Chapter 11
During the entire week, Eureka was in the infirmary and Renton and the kids would visit every day. Renton was glad that Eureka was getting better. "Renton!" Maeter called as she ran into the room. Renton stopped restacking the supplies and turned around. "What is it?" Maeter took out a mechanical duck. "Can you fix this? Linck sat on it and now it won't move anymore." Linck jumped out from behind the door and protested, "No I didn't!" The kids started to bicker but Renton stopped them with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry, it's very easy to fix." He ran up to the counter and took out a screwdriver. He unscrewed the bottom of the duck. "See?" He showed it to Linck and Maeter. "All I need to do is turn the gear back a little bit… and there!" The duck began quacking and moving. "Yay!" Linck and Maeter cheered. Renton laughed and asked them, "Where's your brother?" Maeter replied, "He's visiting mama." Renton finished restocking the supplies. "Come on, let's go visit too." He said as he ushered them out.
They walked into the infirmary; Maurice was happily talking with Eureka who was fully dressed in the dress she usually wore. They all ran up and hugged Eureka. "Mischa said that I'm healthy enough to walk around again." Eureka said after everyone stopped hugging her. Renton shouted out, "That's great!" Mischa had taken special care to Eureka, giving her the latest medical cream and antibiotics. There were no scars left behind by the beating she took a week ago either. Everyone walked out of the infirmary holding each other's hands. They walked all the way to the bridge. There, Holland and Talho greeted them. "We're going to land soon to refuel and buy grocery. Why don't you guys join us?" Renton and Eureka looked at each other and smiled. The kids jumped up and cheered. "Alright!" They cried enthusiastically.
The ship descended and landed just outside of the town. Gidget and Moondoggie refueled the ship while Holland, Talho, Renton, Eureka, and the kids entered the city. Unlike the previous cities they have been to, this one was clean and untouched by damage. They walked all the way to the town center. "Why don't you guys go enjoy the afternoon with each other?" Holland said. With that, the group split and went different direction. Renton, Eureka, Maurice, Linck, Maeter walked around looking at the various stores. "I want some candy!" Maeter called out as they walked near a candy vendor. "Ok, just one. Do you want some too, Maurice, Linck?" They nodded and ran up to the old man behind the candy cart. "Let's see…" Renton opened up his wallet and gave the money to the old man, "They want some candy." The old man had an expression of shock on his face. "Yo-You're Renton Thurston! And you must be Eureka!" The old man exclaimed. Renton scratched his head and was a bit embarrased, "Yeah, we are." The old man smiled. "Here you go kids." He said as he handed the three children three lollipops the size of their hand. "You won't have to pay, consider it a present." The family bowed, thanked the man, waved good-bye, and walked on. They passed by a flower shop. Renton looked at the shop and ran in while yelling, "I'll be right back!" He was back out within moments with a small pink rose in his hands. "It's for you, Eureka." He said as he placed it into her hair. "It looks nice." He said. Eureka blushed, "Thanks, Renton." The family continued walking, stopping here and there to check the displays.
A trio of punk kids walked out in front of them. They were swerving back and forth slightly because they were drunk. "Whoa, check out the chick with the wings." The one with green spikes for hair said in a slurred low voice. Renton stepped in front of Eureka who wrapped her arms around the children. They slowly walked in a circle and surrounded the five. One of the punks with a pink Mohawk grabbed Eureka's wrist and pulled her off the ground. The children jumped back and Renton spun around. The rose fell down and was crushed by the man's boots. "Let her go!" Renton and Maurice yelled. The punk took a sniff of Eureka, "She smells good!" He bent the tip of her wing causing her to let out a cry of pain. "Mama!" the children cried. "Eureka!" Renton shouted. The man laughed and exclaimed, "And she's a noisy one too!" Renton turned to Maeter and Linck, "Go get Holland and Talho!" Maeter and Linck ran back the way they came as quickly as they could. Suddenly, the pink hair man grabbed Renton and put him into an arm lock. Maurice bashed the punk with his shoulder. Renton took the advantage of the opening and pushed the pink haired man back.
