*Narrating*

Stan: "Rick's return didn't save the Earth Team"

Koji: "His injuries from the crash in the first race were much worse than we thought"

Stan: "Rick Thunderbolt, Champion Star Racer Pilot, will never fly again"

Koji: "Young Molly is back in the driver's seat"

Stan: "The good news is-"

Koji: "She's won her fourth race"

Stan: "The bad news is-"

Koji: "With all the extra work she's giving us, we'll never see the light of day again"

*Adam POV*

I'm getting ready for some ceremony for the remaining teams. I, Jordan, Don and Eva are supposed to go while Stan and Koji repair Arrow II after the match with Paradice. Thankfully, we got the reactor to work at minimum capacity so there is some point of start for us. I just got from under the shower and get ready to get my clothes on when I hear a knock on my door and soon they opens and Eva enters the room

Eva: "Adam, I need you to-yep!" she sequels and turns around with a blush "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to walk on you!"

Adam: "You know, that's why you wait for an answer before entering someone's room. Good thing I have the towel. If you could give me five minutes" Eva nods and exits the room. I get my clothes on "Now you're clear" Eva enters the room and sits on my bed, avoiding my gaze "So, what's so important that you rushed in here?"

Eva: "The Ultimate Prize"

Adam: "Yeah, right. It can make any dream or wish true. What about it?"

Eva: "You think it's the truth? Maybe Paradice got it wrong?"

Adam: "Hmmm. Dunno. But it just sounds too good to be true. No one's that powerful, even Avatar"

Eva: "But, he's the most powerful being in the galaxy, right?"

Adam: "Star, most powerful doesn't mean all powerful. There are some things he can't do for sure" I hum "But it would be nice to have a wish realized"

Eva: "What would you wish for?" I put my thumb under my chin and think

Adam: "I don't know. I don't need anything I could get with a wish" Eva gives me a look

Eva: "I know you too well. You'd wished for your parents to come back"

Adam: "Whatever gave you that idea Star?" in response she grabs my medallion and opens it

Eva: "This. You have this medallion since forever and I sometimes heard you talking to your parents"

Adam: "Eva... I get over the loss. People die and we have to move on" Eva groans

Eva: "Easy for you to say" she brings her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around them

Adam: "Let me guess, you'd wished for Maya to come back" Eva nods sadly "You think that would reunite your family?"

Eva: "Am I really that easy to read?"

Adam: "Living with you in one dorm for ten years helped much" I smile "If it's true, then do it. Don would probably get a cardiac arrest seeing her alive" I snicker, but Eva doesn't see that so funny "Or Maya would slap the shit out of him"

Eva: "That's not the point! I swear you're so much of a jerk, Adam"

Adam: "You love me for it" I wink, teasing her, but she gets beat red and looks at the wall, instead of her normal 'shut up' or 'don't say that you idiot' "Eva?"

Eva: "I..." before she can finish, Jordan knocks on my doors

Jordan: "Adam! Come on, we have to go for that ceremony!"

Adam: "I will be there!" I turn back to Eva "Come on Star, let's move"

Eva: "Huh? Oh, right!" We get on our way to the arena

*timeskip*

I sit on the stands next to Don, with Jordan and Eva in front of us. The whole arena is illuminated by flames burning in stone basins.

Judge: "The six remaining pilots, please step forward" Jordan elbows Eva gently

Jordan: "That's us" Him and Eva stands up and go down into arena, but one of the Scrub guards blocked Jordan's way

Adam: "I don't think he understands the meaning of 'pilot'" Jordan shrugs, tells Eva to go alone and returns to the stands, sitting next to me

Jordan: "Why do pilots get all the fun?"

Adam: "Because some teams have only a pilot, not a pair of a pilot and a gunner. Take Aikka for example" Jordan scoffs

Jordan: "Your Crog lapdog friend... yeah, right"

Judge: "Can the second pilot for Team Earth step forward?" I get surprised

Adam: "Second? Boss, what're they-?"

