Star Flight Adventures
Chapter 21: Surprise and Second Race
A week had passed since the first race, and Lucas had the whole house to himself. Linden and Vincent weren't in the dwelling at the moment. In fact, they weren't on Eladard. The two older foxes were on a vacation by themselves to Cerinia. They did it once a year to visit two pure blood Cerinians that they were good friends with.
"A trip to Cerinia?" asked Fara. Nicholas nodded. The vulpine had just finished explaining the situation to his team in the main control and briefing room of their ship.
"Yeah, so they asked me to help look over the house along with my grandma," he said. "My parents will be gone for two weeks."
"Then they'll be back in time for the second race," said Amanda.
"If everything goes alright," Nicholas responded. He thought back to the conversation he had with his parents before they left.
X
One week ago….
"Be sure to say hi to Mars and Jade for me," said Jeanette.
"We will," said Vincent. Linden gave her sons a hug.
"Take care of things while we're gone," said the vixen.
"Yes mom," said Lucas.
"Do you think there's a couple of things you could do for me while on Cerinia?" asked Nicholas.
"What exactly?" asked Vincent.
"If you obtain any Cerinian trinkets or small objects, bring them back so I can give them to my team," said his oldest son. "Also, if you do show pictures to Mars and Jade make sure Krystal doesn't see me." The blue vixen was their daughter.
"Why would we do that?' asked Linden."I'm sure Krystal would love to see how you're doing."
"I know that," said Nicholas. "But something in my gut is telling me that it would be better if she didn't see pictures of me. I've been getting them as of late, and every time I've listened to them, it's been for the best."
"Okay then," said Vincent. "We'll do that." The two older foxes boarded the shuttle not long after that.
X
Back in the present….
"Nicholas?" asked Miyu. "You seem out of it." The vulpine jerked back to reality.
"I'm fine," he said. "I was just thinking about what I said to my parents when they left."
"So what is their reason for going to Cerinia?" asked Fay.
"To visit two old friends of theirs; Mars and Jade, two pure blood Cerinians."
"How did they meet?' asked Luna.
"Back when the four were young, Mara and Jade would come to Eladard for trips for experience," said Nicholas. "They would stay with my mom and dad's places while visiting. This lead to a friendship that has grown over the years. When my parents got married, Mars and Jade came as guests. Then nine months later, I was born, and those two came to see me."
"Mars and Jade then got married seven years after my parents did. So they, along with my brother and I went to Cerinia to attend it. About nine months after that, their daughter was born. So my family and I took another trip to see her."
"What did they name her?" asked Nami.
"Krystal; the very same one I've told you about," said the vulpine. "She's about 13 now."
"Does she and her parents come to Eladard?" asked Bill.
"They do, but not this time," said Nicholas. "Because their daughter is 13, she's about to go through some major ceremonies. So they can't leave Cerinia."
After a few more words, the team left the room to continue with the day's activities.
X
Vincent and Linden returned just as they said they would, a day before the next race. They did it so they could catch their oldest son before the event that happened the next day. Their family gave them a welcome home hug.
After telling about how the trip went, they handed Nicholas several packages. They also told their son that Krystal hadn't seen any pictures of him. The vulpine thanked them, and took the parcels to his room on the mother ship. He opened them up, and saw that his parents had brought back necklaces, earrings, rings, and small statues. Nicholas decided to store these things in the vault.
The next day, the team made their way to the racing and stadium area like the last time for the first race. Once again, Tiger, Sig, Kivuli, Hui-Ying, Jazerc, Kralie, Saria, Lucas, Sarah, Mitch, Brooke, Reed, and Hikari were there. But so were Linden, Vincent, Jeanette, Trevor, Taylor, James, and Nicole to wish them good luck.
"Say, were is Samantha?' asked Lucy after this was done.
"Right here," said a voice. Everyone turned to see the snow leopard standing right there. She made her way to Tiger. As she did so, Nicholas and all the other part Cerinians in the group sensed something inside the snow leopard. The vulpine's eyebrows went up. It wasn't what he'd been expecting. She turned towards the group.
"Hey guys," said Samantha with a smile. They saw her stomach, and it was round with a child.
"Samantha….," said Fara.
"Yes, I'm pregnant," she said, and rubbed both of her paws lovingly on the area. "Can you sense them Nicholas?"
