Eva yawned as she opened her eyes. The teen girl sat up in her bed and groggily rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Eva stood out of her bed, yawning once more. She looked out the window and smiled. "I can do this. I have to." She grabbed her clothes and quickly got dressed. She grabbed a carton of juice and smiled, exiting her room. She glanced at Jordan's door and smirked."Well, I don't have to make everything different."
Eva slid in front of Jordan's door and cleared her throat with a grin. "Rise and shine!" she shouted. She began banging on his door laughing "We got a lot to do today!" She ran away from the door and hid behind the wall. The door slid open and the gunner stepped out, rubbing his eyes.
"Sorry mom, I didn't hear the alarm," Jordan answered. Eva laughed at him, calling attention to herself. "Hey wait a second!" Eva laughed and entered the elevator, escaping. The doors slid open and she smiled, spotting Koji.
"Morning Koji!" She greeted with a smile.
"Oh, uh, good morning Eva," Koji said nervously.
"How's the Arrow doing?" Eva asked.
"Oh, uh, it's fine. Stan's just finishing up one last upgrade," Koji told her.
"Koji, there's something you're not telling me," Eva said with a sigh.
"Good morning Eva," Maya greeted, entering the room. "Morning Koji."
"Morning!" Molly greeted. Eva glanced between them before running out of the lobby and into the garage. She watched as the standard seat was lifted to the air and Stan pushed her unbolted rocket seat aside.
"Stan! What are you doing?" Eva called. The mechanic looked up at her nervously. "What have you done with my rocket seat? You know that the standard one is too big for me."
"Yeah, but it's perfect for me," a man said from behind her. Eva turned around and smiled, running towards the taller pilot.
"Rick!" She gasped, hugging him.
"Hey there Little Mouse," Rick greeted, hugging her back. They pulled away from each other.
"Welcome back Rick," Maya smiled, hugging him gently.
"Good to be back Maya," Rick said, returning the gesture.
"Rick! Rick, pick me up!" Molly demanded, pulling on his hand.
"You got it Little Bug," Rick smiled, picking her up. Molly cheered in excitement and she was flung through the air.
"I'm glad you're okay Rick!" Molly smiled, hugging him.
"Thanks," Rick smiled, rubbing her back. He set her down and rubbed her hair.
"Are you sure it's safe for you to pilot again?" Eva questioned, looking up at him.
"Positive," Rick assured her. "The technology that the Alwas doctors have surpasses Earth's easily. So, heard you kept my seat warm."
"It was nothing," Eva blushed.
"Thanks Little Mouse, you'll have to tell me all about it," Rick smiled, ruffling her hair.
"RICK!" Jordan shouted, running at him. He wrapped his arms around the pilot and smiled, tears of joy running down his face. "You're back! That's so cool! We really missed you around here!"
"Hey! No hugging, doctor's orders!" Rick shouted, trying to push him off.
"Why don't I let you two catch up," Eva huffed. "I've got to go find someone." With that she turned on her heel and stalked off.
The Star Racer's engine rumbled as it rolled onto the practice track around the pool. Eva stormed out of the garage and saw her father. She took a deep breath and shook her head.
"Eva!" Maya called, grabbing her daughter's shoulder. The pink haired woman smiled and led her towards a small rock.
"Why didn't you guys tell me Rick was back? I deserved to know!" Eva shouted at her.
"I know you did sweetheart," Maya said with a smile. "And it wasn't fair for you to find out the way you did. But we agreed that you would probably have an easier time taking it if Rick told you. Lord knows you listen to him more than us." Maya rolled her eyes fondly.
"That's not true," Eva muttered, crossing her arms. She kicked a pebble away and watched as the Star Racer took off.
"Oh really, do I need to tell you a list of times where you did what he said and disobeyed us?" Maya asked playfully.
"Okay it's a little true," Eva agreed reluctantly. She fell back, leaning against the small totem figure. "But I'm worried. I don't think Rick should be racing. Even if Alwas has better technology he was still in a major crash!"
"I know sweetie, but he's been cleared," Maya assured her. "Don't you trust Rick?" Eva watched as the racer picked up speed. She frowned at it, staying quiet.
"I trust Rick, I just don't trust his health," Eva finally answered. As she finished her sentence the Whizzing Arrow swerved off course, nearly colliding with the other pits.
"He's going to crash again if he doesn't straighten out," Maya gasped. She left her daughter and ran towards her husband.
