Myst Hina
A few weeks have gone by on Myst Island, ever since the girls from the Hinata Apartments have used the MYST linking book to get there and freed Atrus from his prison in D'ni. They have all got quite used to the place. Kitsune, was, however starting to go crazy from the lack of sake'. Su was scavenging parts from the other ages to create new Mecha Tamas, but, they usually break down after she starts them up. "I guess these worlds technology can't be of much use to my intellect." Keitaro, was of course his normal self, he, being a archeologist, was trying to see if he can find artifacts in the other worlds. Naru and Kanako, still faught, and Shinobu was cheerful, but shy as ever. As for Motoko, she used the serenity of the wooded area of Myst Island, and at times the Selentic Age, to continue her training. Of course every now and then, they check up on their friend Atrus, who, of course would still be found at his desk in D'ni, writing in the book of the age where Catherine is being held hostage. While no-one else had anything to say to him, Keitaro, being curious about D'ni, would ask Atrus about D'ni and it's old civilization. Atrus was more than happy to explain briefly about the ruined city, keeping in mind about his writing, and of course Keitaro would understand. So far, nothing interesting happened until, one day, Keitaro asked everyone as they settling to what seemed their 18th night on Myst, "I think we should check up on our friend tommorow morning, I just have this feeling that we should go." "I agree with Oni-san", said Kanako. Everyone nodded in agreement that they should see Atrus.
The following morning they woke up and used the fireplace to access the green linking book to D'ni. Once they headed there Atrus looked up from his work and said, "Thank God you all have returned", he said. "You are", asked Naru. "Is it time", asked Motoko. "Yes, it is time, I need you're help", said Atrus and he beckoned them to come closer. They all came up to his desk. "So what is it you need us to do", asked Keitaro. "Just name it and we shall do it", said Kanako. Atrus, without looking up said, "There is a great deal of history you all should know. But, I am afraid I must continue my writing." "Then how can we know Atrus-san", asked Keitaro. Atrus paused his writing and reached into his pocket and pulled out a small journal. He handed it to Keitaro. "Here", said Atrus, "Most of what you will need to know is in there." He then paused and said, "Keep it well hidden." "Don't worry I will", said Keitaro as he placed it within his jacket. "Now, what are we going to do", asked Kitsune. Atrus then pulled out from behind his desk, another book, that was regular sized. "For reasons you will discover, I can't send all of you into Riven with a way out." "What is a Riven, does it taste good", asked Su. Everyone sweatdropped. "No, it's the name of the Age, I am sending all of you", said a nervous Atrus. "Please, continue Atrus-san", said Shinobu. "Very well. Like I said, I can't send you all into Riven with a way out. But. . .", he held up the book, ". . .I can give you this." "What is it", asked Kanako. "It appears to be a linking book, back here to D'ni. But it's actually a one man prison." He handed it over to Keitaro, who took it. "You'll need it, I am afraid, to capture Gehn." "May I ask something", asked Shinobu. "Yes, my dear, what is it", said Atrus. "Well, Atrus-san, who is this Gehn", asked Shinobu. "You will soon know, the answer is in the journal, I gave Keitaro." Atrus took the quill and began writing and said, "Once you all have found Catherine", he paused and said, "Signal me, and I will come with a linking book, to get us back." "Oh I see", said Kitsune, she place a sly finger under her chin and said, "It's the infultration into enemy lines, capture the enemy and free the hostage." "You are right, um, Kitsune wasn't it", said Atrus. "Yes it is", said Kitsune. After writing something in the page, Atrus, closed the book, opened it to the first page to the area, which, Keitaro now know as a Gateway Image. "There is also a chance", said Atrus, "If this all goes well." He showed the image to them and said, "I might be able to get you all back, to the place that you all came from." "You mean we will get back to were we were before we cam here" asked Kitsune. "Back to the Hinata Apartments", asked Keitaro. "Yes", said Atrus. Everyone looked at the image, it was all glittery and whirred, like the book or the age was malfunctioning or something, but they decided to do this. One-by-one they all linked out. Before Shinobu linked out she said, "Oh, by the way, Su may have made a mess of the fortress in the Mechanical Age", she said, and before Atrus could ask, 'What', she linked out.
Atrus turned the book back to where he was writing and said, "May the maker be with them."
Riven
They all materialized in what appeared to be a small room area. On the outside they saw a strange object that almost looked like a ship except there was a manhole below it and it had a telescope in it. There seemed to be a short pathway leading away from it. "Well, here we are", said Shinobu. "We might as well look around", said Keitaro. But as soon as he said that, a barred gateway shot up in front of them, preventing them access to Riven. "Well, what a clever trap", said Kitsune. "NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO ADMIRE THIS", said Naru. "Now what do we do", wailed Shinobu. "Shhh, someone is coming", said Kanako. Sure enough, someone was approaching the cage. It turned it to be a soilder. At least they assumed it was a soilder or guard, because he was wearing a white but very dirty uniform, and had some sort of helmet on his head. He was looking around and then turned to them and went in shock. He started to talk in a strange dialect. "What the heck is he saying", said Kitsune. "That was definitly not English nor Japanese", said Keitaro. The guard then said, "tenema, bookgora." He paused and said, "Tanema os...so bookgora." "Huh", asked Shinobu. The guard sighed in defeat then began to approach the cage. "Lesena, lesena. Omitedi boogorey." "I think he wants to see the book", said Kitsune. "Yes but it is meant for Gehn, not him", said Keitaro. But he didn't have much choice, because the guard approached the cage and grabbed the book out of Keitaro's hands. "HEY GIVE THAT BACK", yelled Motoko. The guard ignored her. He opened the book and looked at it and gave an evil grin. Suddenly, there came a 'whoosh' and as soon as they heard it, the guard snapped the book shut and grasped his neck. He began to look dizzy and he fell to the ground. "Well, at least he is out of our way", said Naru. "Yea, but I can't reach the book", said Keitaro.
Suddenly, they noticed the guards body was being dragged away. "Who would do. . .", Shinobu was inturupted when some robbed man, with a mask came up. He took the book out of reach then reached for a lever that was nearby. After throwing it, the bars, started to lower, and the man took a hammer and hit something into the mechenism, damaging it. With that, the man took the book and ran off. Everyone sweatdropped. "Okay, so we are free but our book is gone", said Keitaro. "Now what, we can't capture Gehn without the book", said Motoko. "We should try to get it back", said Naru, "Besides, we can't capture Gehn without knowing where Catherine is being held." "So what do we do, look around and explore", asked Kitsune. "Exactly", said Keitaro. They all exited the prison. Then Keitaro took out the journal that Atrus gave him, "I think we should look at this before we continue any further." Everyone looked and nodded at Keitaro. Keitaro opened the journal and began reading at what was inside.
The journal pretty much explained that Atrus have been busy writing in this age just to keep it from decaying. But then Keitaro came across two things that made his face turn pale. "What is the problem Sempai", asked Shinobu. "This Gehn person is a relative of Atrus'", said a shocked Keitaro. "How is he related", asked Motoko. "Gehn is Atrus' father." "WHAT", said everyone. "Yes", said Keitaro, "and he was like Atrus' sons, very power hungry." "But why is he here", asked Naru. "He wanted to maroon him here but in order to do that he had to use one last linking book and he had to throw himself into this strange rift known as the Star Fissure." "But how come Gehn didn't try to find a way out", asked Naru. "Well, according the journal", said Keitaro, "Gehn was still learning it and the Art of Writing was lost, so, without D'ni, he can't find a way back." "So he threw himself into this Star Fissure, along with the last D'ni linking book and left him here to stop his reign", asked Kitsune. "Your right except, it wasn't a D'ni linking book." "What was it", asked Naru. "It was a MYST linking book." "MYST LINKING BOOK", asked everyone. "Yes", said Keitaro. "That explains why he looked deep in thought after Keitaro told him about it", said Kanako, "That Myst book might have come. . ." "From the Star Fissure", finished Motoko. "So that's what he meant that there is chance he could get us back to the place that we came from. The Star Fissure could get us home, once the mission is complete", said Kitsune. "I agree", said Keitaro, and pointing to the journal he said, "It would be because we should use the Fissure somehow to signal him." "Why, won't he see us in the Gateway", asked Kitsune. "You saw how messed up it was, only something that could cause disruption can signal him", said Keitaro. "Oh, I see", said Kitsune. Keitaro flipped through the journal and said, "It goes one how we saved him and that we could go here in his stead. Also, since Gehn wants to get back to D'ni so bad he would use any linking book that led there. Or anything that appears like it." "That prison he gave us", said Motoko. "Right", continued Keitaro, "So therefore our mission is to find the prison book, trap Gehn inside it, and free Catherine." "But what about the inhabitants", ask Naru, "Won't they perish if the Age goes down?" "Well, hopefully, once they link out, Atrus will try to repair it enough to allow Catherine to go back and save the people. That is if the Age hasn't damaged itself beyond repair." "Why would Atrus create such an unstable world", asked a angry Motoko. "Actually, it was Gehn who made it, not Atrus", said Keitaro, "Atrus just marooned him in here, in Riven, or the Fifth Age as his father called it." "Enough chatter, let's just begin looking around this place", said Kanako.
"Lets start with the strange cone-shaped thing", said Su. They approced the 'thing'. Su looked at it. The cone shaped device had two lenses, one on the side, the other at the bottom tip, pointing towards a manhole cover. The device was supported by two beams on a track. A circular guard rail surrounded the device and was a part of it. Nearby, on the end of the left pole was a button surrounded by a switch. "I surmise", said Su, "That this device is nothing more than a oversized microscope!" "Yea, but why would anyone want an oversized microscope, ON A HUGE PLATE OF METAL!" yelled Keitaro. "Let's see what happens", said Kitsune. She flipped the switch and tried the button, but nothing happened. "I guess this needs power", said Kanako. Keitaro looked at the manhole. "We can't open this too. Judging by those buttons they need a combo." Motoko looked to the area near the right of the telescope, but found nothing but a cliff. To the left of them was the rest of the iron patch in the ground. At the end, to the left of the prison, was a huge knife. "I wonder what the deal is with this huge knife", said Kitsune. "I wonder that too, but I also wonder why only a small bit of this area has an iron plating, with a secure manhole and a huge microscope to look down in it", said Naru. Keitaro pointed to the staircase that started near the lever. "Let's get a move on up there", said Keitaro. As they passed the lever Shinobu looked at it and noticed the dagger that was smashed into it, "Well, we don't have to worry when Atrus- san has to link here. This lever to the prison is damaged." "Yeah", said Motoko, and pointing down a nearby cliff they spotted the guard, still uncounces, "But we probably should worry about him." "I don't think we have to worry about him Motoko", said Keitaro, "All he'll do is probably look for Gehn, hopefully we will have the book by then. Besides, we will be out of sight by the time he wakes up." "I guess you are right Urashima", said Motoko. Kanako hugged Keitaro and said, "Oni-sama is always right!" "Hey, HANDS OFF", yelled Naru and Motoko.
Eventually they whole group got up the stairs. At the top they found a flight of stairs that led downwards. To the right was bridge, leading to an alcove. To the right was a alcove that led to a room. The group agreed to explore that room. Near the entrance to it was a small button on the right of the door. "I wonder what this does", asked Su, but Motoko grabbed her and said, "Wait until we examine the room first!"
The room was like a huge temple. On the floor was a gold star with a symbol that was like a box with a line through it. Around them were pillars, each with a beetle on them. To the left of the pillar, to the front of the enterance, was a door way wit a gate on it, to the left was strange markings. "Probably D'neese. But I can't really tell", said Keitaro. Su was examining the beetle on the pillar near the leftt of the entrance. She then noticed a pull string right near the abdomen. "I wonder what this does", she said. Shinobu, who was watching her, protested against that, but Su pulled it. The beetle opened it's cover and it's wings spread. Shinobu jumped back and shreiked a little, in shock. "What happened", asked Naru as the others approached them. "Su just pulled the string on the abdomen of that beetle and it opened it's wings", said Shinobu. As the team looked at it, Kitsune noticed a small hole in the beetle's abdomen. "What's this here for", asked Kitsune as she pointed to it. Everyone who had the space to, leaned close to it. In the hole they saw a stained glass-like painting. It showed a man writing at a book, and all sorts of animals, fish, people and even a sun, were being sucked into it. "I wonder what this is showing us", asked Naru. "Maybe the rest of the story will be revealed to us, if we look at the others", said Motoko. "Brilliant idea Motoko", said Keitaro. Su pulled the string again and the beetle closed up. "Ahh", said Shinobu, "Don't surprise me like that Su", said Shinobu.
The group opened and looked at the other beetles, in a clockwise fashion from the first beetle. The next one showed the same man, appearing out of a book in the sky. Everyone was on cliffsides near a stream, worshipping him. The third beetle showed something that almost seemed familiar. It showed that man holding the sun in his left hand and was firing something in the right. The land was on fire and the water was rushing. In between it, a cliff was there and it showed a man and a book falling into it. What intrigued the girls most of all, was that the cliff was full of stars. "Maybe that is the star fissure", said a excited Shinobu. "Yes, if that is true, then the man falling into it is Atrus, and that book is the last MYST linking book in this age", said Motoko. "But the question is who is that man", said Keitaro. "Let's continue looking at these things and find out", said Naru. The next beetle showed the face of the man at the top. Surrounding it where five different men, each in robes. Below each of them were separate pictures ("probably showing their duties", said Keitaro), one showing that man directing people holding lumber, ("probably an archetect or carpenter", said Keitaro), the second, showing the next man handing out papers to children ("more than likely, a teacher", said Keitaro), the third, showed the next man directing children how to use a knife ("he's probably a combat teacher, I should know", said Motoko) the fourth mans picture, was him looking at scrolls and doing some computations ("looks like a scholar or a mathematician", said Naru) and the last man, had a picture of him and several others gathering around a tree and taking papers that fell from it. "What does this last picture mean", asked Kanako. "It's got me", said Keitaro. They moved on to the next beetle. The next beetle, which was the last, showed a picture of a hand with the star mark on it touching a book. The book and hand was surrounded by dead trees, on the upper left, showed logs falling into some sort of machine and a bunch of debree was coming out, on the upper right was some sort of strange machine. The rest of the left showed people worshipping the book. Finally, at the bottom middle, there was huge fire burning. "Now this one is a real puzzler", said Keitaro. "Maybe after we explore this age more, we will find our answer", said Kitsune. "Right", said Naru. "Hey, where is Shinobu", asked Su. Everyone looked around and then they saw Shinobu staring through the mesh gate. "What is it Shinobu", asked Kitsune. Shinobu pointed. Through the gate was a bridge and at the other end seemed to be a huge golden dome. "It's so pretty", said Shinobu. "I say we find a way through this gate", said Kitsune. "How, go back and ask our guard friend", asked Motoko. "I say we look at that button that Su was looking at earlier", said Keitaro.
They all headed outside the room. Keitaro then pushed the button. In response the room, rotated and groaned. The room came to a halt. The group now faced a brick wall. "Well", said an upset Naru, "Smart move by you!" "Hey wait a sec", said Kitsune, "Whats that hole for?" She pointed to the wall, at the near top was a circle of stone with a small peephole in the middle. "I'll take a look." She looked through. "Well, what do you see", asked Motoko. "Yea, whadya see? Whadya see", chorused Su. "The same thing except the door and the writings have switched." "What?, Let me see", said Motoko as she brushed her aside and looked in. "Well, she's right", said Motoko. "Really", asked Keitaro. "See for yourself", replied Motoko. Keitaro peeked in and gasped. Motoko and Kitsune were right. In the room, where the door should have been was the writing. The door nearby looked the same except it was grayish. "Hmmm, I wonder", he said and then turning to Kitsune he said, "Push it again." "Okay", said Kitsune and she pushed the button. The same thing happened as before, and again they faced a wall of the same design. "Let me look", said Keitaro. He looked through the peephole and everything looked the same as it did before, even the door was back were it was but there was one small difference, "Where's the door for our side", yelled Motoko after Keitaro explained the situation. "I have got it", said Naru. She pushed the button again and this time, the room rotated and this time they got a door rotated in front of them. "Well lets have look then", said Keitaro. The room looked the same except for one thing, "What is the door doing over there", asked a shocked Shinobu. The door this time was at the 'other' position it was a few turns earlier. This time, Keitaro, Kitsune and Motoko got a good look at the what was through there. Inside was another cavern and on the other side was a solid door with a simular design as the mesh door. "Now what do we do", said Keitaro but then he noticed Naru sketching something down in Atrus' journal. She looked up and said, "What, I am sure he wouldn't mind." She finished some last touches and said, "I have got it. But before we play with that button again, I would like to see what is down that other staircase", said Naru. "Why is that Narusagewa", asked Keitaro who received another bonk and Naru said, "Geez. You are so dense."
After recovering, the Hinata-sou group headed down those stairs. At the bottom, they found a door on the side of the rock that the room was in. The door had a Stonehenge like arc, and the door was like a simple wooden fence. However, Keitaro noticed one small problem, "The way is locked, so I guess we can't explore any further." "I will blast it down", said Motoko as she unsheathed her sword. "No wait Motoko", yelled Shinobu as she waived her hands frantically. "We don't know what is in there", she continued. "Shinobu's right, you might cause a cave in or something", said Kitsune. "Yes I see you're point", Motoko sadly said, as she sheathed her sword. "Well how are we going to get in there", said Kanako. Suddenly they heard Su say, "Why what is the matter?" They all turned and saw her on the other side of the door. "How did you get in there", asked a shocked Naru. "Oh, I noticed that gap under the door and just crawled in." Everyone sweatdropped and Naru asked, "Well, could just go up there and report back what you see in there?" Doing something of a salute she said, "Roger!" With that, Su ran off. A few minutes later, she returned, and went back under the door. "What did you see", asked Naru. "Well there was this ladder at first, then after a small plank all I found was a wall simular to what we saw when we rotated that room." "Did you look through the peephole", asked Keitaro. "Oh yes, inside was a room extremely simular to the room we were at earlier." Naru smiled and she slapped Keitaro on the back in excitement as she said, "I knew it." Turning to Kitsune she said, "Kitsune, go back and press the button. Once the room rotates come back and we will all go through the door." "I don't see why but okay", said Kitsune and she went off.
After hearing the sound of the room rotating, Kitsune returned. "Well we are ready", said Naru. Keitaro gestured in gentamanly matter, "Ladies first." However Naru grabbed his head and forced him down. "Oh no you don't you pervert. You might look up our skirts as we head on in there." "NO I WOULD NOT", yelled Keitaro. "You let him go right now you bitch", yelled Kanako. "In you go", said Naru as he shoved Kietaro under the door. The rest of the group followed, after Keitaro regained consensus, and after the rest of the group stopped Naru's and Kanako's fighting. They headed through the tunnel, and encountered everything Su said, until they reached the end. Instead of a brick wall, was a open door. Everyone gasped. "Naru, you are a genious", said Kitsune as she slapped her on the back.
