"Sissy! Come swim!" Molly shouted from the water. She was wearing a pink one piece with a frilly skirt. She was floating inside of a pink inner tube. Eva, who was wearing a green tankini and light green see-through sarong, waved her off.
"No thanks I'm good," she said.
"But I wanna swim with you!" Molly huffed, puffing out her cheeks.
"Molly, let Eva be," Maya told her. She was wearing a purple bikini and had a sweatshirt on over it. "She has to prepare for the next race. She can't lose track of time." Maya lowered her sunglasses and winked at her older daughter who rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, come on, feel lucky I could even come out here," Eva laughed.
"You're no fun anymore," Molly pouted. "This race has made you boring."
"I'm boring," Eva gasped in fake hurt.
"Yeah! Super boring!" Molly laughed.
"That's how you treat your dear sweet older sister who took time out of her busy schedule to come down here with you?" Eva asked. She batted her eyes, making it look like she was tearing up.
"Alright you two, that's enough," Maya laughed. Eva and Molly laughed along with her. The older sister narrowed her eyes and ran towards a rock outcropping.
"Cannonball!" She shouted, jumping into the water. Molly shrieked as she was splashed with water. Eva broke the surface and smiled, laughing with her sister. Eva swung her arm under the water, sending water Molly's way. Molly gasped and kicked water back, causing her sister to laugh.
Eva smiled and looked up at the sun. She closed her eyes and began floating on her back. The pilot took a deep breath, clearing her mind. She gasped as an image of Canaletto entered her mind. Her body became deadweight and she sunk under the water. She quickly surface, coughing out water.
"Are you okay?" Maya asked, rushing over to her. Eva nodded her head, still coughing.
"I just lost concentration," she grunted.
"That's very dangerous," Molly muttered.
"You don't have to tell me that," Eva chuckled, hitting her chest. She cleared her throat and took a deep breath.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Maya asked again, placing a hand on her daughter's back.
"Yeah, fine," Eva nodded. She waded through the water, stepping onto the sand. "Is it okay if I go for walk?"
"Sure, I think it's time we head back to the pit anyway," Maya said.
"But mommy," Molly protested.
"No 'buts', we have to get ready for the race," Maya told her. She turned back to Eva and smiled. "Don't take too long, okay?"
"I won't," Eva promised.
Eva walked along the path, staring at the ground. "Come on, get it together. I'm not his pawn. I'm no one's pawn. He can't control me. I won't be controlled." Eva came to a stop sighed deeply. She looked up and blinked when she saw Aikka sitting down, his bow and an arrow in front of him. "That's right…" she muttered. She looked down at the ground with a frown. "I failed him." She bit her lip and steeled her gaze. "Just because I failed to stop Jordan once, doesn't mean I'll give up. I'm going to get my clean race."
She looked back at the alien prince and watched him. Aikka opened his eyes and stood up, preparing his weapon.
"Um sekai nou rama terra ubarar." Aikka recited. The tip of his arrow shined bright blue and a magic circle appeared around it. Wind whipped around the prince, the arrow absorbing it. Aikka released the enchanted arrow, sending it sailing for the large rock, a few hundred feet away.
"Hey Aikka," Eva called. Aikka looked over at her and frowned. "Doing some target practice? Might help if you stand closer."
"My next adversary is you," Aikka announced.
"Yeah, I know," Eva told him. Aikka looked away in disappointment and left, not even looking back as the rock he aimed at split in half. Eva looked at it and sighed.
"That still never fails to impress."
"Aikka, come back here," Eva huffed, following him. "Why are you so mad? We were bound to race against each other at some point." Aikka stopped walking and turned towards her, his eyes hard. Even with his mask, Eva could see the guilt.
"I have received orders from the Nourasian court, direct orders from my father in fact. After the start of the race I am to…eliminate you," Aikka confessed.
"So what does that mean? You're going to use me for target practice?" Eva asked in disbelief.
"You know that G'dar was hurt during the last race. I cannot take the chance against your laser canons," Aikka confessed.
"There goes my only fun race," Eva sighed. "I was looking forward to it. At least with you I didn't have to worry about getting into a fight."
"I am sorry," Aikka apologized. "This is not the way of the Nourasian knights. We have always been so peaceful. Please forgive me." Aikka bowed to her and began to walk away.
"Do you really expect to believe this Nourasian knights nonsense?" Eva shouted at him. Aikka turned around, staring at her in shock.
"Pardon me?"
"If you're so worried about my canons, why don't we have a clean race?" Eva suggested with a smirk.
"A clean race?" Aikka repeated in confusion.
"Yeah, no weapons allowed, no dirty tricks," Eva explained. "A race for speed. Unless, you're afraid to find out which one of us is really the better pilot." Eva smirked at him, challenging him to back down.
"You speak like a true Nourasian," Aikka laughed.
