Chapter 3

chapter three Neon, what are you doing here? Wait... June's Winged Wretch buddy? June and Neon are tight like skinny jeans. They went on a wild adventure together, and they share a special, unbreakable bond. Most Winged Wretches are evil. But not Neon. After their adventure, Neon went his own way, and I wasn't sure we'd ever see him again. So why is he here now?

June rubs Neon's back, and her hand finds the armor she gifted him. "This barely fits you anymore," she says. "You've gotten so big." "Oh, wonderful, the enemy intruder is Neon! Hey-ya, Neon!" Johnny Steve calls, waving one of his little wing-arms as he waddles over. "Sorry I told everyone on board to attack you!" Rover bounds over, playfully shoving his snout into Neon's belly. Neon and Rover met when we first clashed with Rifters. And they made for a super-cute pair, too... June is flopped against Neon, giggling, wiping away tears. I watch their joyful reunion with a little lump in

my throat. That nagging feeling hits me again, because this seems like a glimpse of what's to come if we succeed. Endless family reunions and happy tears. That's what everybody wants. What everyone deserves. But where does that leave me? I swallow away my throat lump. I think, Stop being stupid, Jack. This isn't about you. June finally pulls away from Neon, taking his snout into her hands. "Neon... I don't understand. How are you here? And why now?" Grinning like the Cheshire Cat, Neon cranes his neck, reaching for something tucked beneath his armor. Ooh, I get it. Neon's tracked us down because he needed to bring us some all-important artifact! I wonder what it is? A power gem that will annihilate Thrull? A monkey's paw? An instructional video for leading a zombie army with a weird tentacle hand? There's a soft, plastic thunk as Neon tosses the all- important artifact to the deck, revealing... A very tiny baseball helmet.

Ah, Neon ate a very small baseball player. Incorrect Dirk, that is a collectible ball game giveaway. Ice cream helmet. OK, wasn't expecting that. Why is Neon acting like this is some extra-special delivery? I kneel for a closer look, when the helmet suddenly flips over! I tumble back, as—

POP. DID YOU MISS ME? "Globlet!" my friends and I exclaim. The sight of our tiny, pink goo-wad friend bursting from the helmet like a snake-in-a-Pringles-can gag causes my heart to leap into my throat. "Guys!" June exclaims, scooping Globlet up. She's beaming. "Best day ever." Seriously, what is this—some end-of-the-world reunion special? Is Warg gonna pop out of a birthday

cake? Is Biggun hiding in the shadows? Another lump in my throat now. Bardle is the one monster I really want to show up—but he never will. Because Thrull killed him... "Globs, we haven't seen you since we left Wakefield," Dirk says. "What are you doing here?" Globlet waves a hand. "Long story. All I'm gonna say is... I will never set foot in a riverboat casino again." While Globlet begins rattling off all the gossip from Wakefield, I notice Neon nudging the helmet toward June. How many more surprises could fit in there? June eyes the helmet, curiosity piqued. "Neon, buddy, what little game are you playing?" As June picks up the helmet, I spot the New York Mets logo across the front. Neon watches June with wide, eager eyes. He reminds me of a dad on Christmas morning watching his kid unwrap that one big gift, waiting for an explosion of joy. "If this is some all-important artifact that's key to our big quest, well..." I say, "it's a little bit out of left field." No one laughs. "Left field? Y'know? C'mon, nothing?" Dirk elbows me, nodding toward June.