Renton eyed Maurice and nodded. Maurice nodded in reply. He charged at the punk with drooping black hair and Renton pounced onto the pink hair man. A scream came from Eureka; the Mohawk man had his tongue out and was trying to kiss her. "I'm gonna have so much fun with you at home!" The man laughed. "Eureka!" Renton yelled as he kicked the pink haired punk in the stomach causing him to crumple over. Maurice was having trouble though. The man was twice his size. Maurice managed to land a few punches on the man but was kicked back. "Maurice!" Renton cried and jumped onto the man with drooping black hair. The man dodged Renton's punch and kneed him in the stomach causing him to topple over. A loud smack rang through; Eureka slapped the man across the face. He was shocked and loosened his grip on Eureka. The Mohawk punk yelled, pulled out a 5 inch knife and began advancing on her, "That's it! Now I'm pissed! I'll gonna skin you then have fun with you!" Eureka's eyes narrowed as she scrambled back. She didn't understand a thing he said but she knew he meant to harm her. "Eureka!" Renton yelled. "Dammit!" and he said as he duck below a punch the drooping black haired punk threw. He quickly jabbed up with his fist, hitting the man squarely on the chin and sent him flying backwards. Renton quickly turned to face Eureka and gasped. Eureka was backed into a wall and the man had his arms raised above his head. In his hand was the knife pointing downwards at Eureka who was in too much shock to move.
Time appeared to slow down. "Eureeeekaaa!!" Renton screamed as he jumped at the pink Mohawk man. The man stopped and turned his head. Renton rammed into his ribs. The knife clattered on the concrete ground as the man flew sideways into the wall, his head impacted against the wall causing him to pass out. Renton quickly ran up to Eureka and pulled her up. "Eureka! Are you OK!?!" She hugged him with her face pressed against his chest. "Yeah, I'm ok." She whispered as she looked up into Renton's blue eyes. She closed her eyes as their lips inched nearer and nearer. "HEY!" Maurice cried before they made contact. "We gotta get out of here now!" All around, the punks were groaning and getting up. "Run!" Renton yelled as he grabbed Eureka and Maurice's hands.
They ran back the way they came with the three punks trailing closely behind. They had all taken out their knives and each of them was extremely pissed off. Eureka tripped and skidded her knees. "Keep running Maurice!" Renton yelled as he helped Eureka get up. Maurice hesitantly continued running. Eureka wrapped her arm over Renton's shoulders for support. "Well well well. Look what the tide brought in. Two dead birds!" The Mohawk man screamed. The Trio advanced forward as Eureka limped back with Renton's help. A candy cart swiftly crashed into the punks. "Go! Run! I'll slow them down!" The candy man yelled as he ran up with a broomstick. Eureka and Renton were shocked but quickly recovered. Renton nodded at the old candy man and ran on with Eureka. "You punks should have never robbed me!" The candy man screamed as he started beating them with the broomstick. They quickly overpowered him and ran after Renton and Eureka. The old man flipped out his cell phone and dialed 911. "Hurry! There is trouble at the town square!"
Eureka and Renton reached the town square. A chilling laugh came from the three men behind them. "Looks like one of the birds broke thier wings!" Eureka gasped; tears were forming in her eyes. "Renton..." Renton embraced her and covered her. "Don't worry, I'll protect you!" He whispered as the men advanced. "Aww how cute! Too bad, when we're through, you guys will just be a bloody pile of pieces!" They yelled as the tossed the knife to their other hand and back. They stopped advancing. Holland charged at them while yelling, "Keep your dirty hands off them!" Holland quickly kneed the drooping black hair man down into the ground. The punk with pink spikey hair swung his knife out at Holland. Holland dodged it and did a sliding kick into the punks leg, knocking him over. Police sirens sounded and police cars surrounded the town center. The remaining punk let out a cry, dropped his knife and ran. Two police officers nailed him down. "Let's get out of here! Just Follow me!" Holland shouted at Eureka and Renton. They ran and ran, twisting through an endless maze of alleys. They reached the entrance of the city and boarded the Gekko-Go. Maurice, Maeter, and Linck ran up and hugged them. Talho walked over and hugged Holland. "Geez, those kids always get into trouble." She said. "I know. I know." Holland softly said.