"Thanks," Eva smiled.
"I like your offer, but I may risk banishment from my court," Aikka sighed. He nodded to himself and smiled at her. "If you can convince your team to hold its fire, then I promise not to use my arrows."
"Excellent," Eva smirked. "Prince, prepare to lose with honor."
"I am always prepared to lose with honor, you should do the same," Aikka smiled.
"This deal is easier said than done," Eva muttered in her head as she tapped her knuckles against Aikka's.
"If you'll excuse me, I've got a race to win," Eva taunted. She winked and strolled past him.
"Careful Eva, over-confidence can be your undoing" Aikka warned with a smile.
"How was your trip?" Don asked.
"It went nicely," Maya smiled.
"Eva almost drowned," Molly said bluntly.
"She's exaggerating!" Maya said quickly, calming Don down. Don took a deep breath, pinching his nose. "She was floating and lost concentration for a moment. There was never any risk of drowning, especially since we were in shallow water."
"And where is Eva?" Don asked.
"Right here," Eva said as she entered the pit. "I went for a walk to clear my head."
"You'll never guess who we're racing today," Jordan smirked.
"Prince Aikka," Eva answered with a smirk.
"How did you know?" Jordan grumbled.
"There's nothing you can say or do to surprise me, Jordan," Eva told him. "And besides, I made a deal with Aikka. There will be no weapons allowed."
"What?" Jordan shouted.
"It's a clean race; no weapons, just speed," Eva said.
"Absolutely not," Don rejected. "We need to win this race, Eva."
"But dad, the Arrow II is fast, not strong," Eva protested. "If we-"
"Trust the Nourasians? Never!" Don interrupted. "Don't you see? They need this win as much as we do!"
"We can trust Aikka!" Eva shouted.
"Have you lost your mind?" Jordan asked. "The Nourasians are allies with the Crogs. You can't trust any of them."
"Jordan, if you know what's good for you you'll shut your damn mouth," Eva growled.
"I must agree with Jordan on this point," Don said. "We don't know the full extent of the relationship between the Nourasians and the Crogs. For all we know the prince could be using you. Luring you into a trap."
"Seriously?" Eva rolled her eyes. "There's no way Aikka would do that. He has just as much at stake as we do, if not more! He's in this race for himself and his planet, just like us! The Crogs have nothing to do with it! I refuse to shoot!"
"Listen here young lady," Don growled. "You will neutralize the prince's mount early in the race."
"I'm not going to hurt Aikka or G'dar!" Eva told him.
"I don't care if you like it or not, orders are orders. The Arrow II has been newly equipped for the job." Don gestured at Stan, who was messing with the turret.
"Stan!" Eva shouted in betrayal.
"Sorry," Stan apologized with a shrug.
"Trust me, it'll be my pleasure to shoot the prince down," Jordan smirked. He picked up a belt of bullets and laid it over his shoulder.
"This is exactly what the prince has been ordered to do," Eva muttered sadly.
"All the more reason to take him out," Don growled out.
"But dad, his arrows are too strong, there's no way we would make it if we get shot," Eva protested. "I've seen what they can do. If one of those arrows hits the Arrow II then we're done for!"
"The heavy duty canons are set Mr. Wei," Stan announced.
"A job well done gentlemen. You can head off to sleep now," Don told them. The mechanics nodded and headed off to their room. He turned back to his daughter. "If he's as good as you say, then we must strike first." With that he walked off.
"You're really dreaming if you think your dear sweet prince will keep his promise," Jordan taunted.
"Come on! Don't you trust your own daughter?" Eva shouted. Don turned back to Eva, giving her a hard look.
"As your father? I do. As your manager? I do not." He turned his back on her and continued on his way. "Get dressed, you have a race to prepare for."
"You'll regret this!" Eva screamed at him. Jordan snickered as Don didn't even acknowledge her.
"Are you going to hurt Buggy Prince?" Molly asked.
"No, I won't take this lying down," Eva growled.
"What are you going to do?" Maya asked. Eva hummed and thought. And idea hit her and she smirked.
"You know what, maybe I will take this lying down."
"And now it's the Earth Team versus Prince Aikka of Nourasia!" The judges announced. Both pilots landed their ship.
"Jordan, you have to listen to me!" Eva pleaded. "If you hit Aikka you'll hurt him, but if you miss he'll hurt us! Do you really want that?"
"I'm just following orders, Eva. You should too. I mean, he's your dad after all. Don't you listen to him?" Jordan asked.
"Let's put it this way, I listen to Rick more than I listen to my parents," Eva sighed. "But that's not the point. We can win this race without using weapons. We're partners! Don't you trust me?"
"Sorry, but I took the sucker punch in the last race; Crogs-one, Earth-zero. I'm sticking to the plan this time!" Jordan declared.