The room was almost the same, except the other door, nearby, led to another cave. "Let's see what's in there", said Keitaro. Inside the cave were two things, one was a button, simular to what they saw outside ("I bet that rotates the room too", said Kitsune) and at the end was a lone pipe stickin up from the ground, with a handle on it. Above the handle was a mark that looked familiar. "Where have I seen that", said Kitsune. "You baka", said Kanako, "It's looks exactly like the microscope we saw when we arrived!" "Now that you mention it, it does", said Motoko. "And look", said Su, as she pointed up. At the top or the pipe that went up was an alcove in the rock and steam was coming out of the neck of the pipe. "I wonder", said Keitaro as he looked and saw that a smaller pipe that was heading out of the rock was connected to the lever mechnism. "Maybe if we pull this lever, maybe this will power that oversized microscope", said Keitaro. "I think you may be right", said Naru. Kitsune pushed them aside and said, "What are we waiting for." She pulled the lever. When she did, the whooshing of steam stopped but they heard sounds from withing the pipe and when they looked up, no steam was coming out of the pipe. "We did all that we could, lets go", said Motoko. They headed up towards the entrance, but as they neared the door, Shinobu noticed something near the door. "Look", she said as she grabbed Motoko and pointed at it. On the left side of the door was a switch. "Good eye Shinobu", said Keitaro. He went near it and said, "This could open the mesh doors." "Well, what are you waiting for Urashima", said Motoko. Keitaro nodded and grasped it and pushed it up. After he used the switch they heard a small noise. "I think that was one of the doors", said Motoko. "Well we can go back and see", said Kitsune. "Why walk up front, when we can find out right now", said Naru, and she was pointing to the button. "Well, give it a go", said Kitsune. After two pushes and rotations later, the room had rotated to let them out but, instead of going back to the locked door cavern, it went to the second mesh door, which, to their surprise, was no longer there. "Well, we solved the mystery to that door", said Kitsune. Shinobu felt around on the solid door withing the cavern. "Wish we could find out for this one." "Yes", said Keitaro and pointing to the left of the door he said, "But this might open the way to the Golden Dome." What he was pointing to was a switch simular to what was seen in the other chamber. "Well, it worked before", said Kitsune. Keitaro flipped it and again they heard the sound. They turned around, the solid door was still there. "I guess this only opened the other door", said Keitaro. "Well, it's better than nothing", said Motoko. "Now how do we get to it", said Su. "Simple", said Naru, "All we have to do is rotate the room until the doors are facing the original entrance and this entrance. Once we get to the original entrance, we will simply rotate the room until we get to the original positon." "Yes but how do we do the first part Naru", said Kanako. Naru pointed to wall, on it was another button. Kanako said, "Never mind."
In a few minutes, Keitaro and the girls did as Naru did. After rotating the room so that doors would face the original entrance (I mean where they first entered it when they first saw it) and the room they were in, they headed out. Then, after they got to the original entrance, they rotated the room (which by unanimous decision they called it the Gate Room) until it was back in the original position they saw it. The only difference, they were pleased to see, was that the mesh gate was no longer there. So with a big, "Bonzai", they all headed across the bridge to the Golden Dome.
Inside the dome was a small catwalk. It would have gone all the way around the room, but there was no catwalk to the right, a small section was rolled up and the only was to use it was to use a wheel, located on the other side. "We may find a way to get to it later", said Keitaro. "Look at that", gasped Motoko. In the center of the room was a huge generator, with pipes leading out of it. "Hey a map", said Su. Sure enough, in front of them was a small map that showed the room they were in, along with the catwalk and generator. However at the end of each pipe, it showed a strange pattern of squares. "I wonder what this thing is supposed to power", said Keitaro. "I wonder what these squares mean", said Naru as she looked at them. "We aren't doing anything just looking around here, let's follow the rest of this catwalk", said Motoko. Everyone agreed.
The catwalk led down a small staircase to a lower catwalk. The lower catwalk lead them to a path outside of the Dome. "I wonder what we might see", said Kitsune. "Look another pipe thingy", yelled Su. Sure enough, there was another pipe device, very similar to the one that powered the microscope. Except the picture showed a ribbed pipe moving from a raised postion to a lowere postion. "I wonder what this means", asked Naru. "It means this is for powering", and pointing to the left he said, "that." Where he was pointing was to a huge bridge walkway. The section of the bridge, that connected the staircase of the bridge to the Dome, was raised. "But Urashima", said Motoko, "What good will it do, we can't reach it." "I think we should power it, just in case", said Keitaro. "I agree, and I don't know why, but I have this feeling that he might be right", said Naru. "Oh, okay", said Motoko. With that Keitaro activated the switch which closed the steam and channeling it to the bridge.
After that, our group moved along. As they headed to a small tunnel Keitaro noticed a spinning dome. He stopped and looked at it. The girls noticed this and they stopped too. "Whats wrong Kei", said Naru. "That spinning dome up there. I don't know why but there is just something about it", said Keitaro. They all looked at it. "Hmmm. I have that feeling too Urashima", said Motoko.
As they headed along, Naru noticed some tracks near the tunnel, and a small round circle of metal with a hollowed out area. She tried to put her finger in it but nothing happened. "Why not create a button to push", asked Naru. "We may find out what it is for later", said Kanako. With that they entered the small tunnel. At the end of the tunnel was a balcony near another pipe device. It had the same picture as the last and was connected to a bridge. They all nodded, knowing what had to be done. Keitaro again pulled the lever to the horizontal position and the steam got directed to the bridge. "Well there is not much left to do, let's go explore that bridge near the entrance to the Gate Room", said Motoko. They all headed back to the entrance of the Golden Dome.
When they reached the entrance Su noticed something. There was lever near the left of the door way. Everyone noticed this, and before they could stop her, she moved the lever from it's horizontal position, to its vertical position. In response the bridge that led to the Gate Room moved upwards, becoming a staircase from the Gate Room to the top of the Golden Dome. "Interesting", said Keitaro, "This means there might be something up there." "Yes but we can't reach it because there is no way any of us can get from here to over there", said Naru. "Speaking of which", said Motoko and turning to Su she said, "Su you should lower it so we can get back over there." "Okay", said Su. She did so and the bridge returned to its original position. After the bridge settled back into it's original position, the group crossed bridge.
After they got out of the gate room, they took a detour back to the microscope to see if was working. Though it did move up and down, but despite the efforts of Su and Kitsune, they were still stuck with a gray image. "We must find a way to unlock that manhole cover", said Keitaro. "Yes, but for now we must look around more on this island", said Kitsune. The group went up the stairs and went across the bridge that was across from the entrance to the Gate Room. Near the end was a cavern entrance, and of course they entered it. It was cavern that was slanted down and they followed the path.
Somewhere in between, Keitaro pointed out a steel door. The group all agreed to investigate. Inside, the first thing they saw was chair, in some sort of a cage and hanging from the top, was some sort of microphone. As they approached it, the cage opened up by having all its bars spread out from the top. Before they could ask, Su leapt across to it and said, "I must sit in it!" She went to the chair and sat in it. She then pressed a button on the left arm, causing the cage to close. "SU, get out of there now", yelled Naru. Su just smiled and laughed happily. Then she reached for the lever on the right arm. They all heard a humming noise. "I wonder what that means", said Keitaro. "I think it must have something to do with the chair", said Kanako. "Su please get out of there", said Motoko. "Okay", Su said cheerfully. She pushed the lever, and pressed the button and as a result the humming stopped and the cage opened. Su then leapt off. "That was fun!" "Hey look", said Shinobu. On two sides of the corridor were two portholes. The one on the right showed a platform of some kind, the one on the left showed the entrance to some temple. Plus it had one difference from the other porthole, it had a lever. "I think we should try this lever", said Keitaro. "Well so far nothing bad has come out of your ideals, so give it a go", said Motoko. Keitaro pulled the lever to its up position. In response the doorway to the temple slid up, giving way to an opening. "Well, if this represents a location we might have a way out of here", said Keitaro. "Well, we aren't getting anything else done in here", said Kitsune, "Let's go." They left the room, and of course the cage around the chair closed as they left.
They followed the pathway down the cavern until they came apon a stone door. Motoko took hold of the door handle and opened it. Once they passed through, Motoko closed the door. Inside a temple, like Keitaro saw in the porthole. Actully, it was exactly what he saw in the porthole, as Naru put it, because the doorway was open and looked like that. Aside from the tall pillars, at the far end, oppisite the door, there was a large cage that looked exactly like the cage that surrounded the chair. Beside the cage were two idols that looked like fise with tusks. There were on either side of the cage. Near the idols were smashed bowls of fruit. "I guess some of the natives are not too pleased with this temple", said Kitsune. "Or who they worship", said Motoko. Behind the cage was a stained-glass picture of the star sign. After looking at the temple, they decided to check out was outside the door.
Outside was a platform, which Keitaro saw earlier in the porthole. They then noticed the strange cables that extended from there over the ocean. "Must be some sort of tram", said Naru. "Yeah but how do we call the car", asked Kitsune. "Press this probably", said Shinobu, as she pushed a blue button that was near the platform. Then they noticed something gliding over the cables at a fast rate. "I think that did it", said Kitsune. They heard the humming, and they looked and saw the tram approach. It stopped and it's side opened revealing a staircase. "Well, all aboard", said Keitaro.
They all rushed aboard the tram. Naru took the drivers seat. In front of her was a panel that had lever that went right to left, with a lever that went up or down within it. "Okay, I think I can figure out how this works. Let's try this." She turned the horizontal lever from it's right position to left. In response the tram door closed and turned to face the opposite direction. "So far so good Naru", said Kitsune. "Okay, now I believe I do this to go forward", said Naru. She pushed the vertical lever up from it's now down position. In response the tram moved forward at a fast rate. "Get me off", said Motoko. "I think I am going to be sick", said Shinobu. Soon as the tram approached another platform, it came to a halt and the levers reversed themselves.
As they got off Motoko said, "I will never want to go on a ride like that again." "I hate those rides", said Shinobu. "Hey that was fun can we do it again", said Su. Everyone looked at her strangely.
A few, well, when they eventually got over that tram ride, they left the tram platform. Nearby was a huge canyon. To the left, Kitsune noticed what looked like a wooden why. "What's up with that", she said. Everyone turned to the eye, except Keitaro, who went on up to the staircase that was through a odd shaped openining. "It seems to be able to roll in there", said Naru. Kitsune rolled it up. On the other side was a KI sign and they heard a 'chirrup' sound that sounded like a frog. "I wonder what that symbol meant", said Kitsune. "That sound must mean something", said Naru. "It does", yelled Keitaro from the staircase, "Come and see this!" Everyone ran to where he was. "Well, Urashima, what is it", said Motoko. "Look at the enterance." They looked at it, the enterance looked exactly like a frog. "You're point", asked Naru. "Look at where the 'eye' is now at this point", said Keitaro. Sure enough he was right. "Hey, it is positioned where a eye should be on a frogs head", said Kitsune. "That symbol might mean 'frog'", said Naru. "Or, something else", said Keitaro. "It seems this staircase keeps going, lets go", said Kitsune.
Eventually the staircase led them to the exit of the tunnel and another tram signaler ("Probably if the tram wasn't here", said Shinobu). Outside was another staircase. They were in between the staircase, going left, they could go up, the other way, they could go down. "Let's see what is 'up' there", said Keitaro. He went up the stairs and everyone followed suite. At the top was a bridge and across the bridge was something that made Keitaro's eyes (and everyone else's eyes) bug out. The whole area was full of nothing but tree stumps. On one stump was an ax in it. "How horrible", said Naru. "What kind of inhuman monster would chop down all these trees", said a weeping Shinobu. "I have no clue", said Kitsune, "Maybe he is trying to modernize this island or something." Everyone gave her a glare. "Or maybe not." Then Naru pointed out the an area that was forested and surrounded by huge trees and their was a path leading to a door that was near it. "Let's see whats in there", said Naru, "Can't be anything worse than out here."
The door was the same as the wooden one on the island they were before, except it wasn't padlocked, so they could open it easily. Before they could open Su noticed a beetle, a real beetle, simular to the huge beetle devices in the Gate Room. "Wow, I wonder if they taste good." The beetle flapped it's wings with a 'whirr, clicck', and just as Su was about to take a bite on it, the beetle flew away, and all Su got was a chunk of wood. "Mmmm. Tastes crunchy, almost like wood." Everyone sweatdropped. Soon they entered the door and into what looked more like a jungle that a wood.
As they went along the path withing and admired the scenery, they went through two tree tunnels, then, on a third on was a fork. They decided to go to the right. Eventually they came upon another idol. This was a huge wooden idol, that had tusks on both sides and had teeth. It looked so intimidating, that Shinobu screamed when she saw it and Motoko almost did her Air Splitting Sword on it. "I wonder what these animals are", said Kanako. "More importantly, why do these people worship them", said Motoko. "Let's go back and try that other route", said Kitsune. As they turned around, they noticed another spinning dome, just like what Keitaro saw on the temple island. I wonder what they are for, said Keitaro, before resuming the walk.
When they got back to the fork ,they didn't use the other path just then, because Naru noticed something. On the path they traveled before, nearby was a huge knife. "I think this means something", said Naru. They follewed her. Near the other tunnel, was a stair leading to below the knife. Below the knife, was a wooden eye. Naru pushed the eye, and on the other side of it was a boxed in square near the bottem left, and as the eye turned they heard a harsh bark. "Could this mean knife", asked Naru. "I am not so sure, I may not know much about this world, but I don't think their knives emite a harsh barking noise", said Kitsune. "You have a point", said Naru.
After they left the wooden eye, they headed back to the fork. They took the right was, and it led to another wooden door. On the other side was wooden catwalk which led in two directions right and left. However just as soon as they entered, they noticed a small tower nearby. They also noticed that someone was in there and was beginning to turn a crank that caused a vane on top to whirr around. It sent a high shrill sound across the jungle, and then the guy dissapeared, the vane stopped and so did the shrill sound. "What was that all about", asked Kitsune. "That thing may be a watch tower for uninvited guests. Probably to warn Gehn", said Motoko. "Or maybe the villagers", said Keitaro. "Either way, we need to be further on guard", said Kanako.
The group decided to take the left route, which led to rock tunnel. The staircase that led down was lit by strange blue lights. The Hinata-sou group found themselves in a huge chamber, which had a window that looked out to the ocean. Keitaro, noticed something on the wall. "Look at this", he said. On it, painted in blue was a huge man with a strange symbol above him that looked like the peace sign, except it had five lines from it, like a star. On either side of him were two men, being fed to those tusk like creatures. "I guess we found out why they worship these beasts, they are woried that some deity might feed them to it", said Keitaro. "Well, for once your archeology skills come in handy", said Naru.
They continued through the cave. At the end of the tunnel they found a dockway that led up to a village that had homes built on the hills. "CIVILAZATION", yelled Su. But the others noticed that everyone was rushing towards their homes, and they even noticed a child was fishing near a dock of some sort. Then the boys mother came and rushed him away. "These people may not be so friendly towards strangers", said Keitaro. "Really, you don't think", said Kitsune.
The team approached the dock the child was and looked out over the water. They noticed building near out in the water, they then noticed a small alcove in a nearby rock which led to a steel ladder. Also there was a huge teepee like structure in the water, that had a gaping end at the bottom and had sticks all around. Motoko pointed out a rock in the water that had some sort of telescop device in it. "I think we may be being watched." "You are right, that is fishy", said Keitaro. "Speaking of fishy, look at this", said Su. She was near a steel ladder that led down to the water, but what was interesting, was, although the water was rippling and moving, there was a huge hole in the water around the metal stake and platform in there. "Amazing, I wonder, how is that possible", said Keitaro. "Now that I have seen this, I believe I saw several of these water holes around the lake", said Naru. "Yes", said Kitsune, "I see them too." Sure enough there were holes around the lake. "But how are they formed", asked Naru. "And if artificically, for what purpose." "Let's see what the village has to offer", said Kitsune.
They left the dock and headed followed the dockway until they reached a ladder. The climbed up it ("Hey, if I wasn't climbing, I would hit you for looking up my skirt Keitaro", yelled Naru). At the top, they saw a plank that led to a house. "Let's see what the natives can tell us", said Keitaro. He approached the door and used the star shaped knocker. After a few nocks, a section of the door opened and a native looked out at him. "Excuse me could you. . ." but he was cut off, because he shut the panel off without saying a word. "That was rude", said Kitsune. "I guess it can't be helped. These guys are afraid of outsiders", said Motoko. Pointing to the pathway near the house Kanako said, "Let's check out what's over there."
The pathway led to a ledge. In front of them were two drum-shaped idols, and a gold idol in the middle, all three were shaped like the same creature. To the right was huge kennel that was cone shaped, but, they couldn't find out what was burning in there. "Probably a sacrifice of some kind", said Keitaro. On the left was a device that looked like a small submarine on rail wheels, which were on a rail. "I am going to take a look inside", yelled Su. She leapt on top of it and opened the hatch. A few seconds later she popped out of the top. "The controls don't seem to work", she said. "Well of course they won't, this thing is not on a track", said Kitsune. Then Naru noticed a lever nearby and got an idea. "Su, close the hatch and get off", she said, and Su obeyed. Naru pushed the lever forward and the rail the submarine was on moved downwards, along with the submarine. Once the mechanism halted they took a peek over the edge and saw the sub, in one of the holes of the water. They also noticed the water was lined with tracks. "Of course, these holes were made for mode of transportation", said Keitaro and turning to Naru he said, "Brilliant thinking as always Narusagewa!" She laughed and tossed back her hair. "Now how do we get down there", asked Kitsune. "I think we should take that other route", said Keitaro. Everyone agreed and headed back to the place where the tower was.
Once there they followed the other route, but it turned out, it led them back to the chopped up forest. Everyone looked at Keitaro with a scowl. "So I got us back were we started, no biggie." He received dozens of stamps on him for that remark. "A...ano", said Shinobu, "Maybe we should try the staircase near the cave near the tram button", said Shinobu. "Yeah", said Kitsune. They rushed off, with an injured Keitaro behind.
As they headed down the second flight of stairs, they noticed they were heading towards a pool with a rock in the middle, on that rock were two pleisour-like creatures, exept their ski coler looked like a penguins, and they had baleen in their beaks. They looked like they were sunning themselves on the rock. "Strange, but interesting", said Keitaro. "Do you think they will taste great", asked Su. "Shhh", said Motoko as she stopped them. The creatures looked up. They looked around then resumed their sunning. "I think they are very cautious", said Motoko, "If we be quiet and we move slowly, they won't notice us and we can get close." They did so and as a result they got very close to the creatures. One of them raised it's head and gave a huge, harsh bark which sounded familiar. "That sound it makes", said Naru, "It sounds just like. . ." "Like that wooden eye in the jungle", finished Kitsune. "So you mean that symbol could mean this creature", asked Motoko. "Yes", said Naru. "Why don't we call it a Sunner", said Keitaro, "Since this creature seems to enjoy the sun so much." "Yeah that sounds like a nice name for it", said Shinobu. "Then Sunner it is", said Kitsune. Then Keitaro said, "The rock they are on looks suspicious", said Keitaro, "I got to get a good look at it." He and the others moved, when they did they heard movement of flippers and a splash of water. They turned and saw that the Sunners were gone. "Aww. The sunners are gone", said Shinobu. "It's okay", said Kitsune, "They might come back." "Enough about them look at this", yelled Keitaro. The girls ran to where he was, at the other end of the beach. The looked at the rock, and at that angle the rock looked suspicially like, "Like those tusked creatures the islanders worship", said Motoko. "And look there on the head", said Kitsune, "It's a wooden eye!" "I'll take a look", said Keitaro. He headed over to the eye. He turned it, as he turned it, they heard a sound, like whale, and they symbol was a very familiar symbol. He turned around and walked back. "Well", asked Motoko. "First of all, the eye gave off a whale like cry, so I think we should call these things Wharks." "Whark", asked Kitsune. "Half whale, half shark, therfore, whark." "Cheesy, but, it's better than nothing", said Naru. "Second of all, the symbol on it can't mean Whark." "How come", asked Kitsune. "Because it is the same symbol we saw in the star marks all over the island." "So these symbols on the eye could mean something else", asked Shinobu. "Possibly", said Keitaro. Then pointing to the pathway they were on he said, "For now we should go there and through that tunnel." Everyone nodded and headed in that direction.