"Don't worry, he'll be fine." Eva sighed to no one. "Or at least, he will be if he doesn't race," she finished in her head. Thunder rolled behind her and Eva stood up, not even looking at the out of control star racer. She walked back towards the pits, not even glancing at the other contestants that were watching with interest.
"Why hello there, Eva," Satis greeted. Eva gasped and turned to face him in shock.
"Oh, hey Satis," she said lamely.
"Answer a question for me Eva," Satis hummed. "What do you know about the Avatar?"
"I know that you're him," Eva answered.
"That's what I feared," Satis sighed. "This isn't the first time this has happened to you, is it?"
"No it isn't," Eva sighed.
"Tell me something, what about this time is different? I've tried looking in on you but something was blocking me," Satis said.
"It was probably Canaletto," Eva sighed. "Everything is different. That day, on her crash, I asked Spirit to bring my mother back to me safe and sound. He rescued her. I...I thought it was a dream at first. I didn't know what would happen when I asked a simple question."
"You did a good job," Satis told her. "But there is one major difference, and you must protect her."
"Who?" Eva asked. "Wait, is Molly in danger?"
"I do not know," Satis said. "But I do know that Molly was never supposed to exist, not like this. You were supposed to be Molly, not her. If Canaletto could not create the perfect puppet through the death of your mother and the abandonment of your father, he might try something with Molly. For some reason, he is still bent on you winning and then leaving during the ceremony."
"Satis, I'm not meant to be the Avatar, and you know it," Eva sighed.
"Who knows, but what I do know is this, you must keep your family close, keep them safe from Canaletto," Satis told her.
"I know, and I'm going to." Eva declared.
"Good girl," Satis smiled. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get to Sangrar."
"Have fun," Eva muttered as he walked away.
"Nice going Rick!" Jordan cheered. Rick stood up from the seat and held up his hand.
"Ah thanks, it's great to be back," he told them. The pilot jumped down from the cock pit. "I'm going to get some rest, see you later."
"Rick, wait up," Eva called weakly, but he didn't stop.
"Man! Rick's awesome!" Jordan smiled, turning to Stan and Koji. "It's sure great to have a real pilot back at the controls again!" Stan and Koji looked behind him and chuckled. Jordan blinked and turned around, staring right at Eva. The pilot had her arms crossed, staring at him blankly. She scoffed and stepped onto the stairs.
"Come on Eva! You know what I mean!" Jordan shouted desperately. "You're a great pilot, but this is Rick!" Eva ignored him as she stepped into the elevator.
Eva stood at the door to Rick's room and took a breath, knocking on it. "Rick?" She called out. The door slid open and she stepped inside.
"I need rest," Rick told her. "And sorry, but you're disturbing me." Eva stepped into the room and the door slid shut behind her.
"Rick, you can't race," she told him.
"And why not?" Rick huffed, sitting on his bed.
"Because of your arm," Eva answered.
"What did you say?" he hissed.
"I know it's hard to believe, and I know that even with everything we've been through that you won't trust me on this, but if you race you're just going to make your condition worse," Eva told him.
"I don't have a condition little mouse," Rick said tersely, rubbing his right wrist.
"Your arm went numb," Eva told him. "When you were testing the star racer. Your arm went numb and your vision blurred. It's probably happening right now!"
"Nothing's happening to me! I'm fine!" Rick growled softly.
"No you're not!" Eva shouted. "You're hurt and it's only going to get worse if you race!"
"I'm fine!" Rick shouted, standing up. Eva took a step back, flinching under his glare. Rick took a deep breath and looked away from her. "I'm fine little mouse, I just need some rest."
"Fine," Eva huffed. "I'm just trying to help you." She exited his room, leaving him alone.
Eva stood next to the ship, looking at it.
"Eva? Is there something wrong?" Maya asked, approaching her daughter. She swung a grease stained cloth over her shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm worried about Rick," Eva answered.
"I thought we talked about this, Rick's going to be fine," her mother assured her.
"No he's not! He's in danger!" Eva protested. "The Whizzing Arrow I didn't blow up on its own. Someone tried to hurt Rick!"
"No one's going to hurt Rick," Maya told her, cupping her face. "Stan and Koji haven't left the ship, and they're not going to until Rick is in it and on the race track. No one's going to sabotage it again."
"The racer is fine, but Rick is not," Eva huffed, pushing her mother's hands away.
"Eva, what's really going on?" Maya asked softly.
"Nothing is 'really' going on! I'm just worried about Rick!" She shouted. The noise in the garage stopped and everyone looked at the pair. "You know him as well as I do and you know that he wouldn't take risks like he did today!"