Don: "You're still our second pilot, Adam. I won't risk us being in the same situation like after first race" I shrug and get down where the same Scrub guards blocks my way

Guard: "Identify yourself"

Adam: "Adam Ortin, second pilot for Team Earth" Guard checks the lists and let me go as I get next to Eva "Hey Star"

Eva: "Adam, what're doing here?"

Adam: "Well, I'm a pilot for our team if something happens to you, and I'm on their "I point to judges "list"

Eva: "Okay, that's make-whoa!" The pillar under us lit and shot upwards, Eva loses her balance but I grab her hand and help her up "Thanks Adam"

Adam: "What're the friends for?" a gust of wind then blows and we cover our faces and eyes from the light. We get our arms down and Avatar's figure stands on top of the building in font of us

Eva: "The Avatar..."

Adam: "He looks even brighter from up close..." I turn to Eva "Well, we're not in Kansas anymore for sure"

Eva: "Sounds like something my dad would say..."

Avatar: "Congratulations, proud pilots. Toros, Colonel of the Crog Imperium" one of the pillars lights up revealing Toros

'Better be careful while racing against him...'

Avatar: "Rush from planet Byrus" Another pillar lights up, exposing a large, human-like alien with white skin, large red beard and a massive pickaxe "The special envoy from planet Adalu, Super-racer" his pillar lights up, showing a very small man with a white beard and a very silly outfit. I chuckle

'Satis, you old trickster. Who do you wants to fool with this costume' Eva elbows my side

Eva: "Behave for crying out loud!' she whisper-shouts

Adam: "Okay, mom"

Avatar: "Aikka. Prince of Nourasia" Aikka's pillar lights up, as he gets his fist on his chest

Eva: "Prince Aikka"

Adam: "Hey, Aikka" Aikka turns to us and smiles. I nod with a smile while Eva gives him a cheeky smile

Avatar: "The representatives of Earth Coalition, Molly and Adam" Eva stands on attention while I salute "And Spirit, ambassador of the Phils" his pillar lights up. Me and Eva turns to him and my eyes widen, remembering Maya's last race

'That face... it's him, he's the one who killed Maya!' I clench my fists and Spirit looks at us. Eva turns her gaze away, while I keep the eye contact, with him, grinding my teeth

Avatar: "Now" I turn back to him, trying to calm down "You will race against each other in turns. Each victory will earn the winner one point. At the end of six races, the three with the most points will move on to the finals on the planet Oban. Eva looks back at Don and later at me, as I don't care

'Everything that happened to Eva... it's his fault. And... then my parents get blamed for Maya's accident. Saying the explosion was their fault... I will murder him, I don't care if we got eliminated. I won't let him hurt anybody else. And for sure I won't let Eva race against him' I again have a flashback of that day 'Even if I die, I will take him down with me'

Avatar: "Race like the wind, champions, toward Oban...and the Ultimate Prize" With a flash of light he disappears

*timeskip*

The next day, I get up the ladder to Arrow II cockpit, doing some learning and tune ups for race against Toros

'Okay, I think I get a hold of steering with rocket seat, now to get it back to how it was before Eva notices'

Much to my surprise, Eva climbs the ladder

Eva: "Hey Adam, what're doing in the cockpit?"

Adam: "Some tune ups for your race against Toros" I reply coldly "You better be careful with that son of a bitch. I don't want another sleepless night repairing Arrow"

Eva: "Okay, you better tell me what's wrong?"

Adam: "Huh?"

Eva: "After yesterday's ceremony you started acting cold towards everyone, even me! Adam, please, tell me. You know we can always tell each other everything"

Adam: "Nothing is wrong" I grab my tools and turn to the ladder "Get ready, you have a race soon" I start going down

Eva: "Adam..."

Adam: "Good luck, Molly" I go on my way to control room, leaving Eva staring at me going up the stairs

*Eva POV*

Eva: "Fine, you don't want to tell me then I will make you talk" I groan under my nose, close the cockpit and get on my position

Jordan: "Seems like your boyfriend is not in the mood"

Eva: "Shut up, Jordan. I'm really worried about him, he never behaved that way..."

