Who's the Enemy

#9: Lousy Tricks

The participants were rested and ready to start the next stage. The next stop was Blazz. Somewhat lost, Zak stared at the map. "It was specially planned that way," said Calabrass. "If this route is right, that's all. We have to prepare for a thermal shock." While Zak continued to examine the map, Calabrass saw Jex and Turo whispering. "The two of them certainly don't have anything good in mind..." 

As they stood at the starting flag, Jex looked at Zak from the side: 'May the better one win today. And that's what I'm going to be.' The flag fell and the participants rushed off. They had to dodge icebergs again, but this time, Zak was smarter. He skillfully meandered through the ice masses, and also got to grasp a flag. He actually managed to catch up with the brothers. "This rat is really stubborn that you have to leave it." "See you later!" said Zak amused and he waved. Jex hit the steering wheel. "He will get what he deserves!" 

Zak was the first to pass the portal to Blazz and immediately noticed how his circulation was weakening. "Wow, an internal thermal shock is just as corrosive as a normal one." Suddenly, he heard gunshots behind him and hit his plank, so the Van-Rewio brothers could take the lead again. With a sinister look, he watched the crooks. 

There was no end to the trickery. When they flew from Blazz to Dezer, Jex and Turo caused a sandstorm so that Zak had to steer into a rocky maze formation, and needed time to get out of there. "Argh! I will turn the neck of these brothers!" Zak said to himself. Jex and Turo won again. 

Also on the next race day, the brothers took no consideration. The nearest base was in Vapir. While Zak desperately tried to overtake, Jex nodded to Turo and let a kind of powder fly through the exhaust, and it landed right in Zak's face. He began to cough profusely and his eyes turned red. "I can't see anything anymore!" "You're flying right up to a shipwreck! Dodge to the right!" Zak had not heard this in time, bounced off it and landed in the water. He heard his competitors laugh. "I'll finish them off!" 

Soaking wet, he reached the base, and without saying anything, he walked past them. "Look at that! Someone probably wanted to go swimming, and was it refreshing?" asked Jex with a laugh. "You're going to lose your laughter, I swear to you," Zak murmured angrily. 

Before he went to the body check, his crew stood in front of him. 

Z: "What are you doing here?" 

R: "We thought you needed some support." 

Z: "Thank you, but no thanks." 

R: "You can't get rid of us whether you want to or not." 

Ca: "You fought valiantly against them." 

Z: "But I see it differently, Caramba." 

Cece stood aside and suddenly heard the voices of the two brothers. Carefully, she listened at the door. 

J: "It's only a matter of time before he sees through us and wins." 

T: "And what do you want to do now?" 

J: "If we want to win this race, and the bet on top of that, we have to get this Storm out of the way, once and for all."