When Jasper flew around the corner into the alley, Skybreaker had South Siren pinned to the wall with one hand. Skybreaker's other arm was raised, clutching their staff and ready to swing.

Jasper switched on her motorcycle's antigravity and jumped onto the wall of the building to her right. In one swift motion, she drew her sword and extended her arm. Skybreaker's head snapped toward her. At the last possible second, they jumped back and flipped through the air, easily dodging Jasper's blade as she shot by.

Jasper jerked the handlebar. The motorcycle slipped across the wall as she turned around and sped back toward Skybreaker. Skybreaker raised their weapon. Jasper's eyes narrowed as she tried to guess their move. Dodge her next swing, then attack with their staff?

Time to take them by surprise. Still holding out her sword, acting as if she were going to swing again, Jasper moved her free hand to a switch in front of her. Almost, almost—

She flipped it.

The motorcycle's wings had been designed to give her more lift on jumps, but they could also deal heavy damage to anyone in their path. One triangular wing shot out from each side of the motorcycle, unfolding from the tightly packed sheets of metal. Not unlike the wings on Grace's back.

Skybreaker jumped a heartbeat too late. The edge of the right wing caught the bottom of their foot, sending them spinning through the air and slamming into the ground.

Jasper hopped off the wall and brought the motorcycle to a screeching halt. The vehicle's wings folded back in as she hopped off.

South Siren stalked toward her. "What are you doing, Van Terra? I don't need your help!"

"I'm here to fight them, not help you!" Jasper fired back. She brandished her sword. "Now back off!"

Farther down the alley, Skybreaker climbed to their feet. Despite the fact that their next few steps were unsteady, and that they were clutching their shoulder in pain, they chuckled. "Not bad, Van Terra."

Surprise flashed across South Siren's face. She whirled around. "Wait, that's Skybreaker's voice! You're the one running the race?"

"I'm guessing this is some kind of trap," Jasper said. "Why are you trying to kill us?"

"Us? They're clearly after me." South Siren rested a hand on her hip. "I mean, even the race location—well, it's no surprise I'm their target. I'm the most influential villain in the system—"

Jasper cut her off with cold laughter. "You're an idiot if you really think that. Anyway, Skybreaker attacked me first, back when I arrived on the island. I'm obviously the reason for the race."

"Then why would they pick Netu?"

"You saying the location has something to do with you?" Jasper asked, unable to resist raising an eyebrow, despite the helmet hiding her face. "Perhaps career-related? Maybe a certain TV show—"

"Oh, shut up, both of you!" Skybreaker shook their head. "You're both insufferable."

"But I'm more insufferable, right?" Jasper asked.

Skybreaker let out a heavy sigh. "Honestly, you're more embarrassing than anything else."

"Ouch," Jasper muttered.

Skybreaker straightened up and began taking slow strides toward Jasper and South Siren. "This age of villains is coming to an end," they said. Their staff spun in their hand. "It's time for things to change in the Janus System. And if you don't stay out of my way, you're going to end up dead."

In the blink of an eye, they lunged forward. The staff smacked South Siren in the shoulder and knocked her to the ground. Jasper barely dodged the blow meant for her. Instead of trying again, Skybreaker sprinted out of the alley.

"Hey!" Jasper exclaimed. "Get back here!" She darted to her motorcycle, reattached the sword to the side, and hopped on. South Siren yelled something—signaling that she was unfortunately still conscious—but Jasper ignored her.

As Jasper emerged from the alley, she spotted Skybreaker speeding away on their motorcycle, headed for the beach. She followed at full speed.

Within about a minute, Jasper was surprised to find herself catching up. She inched closer to Skybreaker and the frozen ocean at the edge of the island. The pack of racing villains was visible on the ice in the distance.

There was the drop onto the rocky beach, and then a bumpy ride to the shoreline. Jasper had narrowed the gap between her and Skybreaker to a little over twenty feet when they hit the ice.

Jasper slipped a little at the change of terrain but managed to keep her motorcycle under control. She was painfully aware of just how slick the surface beneath her was, though. She shifted most of her focus to making minute adjustments.

The racers were veering left, now, entering the final stretch of the race. Cutthroat's massive vehicle led the way, though his lead was narrowing. Massive sails had emerged from the vehicle, slowing it somewhat but providing some lift. Smart move, given its weight. Not worth risking the ice breaking.

Jasper had almost reached Skybreaker. Time to plan her next move. She carefully lifted one hand off the handlebar and reached for her sword.

Skybreaker abruptly swerved to the left and slammed on their brakes. Jasper tried to do the same, but her tires refused to cooperate. A frantic glance at Skybreaker's vehicle made her realize that they were equipped with tires better suited for the ice. She only had a moment to dwell on that before her motorcycle tipped.