Jordan: "Hey, I'm worried too, okay. You know him for much longer than any of us except for Don. If someone can get him to talk it's you" I look forward, seeing Aikka walking on his beetle. It's limping and Aikka is petting its shell "Looks like your lapdog friend took a beating. Not that he didn't deserved it"

Eva: "Adam told you, Jordan, don't go there" I start the Arrow II "We still have to do better than the Prince"

Jordan: "Shouldn't be that hard. The guy rides a bug" he turns off the comms and I shrug before getting Arrow II to the arena

*Adam POV*

I get to the control room, take my sit and pull out stats for Arrow II

Don: "*ekhm* I turn to him "Where are you manners, Adam? Not even saying a 'good morning'?"

Adam: "I don't have time for this nonsense, Don. We have a job here, not a tea party"

I look at the screen showing Arrow II and Crog trident

Adam: "They're using the same stuff they attacked Earth with. Crog Imperium must upgraded them to race, or just send out one of their warship"

Don: "Listen up you two. We're entering these playoffs with a clean slate. I know Toros is tough, but that doesn't mean we can't pull off a surprise victory" Eva nods on the screen "You've both show you're ability to beat the odds"

Eva: "We won't let you down, sir!" Stan turns to Don, covering his microphone with his hand

Stan: "I've heard Toros has never been beaten. Do you seriously believe they have a chance?" Me and Don turn to him. Don closes his eyes and covers his microphone as well "If I don't believe in them, no one will'' I cover my microphone now

Adam: "Looking at the stats, Toros have a granted win. Arrow II is slower and has less armor, unless..."

Stan: "Unless what, Adam?"

Adam: "Unless Molly will use hyperdrive. But we didn't tested it" I turn back to my screen "So there is a chance it will explode or some other shit will happen, I don't know"

Soon the gate drops and the race starts. Eva overtakes him, but Toros starts gaining on them

Adam: "Told ya..."

Jordan: "Try the other pedal, Molly, he's gaining"

Eva: "Would you like to drive?! Come on, a little faster" But Toros passes her easily

Don: "His cruising speed is much greater than the Arrow's, you'll have to catch him on the corners"

Eva: "Right" she cuts the next corners as tight as she can and passes Toros

Koji: "All systems are normal. She's doing surprisingly well"

Don: "It's still early Koji" I scoff, not wanting to hear anything

'Toros is playing with her. Tridents are top notch of Crog's war technology, he could easily leave her behind unless... no...'

A feeling of anxiety gets through my body as my right hand starts shaking. I clench it in a fist, hoping everything will be alright

'Come on, Adam. Eva can do it, believe in her'

Eva and Toros turn the corner

Don: "This is a Crog, Molly. Keep alert and stay clear of the Trident's blades"

Eva pulls ahead of Toros, who positions his ship right behind Arrow II, trying to hit them

Eva: "Uh-oh! Hold on, Jordan, we're going for a roll!"

Jordan: "Roll it!" Toros shots forward, but Eva barrel rolls and avoids him, falling next to him. She pulls ahead, Toros inches closer "He's back!"

Eva ducks the Arrow under a fallen rock arch. The Trident passes just below it, the blades cutting into it. The arch crumbles behind the Trident.

Jordan: "I've got a bad feeling about this Trident!"

Don: "Molly, it's too early to pull ahead. Let him take the lead or he'll ram the Arrow II!"

Eva: "I'll try, sir" both her and Jordan voices are full of stress and anxiety

Adam: "This is the toughest race so far. Molly, clear your head"

Eva: "Oh, now you want to talk?!"

Adam: "Just let him pass and don't risk anything"

Eva ducks to the left and Toros follows her. She then gets to the right, with Toros doing the same. He is covering her, not allowing her to get back. Trident's tip rams into the back of Arrow

Eva: "It's no use! I can't shake him! But maybe...I can put some distance between us! Adam, what's the code?!"

Adam: "386412, it's not tested, but if you want to use it, then do it. It's reverse for deactivation"

Don: "Adam, what's she doing?"

Adam: "It's a code for-"

Stan: "She engaged the hyperdrive!"

