Disclaimer: Still don't own Oban. Still DO own Remus, Duncan, Lily, Duncan's wolf, the Jubalins and Lupanians and Duncan's wolf.

This chapter is dedicated to Star Fata who was closest.

Remus: one of the founders of ancient Rome raised by a she-wolf with his brother Romulus. (Remus' first name has nothing to do with Remus Lupin from Harry Potter.)

Lycaon: the word from which 'lycanthrope' is derived. Lycaon is a man from Greek mythology who served Zeus human flesh. As punishment, Zeus turned Lycaon into a more fitting form: a wolf, for he was more of a beast than a man. Lycaon is the first 'werewolf'. (This is one interpretation of his tale.)

Moon and Star

Ch.7: Cruel like Ceres

Remus stood on the balcony, leaning against the railing, watching Stan and Koji work on the Arrow 2. Eva's not going to like this… Somebody's going to die… I hope its Don. That could fun. I could bet Jordan twenty bucks that she beats him to death. Heh, heh…

At that moment, Don Wei and Rick entered the hanger.

"Good morning, sir," Remus said, turning to face them. "Hello, Rick. It's good to have you back." He held out his hand to Rick. Rick's lips quirked upward as he shook Remus' hand.

"It's nice to be back," Rick said.

Remus smiled at him. Then he glanced at Don and the look on his face made Remus feel uncomfortably like Don could see right through him.


Eva jumped out of bed and got dressed, then raced out into the hallway. "Wake up, Jordan!" she said eagerly, pounding on his door. She laughed and ran off as Jordan opened the door.

"Man, what's she so happy about?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Eva jogged out onto the balcony in the hanger. "Here's to you," she muttered. She started to take a sip of a juice box she'd grabbed on the way. Then she saw her rocket seat on the ground next to the Arrow and the old seat being lifted up into the cockpit.

"Hey! Stan, what are you doing?" she called down to him. He stopped working and looked up at her. "You know that seat's too big for me!"

"But it's perfect for me."

Eva spun to face the voice. "Rick! You're back…"

"Yeah, those Alwas doctors have technology that far surpasses our own," Rick said. "So I heard that you kept my seat warm."

"It was nothing…"

"Modesty's for losers," Rick said. Ruffling her hair affectionately, he continued, "Thanks, little mouse. I can't wait to hear all about it."

"Can't wait to tell you…"

Jordan came pelting around the corner. "RICK!" He grabbed Rick around the waist, his momentum forcing him to circle Rick once. He hugged Rick tightly. "Oh, man, Rick, it's so good to have you back! We really missed you around here!"

Rick tried to push Jordan away. "Hey! No huggin'! Doctor's orders!"

"You two catch up," Eva said. "I have to find someone."

Remus entered the hanger. "Oh, hi, Eva, how're you—"

Eva grabbed his arm and spun him back around. "You're coming with me."

"But I just got here!"


Fifteen minutes later, Eva was outside the hanger. Rick was by the pond with the Arrow 2, getting ready to try it out. Remus had managed to slip away.

Don Wei was standing next to Koji who was checking the stats of the Arrow.

"Hey you!" Eva called.

Don ignored her.

Eva walked up to him furiously. "Why didn't you tell me Rick was coming back?"

"Now is not the time," Don said.

"It's never the time, is it?" Eva snarled. She stomped on his foot. With a strangled noise, he grabbed his foot. She started to walk away.

Don spun around. "Hey!" Then he noticed Koji watching him. He coughed and turned back to the Arrow.

Someone roared with laughter.

Don glared up at Remus who was sitting in a tree near the hanger. That only caused Remus to laugh harder, doubling over, clutching his sides. Subsequently, he fell out of the tree.

"OW, dang it!"

Eva shook her head at him.

"Stop laughing at me," Remus whined.

"I'm not laughing at you," Eva said.

