Chapter 5, Stockholm Stillness Part 2
"You're almost to Carmen, guys." Player said encouragingly, watching them approach Carmen's signal. "Just a few more miles."
"That's wicked freaky." Ivy mumbled. "Playah hasn' called her 'Red' this whole 'ime." (Player had a feeling he wasn't supposed to hear that.)
"Cu' him some slack, big sis." Zack whispered back. "He's jus' worried." (Yeaaah, Player was absolutely not supposed to hear that.)
"I know, but…it's wacko, ya know?" Ivy returned. "Nothin's 'oin' right 'oday."
"Yea." Zack nodded. "I hope we fin' 'er be'ore an'one else does."
"You will." Player said, more of wishful thinking than anything else. "It's straight trails until her current trajectory, which is right beside a curve in the road."
"You got it, Playah." Zack most likely saluted, though it was futile, because Player couldn't…see him. Player didn't inform the getaway driver of this fact, focusing instead on their trackers.
It was fortunate Ivy didn't need a hospital; it would have delayed them even more.
Player bit on his fingernail as he watched Zack and Ivy travel along. The siblings were right. He was worried. He was always worried for Carmen, maybe a bit overly so. He even hated leaving Ivy and Zack alone for any amount of time, too, because he was constantly worried that they'd end up being kidnapped. Just like what happened to Ivy only a couple hours before.
"I 'an see a curve right 'head." Ivy noted, voice filling with fear.
"That'd be it." Player confirmed, nodding his head slowly.
"An' a helicop'er." Zack realized with a simple gasp of shock.
"No!" Player glared, snapping his gaze up to his tracker screen. There was no sign of a helicopter on it, and he desperately tried to hack into a traffic camera nearby, which would have a good view of the sky above. Zack and Ivy dashed form the van, out of earshot, slamming the doors behind them.
Player finished hacking, viewing the helicopter. He was able to tell almost immediately that it was from ACME, and he choked in pain. He squeezed his eyes shut, covering his mouth. There was no way Zack and Ivy could recover her easily.
"Player." Shadowsan's voice carried through the coms, and the young hacker snapped to attention. "I am done with my mission in Malaysia. What is my next objective?"
"I'm getting you a plane ticket to Stockholm." Player immediately responded, clicking over to his favorite airline's home page. He quickly located the plane flights, and which one was the first one to arrive in Stockholm. It would leave the Malaysia airport in but an hour.
"What is happening? Did a mission fail to meet its objective?"
"Something like that." Player answered dismissively; knowing there was plenty of time to tell Shadowsan all of the details later. "Can you be in the airport in less than ten minutes?"
"Yes, I can. Already on my way." Shadowsan bluntly assured, though Player could hear the hidden fear in his voice. "Which flight is mine?"
"It's public." Player warned. "Best I can get in short notice."
"That is fine." Shadowsan hummed, probably carrying the demeanor of someone who didn't care one way or another.
"Okay. Sending the flight information your way." Player clicked on a few last keys, downloading the ticket and delivering it over to Shadowsan's phone.
"Playah! Where'z the neares' hospi'al?" Zack screeched, thudding back into the van.
"Did you get Carmen?!" Player yelled back in surprise, flapping his attention to the siblings' intercom.
"Yea, but she'z in real bad shape! Ivy just got her intuh the van! Playah!"
"What happened to Carmen Sandiego?" Shadowsan roared in frustration.
"Just a moment!" Player seethed, trying to turn his full attention to Zack. "U-turn, head back to Stockholm! I'll guide you once you're there!"
"You got it, buddy!" Zack agreed instantly, the sound of screeching tires filling Player's coms while Shadowsan shouted at Player again.
Player ended his call with Shadowsan, trusting that the ninja could figure out how to navigate the airport on his own. He turned his full attention to Zack's coms, able to hear Carmen faintly wheezing in the background.
Zack gulped as the car raced along, moving faster than Player had ever seen. He was surely breaking the speed limit, something Zack was sure never to do unless if Carmen told him otherwise.
Zack's urgent tone brought Player back to reality. "Sweden has crackin' health care, Carm. We'll get you fixed up in no time. …she gonna make it?" How…how bad was it?!
Ivy worriedly responded with, "Of course she is."
Carmen's croaking voice was what had Player almost in tears. Her voice was so weak, so feeble, and Player's heart shattered. "N-No hospital. M-Mission…VILE operatives." Carmen choked out.
Ivy's voice became motherly and soothing, though the underlying tones of fear were highly evident and noticeable. "It's okay, Carm. All taken care of."
Carmen's voice became confused, though just as weak. "What? By who?"
Ivy chuckled weakly at that. "By Carmen Sandiego, who else?"
Player barely managed to mute his side of the coms before he burst into tears, dragging his legs up to his chest and burying his face in his knees, rocking himself as he sobbed, fighting a losing battle to control himself and his stupid fear. Stupid… why'd he chose Ivy over Carmen?! Why?! Ivy had clearly been fine, but…Carmen…
Carmen was at death's door. And she might not be able to crawl away this time.