Adam: "Yeah, that"

Arrow shots forward like a bullet. Don growls and clenches his fists

Don: "This girl will be the death of me"

Adam: "Not only your death..." I say under my nose

Don: "Molly, you're out of the range of his blades! Disengage, now!"

Eva: "I can't disengage, it's too soon"

Jordan: "Molly, look out!" Arrow gets in a section of the track where rock structures are jutting out of the sides. Eva easily avoided them even with hyperdrive engaged and soon they're in the open. Arrow is over a river or canal of some sort. Water is spraying behind them

Don: "What's their fuel like?" he closes his eyes

Koji: "Low, but not critical. They'll be okay for a few more seconds"

Stan: "They don't have to worry about the Crog. He's way behind them" Eva disengages the hyperdrive

Eva: "Hyperdrive disengaged, sir" Don sighs

Don: "Well" he sounds pleased "I must say I didn't expect you to...fair so well" Eva's face brightens up

Eva: "Jordan! Did you hear that? A compliment from Don Wei! We lived to hear it!"

I chuckle, the first time since yesterday

'It must mean so much for her'

Don: "Keep up your present pace, and watch your tank levels, the race is far from over"

Jordan: "I'd love to see the look on that Crog's face!" The next second however, Toros' face appears in the control room and probably in the cockpit and the turret

Toros: "Are you finished playing, humans? It's been amusing watching you struggle with your pathetic ship. But now I'm bored" Jordan shrugs

Jordan: "Well, don't let us keep you"

Adam: "Jordan, no!"

Toros: "Very well" He disappears from the screen and then alarms and warnings appear on our monitors, same as alarm in the cockpit

Jordan: "What...?"

Adam: "Shit... Eva, be careful!"

Don: "Why did you-?" I stare at the screen terrified. Toros has engaged his own hyperdrive and is zooming down the track, eating the distance between him and Eva. His ship's blades glow with a crackle. In a second... it's all over... Toros cuts Arrow II in half like a knife through the butter

Adam: "No... no fucking way..." I take a sharp breath "Eva..."

Koji: "Molly, Jordan, can you hear us?!" we have no answer. Don slowly backs away from the screen until hitting a wall. He covers his face with his hand. I get past him and out of the room. Don glances at the screen and then follows me

Don: "Where're you going?"

Adam: "To the market to buy any parts we need to get Arrow II together"

Don: "Why did you call Molly 'Eva' again? Is that her real name? Did she lie when she said it was Molly? What's going on between you two? I know you're up to something" I stop and look over my shoulder at him

Adam: "You know what, boss? I really hope that one day your old-timer brain will kick start and you find out. IT should be obvious to you. A girl named Eva appears with me, a guy from Stern, at your company hangar one day, wearing a uniform from said school and has amazing talent as a Star-racer pilot, same tattoo on her left cheek and same eyes as her. Come on, how dense can you be?" I turn around and go on my way "And when it happens, you'll deal with me" I leave Don stunned and went on my way for search of anything that could help with putting Arrow II together

*timeskip*

Koji and Stan get both halves of Arrow II back in the hangar. I found out some metal plates they used to Groor's ship and bought a bag of them

Don: "Can it be fixed?"

Stan: "Well, now we have two ships for the price of one" he steps back from the Arrow "One thing's for certain. You can kiss the hyperdrive goodbye. It's totally shot"

Adam: "I can try to do some magic with it, but it would take me two weeks at best"

Don: "And at the worst?"

Adam: "I couldn't fix it at all" Don don't look so happy

Koji: "Ships can always be fixed. It's them I'm worried about" They turn to Eva and Jordan, who are sitting on a crate, wearing robes with their clothes hanging on a line behind them

Don: "I've worried about them from the beginning" I jump down from the reactor and observe "They were showing signs of progress," Don continues "But now...they've clearly reached their limit" I scoff

'You know shit, Don. You pushed Eva too fast. I'm sick of your shit'

Jordan: "If only we'd known more about the Trident we could've stopped him"

Don: "You did your best" Eva gets her head down

Eva: "Our best wasn't enough, was it?"