At the other end of the tunnel was another wooden catwalk. At the end of it was a ladder to the left. They also noticed, nearby, was another tower, but this time, no man appeared to activate it. "I guess it's because they already know strangers are about", said Motoko. They went down the ladder. Of course to prevent being a punching bag, Keitaro went down last.
At the bottom of the ladder they came apon a dried up pool. On the rim was a small knob and at the near top there were two pipes, one embedded in the rim, the other in the bottom of the pool. They looked at it curiosly. Then Naru noticed something near the rim pipe. "A wooden eye", said Naru. "Well, turn it then", said Motoko. Naru did so, but as she did, she heard a familiar sound. On the back of the eye was a DI symbol. After the eye flipped back Kitsune pondered, "Where have I heard that sound before." "Let me try something", said Keitaro. He twisted the knob on the rim. Water started filling in from pipe in the ground, the water flowed and started to fill up the trenches, and started taking on a familiar shape. "Stop the water Keitaro", said Naru. Keitaro turned the knob and the water stopped. The shape it formed looked familiar. "It looks like that beetle I tried to eat earlier", said Su. "OF COURSE", said Naru, "It's a beetle, that's why the sound was familiar." "Now we know the animal, but what do these symbols mean", said Kanako. "We might find out soon", said Keitaro, "but first where is the submarine." "Over here", yelled Su from a ladder that was across from the pool.
Down the ladder was a wooden pathway, which led to the steel ladder that led to the sub. "I'm driving", said Su as Keitaro opened the hatch. Soon after everyone was in Su started to fiddle with the controls. They soon found out the that the lever that was in a circular pattern changes the direction of the sub, and the lever that was near the seat moved the machine forward. And when they reached a area of track that went in two directions the lever before them controlled which direction. At times, when they reached a stop or a fork the sub stopped to allow them to take control. What amazed them was how they entered the water from the hole, because they just went clean through the wall without a splash. "This is incredible", said Shinobu. "Sugoi", said Kitsune.
At first Su was driving, but, eventually after a few mishaps, Kitsune decided to drive. "Aww your no fun", said Su. They decided to try the building across from the dock as their first stop. But when they got their they had one problem. "Guys, we have a problem", said Keitaro. "What", asked everyone. "The ladder is out of reach." "WHAT!" He received some bashings. "Hey it's not my fault, all the other stops ladders were out of reach too." "Like that wooden structure", asked Motoko. "Yes", said Keitaro. "The dock area near the village", asked Naru. "Yea." "Well, we should try one way we haven't tried yet", said Kitsune. After Keitaro closed the hatch, Kitsune turned the sub around and headed back for an intersection that was there before hand. She took the right way, the left way would have taken them to wooden structure. After that the sub went through the water, into a hole and stopped. Keitaro went up through the hatch, and yelled down, "The ladders in reach here." Everyone ran out because it was getting cramped in there. Nearby were metal steps in the rock. They climbed the ladder until it reached a huge room at the top. At one end of the room were several levers two were up, the rest were down. The other end of the room had a window which showed an eagle's eye view of the lake. "Naru, flip one of the switches", asked Keitaro. Naru did so, she flipped the second switch that was up. Keitaro looked out of the window. Motoko did so too. "Nothing. This is a waste of time, I'm out of here." She started climbing down. A few minutes later she came back up. "What's the matter, forgot something", said Kanako. "No, the ladder to the submarine is not in reach of the hatch anymore", responded Motoko. "Really", asked Kitsune. "Let me check." She went down to the submarine. A few minutes she returned and said, "Yep, she's right." "Then that means", said Keitaro, "That those levers control the ladder extensions. They are extended if it is up and retracted if they are down." "So all I have to do", said Naru, "Is flip them all up." "Well do it", said Kanako. Naru glared at her and nodded. She flipped them all in the up position. Keitaro checked the window and said, "All right Narusegewa! It worked!" The others looked. "Well waddya know, for once Keitaro used his head", said Kitsune. "Now let's check out that building", said Shinobu.
The returned to the sub and with Kitsune in control they took the sub to that building. This time, when the hatch was opened, their was a ladder for them to use and they climbed out. They followed the small catwalk to the door of the building and entered.
Inside, was but a single room. In it there were two rows of seats. In the middle, near the back was a cage on top of a cement piller, with a crank in it. On either side of the cage was a chalkboard. The one on the right was blank, while the one on the left was not. As the group looked around they noticed two tables near the door, one had a bowl of fruit and a tablet with a piece of paper and pencil on it, the other had a strange device. It had a symbol on the round area, and there was a ring near the right of it, near it, on top of the flat part was a Whark, and two objects were hung above it, connected to spools of string on top of poles. One the walls, near the ceiling, were D'ni letters, as Keitaro pointed out. "I think this is some sort of school", said Kitsune. "I think so too", said Keitaro. They approached the cage. "I wonder what this is", said Keitaro. Su said, "Let's try this crank." She wrung it up, and suddenly the head of a man appeared. "Aaah, who are you", said Motoko, unseathing her sword. But the man payed no notice and started saying something in a strange dialect. Eventually he fadded out. "Su, do that again", asked Kitsune. Su did so and the man appeared, doing the same thing. "I think this is just a holographic recording, you know like with Achenar in the Channelwood Age", said Kitsune. "You are right", said Motoko, who sheathed her sword.
Shinobu, though she was still a little shook up from the encounter from the device, was curious about the small wooden one nearby. She moved the crank and the wark to the other side as she did, the symbol indicator started to made a clattering sound and randomly chose another symbol. It was a KI symbol with a line through it. The line that was now above the Whark, lowered the object one pace at a time, about eight times. Hearing the device working the others rushed to it. "What did you do Shinobu", asked Kanako. "I just shifted this ring and it came up with this symbol and the thing moved down eight times", responded Shinobu." "Do it again", asked Keitaro. "Why", asked Shinobu. "I believe this will answer something", said Keitaro. Shinobu did so and moved the ring back to it's original position, the symbol indicator came up with a familiar KI symbol. The string on the other side moved it down three times. "AH HA! This is it", said Keitaro. "What's that", asked Motoko. "These aren't letters or symbols for creatures, they are numbers!" "You are right", said Naru. "So all we have to do is play this game until we find out all the numbers it can give us", said Kitsune. "Considerine this is a school for childeren, I'd say it will only give us one through ten", said Kanako. "Then let's continue playing", said Su. They did, and each time the game ended the object that got close to the Whark's mouth was eaten, then was released and rewound, followed by the losing string, and the game would be ready. Eventually they found out that all the symbols form one to ten. "All right, now, to figure out the symbols of those creatures", said Keitaro. Then holding up a familiar journal of paper Naru yelled, "I have them." "Did you steal that book from me again", asked Keitaro. "I would call it borrowing." They looked at the figures, the symbols and what they stood for. "Okay so the frog is three", said Kitsune. "It turns out the Sunner is four", said Kanako. "The Whark is five", said Naru. "They might mean a sequence or a code for something", said Keitaro. "Yea, but the big question is, what is the first one", said Naru. "Hmm, good question", said Keitaro. "We have been all around this island, and I didn't see any other wooden eyes", said Kitsune. "I am a little more concerned about the inhabitants of this island", said Motoko. "What do you mean", asked Kitsune. "This game explains the meaning of that scripture we saw and what happens to the people of this island, they get fed to the Wharks!" "Motoko has a point", said Naru. "And that game also explains who that man is we saw in those beetles", said Keitaro. "How", asked Kitsune. "The five symbol is the same symbol in the star symbol we keep seeing", said Keitaro. "Your point", asked Motoko. "Atrus' pointed out in his journal that Gehn coldly called this place the Fifth Age, thus the five star symbol." "So you are saying", said Naru, "that the guy responsible for all this, the murderous wharks, the guy they worship is. . ." "Yes", said Keitaro, "Gehn. These people must believe he is some sort of god, and he is using this power to his advantage." Then Motoko clenched a fist and said, "His thirst for power has spread around this age." "Yeah, and Atrus knew it was a risk, but, he didn't have a choice", said Keitaro. "Come on", said Kitsune, "Let's check out that wooden structure", said Kitsune. They left the classroom and returned to the sub.
When they got to the wooden structure they saw nothing but a huge hole in the middle. As they walked down the path that went around the structure Kanako said, "This is a waste of time", she said. Then when the reached the back, Kitsune noticed a strange pulley. "I wonder what this does", said Kitsune. She pulled it. In response a trapeze with cuffs on each end cam down from the top and stopped in the middle of the circle. Then in a few minutes the trapeze retracted. "It seems that this is the spot where they execute them", said Motoko. "Until now, I didn't believe you", said Kitsune. "These poor people", sobbed Shinobu. "Like walking to the gallows", said Naru. "That's what we should call this area, the Whark Gallows", said Motoko. "Has a eerie ring to it, so you got a good one there", said Kitsune. "Let's get back to the shore", said Naru. "Back to where we started", asked Kitsune. "No, I want us to dock over there, near the village dock", said Naru as she pointed. "Won't the natives get curious about this thing", asked Keitaro. "Nah, these people dislike strangers, so I don't think they will try to use anything they don't understand", said Naru. Everyone agreed and headed to the sub. A few minutes later they emerged at the village dock.
As they took the route that went past the jungle enterance, they discussed whether to head back to the temple island or not. Then when they got to the clearing, Shinobu pointed and said, "Guys, look!" They looked in the direction of the path they took to get to the door. Nearby was another path, and it led to a rectangular hole in the ground. They decided to investigate it. In that hole, was a mine cart. "What is it for", asked Shinobu. Then Su and Kitsune hopped into the cart and Kitsune said, "I say we take it for a ride." "I don't see why not", said Keitaro. The others agreed, hesitantly. Nearby, to the front was a small, wooden lever, and Su turned it.
In response the cart moved forward, fast, down a cavern of tracks, then they were in a underwater tube, that was filled with lights. A second or two later, they re-emreged from the water and they were slowly coming upon a new island. Every breathed a small sigh of relief from the rush, just before they entered a cavern. Soon, after a few turns in the cavern the cart stopped at a platform and a baricade. "Well, this is our stoooooooooo. . .", Keitaro didn't finish that because, the bottom of the cart opened and they slid down a chute, through a lid and landed on a platform before some sort of machine. But they all crashed into each other and fell off the platform.
"That was a bad ending to a good ride", said Naru as she got up and dusted herself off. Soon the others got up. Naru looked back at the platform and then she saw the machine below it. The chute below the platform led to a round area. Out of it was a tube, and at the end of the tube was strange confetti. "Kitsune, what do you make of that confetti", asked Naru. "Let me see", said Kitsune. She took some handfuls and looked at them. "If you want my opinion, it feels like tree stuff. Why do you ask", said Kitsune. "Because there is something familiar about this machine", said Naru. "I agree", said Keitaro. "Woah, check this place out", said Su. Everyone looked at the rest of the surroundings. The whole island was encased in mountains. There were a few small patches of land at the sides and huge lake in the middle. Nearby the group was a huge machine that looked like a boiler. The nearest thing to them was a small bridge that led to the center of the lake. In the center was a dome like device, that probably directed water to power the three things the pipes were connected to. One was connected to the platform machine, the second was connected to the boiler, the third couldn't be seen.
Then Naru asked, "Keitaro, could you go up on that platform and pull the handle on there?" "I don't know why, but okay", he responded, he climbed up the ladder, and pulled the handle but nothing happened. "Nothing", he said. "Probably there is no power", said Naru. Then pointing to the dome object she said, "Let's check out the device." "But it is too narrow for all of us, only two of us should go", said Kitsune. "I will go", said Keitaro. "So shall I", said Kanako. Motoko and Naru groaned, but, they agreed to it.
When the Urashimas got to the device they found out there was a lever on top. It was pointing to the third pipe. "If I see this correctly, it is just like the piping mechinismn in the Channelwood Age", said Keitaro. "You mean the water will go in the direction the lever is pulled." "Exactly and to test it, let's point it at the machine that Narusegewa asked me to pull", said Keitaro. He did so and he and his sister returned to the group. "I think it is all set. Let's give it a go", said Keitaro. "Okay, do it", said Naru. Keitaro got on up, as well as a curious Kitsune. Keitaro pulled the lever. First their was a thunderous roar that shook the platform. Next the metal plate of the chute into the machine opened to reveal a mass of swirling blades. The next minute or two, the metal plate slid shut and the machine calmed down. After Keitaro and Kitsune got down and told what was they saw, Naru got a bit suspicious. "I wonder", she said. "I hate to break this thought, but why don't we go investigate where that third pipe leads to", said Kanako. "Good idea sister", said Keitaro (an: sorry, I forgot the Japanese word for sister).
They went across the small field and went over the large pipe that was on the other side of the boiler. Near some rocks, on the cliff side was a ladder. "Keitaro, you go up there and check it out", said Motoko. Keitaro groaned and said, "Okay." He climbed up the ladder only to reach a manhole. He pushed it and shoved but it wouldn't budge. He came down and explained. "Must be locked", said Naru. "REALLY YOU DON'T THINK", yelled Keitaro. "Maybe we should check that boiler out", said Kitsune. "Never hurts", said Naru. They went towards the boiler, and noticed that the huge pipe was coming from it. "I wonder what that is for", said Shinobu. "Probably for draining or putting water in, I am not sure", said Kitsune. The went around and went up the staircase that was up front. In front of them they noticed a door. "Let's go in", said Kitsune. They touched the door but it wouldn't open. "Why won't it open", asked Su. "That must be why", said Keitaro, pointing to a guage on the left side of the door, "It must mean that it is dangerous for us to go in." "Good reason" said Motoko, and pointing to the underbelly of the boiler she said, "The fire is still going at it." They noticed a catwalk nearby and followed it. At the end were, what they assumed, where controls for the boiler. Facing the boiler, there was a window, showing the boiling of the water inside the boiler. To the left of the window was a wheel that turned a plastic connecter pipe. Near it was a switch that controlled the water flow from the power unit of the lake. One lead to the wheel, the other lead to a switch on the other side of the window. The last thing was a pipe with a lever on it. They tried experementing with many things but just as they were about to give up, Su pulled the lever on the pipe in front of the switch. Suddenly, they heard the fires go out and the water stopped bubbling. "I'll go check", said Keitaro. He then noticed the gauge was clear. He stepped near the door, as soon as he did, the screws in the door unscrewed itself and the door opened. He stepped inside. Inside the boiler was nothing but water and a ladder in the middle. "Hey Keitaro", said Su behind him, "We came to see what the noise is abou. . .", she stopped as she saw the room inside the boiler. "So, we can enter now, eh Urashima", said Motoko. "Yea, but the problem is that the water is still here and there is no platform for me to get to the ladder", said Keitaro. Then thinking he said, "I think we should switch the water power switch to it." "Well what are you waiting for, an invitation, get to it", yelled Naru. Keitaro went out of the chamber, the door closed and screwed shut behind him. He went to the power unit and switched it the lever to point to the pipe that was headed for the boiler.
He ran back to the boiler, where he found the girls at the controls. "It's ready", he said. "Then let's get busy", said Su. "Allow me to try", said Naru. She turned the wheel and plastic pipe turned up. Suddenly the water began to drain out. "Hey we got rid of the water", said Kitsune. "Yeah, but the ladder will be out of reach", said Keitaro. "Let's try this switch", said Kanako. She used it but nothing happened. "What is going on", she said as she flipped it back, "this thing has power now." "What a sec said Keitaro as he looked at the pipe that delivered the power to the boiler. He activated a small switch near it and then he said, "Try it now." Kanako flipped it and soon, they saw a platform raise up and stop. "I think that solves everything", said Keitaro. "Let's take a look first Sempai", said Shinobu.
They went to the chamber. After entering the door, they noticed that in place of water was a steel platform, allowing easy access to the ladder in the middle. "The rest of you stay behind, I am going alone", said Keitaro. "Are you sure, you don't know where it leads", said Motoko. "Hey, after being knocked into orbit several times, don't you think I can survive anything unexpected", said Keitaro. "Okay", said Naru, "but please be careful." "Okay" said Keitaro, and as he started climbing down the ladder he said, "See you in a bit." The girls went outside the boiler to wait for him.
Keitaro found the enterance to the big pipe below him. He followed it, and after a few minutes of stumbling in the dark he saw a light. When he got there he looked down and saw ground below him. "Well, time to jump", he said, and with that he jumped from the pipe and landed on his back on the ground. He looked up and said, "So that was for drainage, well, I better see where this goes." He scalsed the side of the mountanious region and eventually he found his way to the other side, and to the platform the ladder lead to. "Well, let's get this manhole unlocked", he said. He took hold of the manhole and pulled it up. Before heading down the ladder he saw that the on the moutainside near the platform was a door, actually it was two doors for an entry way. He headed down the mountain. The girls saw him approach and they all ran up and hugged him. "Keitaro!" "Hey, I was only gone for a few minutes", said Keitaro. After they released him they asked what he saw. He told them what happened and when he finished Kitsune asked, "So the ladder hatch is open", asked Kitsune. "You got it", said Keitaro. "Well let's go", said Naru. They all went up the ladder and when they got up there they entered the double door enterance.
Beyond the double doors was but a single steel catwalk. They followed it until it reached the end. At the end was a spherical device with a handle on top. When Su opened it up, bottom was lined with wire mesh. There was a circular plate in the middle with small oval in it. "I wonder what this is", asked Keitaro. He pressed his hand in the circle and suddenly the device snapped shut on his hand. "GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!", he yelled. After they helped him out, Naru said, "It must be some sort of trap." "Look there is some pellets over here", said Kitsune pointing to the left, "and over there is a lever." "They must control those pulleys", said Kanako, who was looking at the cables that are connected to the device. "I wish we knew what controlled the fan", said Su. "What, said everyone, and looked up to see a small ventilation fan with its grid knocked off, and it was turning rapidly. "If we could stop it, we could see where it leads", said Kitsune. "Right now, let's see what this thing is used to catch", said Motoko. They opened the object, placed a piece of food on the pressure plate, but when Naru pulled the lever, nothing happened. Then Keitaro noticed the pipe. "I know why this is not working", he said, "Stay here, I will be right back!" With that he dashed off. A few minutes later he returned. "What did you do", asked Naru. After regaining his breath Keitaro answered, "I figured that pipe near the lever lead to the lake device so I switched to the third pipe." "Good point", said Kitsune. "Let's try it now", said Motoko. "I hope it catches a yummy turtle", said Su. Motoko shivered at that thought. Naru pulled the lever and this time the trap headed down into the abyss. "What now", asked Shinobu. "We wait", said Keitaro.
So, they waited, and waited, and for a change of pace they waited some more. Then Su yelled, "We got something", when they heard a 'clang' from the abyss. Naru pulled the lever and brought it up and from withing the device came an odd sound. "Let's see what's inside", said Keitaro. He opened it and inside was a frog. It was red, almost gave of the sense of a living jewl. It gave a familiar, "chirrup", hoped to the side of the trap, 'chirruped' again and hopped down to the abyss. "That explains what this is for", said Kitsune as she closed the trap, "It's used to capture frogs." "Yeah, but for what reason", asked Shinobu. "Who knows", said Motoko, "Besides, there is nothing more for us here, let's go." "Aww", said Su, "I wish I could have eaten that frog."
