*3rd POV*

Eva narrating: "Hi. My name's Eva, or rather it was Eva. For the last 10 years, I've been in this crummy boarding school with my friend Adam. Ten years without seeing my dad. On my fifteenth birthday I decided to pay him a visit. He's a race manager, the best there is. It didn't go as planned. He was so different and so cold. I just couldn't tell him who I really was" the scene shows the moment Eva and Adam got a job

Eva: "I'm Molly" she gives Don a nervous smile

Don: "And you, boy? What's your name?"

Adam: "It's Adam, Adam Ortin, sir"

Eva narrating: "It went downhill there. And Adam didn't tell me about his job offer! I can't believe I have a crush on this jerk!... Oopsie! I guess you all could not tell him about this part, hehe? Getting back, one thing is certain, my father won't get rid of me this time. And for sure I won't let Adam go without me!

*Adam POV*

After a lot of turbulence, shaking and I think some vomit from Koji our ship finally landed

Don: "Okay. Everyone up. We've landed" I sit up, grunt like everybody else and stretch myself

Rick: "Who knows where"

Adam: "At least you had a seat to sleep on, we only got the floor"

Don: "Adam. Get the flashlight and come with me" I nod and do as instructed. I follow Don towards the back of the truck, and after climbing the ladder, we inspect if we don't have any uninvited guests. And we have one, thankfully not a Crog, but Eva sleeping on the sheets. She grunts, awakes and blocks the light from Don's flashlight

Eva: "Uh, I'm sorry, I, I guess I fell asleep"

Don: "What on Earth are you doing here? Adam, did you know anything about this?"

Adam: "Not at all, Boss. Molly, how did you end up here?"

Eva: "Well, I, um-- I mean, there's no problem" she turns to Don "It's really okay. I'm your dau-" Jordan cuts her off, running towards the truck with a gun. The rest of our team also gets here

'Oh you fucking imbecile! She was just going to tell him who she is!'

Jordan: "A problem, sir? Oh, her again, huh?"

Eva: "Huh?" she stands up and salutes "I thought you could use an extra mechanic, sir"

Don: "Molly, have you lost your mind? I have the best mechanics in the league" he points at me and later at Stan and Koji "As far as I'm concerned, young lady, you're just a surprise, and I hate surprises. Have I made myself clear?" he sighs "You should've known better" suddenly our ship starts shaking. Eva falls down, but thankfully Rick catches her

Rick: "Watch your step, little mouse"

Jordan: "What was that?!" he starts panicking and looking around

Adam: "Jordan, calm down. We're not under attack"

Jordan: "You don't know!"

Stan: "I think the ship just stopped"

The doors of our ships starts opening, as blinding light gets inside the ship

Don: "Huh? Gentleman, beyond this door lies the unknown" he climbs the ladder down and I just jump down. "The qualifying trails of the Great Race of Oban. It will be certainly the biggest challenge of your lives! You will give nothing less than your best. And, watch your steps, from now on you're ambassadors of the Earth" Eva shows him her tongue, making me chuckle a bit. Don turns around, pointing at Eva, who instantly straightens up "And don't even think I'm done with you, miss" I chuckle a little more, this time I'm also joined by Rick. We all entered the truck, with Rick as a driver and drove off the ship. Me and Eva are looking around

Eva: "*gasps*

Adam: "They got everything here... I wonder..." Jordan meanwhile freaks out seeing all the different races of aliens

Koji: "Wow, look at these aliens. I bet no one has seen aliens like these before" Jordan gets up and points his gun forward

Jordan: "Let'em come. We're ready for them"

Rick: "Remember, Jordan, we're ambassadors"

Adam: "Get that water gun down, Jordan. And appreciate the different cultures" Don walks towards me and Eva, with her getting her hopes high, but instead he ignored her and looks out of the window

Don: "Well, I didn't expect the Avatar in person, but at least they could have sent a welcoming committee" Eva looks out the other window and giggles

Eva: "Sir, I think the welcoming committee has arrived" Don looks down to see a small older guy hitting our truck tire with a cane.