"You were on the inside." Remus slowly sat up. "Dang, that hurts…"

"Maybe you should stay closer to the ground, then," Eva suggested.

"I'll keep that in mind…" Remus trailed off, his eyes widening as he stared at the pond. "What's he doing?"

"What? What's who—?" Eva turned around. Rick looked like he had lost control of the racer. He was headed for the pillars sticking up out of the water.

Remus got to his feet. "I think he's going to crash!"

At the last second, Rick steered the Arrow away from the pillars. He barrel rolled and then brought the Star racer to the ground.

Eva and Remus shared glances. Something's wrong…


Lily sat on the steps at the front of the hanger. Duncan's wolf, Hunter, was semi-asleep. His eyes were half-closed, staring outside at something in the rain (or the rain itself) in a glazed way that suggested that whatever his eyes were looking at wasn't what he was seeing. Lily's thoughts were miles away, but in less happy place than Hunter's undoubtedly were.

I have a cousin on Alwas? Remus…Remus…Remus… I've heard that name before… But my Uncle was estranged from our family because he chose to live among humans… That doesn't normally happen. Usually family's the most important thing to Lupanians…we'd do anything for a member of our pack. Who are you Remus? What are you like?

Dad tried to contact my Uncle a few years ago, but didn't get an answer. He even managed to contact my Uncle's wife's family. They weren't able to contact her either. It was like they had disappeared off the face of the Earth…

What happened to them…?

Duncan sat down next to her. "Are you alright, Lily?"

"I'm fine," she said, looking at Hunter.

Duncan placed an arm around her shoulders. "Are you thinking about Remus?"

Lily didn't say anything for a while. Finally, she said, "I don't know him. I've never met him. I don't know what he's like or where he's been or anything…" She turned to look at Duncan. "When does where you live and who you live among become more important than family?"

Duncan opened his mouth to reply when he sniffed and looked up at the hanger entrance. Standing there, glaring at them was the Jubalin gunner.

Duncan got to his feet. "May I help you, sir?"

"Sir?" the Jubalin exclaimed. "I'm a girl, you moron!"

Duncan looked the Jubalin up and down. It had snow-white fur and was wearing a navy blue vest and very baggy black cargo pants: its toes poked out from under the folds in the fabric. On its wrists were two leather buckles.

"Er…sorry… I couldn't tell," Duncan said. Lily could tell that being called a moron had made him give up any pretense of being polite.

"Oh yeah? Why not? Never seen a Jubalin before?" the gunner demanded.

"Well…you all look the same to me, really… boys and girls…"

"Is that so? Well, you think you're all high and mighty, being moon-gods, huh? Moon-gods, is that what you think you are? Well, let me tell you something, buddy, you're no better than Jubalins and that stunt you pulled yesterday could've killed our pilot, you stupid son-of-a—"

"Excuse me! But if you noticed, I carefully measured that dose! There was no way that it would have killed your pilot, it barely put him to sleep!" Duncan retorted.

"Him? Him? OUR PILOT'S A GIRL TOO, YOU STUPID IDIOT!"

Lily covered her face with her hand. This was not going to end well…not well at all.


Eva and Remus watched silently as the cockpit opened, and everyone began applauding Rick. Rick jumped down from the Star-racer. "Thanks guys. I'm just gonna go up to my room and get some rest before the race."

"Rick, wait up…" Eva started toward the stairs. Rick didn't acknowledge her. She stopped, looking uncertain.

"Oh boy, I'm so glad Rick's back," Jordan said excitedly to Stan and Koji. "It's really great to have a real pro behind the controls again."

Stan and Koji traded glances.

"What?" Jordan asked. Then he turned around.

Eva shrugged coolly and started up the stairs.

"Oh, come on, Molly, you know what I mean," Jordan called up after her. "You're good and all but this is Rick!"

Eva walked out of the hanger. Remus figured she'd gone to her room.

Jordan turned to him. "Will you talk to her?"

