The path through the Redrock Mountains was a jagged labyrinth of stone. There were no paved roads here—only the ancient, winding trails of the high hills and the vast, desert-like spans between them. The earth itself bled a deep, metallic crimson, colored by the massive deposits of raw iron and minerals that lay just beneath the surface.
Rick's buggy roared as it tore across the sand, the heavy-tread tires kicking up a storm of red dust that trailed behind them like a bloody veil. Rick gripped the wheel tight, squinting against the glare of the desert sun.
"Are you sure those thugs are taking the train through these hills?" Rick shouted over the engine's whine.
Jax, who had been catching a jagged, restless nap in the passenger seat, blinked his eyes open. He looked out at the desolate landscape, his expression stone-cold. "The other routes are already sealed by the Clans. I've heard they've even assigned high-ranking Elites to investigate the hijacking. This is the only path left for them."The green dot on the tracker began to beep with a frantic, high-pitched rhythm.
"Rick, stop!" Jax commanded.
They skidded to a halt at the edge of a sheer mountain pass. Jax stepped out of the buggy, his white hooded jacket snapping violently in the heavy mountain winds. He walked to the very edge of the cliff and looked down into the canyon below.
There it was. A miniature transport train, hauling the critical 7 through 12 sections, was snaking its way through the valley.
Rick knelt beside him, his eyes wide. "I heard news two days ago that a mini-train was stolen from the central yards... I didn't think they'd actually have the guts to bring it out here."
"Why did they stop?" Yuna asked, narrowing her eyes. Her short, pale-yellow hair whipped around her face as she peered down at the idling engine.
"They're refilling the steam-pressure tanks," Rick noted, his mechanic's eyes analyzing the flickering valves on the locomotive. "But they won't stay long."
When do we move?" Yuna whispered, her hand hovering over her toolkit.
Jax watched the train with a terrifying focus. "Let them start the engine. Let them think they're safe. When the show starts, we end it."