Don turns back to us

Don: "Oh, great... another surprise. Somehow I feel this won't be the last one today. We look at the small old guy again. He waves his cane at us in a welcoming manner

SOG(small old guy): "Welcome to Alwas, earthlings. You're the 96th and last team to arrive. I dare say we no longer expected you. Let me introduce myself" he bows "My name is Satis, faithful servant of the Avatar. I will be your temporary guide. Follow me and I will take you to your lodging" he climbs up, scarring Stan, Koji and Jordan. I just look at Satis with a raised eyebrow

Satis: "I've never seen a race ship from Earth before. Beautiful"

Don: "Sorry to disappoint you, but this is our truck, buddy, not our ship. Our ship is right behind me" he points his thumb behind him. And Satis somehow gets behind him, staring at the cloth covering the racers.

Satis: "Ah, I see, I see. Giant flying cushions. Really, very impressive"

Don sighs in frustration while I and Eva poke our heads through the door to watch Satis

Adam: "I like this old guy"

Eva: "Satis? Why?"

Adam: "He seems to get on Don's nerves, making him frustrated. It's just funny to see him lose his cool" I smile, making Eva giggle

Eva: "You're so cruel sometimes, Adam"

Adam: "I try my best"

*timeskip*

After meeting with our guide, we get our stuff on two elephant-like aliens. On one ride the team, on the other... me and Eva with the rest of our luggage. Don said 'it's your friend, so she will be your responsibility'. I notice Eva's glare at the rest of our group.

Eva: "Hmp"

Adam: "Something's wrong, Star?"

Eva: "Nothing"

Adam: "Dad?" Eva nodded "Hey, I know this is different than what you planned. But look at the other side of the medal. We're on a planet, light years away from Earth. You'll have numerous occasions to tell Don"

Eva: "Yeah right. Like when you two find me and Jordan cut me off... I swear I will stick his gun up his-" I cut her off

Adam: "Better not" I look away in the distance "At least you have your dad. The only family I have left is aunt Ophelia. And she must be worried sick now. Our principal from Stern must've called her about our escape" I feel a hand on my shoulder

Eva: "Don't think about it too much. You'll end up with depression. Besides, you have me" she gives me her cheeky smile

Adam: "Heh. Thanks 'Molly'" I smirk "I don't really know how in the world you get the idea, but it was clever for sure. I assume I have to call you that until you tell your dad who you really are?"

Eva: "Yhm. No one needs to know my real identity for now" I nod as we continue down the road to the hangars

*timeskip*

Satis: "This is the pit area, where the 96 teams live during the competition" Both animal aliens stop and Satis points at the hangar "And this is your home, the Earth team pit" We jump down and the hangar doors open. Eva stares in awe at the size of it

Eva: "Wow" she smiles "Ha"

We then proceed to unload all the crates and change into our suits. Me, Koji, Stan and Eva in mechanic suits. Jordan in his army suit and Rick... he was already in his so he just sits down on crates observing us working.

Satis: "You still have a few minutes. Use them wisely for you won't have much time to prepare for your first race after the opening ceremony" he calls his 'elephant' and rides away

Don: "Let's get to it then" Jordan and Stan get the sheets from the star racer

Adam: "*whistle* A beauty of engineering" Eva in the meanwhile stares at the machine. Koji run some diagnostics

Don: "Okay, Jordan. I want you to test the laser turret"

Jordan: "Yes, sir!" he runs past me and Eva

Eva: "Can I help?" she turns to Rick and Don, only to get no answer "Uh, I guess not"

Eva walks away and leans at the hangar entrance. Jordan meanwhile gets inside, gets the turret out and aims it at Eva, making some shooting noises. She cringes and turns away while I facepalm

'How could this guy get into the military?'

Don: "Alright, Jordan. That's enough. Now try the other side"

Jordan retracts the turret, only for it to reappear on the other side of the airship

Koji: "All clear" I walk to him and Stan while Jordan exits the gunner station

Jordan: "It's a beaut!" I shake my head. Koji clicks some things on his tablet, while me and Stan observe the screen

Adam: "Everything looks good so far?"