Remus gave Jordan a look. "Tsh. You're on your own."


Lily sighed. Duncan and the Jubalin gunner had been at it for over half an hour. It was starting to attract attention from the rest of the pack.

A tall, slender, 19-year-old man stopped beside her. He had short, messy black hair and dark blue eyes. He was wearing a black shirt with a white and red Scottish crest design with the word 'heritage' written on a banner beneath it and black pants made from a leather-like material. "Um…what's going on here?"

"Oh, hi, Bardawulf," Lily said, glancing at him. "Duncan's just fighting with the Jubalin gunner."

Bardawulf shifted, his black, shin-high boots thumping against the floor. He bent over quickly and adjusted one of the many buckles. When he straightened, he nudged Lily with his elbow.

"Why are they fighting?" he asked.

"Why should I know? Why does everyone assume that if Duncan's involved, I know what's going on?" Lily asked exasperatedly.

"Cause…you're kinda hs girlfriend?"

"I am not!"

Bardawulf grinned. "Sure you're not," he said. He winked. "Don't worry, I won't tell."

"Barda," she snarled. "I'm warning you—"

"So, why are they fighting?"

"The gunner came in here to pick a bone with Duncan over drugging their pilot, and then Duncan made it worse when he called the gunner 'sir' and she's really a she," Lily explained.

"So that's a girl?" Bardawulf asked, surprised. "Dang, that's hot."

Lily's eyebrows shot up and she wheeled around to look at him. "What?"

"Well, lookit her," he said. "She's only three feet tall and she's taking on Duncan like he's not three times taller than her and wouldn't be able to tear her to shreds. I like that."

"Barda, have you taken a good look at her?" Lily asked, desperate to knock some sense into him before he did something stupid. "She's a Jubalin. She's a rabbit! We eat rabbits!"

"Yeah, sure, whatever…"

Lily grabbed his shoulders, towering over him in her wolf form. "Barda! Are you listening to me?"

Barda wasn't even looking at her. "Hey…hey, excuse me, miss? What's your name?"

The gunner spun around to glare at him. "What? Is it another 'moon-god' come to tell me he's all high and mighty?"

"You're hot," Barda blurted out.

Lily smacked a hand over her face. Great…he's gone and done something stupid…again…

"What?" Duncan exclaimed.

"E…excuse me?" the gunner asked flustered.

Lily raised an eyebrow. She let go of Barda's shoulders and backed away. She transformed back to her human form. She had red hair and forest green eyes and was wearing a light green t-shirt and blue jeans.

You know…I would bet anything she's blushing under that fur…

That was the thing with Lupanians and Jubalins—you couldn't see things like blushing because of their fur. For Lupanians it was only when they were in their werewolf form. Jubalins, however, looked like rabbits twenty-four/seven.

Barda walked up to her and dropped to his knees in front of her. He took her paws in his hands. "You're the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. The way you take on someone bigger than you without even a flinch…it's simply breath taking."

"Er…" The gunner didn't seem to know what to do.

But then, who would, Lily wondered. Someone of another species that you seemingly despised was flirting with you.

"I simply must know your name," Barda said.

"It's…Agrona…"

"The Celtic name that means 'carnage' or 'slaughter?'" Barda said excitedly. "It fits you perfectly! Your viciousness in the face of Duncan attacking your ship—"

"Attacking?" Duncan exclaimed. "I was making sure they didn't crash!"

"—your loyalty to your pilot…only true loyalty would drive you to confront the alpha of a wolf pack in his den," Barda said, his eyes full of adoration.

"Whose side are you on?" Duncan shouted.

"Hers…" Barda said dreamily.

"Er…" Lily strode forward, transforming back to her Lupanian form. She grabbed Barda under the arms. "Sorry about that. And sorry about your pilot. Is she okay?"

"Y…yeah…" Agrona said. She was looking at Barda as though she didn't know whether to think him crazy or to be flattered. "Nothing can take Andraste down."

