Chapter 45

Carl discovers that the Tigrans' ethereal gun has killed three hired mercenaries (Finley, Quemada, and Olga) in the street outside their garage. A chaotic battle erupts involving the Three Dromedarians, the Tigrans' shielded APV, and Carl's uncontrolled rage, resulting in the death of one camel and Lipstick the gremlin. After regaining composure, Carl learns they can no longer drive and must devise a new strategy for the race, while overhearing the Tigrans' conversation about protecting Penelope the pig.

Carl arrives at One Fine Pig's garage intending to confront the Tigrans, but they fire their ethereal gun at him, destroying the garage wall and flipping the neighboring double-decker bus. The Three Dromedarians enter with spiked baseball bats and attack the APV's windshield. The chaos intensifies as lightning flashes across the sky (triggered by Penelope's panicked squeals inside the truck) and the APV's shield activates, sending Carl flying backward and electrocuting him. Lipstick the gremlin is crushed against the wall and killed by the shield's force. Imani and Donut pull Carl away before he can escalate further. When Carl's rage subsides, he realizes the three mercenaries (Finley, Quemada, and Olga) have been killed on the street by the initial blast. The Three Dromedarians retrieve their dead friend. Jacobus the reverse tooth fairy makes incomprehensible comments. Carl sits at the curb, devastated by the mercenaries' deaths and the loss of their transportation option. Donut comforts him and reminds him they have backup plans. Carl collects the mercenaries' corpses. Overhearing the Tigrans through their truck, Carl learns they are keeping Penelope inside for safety and discussing their strategy to reach a 'safe place,' mentioning the need to find a new gremlin to operate the vehicle. Donut growls at the truck, causing the Tigrans to seal themselves inside and reactivate their shield. Louis then contacts the team via the chat system, reporting that their heat is currently in first place and describing the track's waterslide-tube layout.