Koji: "It seems so Adam. We can test the engines now" Don hears him and address Rick, who is now in the cockpit

Don: "Okay, Rick. You're on" cockpit glass closes and Rick starts the machine. Soon it hovers above the ground "Try the reactor, one at the time" Rick starts the first reactor, only for Koji's tablet to signal a leak

Koji: "Set her down. We've a leak" We get the machine into the hangar. Me and Stan get up on it while Koji runs diagnostics again from the ground

Don: "So, what's the verdict"

Adam: "We lost about one liter of engine liquid, boss"

Stan: "It's not great, but there should be enough left for one race"

Koji: "With the equipment we brought, it would take us hours to make the extra liquid" Eva gasps, getting an idea

Eva: "I saw a parts shop on our way here. They're sure to have some. It's a pretty common thing, isn't it?" she picks up the rocket seat. Stan and Koji shrug

Adam: "I mean, it should be here" Eva starts her vehicle and hovers out of the hangar "Be safe there Star!" Eva looks back and gives me a thumbs up "I swear this girl will be the end of me" I walk out to join Rick

Rick: "Your girl is a good pilot, Adam. Don, you old fox. You brought along a secret replacement pilot, didn't you?" We observe Eva riding along the road, until a truck nearly sweeps her from it

Adam: "Star!" I observe in horror as she dodges the truck by millimetres "Phew, that was close..." Don shakes his head

Don: "You know perfectly well how I feel about female pilots" he begins to walk away "Get back to work Adam" I and Rick observe Eva ride away. Rick smirks

Rick: "Still, she has a little something"

Adam: "Yeah... the queen of rocket seats..." I walk back inside to fix the leak

*timeskip*

Well, we fixed the issue, but Don ordered us to clean ourselves and get to the Colosseum without Eva. A gong sounds all over the place, while I look around in search of her. I notice Eva a while later, standing at the edge of stairs, overlooking the arena.

Adam: "Molly! Over here!" she turns to me... with an angry face and starts walking down the stairs, still not breaking eye contact with me.

Not looking where she is going, she bumps into a three meters high, snail-like alien. I smile and shake my head, getting ready to get her from the embarrassment. She bumps into a second alien, before getting swarmed by some small octopus aliens. Just as I was getting there, a Nourasian gets her out of the swarm

Nourasian: "Are you alright?" Eva looks at him, with a small blush. I growl, kinda jealous "Aren't you a bit young to be running around without parental guidance?" Eva's expression deadpans

'And here goes her crush for a handsome alien. Heh'

Adam: "That would be me. Thank you for helping her... em?"

Nourasian: "Prince Aikka of Nourasia" he bows "It's a pleasure to meet you both. Can I ask for your names?"

Adam: "Adam Ortin" I bow slightly, showing respect "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Prince Aikka. And this is Molly, my friend. We both are from Earth" Eva bows slightly too "I'm really thankful for helping her. Molly sometimes gets scared in crowds" Aikka laughs a little, while I shoot a smirk at Eva as she growls angry, again.

Eva: "Shut up! Remember our teachers from our boarding school. Now that's scary"

Adam: "Yeah. They are" Eva turns to Aikka

Eva: "Anyway, where are your parents? You're no older than me and Adam"

Aikka: "Well, in Earth years perhaps" then another Nourasian, seemingly older than Aikka shouts from above

Older Nourasian: "Prince!" Me and Aikka turn to the source "Prince Aikka, come here?"

Adam: "Umm... I think your father is calling you?" Aikka starts walking up the stairs before turning to us and bowing apologetically

Aikka: "Please, forgive me"

Adam: "Hope to see you later, Aikka! Man, what a cool guy" Eva punches my shoulder

Eva: "You just had to intervene, don't you?"

Adam: "Hey, I only look after you like your father ordered me. It's not like I'm..."