Don: "Every champion must experience the agony of defeat at least once in their professional career. Toros was just too powerful. End of story"

Adam: "*sigh* Koji, Stan, I will go to the market, search anything to repair hyperdrive"

Stan: "Be safe there Adam"

Adam: "Yeah..." I exit the hangar

'I heard Aikka was racing against Spirit today. I can always ask him what happened' With that I made my way towards Nourasian hangar

*timeskip*

'It starting to get cloudy, like it should be raining soon'

I get near Nourasian's hangar

Adam: "Well, it's closer than I thought" I enter the hangar and see Aikka's beetle. It gets down to the edge of his hencoop and I pet its head "Heh, for a big guy, you like pets, don't you?" the beetle emits a sound of pleasure

???: "Who comes there?" Aikka comes out of the building on top of the stairs "Adam? With what I deserve a visit?"

Adam: "Prince Aikka" I bow "I have a request"

Aikka: "Very well. Shall we discuss it over in my quarter?" I nod and follow him upstairs to some type of training room with a wooden floor and a sword stand and some shields next to it. I get near it

Adam: "May I?" Aikka nods and I take one of the swords before swinging it around and then inspecting it edge "It looks like a sword of ancient Earth warriors, katana" I put the sword back "Aikka, I have you to ask about your race with Spirit. What did he do to damage your beetle? Did he try something dangerous?"

Aikka: "G'dar got caught in his wings, resulting in the injury you must've saw"

Adam: "So, the big guy has a name, G'dar. Does it mean something?"

Aikka: "It means 'Swift as wind' in Nourasian"

Adam: "Your culture is very rich. You know, if humans gets to know you Nourasians better, I'm sure our two planets could live in alliance"

Aikka: "You and Molly are the only one friendly to us. Most of your people treat us like your gunner"

Adam: "Jordan... I told him it's not nice to judge a book by its cover, but he still speaks up about you being lap dogs for Crogs" I notice Aikka getting kinda angry "But I don't think it's that way. Don't get me wrong, Aikka, but Crogs have lasers, Tridents and guns while you Nourasians have bows, swords and your beetles. It was a lost battle long before it started"

Aikka: "I... I know. That's why I want to win the Ultimate Prize. To free my kingdom and my people from Crogs"

Adam: "I knew it... Aikka, as much as I see your goal as noble, it wouldn't be an easy task. But if anything, I will be rooting for you in your races until you get to race Molly" I smile

Aikka: "It's understandable. After all, she's your princess"

Adam: "You can say that again"

???: "Prince Aikka. I'm back from-" The same old Nourasian from when me and Eva meet Aikka gets up the stairs "What's this human doing here?"

Aikka: "Canaan, please, calm down. This is Adam Ortin, the human I speak with you about one day"

Canaan: "And how can we be so sure he's not a spy?"

Adam: "Um? Because if I was a spy I would simply cut G'dar's legs off, eliminating Aikka completely?" Canaan growls

Canaan: "You speak highly about yourself, human, the same Prince Aikka spoke about you. Shall I put it to the test or you admit to being a spy?"

Adam: "By test you mean a sparring match with a sword? Sure, it's been some time since I trained"

Aikka: "Be careful Adam. Canaan was the one who trained me"

Adam: "Good, then it's would be a challenge " I get to the sword stand and pick up one sword "So, any sign or-" Canaan swings at me, but I duck under it "Okay"

Canaan: "Not bad for a human" I roll over next swing, trying to cut at Cannan's ankles, but he jumps up

Adam: "Not bad for an old man" I smile "Shall we continue?"

Canaan: "We-" I surprise him by an overhead swing, to which he just jumps over me and somersaults. He tries to stab me from behind, but I get my free hand on his wrist, spin it around, making him drop his sword, before putting my sword near the back of his neck "How in the-"

Adam: "Not all humans are weak. And I hone my swordsmanship quite often. Am I really a spy to you?"