"Jordan, remember what I said about 'bad ideas'?" Eva huffed. Jordan nodded and Eva continued. "I said that if I say something is a bad idea that you should listen! Shooting at Aikka is a bad idea!"
"I'm tired of this frog prince, he's going down." Jordan glared and slid a bullet canister into the turret.
"You're such an idiot!" Eva shouted, turning off communication with him. She looked at Aikka and sighed.
She switched the channel. "Dad, please, we can't shoot at Aikka."
"We can and will, just stick to the plan, young lady," Don ordered.
"Alright." Everyone in the room froze and looked at her.
"Eva, what are you up to?" Don narrowed his eyes. He glanced at Maya, seeing her smiling softly. That made him even more suspicious.
The stones slowly began dropping. In response, Eva let go of the steering and began to power down the Arrow II.
"What are you doing?" Don shouted. The last stone dropped. Aikka looked at Eva in confusion, but she waved him off. The Nourasian shrugged and G'dar shot off down the track.
"Eva! Go after him!" Jordan shouted at her.
"I will not race," Eva said simply. "Not unless you agree to not shoot at Aikka."
"Sir!" Jordan looked at his console, disbelief covering his face.
"Don, you have to agree," Maya said. "Eva will stay there and let Aikka win and you know it."
"You two planned this," Don hissed, glaring at her.
"The plan was all Eva's actually." Maya turned back to the screen and smiled. "She's refusing to compromise her morals and beliefs. I would do the same thing. And you know it."
Don turned towards the screen, gritting his teeth.
"The clock is ticking dad," Eva told.
"Jordan, do not shoot at the prince," Don ordered with a sigh. "If you want this clean race so badly, then you can have it. But don't think for a second that you aren't in trouble young lady."
Eva smiled.
"Knew it."
Aikka glanced over his shoulder and frowned. He pulled on the saddle, making G'dar slow to a halt. "Where is she?" G'dar cooed at him softly. Aikka nodded and stroked his shell. "I don't know. But I will trust her." He looked back towards the tracks. After a few moments his ears twitched, picking up a faint sound. He smiled as he recognized the humming noise. Eva's star racer flew closer and closer.
"The race is on." Aikka pulled on the saddle. G'dar screeched and took off, clicking his tongue. Aikka held up two fingers. "Um Sekai comtuna meh!"
"What was that?" Eva blinked as Aikka's voice entered the cockpit. She smiled.
"I couldn't actually convince my team to hold fire," Eva confessed.
"Should I be preparing an arrow?" Aikka's voice sounded wary, causing Eva to laugh.
"No. I may not have convinced them before the race, but I did threaten them at the start."
"It was a low freaking blow Eva," Jordan said, appearing on her screen.
"Is that why you stopped?" Aikka asked.
"Yep!" Eva smiled brightly. "I threatened not to race and let you win by forfeit. I'm going to be in a little of trouble for this though."
"Little?" Jordan scoffed. "Your father's going to kill you for this!"
"He can try, but I have a feeling he won't succeed, not with mom backing me up." Eva said. She cleared her throat. "Now, how about we stop the chit-chat and get to what we're really here for? A race!"
"Agreed." Aikka said.
"It's a good thing I've got a book in the turret." Jordan grumbled. Eva's eyes widened as he actually pulled a book out from under his seat. He looked up and shrugged. "Trial runs can get boring sometimes, so sue me."
Eva rolled her eyes and sped forward. Aikka dropped the spell and smirked, following her every move. As the obstacles made their appearance Eva and Aikka began to twist and turned around each other. To anyone watching it seemed as if they had planned everything. Every tumble was matched with an equal stride. Every slide back was met with a graceful glide forward.
Maya's eyes widened as she watched her daughter's star racer dance around Aikka and his mount. There was no other word to describe it. Aikka managed to predict her every move, responding in kind. He would take the lead for a few turns, only for Eva to step forward and lead him through their dance. She'd give it back to them and the cycle would repeat, on and on.
"Beautiful." Maya breathed the word out softly. Her husband glanced at her, only to look back at their daughter.
"How are they doing this?" Don asked.
"I don't know," Maya said. Stan and Koji took a moment to look at the screen, their fingers stalling. The two racers were performing. And not for any audience. This dance was something only the two of them knew. And it was entrancing.
Eva pulled forward as they shot into the canyon. She swerved, avoiding the outcroppings with ease. Aikka followed behind her, rising and falling. G'dar's shell glowed brightly, the blue swirls threatening to hypnotize her if she dared looked for too long. They exited the canyon, neck in neck.
Eva tightened her grip on the handles, speeding up. She glanced back at Aikka, smiling. That smiled disappeared when she saw the stressed look on the prince's face. Memories stirred inside her, threatening to explode.
Eva muted the TV, frowning. Aikka sat beside her. He refused to look at her, frowning at the coffee table.
