Mid-afternoon, and the five friends arrive at the rendezvous point, a cutting in the woodland on the edge of Rage Ravine; the peaceful tranquillity is restored when the ATV and trike engines are shut off.
"So where is this contact we're meant to be meeting?" Hanna asks as the group collectively dismounts.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Danny replies. "This is the correct place, and the correct time."
"Does this mean we're not going on a quest?" Maria asks, a little disappointed.
"Our contact is just running late, that's all," Danny assures.
Hanna's ears prick. "I hear a vehicle approaching."
The group falls silent, awaiting the approaching vehicle; a few moments later, a truck with blacked-out windows rumbles into the clearing, halting in front them. One of the windows is rolled down, revealing a cloaked figure inside.
"Yǒu yuán qiānlǐ lái xiānghuì" the cloaked figure greets; her voice is slightly distorted, as if she's speaking through a mask or a voicebox.
"Fēi xià kǔgōngfū bùkě" Danny replies.
"My master is desperate for his gems to be returned to him," the cloaked woman continues.
"He must be, if he's resorted to hiring Red Scarves," Danny agrees.
"Why doesn't he go to the police?" Rob interjects.
"He reported the theft," the woman explains, "but the police aren't devoting enough resources to locating them, or so my master claims."
While Danny and the cloaked woman continue to discuss the assignment, Hanna pulls Rob to one side.
"Is it just me, or does her voice sound familiar?" Hanna asks, whispering to avoid being overheard.
"I know what you mean," Rob whispers back, "but it's difficult to know for sure with her voice distorted the way it is."
"I just can't shake the feeling there's something going on," Hanna responds. "Something we're not aware of."
"That may well be the case," Rob agrees. "There's only one way to be sure."
"It's not too late to bail," Hanna suggests.
"And we both know that you won't," Rob counters. "Which of course means I won't."
"You're right," Hanna sighs. "Again."
"I'm getting used to this," Rob teases.
"It won't last, you know," Hanna flirts.
"Hey you two," Xander interrupts. "This lady wants us to go meet her master."
"Why?" Hanna asks.
"Because that's what her master wants," Xander explains, failing to hide a moment of confusion.
"If we must," Hanna sighs. "What about our ATVs?" she adds a second later.
"There's room in the truck for them," Danny assures.
The five friends load their vehicles into the back of the truck and take a seat on the benches inside; once all aboard, Rob closes and secures the rear doors. Danny knocks on the front wall three times; a moment later, the vehicle pulls away.
After a couple of minutes, Hanna's ears prick. "Can anyone hear a hissing?" she asks.
"Probably just the ventilation system," Danny assures.
"Or the pneumatic brakes pressurising," Rob adds.
"Either way, nothing to worry about," Danny finishes.
The journey continues in silence for a few more minutes.
"I think I'm going to take a nap," Maria yawns. "Wake me up when we get there."
"Actually, that sounds like a good idea," Danny agrees. "I think I'll do the same; the rocking is making me drowsy."
"I'm a little sleepy too," Xander adds.
"And me," Rob murmurs.
"Wait, we all feel sleepy?" Hanna asks, drowsiness slurring her words. She receives no answer; a quick scan of her friends confirms her suspicions. "We've… all… been…" The thought remains unfinished, as Hanna slips into a deep sleep.
The cloaked woman checks through a secret viewport; she smiles at the sight of the five Scarves fast asleep. She activates a compact communication device.
"Captain, we have them," she reports. "And three friends of theirs as a bonus."