Eva: "*gasp* You were jealous?" she smirks and I turn away

Adam: "I don't know what're you talking about, Eva"

Eva: "Oh come on! Admit it! You were jealous Aikka will get me away from you"

Adam: "Why should I? We are not together, remember?" Eva blushes

Eva: "Well-" Jordan cuts her off, again

Eva's thoughts: 'This is the second time this gunner boy interrupts me! I will SO put a potato in the turret's barrel!'

Jordan: "Hey you two! Adam! Stowaway girl! Over here!" We glare at him and make our way to the team. Eva gives Stan a bottle of engine liquid

Eva: "Here is the stuff"

Stan: "Thanks a lot. Adam, what do you think?" he passes me the bottle

Adam: "Looks good. It should be enough. Why are you even asking me? You're a mechanic too"

Stan: "You don't know how they called you? An engineering prodigy. You build your first engine at the age of four"

Adam: "Dad and mom helped me. Not like I did it alone"

Koji: "You're modest, Adam. Give yourself a little credit. Your parents taught me and Stan a lot of things before they went to Wei Racing"

Stan: "Your dad was a hard teacher, kid. But his methods were successful. We're glad to work with you, pal" I scrap the nape of my neck in embarrassment from all the praise

Adam: "Hehe, thanks. I'm glad to work with you too, guys"

Eva: "Alright, mister 'prodigy', come on!" she glares at her father, humps and takes a seat next to Jordan as I sit next to her "The name's Ev- It's Molly, got it gunner boy?"

Adam: "You two can argue later. It's starting" us three turn to the stage, to see three Alwasians in purple suits, the judges

Judges: "We declare the Races of Alwas officially open" then the sky starts getting darker, and thunder starts around the area. A one bright lightning bolt hits the building, blinding everybody on the stage. When I get my hand from my eyes, a form of Avatar stands on top of it

Adam: "Wow..."

Don: "The Avatar"

Avatar: " Proud pilots, the truce of the Great Race of Oban has allowed you to prepare for this day in peace. Your wait is now over. On Alwas, you shall face one another, one-on-one until only three remain. There is only one rule. You may achieve victory by any means, as long as you do not attempt to take the life of your opponent. Race like the wind, champions! Towards the great finals on Oban and towards the ultimate prize!" he disappears in a smug of yellow light, as the sky clears again. then there is an awkward silence, before everybody except for our team stands up and starts cheering. Jordan looks around, before noticing me with my fist high above

Adam: "COME ON GUYS! YEAH!!!" Jordan joins me

Jordan: "YEAH!!!" Stan and Koji also join, while Don just claps his hands. Eva looks at me and rolls her eyes

Eva: "Men..."

Adam: "Come on Molly! YEAH!!!" she sighs and gives up, rising her fist in the air

Eva: "YEAH!"

Soon cheering calms down, and one judge announce the first race

Judge: "For the first match, it's Nourasia versus Portlum"

Adam: "I wonder what ride Aikka will have" I say under my nose

Don: "We'll stay around for this one. Keep your eyes and ears open, everyone. We need to learn all we can about our future adversaries" Soon Aikka exits... on a giant beetle with blue wings and white armor

Adam: "I could've suspected Nourasian's prince will use one of their battle beetles..."

Eva: "Adam, there is the prince!"

Jordan: "What do you mean, the prince? A Nourasian? I heard those low lives are friends with the Crogs. I really hope he flips his beetle" Aikka notices me and Eva and waves his hand at us

Adam: "You really are a pain, Jordan. Aikka is a cool guy"

Jordan: "What?"

Eva: "And I must say, he is kinda cute" I clear my throat and Eva shows her tongue to me before whispering 'You're jealous' and smirking at me

Adam: "I really regret letting you stay, Molly..."

Eva: "Come on. You know I'm joking"

Adam: "I wonder if Aikka has an older sister. I would for sure meet with a cute Nourasian Princess. Who knows, maybe even getting to know her bett-"

Eva: "No! I mean" she clears her throat "As your friend-" I cut her off

Adam: "And now look who is jealous" I smirk at her "We're even" meanwhile, Portlumian's ship gets next to Aikka's beetle

Jordan: "Take a last look at your friend. He won't know what squashed him"

Adam: "You really are this type of guy, Jordan? Not knowing the man and judging him by just his race?"

