Chapter 19

Day of the Contest

Holland was discussing about the ref race with Eureka and Renton. He pulled out a map of the area. Eureka and Renton stepped closer and peered at the map.

"This is the map of the area you guys will be racing in." Holland stated. His fingers began tracing around the colorful markings. "This area was just created about a few months ago when the Scrab Coral broke." Holland said and then pointed at squiggly lines on the map. "These are the fissures that or cracks that was formed. The trapar levels there are extremely unstable." Renton looked up from the map. "What does that mean?" He questioned Holland.

"At times, they may have high levels of trapar and other times, they have low levels of trapar."

Eureka and Renton nodded in unison. Holland continued, "The racetrack curves around those fissures. It is about 1.5 miles long. The track is a loop so the finish line is where you started."

"Wait, so we only go one lap around?" Renton asked. Holland nodded and continued talking. "Ok, the scoring is based on points. You gain points for style, speed, and tricks. They will also score you on how well you cooperate with each other. Also, you can cut over the fissures as shortcuts though I don't suggest that because the trapar is unstable."

Just then the doors banged open and in came Talho. "Holland," she said, "we are getting near."

Holland, Talho, Eureka, and Renton ran out to the cockpit where everyone else stood. They gazed down through the glass. "Look!" Maeter gasped as she pointed down at the ground. "That ground is spitting out green stuff!" Linck said excitedly. Renton walked up to them and patted their heads.

"That's trapar." Renton said. "They come out from the breaks in the Scrab Coral."

"Wow…" Maeter and Linck said in unison.

"Where Maurice?" Renton asked the two children. Maeter pointed across the room and said, "Over there with mama and Stoner." Renton thanked Maeter and walked over to Eureka who was observing Stoner and Maurice. Stoner was squatting on the floor and held a shiny silver camera in his hands.

"What are they doing?" Renton whispered to Eureka. She did not answer but continued to observe Maurice and Stoner. Renton too looked over to Stoner and Maurice. Stoner started talking to Maurice, "You're a great photographer Maurice so I bought you your very own camera."

Maurice could not hold in his excitement. "ReallY!?! Thank you!" Maurice said in a voice shaking in excitement.

"No problem!" Stoner said and handed Maurice the shiny new camera. Maurice rushed over to Maeter and Linck and showed off his new camera. Renton and Eureka looked at each other and smiled.

Holland called Eureka and Renton over. They walked up to him, both wondering what he wanted from them. Holland pulled out two suits: one black and blue and one black and red. He handed Renton the black and red on and the other to Eureka. "What's this for?" Renton asked as he observed the black suit with red stripes running down the side.

"They are ref suits. They provide some protection against some light injuries. They also have less wind resistance than regular clothes." Holland explained to the two.

"Less resistance?" Renton asked.

"Yeah, you'll pick up speed much better and quicker."

Renton and Eureka nodded in acknowledgment.

"Alright you two, go change in your rooms and report back here in five minutes. Bring your boards too."

With that said, Renton and Eureka walked to their rooms to change.

Renton changed into the new ref clothes. It was a bit like surfing clothes and stuck closely to his skin. It was a bit uncomfortable to Renton though. He decided to check on Eureka to see how she was doing.

"Eureka!" He called when he arrived at her bedroom door. There was no reply to his call. Renton shrugged and pushed open the door. He took a step in and gasped, "Eure…ka?" In the middle of the room stood Eureka. Apparently, she was still changing and had nothing on except for white undergarments. She stared, wide-eyed, back at Renton.

"Renton…?"

She noticed Renton's eyes darting up and down her body. She blushed and quickly placed her arms across her chest.

"Hi…Renton…" She said slowly as her cheeks turned pink.

Every second Renton looked made his face hotter and redder. He managed to pry his eyes off of Eureka's body and stumbled backwards.

"Sor-Sorry!" Renton stammered before he ran out of Eureka's room.

Outside in the hallway, Renton slumped down on the wall and wiped off the sweat on his forehead. Images of Eureka flooded into his mind. He remembered that one moment too perfectly. Eureka's pale body and her wings that sparkled in the sunlight had made her seem exceedingly beautiful. These thoughts however, made saliva build up in Renton's mouth. He quickly wiped off the drool and smacked his head a few times, trying to get rid of the image. He had a sudden urge to open the door and take a closer look. Luckily, Renton managed to overcome the urge. He breathed a sigh of relief and could feel the rapid beating in his chest slow down. Eureka emerged from her bedroom, fully dressed in the blue and black ref suit. She also carried her new ref board under her arms. The two stared awkwardly at each other for a moment. "Let's get back

"Let's get back to the front." Eureka said quietly. Renton nodded in reply and together, they started walking back to the cockpit.

"Umm…sorry about earlier…I didn't know you were in there." Renton said awkwardly as they walked. Eureka shook her head, "It's ok." They stared at each other and giggled.

Holland tapped the floor impatiently with his foot. "Where are they?" He said as he paced back and forth. "It's been nearly 15 minutes!" He exclaimed when he checked his watch.

Soon after, Eureka and Renton entered the room. Their faces were still a bit red from all the laughing.

"What took so long?" Holland asked them.

"I took a long time to change." Eureka answered.

"And we had to go get my board." Renton added.

"Oh… I see…" Holland said suspiciously. Matthieu came up behind Holland and dropped into the conversation.

"Suspicious…" He said accusingly.

"What?" Renton asked.

"You two were gone for nearly 15 minutes… That's enough to do it."

"What's it?" Eureka asked.

"No way!" Renton stammered.

"You're stammering. It's an obvious sign that something happened. So how was it?"

Hilda came up behind Matthieu and smashed down on his head.

"OW! What was that for?" He whined as he rubbed his head.

"That's for making up lies! Now come with me and help me move the LFOs!" Hilda yelled as she pulled Mattheiu's ears.

"Alright I'm going!" He yelped and waved good-bye to Renton. Holland, Eureka, and Renton chuckled and waved him good-bye. Holland smiled and called to Moondoggie.

"Moondoggie! Land the ship!"

"Yes Sir!"

The ship tilted downwards and descended. Renton held Eureka's hands and squeezed softly.

"Ready?"

"Yeah. Let's go."