"Eva-!"
"Oh just forget it!" she shouted, storming over to her rocket seat. "I don't know why I bother! You guys never listen to me!" She slid onto the seat and pressed her diskman. With a 'meow' two speakers slid out and loud rock music filled the pit. She revved her rocket seat and sped out of the pit.
"EVA!" Maya shouted, running to the door of the pit.
"What happened?" Don asked, approaching his wife.
"Where's sis going?" Molly asked. "She's going to catch a cold."
"She got angry with me and ran off again." Maya sighed.
"When is she going to learn that running away doesn't solve anything," Don sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"She learned it from me," Maya whispered. "I ran away from racing after my crash. All I taught her is that running away is a great way to handle things."
"Maya, that was different," Don sighed. "You were in a crash. If Spirit hadn't of saved you then you probably wouldn't be here. You didn't run away, you made good choice."
"Perhaps she doesn't see it that way anymore," Maya sighed.
Eva leaned on her rocket seat, waiting for the Whizzing Arrow II.
"If I can't stop him from racing, then I can at least get to him faster," she said to herself. "Rick, you're getting my help whether you like it or not." She watched the two ships approach and gasped as she saw a ring of golden light surround Ceres's ship. "Shit!" She revved her engine and flew across the bridge; the ring shot forward and sliced the bridge clean through. She raced next to the pilots, cursing when they entered a tunnel.
"Come on! When does the damn tunnel end?"
The tunnel ended and Rick came out first, with Ceres following behind quickly. The laser bullets that Jordan had fired were spinning around Ceres's ship. The Mong sent the bullets back.
"Okay, I'd have to be crazy to do that now," Eva muttered, keeping speed with both ships. "But if I don't do something soon, Rick'll get hurt." Just as she finished her thought Rick swerved to dodge a pillar at the last second. The star racer swerved and the bottom hit another pillar but kept going. But the hits kept coming. The star racer hit into each pillar in its way, spinning left and right. "Shit."
"Rick what are you doing?" Maya asked.
"Rick, will you stop messing around? This guy is dangerous!" Don shouted.
"Rick's gonna get hurt!" Molly whimpered.
"He can't hear you sir," Koji said. "He's TKO'ed. His nervous system is completely shot."
"Don't be ridiculous, he was fine this morning," Don shouted.
"Eva was right, there is something wrong with Rick," Maya said.
"What are you talking about?" Don asked.
"That's why she got angry this morning. She was worried about Rick but didn't think that any of us were paying attention," Maya explained.
"But how could she have known?" Don asked.
"Mommy…Daddy…" Molly called. "Where's Sis?"
"Oh no," Don groaned. "Please don't be doing what I think you're doing, Eva."
Ceres passed the Whizzing Arrow II as it slowed down.
"Here goes nothing," Eva growled. She gripped the handles of her rocket seat and flew into the track, and over the Whizzing Arrow II. She let go of her rocket seat and dropped onto the star racer, grabbing the guns.
"Eva!" Jordan gasped.
"Let me in!" Eva shouted. Jordan pressed a button and the gun turret slid open, letting her in.
"What's going on?" Jordan asked.
"Rick's hurt," Eva said, opening the back hatch and entering the turret track.
"I'll help," Jordan gasped, unbuckling his harness.
"No! Stay there!" Eva ordered. "You need to stay here in case Ceres comes back."
"Right," Jordan nodded, buckling back up and closing the turret.
Eva climbed up to the hatch and opened the entrance into the cockpit. "Rick!" she gasped, opening it. When she got no response, she scrambled into the cockpit, the hatch closing behind her. She saw the turn coming up and pressed onto the control, turning the star racer.
"Hey Little Mouse, what are you doing here?" Rick asked, grunting in pain.
"Saving your ass," Eva sighed. "I'll work the controls, can you work the pedals?"
"I think so," Rick agreed.
"Good," Eva gasped, sitting in his lap."And word of advice, next time I tell you you're in trouble, actually listen to me!"
"I'll try," Rick chuckled, dropping his hands and letting Eva grab the controls. Ceres slowed down to become even with the star racer. Jordan wasted no time and began shooting at the alien.
"All resistance is futile! The Mongs are the last of the ancient people of the galaxy! And I am the last of the Mongs! You are not even worthy of facing me!" Ceres declared.
"Then get lost asshole!" Eva shouted.
"I see that you still do not understand. In my great mercy I shall put your suffering to an immediate end. I shall offer the most gracious of gifts. I will show you the world of the Mongs."