A gong sounds across the arena again, while judges start humming. Aikka's beetle springs its wings and gets in the air. One part of the starting gate gets down, only for a second and soon the whole gate to get down, starting the race. We observe the race on some sort of large oval screen above the starting gate. The Portlumian ship leads the race, with Aikka right behind it. He tries to overtake it from the right, only to be squished to the wall.

Eva: "Oh no..."

Adam: "Oh damn..."

Jordan: "Ew. That's gotta hurt"

Aikka somehow gets free from the spiky trap, making his beetle's wings compact before pulling behind the Portlumian ship, extending his 'vehicle's' wings again and getting an arrow. He pulls a spell as an arrow envelopes in blue light. He takes the aim and shoots the arrow right into the exhaust of the Portlumian ship. Soon it caughts on fire, and some of its spikes hit the ground, making the ship flip several times before stopping. Aikka passes it, and turns around before paying respects to his opponent and flying away.

Adam: "Good job Aikka!"

Eva: "It was great!"

Jordan: "You both are traitors" Meanwhile Rick walks away, while Don tries to stop him

*timeskip*

After returning to our hangar, Me, Stan and Koji are still working over the star racer. While I'm fixing the second leak we found out after returning, Stan was filling the liquid tank. Koji, as always, stood with his tablet with the diagnostics open. Jordan was doing some sit ups while Eva observes our work

Adam: "Here and done" I get from under the machine "You fill her up, Stan?"

Stan: "Almost there"

Koji: "Fluid level back to 100%"

Stan: "Check"

Koji: "Second leak, sealed"

Adam: "Check"

Eva: "Can I help you with anything else?"

Stan: "Thanks, Molly, but we'll take it from here"

Eva: "Okay" she slumps forward, sad "I understand" she walks away

Stan: "You can take a break Adam. Me and Koji will handle the rest"

Adam: "You sure?"

Stan: "Yup! We can't let you outshine us after all" he smirks playfully before ruffling my hair. Not going to argue I follow Eva to our lockers, only to see her eavesdropping a conversation between Rick and Don

Adam: "What're you doing Sta-" she put her hand over my mouth, shushing me

Eva: "Be quiet or they will hear us" I nod and join her

Don: "I know we've had some bad times together, Rick. But I hope, well, I hope we're past all of that"

Rick: "Don't try to con me, Don. I know you too well"

Don: "What I'm trying to say is, I'm counting on you. We're all counting on you, Rick" Eva gasps, her lip quivers. Hearing the footsteps, I grab her by the waist and hide us behind a pillar. I look over it to see Don walking away

Rick: "Don't worry. I'll win you a tin cup. Don't I always?"

Adam: "Phew, that was clo-"

Rick: "Well, well, well, what have we got here, a little eavesdropping mouse and her partner in crime"

Adam: "Busted..."

Eva: "No. We... *sighs*" she looks down

Rick: "Come on. Don't make such a face. When I started, Don Wei didn't want me around either. In time, you'll find your place" she ruffles Eva's hair, salutes and walks away

Adam: "Heh, great Rick Thunderbolt giving deep life advice. I never would have thought about that"

Rick: "Life has many surprises, kid. Is the ride ready?"

Adam: "Stan and Koji are giving her some final tune-ups. Good luck, Rick"

Rick: "Who needs luck when you've skill? Catch you later, kiddos"

Eva: "I, Rick, see you at the finish line" Rick ascend the stairs, waving at Eva and not turning around

Rick: "I'll be there, little mouse" the doors closes, leaving me and Eva alone

Adam: "I can tell you that Rick would be a better father than your own dad" Eva pouts and pinches my arm "Ow! Okay, I'm sorry. Come on, we have a race to watch"

*timeskip*

I get the rest of the day free, as Koji and Stan sit in the technical center. I have my earpiece, being able to contact with them if needed as well as with Jordan and Rick

Judge: "And now, it's Groor versus Earth"

Rick: "All set, gunner boy?"

