stan and Koji grabbed a hold of him so he would be anchored.
"Open the doors!" Jordan shouted. Maya nodded and grabbed a hold of her seat, kicking the doors open. They flew off and the Crog had to swerve in order to dodge them. Jordan growled and began shooting at the alien. "No Crogs allowed! This is a human only party!" The Crog slowed down and took cover behind Rick's truck. "I can't hit him!"
"No need," Don growled, pressing a few buttons on the screen. "Rick, stop the truck!"
"What?" Ricks voice shouted.
"Hit the brakes!" Eva shouted.
"You got it!" Rick shouted. The truck quickly stopped and ran into the Crog, causing a small explosion.
"Floor it!" Eva shouted.
"Don't need to tell me twice, little mouse!" Rick shouted, the truck speeding up.
"We have to go faster!" Maya shouted.
"Hurry Rick!" Molly shouted into the screen.
"I see the Avatar's ship!" Eva gasped.
"It's almost dawn! We need to hurry!" Don shouted. Eva looked back at the truck and gasped.
"Rick!" She shouted, seeing the Crog on top of the vehicle. "No you don't!" She growled, climbing onto her rocket seat, she shot out of the van and flew towards the truck.
"EVA!" Maya screamed, seeing her daughter race off. Eva growled and turned around, slamming on her brakes and going in reverse. She slammed the Crog off and flew off her rocket seat, watching it land next to the first star racer. She grabbed a ladder and hung on for dear life.
"HELP!" She screamed, knowing that it was useless. She saw the module open up and beam down a light. She gulped in nervousness as Rick finally approached the beam. She felt her body lift up and smiled, remembering how cool it was the first time. She narrowed her eyes and used the weightlessness to climb up the ladder and into the trailer.
"Everyone up, we've landed!" Don shouted.
"Eva! Where are you?" Maya shouted.
"Sissy!" Molly called, looking around. Don took the flashlight and climbed up the ladder, looking around the trailer.
"Sorry Maya, I don't see her," Rick apologized, jumping onto the ground.
"Oh no," Maya gasped, tearing up.
"Found her," Don yelled, shining the flashlight on the girl, who was curled up asleep. Eva groaned and shielded her eyes from the light.
"Five more minutes, daddy," she groaned, curling back up.
"There will be no more extra sleep, would you please tell me, what the hell was going through your mind!?" Don shouted. Eva gasped, remembering the previous day and jumped up.
"I saw that Rick was in trouble so I wanted to help him," Eva explained.
"Alright, but please, don't ever do something reckless like that again," Don sighed.
"Alright," Eva nodded.
"Sissy!" Molly cried, tears falling down her face. Eva smiled and approached the ladder.
"Good, now that that's settle-!" The group shouted in surprise as the floor beneath them shook. Eva gasped and slipped off of the trailer.
"I got ya," Rick smirked, holding onto her.
"Thanks Rick," Eva smiled.
"This is becoming a habit," Rick smiled, setting her down. "Watch your step next time little mouse."
"What was that?" Jordan shouted, pointing a gun around.
"I'm scared," Molly whimpered, grabbing Maya's leg. Maya placed a hand on her head, combing her fingers through her hair.
"It's alright," she whispered.
"I think the ship has stopped," Stan answered. A light poured into the dark room as a stone door slid down.
"It looks like its time," Maya smiled, placing a hand on Eva's shoulder.
"Gentlemen," Don started, jumping off of the trailer. "Beyond this door lies the unknown, the qualifying race of Oban. I expect you to give it nothing less than you're all. This may be the biggest challenge of your life. And behave, as of this moment, you are ambassadors of Earth!" Don turned around, to face them. Eva, who had been sticking her tongue out at her father and making faces, quickly stood straight, putting on a mask. Molly had her hands over her mouth, trying not to smile and laugh. "And don't think I'm done with you Eva. You're in so much trouble with that stunt you pulled." Rick chuckled as Eva's face dropped. Molly giggled, trying to hide it behind her hands.
"Come on Don, she was just helping Rick," Maya smiled, walking over to her husband. "The two of them are like siblings; they look out for each other." Rick smiled and pulled Eva close, giving her a sideways hug. Eva looked up at him and smiled. "She was just looking out for her big brother."
"I know," Don sighed. "But that doesn't erase the fact that she could have been killed."
"Come on, will you really punish her for trying to save a friend?" Maya smiled, kissing his cheek. Don groaned and walked over to the truck.
"Let's get going!" he shouted.
"Thanks mom!" Eva smiled, giving her a thumbs-up. Maya winked and returned the gesture.
Rick drove the truck out of the module and the team looked around in awe.
"Look at all these aliens!" Koji gasped "I bet no one's seen creatures like this."
"Wow," Molly gasped, peeking out of the window.
"I don't care, they better not try anything," Jordan growled, holding up his gun. "I'll be ready for them."
"Hey, we're ambassadors, remember? Calm down," Rick sighed.
"Well, I didn't expect the Avatar himself, but I at least expected a welcoming committee." Don huffed, looking around. Maya looked out the window and giggled, gesturing Eva over. The mother-daughter duo peered out the window and giggled.