"Andraste, the Celtic name meaning 'invincible.' It's perfect," Barda said. He looked like he hadn't really heard what anyone had just said. He was still staring at Agrona absentmindedly.

"Er…yeah…anyway…" Agrona backed out of the hanger slowly. Then she turned and ran, her ears flopping out behind her in the wind.

It was a moment before anyone said anything. Barda sighed happily. "I think I'm in love."

Lily rolled her eyes and let go of Barda. He dropped to the floor.


Eva stopped when she heard something crash in Rick's room. She quickly entered. "Rick, are you okay?"

Rick spun around to face her. "Who said you could just barge in here, huh? I need to rest. Can't you understand that?" he shouted.

"I'm sorry, but I heard a noise and I just—"

"There was no noise," Rick snapped and stalked off to another part of his room.

"I guess I was mistaken," Eva said, taking a step backward. She stepped on something. Looking down, she saw a disk on the floor.


"Hey, Jordan, can I ask you something?" Eva asked. Jordan was on top of the Arrow, polishing it.

"Sure," Jordan said.

"Did you think there was anything wrong with Rick this afternoon? Did he seem off?"

"Well, at first I was worried," Jordan said. "But then I thought, 'hey this is Rick!' Face it, Molly, Rick gave us a great flying lesson today!"

"Whatever," Eva muttered. She wasn't going to get any help from Jordan.

Koji walked past.

"Hey, Koji," Eva said. "Did it seem normal for Rick…to be taking risks like he was?"

Stan, who was working on the engines, shared a glance with Koji. Koji sighed and pushed his glasses farther up his nose.

"Could you be jealous of Rick, Molly?" he asked awkwardly.

"No! It's not that, I just—"

A door opened and Don Wei entered the hanger. "Leave Koji alone, Molly. He needs to get ready for the race."

"All you care about is the race!" she snapped.

"That's right," Don said as he passed her, sounding as though that were obvious.

Nobody listens so why should I care? Eva stalked over to her rocket seat and sat down. She pressed a button on her CD Player. Speakers ejected from it and started blasting music.

Everyone jumped.

Eva shot out of the hanger into the pouring rain, nearly hitting a soaking wet and baffled Remus.

Tears gathered in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away and glared ahead of her.


"What was that about?" Remus asked.

Jordan shrugged. "She's just jealous 'cause Rick's back."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? What gave you that idea?"

"She was trying to make it sound like something was wrong with Rick because he was pulling stunts earlier this afternoon," Jordan said.

"Are you sure that there really isn't anything wrong with Rick?" Remus asked. "Not all injuries are physical."

"This is Rick!" Jordan insisted. "Nothing can take him down!"

"That's probably what some said about Maya," Remus said. Don Wei jolted. Remus forced himself not to smirk (he had wanted to poke Don with an emotional pin ever since his reaction after the race with Groor).

"Maya? Whose she? What's she got to do with Rick?" Jordan asked.

"Maya was one of the greatest Star-racer pilots ever," Remus said. "And then, ten years ago, she was racing in an interplanetary race and crashed. She died. What's to say that something hasn't happened to Rick? Being good doesn't make you invincible."

Jordan shrugged. "Whatever."

"You should know that better than anyone, sir," Remus said, starting toward the stairs. He paused as he passed Don. He whispered, "She was your wife."

"How did you…" Don was looking at him in shock.

Remus gave him a small smile and walked away.

Don watched him disappear behind the door on the balcony.

"Hey," Jordan said suddenly. "Where has he been, anyway?"

Stan and Koji glanced at each other.

"That's a good question," Stan said. "Where did he go?"

Koji shrugged. "I don't know. Do you know, sir?"

Don didn't answer.


Remus lay down in his room, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling. That was a nasty thing to do, he thought. Although he knew that was true, it didn't stop him from feeling vaguely satisfied at the reaction from Don Wei.