Jordan: "Uh, ready. just keep your sunglasses on. He's got it coming. He's going down in flames"

Adam: "Keep the energy for shooting him, Jordan. Come on people"

Rick: "Let's make it happen"

Stan: "It's a piece of junk, but it's made of polarized titanium"

Rick: "Terrific, I guess"

Koji: "He means if you play bumper cars with this thing, you're going home by email"

Soon, the main gate opens, and the race starts, with Rick and Jordan getting in front. They then get bumped by the Groor and later he shots at them.

Jordan: "Line me up. I don't have a clear shot"

Rick: "He's all yours"

Jordan: "Take that you alien scum!" he shots at the Groor, before they enter the tunnel. Groor then takes this chance, trying to shoot Rick and Jordan down. Rick's piloting is yet better than Groor's aim and avoids every single shot. After both star racers exits the tunnel, Groor tries to squeeze Rick and Jordan to the wall

Eva: "*gasp*"

Adam: "Stan, Koji, how is the armor holding up?"

Koji: "75% at this moment. If they don't get out, they will end up like a can of soda"

Adam: "We should thicken it near the reactors. I will see what we-"

Eva: "What was that?"

Adam: "Huh?" I turn to her, only to see her pale "Eva, you okay? You kinda lost all the colors"

Eva: "I just... I don't know... I felt like something was wrong... but" she shakes her head "Guess it was just my imagination"

Adam: "Eva, if it's something important, I need you to tell me"

Eva: "I saw Rick getting rammed by Groor and then... I had a vision of a star racer exploding" my eyes widened. I grab her by the hand and we run towards where Stan and Koji are "Adam, what're you doing?!"

Adam: "I need to check something" soon me and Eva enter the technical center, surprising both mechanics

Koji: "Molly, Adam, what're you two doing here?"

Adam: "Did we check the reactors before the race?"

Stan: "Why does it-"

Eva: "Something's very wrong"

Adam: "Molly have a feeling something's gonna happen to Rick"

Eva: "Not a feeling. I just know it" Then a picture of Rick come on the screen

Rick: "How's the body?"

Koji:" The damage control, okay, at 71%" Stan get his char to the opposite side of the room, nearly crushing Eva's foot

Stan: "Coming through"

Eva: "Hey!" Groor meanwhile stumbles his ship, getting it into a roll, letting Rick get some distance

Rick: "I think we got this guy beat" Koji turns to us

Koji: "Adam, Molly, everything's just fine" Eva sighs "Why don't you two find a nice spot somewhere outside and enjoy the show together?"

Eva nods sadly and us two make our way up to the roof, overlooking the finish line

Eva: "Well, I guess I was just imagining things" then I felt something, a feeling of anxiety

Adam: "Eva, I got a weird feeling you were right..."

Eva: "Pff, nah! Come on! Let's cheer! Go Rick! Come on!"

Adam: "You think...?" Eva nods "Alright. Rick! Come on, you're nearly there!" however, my suspicions were correct, as a communicate comes through my earpiece

Koji: "Surge of heat in the cooling system!"

Stan: "What? This is not good"

Adam: "No, No! NO! Eva, he is going to crash!"

Eva: "What?!"

Just as Rick passes the finish line, his star racer explodes. We both look terrified at the wreck. Then, I remember that day, that race. Two weeks after my parents' accident. My aunt, trying to cheer me up brought me to a race... it was that day... that moment when I saw the death of great Maya Wei... She was my idol, the best racer in the world. And later getting to know Eva was her daughter made that day even worse to remember

Adam: "Eva...?" I turn to her, as she turns to me only for her to drag us both to the knees, before hugging me tightly "I know..."

Eva: "Mom..."

Adam: "Shh. I'm sure Rick is alright. Don't worry Star" I look up to see paramedics getting Rick out of there "He will be. He must be"

A/N: Chapter 2 out of 26. Phew, it's really tiring writing this all without any transcripts or anything. Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Feel free to vote and comment and I will see you next time!

Punkie out!

Oban Star Racers belongs to Savin Yeatman-Eiffel

OCs belongs to me