Jago: The Millennium Galaxy Race

Chapter 19: Wind

I jumped out of bed and found that everyone else was already up and helping to keep objects from flying off. I hadn't noticed how chaotic it was because our tents were protected from the winds by energy shields.

When I stepped outside the tent, making sure to stay within the protective shield, I could see just how intense the weather on Fargon could get. I'd never seen winds blow this fiercely before. It bellowed and shrieked, fluctuating in pitch based on the wind's temperamental state. It was so fierce that I could tell just by looking out at the flying debris that I would blow away in an instant. We'd had sand storms on Sola, but that was almost completely different.

As I was taking in the new weather, a figure came toward our tent, growing bigger as they made their way toward me. They were clad in a light-colored, tight jacket and full face mask. Up close, I could see that it was Kiko, followed by Rei who was attached to her by a cable. Kiko wore long spikes that strapped around her lower leg and boots. With each step, she stomped them into the ground to keep from flying away. Rei was wearing smaller spiked shoes since she wasn't the main anchor, I assumed.

"Do you need to get somewhere?" Kiko asked after entering the shield and taking her mask off.

I'd definitely need her to get anywhere since she was the only one strong enough to penetrate the dense ground with such long spikes.

"No, I was wondering what was going on," I said.

Rei wiped away dirt and debris from herself. "Apparently, ever since the stone broke the protective layers, the weather fluctuates in random intervals to the extreme. It came out of nowhere just a short while ago, and Cashel told us to help gather items from the other tents since all the power they have is going towards ours."

We could probably thank Breccan's love for Kiko for that.

"I can help out too," I said as I finished putting on my boots.

Rei clipped herself loose from the cable and removed the spikes on the soles of her boots. "Nah, don't bother. They seem to be doing just fine by themselves."

We watched, standing just outside of the tent, as several of Breccan's larger crewmembers acted as anchors for the smaller members. There were a few large species with giant shells on their backs that looked like they weighed a ton; a single one could support several crewmates. They all worked quickly to tie down or move items from tent to ship.

Lux and Breccan were cabled as well, anchored to the ship, giving orders and directing traffic. I was surprised to see how efficient they were, considering my first impression of him, and his over-the-top attachment to Kiko.

Without warning, a large panel ripped off from the Breccan and slashed through a small crewmember's cable. Like the panel, the crewmember was swept away, fighting to grab ahold of anything.

Lux and Kiko reacted at the same time, but only Kiko was unrestrained from the cables. She shot out of the shielded tent and caught the drifter just in time. But more of the ship's large panels broke off and went flying towards them.

"Look out!" I yelled out through the shield, though she probably couldn't hear me.

I don't know how she did it without a mask, but she swerved left and right and jumped out of the way of all the panels that flew by—and that was with someone hanging off her back. When they were safe from the flying debris, Kiko made her way back to the closest safe spot, our energy shield, and let the stranger down from her back.

"Thank you for saving me ... Breccan's lover." A feminine voice came from underneath the cloak and mask. It was the ship's lead mechanic, Pippa.