Canaan: "Only a spy could be trained to best-"

Aikka: "Canaan, that's enough" We look at him "When I told you about Adam, I was saying the truth. He's as skilled as some of our top warriors"

Canaan: "As you wish, Prince Aikka" he then turns to me "You bested me, sir Adam, therefore I show my respect to you" he bows before me

Adam: "It was a good match, sir Canaan" I bow too "Now I really wish to train with your warriors, Aikka"

Canaan: "Prince Aikka, now it's your turn. Sir Adam, if you wish, you can stay"

Adam: "It's a gracious offer, thank you, sir Canaan" I sit down next to the sword stand and observe Aikka and Canaan fight. Outside, it's started raining. Aikka tries the same attack as me, but Canaan is not stupid and elbows Aikka's side, making him stumble backwards

Canaan: "Prince, keep your guard up. No wonder Spirit surprised you" With a battle cry, Aikka rushes Canaan, but the older Nourasian steps aside and goes for an overhead strike on kneeling Aikka. Aikka jumps over Canaan with a somersault like his master did against me and later tries to stab him from behind. I notice some weird movements at the entrance, grab a dagger and throw it there, impaling it next to the door before Aikka corrects my mistake and stabs his dagger through the entrance.

Aikka: "Molly?" I get next to him

Adam: "Who is the- Star?! What are you doing out in the rain?"

Eva: "What am I doing here? What're YOU doing here?!"

Adam: "I come here to talk with Aikka about his race today and train with him and his fencing master. Now, what're you doing here?"

Eva: "I-I thought that you may want to talk, Aikka, since we both lost the race"

Canaan: "This is clearly a lie" he gets next to me and Aikka "Any opponent would rejoice at our defeat" he gets his sword up

Adam: "Please, sir Canaan, get your weapon down. There is nothing to be happy about neither Nourasia or Earth loss"

Canaan: "You may be a trustworthy, human called Adam, but your friend is not. She is a spy, and we shall deal with her as one deals with spies"

Eva: "Look at me. Do I look like a spy to you?" I grab the impaled dagger and get in front of Eva

Adam: "I ask once again, sir Canaan, put your weapon down. Neither me or Molly are spies" Aikka grabs Canaan's arm

Aikka: "I will handle this" Canaan hums. Eva meanwhile gasps scared and runs away "Molly, wait"

Adam: "It's a big misunderstanding, Star! Come back!" I growl "Aikka, there is a better use of words, especially to someone who got a dead threat not a while ago" I get down the stairs "Come on, we need to find her before she hurts herself" Aikka nods and we follow her. Soon we catch her, standing over her with our blades out. She looks at us and covers in fear

Eva: "Why did you help Adam with Groor the other day, only to deal with me now? And you, Adam, I thought that we're friends! Maybe, maybe even-"

Adam: "What're you talking about Star? No one wants to kill you, especially not me" I throw the dagger away "You can't even cut a cucumber with this blade, it's dull, right Aikka?"

Aikka: "Those blades are for practice" he throws his dagger away and I help Eva up. When she stands up, Aikka bows before her "I apologize for a rough reception" He gets up "Nourasians are well known for their hospitality" We look around, in search of any shelter "There!" he points to some trees and we hid under there

Adam: "It seems it won't stop too soon. Really bad day for sure"

Eva: "Seems like it's a bad day, for all of us"

Adam: "Yeah..." Aikka went to say something, but Canaan calling him make him stop

Canaan: "Prince Aikka? Prince Aikka!"

Aikka: "I must be getting back. My fencing master is a bit of a nuisance. But he means well"

Eva: "I know the feeling"

Aikka: "Put today's race behind you, Molly. We'll do better tomorrow" Aikka walks away, leaving me and Eva alone

Eva: "Well, maybe now you want to talk with me?"

Adam: "About?" she hit my shoulder

Eva: "About? About?! Don't you remember how you behaved since yesterday?!"

Adam: "Yeah..." I start walking away, remembering about Spirit. Eva soon runs to me

Eva: "Hey, I'm talking to you!"

Adam: "Eva, leave me alone. I don't want to talk with anyone about this"

Eva: "It's about Spirit, isn't it?" I stop and turn to her

Adam: "It's none of your business, Eva"

Eva: "Adam..."

