"So, what did the president say?" Maya huffed, as Don entered their room.
"If we don't win, the Earth Coalition could be destroyed," Don sighed. "I am to take the team as far as possible."
"Then you better go find your daughter and apologize," Maya told him, flipping the page of her book. "Without her, you don't have a pilot. Unless you want me to race again."
"No," Don answered. "I couldn't stand to lose either of you." He sat on the edge of the bed and buried his head in his hands.
"Don, if you don't apologize, you might lose Eva," Maya sighed, closing her book. "I know you don't like it, but she's growing up into an independent young woman. Soon she won't need us anymore."
"I hate to think of that," Don groaned.
"How about I go find Eva and bring her back. You will still apologize, but you can stay here and plan what you're going to say," Maya suggested.
"Are you telling me she didn't come back last night?" Don asked in shock.
"No, she didn't," Maya shook her head.
"Find her quickly, we have a race to prepare for," Don ordered.
"Yes sir," Maya giggled, kissing his cheek.
"Up early?" Maya smiled, spotting Jordan on the steps.
"Yeah," Jordan nodded, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Morning," Molly greeted, yawning as she stepped out of the elevator.
"Good morning," Maya said. She knelt down and adjusted Molly's green jacket. She wore a green jacket over a yellow shirt. She had on sand colored capris. Her pink sash was threaded through the belt loops as usual. Brown boots completed the outfit.
"Say, want to help me find Eva?" Maya asked. "We have to prepare her for the next race."
"Are you serious?" Jordan gasped. Maya giggled and nodded her head.
"Really? Daddy's letting her race?" Molly gasped.
"Yep," Maya nodded.
"Let's go!" Jordan shouted, placing his coffee on a table and running down the steps. Maya winced as he ran into one of the vats of plasma and chuckled as Jordan shook it off and kept running.
"Wait for me! She's my daughter!" Maya laughed, running down the steps.
"Another grunadean milk please, pronto…" Eva grumbled, setting the bag on the bar top.
"Maybe you should stop," the Scrub suggested. "You know what they say, don't drink milk and drive."
"I already have a dad, I don't need another one," Eva huffed, glaring at the countertop. The bartender sighed and prepared her drink. "I can't believe it's happening again…" Eva thought glumly. "Only this time, he seems even more dead set. What am I thinking? The president won't allow him to withdraw, just like last time." Her ears perked as the noise in the alien pub came to a halt. "Oh no…Groor! But I can handle him…and if worse comes to worse, Aikka's in here, just like he was last time." She heard the sounds of loud, metallic footsteps coming closer. "Then the drunk alien insults Groor," Eva sighed in her head. And, right on time. A drunken alien approached Groor, accidently insulting him. Some other bar goers laughed nervously but Groor tossed the green alien into the table of chuckling Scrubs. Eva turned around slowly, eyes scanning over the people in the inside balcony. She saw Aikka and smirked inside her head before fully facing Groor. "The fact that there are several people here won't stop him from attacking. Now, watch what I say, or get him mad. I think I'll get him mad," Eva's smirk formed on her lips.
"Do you know why Groor is here?" the large alien hissed.
"To congratulate me on my victory?" Eva suggested. "Or is it because you're a sore loser?"
"You should watch your mouth, Earthling," the alien hissed.
"Funny," Eva glared "I seem to remember you giving me a 30 second head start in the chasm. If you hadn't of done that, you would of won. You were so sure of yourself that you got cocky, and that is what cost you your victory." Groor growled and wrapped his arm around Eva's neck, lifting her up.
"Groor has never lost a race! He is a fighter, a champion among champions-"
"And I have robbed Groor of his victory, yeah yeah," Eva growled, cutting him off. "Get some new material pal." Steam poured out of Groor and the alien threw her into the wall. Eva gasped and fell to the ground.
"Defend yourself, or lose your life!" Groor ordered. Eva glared at the floor before righting herself, and grabbing a broken table leg.