As they neared the doors, Naru got a little suspicious about the two doors. Then she said, "We are not done here." "Why", asked Keitaro. "Observe", she said and as she approached the doors she said, "Odd way for doors to leaning against the wall. Wouldn't you think that they could be hidind something." She closed the doors and sure enough, there were two paths. On the left was a staircase heading downward, on the right was a long bridge. "Smart move Naru", said Kitsune, "Doors hiding doors, how intriguing." "Well, where to first", asked Keitaro. "Let's try left first", said Kanako. They all went in the left direction. Shortly after crossing a steel catwalk, they came across a strange building. "I wonder what's in here", said Keitaro. He tried to move the handle but it wouldn't budge. "It's locked", he said. "Well, let's just continue", said Shinobu. After leaving the building they followed the rest of the catwalk to a tunnel. At the other end of the tunnel was a small bridge, and to their surprise, at the other side, was the Golden Dome of the temple island. "This takes us back to where we started", said Kitsune. "Not quite", said Keitaro, "I think this bridge is the one that had the section that was raised. So I think we may be able to get some parts of the Dome area, we couldn't get to." "Smart thinking Keitaro", said Naru. They went across the bridge toward the dome. Sure enough, near the end was the raised part of the bridge. Furtunatly there was a lever right nearby. When Keitaro pushed it forward, the bridge section went down allowing them to acess the dome. Which they did. As soon as the bridge was down, they entered the dome.
The dome hadn't changed a bit, but this time they were on the side of the catwalk they couldn't get to beforehand. "And to make sure of that", said Kitsune. She walked over to the wheel that they couldn't reach before when they where on the other side of the catwalk. She turned it few times until the section of the catwalk extended to it. "There, now we have full access to the dome", she said as she wiped her hands. Then Keitaro noticed the third passage out of the dome, that was just before the wheel. "Let's see what's out there, it could lead to that solid door in the Gate Room", he said. "And their might be a switch", said Naru. "A switch! A switch", yelled Su.
However, they were downtrodden, when they set foot on the bridge, they noticed a gap between where they stand and the rest of the bridge. "Well, we can't get across now", said Kitsune, turning around. "No, wait a sec", said Shinobu. Near the enterance was a button, that was in a circle similar to the circle with no button that Naru saw in the same area. "Well, press it", said Kanako, "We don't have anything to lose." Shinobu pressed the button. There was a huge clanking sound and the section of the bridge missing rose up. "Well we can get across now", said Kitsune. Naru, however, got a tad suspicious.
At the other side of the bridge, was another entry way, which was blocked off by a bronze door. "Well we can't go any further", said Kitsune. "Don't fret", said Keitaro and pointing to switch nearby he said, "This door has a switch nearby. He flipped it, and the door went up and it revealed a very familiar room. "Hey, that wall looks like that wall of the outside of the Gate Room", said Su. Naru looked through the peephole and said, "That's because we are in the Gate Room." "I think this is the room where the door was, and that was the door we just opened", said Kanako. "So, now we have a chance of using that bridge-ladder to get up to the top of the dome." "Well, I'll go and activate the ladder", said Su. "No we are all going", said Naru. "Why", asked everyone. "Because, I think when Shinobu rose that section of bridge, she activated an elevater and that button I couldn't press the last time I was here", she responded. "Where", asked Keitaro. "You know that section after the pipe device that powered the bridge that got us back here", said Naru after she slapped her head in disgust. "Oh yeah, that area", responded Keitaro. "Okay, but before we carry this out", said Motoko, "I think we should rotate this room so we can get to the main entrance when we return." "Yeah, good point", said everyone. They did so, and following that they went back to the way they came to the dome. Once there Keitaro pulled up the lever of the Dome's main enternance to cause the bridge to rise and act as stairs. Shortly after doing so, they used Naru's suggestion to head where the button-less button was.
When they got there, there were a few changes, one the section was now red, instead of white, plus there was not guard rails. Also, in the metal circle, which used to be hollow, was button. "I knew it", said Naru. "What is that, Naru", asked Kanako. "Well, it turns out that the section of bridge is a part of an elevator, when it goes up", and pointing to the red platform she added, "this goes up, and when that bridge section is down, this is down and can't go further, that's why the button vanished." "Brilliant thinking Narusagewa", said Keitaro, slapping her on the back. "We came this far", said Kitsune, "Let's see where this goes."
They all crowded on the red platform and Naru pushed the button. They heard the sound of the bridge section lowering and split second later the red platform went down. In a second it stopped, and they saw the bridge section connect over head. "Well, what now", asked Kanako. "We could try that way", said Shinobu pointing behind them. It was hallway, leading to a staircase. "Well, let's go", said Kitsune. They noticed a small button nearby and they agreed it would allow them to take the elevator up again.
When they finished climbing the staircase, what they saw made them react with awe. "Ahhhhh", said Everyone sighing. (AN: I wrote Awe. A-W-E!) "Whoooo", went everyone(AN: that's better), for in front of them was the spinning dome that they saw earlier. In nearby, in front of them, moving in time to the dome, was a device that had a small whirling blade whirling through a small telescope. It had a button on top and was on a leg. "Looks like one of those American kinescopes", said Naru. "It sure does", said Keitaro. "What's a kinescope, is that some kind of food", asked Su. "No Su", said Keitaro, "A kinescope was an old-fashioned device that Americans used to watch movies on." "Oh", said Su, who was still a little confused. "This is making my head spin", said Shinobu. Keitaro observed the dome, up close. The device had strange marks on it that reapeted the same pattern. The device was painted in a fire marble color, and on one of the round things that was near the device was a pipe that lead up to the Golden Dome. "I say we call this thing a Fire Marble Dome, because of it's color", said Keitaro. "Good idea", said Kanako. Then Kitsune asked, "Is it just me, or is one of the markings a different color?" "Your right one of them is", said Keitaro who noticed. "Hey", said Su, "These things on it look like a flip book if you look through this kina- whatsit?" Keitaro ran up and took a peek. Su was right, the kinescope showed the symbols as clear as day, and they moved like a never-ending movie. "Naru hand me that journal for a sec", said Keitaro. As she handed over Atrus' journal she asked, "Why?" "I think I should write down the symbol that is gold and the island it's on. It's possible the other fire domes have different symbols, gold colored", said Keitaro as he wrote this down. The symbol that was gold was a circle with a dot in the center. "I wonder what the button on top is for", said Kitsune. Then Naru had a thought and said, "Keitaro, try hitting the button when the gold symbol is seen." "Okay, here goes", he said. When he did so the kinescope and the dome slowed and stopped, exactly on the gold marked symbol. Then the dome flipped, revealing a gold underbelly, but there were two large ends, in the middle, was a small, hollow area, with a console underneath. "Let's take a look", said Motoko. They approached the dome.
The console showed, from the bottom, a small button, above it a slider combonation device with five slides. Above the device was a glass window, and under the glass was a familiar object. "It's a book", said Shinobu. "Probably a linking book", said Naru. "Well, we can't get to it now", said Keitaro, "We need some sort of combonation." "Urashima has got a point", said Motoko. "Come on", said Kitsune, "Let's go check out the top of the Golden Dome." "What about the Marble Dome", asked Shinobu. "I think to avoid any suspicions we should return it to normal", said Motoko. "How", asked Kanako. "Like this", said Kitsune as she pushed the top of the kinescope. The dome flipped back over, and it started to rotate again, and the kinescope started moving as well.
They headed back for the elevator, went back up it, and took the route to the new entrance to the gate room. Once they went back through it to the original entrance, Kitsune rotated it back to the original position to that would let them get to the Dome. And when they got to the bridge that they raised, as the expected, the bridge was still a staircase heading for the top of the slit of the big dome. At the top of the dome was a strange device that looked like a compressor but the top looked like a motor. Near Keitaro (the area was so narrow, they had to go in single file), was a single, sliding lever. "Well, give it a try Keitaro", said Naru. Keitaro nodded and pushed the lever down, revealing a small button underneath it. The top of the device slid down and mashed on top of the bottom, and the whole thing locked into place. "Well, push the button Urashima", said Motoko, who was getting annoyed by the cramp space. Keitaro pressed it but nothing happened. "Isn't something supposed to happen", asked Kitsune. Keitaro reversed the mechinism, realizing it wasn't going to change a thing. "Maybe it's busted", he said shrugging. Naru squeezed and shoved through Keitaro saying, "Yeah, right! I am going to take a look at this machine." "What for me", said Keitaro.
The bottom of the device looked like several squares with grids within them. Nearby, on separate small holders, where different color marbles. The colors they had, in order from top to bottom, were, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. "Hmmm", said Naru, "It looks like we need to put the marbles in a certain order, otherwise the machine won't work." Then a groaning was heard and Kitsune yelled, "Well if we don't know the procedure, I propose we head back to that island we were last." They nodded, so they retraced their steps and took the same route to get back to the island. They agreed to leave the bridge the way it was, just in case they found the right combo.
On their way back to the cavern with the frog trap, Keitaro noticed a lever, right beside the catwalk. "Hold on for a sec", he said, and he flipped it. "I wonder if it did anything", he asked. "We may find out soon enough", said Kanako.
Once back in the cavern, the group agreed to go the other covered passageway, and they followed a flight of stairs that led them to a metal door. On the other side was, "ANOTHER FIRE MARBLE DOME", they all exclaimed.
They walked around the catwalk beside it. "Now that we found it, where is the kinescope", asked Motoko. "Over there", yelled Shinobu, "I see it!" They turned and saw, in a rocky crevice, was a kinescope. "But how do we get there", asked Keitaro. Then they heard Kanako's voice call from near the stairwell, "I think I have that question answered. They went back to the enterance to the room. Kanako then gave a 'observe' signal to them, and closed the door that led to the stairwell. Where the door was when it was open, revealed a crevice in the rock. "Ah, another, door hiding a door", said Kitsune.
They followed the tunnel in the crevice until they reached the kinescope. "Stand back", said Keitaro as he took out Atrus' journal and a pencil. He looked through the kinescope and waited until he saw the gold signal. He pushed the button on that mark and just as with the other one it slowed and stopped. Once it stopped it showed the gold underbelly with the book thing. Keitaro wrote down the mark and marked it CI for Crater Island, since the island looked like a crater. He then returned the dome to the way it was before they saw it and returned to the catwalk upstairs.
"Now what do we do", said Motoko after climbing the last step. "Yeah there is nothing much more for us to do here, except maybe find a way to get in that building", responded Kitsune. Then they noticed something. "Where is Su", everyone asked. Then it hit them, "AAAAH! THE FROG TRAP!" They ran over to the frog trap where Su was, but instead of working the trap she was looking at the fan. "Su what where you. . .", said Keitaro, but was inturupted when Su asked, "Wasn't that fan turning a while ago." They looked up and, to their surprise, the fan was not running. "But how", asked Naru. "It may have been that switch I pushed back there", said Keitaro, who received a hug from the girls and Naru said, "Keitaro, you are a genious." "I am? Oh, I mean, I am!" he said, feeling a bit smug. "Okay", said Naru, and turning to Shinobu she said, "Shinobu, we will boost you up and you go to the other end." "Okay, Naru-semapai", she said a little scared. "Once there, if you can find a way back to us come back and lead us to where the vent goes." "Okay", Shinobu said nervously. But before Shinobu was hoisted, Keitaro got a smack down on the head to prevent him from looking up Shinobu's skirt. Then after Shinobu got hoisted, they waited a few minutes.
Moments later they heard a, "A...ano", from behind them. They turned and saw Shinobu. "That was quick", said Kitsune. "So", asked Keitaro, "Where does it go?" Shinobu blushed a little and said, "You won't believe it, come, follow me!" They folowed Shinobu, away from the trap and through the catwalk that led to the temple island till they reached a familiar building. "This is it", she said and she opened the door. "All right", said Su, "Let's see what's inside!" They all entered and Su closed the door.
Inside was a huge room. From the entrance there was something near the walls that went around. From clockwise around the room, there were three desks, and there was a door, in middle of the walls the first and second desks were on. In the center of the room was oven. "This looks like some sort of labaratory", said Keitaro. "Probably the fiend's labarotory if you ask me", said Motoko. "Who", asked Keitaro. "Gehn you baka", said Naru. "Let's check out these desks", said Kitsune.
Keitaro, Kanako and Shinobu, looked at the first desk. On the desk was a magnifier that looked at a piece of wood, some papers, stacks to be exact. On the shelf of the desk were more papers, a rubber stamp, books and inks. Keitaro noticed something on the near end, it almost looked like a vise, except it was half circled and looked more that it was designed to compress. After Keitaro moved it a little by turning the crank on the end, he concluded it was a compressor. "He must be attempting to make books here", said Kanako. "Yeah but where did he get the materials", asked Shinobu.
Meanwhile, Su, and Motoko were checking out the second desk. On the desk were several instruments, some chemical tubes and devices, a piece of another frog trap, a drawer box, where, in one, where several eggs, and lots of cartridges that look like shotgun shells. But the most horrific thing of all, was that there were several frogs in tubes, as if suspended. "I knew he was catching frogs for something", said Su, "I knew he was eating them." "I don't think so Su, these devices are not what anyone would use to make these frogs edible." "Then what are they for", asked Su.
At the same time, Kitsune and Motoko where checking out the third desk, which is also where the air vent led to. The desk didn't have much, but the first thing that Naru noticed, was a journal on it. While Kitsune was looking, Naru read through it, and then she heard the comments of both Su and Shinobu. She looked at where they were and said, "I can answer those questions." The rest of the group responded by gathering near the desk where Naru was. "What Gehn has written here in this journal was that he was trying to re-create books, but as Atrus' hoped, he wasn't very sucessful. Everytime, he created one he failed." "And where do they go", asked Shinobu. Naru pointed to the fireplace. Kitsune, walked over to it, opened it and took out a burned book. "Yeah, she's right", said Kitsune. "Wait there is more", said Naru, "Not only was he trying to find a way to write ages, he was trying to re-create the D'ni civilization. Rebuild the whole thing." "That is bad, Atrus told me, that because of the fact they were power hungry was why D'ni fell", said Keitaro. Naru waived her hand to silence him, "Plus you know those five men we saw on the walls." Everyone nodded and Naru said, "Those symbolize Guild Masters, the one directing people are called Builders, the one we saw giving out school work are Educators, the one looking over the children fighting were probably Surveyers, the one with the insturments were Maintainers and the one with the pages falling of the tree where Bookmakers." "Speaking of bookmakers, where did all this paper come from", said Keitaro. "And you call yourself an archeologist", said Naru, "That picture of the book over the fire, it had those machines, the shredder and the boiler, and the cart leading from the area where trees where chopped down. He got it all from that island's wood." "Oh, yeah", said Keitaro. "Urashima, you are stupid", said Motoko, but Kanako gave her a punch in the back. "Is there any mention of the Fire Marble Domes are anything related to it", asked Shinobu. "Yes", said Naru, "It turns out that he found a way to use these books. All he has to do is use power them, and he can do this with the fire-domes. Plus, they all lead to one place, it is this age which these numbers I can't describe." "Anything else", asked Keitaro. "Yeah, in fact Keitaro you can be doing us all a favor, by putting your archeology skills to the test. First hand me Atrus journal." Keitaro did so and Naru wrote down something. "Here, this is the combo to the fire-domes, try to understand them." "I will", said Keitaro. Then he noticed other symbols next to the other Fire Marble Dome symbols. "Why did you put these in for", asked Keitaro. "I found out that the area on top of the Great Dome, powers the Fire Marble Domes, and those symbols, at least two of them, match the dome symbols that are gold. Gehn was trying to find out these symbols and their connection to the color coding in D'ni. But I think, that those marbles represent the domes and that grid represents all islands. So if we put in the right color for the right spot. . ." "We can power up the domes and access this age", finished Ki" "Exactly. But we need to know both soom, because even if we did know the combo, we couldn't access the age because there is no power", said Naru. "Is their anything else", asked Su. "Yea, the Star Fissure is sealed, he was observing it but he abaonded it. He thinks it is safe to travel, and it has unchanged since it appeared." "So you are saying it can take us home", asked Shinobu hopefully. "Yeah, but it has a vacuum in it. It can suck almost anything in it. But, if we open it, it might cause a catastrophic result", responded Naru. "Hmm, then we better wait to open it after Gehn is captured and we release Catherine." "By the way, why did he catch frogs. Was it to eat them", asked Su. "I am afraid not Su", said a nervious Naru, "First of all they are called ytrams and he captured them to extract something from them in order to smoke." "You mean he smokes frog or whatever extract", asked Motoko. Naru nodded. "That is inhumane! Trapping these things to fulfill his desire", yelled Motoko. "I feel sorry for those ytrams", said Shinobu. "Oh I think I should mention something. We are not alone", said Naru. "What", asked everyone. "There seems to be a group of rebels known as the Black Moiety. Those daggers seem to be their sign. And their leader happens to be the person we are rescuing." "Catherine", asked Shinobu. "Bingo", said Naru, "They terrorized and vandalize everything that Gehn has done or made." This made everyone remember the masked men that took the trap book and freed them from their cage when they first arrived. "Also", continued Naru, "They somehow found a smaller way of powering the books, probably for their own purposes and probably made by Catherine. They made some sort of power crystal that works like the domes." "How did he know this", asked Shinobu. "He captured a rebel and interrogated him, plus they found it on him", responded Naru.
Keitaro then noticed something near Naru. "What the hey", he said as he approached it. He saw a familiar looking wooden ball and a piece of paper. "I saw that but it didn't look important", said Kitsune. "Not important? Kitsune don't you know what this is?" She shook her head. "This", said Keitaro, "Is a wooden eye like we saw on the jungle island!" "A WOODEN EYE", exclaimed everyone. "And not just that look", said Keitaro and he rolled it over. On the other side was, the sign for one." "So this is the eye for the first animal", said Motoko, "but how did Gehn acquire it." "This answers that", said Keitaro rolling back the eye and pointing to the sheet of paper. It was a journal entry. "This explains that Gehn saw a villager swim out into that lake full of holes and to that eye. It was floating near the entrance. He took it to analyze it. A few days later it was replaced somehow", said Keitaro. "So the first animal was in the water, that's why we couldn't see it", said Naru. "Yeah, but how will we know what it is and what they are for", wailed Shinobu. "I think the only answer is to move on and I think we should go out that door", said Keitaro, pointing to the other door.
Outside was a walkway that shortly led them to a tram station. "Great, another tram ride", said Motoko sarcastically. "How do we get it here, there is no button", said Kanako. "I think I saw the button for summoning the tram back at the entrance to the lab", said Shinobu. "Well go press it", said everyone.
Shinobu went back and pressed the button. When she came back she saw that the tram had arrived. But one person was missing. "Where is Sempai", asked Shinobu. "Oh I asked 'is it coming' and when he looked to see the tram slammed at him. He is now resting below it", said Su. "OH NO! SEMPAI! AAAUUUUUUU", wailed Shinobu. Keitaro climbed up from the pit below the tram with half-cracked glasses an said, "Don't worry, I am okay!" "Oh sempai! I am so glad you are okay", said Shinobu as she ran up and hugged him. "Come on, let's go", said Naru.
Inside the tram, Kanako took the drivers seat. She turned the tram with the lever, and used the other to make it go. As they went along the threads the tram glidded on you could hear the group say stuff like, "Oh, I hate these rides." Or "Any barf bags on this flight" and maybe "I am going to puke."
The tram ride ended inside of cavern on the island. "Well this was unexpected", said a dizzy Keitaro as he came off. "Yeah I expected it to stay above ground", said Motoko. After the group recovered from the ride Kitsune pointed to doorway that was near the tramway enterance to the cave. "Let's see what's that way", she said. Everyone agreed and headed that way, and up the stairs they found at the end of the passage, little realizing what could be up there.
To be continued. . .
Okay everyone this was part 1 to the Riven section of this story. But don't worry, I will try to get the second part done ASAP. And if anyone is reading this, be kind and R&R. I would like some positive feedback, because, I am not sure if what I did is good or not. I will appreaciate it. Adios for now.