"Sorry, not interested," Eva muttered. The flute began playing and Eva hovered a hand over her CD player. She shook her head as she began to feel dizzy and distant. "Not yet." Eva groaned as she faintly saw the images of planets flying past. "The turn…" she whispered, trying to stay awake. "Gotta wait for the turn."
"Eva, what's going on?" Rick asked.
"Turn, gotta…wait…for the turn…" Eva whispered, her head bobbing. The hand over her CD player dropped.
"Sorry Little Mouse, can't wait," Rick muttered. He slowly raised his arm, hissing in pain. He pressed a button; with a 'meow' the speakers slid out and loud rock music played. Eva snapped out of her trance and grabbed the controls, pulling them as the turn came up. Ceres screamed in pain, covering his ears as the rock music played. He slammed into the wall, exploding.
The Whizzing Arrow II flew into the arena and came to a stop. Eva couldn't hear the gong over her music. She pressed the stop button the speakers slid back in with one more 'meow'.
"Rick, you feeling okay?" Eva asked, jumping out of the seat and looking at him in worry.
"'M fine…" Rick breathed. "It was nice of you to drop in. I've always wanted a co-pilot."
"Anytime Rick," Eva smiled, winking at him. She smiled gently and brushed some hair out of his face. "We'll race together on Earth again. I promise." She kissed his cheek and smiled at him. "Rick?" she called. She shook his shoulder, but got no response. "No..."
Jordan paced back and forth outside the hospital room, his arms crossed.
"Is Rick gonna be okay?" Molly asked, looking up at her sister. She was gripping a plush pink bunny creature that used to belong to Eva. Eva bent down and picked Molly up, rubbing her cheek against her sister's.
"He'll be fine," Eva muttered. Maya opened the curtains and beckoned her daughters in.
"I'm sorry Jordan, but can you wait out here?" Maya asked.
"I understand, family only," Jordan told her. Maya smiled and held up the curtain as Eva entered. Molly squirmed in her sister's arms and jumped out, running over to Rick.
"Rick are you okay?" Molly asked
"We don't know yet Molly," Don told her. Molly frowned and buried her face into Rick's lap.
"I'm sure I'm fine Little Bug," Rick told her, rubbing his back. Eva bit her lower lip and looked away.
The doctor cleared his throat and they turned towards him. "You have a strong constitution Rick, you'll pull through."
"See, I'm alright," Rick said.
"But?" Eva asked. "I know that tone of voice, there's a 'but' in there."
"Indeed there is," The doctor nodded. "Rick, I'm afraid your racing days are over."
"No way!" Rick gasped. The screens disappeared and the alien pulled up a holographic map of Rick's brain.
"You're accident with Groor has caused unusual side effects on your nervous system." Portions of the brain map turned red. "You lose control of your muscles in moments of violence stress, such as what happened during the race today."
"Well then you've got to heal him!" Don shouted.
"Even with our level of technology, there are some illnesses that we can't fix," the doctor said. "To stay alive, he must never get in a star racer again, ever."
"That's impossible!" Rick shouted, standing up quickly. Molly squeaked as she was pushed back and hit the ground. "I can't be sick!" He grabbed the doctor's shirt and glared at him.
"Rick," Don gasped.
"Rick, please, you need to calm down," Maya told him.
"Rick!" Jordan shouted, running up to the console. Eva grabbed him and pulled him back, shaking her head.
"Don't you understand? Racing is my whole life!"
"Rick, you're scaring us!" Maya whispered. Out of the corner of his eyes Rick saw Molly cowering, holding her bunny close. He felt his arm twitch and the muscles tense up. He pushed the doctor away and grabbed his wrist.
"Rick it's going to be alright" Jordan said, placing a hand on his back. Rick turned around and slapped his hand away. He hung his head and took a breath.
"Just leave me alone," Rick said quietly. He walked past them, not even glancing at them.
"Rick, wait!" Eva called.
"Let him go," Don told her. "He needs time."
"We all do," Maya said, picking up Molly.
"Rick scared me," she sniffed.
"Don't worry, Rick's not mad at you," Eva told her.
"Eva, we have a lot to discuss," Don said. "We'll talk tomorrow. You were very brave today." Don walked passed her, leaving the room.
"Brave or not, I don't want you doing something like that again," Maya told her.
"Mom, I don't think that's going to happen," Eva sighed.
"Come on, let's get back to the hangar." Maya sighed, readjusting her hold on Molly.