"You wanna fight, let's fight!"
"Where could she be?" Jordan muttered.
"I don't know, but I hope no one crosses her path," Maya sighed.
"Why's that?" Jordan asked. Maya was about to answer when they heard banging metal and there was a crowd outside a building. They pushed their way through and looked inside.
"She itches for a fight when she's mad," Maya sighed, watching her daughter swing a wooden table leg at Groor. Groor wrapped his arm around her neck and lifted her up, but that didn't stop Eva from banging on his helmet, or trying to kick his face.
"Sissy!" Molly shouted. Maya grabbed her youngest daughter, keeping her from running forward.
"Eva!" Jordan shouted, running over to them. He jumped on Groor's back and covered his eyes. "Looks like Groor's a sore loser!" Groor growled and tossed Jordan off of his back, while letting go of Eva. Jordan slammed into the short second level and Eva rushed over to him.
"Jordan, get up!" Eva gasped. Jordan looked at her before shaking his head and pushing past her.
"Is that the best you can do?" Jordan muttered, approaching him. He held up his hands to continue fighting but faltered, leaning to one side. He quickly righted himself and glared at Groor.
"Aikka, attack now please," Eva begged in her head.
As if hearing her plea, Aikka jumped off the balcony and flipped through the air. He quickly kicked Groor's head. The alien's helmet flew off, landing on the ground with a clatter. Groor fell to the ground and Aikka landed next to him.
"Prince Aikka!" Eva gasped happily, a blush forming on her cheeks.
"I guess my job is done," Jordan huffed.
"Out of my way, Nourasian, this is not your fight!" Groor growled as steam poured out of him.
"But it is now, as you have chosen a lesser creature to fight with," Aikka declared.
"Nourasian, you are half my size, and soon you will be nothing!" Groor shouted, slashing his arms at Aikka. Aikka ducked and dodged each one.
"Half your size, yes. But twice the speed!" Aikka growled, dashing behind him and pulling out his dagger. He slashed at tube, and steam gushed out. Groor turned around, attempting to hit him but Aikka dodged, rushing to Groor's back. The prince slashed another tube and more steam poured out. The onlookers could only see two black figures. Aikka's smaller figure performed an uppercut kick.
Groor flew out of the steam and into the wall. Aikka took his blade and placed it under the final tube.
"Will you accept your defeat?" Aikka asked. Groor growled and pushed him away, grabbing his helmet and storming out of the pub. The crowd erupted into cheers and Aikka placed his blade back in the sheath.
"Eva!" Maya gasped, running over to her. She hugged her daughter tightly.
"I'm fine mom," Eva laughed.
"Are you really okay? He was holding your neck," Molly said.
"Yes, I'm really fine," Eva assured her. She looked over at Aikka and walked over to him. "Thanks."
"It was my pleasure," Aikka bowed. "I do hope that the next time we meet it will be under friendlier circumstances."
"Same here," Eva nodded.
"Buggy prince!" Molly cried, tugging on his hand.
"Yes, little one?" Aikka asked.
"Thanks for saving my sister!" She smiled.
"It was my pleasure," Aikka told her.
"Okay, let's go," Jordan huffed. "I don't want to hang out with the lapdog of the Crogs."
"Jordan!" Eva gasped.
"The Nourasians are no one's lapdogs," Aikka growled, prepared to take his blade back out.
"Jordan C. Wilde!" Maya growled, pulling his ear. "I may not be your mother, but I am a mother all the same! If you do not start behaving right this instant I will be forced to punish you!" Aikka glared at Jordan before leaving from the pub.
"Prince Aikka!" Eva gasped, running after him. She grabbed his arm.
"What is it?" Aikka asked rather harshly. Eva's eyes widened in shock and she let go of him. Aikka realized what he had done and frowned. "I apologize. I should not take my frustrations out on you. You did nothing wrong."
"I'm sorry for how Jordan treated you," Eva sighed. "He had no right to say those things! I hope you know that I don't think that." Aikka smiled softly.