A few weeks have gone by on Myst Island, ever since the girls from the Hinata Apartments have used the MYST linking book to get there and freed Atrus from his prison in D'ni. They have all got quite used to the place. Kitsune, was, however starting to go crazy from the lack of sake'. Su was scavenging parts from the other ages to create new Mecha Tamas, but, they usually break down after she starts them up. "I guess these worlds technology can't be of much use to my intellect." Keitaro, was of course his normal self, he, being a archeologist, was trying to see if he can find artifacts in the other worlds. Naru and Kanako, still faught, and Shinobu was cheerful, but shy as ever. As for Motoko, she used the serenity of the wooded area of Myst Island, and at times the Selentic Age, to continue her training. Of course every now and then, they check up on their friend Atrus, who, of course would still be found at his desk in D'ni, writing in the book of the age where Catherine is being held hostage. While no-one else had anything to say to him, Keitaro, being curious about D'ni, would ask Atrus about D'ni and it's old civilization. Atrus was more than happy to explain briefly about the ruined city, keeping in mind about his writing, and of course Keitaro would understand. So far, nothing interesting happened until, one day, Keitaro asked everyone as they settling to what seemed their 18th night on Myst, "I think we should check up on our friend tommorow morning, I just have this feeling that we should go." "I agree with Oni-san", said Kanako. Everyone nodded in agreement that they should see Atrus.
The following morning they woke up and used the fireplace to access the green linking book to D'ni. Once they headed there Atrus looked up from his work and said, "Thank God you all have returned", he said. "You are", asked Naru. "Is it time", asked Motoko. "Yes, it is time, I need you're help", said Atrus and he beckoned them to come closer. They all came up to his desk. "So what is it you need us to do", asked Keitaro. "Just name it and we shall do it", said Kanako. Atrus, without looking up said, "There is a great deal of history you all should know. But, I am afraid I must continue my writing." "Then how can we know Atrus-san", asked Keitaro. Atrus paused his writing and reached into his pocket and pulled out a small journal. He handed it to Keitaro. "Here", said Atrus, "Most of what you will need to know is in there." He then paused and said, "Keep it well hidden." "Don't worry I will", said Keitaro as he placed it within his jacket. "Now, what are we going to do", asked Kitsune. Atrus then pulled out from behind his desk, another book, that was regular sized. "For reasons you will discover, I can't send all of you into Riven with a way out." "What is a Riven, does it taste good", asked Su. Everyone sweatdropped. "No, it's the name of the Age, I am sending all of you", said a nervous Atrus. "Please, continue Atrus-san", said Shinobu. "Very well. Like I said, I can't send you all into Riven with a way out. But. . .", he held up the book, ". . .I can give you this." "What is it", asked Kanako. "It appears to be a linking book, back here to D'ni. But it's actually a one man prison." He handed it over to Keitaro, who took it. "You'll need it, I am afraid, to capture Gehn." "May I ask something", asked Shinobu. "Yes, my dear, what is it", said Atrus. "Well, Atrus-san, who is this Gehn", asked Shinobu. "You will soon know, the answer is in the journal, I gave Keitaro." Atrus took the quill and began writing and said, "Once you all have found Catherine", he paused and said, "Signal me, and I will come with a linking book, to get us back." "Oh I see", said Kitsune, she place a sly finger under her chin and said, "It's the infultration into enemy lines, capture the enemy and free the hostage." "You are right, um, Kitsune wasn't it", said Atrus. "Yes it is", said Kitsune. After writing something in the page, Atrus, closed the book, opened it to the first page to the area, which, Keitaro now know as a Gateway Image. "There is also a chance", said Atrus, "If this all goes well." He showed the image to them and said, "I might be able to get you all back, to the place that you all came from." "You mean we will get back to were we were before we cam here" asked Kitsune. "Back to the Hinata Apartments", asked Keitaro. "Yes", said Atrus. Everyone looked at the image, it was all glittery and whirred, like the book or the age was malfunctioning or something, but they decided to do this. One-by-one they all linked out. Before Shinobu linked out she said, "Oh, by the way, Su may have made a mess of the fortress in the Mechanical Age", she said, and before Atrus could ask, 'What', she linked out.
Atrus turned the book back to where he was writing and said, "May the maker be with them."
Riven
They all materialized in what appeared to be a small room area. On the outside they saw a strange object that almost looked like a ship except there was a manhole below it and it had a telescope in it. There seemed to be a short pathway leading away from it. "Well, here we are", said Shinobu. "We might as well look around", said Keitaro. But as soon as he said that, a barred gateway shot up in front of them, preventing them access to Riven. "Well, what a clever trap", said Kitsune. "NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO ADMIRE THIS", said Naru. "Now what do we do", wailed Shinobu. "Shhh, someone is coming", said Kanako. Sure enough, someone was approaching the cage. It turned it to be a soilder. At least they assumed it was a soilder or guard, because he was wearing a white but very dirty uniform, and had some sort of helmet on his head. He was looking around and then turned to them and went in shock. He started to talk in a strange dialect. "What the heck is he saying", said Kitsune. "That was definitly not English nor Japanese", said Keitaro. The guard then said, "tenema, bookgora." He paused and said, "Tanema os...so bookgora." "Huh", asked Shinobu. The guard sighed in defeat then began to approach the cage. "Lesena, lesena. Omitedi boogorey." "I think he wants to see the book", said Kitsune. "Yes but it is meant for Gehn, not him", said Keitaro. But he didn't have much choice, because the guard approached the cage and grabbed the book out of Keitaro's hands. "HEY GIVE THAT BACK", yelled Motoko. The guard ignored her. He opened the book and looked at it and gave an evil grin. Suddenly, there came a 'whoosh' and as soon as they heard it, the guard snapped the book shut and grasped his neck. He began to look dizzy and he fell to the ground. "Well, at least he is out of our way", said Naru. "Yea, but I can't reach the book", said Keitaro.
Suddenly, they noticed the guards body was being dragged away. "Who would do. . .", Shinobu was inturupted when some robbed man, with a mask came up. He took the book out of reach then reached for a lever that was nearby. After throwing it, the bars, started to lower, and the man took a hammer and hit something into the mechenism, damaging it. With that, the man took the book and ran off. Everyone sweatdropped. "Okay, so we are free but our book is gone", said Keitaro. "Now what, we can't capture Gehn without the book", said Motoko. "We should try to get it back", said Naru, "Besides, we can't capture Gehn without knowing where Catherine is being held." "So what do we do, look around and explore", asked Kitsune. "Exactly", said Keitaro. They all exited the prison. Then Keitaro took out the journal that Atrus gave him, "I think we should look at this before we continue any further." Everyone looked and nodded at Keitaro. Keitaro opened the journal and began reading at what was inside.
The journal pretty much explained that Atrus have been busy writing in this age just to keep it from decaying. But then Keitaro came across two things that made his face turn pale. "What is the problem Sempai", asked Shinobu. "This Gehn person is a relative of Atrus'", said a shocked Keitaro. "How is he related", asked Motoko. "Gehn is Atrus' father." "WHAT", said everyone. "Yes", said Keitaro, "and he was like Atrus' sons, very power hungry." "But why is he here", asked Naru. "He wanted to maroon him here but in order to do that he had to use one last linking book and he had to throw himself into this strange rift known as the Star Fissure." "But how come Gehn didn't try to find a way out", asked Naru. "Well, according the journal", said Keitaro, "Gehn was still learning it and the Art of Writing was lost, so, without D'ni, he can't find a way back." "So he threw himself into this Star Fissure, along with the last D'ni linking book and left him here to stop his reign", asked Kitsune. "Your right except, it wasn't a D'ni linking book." "What was it", asked Naru. "It was a MYST linking book." "MYST LINKING BOOK", asked everyone. "Yes", said Keitaro. "That explains why he looked deep in thought after Keitaro told him about it", said Kanako, "That Myst book might have come. . ." "From the Star Fissure", finished Motoko. "So that's what he meant that there is chance he could get us back to the place that we came from. The Star Fissure could get us home, once the mission is complete", said Kitsune. "I agree", said Keitaro, and pointing to the journal he said, "It would be because we should use the Fissure somehow to signal him." "Why, won't he see us in the Gateway", asked Kitsune. "You saw how messed up it was, only something that could cause disruption can signal him", said Keitaro. "Oh, I see", said Kitsune. Keitaro flipped through the journal and said, "It goes one how we saved him and that we could go here in his stead. Also, since Gehn wants to get back to D'ni so bad he would use any linking book that led there. Or anything that appears like it." "That prison he gave us", said Motoko. "Right", continued Keitaro, "So therefore our mission is to find the prison book, trap Gehn inside it, and free Catherine." "But what about the inhabitants", ask Naru, "Won't they perish if the Age goes down?" "Well, hopefully, once they link out, Atrus will try to repair it enough to allow Catherine to go back and save the people. That is if the Age hasn't damaged itself beyond repair." "Why would Atrus create such an unstable world", asked a angry Motoko. "Actually, it was Gehn who made it, not Atrus", said Keitaro, "Atrus just marooned him in here, in Riven, or the Fifth Age as his father called it." "Enough chatter, let's just begin looking around this place", said Kanako.
"Lets start with the strange cone-shaped thing", said Su. They approced the 'thing'. Su looked at it. The cone shaped device had two lenses, one on the side, the other at the bottom tip, pointing towards a manhole cover. The device was supported by two beams on a track. A circular guard rail surrounded the device and was a part of it. Nearby, on the end of the left pole was a button surrounded by a switch. "I surmise", said Su, "That this device is nothing more than a oversized microscope!" "Yea, but why would anyone want an oversized microscope, ON A HUGE PLATE OF METAL!" yelled Keitaro. "Let's see what happens", said Kitsune. She flipped the switch and tried the button, but nothing happened. "I guess this needs power", said Kanako. Keitaro looked at the manhole. "We can't open this too. Judging by those buttons they need a combo." Motoko looked to the area near the right of the telescope, but found nothing but a cliff. To the left of them was the rest of the iron patch in the ground. At the end, to the left of the prison, was a huge knife. "I wonder what the deal is with this huge knife", said Kitsune. "I wonder that too, but I also wonder why only a small bit of this area has an iron plating, with a secure manhole and a huge microscope to look down in it", said Naru. Keitaro pointed to the staircase that started near the lever. "Let's get a move on up there", said Keitaro. As they passed the lever Shinobu looked at it and noticed the dagger that was smashed into it, "Well, we don't have to worry when Atrus- san has to link here. This lever to the prison is damaged." "Yeah", said Motoko, and pointing down a nearby cliff they spotted the guard, still uncounces, "But we probably should worry about him." "I don't think we have to worry about him Motoko", said Keitaro, "All he'll do is probably look for Gehn, hopefully we will have the book by then. Besides, we will be out of sight by the time he wakes up." "I guess you are right Urashima", said Motoko. Kanako hugged Keitaro and said, "Oni-sama is always right!" "Hey, HANDS OFF", yelled Naru and Motoko.
Eventually they whole group got up the stairs. At the top they found a flight of stairs that led downwards. To the right was bridge, leading to an alcove. To the right was a alcove that led to a room. The group agreed to explore that room. Near the entrance to it was a small button on the right of the door. "I wonder what this does", asked Su, but Motoko grabbed her and said, "Wait until we examine the room first!"
The room was like a huge temple. On the floor was a gold star with a symbol that was like a box with a line through it. Around them were pillars, each with a beetle on them. To the left of the pillar, to the front of the enterance, was a door way wit a gate on it, to the left was strange markings. "Probably D'neese. But I can't really tell", said Keitaro. Su was examining the beetle on the pillar near the leftt of the entrance. She then noticed a pull string right near the abdomen. "I wonder what this does", she said. Shinobu, who was watching her, protested against that, but Su pulled it. The beetle opened it's cover and it's wings spread. Shinobu jumped back and shreiked a little, in shock. "What happened", asked Naru as the others approached them. "Su just pulled the string on the abdomen of that beetle and it opened it's wings", said Shinobu. As the team looked at it, Kitsune noticed a small hole in the beetle's abdomen. "What's this here for", asked Kitsune as she pointed to it. Everyone who had the space to, leaned close to it. In the hole they saw a stained glass-like painting. It showed a man writing at a book, and all sorts of animals, fish, people and even a sun, were being sucked into it. "I wonder what this is showing us", asked Naru. "Maybe the rest of the story will be revealed to us, if we look at the others", said Motoko. "Brilliant idea Motoko", said Keitaro. Su pulled the string again and the beetle closed up. "Ahh", said Shinobu, "Don't surprise me like that Su", said Shinobu.
The group opened and looked at the other beetles, in a clockwise fashion from the first beetle. The next one showed the same man, appearing out of a book in the sky. Everyone was on cliffsides near a stream, worshipping him. The third beetle showed something that almost seemed familiar. It showed that man holding the sun in his left hand and was firing something in the right. The land was on fire and the water was rushing. In between it, a cliff was there and it showed a man and a book falling into it. What intrigued the girls most of all, was that the cliff was full of stars. "Maybe that is the star fissure", said a excited Shinobu. "Yes, if that is true, then the man falling into it is Atrus, and that book is the last MYST linking book in this age", said Motoko. "But the question is who is that man", said Keitaro. "Let's continue looking at these things and find out", said Naru. The next beetle showed the face of the man at the top. Surrounding it where five different men, each in robes. Below each of them were separate pictures ("probably showing their duties", said Keitaro), one showing that man directing people holding lumber, ("probably an archetect or carpenter", said Keitaro), the second, showing the next man handing out papers to children ("more than likely, a teacher", said Keitaro), the third, showed the next man directing children how to use a knife ("he's probably a combat teacher, I should know", said Motoko) the fourth mans picture, was him looking at scrolls and doing some computations ("looks like a scholar or a mathematician", said Naru) and the last man, had a picture of him and several others gathering around a tree and taking papers that fell from it. "What does this last picture mean", asked Kanako. "It's got me", said Keitaro. They moved on to the next beetle. The next beetle, which was the last, showed a picture of a hand with the star mark on it touching a book. The book and hand was surrounded by dead trees, on the upper left, showed logs falling into some sort of machine and a bunch of debree was coming out, on the upper right was some sort of strange machine. The rest of the left showed people worshipping the book. Finally, at the bottom middle, there was huge fire burning. "Now this one is a real puzzler", said Keitaro. "Maybe after we explore this age more, we will find our answer", said Kitsune. "Right", said Naru. "Hey, where is Shinobu", asked Su. Everyone looked around and then they saw Shinobu staring through the mesh gate. "What is it Shinobu", asked Kitsune. Shinobu pointed. Through the gate was a bridge and at the other end seemed to be a huge golden dome. "It's so pretty", said Shinobu. "I say we find a way through this gate", said Kitsune. "How, go back and ask our guard friend", asked Motoko. "I say we look at that button that Su was looking at earlier", said Keitaro.
They all headed outside the room. Keitaro then pushed the button. In response the room, rotated and groaned. The room came to a halt. The group now faced a brick wall. "Well", said an upset Naru, "Smart move by you!" "Hey wait a sec", said Kitsune, "Whats that hole for?" She pointed to the wall, at the near top was a circle of stone with a small peephole in the middle. "I'll take a look." She looked through. "Well, what do you see", asked Motoko. "Yea, whadya see? Whadya see", chorused Su. "The same thing except the door and the writings have switched." "What?, Let me see", said Motoko as she brushed her aside and looked in. "Well, she's right", said Motoko. "Really", asked Keitaro. "See for yourself", replied Motoko. Keitaro peeked in and gasped. Motoko and Kitsune were right. In the room, where the door should have been was the writing. The door nearby looked the same except it was grayish. "Hmmm, I wonder", he said and then turning to Kitsune he said, "Push it again." "Okay", said Kitsune and she pushed the button. The same thing happened as before, and again they faced a wall of the same design. "Let me look", said Keitaro. He looked through the peephole and everything looked the same as it did before, even the door was back were it was but there was one small difference, "Where's the door for our side", yelled Motoko after Keitaro explained the situation. "I have got it", said Naru. She pushed the button again and this time, the room rotated and this time they got a door rotated in front of them. "Well lets have look then", said Keitaro. The room looked the same except for one thing, "What is the door doing over there", asked a shocked Shinobu. The door this time was at the 'other' position it was a few turns earlier. This time, Keitaro, Kitsune and Motoko got a good look at the what was through there. Inside was another cavern and on the other side was a solid door with a simular design as the mesh door. "Now what do we do", said Keitaro but then he noticed Naru sketching something down in Atrus' journal. She looked up and said, "What, I am sure he wouldn't mind." She finished some last touches and said, "I have got it. But before we play with that button again, I would like to see what is down that other staircase", said Naru. "Why is that Narusagewa", asked Keitaro who received another bonk and Naru said, "Geez. You are so dense."
After recovering, the Hinata-sou group headed down those stairs. At the bottom, they found a door on the side of the rock that the room was in. The door had a Stonehenge like arc, and the door was like a simple wooden fence. However, Keitaro noticed one small problem, "The way is locked, so I guess we can't explore any further." "I will blast it down", said Motoko as she unsheathed her sword. "No wait Motoko", yelled Shinobu as she waived her hands frantically. "We don't know what is in there", she continued. "Shinobu's right, you might cause a cave in or something", said Kitsune. "Yes I see you're point", Motoko sadly said, as she sheathed her sword. "Well how are we going to get in there", said Kanako. Suddenly they heard Su say, "Why what is the matter?" They all turned and saw her on the other side of the door. "How did you get in there", asked a shocked Naru. "Oh, I noticed that gap under the door and just crawled in." Everyone sweatdropped and Naru asked, "Well, could just go up there and report back what you see in there?" Doing something of a salute she said, "Roger!" With that, Su ran off. A few minutes later, she returned, and went back under the door. "What did you see", asked Naru. "Well there was this ladder at first, then after a small plank all I found was a wall simular to what we saw when we rotated that room." "Did you look through the peephole", asked Keitaro. "Oh yes, inside was a room extremely simular to the room we were at earlier." Naru smiled and she slapped Keitaro on the back in excitement as she said, "I knew it." Turning to Kitsune she said, "Kitsune, go back and press the button. Once the room rotates come back and we will all go through the door." "I don't see why but okay", said Kitsune and she went off.
After hearing the sound of the room rotating, Kitsune returned. "Well we are ready", said Naru. Keitaro gestured in gentamanly matter, "Ladies first." However Naru grabbed his head and forced him down. "Oh no you don't you pervert. You might look up our skirts as we head on in there." "NO I WOULD NOT", yelled Keitaro. "You let him go right now you bitch", yelled Kanako. "In you go", said Naru as he shoved Kietaro under the door. The rest of the group followed, after Keitaro regained consensus, and after the rest of the group stopped Naru's and Kanako's fighting. They headed through the tunnel, and encountered everything Su said, until they reached the end. Instead of a brick wall, was a open door. Everyone gasped. "Naru, you are a genious", said Kitsune as she slapped her on the back.