"What's the coffee table done to upset you?" Eva tried to keep her tone light, but she couldn't help the worry that showed. "Want me to beat it up for you?"
"Why do you trust us?" Aikka suddenly asked. He looked up at her, his eyes dark. "Why have you put so much faith in me and my people?"
"Because you haven't given me a reason not to," Eva said simply.
"What about that?" Aikka shot up, pointing at the newscaster on the television screen. News of the Great Race had been leaked to the public, and with it, so had everything Aikka had done to Eva. "I betrayed you time and time again on Alwas and Oban just to further my own agenda!"
"Aikka, you and I both know that's not true." Eva sighed. This was why she didn't want to watch TV. All anyone talked about these days was the tentative and fragile alliance the Earth had with Nourasia. And now, with news of the Great Race surfacing, they somehow found out about Aikka and Eva's strained relationship. "You had good reason!"
"How do you know this?" Aikka demanded.
"Because, I know you," Eva said. "Everything we've been through. You wouldn't have tried so hard to protect me from Canaletto otherwise. Everything you did, the Crogs forced you to do. And I'll make sure everyone knows it."
"The Crogs are still there," Aikka told her. Eva's eyes widened and she looked at him in surprise. "Even now, the Crogs are still controlling us. They made a show of retreat, but their presence is still well within the Holy City of Dol."
"Then we'll help you!" Eva declared.
Aikka seemed to sadden the more energetic Eva became about all this. "Eva…you just don't understand."
"Then help me understand Aikka!" Eva pleaded with him, begging him to tell her what she needed to know.
Aikka sighed. He turned his head away from her. "The Crogs have control of my family. If I don't do everything they say, my family will pay the price. I must follow their orders. Just like in the race." He looked up at her smiling sadly. "They've ordered me to eliminate you. Only this time, there isn't a rule preventing me from killing you."
Eva shook her head, snapping out of her thoughts. Her hold on the handles loosened and she slowed down. Aikka overtook her and passed the finish line first. Eva flew into the arena and settled the racer down, oblivious to the cheers of the audience. She looked over at Aikka, his older face flashing through her mind. She brought a hand up to her neck. Her eyes widened as she felt a smooth blade run across her skin. Her world went black.
"Eva!"
The Earth team was outside the emergency room. Despite everyone's worry, no body seemed to match Don or Maya.
"What got into her?" Don grumbled. He paced back and forth. There was too much energy in his body to let him sit still. Maya was sitting against the wall, seeming to have gone into shock. Molly was beside her, clutching her rabbit close.
"I keep running the scans over and over," Koji grumbled, tapping the tablet in his hand. "But nothing makes sense."
Stan leaned closer. "What about the brain activity here?" He pointed at something on the screen.
"I don't know what it is," Koji said. Don rushed over to them and looked at the tablet. Koji was replaying the data from the end of Eva's race. A model of her brain was on the screen, colors flashing around it.
"What? What is it?" he asked.
"I don't know," Koji repeated. "Well, I mean, I know what it is, but it doesn't make sense."
"What is it?" Don pressed.
"It's the part of her brain that associates with memories," Koji explained. He slowed the recording down and pointed to a part of her brain. "During the last leg of the race, Eva remembered something. Then her motor controls shut down for a moment, which is what caused her to slow down and allow Aikka to win. After that's when things get weird."
"Weird how?" Maya asked. She stood up and walked over to them.
"Her brain activity stopped," Koji said. "And I don't mean like she went to sleep and her brain was inactive, it completely stopped."
"Wait, did her brain think she died or something?"
"That's what it seems like." Koji frowned and tapped the screen a few more times.
"Do you think our connection somehow broke?" Stan suggested.
"There's a high possibility that's what happened," Koji said. He looked up when the curtain to the emergency room slid open. Don and Maya rushed over to the medic.
"What happened? Is she okay?" Maya asked.
"She is awake," the medic announced. "However, I would like to request that only one person enter her room. Too much excitement could send her into shock."
"Don, you go," Maya said. "I'll stay out here with Molly." Don nodded stiffly. He followed the medic into the room. Maya picked Molly up, holding her close.
"Is sissy going to be alright?" Molly asked quietly.
"Eva will be fine," Jordan told her. "Your sister's a fighter, you know this."
Molly frowned. "So was Rick." Jordan gulped and scratched his cheek. "And now he's gone."
"Well, he's not dead," Jordan said meekly.
"I said I'm fine!" Eva stormed out of the room, throwing the curtains to the side. She froze when she saw everyone gathered.
She turned around, walking past them. "Eva!" Eva ignored the shouts of her team. Once she cleared the building she began running, not looking back.
"Don, what happened?" Maya asked.
"She had a fear induced panic attack," Don said quietly. "She was so afraid once the prince past her that it sent her into a panic."
"Afraid? Of what?" Maya asked.
"I have no idea."