Hey, if he's going to be a jerk to his own daughter then he deserves it.

But he doesn't know that Molly is Eva, said a voice in his head.

Remus shifted. Doesn't matter. The fact that he abandoned her at Boarding School for ten years is reason enough.

He rolled over and turned his thoughts to other things before his conscious could retort.

He was still soaking wet and water dripped down from out of his hair, across his face and onto his pillow. After Eva had gone to check on Rick, Remus had taken the opportunity to slip away and search for the Lupanian hanger. Although he didn't like Duncan, he wasn't going to let that stop him from finding out if he had family in the Lupanian Team. He also wasn't going to let that deter him from seeing if he had a possibility of being with a pack.

Just because Duncan's a jerk doesn't mean they all are, he told himself over and over again.

He had found the hanger and had stared at it for several minutes, just leaning against a tree before a girl with red hair and dark green eyes had spotted him. He had panicked and ran. He had watched them laughing together and talking. He knew then that he had no place among them. They weren't just a team. They had truly formed a pack—they were like family. And he would only be intruding on that.

Remus rolled over onto his other side, facing the wall. Tears began to mingle with the rain.


Rick and Jordan were at the track while Don Wei, Stan and Koji watched from the control room, getting ready for the race. Someone entered the room.

"Hello?"

Everyone wheeled around to face the entrance, surprised. Standing there was a girl of sixteen or seventeen. She had red hair and forest green eyes.

"Who are you?" Don demanded.

"My name is Lillian Lycaon, but you can call me Lily," the girl said.

"Lycaon?" Koji asked surprised. "Are you related to Remus?"

"Possibly," Lily said. "He's…he might be my cousin. Do you know where I can find him?"

"I think he's in his room," Koji said hesitantly. "But I think he's sleeping."

"Th…thank you for your help," she said. Then she ducked out of the room before anyone could say anything else.

"Stan, go follow her. Make sure she doesn't try anything," Don said.

"What could she possibly do, sir?" Stan asked. "Our Star-racer, pilot and gunner are gone. What else could she possibly attack? Other than Remus, but, I have to admit, I think she'd have her hands full doing that."

"Hhmm…I still don't like her wandering around here like she lives here," Don said. "I'll be back in a moment." He made his way towards Remus room. He saw her standing in front of his room uncertainly—and stopped. He hid behind the corner.

Normally, he wasn't one to spy but he knew that Remus was keeping something from him as was Molly. This could be his chance to find out what it was. Maybe Remus would tell her. Maybe she already knew. Perhaps Remus had visited the Lupanian hanger while he was out.

Lily knocked on the door.

A moment later, after hearing Remus trip over something and yell 'crud!' as he fell to the floor, the door opened. When he saw Lily, he looked like he'd nearly been hit by a truck.

"…Who are you?" he asked.

"I'm Lillian Lycaon," Lily said. "But, please, call me Lily."

Remus took a step back, cautiously. "What do you want?"

"I…I think we might be cousins," Lily said hesitantly, but there was a bit of a pleading note in her voice. "Please, I need to talk to you. Why are you with the Earth Team and not the Lupanian one? Surely, you must know that we're here. Why didn't you come to us—"

"Why didn't you come to me?" Remus asked. He looked like he wanted to say something, but was afraid of the answer he might get. He shook his head and said something else. "I knew you were here. Your Rider, Duncan, was by yesterday. I didn't like him much."

"Well, Duncan can come across as combative," Lily agreed. "But he's really nice. He's just protective of us. As Alpha, he feels it's his duty to protect us—that if something happens to him, it'll be all his fault."

"That wasn't what our argument was about," Remus said. "He made a jab at my choice of friends."

"You mean at humans?" Lily's shoulders sagged as she sighed. "Yes, I'm afraid he does that sometimes. It's just…he almost lost someone, and he's always blamed humans for it."

"I can relate," Remus said.

"What happened?" Lily asked.