The room was almost the same, except the other door, nearby, led to another cave. "Let's see what's in there", said Keitaro. Inside the cave were two things, one was a button, simular to what they saw outside ("I bet that rotates the room too", said Kitsune) and at the end was a lone pipe stickin up from the ground, with a handle on it. Above the handle was a mark that looked familiar. "Where have I seen that", said Kitsune. "You baka", said Kanako, "It's looks exactly like the microscope we saw when we arrived!" "Now that you mention it, it does", said Motoko. "And look", said Su, as she pointed up. At the top or the pipe that went up was an alcove in the rock and steam was coming out of the neck of the pipe. "I wonder", said Keitaro as he looked and saw that a smaller pipe that was heading out of the rock was connected to the lever mechnism. "Maybe if we pull this lever, maybe this will power that oversized microscope", said Keitaro. "I think you may be right", said Naru. Kitsune pushed them aside and said, "What are we waiting for." She pulled the lever. When she did, the whooshing of steam stopped but they heard sounds from withing the pipe and when they looked up, no steam was coming out of the pipe. "We did all that we could, lets go", said Motoko. They headed up towards the entrance, but as they neared the door, Shinobu noticed something near the door. "Look", she said as she grabbed Motoko and pointed at it. On the left side of the door was a switch. "Good eye Shinobu", said Keitaro. He went near it and said, "This could open the mesh doors." "Well, what are you waiting for Urashima", said Motoko. Keitaro nodded and grasped it and pushed it up. After he used the switch they heard a small noise. "I think that was one of the doors", said Motoko. "Well we can go back and see", said Kitsune. "Why walk up front, when we can find out right now", said Naru, and she was pointing to the button. "Well, give it a go", said Kitsune. After two pushes and rotations later, the room had rotated to let them out but, instead of going back to the locked door cavern, it went to the second mesh door, which, to their surprise, was no longer there. "Well, we solved the mystery to that door", said Kitsune. Shinobu felt around on the solid door withing the cavern. "Wish we could find out for this one." "Yes", said Keitaro and pointing to the left of the door he said, "But this might open the way to the Golden Dome." What he was pointing to was a switch simular to what was seen in the other chamber. "Well, it worked before", said Kitsune. Keitaro flipped it and again they heard the sound. They turned around, the solid door was still there. "I guess this only opened the other door", said Keitaro. "Well, it's better than nothing", said Motoko. "Now how do we get to it", said Su. "Simple", said Naru, "All we have to do is rotate the room until the doors are facing the original entrance and this entrance. Once we get to the original entrance, we will simply rotate the room until we get to the original positon." "Yes but how do we do the first part Naru", said Kanako. Naru pointed to wall, on it was another button. Kanako said, "Never mind."
In a few minutes, Keitaro and the girls did as Naru did. After rotating the room so that doors would face the original entrance (I mean where they first entered it when they first saw it) and the room they were in, they headed out. Then, after they got to the original entrance, they rotated the room (which by unanimous decision they called it the Gate Room) until it was back in the original position they saw it. The only difference, they were pleased to see, was that the mesh gate was no longer there. So with a big, "Bonzai", they all headed across the bridge to the Golden Dome.
Inside the dome was a small catwalk. It would have gone all the way around the room, but there was no catwalk to the right, a small section was rolled up and the only was to use it was to use a wheel, located on the other side. "We may find a way to get to it later", said Keitaro. "Look at that", gasped Motoko. In the center of the room was a huge generator, with pipes leading out of it. "Hey a map", said Su. Sure enough, in front of them was a small map that showed the room they were in, along with the catwalk and generator. However at the end of each pipe, it showed a strange pattern of squares. "I wonder what this thing is supposed to power", said Keitaro. "I wonder what these squares mean", said Naru as she looked at them. "We aren't doing anything just looking around here, let's follow the rest of this catwalk", said Motoko. Everyone agreed.
The catwalk led down a small staircase to a lower catwalk. The lower catwalk lead them to a path outside of the Dome. "I wonder what we might see", said Kitsune. "Look another pipe thingy", yelled Su. Sure enough, there was another pipe device, very similar to the one that powered the microscope. Except the picture showed a ribbed pipe moving from a raised postion to a lowere postion. "I wonder what this means", asked Naru. "It means this is for powering", and pointing to the left he said, "that." Where he was pointing was to a huge bridge walkway. The section of the bridge, that connected the staircase of the bridge to the Dome, was raised. "But Urashima", said Motoko, "What good will it do, we can't reach it." "I think we should power it, just in case", said Keitaro. "I agree, and I don't know why, but I have this feeling that he might be right", said Naru. "Oh, okay", said Motoko. With that Keitaro activated the switch which closed the steam and channeling it to the bridge.
After that, our group moved along. As they headed to a small tunnel Keitaro noticed a spinning dome. He stopped and looked at it. The girls noticed this and they stopped too. "Whats wrong Kei", said Naru. "That spinning dome up there. I don't know why but there is just something about it", said Keitaro. They all looked at it. "Hmmm. I have that feeling too Urashima", said Motoko.
As they headed along, Naru noticed some tracks near the tunnel, and a small round circle of metal with a hollowed out area. She tried to put her finger in it but nothing happened. "Why not create a button to push", asked Naru. "We may find out what it is for later", said Kanako. With that they entered the small tunnel. At the end of the tunnel was a balcony near another pipe device. It had the same picture as the last and was connected to a bridge. They all nodded, knowing what had to be done. Keitaro again pulled the lever to the horizontal position and the steam got directed to the bridge. "Well there is not much left to do, let's go explore that bridge near the entrance to the Gate Room", said Motoko. They all headed back to the entrance of the Golden Dome.
When they reached the entrance Su noticed something. There was lever near the left of the door way. Everyone noticed this, and before they could stop her, she moved the lever from it's horizontal position, to its vertical position. In response the bridge that led to the Gate Room moved upwards, becoming a staircase from the Gate Room to the top of the Golden Dome. "Interesting", said Keitaro, "This means there might be something up there." "Yes but we can't reach it because there is no way any of us can get from here to over there", said Naru. "Speaking of which", said Motoko and turning to Su she said, "Su you should lower it so we can get back over there." "Okay", said Su. She did so and the bridge returned to its original position. After the bridge settled back into it's original position, the group crossed bridge.
After they got out of the gate room, they took a detour back to the microscope to see if was working. Though it did move up and down, but despite the efforts of Su and Kitsune, they were still stuck with a gray image. "We must find a way to unlock that manhole cover", said Keitaro. "Yes, but for now we must look around more on this island", said Kitsune. The group went up the stairs and went across the bridge that was across from the entrance to the Gate Room. Near the end was a cavern entrance, and of course they entered it. It was cavern that was slanted down and they followed the path.
Somewhere in between, Keitaro pointed out a steel door. The group all agreed to investigate. Inside, the first thing they saw was chair, in some sort of a cage and hanging from the top, was some sort of microphone. As they approached it, the cage opened up by having all its bars spread out from the top. Before they could ask, Su leapt across to it and said, "I must sit in it!" She went to the chair and sat in it. She then pressed a button on the left arm, causing the cage to close. "SU, get out of there now", yelled Naru. Su just smiled and laughed happily. Then she reached for the lever on the right arm. They all heard a humming noise. "I wonder what that means", said Keitaro. "I think it must have something to do with the chair", said Kanako. "Su please get out of there", said Motoko. "Okay", Su said cheerfully. She pushed the lever, and pressed the button and as a result the humming stopped and the cage opened. Su then leapt off. "That was fun!" "Hey look", said Shinobu. On two sides of the corridor were two portholes. The one on the right showed a platform of some kind, the one on the left showed the entrance to some temple. Plus it had one difference from the other porthole, it had a lever. "I think we should try this lever", said Keitaro. "Well so far nothing bad has come out of your ideals, so give it a go", said Motoko. Keitaro pulled the lever to its up position. In response the doorway to the temple slid up, giving way to an opening. "Well, if this represents a location we might have a way out of here", said Keitaro. "Well, we aren't getting anything else done in here", said Kitsune, "Let's go." They left the room, and of course the cage around the chair closed as they left.
They followed the pathway down the cavern until they came apon a stone door. Motoko took hold of the door handle and opened it. Once they passed through, Motoko closed the door. Inside a temple, like Keitaro saw in the porthole. Actully, it was exactly what he saw in the porthole, as Naru put it, because the doorway was open and looked like that. Aside from the tall pillars, at the far end, oppisite the door, there was a large cage that looked exactly like the cage that surrounded the chair. Beside the cage were two idols that looked like fise with tusks. There were on either side of the cage. Near the idols were smashed bowls of fruit. "I guess some of the natives are not too pleased with this temple", said Kitsune. "Or who they worship", said Motoko. Behind the cage was a stained-glass picture of the star sign. After looking at the temple, they decided to check out was outside the door.
Outside was a platform, which Keitaro saw earlier in the porthole. They then noticed the strange cables that extended from there over the ocean. "Must be some sort of tram", said Naru. "Yeah but how do we call the car", asked Kitsune. "Press this probably", said Shinobu, as she pushed a blue button that was near the platform. Then they noticed something gliding over the cables at a fast rate. "I think that did it", said Kitsune. They heard the humming, and they looked and saw the tram approach. It stopped and it's side opened revealing a staircase. "Well, all aboard", said Keitaro.
They all rushed aboard the tram. Naru took the drivers seat. In front of her was a panel that had lever that went right to left, with a lever that went up or down within it. "Okay, I think I can figure out how this works. Let's try this." She turned the horizontal lever from it's right position to left. In response the tram door closed and turned to face the opposite direction. "So far so good Naru", said Kitsune. "Okay, now I believe I do this to go forward", said Naru. She pushed the vertical lever up from it's now down position. In response the tram moved forward at a fast rate. "Get me off", said Motoko. "I think I am going to be sick", said Shinobu. Soon as the tram approached another platform, it came to a halt and the levers reversed themselves.
As they got off Motoko said, "I will never want to go on a ride like that again." "I hate those rides", said Shinobu. "Hey that was fun can we do it again", said Su. Everyone looked at her strangely.
A few, well, when they eventually got over that tram ride, they left the tram platform. Nearby was a huge canyon. To the left, Kitsune noticed what looked like a wooden why. "What's up with that", she said. Everyone turned to the eye, except Keitaro, who went on up to the staircase that was through a odd shaped openining. "It seems to be able to roll in there", said Naru. Kitsune rolled it up. On the other side was a KI sign and they heard a 'chirrup' sound that sounded like a frog. "I wonder what that symbol meant", said Kitsune. "That sound must mean something", said Naru. "It does", yelled Keitaro from the staircase, "Come and see this!" Everyone ran to where he was. "Well, Urashima, what is it", said Motoko. "Look at the enterance." They looked at it, the enterance looked exactly like a frog. "You're point", asked Naru. "Look at where the 'eye' is now at this point", said Keitaro. Sure enough he was right. "Hey, it is positioned where a eye should be on a frogs head", said Kitsune. "That symbol might mean 'frog'", said Naru. "Or, something else", said Keitaro. "It seems this staircase keeps going, lets go", said Kitsune.
Eventually the staircase led them to the exit of the tunnel and another tram signaler ("Probably if the tram wasn't here", said Shinobu). Outside was another staircase. They were in between the staircase, going left, they could go up, the other way, they could go down. "Let's see what is 'up' there", said Keitaro. He went up the stairs and everyone followed suite. At the top was a bridge and across the bridge was something that made Keitaro's eyes (and everyone else's eyes) bug out. The whole area was full of nothing but tree stumps. On one stump was an ax in it. "How horrible", said Naru. "What kind of inhuman monster would chop down all these trees", said a weeping Shinobu. "I have no clue", said Kitsune, "Maybe he is trying to modernize this island or something." Everyone gave her a glare. "Or maybe not." Then Naru pointed out the an area that was forested and surrounded by huge trees and their was a path leading to a door that was near it. "Let's see whats in there", said Naru, "Can't be anything worse than out here."
The door was the same as the wooden one on the island they were before, except it wasn't padlocked, so they could open it easily. Before they could open Su noticed a beetle, a real beetle, simular to the huge beetle devices in the Gate Room. "Wow, I wonder if they taste good." The beetle flapped it's wings with a 'whirr, clicck', and just as Su was about to take a bite on it, the beetle flew away, and all Su got was a chunk of wood. "Mmmm. Tastes crunchy, almost like wood." Everyone sweatdropped. Soon they entered the door and into what looked more like a jungle that a wood.
As they went along the path withing and admired the scenery, they went through two tree tunnels, then, on a third on was a fork. They decided to go to the right. Eventually they came upon another idol. This was a huge wooden idol, that had tusks on both sides and had teeth. It looked so intimidating, that Shinobu screamed when she saw it and Motoko almost did her Air Splitting Sword on it. "I wonder what these animals are", said Kanako. "More importantly, why do these people worship them", said Motoko. "Let's go back and try that other route", said Kitsune. As they turned around, they noticed another spinning dome, just like what Keitaro saw on the temple island. I wonder what they are for, said Keitaro, before resuming the walk.
When they got back to the fork ,they didn't use the other path just then, because Naru noticed something. On the path they traveled before, nearby was a huge knife. "I think this means something", said Naru. They follewed her. Near the other tunnel, was a stair leading to below the knife. Below the knife, was a wooden eye. Naru pushed the eye, and on the other side of it was a boxed in square near the bottem left, and as the eye turned they heard a harsh bark. "Could this mean knife", asked Naru. "I am not so sure, I may not know much about this world, but I don't think their knives emite a harsh barking noise", said Kitsune. "You have a point", said Naru.
After they left the wooden eye, they headed back to the fork. They took the right was, and it led to another wooden door. On the other side was wooden catwalk which led in two directions right and left. However just as soon as they entered, they noticed a small tower nearby. They also noticed that someone was in there and was beginning to turn a crank that caused a vane on top to whirr around. It sent a high shrill sound across the jungle, and then the guy dissapeared, the vane stopped and so did the shrill sound. "What was that all about", asked Kitsune. "That thing may be a watch tower for uninvited guests. Probably to warn Gehn", said Motoko. "Or maybe the villagers", said Keitaro. "Either way, we need to be further on guard", said Kanako.
The group decided to take the left route, which led to rock tunnel. The staircase that led down was lit by strange blue lights. The Hinata-sou group found themselves in a huge chamber, which had a window that looked out to the ocean. Keitaro, noticed something on the wall. "Look at this", he said. On it, painted in blue was a huge man with a strange symbol above him that looked like the peace sign, except it had five lines from it, like a star. On either side of him were two men, being fed to those tusk like creatures. "I guess we found out why they worship these beasts, they are woried that some deity might feed them to it", said Keitaro. "Well, for once your archeology skills come in handy", said Naru.
They continued through the cave. At the end of the tunnel they found a dockway that led up to a village that had homes built on the hills. "CIVILAZATION", yelled Su. But the others noticed that everyone was rushing towards their homes, and they even noticed a child was fishing near a dock of some sort. Then the boys mother came and rushed him away. "These people may not be so friendly towards strangers", said Keitaro. "Really, you don't think", said Kitsune.
The team approached the dock the child was and looked out over the water. They noticed building near out in the water, they then noticed a small alcove in a nearby rock which led to a steel ladder. Also there was a huge teepee like structure in the water, that had a gaping end at the bottom and had sticks all around. Motoko pointed out a rock in the water that had some sort of telescop device in it. "I think we may be being watched." "You are right, that is fishy", said Keitaro. "Speaking of fishy, look at this", said Su. She was near a steel ladder that led down to the water, but what was interesting, was, although the water was rippling and moving, there was a huge hole in the water around the metal stake and platform in there. "Amazing, I wonder, how is that possible", said Keitaro. "Now that I have seen this, I believe I saw several of these water holes around the lake", said Naru. "Yes", said Kitsune, "I see them too." Sure enough there were holes around the lake. "But how are they formed", asked Naru. "And if artificically, for what purpose." "Let's see what the village has to offer", said Kitsune.
They left the dock and headed followed the dockway until they reached a ladder. The climbed up it ("Hey, if I wasn't climbing, I would hit you for looking up my skirt Keitaro", yelled Naru). At the top, they saw a plank that led to a house. "Let's see what the natives can tell us", said Keitaro. He approached the door and used the star shaped knocker. After a few nocks, a section of the door opened and a native looked out at him. "Excuse me could you. . ." but he was cut off, because he shut the panel off without saying a word. "That was rude", said Kitsune. "I guess it can't be helped. These guys are afraid of outsiders", said Motoko. Pointing to the pathway near the house Kanako said, "Let's check out what's over there."
The pathway led to a ledge. In front of them were two drum-shaped idols, and a gold idol in the middle, all three were shaped like the same creature. To the right was huge kennel that was cone shaped, but, they couldn't find out what was burning in there. "Probably a sacrifice of some kind", said Keitaro. On the left was a device that looked like a small submarine on rail wheels, which were on a rail. "I am going to take a look inside", yelled Su. She leapt on top of it and opened the hatch. A few seconds later she popped out of the top. "The controls don't seem to work", she said. "Well of course they won't, this thing is not on a track", said Kitsune. Then Naru noticed a lever nearby and got an idea. "Su, close the hatch and get off", she said, and Su obeyed. Naru pushed the lever forward and the rail the submarine was on moved downwards, along with the submarine. Once the mechanism halted they took a peek over the edge and saw the sub, in one of the holes of the water. They also noticed the water was lined with tracks. "Of course, these holes were made for mode of transportation", said Keitaro and turning to Naru he said, "Brilliant thinking as always Narusagewa!" She laughed and tossed back her hair. "Now how do we get down there", asked Kitsune. "I think we should take that other route", said Keitaro. Everyone agreed and headed back to the place where the tower was.
Once there they followed the other route, but it turned out, it led them back to the chopped up forest. Everyone looked at Keitaro with a scowl. "So I got us back were we started, no biggie." He received dozens of stamps on him for that remark. "A...ano", said Shinobu, "Maybe we should try the staircase near the cave near the tram button", said Shinobu. "Yeah", said Kitsune. They rushed off, with an injured Keitaro behind.
As they headed down the second flight of stairs, they noticed they were heading towards a pool with a rock in the middle, on that rock were two pleisour-like creatures, exept their ski coler looked like a penguins, and they had baleen in their beaks. They looked like they were sunning themselves on the rock. "Strange, but interesting", said Keitaro. "Do you think they will taste great", asked Su. "Shhh", said Motoko as she stopped them. The creatures looked up. They looked around then resumed their sunning. "I think they are very cautious", said Motoko, "If we be quiet and we move slowly, they won't notice us and we can get close." They did so and as a result they got very close to the creatures. One of them raised it's head and gave a huge, harsh bark which sounded familiar. "That sound it makes", said Naru, "It sounds just like. . ." "Like that wooden eye in the jungle", finished Kitsune. "So you mean that symbol could mean this creature", asked Motoko. "Yes", said Naru. "Why don't we call it a Sunner", said Keitaro, "Since this creature seems to enjoy the sun so much." "Yeah that sounds like a nice name for it", said Shinobu. "Then Sunner it is", said Kitsune. Then Keitaro said, "The rock they are on looks suspicious", said Keitaro, "I got to get a good look at it." He and the others moved, when they did they heard movement of flippers and a splash of water. They turned and saw that the Sunners were gone. "Aww. The sunners are gone", said Shinobu. "It's okay", said Kitsune, "They might come back." "Enough about them look at this", yelled Keitaro. The girls ran to where he was, at the other end of the beach. The looked at the rock, and at that angle the rock looked suspicially like, "Like those tusked creatures the islanders worship", said Motoko. "And look there on the head", said Kitsune, "It's a wooden eye!" "I'll take a look", said Keitaro. He headed over to the eye. He turned it, as he turned it, they heard a sound, like whale, and they symbol was a very familiar symbol. He turned around and walked back. "Well", asked Motoko. "First of all, the eye gave off a whale like cry, so I think we should call these things Wharks." "Whark", asked Kitsune. "Half whale, half shark, therfore, whark." "Cheesy, but, it's better than nothing", said Naru. "Second of all, the symbol on it can't mean Whark." "How come", asked Kitsune. "Because it is the same symbol we saw in the star marks all over the island." "So these symbols on the eye could mean something else", asked Shinobu. "Possibly", said Keitaro. Then pointing to the pathway they were on he said, "For now we should go there and through that tunnel." Everyone nodded and headed in that direction.