"I am glad," he nodded. "Now, if you shall forgive me, I must get going."
"Yeah," Eva nodded, watching the prince leave. "Jordan!" She growled, turning towards the gunner.
"You are in trouble," Molly whistled.
"Have you lost your mind?" Eva said angrily.
"Alright, so maybe I was a little rough on his royal highness, but he'll get over it," Jordan huffed.
"Prince Aikka just saved your ass!" Eva said.
"I didn't ask him to," Jordan replied.
"Eva, that's enough," Maya told her. "Let's go, you have a race to win."
"What are you talking about?" Eva asked, already knowing the answer.
"Don Wei changed his mind! He wants you to race!" Jordan smiled.
"Really!? Dad changed his mind?" Eva asked in excitement.
"He sure did," Maya winked.
"Let's go!" Eva gasped, running ahead of them.
"Well?" Maya asked, looking between her husband and daughter. The two stared at each other in silence. Stan, Koji, and Jordan stood back, watching them nervously.
"Are you going to get into the Arrow 2 or have you changed your mind?" Don asked his daughter.
"No sir, what made you change yours?" Eva smirked, already knowing the answer.
"Get in the ship before we're late!" Don ordered.
"Yes sir!" Eva answered with a smile. She ran around her father and quickly climbed up the ladder and into the cockpit.
"Jordan! Don't just stand there, get into the turret!" Don ordered.
"Y-Yes sir!" Jordan nodded, rushing towards the star racer. Don and Maya stepped up the stairs and looked down at their daughter.
"Be safe!" Molly said.
"Good luck Eva!" Maya smiled.
"I don't need luck!" Eva smirked, holding up her thumb. "I've got pilot genes!" The dome surrounded the cockpit and the star racer took off.
"This is insane," Don hissed.
"It's our only choice," Maya reminded him.
"We continue the second round of pre-selections with the Earth team!" Eva guided the Arrow II into the arena.
"And now, the one you've all been waiting for!" Another star racer pulled into the arena and the Scrubs erupted into cheers.
"The champion of our beloved planet Alwas"
"The great, the powerful, the"
"Mighty FLINT!" the judges announced.
"Flint is accompanied by his faithful companion Marcel!" The Scrub climbed out of his turret and waved the audience.
"This is gonna be easy," Jordan smirked.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Eva told him.
"This race will include a special rule," The judges announced. One of them reached inside a bowl and pulled out a red ball with a square on it. "It's the trap circuit rule!"
The platform began to move, directing the racers to the starting line. Eva gripped the handles and revved the engine as the stone fell. She shot off, but made sure to keep behind Flint.
"Eva, what are you doing?" Jordan asked as they began shooting at them. Jordan growled and shot back.
"Trust me on this," Eva told him.
"Eva, you have to pull ahead," Don ordered. "I know you can do that. Arrow II is much faster than that."
"Ugh, fine," Eva growled. Jordan shot at the scrubs and pushed them back, allowing the Arrow II to pull ahead. Eva flew around the curves, keeping pace.
"Hey, Eva," Jordan called. "What do you think 'trap circuit' means?"
"Look in front of us," Eva answered with a growl. There was a spinning obstacle that reminded Eva of gears grinding against each other. She quickly curved and spun through the obstacle, avoiding being hit. The gears came to a halt and the Scrub pilot passed through without problem.
"Why'd they stop?" Jordan asked.
"Hold onto your seat Jordan," Eva ordered as a boulder rolled toward them. Eva narrowed her eyes and flew straight through the hole, curving with the tunnel. Jordan screamed as they shot into the air. The boulder came to a stop and the scrubs passed through the perfectly even tunnel. Eva growled and steered the racer back onto the track, catching up with Flint and Marcel.
"Eva, listen to me, the race is fixed," Don told her, as his screen appeared on the window.
"No duh," Eva muttered. "With how much the judges talked up the racers, and then including this 'special rule' out of nowhere, I figured it would have been best to stay behind Flint and Marcel."
