Jago: The Millennium Galaxy Race

Chapter 29: Tranquility

"What are you talking about? What island casing?" Kiko demanded, but Lone just smiled.

A larger hologram panel lit up in both rooms. It was a message that spoke not only to us, but to everyone on the planet.

"Greetings, planet Tizarr," came a raspy, metallic voice. A face appeared, accompanying the voice. His eyes were burning red, and there was no doubt I'd seen him on Dezner, right beside Ozias.

"As most of you know, the great Millennium Galaxy Race is taking place as we speak. The race that awards unequivocal, mystical power to the winner. The Millennium Galaxy Race, as it has always been, requires the collection of four unknown stones."

The red-eyed man paused to clear his throat and hack something up before continuing. "Well, congratulations, people of Tizarr. We now know the holders of two of the stones."

One-by-one, images of each Jago crewmember flashed on the hologram panels from when we first arrived. My stomach sank. We really were being watched the entire time, and now everyone knew we had two of the stones.

"We will leave it up to you, citizens of Tizarr: choose to take the stones for yourselves or watch the galaxy's ultimate power leave this planet right before your eyes."

With a last malicious grin, the man vanished, leaving only our images affixed on the panels.

"What else do you have planned?" Kiko threatened, pressing the knife tighter against Lone's neck. A tiny stream of blood emerged from around the edge of the blade.

"Don't, Kiko." I knew we had bigger problems now. "Just leave her here."

Kiko's eyes narrowed as her grip slowly loosened around Lone's neck, but she didn't let go. Instead, she dragged her to the lit room and bent a broken metal bar to cuff her hands to the ground. Then she ripped the pack off Lone's back and put the stones in her pocket, tossing the bag on the floor.

"You're going to just leave me here?! At least finish me off!" Lone screamed at us as we walked away. "Cowards! TRASH!"

We ignored her until she said something that grabbed my attention. "It was me, Trash! I killed the Professor!"

I stopped dead in my tracks having just learned something I wished I never knew. She saw me stop and continued to taunt. "That's right! He's gone because of me! I sold him out! And you're not going to do anything about it?"

Kiko paused behind me. She gave me a moment before trying to bring me back. "Sarth?"

I gritted my teeth and forced myself to walk away. "It's nothing, let's go," I muttered, never turning back.

#

We left Lone in the room and swam back the way we came. At the first chance, we stole a two-seat, side-by-side water vehicle and rushed back to the main island. Luckily our destination wasn't too far from where we currently were.

"You think that message would actually provoke anyone to attack us?" I asked Kiko through the mask.

She swerved through traffic at an insane speed. I was sure we were going to crash a few times, but somehow we always barely made it.

She turned the wheel just in time to avoid hitting into a large water vehicle. "I hope not, but I doubt it," she said casually.

We drove on, undisturbed for a while until the vehicle started flashing red lights.

"I take it that's not a good thing?" I asked.

"We're being monitored, and followed."

I looked back to see a crowd of thug-looking Attars gather behind us in their water vehicles. Blast shots passed us, too close for comfort. Up ahead I saw the base of the large island's rock bottom. It was significantly bigger than the one we'd just left.