At the other end of the tunnel was another wooden catwalk. At the end of it was a ladder to the left. They also noticed, nearby, was another tower, but this time, no man appeared to activate it. "I guess it's because they already know strangers are about", said Motoko. They went down the ladder. Of course to prevent being a punching bag, Keitaro went down last.
At the bottom of the ladder they came apon a dried up pool. On the rim was a small knob and at the near top there were two pipes, one embedded in the rim, the other in the bottom of the pool. They looked at it curiosly. Then Naru noticed something near the rim pipe. "A wooden eye", said Naru. "Well, turn it then", said Motoko. Naru did so, but as she did, she heard a familiar sound. On the back of the eye was a DI symbol. After the eye flipped back Kitsune pondered, "Where have I heard that sound before." "Let me try something", said Keitaro. He twisted the knob on the rim. Water started filling in from pipe in the ground, the water flowed and started to fill up the trenches, and started taking on a familiar shape. "Stop the water Keitaro", said Naru. Keitaro turned the knob and the water stopped. The shape it formed looked familiar. "It looks like that beetle I tried to eat earlier", said Su. "OF COURSE", said Naru, "It's a beetle, that's why the sound was familiar." "Now we know the animal, but what do these symbols mean", said Kanako. "We might find out soon", said Keitaro, "but first where is the submarine." "Over here", yelled Su from a ladder that was across from the pool.
Down the ladder was a wooden pathway, which led to the steel ladder that led to the sub. "I'm driving", said Su as Keitaro opened the hatch. Soon after everyone was in Su started to fiddle with the controls. They soon found out the that the lever that was in a circular pattern changes the direction of the sub, and the lever that was near the seat moved the machine forward. And when they reached a area of track that went in two directions the lever before them controlled which direction. At times, when they reached a stop or a fork the sub stopped to allow them to take control. What amazed them was how they entered the water from the hole, because they just went clean through the wall without a splash. "This is incredible", said Shinobu. "Sugoi", said Kitsune.
At first Su was driving, but, eventually after a few mishaps, Kitsune decided to drive. "Aww your no fun", said Su. They decided to try the building across from the dock as their first stop. But when they got their they had one problem. "Guys, we have a problem", said Keitaro. "What", asked everyone. "The ladder is out of reach." "WHAT!" He received some bashings. "Hey it's not my fault, all the other stops ladders were out of reach too." "Like that wooden structure", asked Motoko. "Yes", said Keitaro. "The dock area near the village", asked Naru. "Yea." "Well, we should try one way we haven't tried yet", said Kitsune. After Keitaro closed the hatch, Kitsune turned the sub around and headed back for an intersection that was there before hand. She took the right way, the left way would have taken them to wooden structure. After that the sub went through the water, into a hole and stopped. Keitaro went up through the hatch, and yelled down, "The ladders in reach here." Everyone ran out because it was getting cramped in there. Nearby were metal steps in the rock. They climbed the ladder until it reached a huge room at the top. At one end of the room were several levers two were up, the rest were down. The other end of the room had a window which showed an eagle's eye view of the lake. "Naru, flip one of the switches", asked Keitaro. Naru did so, she flipped the second switch that was up. Keitaro looked out of the window. Motoko did so too. "Nothing. This is a waste of time, I'm out of here." She started climbing down. A few minutes later she came back up. "What's the matter, forgot something", said Kanako. "No, the ladder to the submarine is not in reach of the hatch anymore", responded Motoko. "Really", asked Kitsune. "Let me check." She went down to the submarine. A few minutes she returned and said, "Yep, she's right." "Then that means", said Keitaro, "That those levers control the ladder extensions. They are extended if it is up and retracted if they are down." "So all I have to do", said Naru, "Is flip them all up." "Well do it", said Kanako. Naru glared at her and nodded. She flipped them all in the up position. Keitaro checked the window and said, "All right Narusegewa! It worked!" The others looked. "Well waddya know, for once Keitaro used his head", said Kitsune. "Now let's check out that building", said Shinobu.
The returned to the sub and with Kitsune in control they took the sub to that building. This time, when the hatch was opened, their was a ladder for them to use and they climbed out. They followed the small catwalk to the door of the building and entered.
Inside, was but a single room. In it there were two rows of seats. In the middle, near the back was a cage on top of a cement piller, with a crank in it. On either side of the cage was a chalkboard. The one on the right was blank, while the one on the left was not. As the group looked around they noticed two tables near the door, one had a bowl of fruit and a tablet with a piece of paper and pencil on it, the other had a strange device. It had a symbol on the round area, and there was a ring near the right of it, near it, on top of the flat part was a Whark, and two objects were hung above it, connected to spools of string on top of poles. One the walls, near the ceiling, were D'ni letters, as Keitaro pointed out. "I think this is some sort of school", said Kitsune. "I think so too", said Keitaro. They approached the cage. "I wonder what this is", said Keitaro. Su said, "Let's try this crank." She wrung it up, and suddenly the head of a man appeared. "Aaah, who are you", said Motoko, unseathing her sword. But the man payed no notice and started saying something in a strange dialect. Eventually he fadded out. "Su, do that again", asked Kitsune. Su did so and the man appeared, doing the same thing. "I think this is just a holographic recording, you know like with Achenar in the Channelwood Age", said Kitsune. "You are right", said Motoko, who sheathed her sword.
Shinobu, though she was still a little shook up from the encounter from the device, was curious about the small wooden one nearby. She moved the crank and the wark to the other side as she did, the symbol indicator started to made a clattering sound and randomly chose another symbol. It was a KI symbol with a line through it. The line that was now above the Whark, lowered the object one pace at a time, about eight times. Hearing the device working the others rushed to it. "What did you do Shinobu", asked Kanako. "I just shifted this ring and it came up with this symbol and the thing moved down eight times", responded Shinobu." "Do it again", asked Keitaro. "Why", asked Shinobu. "I believe this will answer something", said Keitaro. Shinobu did so and moved the ring back to it's original position, the symbol indicator came up with a familiar KI symbol. The string on the other side moved it down three times. "AH HA! This is it", said Keitaro. "What's that", asked Motoko. "These aren't letters or symbols for creatures, they are numbers!" "You are right", said Naru. "So all we have to do is play this game until we find out all the numbers it can give us", said Kitsune. "Considerine this is a school for childeren, I'd say it will only give us one through ten", said Kanako. "Then let's continue playing", said Su. They did, and each time the game ended the object that got close to the Whark's mouth was eaten, then was released and rewound, followed by the losing string, and the game would be ready. Eventually they found out that all the symbols form one to ten. "All right, now, to figure out the symbols of those creatures", said Keitaro. Then holding up a familiar journal of paper Naru yelled, "I have them." "Did you steal that book from me again", asked Keitaro. "I would call it borrowing." They looked at the figures, the symbols and what they stood for. "Okay so the frog is three", said Kitsune. "It turns out the Sunner is four", said Kanako. "The Whark is five", said Naru. "They might mean a sequence or a code for something", said Keitaro. "Yea, but the big question is, what is the first one", said Naru. "Hmm, good question", said Keitaro. "We have been all around this island, and I didn't see any other wooden eyes", said Kitsune. "I am a little more concerned about the inhabitants of this island", said Motoko. "What do you mean", asked Kitsune. "This game explains the meaning of that scripture we saw and what happens to the people of this island, they get fed to the Wharks!" "Motoko has a point", said Naru. "And that game also explains who that man is we saw in those beetles", said Keitaro. "How", asked Kitsune. "The five symbol is the same symbol in the star symbol we keep seeing", said Keitaro. "Your point", asked Motoko. "Atrus' pointed out in his journal that Gehn coldly called this place the Fifth Age, thus the five star symbol." "So you are saying", said Naru, "that the guy responsible for all this, the murderous wharks, the guy they worship is. . ." "Yes", said Keitaro, "Gehn. These people must believe he is some sort of god, and he is using this power to his advantage." Then Motoko clenched a fist and said, "His thirst for power has spread around this age." "Yeah, and Atrus knew it was a risk, but, he didn't have a choice", said Keitaro. "Come on", said Kitsune, "Let's check out that wooden structure", said Kitsune. They left the classroom and returned to the sub.
When they got to the wooden structure they saw nothing but a huge hole in the middle. As they walked down the path that went around the structure Kanako said, "This is a waste of time", she said. Then when the reached the back, Kitsune noticed a strange pulley. "I wonder what this does", said Kitsune. She pulled it. In response a trapeze with cuffs on each end cam down from the top and stopped in the middle of the circle. Then in a few minutes the trapeze retracted. "It seems that this is the spot where they execute them", said Motoko. "Until now, I didn't believe you", said Kitsune. "These poor people", sobbed Shinobu. "Like walking to the gallows", said Naru. "That's what we should call this area, the Whark Gallows", said Motoko. "Has a eerie ring to it, so you got a good one there", said Kitsune. "Let's get back to the shore", said Naru. "Back to where we started", asked Kitsune. "No, I want us to dock over there, near the village dock", said Naru as she pointed. "Won't the natives get curious about this thing", asked Keitaro. "Nah, these people dislike strangers, so I don't think they will try to use anything they don't understand", said Naru. Everyone agreed and headed to the sub. A few minutes later they emerged at the village dock.
As they took the route that went past the jungle enterance, they discussed whether to head back to the temple island or not. Then when they got to the clearing, Shinobu pointed and said, "Guys, look!" They looked in the direction of the path they took to get to the door. Nearby was another path, and it led to a rectangular hole in the ground. They decided to investigate it. In that hole, was a mine cart. "What is it for", asked Shinobu. Then Su and Kitsune hopped into the cart and Kitsune said, "I say we take it for a ride." "I don't see why not", said Keitaro. The others agreed, hesitantly. Nearby, to the front was a small, wooden lever, and Su turned it.
In response the cart moved forward, fast, down a cavern of tracks, then they were in a underwater tube, that was filled with lights. A second or two later, they re-emreged from the water and they were slowly coming upon a new island. Every breathed a small sigh of relief from the rush, just before they entered a cavern. Soon, after a few turns in the cavern the cart stopped at a platform and a baricade. "Well, this is our stoooooooooo. . .", Keitaro didn't finish that because, the bottom of the cart opened and they slid down a chute, through a lid and landed on a platform before some sort of machine. But they all crashed into each other and fell off the platform.
"That was a bad ending to a good ride", said Naru as she got up and dusted herself off. Soon the others got up. Naru looked back at the platform and then she saw the machine below it. The chute below the platform led to a round area. Out of it was a tube, and at the end of the tube was strange confetti. "Kitsune, what do you make of that confetti", asked Naru. "Let me see", said Kitsune. She took some handfuls and looked at them. "If you want my opinion, it feels like tree stuff. Why do you ask", said Kitsune. "Because there is something familiar about this machine", said Naru. "I agree", said Keitaro. "Woah, check this place out", said Su. Everyone looked at the rest of the surroundings. The whole island was encased in mountains. There were a few small patches of land at the sides and huge lake in the middle. Nearby the group was a huge machine that looked like a boiler. The nearest thing to them was a small bridge that led to the center of the lake. In the center was a dome like device, that probably directed water to power the three things the pipes were connected to. One was connected to the platform machine, the second was connected to the boiler, the third couldn't be seen.
Then Naru asked, "Keitaro, could you go up on that platform and pull the handle on there?" "I don't know why, but okay", he responded, he climbed up the ladder, and pulled the handle but nothing happened. "Nothing", he said. "Probably there is no power", said Naru. Then pointing to the dome object she said, "Let's check out the device." "But it is too narrow for all of us, only two of us should go", said Kitsune. "I will go", said Keitaro. "So shall I", said Kanako. Motoko and Naru groaned, but, they agreed to it.
When the Urashimas got to the device they found out there was a lever on top. It was pointing to the third pipe. "If I see this correctly, it is just like the piping mechinismn in the Channelwood Age", said Keitaro. "You mean the water will go in the direction the lever is pulled." "Exactly and to test it, let's point it at the machine that Narusegewa asked me to pull", said Keitaro. He did so and he and his sister returned to the group. "I think it is all set. Let's give it a go", said Keitaro. "Okay, do it", said Naru. Keitaro got on up, as well as a curious Kitsune. Keitaro pulled the lever. First their was a thunderous roar that shook the platform. Next the metal plate of the chute into the machine opened to reveal a mass of swirling blades. The next minute or two, the metal plate slid shut and the machine calmed down. After Keitaro and Kitsune got down and told what was they saw, Naru got a bit suspicious. "I wonder", she said. "I hate to break this thought, but why don't we go investigate where that third pipe leads to", said Kanako. "Good idea sister", said Keitaro (an: sorry, I forgot the Japanese word for sister).
They went across the small field and went over the large pipe that was on the other side of the boiler. Near some rocks, on the cliff side was a ladder. "Keitaro, you go up there and check it out", said Motoko. Keitaro groaned and said, "Okay." He climbed up the ladder only to reach a manhole. He pushed it and shoved but it wouldn't budge. He came down and explained. "Must be locked", said Naru. "REALLY YOU DON'T THINK", yelled Keitaro. "Maybe we should check that boiler out", said Kitsune. "Never hurts", said Naru. They went towards the boiler, and noticed that the huge pipe was coming from it. "I wonder what that is for", said Shinobu. "Probably for draining or putting water in, I am not sure", said Kitsune. The went around and went up the staircase that was up front. In front of them they noticed a door. "Let's go in", said Kitsune. They touched the door but it wouldn't open. "Why won't it open", asked Su. "That must be why", said Keitaro, pointing to a guage on the left side of the door, "It must mean that it is dangerous for us to go in." "Good reason" said Motoko, and pointing to the underbelly of the boiler she said, "The fire is still going at it." They noticed a catwalk nearby and followed it. At the end were, what they assumed, where controls for the boiler. Facing the boiler, there was a window, showing the boiling of the water inside the boiler. To the left of the window was a wheel that turned a plastic connecter pipe. Near it was a switch that controlled the water flow from the power unit of the lake. One lead to the wheel, the other lead to a switch on the other side of the window. The last thing was a pipe with a lever on it. They tried experementing with many things but just as they were about to give up, Su pulled the lever on the pipe in front of the switch. Suddenly, they heard the fires go out and the water stopped bubbling. "I'll go check", said Keitaro. He then noticed the gauge was clear. He stepped near the door, as soon as he did, the screws in the door unscrewed itself and the door opened. He stepped inside. Inside the boiler was nothing but water and a ladder in the middle. "Hey Keitaro", said Su behind him, "We came to see what the noise is abou. . .", she stopped as she saw the room inside the boiler. "So, we can enter now, eh Urashima", said Motoko. "Yea, but the problem is that the water is still here and there is no platform for me to get to the ladder", said Keitaro. Then thinking he said, "I think we should switch the water power switch to it." "Well what are you waiting for, an invitation, get to it", yelled Naru. Keitaro went out of the chamber, the door closed and screwed shut behind him. He went to the power unit and switched it the lever to point to the pipe that was headed for the boiler.
He ran back to the boiler, where he found the girls at the controls. "It's ready", he said. "Then let's get busy", said Su. "Allow me to try", said Naru. She turned the wheel and plastic pipe turned up. Suddenly the water began to drain out. "Hey we got rid of the water", said Kitsune. "Yeah, but the ladder will be out of reach", said Keitaro. "Let's try this switch", said Kanako. She used it but nothing happened. "What is going on", she said as she flipped it back, "this thing has power now." "What a sec said Keitaro as he looked at the pipe that delivered the power to the boiler. He activated a small switch near it and then he said, "Try it now." Kanako flipped it and soon, they saw a platform raise up and stop. "I think that solves everything", said Keitaro. "Let's take a look first Sempai", said Shinobu.
They went to the chamber. After entering the door, they noticed that in place of water was a steel platform, allowing easy access to the ladder in the middle. "The rest of you stay behind, I am going alone", said Keitaro. "Are you sure, you don't know where it leads", said Motoko. "Hey, after being knocked into orbit several times, don't you think I can survive anything unexpected", said Keitaro. "Okay", said Naru, "but please be careful." "Okay" said Keitaro, and as he started climbing down the ladder he said, "See you in a bit." The girls went outside the boiler to wait for him.
Keitaro found the enterance to the big pipe below him. He followed it, and after a few minutes of stumbling in the dark he saw a light. When he got there he looked down and saw ground below him. "Well, time to jump", he said, and with that he jumped from the pipe and landed on his back on the ground. He looked up and said, "So that was for drainage, well, I better see where this goes." He scalsed the side of the mountanious region and eventually he found his way to the other side, and to the platform the ladder lead to. "Well, let's get this manhole unlocked", he said. He took hold of the manhole and pulled it up. Before heading down the ladder he saw that the on the moutainside near the platform was a door, actually it was two doors for an entry way. He headed down the mountain. The girls saw him approach and they all ran up and hugged him. "Keitaro!" "Hey, I was only gone for a few minutes", said Keitaro. After they released him they asked what he saw. He told them what happened and when he finished Kitsune asked, "So the ladder hatch is open", asked Kitsune. "You got it", said Keitaro. "Well let's go", said Naru. They all went up the ladder and when they got up there they entered the double door enterance.
Beyond the double doors was but a single steel catwalk. They followed it until it reached the end. At the end was a spherical device with a handle on top. When Su opened it up, bottom was lined with wire mesh. There was a circular plate in the middle with small oval in it. "I wonder what this is", asked Keitaro. He pressed his hand in the circle and suddenly the device snapped shut on his hand. "GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!", he yelled. After they helped him out, Naru said, "It must be some sort of trap." "Look there is some pellets over here", said Kitsune pointing to the left, "and over there is a lever." "They must control those pulleys", said Kanako, who was looking at the cables that are connected to the device. "I wish we knew what controlled the fan", said Su. "What, said everyone, and looked up to see a small ventilation fan with its grid knocked off, and it was turning rapidly. "If we could stop it, we could see where it leads", said Kitsune. "Right now, let's see what this thing is used to catch", said Motoko. They opened the object, placed a piece of food on the pressure plate, but when Naru pulled the lever, nothing happened. Then Keitaro noticed the pipe. "I know why this is not working", he said, "Stay here, I will be right back!" With that he dashed off. A few minutes later he returned. "What did you do", asked Naru. After regaining his breath Keitaro answered, "I figured that pipe near the lever lead to the lake device so I switched to the third pipe." "Good point", said Kitsune. "Let's try it now", said Motoko. "I hope it catches a yummy turtle", said Su. Motoko shivered at that thought. Naru pulled the lever and this time the trap headed down into the abyss. "What now", asked Shinobu. "We wait", said Keitaro.
So, they waited, and waited, and for a change of pace they waited some more. Then Su yelled, "We got something", when they heard a 'clang' from the abyss. Naru pulled the lever and brought it up and from withing the device came an odd sound. "Let's see what's inside", said Keitaro. He opened it and inside was a frog. It was red, almost gave of the sense of a living jewl. It gave a familiar, "chirrup", hoped to the side of the trap, 'chirruped' again and hopped down to the abyss. "That explains what this is for", said Kitsune as she closed the trap, "It's used to capture frogs." "Yeah, but for what reason", asked Shinobu. "Who knows", said Motoko, "Besides, there is nothing more for us here, let's go." "Aww", said Su, "I wish I could have eaten that frog."