"I lost my parents to Hunters," Remus said. Don could almost hear the capital letter on 'hunters'.

Lily gasped. "Oh my god…" She looked very pale. "So…so Uncle Rollo is…"

"Dead," Remus said, a harsh note to his voice now. "But I'll bet you didn't know that."

"I… My parents tried to contact your father several times but… It was like they had fallen off the face of the Earth… We didn't know…"

"Yes, well, it's because you abandoned my parents that I lived alone for five years," Remus said coolly. "Did you even know that my birthday is next week?"

Lily shook her head. "No…I didn't… I wish you an early happy birthday, though."

"Save it. I don't want it."

"Remus…"

Koji came running around the corner and nearly ran into Remus. "Sir! SIR! Something's wrong with Rick!" He looked around frantically. "Have either of you seen Don Wei?"

Don composed himself and walked around the corner. "Yes, Koji? What is it?"

"Sir, something's wrong with Rick!" Koji said frantically.

"Wait, what were you doing over there?" Remus demanded. "Were you spying on us?"

"What's wrong with Rick?" Don asked worriedly.

"He's 'KO'ed, sir! There's something wrong with his nervous system! It's completely shot!"

"Rick," Don whispered as he ran to the control room.


Eva was sitting on a bridge over the racetrack, waiting for the Arrow 2. She saw Ceres pass under the bridge. The Arrow came around the corner, scrapping against the wall the whole way.

"It's worse than I thought," she whispered. She flipped a switch on her rocket seat handle and shot off and turned the corner to ride parallel with the track. The Arrow caught up with her and they raced side by side.

"Here goes nothing," she cried. She jerked on the handles. The rocket seat flew off the edge and into the air. Eva jumped off. She hung suspended in mid-air for a moment, then crashed against the gunner pit. She fell off and grabbed onto the guns. She pulled herself forward so she could hook her arms around them.

"Molly!" she heard Jordan shout through the glass.

Eva looked at the cockpit. "I'm coming Rick."


Remus entered the control room just in time to see Eva jump off the rocket seat onto the Arrow.

"What does she think she's doing?" Don Wei shouted.

"She's going to try and help Rick!" Remus felt himself shaking with nerves as he watched Eva clumsily make her way into the Arrow through the gunner entrance. Several seconds later, the Arrow came off the wall and turned the corner.

Remus sighed. "She's in."


"Little mouse…" Rick murmured. "What're you doing here…?"

"I'm here to help you," Eva said. "Can you control the pedals?"

"I think so…"

Eva sat down on Rick's lap and took hold of the arm controls. Ceres pulled back to fly beside them.

"You humans are pathetic. You aren't worth my time," he said.

"Then get lost!" Eva snapped.

Ceres raised a flute to his mouth. "The Mong are the last of the ancient people, the oldest race in the galaxy, and I am the last of the Mong. Before you are defeated, I will give you the greatest gift of all—a look at the world of the Mong." He began to play the flute.

Eva's eyes fluttered once…twice…her head bobbed down and shot up. Then her eyes closed…


She was in a strange city place that seemed to rise up out of the ground for miles. She was walking along a bridge dreamily. The bridge was only big enough for one person to cross at a time and looked to be miles above the ground…but there was no ground, only mist. Were those clouds…?

She didn't notice that the bridge came to a dead end across the middle of the canyon.


Rick's eyes opened again. "Little mouse? …Molly?" he asked when she didn't answer him. "Little mouse, wake up."


Eva vaguely heard Rick's voice echoing around in the nothingness. But she kept on walking…closer to the edge…


Rick forced his hand to move slowly towards the CD Player attached to Eva's pants. He pressed a button. The speakers ejected and started blasting music.


The world began to shatter around her like glass, leaving her in the dark. Her eyes shot open. "AH!" She turned the Arrow in time to miss a rock that jutted up out of the ground.

Ceres cried out in pain and clutched his head. He crashed into the wall and exploded.