"Eva, your only chance to win is to run your adversary off the track," Don told her.
"You must do what you can to win," Maya instructed her.
"Jordan, fire away," Eva ordered.
"My pleasure," Jordan smirked, taking aim at the opponent. Once he began shooting at the Scrubs, the scrubs shot back. Eva hissed as her racer was hit repeatedly.
"Sorry dad, but this isn't going to work," Eva told him. "Jordan, hold your fire!" She pulled back and became even with their opponent.
"Are you nuts?" Jordan asked.
"The hull is below 60%," Koji announced.
"Eva, what are you doing?" Don shouted.
"I'm going to win this race by doing what I do best," Eva smirked. Flint appeared on her window, and Eva smirked slightly.
"You better give up while you still have the chance, little one. You don't stand a single chance against the mighty Flint." The Scrub boasted.
"'Mighty' yeah right." Eva scoffed. "You're nothing but a 'mighty cheat'. All the traps are against us and not you. You should really be ashamed of yourselves."
"It's not my fault that I'm lucky," Flint boasted.
"Lucky my ass," Eva hissed. "You're a cheat and a scam. I bet you wouldn't have made it past the first trapped if the judges hadn't of stopped it before you got there."
"Please, I have so much natural talent I could fly through this course with my eyes closed," Flint told her.
"Fine then, the next one's all yours," Eva smirked, pulling back her ship. Two tunnels came and one had swinging blades, while the blades were at rest for the other. Flint swerved to take the tunnel with the swinging blades, while Eva went through the one without the obstacle. They both exited the tunnels at the same time, and Flint's ship was unharmed.
"This guy is insane!" Jordan shouted in shock.
"What did I tell ya! Never underestimate the power of the mighty Flint!" Flint boasted.
"Not bad," Eva growled out with a smirk. "I guess you're just plain lucky."
"Lucky you say? Well watch this!" Flint told her with a smug look on his face. He raced towards the next obstacle, which screeched to a halt just as he passed through it. Eva smirked and followed behind him, not even worrying about the obstacle course.
"I laugh at this trap!" Flint laughed as he pulled forward once again. Eva pulled back and skillfully dodged the boulders that were rolling by the time they got to her.
"No one can beat the mighty Flint! I am invincible!" Flint shouted.
"Oh no…this is the only trap I can't predict!" Eva gasped in her mind as they approached the final obstacle. It was a changing maze with large stones blocking and creating pathways as they were pulled up and down. Eva pulled on her rocket seat as she carefully steered through the changing maze. "Left! Right! Left! Left! Right! Forward!" She gulped as she made it past the final barrier. The Scrub ship came out after her, completely in pieces, with Marcel and Flint flying through the air. Eva passed the finish line and landed her ship, sighing in relief.
"I never want to go through that again," Eva muttered.
"I'm sorry I wasn't at my best performance today sir!" Jordan shouted.
"And I'm sorry about the scratches on the Arrow II," Eva apologized.
"Nevermind," Don smiled. "It was a great race. It seems like Eva finally put her mouth to good use."
"You bet I did!" Eva cheered. "I was just doing what I did best! And you know that I'm a complete smartass!"
"Never thought that would be a good thing," Maya laughed.
"Why don't you two take the night off to rest, you deserve it." Don suggested. He gave them each a pat on the shoulder and walked away from him.
"You sacred me when you got to the last trap! I thought you weren't going to make it!" Molly said.
"Did you really doubt me?" Eva asked.
"Sorry, I was just scared," Molly blushed.
"It's alright," Eva laughed, ruffling her hair.
"Come here sweetie," Maya smiled, pulling her daughter in for a hug. Eva smiled and hugged her back. "Oh you were so great!"
"Thank you," Eva said.
"And the next race will be even better," Maya told her. Eva looked up at her mom and forced a smile, nodding.
"Only if I can make sure Rick doesn't get in the pilot's seat."
