Chapter Two: Atern Surfing

The salty water sprayed up into Harper's face. He gave his head a quick shake and crystal droplets shot out from his wet hair. The tan engineer smiled and attacked another wave in hopes of clinching the surfing championship he was fighting for. There were only a few thousand competitors, but all of the best Infinity Atoll surfers were there. There weren't many amateurs or intermediate surfers entered since the oceans of Atern were dangerous. Large underwater rocks protruded from the surface, extremely strong rip tides existed, deadly animals roamed the waters, and there was no ocean patrol to save you.

This is what separates the boys from the men, Harper thought to himself as he nailed another move.

The crescent of power he was riding was setting up some difficult tricks and he was glad. It was the luck of the draw mostly. Whoever got the best wave and made the most of it would win.

Out of the four previous runs, Harper could tell that this one would be his best. It would be a great way to end the tournament. The last time he had checked he'd been in seventh place, an all time record for him. Now he even had a chance of winning and that thought made him smirk with satisfaction as he continued to surf.

The sound of breaking waves broke Harper's trance and he realized that his own wave would soon fail as well. Taking a deep breath, he did one last move before shooting across the length of the wave as it started to break right behind him. Harper gritted his teeth and willed his waxed board to go faster. He knew that if he could pull it off, he'd win. Hoping beyond hope he closed his eyes just as he flew from the rolling wave's grasp. He flew his hands in the air and yelled happily as the adrenaline surged through him. The people watching on shore cheered and he knew he had just won one of the hardest surfing championships in the known worlds.

"Yes!" He said to himself but sound seemed to echo in his ears and it sounded louder than it should have. The people watching on the beach had suddenly gotten quiet. Harper frowned and slowly turned his head. It was too late. He was heading straight for an outcropping of rocks and his board ran right into them. His momentum was enough to throw him from his perch and it was just his luck that he landed on another rock before rolling into the water.

Harper was in a daze as a result of the blow to the head he had received. He hadn't yet realized he had to start swimming, so he continued to sink. Only when the need for air overwhelmed him did his body kick to the surface in reflex. Gasping for air as he reached the surface Harper fumbled with his board and managed to grab it. His eyes blinked away the burning water and scanned the horizon. He wasn't far from shore and he saw that another surfer had already begun. They did have to figure out who it was that would win second and third after all.

Sighing, Harper managed to get himself back on this bright surfboard and start paddling. It was then that he noticed the pain in his wrist.

"Crap," He grumbled as he adjusted to kicking and paddling without his left hand. "My trophy better be big…"

The Atern trophy was indeed big and SURFING CHAMPION was engraved in glimmering gold letters. When Harper had gotten back on the Eureka Maru it had immediately been put in his bed. He had slept with it that day as he did with every trophy he had earned and now he was quite content. Clean, dry, and dressed, he gazed at his left wrist wrapped in a thick layer of gauze. The broken bone wasn't completely healed but the doctors had done their best with the limited hours Harper had given them. A dull throbbing was all that remained and it was fine as long as he didn't jostle it or use it too much. Harper grinned while he looked himself over. The doctors had actually cleaned him up fairly well. The only other telltale sign of injury was the cut on his head that had been expertly stitched.

Even Trance would be proud, He mused right as a bleep from the cockpit alerted him to the Andromeda's presence.

Harper crossed his fingers and hoped Dylan and Beka wouldn't be too mad at him for taking the Maru and leaving without a word. However, a vivid image of Beka chewing him out played out before his eyes and he winced.

A growing sliver of doubt arose in his mind, What was I thinking?