Jasper slid across the ice. Right into the path of Skybreaker's staff.

She immediately learned a cool new fun fact about Skybreaker's weapon: it wasn't an ordinary staff. When the metal struck her chest, electricity coursed through the metal and into her body.

Jasper didn't process much, only a flash of neon green. Then she was lying on her back on the ice, gasping in pain. Her head turned to the left. She spotted her motorcycle lying on its side ten feet away.

A sliver of sunlight peeked through the clouds. A figure moved into its path and cast a shadow over Jasper. Skybreaker loomed over her, wielding their staff. Jasper couldn't bring herself to move.

"You don't like listening to people, do you?" Skybreaker asked. They chuckled. "Lucky for you, neither do I, or you'd be locked up in the Shark Tank already."

Shark Tank? The prison? "I thought you wanted to kill me," Jasper gasped.

"I don't particularly care who kills you, or if you end up dead or locked up for life." Skybreaker smacked their staff against the palm of their hand. "But you will face consequences for everything you've done."

"You playing superhero?"

"I'm not playing any games. I'm here to fix this broken star system. And you're part of the problem."

Jasper frowned. "Hey, villains aren't the only problem. Governor Starr is awful, too. And I'm trying to stop him!" She found the strength to push herself up into a sitting position.

"And you're doing it in the worst way possible."

"I don't know about worst—"

Skybreaker swung the staff. It collided with the side of Jasper's helmet, knocking her against the ice. Dazed. Barely aware of the world around her.

By the time her head cleared, Skybreaker was gone.

Jasper staggered to her feet. Her head throbbed. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to pick up her motorcycle and climb back on.

She'd barely begun to accelerate when South Siren passed her by. South Siren's smug laugh danced on the cold breeze, and even her hekten seemed to have taken on a mocking demeanor as it twisted around to stare at Jasper. One of its tentacles waved.

"Oh, come on!" Really? After I saved you from Skybreaker? Jasper's speed couldn't increase fast enough. Her jaw clenched.

The hekten fired a laser at the ice just in front of Jasper. It cracked wide open. Jasper swerved and narrowly avoided falling in. What she couldn't dodge was the giant wave of frigid water that splashed out, soaking her. She let out an enraged shriek.

The comm in her ear cracked. "Jasper?" Grace exclaimed. "Are you okay?"

"Fantastic!" Jasper hit the gas. Full speed.

More gaps were opening in the ice. Whether it was a chain reaction from the hekten's laser or the stress of all of the vehicles, Jasper didn't really care. Her internal monologue, her frustrations, her questions about Skybreaker all faded away as she focused on dodging holes and pillars of water. She didn't catch up to anyone, but she managed to stay ahead of the stragglers behind her.

She didn't realize just how tense she was until she returned to dry land. Even the bumpy beach was pleasant compared to the stress of the ice.

Drones hovered around the beach. Judging by their white and green coloring, they had to be Skybreaker's. Some watched the finish line with cameras, while others were fixed with speakers.

Skybreaker's voice came through the speakers as Jasper crossed the finish line. "And coming in fifty-eighth place is Van Terra! Disappointing!"

"I'm going to murder them so hard," Jasper muttered, her grip tightening.

Why did Skybreaker still want her in the tournament, though? Was this a challenge?

Jasper pulled up to the cliffs on the other side of the beach and hopped off her vehicle. The last few villains who'd made it across the ice were coming in, and those who'd already finished were heading out.

Movement overhead caught Jasper's eye. She tipped her head back as Grace dropped down from the sky. Grace carried Thea with her.

"Thea? Why'd you come?" Jasper asked as the two landed in front of her.

"Seeing if I can get any intel from those drones," Thea replied, pulling her tablet out from the bag at her side.

"Did you learn anything useful about Skybreaker?" Grace asked.

Jasper slid off her helmet. "They said something about fixing the star system and ending the age of villains. I guess they're trying to be a hero, of sorts." She rested an arm on the motorcycle and leaned against it.

Grace frowned. "You sure you're okay?"

Jasper forced a nod. "I'm fine. Turns out Skybreaker's staff is electric." The image of green lightning dancing around her replayed in her mind. "It still hurts, but I'll be fine in a minute."

Gaze still fixed to her tablet screen, Thea rested a hand on Jasper's shoulder. "Mm, that doesn't feel great. I should double check all your components when we get back to the motel."

Jasper sighed. "Okay."

An engine approached. Jasper tensed as South Siren rolled by her, Grace, and Thea. But she made no move to attack, or even shout insults at Jasper. Instead, she gave the three an unreadable look before driving off.