Eva crossed the finish line and landed the Arrow. She quickly got off of Rick and shut off her CD Player.

"Well done, Little Mouse," Rick said weakly. "I always wanted a copilot."

"Any time, Rick," Eva said with a smile and a wink. Then Rick went limp. "Rick?" Rick had passed out again.


The Earth Team stood outside the hospital room, looking through the glass wall worriedly as a machine examined Rick.

"Do you think he'll be okay?" Eva whispered to Remus worriedly.

"Honestly?" Remus whispered back. "No. He'll live. But I don't think he's going to be perfectly okay."

"What happened to your cousin?" she murmured. Remus had told her about Lily on the way to the hospital. It had been then that Eva had remembered that she'd forgotten to tell Remus about the Lupanian she'd met in the parts shop. He hadn't been happy that Eva hadn't forgotten to tell him that, but he had shared with her that he suspected that was his cousin in werewolf form.

"Disappeared after the race. I turned around to tell her to leave, but she was already gone."

"I thought you wanted a family?" Eva muttered.

"I did…but then I found them, and all I could think about was how hurt I was," Remus whispered sadly. "And now, I don't think I'll ever have another chance."

"You will," Eva said. "Trust me. But you don't need her."

"Why not?"

"Because we'll be your family," Eva said. "Me and Jordan and Stan and Koji and Rick."

"You forgot Don Wei," Remus added.

"Who wants him as a part of their family?"

And although the comment was made in jest, Remus could tell there was some bite behind it. He chose to say nothing and smiled slightly.

Then he added, "But it doesn't matter anyway. You should've seen them eariler, E. They were laughing and talking and playing...like a family. I'd just be intruding on that."

"Don't say that Remus," Eva said. "If they've invited you twice to join, then you have to belong."

Remus was silent.

A few minutes later and Rick was out. He and Don Wei were sitting in front of the Alwas doctor.

"Well, it appears that there was some damage to his brain that we missed before," the doctor said. "Your central nervous system is damaged. When you encounter moments of violent stress, you lose control of your nervous. You can never race again."

"What?" Don exclaimed. "Surely there is something you can do!"

"There are some illness even we can't cure," the doctor said.

Rick lunged at the doctor, grabbing him around the throat. Don grabbed Rick's arm and tried to pull him off. "NO! You have to cure me! Racing is my life!"

"Rick! Let him go!" Don ordered.

Rick paused—then let go of the doctor and stormed away.

"Rick!" Eva called and started after him.

Don Wei blocked her path. "Let him be. He needs some time alone. We'll talk in the morning, Molly. …You were…very brave today."


Rick stood in the stadium, looking around. He remembered when he had become the minor league champion. He had stood in front of the cheering crowd, holding his trophy high. It had been the best day of his life.

And now…

Now he would never experience that again.

He dropped to his knees. The one thing he loved…the thing he had made a career out of…the thing he never thought he'd never be able to do…it was gone… just like that…

A single tear rolled down his cheek.

Chapter preview: Star Gazing – Eva found Remus sitting on the roof of the hanger, staring at the sky.

"Remus, what are you doing up here?" she whispered.

"I'm watching the stars," Remus said quietly. "If you watch and listen they'll tell you stories of long ago…but only if you know how."

"How to what?"

"How to listen." Remus patted the space beside him. Eva sat down. "Did you know that when a person dies, a new star is added to the sky? That's their soul shining down on us, watching us." He quickly scanned the sky. "There!" He pointed at the stars.

"What?"

"Do you see that star? Do you see how it glows like the moon? Didn't you tell me your mother had a crescent moon tattoo on her check? Doesn't the light from that star look like a crescent moon?"

"I'm sorry, Remus, I don't see it," Eva said with a shrug.

Remus grinned and nudged her. "That's because you don't know how to listen, silly. But I'll bet that's your mother's star, and its watching you right now. And I'll bet it's proud."