The spaceship zipped through space, avoiding asteroids and heading for the large jungle planet of Wambasia. Inside, Clamp twiddled the steering wheel expertly, using tiny, precise movements to control the trajectory of the ship.
Rocket sat alone, looking out the window at the vast expanse of space. Tia had not come with them. She was ill. That was all she would tell him. She needed rest. She didn't want to talk right now.
Rocket hadn't been separated from Tia for a long time and her absence felt as though he had left a little part of himself on Akillian. He hoped that she would return soon.
In the centre of the ship, all the others were watching the end of the Xenon V Pirates game. Lurg pushed his way through the Pirate defence and blasted the ball at goal. The goalkeeper leapt for the ball, but it slipped through his fingertips and he crashed to the floor despondently.
"And that's the end of the match!" Announced Callie, "Xenons 4, Pirates, 0! A second win for the Xenons puts them in great position to win their group!"
"Yes and with little action from the Snow Kids…" began Nork but Micro-Ice switched off the TV with a groan.
"That puts the Xenons on six points!" Exclaimed Thran, now no longer on crutches.
"And the Wambas already have 3 because they beat the Pirates as well," said Mark.
"We're lagging right now," sighed Micro-Ice.
"So we need to beat the Wambas," grinned Rose.
"Kids!" Called Clamp through the intercom, "we're about to land, gather your stuff up."
"Wambasia's great," smiled Rose, "so hot! Do we get a chance to go sunbathing?" Rose asked Thran, as they walked together to the stadium
"Probably not," laughed Thran, "we're going to spend most of our time playing the Wambas."
"I hope we win," said Rose thoughtfully, "losing 5-1 kind of ruined my day you know?"
"If you and Micro-Ice play well then we have a chance of winning," explained Thran.
"Where is Micro-Ice anyway?" Asked Rose, looking around for him, as though expecting him to be standing in the road somewhere.
"Probably with Yuki," answered Thran.
"Right," replied Rose sadly, "of course."
Rose suddenly become quite silent, answering Thran's questions with simple one word answers. Thran and Rose entered the locker room and Thran was relieved to find the others sitting there, so he'd have someone else to talk to.
"Now, here's the line up," announced Aarch.
"In goal: Yuki." Yuki grinned and Micro-Ice gave her a little peck on her cheek, Rose watched them coldly.
"In defence: Derek and Mei."
"But sir?" asked Thran angrily.
"Sorry Thran, Simbai's orders." explained Aarch.
"Now then, midfield: Rocket and Mark"
"Attack: Rose and Micro-Ice."
Micro-Ice grinned at Rose, but, unlike last time, she just nodded to him, not showing any emotion.
"You've beaten the Wambas before, but don't get complacent! They know how to play and they will take advantage of any weak points!"
"Now get out there and make me proud!" Laughed Aarch. The Snow Kids poured out of the locker room leaving just Ahito and Thran to watch the match on the television.
"You think they can win?" Asked Clamp.
"I just hope they don't lose 5-1!" Answered Aarch.
"Here we are!" Giggled Callie, "Wambas versus Snow Kids, here on planet Wambasia!"
"These two teams have some bitter history, after the Snow Kids knocked the Wambas out of the final sixteen in the last Galactik Cup," said Nork.
"However today might be quite a different story," answered Callie, "after all, recently the Snow Kids have not been on their game, losing 5-1 to the Xenons and at the same time the Wambas have been playing very well, beating the Pirates 3-1."
"I think it's too close to call," laughed Nork.
"Well lucky for you Nork, you just have to watch the game, not bet on it!" Grinned Callie.
Woowamboo held out his hand and Rocket shook it firmly. The two captains prepared themselves for the kick off.
The ball shot into the air and the lithe Wambas captain powered himself off of Rocket's knee into the air. Woowamboo span in mid air, orange flux wafting off of him.
Mark whooped as the Breath began to swirl around him, he still hadn't got used to the sensation. He skidded across the floor, grabbing the ball from under the Wambasian Captain's feet.
"Nice tackle Mark!" Encouraged Aarch.
"The Wambas flux, the roar, may have met its match in the Snow Kids Breath," interjected Callie.
"Mark has definitely become a great player since grasping control of the Breath," conceded Nork.
Mark kicked the ball down the field to Rose. Rose dribbled around a Wamba and shot the ball at goal.
The Wambasian goalie was too quick though, catching the ball with his foot, the toes clasping together to hold the ball. He wagged his finger, spinning the ball round and round on his index finger, before spinning his leg round and kicking the ball back out into the fray.
"Bad luck Rose," called Micro-Ice, but Rose ignored him, walking off to her position.
Woowamboo sprinted down the pitch. As he hit the halfway line, Mark and Rocket ran up to him, shielding him from moving either way. Woowamboo leapt into the air the ball clasped in his foot, he span in a cartwheel over Mark and Rocket.