"Them?" asked the vulpine. And then he got it.
"I'm carrying twins," said the snow leopard. Tiger just placed his right arm around his wife and gave her a one arm hug; pride was on his face. "I wanted to surprise all of you; that's why I haven't been showing myself." Everyone went over to congratulate the two soon to be parents.
"We don't know if it's two boys, two girls, or one of each," said the jungle cat. "Even though we could find out, the two of us want it to be a surprise. I honestly don't care what the combination is going to be."
"Do you have a plan to get them out?" asked Nicholas.
"Yes, they'll cut me open," said Samantha. "I don't want them both to make a break for it when they're due. Now let's get going."
"This is where me, Celestia, and Bryn must part ways with everyone," said Pecker. "My parents have invited us to sit with them."
"So Equila and Nova are representing this race," said Cody.
"Crap, I wasn't allowed to say that," said Pecker. "Well you would've found out anyway." With that, the large species of groups separated.
X
The racing team made it to their garage, just like last time. Their two mechanics briefed the racers on what they had done with their vehicles.
"These are the same like last time except they've got a new feature. Me and Rina installed a device on each of the racers for this one so that you can see behind you," said Fay. "That way you can tell if another team member is coming up from behind you. I was the one who made them."
"Wow, that should come in handy," said Nicholas. "That's impressive."
"I know," said the collie, and hugged herself. "My wonderful invention."
"Crazy mechanic head," said Bill, loud enough for her to hear. His comment ruined Fay's good mood.
"You'd be lost without me suffer boy," she said while giving the canine an annoyed look.
"Well, I'm going to race," said Nicholas. "Who's with me?"
Fara, Dash, and Yuki decided to join the vulpine on the track. They got into their racing outfits. Just like last time, the colors matched their natural colors. Their racer's colors matched their outfits. Even though Nicholas's helmet covered his entire head, his pony tail still came out from underneath it so it could be seen.
Suddenly, a voice was heard over the speakers, "Attention everyone; the race will soon begin. Please make your way to Dome Two."
"Follow me," said the vulpine. "I know the way."
X
The garage had a path that lead to the dome where the second race would take place. There were seven in total; each one lead to a different dome where a race would be held in. When the group entered, they were shocked at what they saw.
The stands were like they had been in the first dome, but it was the layout that was amazing. It had been designed to look like they were at Skyfall, with different parts of the track suspend in mid air. The whole design made it so that it was like the course was high in the sky.
"My god…" said Fara. She was beginning to have second thoughts now. Nicholas put a reassuring paw on her shoulder. She looked up to him and blushed.
"It will be alright," he said. "I'm sure they've only made it to look this way. And even if they hadn't, they probably took safety measures to make sure nothing happens."
Meanwhile, Pecker was watching on top of the platform were his parents would appear in a seat next to Celestia and Bryn. He was a bit surprised to see that Nicholas didn't seem the least bit nervous. The avian watch those who were racing and those who weren't split up. Dash and Yuki reached their racers. The female snow monkey stopped the male one before he got in.
"Be careful," she said.
"I will," said Dash. For a moment his light blue eyes and her green colored eyes remained locked in each other's gaze. Then Yuki went to her vehicle.
Meanwhile, Fara and Nicholas had reached her racer. It was light brown in color and matched the outfit she was wearing. The male fox turned his head towards her after she got in.
"Remember, just concentrate," said Nicholas. "Feel; don't think. Use your instincts Fara."
"I will," she said.
"Good luck," said the vulpine and he went to his racer next to the vixen's. It was orange in color and had green stripes on the side.
Suddenly a booming voice came on again and it echoed throughout the dome. "We're back with the second race of the season!" It was G.T. speaking in a mike, just like last time. "It was quite the session last time, and now things have gotten even more heated up! And once again Katie will help me cover the action."
"I can see new racers for each of the teams are out for this track," said the coyote. "New ones mean new competition. As we can see, this race course is designed to look like we're at Skyfall. Tell us G.T., what will happen to a racer if his or her vehicle goes off the course?"
"There are repelling shields all along the track," said the sparrow. "The driver and racer will be pushed back onto the course, so nothing bad will happen. You can't see it, but it's there. And I'm sure we'll see it activate more than once during this race."