Adam: "Why do you even care?!"

Eva: "Huh? I care because we're friends!"

Adam: "Yeah, friends" I scoff and continue walking, but Eva grabs my hand

Eva: "No. Either you tell me or I will make you"

Adam: "Make me? Wonder how you gonna do that?"

Eva: "I..."

Adam: "That's what I though" I sigh "Eva, just please, leave me alone. I will tell you, just not noMMMhhh" Eva did something I never would have thought she'd do. She gets on her tiptoes and plants a soft kiss on my lips. She breaks it five seconds later

Eva: "Don't you understand you idiot! I'm worried about you because I love you!"

Adam: "Huh?"

Eva: "I love you! I always loved you ever since you started telling me stories back in Stern! Adam, please, don't turn away from us, from me! Tell me everything and we can work it out. Like always" she smiles at me

Adam: "You love me?" Eva nods "I-I love you too, Eva"

Eva: "That's good" she smiles "Now, are you willing to talk?"

Adam: "Not here, let's get back to our hangar" Eva nods. I take off my hoodie and hand it to Eva, she uses it to cover herself from rain. Soon we enter our hangar and get to my room. "First of all, since that happened, we're a boyfriend and girlfriend, right. And we have to be honest with each other"

Eva: "That's a basic in relationship, yes"

Adam: "Okay *sigh* Eva, Aikka have a fiance"

Eva: "What?! How do you know?"

Adam: "Canaan, the old guy who tried to kill you told me that when I was observing their training. He's supposed to get married some time in the future to her. His parents choose her as his bride"

Eva: "Oh man..." I give her questioning look "I-I mean, I have you now, so naturally Aikka-"

Adam: "You don't have to say anything, I knew you have a crush on him"

Eva: "I wouldn't call it a 'crush', tho" she looks away

Adam: "Whatever you say, Star. Okay, now, about Spirit"

Eva: "So? What's on your mind about him. Is he-"

Adam: "He's the one who probably killed Maya..." Eva grinds her teeth in anger

Eva: "I knew it! I will-"

Adam: "You'll do nothing"

Eva: "Huh?"

Adam: "I asked Don to let me race against Spirit and he said I can" Eva seems hurt by that

Eva: "But... why?"

Adam: "Mainly because your mom was not the only one hurt by him. After the accident, my parents got blamed for Maya's death, saying that the engine was faulty. Of course commision said it's not true, but two months of dragging my dead parents' names through the mud did enough damage. For both me and aunt Ophelia..."

Eva: "Adam..."

Adam: "Before I met you, I was called 'son of murderers' in Stern. One older kid was a huge fan of your mom, he beat me up to a pulp. He broke my jaw and nose, and I had to spend a month in hospital. My aunt got fired from her job after the accident, and that's the reason I ended up in Stern" Eva hugs me "And then you showed up. I first thought that you're just another normal kid. When I learned that you're Maya's daughter, I felt guilty, because why should her kid be friends with a son of her murderers..."

Eva: "But your parents didn't kill her. HE did" she growls angry "And I will make sure he'll pay, for both your parents and my mom"

Adam: "I'm sure you will" I smile

Eva: "Just help Stan and Koji with Arrow II and let me do the rest"

Adam: "Right... I still have hyperdrive to repair" we stay silent for a while

Eva: "So... what now?"

Adam: "Dunno? Stargazing? It's stopped raining"

Eva: "Sure"

We get out on the roof through the window in my room and watch the night sky, holding hands, leaning against each other.

A/N And I did it again... I thought about when to get those two together and I find this moment quite fitting (maybe Spirit episode would fit better, but I did it here, my world, my rules :]) So, Team Earth lost against Crogs and Aikka lost against Spirit, the supposed killer of Maya Wei. Next time it's Earth vs Nourasia, will Eva and Adam's friendship with Aikka survive the test? Find out in the next chapter of 'Adam & Eva'! Until then feel free to comment and vote. Stay safe and until next time!

Punkie out!

Oban Star Racers belongs to Savin Yeatman-Eiffel

OCs belongs to me