Both players gasped as Woowamboo landed on the other side of them and carried on down the pitch, waving back to them as he went.
Mei raced to Woowamboo, but he crossed to Lune Zera instead. Lune Zera, the red haired infamous striker of the Wambas, sprinted into the penalty box, avoiding a flawed tackle by Derek.
Lune Zera swung her foot at the ball. Yuki could tell where it would go. She leapt into the air, using her body to block the left half of the goal.
Unfortunately Lune Zera had been feigning a shot, the ball still safely at her feet. She giggled as she passed it lazily into the right hand side of the goal.
"And it's 1-0 to the Wambas!" Gasped Callie, "Yuki was easily tricked there!"
"Yuki, stay focused!" Ordered Aarch.
The ball shot into the air and this time Rocket took it from the Wamba, his blue flux subduing the orange roar. Rocket ran up the field dribbling around a Wamba and then kick flipping over a second.
"Micro-Ice, heads!" Yelled the Snow Kids captain as he passed the ball expertly to the small striker.
Micro-Ice took the ball and stopped it dead. Then, as Wambas closed in on him from all sides, he shot the ball at goal, crackling with blue flux.
The goalie leapt at the ball, kicking it away from harm. Micro-Ice groaned as Woowamboo began to advance back up the pitch.
Rose ran to try and stop him. Woowamboo turned his back to her and shot the ball straight up in the air. The ball rocketed up into the sky, curling over the scoreboard before dropping back down to the pitch, straight into Lune Zera's possession.
"Oh no you don't!" growled Mei. She felt the surge of energy as the Breath crackled around her. Lune Zera stopped the ball in front of her and she took her chance. Kicking the ball out from under her and blowing her backwards through the strength of the Breath.
"Wow, a great tackle from Mei!" Exclaimed Nork. "And the ball has reached Rocket, what can he do with it?"
Rocket booted the ball at goal, it raced towards the goal and looked certain to score, before suddenly curled away and dropped off into mid space.
"Ouch… clearly Rocket is not on his game today," sighed Callie.
The Wambasian Goalkeeper took the goal kick and sent the ball soaring all the way to Lune Zera, far in Snow Kids territory. Lune Zera dribbled around Derek and took the shot.
Yuki flew through the air like a torpedo, taking the ball and cushioning it against her chest.
"Brilliant save Yuki!" Grinned Aarch.
Yuki threw the ball out to Mark.
"I know what to do," laughed Mark, clenching his fists as the Breath materialized around him. Mark sprinted down the wing, spinning around two wambas, then kicking the ball through the legs of another and continuing.
"Mark is trying to re-enact the goal from his match against the Xenons, where he went the whole way himself!" Gasped Callie.
"Mark pass!" Screamed Micro-Ice, but Mark ignored him.
Mark drew closer and closer to goal, when suddenly a Wamba slammed into him, taking the ball and reversing play. Mark punched the ground angrily. He looked up to see the Wambas hop clean over Rocket.
The ball crossed the whole pitch, finding itself in the capable possession of Woowamboo. Mei sprinted over to him and blocked his journey, following his movements carefully. Woowamboo turned his back to Mei and then, with the heel of his foot, kicked the ball straight through Mei's legs.
Yuki gasped as the ball flew at goal, she leapt for the ball, but the ball began to curl away from goal. Yuki landed on the ground, hard. Lune Zera sprinted to underneath the ball and performed an acrobatic handstand, smashing the ball down into the open goal.
"It's two-nil!" Shrieked Callie, "The Wambas are showing us how strong they are and the Snow Kids are being destroyed in the process!"
"And there's the half! Let's hope the Snow Kids can get their breath back in this team talk." said Nork, watching the players make their way off the pitch.
The Snow Kids were lifted back into the locker room. All seven of them stayed in silence, shooting one another dark looks.
"Why can't you defend!" Snapped Mei.
"Shut up, little girl!" Ordered Derek.
"Don't call her, little girl!" Growled Rocket, stepping between Derek and Mei.
"What are you gonna do, short stuff?" Laughed the much taller man.
"What's the matter with you Derek?" Asked Yuki, "we're meant to be a team!"
"A Team? Ha!" Chuckled Derek.
"Maybe Thran should take over, you're not good enough," hissed Mei.
"What?" Barked Derek, "I'm a brilliant defender!"
"Really?" Gasped Mei, "because I've never seen you play "brilliantly"."
"Shut up! All of you!" Roared Derek, black smoke spitting from his finger tips. All of the Snow Kids stayed silent staring at Derek. Derek's eyes widened as he realised what he had done. Mark looked to his friends, was his secret about to be discovered?
"You're a Shadow!" Gasped Mei.
