K, finished this part.
Phish had a large, sleek speeder, the effect of which was killed by the dented and scraped hull of the vehicle. The grey paint was scratched and scored to reveal the metal underneath.
"She's got some scars, but she runs fine," Phish said happily. "Just as long as you don't care about style."
"I really don't think it matters at the moment, Phish," Jack said, eyeing the speeder. Behind him, Splitter nodded speculatively.
"Pretty sweet," he said admiringly. "She's got some power, that's for sure ..."
"Yeah," Phish agreed. "Worthy of the name 'speeder'. Welcome to the
Jolt."
"
Jolt, huh," Jack said. "Fits her. Come on, let's move. Much as I'd like to discuss the
Jolt with you all day, we've got a mercenary and a Queen waiting at the Castle."
"Right you are," Phish said. "Let's go then."
They boarded and he fired up the engines. As the
Jolt sped towards the Carrotus Castle, Jack explained what was going on to Phish.
"So you figure it's for ransom," Phish reasoned. "It's gotta be something big, then, for it to rate Jazz."
"Yeah," Firefox agreed from behind Jack. "Don't know what it is, though."
"You'll find out," Phish said confidently.
Copper was waiting when they arrived. Jack's expression asked the question for him. She shook her head.
"No word yet, Jack. There's something you have to hear, though."
"What?"
"This way." She led them through the main door and up a flight of worn stone steps, towards what Jack assumed was Jazz's room.
"What is it?" Jack repeated. Copper didn't look at him as she spoke.
"I called one of my friends in. His name is Radium ... he's a Chaos Mage. He identified the traces in Jazz's room as Order Magic. At the moment, that could mean anything, so he's trying to figure out who it is."
"Okay ... so?" Indigo looked skeptical.
"Indigo, you can be so thick at times," she said irritably. "Don't you get what this means?"
"It opens up a whole world of possibilities," Jack said unhappily. "They could be anywhere."
"You got it," she confirmed. "This is bad."
"Very bad," Firefox added. "Now what?"
"I guess we look for Order Mages."
"Why?" Phish asked absently. Everyone groaned.
"Aside from the fact that one has Jazz, no particular reason," she snapped. Phish looked embarrassed.
"Right. Sorry. Been a long day ..."
"I bet," she agreed. "I'm sorry, guys. If you don't want this assignment, forget it. I can probably find someone else ..."
"No, we'll do it," Jack said. Firefox nodded.
"Well, I've called a few of my friends up," she said. "Defalcon, Acid, Radium, Shinyso of course, Kaz, a few others."
"How many is a few?" Jack asked, something in her voice making him wonder.
"Well, more than one or two, and less than a hundred," she supplied. Jack rolled his eyes.
"Should've known."
"Yeah," she agreed, nodding. They had stopped in front of a heavy, iron bound, oak door, dark and scarred with age. Jack eyed it curiously.
At that moment Queen Earlong came barrelling up the hall, Eva trailing behind resignedly. Copper groaned quietly and stepped away from the door.
"You'd better be Jack Flash," the Queen said irritably, in a threatening tone. Jack nodded, not sure of what to say. "Good," the Queen went on. "Find Jazz, get him back here. I want him found yesterday!"
"Sure," Jack said uncertainly. "We'll certainly try."
"I don't want you to
try," the Queen snapped. "I want you to
do it!"
With that she swept off down the hall, vanishing around a bend. Eva lingered for a moment.
"Tell me if you find anything, hey," she said quietly. Jack nodded.
"Of course, Eva."
"
EVA!!!" The Queen's bellow echoed down the hall. Eva started and sighed.
"I'd better go."
"We'll keep you informed," Copper promised. Eva nodded and followed her mother.
"Is she gone?" The door opened a crack, and a rabbit with green and black fur stuck his head out. Jack was struck immediately by his glowing red eyes, and long silver hair. Copper grinned.
"For now, Rad," she said. The rabbit sighed.
"I thought she'd never leave," he said, letting the door swing open. "Hey, you must be Jack Flash. I'm Radium."
"Hi," Jack said. Copper glared at Radium.
"Are you just gonna stand there all day blocking the door, or are you gonna let us in?"
"Right. Sorry," he said, not at all sounding sorry. He moved to the side. Copper edged past him, the others following.
"Introductions can wait," she said shortly. "Rad, I've called a few people up. We'll get help soon."
"How many is a few?" Radium demanded, echoing Jack's question. Copper shrugged.
"Defalcon, Kaz, Acid, Shinyso, Nobody, Tiger ... some other people."
"Who?"
"Come on, Rad ... All right, all right! I called Ziran and Sasha, and Shonar. And Crystal, though I don't know if she's coming. And I can't remember who else."
"All right," he said, letting the subject drop. "Now, what were we talking about?"
"Radium ..."
Still slow, I'm afraid

At least I got Rad in.