"Are you not tired, Janus?" Mag asked. Janus remained fixated on the passing scenery. The desert beyond the window seemed to stretch on for infinity. He blinked twice, focusing on the creeping sun beyond the flat expanse of sand.
"Oh, me?" Janus said almost confused as he broke free from his daze. "Just a bit. But I have a hard time sleeping sitting up."
"By all means, lay down if you like. It won't bother us. Your friends seem to be sleeping quite cozily."
Janus looked at Gurk and then Itzel. Both were fast asleep, their bodies slowly moving in tune with their breathing. "I might take you up on that offer." Janus then stretched an arm above his head, letting a yawn escape from his open mouth. He slid his jacket off and wrapped in front of him like a blanket and as he laid back in the corner.
"You don't mind it if we keep the Projector on a low volume, do you?" Mag asked. He turned around in his seat, his hand ready to wave and activate the device.
"Nope. Not... at all..." Janus took off his glasses and placed them on the table. His eyes then closed completely and darkness overcame him.
The sleep was sparse. The smoothness of the ride abruptly became bumpy. Janus got up first, lurching forward and sliding his jacket off his body and onto the floor. He looked out the window and saw that the passing scenery was jittering up and down. He then looked at Itzel and Gurk, the former of which had gotten up from her sleep and rubbed her eyes. She looked out the window with tired eyes.
"What's going on?" Itzel asked, still drowsy.
"I'm not sure," Mag said. His eyes shifted around the section of the Transporter as if he was looking for the cause of the rumbling. "I've never been on a Transporter that rattled this much."
"Is everything alright, Father?" Sheila asked with fear in her eyes.
The shaking became more intense. A loud crash came from the outside of the vehicle. Everyone in the section save for Gurk hurried to look out the window. In the distance a large cloud of sand formed in the horizon.
"I hope that's not what I think it is," Mag said with a tone of dread. Janus took his eyes off from the distance to look at him. Mag's face was solemn as he stared at the approaching fog of dust.
"What do you think it is?" Janus asked with fear.
"A Sand Carver," Mag said just above a whisper.
"Sand Carver?" Itzel exclaimed as she scrambled across the seats to look out the window for herself. The clouds grew in size as if it were getting closer. A dark, protruding object jutted out of the sand and closed in on the vehicle. "The first time we take a Transporter to get out of Labrisson, we get attacked by a Sand Carver?"
"What's a Sand Carver?" Janus said with panic.
"It's an Essencima that's exclusive to the desert that separates Sano Mosado from the rest of the world," Mag said.
Janus kept his eyes fixated on the burrowing creature. "It looks massive!"
"That's because it is. One of the biggest species ever recorded. They have a tendency to take out Transporters. And everyone on board."
"You left that part out, Itzel!" Janus said as he turned to her. "No one said that we might have to take on something even larger than an Ogre!"
"I didn't know either! There hasn't been a recorded attack in ages. I thought they went extinct."
"Apparently not," Mag said. "It's not like Essencima breed like normal species. Could've spawned after a certain set of environmental conditions were met."
Itzel left the view of the side window and went next to Gurk. She put her boot against Gurk's chest and nudged him with her foot. "Wake up, big guy! We've got company!"
The crocodile's head darted upwards. He blinked twice, frantically looking around the area. "What?"
"Sand Carver!" Itzel exclaimed.
"Really?" Gurk said, still drowsy.
"Yes! Really! Come on and get up!"
"Do what?" Gurk mumbled as he stood on his feet.
"I don't know," Itzel said as she began pacing around the length of their section of the Transporter. "But this kind of thing that you want to be awake for!"
"I'm sure this Transporter has some kind of defensive measure equipped to deal with this," Mag said. "I'll go head to Pilot's Section and inform them of the situation." Mag put his head on the door that led out of the room. Sheila left her spot on the wall to follow her father.
"I'm coming with you!" she said worriedly.
"Stay here with the others. I'll be right back," Mag replied while looking Sheila in her wide eyes. "The Pilot's Section is the prime target of Sand Carver's. These things know that taking it out will disable the entire vehicle.”
"But Father..." Sheila grabbed onto Mag's arm, tugging on it to convince him to stay. Their eyes locked once more. Sheila remained timid while Mag maintained his calm and collected demeanor.
"I promise. I'll be back shortly," Mag said.
Gurk walked over and placed a hand on the young lady's shoulder. "I'll protect," he said with confidence.
"Thanks Gurk," Mag said. His eyes shifted from the crocodile to Sheila. "I'll call you once I meet up with the whoever is piloting this thing."
Sheila hugged the crocodile as they both turned to stare at the dust cloud trailing beside their Transporter. Gurk angled his body to protect the young woman. She began to pant and press herself against Gurk's chest.
"It's fine," Gurk said as he pat Sheila on the back.
"Not so sure about that, big guy," Itzel said, still staring out the window. "That Sand Carver isn't slowing down. It's heading straight for us!"
"What options do we have?" Janus asked.
"I don't know! Like I said before, I have never seen one of these things in my life! I have no idea what it's capable of! But if it can take out an entire Transporter by itself, it's got to be dangerous."
"Weapons?" Gurk asked.
"I think that's what my father is looking for!" Sheila said. "Transporters travelling to Sano Mosado usually have some kind of anti-Essencima weaponry on board for situations like this. They're not always effective though. The tech in them is dated because attacks from Sand Carvers have been almost non-existent for decades."
Janus and Itzel looked at each other. "It's our best bet," Itzel said. "Let's just hope those weapons are still effective."
"If this Transporter even has them in the first place," Janus replied. "Sheila! Do you know what kind of weapon would be on this Transporter?"
Sheila began shaking her head. "I'm not sure. There have been a couple of varieties. I know there's a personal cannon that launches a projectile that can neutralize Essencima. There's a long melee weapon as well... somewhat like a spear... that can send Ion energy through its tip if it penetrates Essencima flesh."
"So the weapons aren't attached to the Transporter?" Itzel said with shock.
"No. They're all manual weapons."
Itzel smacked herself on her head and shut her eyes. "Of course. It's never easy, is it?"
"You think Mag is going to need some assistance?" Janus asked.
"If he's going to have to stab a Sand Carver with a spear, then yes. He will most definitely need some help."
"Think we should go and lend him a hand?"
Itzel dashed to the door. "It's better than waiting in here and watching that thing take down the Transporter and everyone inside of it!" She then looked to Gurk. "Are you alright with staying behind and making sure Sheila is safe, big guy?"
The crocodile nodded, still using his body as a shield to protect Sheila.
"Come on Janus, let's get going," Itzel said as she opened the door that led into the next section of the vehicle. "Looks like we'll have to postpone our break from Exterminating."