"You've been trying to make us lose!" Rocket spat incredulously.
"What's going on here?" Asked Aarch, making his way into the locker room.
"Derek is a Shadow!" Insisted Mei.
"What? Is this true Derek?" Demanded Aarch.
"Yes, coach," hissed Derek.
"You've been trying to get us knocked out," mumbled Aarch, in complete shock. All the Snow Kids fixed Derek with a look of hatred.
"Get out Derek," said Aarch quietly, "leave now!" He barked.
Derek grabbed his bag, being deliberately slow. He fixed Mark with a knowing stare and said, "goodbye Mark, I'll keep your little secret for now." And with Derek swept out of the locker room, leaving all the Snow Kids feeling shocked.
"Mark?" Questioned Thran, confused.
"I," began Mark, "have no idea what he's talking about." They all stayed silent, completely blind sighted by this event. Then Aarch broke the silence,
"Well, it's time to get back out there." It was strange, returning to normality after the shocking revelation. "Thran? You get your chance to play then, don't tell Simbai!"
Thran nodded and the Snow Kids walked in silence out of the locker room, each of them in shock.
"And here's the start of the second half," said Nork.
"Instantly we can see a substitution in the Snow Kids team, Thran for Derek. Obviously Aarch has had some doubts about his new defender's abilities," said Callie thoughtfully.
Woowamboo took the ball instantly, leaving Rocket coughing in his dust. Mei sprinted at Woowamboo, but the Wamba merely passed over to Lune Zera, completely avoiding the tackle.
Yuki groaned, assuming that Lune Zera would be able to shoot, having got round Mei. She was wrong.
Thran exploded into action, tackling Lune Zera with ease and passing the ball up to Rocket.
"Thran looks at home, clearly the Snow Kids defence has sorely missed him!"
Rocket and Mark performed a 1-2 avoiding two Wamba tackles. Rocket continued down the middle, seeing Micro-Ice and Rose ready to take the ball.
He chipped the ball into the air and Micro-Ice swooped up to take it. Micro-Ice headed the ball and the goalkeeper flinched preparing to save.
However Micro-Ice didn't head it at the goal, but straight down. Rose span on one leg and slammed the falling ball at goal. The ball zipped past the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
"2-1! The Snow Kids are starting to play like the Champions they are!" Exclaimed Nork.
Rose couldn't help but grin at Micro-Ice, thanking him over and over for the pass. The Wambas surveyed them angrily, annoyed that they had let in a goal.
"Alright guys, you're playing well now! Don't let it slip!" Encouraged Aarch.
Rocket took the ball off the kick-off but was quickly tackled. The play switched from one way to the other as the Wamba's and the Snow Kids defence were stretched to their limits.
Mei and Thran watched as Rose was tackled and Woowamboo began to head back down their way. Mei and Thran turned to each other and gave each other a little nod. Then both of them burst into action, flux swirling around them.
Thran and Mei raced towards Woowamboo and prevented his advance up the pitch. Each of them blocking one side.
Woowamboo ran left but found Mei in his way. As he headed right he found Thran. Woowamboo tried leaping into the air but Mei and Thran followed him. Woowamboo released the ball in mid air and Mei and Thran both kicked it, together, downfield.
Mark took the ball on his chest and ran around Lune Zera who was trying to block him. He ran down the wing and then crossed the ball into the penalty box to Rose.
"Rose let it go!" Screamed Micro-Ice in his earpiece.
Rose nodded, leaping over the ball and leaving it to travel past her to Micro-Ice, who blasted it into goal.
"2-2! The Snow Kids have equalized!" Roared Nork.
Rose pulled Micro-Ice into a vicious hug, giggling with happiness. Yuki watched them both with a sour expression.
"You've got two minutes, you can score again!" Insisted Aarch.
The ball shot into the air. Rocket took it from Woowamboo. Rocket passed to Mark. Mark uses his new found breath to escape several attackers. He passed it to Rose. Rose took the shot…
But the Wambasian goalie was too fast thwacking the ball away with the side of his hand.
Rose gasped as the ball span round over her head. Lune Zera leapt into the air to take it.
Rocket and Mark charged at her but she cart wheeled over them, exuding orange flux. Mei and Thran charged at her.
Moments later she passed out to Woowamboo leaving both defenders stranded.
Woowamboo took a split second to prepare himself and then fired the ball at goal. Yuki leapt through the air, arms outstretched, but the ball slipped through her fingers.
"3-2 to the Wambas! And there's the buzzer! Game Wambas!" Shrieked Callie.
Yuki thumped the floor with her fist, unable to believe that she had lost it again.
Oooo another loss!
Can the Snow Kids still make it through the Group stages?
Derek's gone, but is the team enough without D'Jok?
Will Micro-Ice choose Rose or Yuki?
You'll have to wait and see!!