As they neared the doors, Naru got a little suspicious about the two doors. Then she said, "We are not done here." "Why", asked Keitaro. "Observe", she said and as she approached the doors she said, "Odd way for doors to leaning against the wall. Wouldn't you think that they could be hidind something." She closed the doors and sure enough, there were two paths. On the left was a staircase heading downward, on the right was a long bridge. "Smart move Naru", said Kitsune, "Doors hiding doors, how intriguing." "Well, where to first", asked Keitaro. "Let's try left first", said Kanako. They all went in the left direction. Shortly after crossing a steel catwalk, they came across a strange building. "I wonder what's in here", said Keitaro. He tried to move the handle but it wouldn't budge. "It's locked", he said. "Well, let's just continue", said Shinobu. After leaving the building they followed the rest of the catwalk to a tunnel. At the other end of the tunnel was a small bridge, and to their surprise, at the other side, was the Golden Dome of the temple island. "This takes us back to where we started", said Kitsune. "Not quite", said Keitaro, "I think this bridge is the one that had the section that was raised. So I think we may be able to get some parts of the Dome area, we couldn't get to." "Smart thinking Keitaro", said Naru. They went across the bridge toward the dome. Sure enough, near the end was the raised part of the bridge. Furtunatly there was a lever right nearby. When Keitaro pushed it forward, the bridge section went down allowing them to acess the dome. Which they did. As soon as the bridge was down, they entered the dome.
The dome hadn't changed a bit, but this time they were on the side of the catwalk they couldn't get to beforehand. "And to make sure of that", said Kitsune. She walked over to the wheel that they couldn't reach before when they where on the other side of the catwalk. She turned it few times until the section of the catwalk extended to it. "There, now we have full access to the dome", she said as she wiped her hands. Then Keitaro noticed the third passage out of the dome, that was just before the wheel. "Let's see what's out there, it could lead to that solid door in the Gate Room", he said. "And their might be a switch", said Naru. "A switch! A switch", yelled Su.
However, they were downtrodden, when they set foot on the bridge, they noticed a gap between where they stand and the rest of the bridge. "Well, we can't get across now", said Kitsune, turning around. "No, wait a sec", said Shinobu. Near the enterance was a button, that was in a circle similar to the circle with no button that Naru saw in the same area. "Well, press it", said Kanako, "We don't have anything to lose." Shinobu pressed the button. There was a huge clanking sound and the section of the bridge missing rose up. "Well we can get across now", said Kitsune. Naru, however, got a tad suspicious.
At the other side of the bridge, was another entry way, which was blocked off by a bronze door. "Well we can't go any further", said Kitsune. "Don't fret", said Keitaro and pointing to switch nearby he said, "This door has a switch nearby. He flipped it, and the door went up and it revealed a very familiar room. "Hey, that wall looks like that wall of the outside of the Gate Room", said Su. Naru looked through the peephole and said, "That's because we are in the Gate Room." "I think this is the room where the door was, and that was the door we just opened", said Kanako. "So, now we have a chance of using that bridge-ladder to get up to the top of the dome." "Well, I'll go and activate the ladder", said Su. "No we are all going", said Naru. "Why", asked everyone. "Because, I think when Shinobu rose that section of bridge, she activated an elevater and that button I couldn't press the last time I was here", she responded. "Where", asked Keitaro. "You know that section after the pipe device that powered the bridge that got us back here", said Naru after she slapped her head in disgust. "Oh yeah, that area", responded Keitaro. "Okay, but before we carry this out", said Motoko, "I think we should rotate this room so we can get to the main entrance when we return." "Yeah, good point", said everyone. They did so, and following that they went back to the way they came to the dome. Once there Keitaro pulled up the lever of the Dome's main enternance to cause the bridge to rise and act as stairs. Shortly after doing so, they used Naru's suggestion to head where the button-less button was.
When they got there, there were a few changes, one the section was now red, instead of white, plus there was not guard rails. Also, in the metal circle, which used to be hollow, was button. "I knew it", said Naru. "What is that, Naru", asked Kanako. "Well, it turns out that the section of bridge is a part of an elevator, when it goes up", and pointing to the red platform she added, "this goes up, and when that bridge section is down, this is down and can't go further, that's why the button vanished." "Brilliant thinking Narusagewa", said Keitaro, slapping her on the back. "We came this far", said Kitsune, "Let's see where this goes."
They all crowded on the red platform and Naru pushed the button. They heard the sound of the bridge section lowering and split second later the red platform went down. In a second it stopped, and they saw the bridge section connect over head. "Well, what now", asked Kanako. "We could try that way", said Shinobu pointing behind them. It was hallway, leading to a staircase. "Well, let's go", said Kitsune. They noticed a small button nearby and they agreed it would allow them to take the elevator up again.
When they finished climbing the staircase, what they saw made them react with awe. "Ahhhhh", said Everyone sighing. (AN: I wrote Awe. A-W-E!) "Whoooo", went everyone(AN: that's better), for in front of them was the spinning dome that they saw earlier. In nearby, in front of them, moving in time to the dome, was a device that had a small whirling blade whirling through a small telescope. It had a button on top and was on a leg. "Looks like one of those American kinescopes", said Naru. "It sure does", said Keitaro. "What's a kinescope, is that some kind of food", asked Su. "No Su", said Keitaro, "A kinescope was an old-fashioned device that Americans used to watch movies on." "Oh", said Su, who was still a little confused. "This is making my head spin", said Shinobu. Keitaro observed the dome, up close. The device had strange marks on it that reapeted the same pattern. The device was painted in a fire marble color, and on one of the round things that was near the device was a pipe that lead up to the Golden Dome. "I say we call this thing a Fire Marble Dome, because of it's color", said Keitaro. "Good idea", said Kanako. Then Kitsune asked, "Is it just me, or is one of the markings a different color?" "Your right one of them is", said Keitaro who noticed. "Hey", said Su, "These things on it look like a flip book if you look through this kina- whatsit?" Keitaro ran up and took a peek. Su was right, the kinescope showed the symbols as clear as day, and they moved like a never-ending movie. "Naru hand me that journal for a sec", said Keitaro. As she handed over Atrus' journal she asked, "Why?" "I think I should write down the symbol that is gold and the island it's on. It's possible the other fire domes have different symbols, gold colored", said Keitaro as he wrote this down. The symbol that was gold was a circle with a dot in the center. "I wonder what the button on top is for", said Kitsune. Then Naru had a thought and said, "Keitaro, try hitting the button when the gold symbol is seen." "Okay, here goes", he said. When he did so the kinescope and the dome slowed and stopped, exactly on the gold marked symbol. Then the dome flipped, revealing a gold underbelly, but there were two large ends, in the middle, was a small, hollow area, with a console underneath. "Let's take a look", said Motoko. They approached the dome.
The console showed, from the bottom, a small button, above it a slider combonation device with five slides. Above the device was a glass window, and under the glass was a familiar object. "It's a book", said Shinobu. "Probably a linking book", said Naru. "Well, we can't get to it now", said Keitaro, "We need some sort of combonation." "Urashima has got a point", said Motoko. "Come on", said Kitsune, "Let's go check out the top of the Golden Dome." "What about the Marble Dome", asked Shinobu. "I think to avoid any suspicions we should return it to normal", said Motoko. "How", asked Kanako. "Like this", said Kitsune as she pushed the top of the kinescope. The dome flipped back over, and it started to rotate again, and the kinescope started moving as well.
They headed back for the elevator, went back up it, and took the route to the new entrance to the gate room. Once they went back through it to the original entrance, Kitsune rotated it back to the original position to that would let them get to the Dome. And when they got to the bridge that they raised, as the expected, the bridge was still a staircase heading for the top of the slit of the big dome. At the top of the dome was a strange device that looked like a compressor but the top looked like a motor. Near Keitaro (the area was so narrow, they had to go in single file), was a single, sliding lever. "Well, give it a try Keitaro", said Naru. Keitaro nodded and pushed the lever down, revealing a small button underneath it. The top of the device slid down and mashed on top of the bottom, and the whole thing locked into place. "Well, push the button Urashima", said Motoko, who was getting annoyed by the cramp space. Keitaro pressed it but nothing happened. "Isn't something supposed to happen", asked Kitsune. Keitaro reversed the mechinism, realizing it wasn't going to change a thing. "Maybe it's busted", he said shrugging. Naru squeezed and shoved through Keitaro saying, "Yeah, right! I am going to take a look at this machine." "What for me", said Keitaro.
The bottom of the device looked like several squares with grids within them. Nearby, on separate small holders, where different color marbles. The colors they had, in order from top to bottom, were, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. "Hmmm", said Naru, "It looks like we need to put the marbles in a certain order, otherwise the machine won't work." Then a groaning was heard and Kitsune yelled, "Well if we don't know the procedure, I propose we head back to that island we were last." They nodded, so they retraced their steps and took the same route to get back to the island. They agreed to leave the bridge the way it was, just in case they found the right combo.
On their way back to the cavern with the frog trap, Keitaro noticed a lever, right beside the catwalk. "Hold on for a sec", he said, and he flipped it. "I wonder if it did anything", he asked. "We may find out soon enough", said Kanako.
Once back in the cavern, the group agreed to go the other covered passageway, and they followed a flight of stairs that led them to a metal door. On the other side was, "ANOTHER FIRE MARBLE DOME", they all exclaimed.
They walked around the catwalk beside it. "Now that we found it, where is the kinescope", asked Motoko. "Over there", yelled Shinobu, "I see it!" They turned and saw, in a rocky crevice, was a kinescope. "But how do we get there", asked Keitaro. Then they heard Kanako's voice call from near the stairwell, "I think I have that question answered. They went back to the enterance to the room. Kanako then gave a 'observe' signal to them, and closed the door that led to the stairwell. Where the door was when it was open, revealed a crevice in the rock. "Ah, another, door hiding a door", said Kitsune.
They followed the tunnel in the crevice until they reached the kinescope. "Stand back", said Keitaro as he took out Atrus' journal and a pencil. He looked through the kinescope and waited until he saw the gold signal. He pushed the button on that mark and just as with the other one it slowed and stopped. Once it stopped it showed the gold underbelly with the book thing. Keitaro wrote down the mark and marked it CI for Crater Island, since the island looked like a crater. He then returned the dome to the way it was before they saw it and returned to the catwalk upstairs.
"Now what do we do", said Motoko after climbing the last step. "Yeah there is nothing much more for us to do here, except maybe find a way to get in that building", responded Kitsune. Then they noticed something. "Where is Su", everyone asked. Then it hit them, "AAAAH! THE FROG TRAP!" They ran over to the frog trap where Su was, but instead of working the trap she was looking at the fan. "Su what where you. . .", said Keitaro, but was inturupted when Su asked, "Wasn't that fan turning a while ago." They looked up and, to their surprise, the fan was not running. "But how", asked Naru. "It may have been that switch I pushed back there", said Keitaro, who received a hug from the girls and Naru said, "Keitaro, you are a genious." "I am? Oh, I mean, I am!" he said, feeling a bit smug. "Okay", said Naru, and turning to Shinobu she said, "Shinobu, we will boost you up and you go to the other end." "Okay, Naru-semapai", she said a little scared. "Once there, if you can find a way back to us come back and lead us to where the vent goes." "Okay", Shinobu said nervously. But before Shinobu was hoisted, Keitaro got a smack down on the head to prevent him from looking up Shinobu's skirt. Then after Shinobu got hoisted, they waited a few minutes.
Moments later they heard a, "A...ano", from behind them. They turned and saw Shinobu. "That was quick", said Kitsune. "So", asked Keitaro, "Where does it go?" Shinobu blushed a little and said, "You won't believe it, come, follow me!" They folowed Shinobu, away from the trap and through the catwalk that led to the temple island till they reached a familiar building. "This is it", she said and she opened the door. "All right", said Su, "Let's see what's inside!" They all entered and Su closed the door.
Inside was a huge room. From the entrance there was something near the walls that went around. From clockwise around the room, there were three desks, and there was a door, in middle of the walls the first and second desks were on. In the center of the room was oven. "This looks like some sort of labaratory", said Keitaro. "Probably the fiend's labarotory if you ask me", said Motoko. "Who", asked Keitaro. "Gehn you baka", said Naru. "Let's check out these desks", said Kitsune.
Keitaro, Kanako and Shinobu, looked at the first desk. On the desk was a magnifier that looked at a piece of wood, some papers, stacks to be exact. On the shelf of the desk were more papers, a rubber stamp, books and inks. Keitaro noticed something on the near end, it almost looked like a vise, except it was half circled and looked more that it was designed to compress. After Keitaro moved it a little by turning the crank on the end, he concluded it was a compressor. "He must be attempting to make books here", said Kanako. "Yeah but where did he get the materials", asked Shinobu.
Meanwhile, Su, and Motoko were checking out the second desk. On the desk were several instruments, some chemical tubes and devices, a piece of another frog trap, a drawer box, where, in one, where several eggs, and lots of cartridges that look like shotgun shells. But the most horrific thing of all, was that there were several frogs in tubes, as if suspended. "I knew he was catching frogs for something", said Su, "I knew he was eating them." "I don't think so Su, these devices are not what anyone would use to make these frogs edible." "Then what are they for", asked Su.
At the same time, Kitsune and Motoko where checking out the third desk, which is also where the air vent led to. The desk didn't have much, but the first thing that Naru noticed, was a journal on it. While Kitsune was looking, Naru read through it, and then she heard the comments of both Su and Shinobu. She looked at where they were and said, "I can answer those questions." The rest of the group responded by gathering near the desk where Naru was. "What Gehn has written here in this journal was that he was trying to re-create books, but as Atrus' hoped, he wasn't very sucessful. Everytime, he created one he failed." "And where do they go", asked Shinobu. Naru pointed to the fireplace. Kitsune, walked over to it, opened it and took out a burned book. "Yeah, she's right", said Kitsune. "Wait there is more", said Naru, "Not only was he trying to find a way to write ages, he was trying to re-create the D'ni civilization. Rebuild the whole thing." "That is bad, Atrus told me, that because of the fact they were power hungry was why D'ni fell", said Keitaro. Naru waived her hand to silence him, "Plus you know those five men we saw on the walls." Everyone nodded and Naru said, "Those symbolize Guild Masters, the one directing people are called Builders, the one we saw giving out school work are Educators, the one looking over the children fighting were probably Surveyers, the one with the insturments were Maintainers and the one with the pages falling of the tree where Bookmakers." "Speaking of bookmakers, where did all this paper come from", said Keitaro. "And you call yourself an archeologist", said Naru, "That picture of the book over the fire, it had those machines, the shredder and the boiler, and the cart leading from the area where trees where chopped down. He got it all from that island's wood." "Oh, yeah", said Keitaro. "Urashima, you are stupid", said Motoko, but Kanako gave her a punch in the back. "Is there any mention of the Fire Marble Domes are anything related to it", asked Shinobu. "Yes", said Naru, "It turns out that he found a way to use these books. All he has to do is use power them, and he can do this with the fire-domes. Plus, they all lead to one place, it is this age which these numbers I can't describe." "Anything else", asked Keitaro. "Yeah, in fact Keitaro you can be doing us all a favor, by putting your archeology skills to the test. First hand me Atrus journal." Keitaro did so and Naru wrote down something. "Here, this is the combo to the fire-domes, try to understand them." "I will", said Keitaro. Then he noticed other symbols next to the other Fire Marble Dome symbols. "Why did you put these in for", asked Keitaro. "I found out that the area on top of the Great Dome, powers the Fire Marble Domes, and those symbols, at least two of them, match the dome symbols that are gold. Gehn was trying to find out these symbols and their connection to the color coding in D'ni. But I think, that those marbles represent the domes and that grid represents all islands. So if we put in the right color for the right spot. . ." "We can power up the domes and access this age", finished Ki" "Exactly. But we need to know both soom, because even if we did know the combo, we couldn't access the age because there is no power", said Naru. "Is their anything else", asked Su. "Yea, the Star Fissure is sealed, he was observing it but he abaonded it. He thinks it is safe to travel, and it has unchanged since it appeared." "So you are saying it can take us home", asked Shinobu hopefully. "Yeah, but it has a vacuum in it. It can suck almost anything in it. But, if we open it, it might cause a catastrophic result", responded Naru. "Hmm, then we better wait to open it after Gehn is captured and we release Catherine." "By the way, why did he catch frogs. Was it to eat them", asked Su. "I am afraid not Su", said a nervious Naru, "First of all they are called ytrams and he captured them to extract something from them in order to smoke." "You mean he smokes frog or whatever extract", asked Motoko. Naru nodded. "That is inhumane! Trapping these things to fulfill his desire", yelled Motoko. "I feel sorry for those ytrams", said Shinobu. "Oh I think I should mention something. We are not alone", said Naru. "What", asked everyone. "There seems to be a group of rebels known as the Black Moiety. Those daggers seem to be their sign. And their leader happens to be the person we are rescuing." "Catherine", asked Shinobu. "Bingo", said Naru, "They terrorized and vandalize everything that Gehn has done or made." This made everyone remember the masked men that took the trap book and freed them from their cage when they first arrived. "Also", continued Naru, "They somehow found a smaller way of powering the books, probably for their own purposes and probably made by Catherine. They made some sort of power crystal that works like the domes." "How did he know this", asked Shinobu. "He captured a rebel and interrogated him, plus they found it on him", responded Naru.
Keitaro then noticed something near Naru. "What the hey", he said as he approached it. He saw a familiar looking wooden ball and a piece of paper. "I saw that but it didn't look important", said Kitsune. "Not important? Kitsune don't you know what this is?" She shook her head. "This", said Keitaro, "Is a wooden eye like we saw on the jungle island!" "A WOODEN EYE", exclaimed everyone. "And not just that look", said Keitaro and he rolled it over. On the other side was, the sign for one." "So this is the eye for the first animal", said Motoko, "but how did Gehn acquire it." "This answers that", said Keitaro rolling back the eye and pointing to the sheet of paper. It was a journal entry. "This explains that Gehn saw a villager swim out into that lake full of holes and to that eye. It was floating near the entrance. He took it to analyze it. A few days later it was replaced somehow", said Keitaro. "So the first animal was in the water, that's why we couldn't see it", said Naru. "Yeah, but how will we know what it is and what they are for", wailed Shinobu. "I think the only answer is to move on and I think we should go out that door", said Keitaro, pointing to the other door.
Outside was a walkway that shortly led them to a tram station. "Great, another tram ride", said Motoko sarcastically. "How do we get it here, there is no button", said Kanako. "I think I saw the button for summoning the tram back at the entrance to the lab", said Shinobu. "Well go press it", said everyone.
Shinobu went back and pressed the button. When she came back she saw that the tram had arrived. But one person was missing. "Where is Sempai", asked Shinobu. "Oh I asked 'is it coming' and when he looked to see the tram slammed at him. He is now resting below it", said Su. "OH NO! SEMPAI! AAAUUUUUUU", wailed Shinobu. Keitaro climbed up from the pit below the tram with half-cracked glasses an said, "Don't worry, I am okay!" "Oh sempai! I am so glad you are okay", said Shinobu as she ran up and hugged him. "Come on, let's go", said Naru.
Inside the tram, Kanako took the drivers seat. She turned the tram with the lever, and used the other to make it go. As they went along the threads the tram glidded on you could hear the group say stuff like, "Oh, I hate these rides." Or "Any barf bags on this flight" and maybe "I am going to puke."
The tram ride ended inside of cavern on the island. "Well this was unexpected", said a dizzy Keitaro as he came off. "Yeah I expected it to stay above ground", said Motoko. After the group recovered from the ride Kitsune pointed to doorway that was near the tramway enterance to the cave. "Let's see what's that way", she said. Everyone agreed and headed that way, and up the stairs they found at the end of the passage, little realizing what could be up there.
To be continued. . .
Okay everyone this was part 1 to the Riven section of this story. But don't worry, I will try to get the second part done ASAP. And if anyone is reading this, be kind and R&R. I would like some positive feedback, because, I am not sure if what I did is good or not. I will appreaciate it. Adios for now.
