120. Taming the Desert

Since they still didn't have enough materials to make the electronic components, Rangga and Siska eventually decided to take advantage of having the same location that day. After making sure all their equipment was ready, the two set out for Desert Island on their own ships.

Both ships arrived almost simultaneously and anchored close to each other along the beach.

Rangga got off first, then waited for Siska, who had just stepped off her ship. The Scout Armor she wore stood out against the vast desert, especially with the feather- and scale-like layers of the armor moving with each step she took.

Siska patted the chest of her armor.

“Bang, I wanna try this today.”

Rangga, who was checking his equipment, immediately turned toward her.

“Try what?”

“Fight a dinosaur, obviously.”

Rangga shook his head.

“Don’t.”

Siska frowned.

“Huh? Why?”

“I need a mount first.”

“Here in the desert?”

“Yeah. We’re looking for salpeter and quartz. Walking through sand like this will take forever.”

Rangga pointed toward the vast desert stretching out before them.

“Our first target is Vespesaurus.”

Siska immediately understood.

“Oh. To ride?”

“Exactly.”

Rangga then explained his plan. They would look for a Vespesaurus first, then use the Hijack Device to take control of one. Once they had a mount, they could move farther into the desert to search for the deposits they needed.

Siska looked a little disappointed that they wouldn't be fighting right away, but eventually nodded.

“Fine. Let's find a mount first.”

“Exactly.”

“And once we get one, then we can look for trouble?”

Rangga laughed.

“Don’t look for trouble. If trouble comes looking for us, then we fight it.”

They began walking into the desert.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The deep sand made every step heavier. Rangga repeatedly scanned the terrain ahead, looking for signs of Vespesaurus.

Not long afterward, something could be seen moving in the distance among the sand dunes.

A cloud of dust slowly grew larger, and Rangga immediately stopped.

“Siska.”

“What?”

“That.”

Siska followed Rangga’s gaze. Her eyes immediately widened.

“Vespesaurus?”

Rangga nodded.

The cloud of dust drew closer. Several mechanical shapes could now be seen moving rapidly across the sand.

“Get ready,” Rangga said.

Siska immediately took her position.

The cloud of dust came closer and closer. Behind the billowing sand, the mechanical bodies of the Vespesaurus became visible as they sprinted toward them.

Rangga immediately prepared himself, while Siska raised her spear.

The Vespesaurus in front continued charging without changing direction. The distance between them rapidly closed until only about five meters remained.

Suddenly, the creature leaped, raising both legs forward and preparing to slam Rangga with a powerful kick.

Rangga immediately sidestepped.

“HEY!”

The kick missed his body by just a few centimeters.

At the same time, Siska had already moved. She swung her spear at the Vespesaurus while it was still in the air.

CRASH!

The impact threw the mechanical creature off balance. Instead of landing cleanly on both feet, the Vespesaurus fell uncontrollably. Its body slammed into the sand and rolled several times before coming to a stop.

“Got it!” Siska shouted.

Rangga immediately ran closer. The Vespesaurus had just begun trying to get back up when Rangga pulled out the Hijack Device.

“Don’t get up yet, Bang.”

Siska swung her spear again, striking the Vespesaurus and stopping its movements once more.

Rangga took advantage of the opening. He attached the Hijack Device to the mechanical creature.

The device activated immediately. Blue light appeared across its surface, then slowly changed.

Rangga held his breath as he watched the indicator.

Siska stood beside him, still gripping her axe.

“Did it work?”

“Don’t know yet.”

They waited and a moment later, the light on the Hijack Device turned white.

Rangga immediately broke into a wide grin.

“It worked!”

The Vespesaurus that had previously been struggling now stopped moving wildly. Its system had accepted its new controller.

Rangga happily patted the mechanical creature.

“Yep, one.”

Siska came closer as well, examining their new mount. Rangga patted the Vespesaurus’s mechanical body.

“Our first mount.”

Siska studied the creature, then looked at Rangga.

“So who's riding it?”

Rangga fell silent as he realized a problem. The Vespesaurus could only be ridden by one person.

Rangga looked at Siska, and Siska looked at Rangga then they stared at each other for several seconds.

“You ride it,” Siska said.

“No, you do.”

“You caught it.”

“But you need a mount too.”

They fell silent again, until Rangga finally scratched his head.

“All right.”

Siska raised an eyebrow.

“All right what?”

“We catch another one.”

Siska immediately turned toward him.

“We still can?”

Rangga opened his bag and pulled out another Hijack Device.

Siska froze.

“Bang...”

“What?”

“You have two?”

Rangga looked at the device in his hand as if the question were strange.

“Of course.”

“Two?”

“Yeah.”

“Since when?”

Rangga shrugged.

“I spent a lot of time gathering stuff last month.”

Siska stared at the device in disbelief.

“You kept two?”

“One's a backup.”

Siska let out a long sigh.

“I just managed to upgrade my Production Bench, and you already have two Hijack Devices.”

Rangga laughed.

“Don’t be jealous.”

“How am I supposed not to be?”

“If you want one, make it yourself.”

“I don't have enough materials.”

“That’s why we’re looking for them.”

Rangga put the device away again.

“We’ll use this one to catch another. If it works, problem solved. You’ll have your own mount.”

Siska finally nodded.

“Fine.”

She looked toward the desert ahead.

“Then let's find another Vespesaurus.”

Rangga smiled.

“Exactly.”

The two continued walking across the sand, this time with one Vespesaurus already under Rangga’s control. Their next goal was no longer simply to find a mount, but to capture another Vespesaurus so each of them could move around the desert independently.