"Honey, I think the 'welcoming committee' is here," Maya smiled. Don walked over to the door in confusion. He looked down to see a small alien tapping his staff against the large truck tire.
"Oh great, a surprise, I hate surprises," Don groaned, looking at his team. "And somehow, I feel like this won't be the last one."
"Welcome to Alwas, Earthlings!" the alien greeted. "You are the 96th and last team to arrive. I'm afraid to say that we no longer expected you. But I'm glad you made it. My name is Satis, faithful servant to the Avatar. I will be your temporary guide, if you follow me, I can take you to your lodging." Koji and Jordan jumped back in shock as Satis appeared at the top of the ladder.
"Cool trick," Eva smiled, leaning against the window.
"He's magic," Molly muttered.
"Well the Avatar's servant should have some powers," Eva told her.
"I've never seen a race ship from Earth before, beautiful," Satis hummed, strolling around the inside of the truck.
"These aren't our ships," Maya informed him. "This is our truck."
"The ships are right behind me," Don growled, pointing to the tarp covered machine.
"I see," Satis hummed, appearing behind Don. The man turned around in shock. "Giant flying cushions, impressive."
"Giant flying cushions?" Eva asked in disbelief. Don groaned and hit his head.
"I like him," Molly giggled. "He's funny."
"Thank you young lady," Satis said, appearing in front of her. He bowed his head in thanks.
"This is the pit area! The 96 competitors live here during the competition." Satis announced as they passed several pits. Most of the doors were closed so the teams could set up their space in privacy. "And this is your pit!" Satis announced. There was a circle with a symbol inside that reminded Eva of a star racer. "You have about an hour before the opening ceremony, use it wisely."
"Alright, everything's moved in," Maya announced from inside the hangar.
"Good, we have a few more minutes, Jordan, Rick! I want you to test out the star racer!" Don commanded. "Jordan, you test the laser turret first!"
"I'm on it!" Jordan answered, running over to the hatch.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Eva asked.
"No, we've got it here," Don answered. Eva sighed and leaned against the door way to the hangar.
"Everything alright sweetie?" Maya asked, approaching her daughter.
"Yeah," Eva sighed. "I just hoped that I would be doing more." She looked over at the turret and watched it swivel around. The guns pointed at her and seemed to lock on. Eva scowled at Jordan through the glass and looked away. Molly glared at Jordan as well, but hers was playful. She held up her hands and acted like she was shooting back him.
"Come on, cheer up Eva," Maya smiled, pulling her close. "You'll get your chance to shine."
"Alright," Eva sighed.
"Rick! You're turn! Jordan, that's enough!" Don ordered. Rick climbed into the cockpit and closed the glass dome. The star racer sprang to life and hovered a few feet off the ground. "Try the reactors, one at a time!" A warning siren went off and Rick landed the racer.
"We've got a leak," Koji sighed.
"So, what's the final say?" Don sighed.
"We've lost about a liter of engine fluid," Stan answered. "There's enough for one race though."
"We have the equipment to make more, but that could take a few hours," Koji sighed.
"Will it be able to make it before the race?" Molly asked.
"I don't think so," Koji told her.
"I saw a parts shop on the way here! Maybe they had some!" Eva gasped.
"Well, it is a common thing," Stan shrugged.
"No way, I'm keeping an eye on you," Don protested.
"But-!"
"No buts," Don ordered.
"Don, can I talk to you in private for a moment?" Maya asked, grabbing his arm and taking him a little ways away from the hangar.
"Someone's in trouble," Rick snickered. Eva giggled and watched her parents exchange a few words before they came back.
"Alright, you can get the fluid," Don complied.
"YES!" Eva cheered.
"On one condition," Don continued.
"Damn," Eva groaned.
"You are to go to the parts shop and go straight to the arena, which is where we need to be for the opening ceremony. No side trips, no getting distracted. To the shop and to the arena," Don ordered.
"Who am I…Molly?" Eva muttered.
"Hey!" Molly said in protest. Eva smirked playfully and acted like she was going to lunge forward and attack. Molly screamed playfully and ran behind Rick.
"No, but we want you to be careful," Maya told her. "This is a different world; we don't want anything happening to you."
"Alright," Eva sighed. "I'm off!" She jumped on her rocket seat and quickly flew off.
"Hey Don, you old fox," Rick smiled, watching Eva. "You brought along a secret replacement pilot, didn't you?" he smirked.
"I have done no such thing!" Don protested. "Eva does not know how to fly!"
"Unless she remembers some of the things I taught her when she was seven," Maya confessed happily, sticking her tongue out.
"Yeah, same here," Rick nodded. "She snuck into my racer a few times during practice and I told her a few things."
"Why would you two do that?" Don shouted.
"She wanted to know," they defended at the same time.
"Does that mean I can go in your star racer during practice?" Molly asked excitedly.
"Absolutely not!" Don shouted They looked over at Eva, shocked to see a giant star racer heading straight towards her. Eva managed to dodge it a keep driving. She slowed to a stop and turned back.
"Come on, let's get going," Don sighed.
"Still, she has a little something," Rick smiled, watching her speed off once more.
"I agree," Maya nodded. "She has pilot's instincts, but I don't think she knows that yet."
"Well, let's get going," Rick smiled.