"When do you reckon we'll be able to hit the road again?" Alwin's voice held a tremor of urgency as he inquired of the mechanic, who had just towed his weathered Camry to the local gas station.
The mechanic gazed at the old Camry and answered, "I'll need to take a gander. Should there be a need for parts, you're looking at a night's stay. I'd have to venture into the city to fetch them." His eyes reflected years of experience as he surveyed the Camry's aged frame. Soon, doubt clouded his certainty in locating the necessary components within the confines of his workshop.
Alwin nodded, his gaze lingering on his Camry. "I understand. Do what you can," he said, trying to hide his concern.
As the mechanic, a stout man with years of grease under his nails, knelt beside the car with his tools, flashlight in hand, examining the pedals, Alwin turned to his family and said, "Mary, you and Ace wait at the diner. I'll get you when the car is ready."
"Sure, do you need anything? Coffee or soda or bottled water," Mary inquired of her husband.
"Bottled water will do," Alwin replied, standing near the car, arms crossed, worry etched across his weathered face.
"Ace, you heard your father," Mary ordered her son to find him heading to the gas station toilet. So, she decided to get the bottled water herself, saying, "I will be right back."
…
Heading into the gas station toilet, ignoring the smell of disinfectant and old cigarettes, Ace checked if the stalls were empty. Making sure he was alone, he asked, "Rose, are you certain you felt curse energy on one of the trailers behind the diner?"
"It's faint, but yes. I do not doubt it. Do you want me to inspect it, master?" Dame Wasp replied confidently.
"They say curiosity killed the cat, but we are stranded here for now. Before whatever you have sensed comes finding us, you better go and make sure it isn't a threat to us," Ace ordered Dame Wasp, putting his family's safety first.
"Yes, Master. I will keep you informed using the status screen," Dame Wasp flew out to check the trailers while Ace headed out to stay by his parents' side.
...
Returning to his father's side in the garage, Ace smelled grease and old tires, a pleasant scent compared to the smell of disinfectant and old cigarettes from the gas station toilet. He then heard the mechanic inquiring his father, "Sir, what did you say the problem was again?"
Alwin cleared his throat. "The gas pedal is sticky, and the brakes aren't functioning properly," he replied.
"The pedals look fine, but I'll adjust them for your peace of mind," the mechanic assured. He tweaked the gas pedal, tightening and loosening bolts, giving equal attention to the brakes as if coaxing life back into them.
"There," the mechanic declared, rising to his feet. "Give her a test drive. She'll surprise you."
Alwin climbed into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life, and he pulled out of the garage. The road stretched ahead, a ribbon of asphalt leading to unknown destinations.
As Alwin pressed the gas pedal, it responded smoothly—no more stickiness. The brakes engaged with precision. Returning to the garage, Alwin glanced at the mechanic, who stood by the garage door, hands on his hips. "Good job, man. What do I owe you?"
"$75," the mechanic stated a reasonable fee, considering that some charge more for a simple tow.
"Is the car ready?" Mary inquired, stepping out of the gas station store with an orange pop. She added, "They were out of bottled water."
"Yes, we can be back on the road," Alwin replied, paying the mechanic.
"Dad, wait. I will get some snacks for the road," Ace suddenly said, hoping to buy time for Dame Wasp.
"Here's a twenty," Alwin said, handing his son a crisp twenty-dollar bill. "Hurry up. We need to be at your uncle's place before dusk."
Ace darts to the store next to the diner, hurrying Dame Wasp through his status screen,
[Rose, we are heading back on the road. I am recalling you.]
[No master, wait. I found a curse core and a book made of human skin in one of the trailers.]
[Rose, is it dangerous?]
[No, Master. From what I gathered, we have already taken care of the danger.]
[Rose, I don't understand?]
[Master, I will explain everything to you later. Give me a few minutes to copy the human skin book and destroy it. And once I have the curse core in my grasp. I will inform you. Then you can recall me.]
[Okay, Rose. Let us do that.]
Ace decided to trust Dame Wasp's judgment. Even though she was just a toy he brought to life, she had the same intelligence as the character she was modeled after. Considering that the Dame Wasp character in the movie had bravely defeated an entire evil corporation that sought to control her, Ace believed she had a good sense of judgment.
[Master, I am done. You can recall me now.]
Ace casually browsed the store shelves until he received Dame Wasp's signal. He swiftly retreated to a secluded corner and whispered, "Recall, Dame Wasp."
Manifesting next to Ace, Dame Wasp passed the curse core she brought to Ace, saying, "Master, I believe this is the curse core of the human controlling the Gremlin Curseling we killed earlier?"
[Not, here. Let's talk Inside the car. I will pretend to be asleep while using the sense share skill.]
Ace used the status screen to inform Dame Wasp while he stored the curse core in the specific toy space reserved for Apex earrings. This space already held the curse core of the Gremlin they had defeated earlier. Ace avoided carrying the curse cores on his person, knowing that curse energy attracted Curselings.
After purchasing popcorn, potato chips, and a few other snacks, Ace returned to his parents, who were waiting for him in the car. As he got into the back seat, he announced, "Next stop, Iron Valley Ranch."