"Last time, we saw Team Diverse win the last one," said Katie. "Do you think will see another win from them?"
"Hard to say," said G.T. "This is only the second race. And it looks like the representatives of this one have come out; it's Equila and Nova, the rulers of wind!"
The two said avians came out to the roar of the crowd. "Once again you race to prove yourself," said Equila. "Show us now what you can do!"
The racers got their vehicles started. Nicholas and the others racing noticed one button on their vehicles that wasn't there before. They pressed it, and a small screen came up. They were able to see behind them. The four guessed that this was the camera that Fay had been talking about.
A beeping sound came on. After it went off five times, the gong was rung and the noise was heard by everyone. The racers launched forward in their vehicles. Immediately, Fara's racer was rammed into the side by another competitor. The vixen growled and responded back by running her vehicle into the side of her opponent's one. She was going to let others show her up.
The first part of the course was to go through two tunnels made out of strong glass that lead to a city like structure. Racers were doing everything they could to get ahead, from riding on the side, to even using the top. Nicholas, Dash, Yuki, and Fara were able to stop some of the other racers from getting around them by using their little cameras.
Then came the city structure. It involved going through it and around it. The second part was tricky because there were tight curves that had to be made, and some of them didn't have guard rails. A couple of the other racers actually went over the edge. But every time they did, the repelling shields activated. The vehicle would be bounced off the section that would light up green and the racer was able to land back on course.
The next part was a stretch of track with holes in it. It was here that a lot of ramming action took place. Fara was able to hold her own in this section. The vixen actually sent a couple of the opponents of the course.
"And here they come!" shouted G.T. as the racers crossed the starting line. Nicholas and Fara were neck and neck with two other members from another team. Dash and Yuki were close behind them.
During the second circuit, the two foxes tried everything they could to get around of the two racers ahead of them. But they were good and were able to just keep ahead of the vixen and vulpine.
"Argh! Fuck!" Nicholas growled. He had tried to pass one of the racers in the tubes. "I almost had it!"
But then at the flat stretch, Fara managed to get ahead and put the team in second place. All her friends who saw this roared for her. Her team leader just looked on with a smile and drove faster to catch up with her.
Finally, on the last lap, the two managed to get into first place and held the position all the way to the finish line. The crowd roared their approval. Nicholas and Fara jumped out of their vehicles to see the rest of their team, lead by Luna running towards them. The she wolf wrapped both of her arms around the two foxes. The vulpine and vixen hugged her back. When Dash and Yuki crossed the finish line, they were also met with hugs by their teammates.
X
The racing teams went to the platform that would take them up to Equila and Nova when all the racers had crossed the finish line. After getting on, it rose up to the area were the two rulers, their children and Celestia sat at.
"I can't believe you actually made it in first!" Pecker exclaimed to Star Flight's leader when he made it to the area.
"Yeah; what a surprise," said Nicholas sarcastically.
"My father and I are very impressed with the performance that all of you have done!" said the avian.
"Excuse me, but who made you the next wind king?" asked the vulpine; a bit annoyed.
"He did!" said Pecker and pointed at Equila. "Well, almost. Kind of a semi-king, since he's named me his successor. You should see my new sleeping quarters and the bed… oooh... I've had some of the best sleep in my life. Hee hee... it's good to be the king, no?"
"I don't see your father's crown yet on your fat feather head!" exclaimed Nicholas.
"You want a crown?! I'll crown you!" said the avian and raised a fist at the fox. "Don't make me come down there from this seat!"
"I've got a seat for ya birdie, right here... twirl on it!" said Nicholas. He stuck his left middle finger up at the avian. Everyone, including his team mates let out gasps of shock expect Pecker's parents. The sound echoed throughout the dome. The avian snapped.
"That's it! It's GO time!" he shouted. Pecker jumped off the platform where he was originally sitting at and lunged at the vulpine.
"Bring it on, bird brain!" shouted Nicholas and assumed a defensive karate position.
"Enough!" Equila yelled and stood up at the same time he said this. The fox and his son froze. "If we wanted you to fight, we would have commanded it!"
He then addressed the racers before everyone in the dome was dismissed. Once again, the scores were posted along with when the next race would take place. It wouldn't happen until the last week of next month. After having a group meeting, Team Diverse left the garage to head back to their homes.