Spyro, Cynder and the other spyro chars minus striker belong to Sierra studios...for now

The other chars belong to me and Cydra

C.P.S Chronicles: Soul Gem Saga

Chapter 4: Enemy Lines

Matt looked down at the sensor readouts. The images showed the same they had for the last day or so. "Nothing but desert." he muttered before the view automatically flicked to Spyro and Cynder flying alongside the Maelstrom Star. The group had come to the almost empty desert region after the ships sensors detected a soul gem. So far however they'd found nothing.

"Wanna play I-Spy?" asked Sparx. "No, we've played that like twenty times now," said Matt, "and I know everything that's in this room and there's nothing to spy outside the window. So it's become pointless now. STOP ASKING!" The computer beeped, switching to a computer grid map. "Incoming class 4 sandstorm." it chimed. "Not another one. This would be done a whole lot faster if the weather was a bit better." said Matt. "Best go get Spyro and Cynder. The scanners should be able to see through the storm." he said to Sparx.

Sparx hovered away, muttering under his breath, "Sheesh, this guy can be a grouch when he's in one place for so long." "I heard that!" yelled Matt. The computer suddenly beeped as Matt was considering demonstrating a bug zapper. "Target triangulated...range: 1.7 terran miles north." it said in a bored voice and displaying the location...slap bang on the edge of the sandstorm. "Gotcha." said Matt. There was the sound of the door opening, the blowing of wind, and the door closing. Then Spyro and Cynder appeared in the room. "What's up?" asked Spyro.

"We finally got it...barely a couple of miles and best of all, the storm will hide us from the apes." said Matt happily. The computer chimed again. "Secondary scans complete. Local lifeforms detected in region." Matt turned to look. The scanner now revealed a cluster of red dots around it. "Please don't let it be..." started matt as the computer continued "Local lifeforms on internal hostile register...estimated 1,200 lifesigns." it said. "It never ends." said Matt gloomily, letting his head hit the desktop.

"So they're a little bit hostile," said Sparx, "It's not like we're about to land right in the middle of an Ape village." The computer, in accordance with Murphy 's Law, displayed an image of said hostiles. "You had to say it." said Matt as a image of an ape rotated on the screen slowly. "Ok, we're going to need a plan if we intend to sneak into that place and get that soul gem out," said Spyro, "How much time until we arrive?" Matt looked at the controls. "A few minutes...we should be able to land unseen in the storm and I can go check it out...I got the highest marks in stealth training." he said, leaving out the fact that he'd been the only one to take said training.

"So you go out, find out where the soul gem's likely to be, come back, and we'll go from there," said Cynder. "You could also take Sparx," said Spyro. Matt looked over at Sparx. "How good is he at being quiet?" he said.

--

Matt slowly sneaked down the maelstrom stars entry ramp and into the full force of the storm, closely followed by Sparx. "Dammit...its getting worse...I can barely see a foot in front of me." said Matt. "Which way was the town again?" he said, trying to look at his wrist PDA's display in the swirling storm. "How should I know?" said Sparx. He had to cling to Matt's shoulder to prevent being blown away, his glow could barely be seen. "I know we should be close," said Matt. He stepped forward and immediately walked into something.

It was a stone wall judging from the fact that it had almost broke his nose. "Found it." he said slowly. Footsteps caused the two to turn slowly around. Four large apes were standing watching them. Matt was judging how fast he could draw his gun when one of them said. "The gates back here, traveller." There was almost an auditable clunk as Matt's and Sparx's mouths dropped open.

"Uh, thanks?" said Matt. "It's not the first time someone walked into the wall," said another ape, "Seems to happen every time we have a sandstorm." Matt and sparx continued to stare. "Hold that thought for one minute." said Matt finally. "I don't believe it...surely Gaul woulda spread the word by now...unless...c'mon." Matt turned back with a innocent smile plastered on his face. "We'll be right back later...we...erm...left the lights on." he said and ran back in the rough direction of the ship while the apes tried to work out what he meant.

The minute Matt got back on the ship, he started laughing hysterically. "What's with him?" asked Cynder. "If I didn't know any better," said Sparx, "I'd say he'd gone nuts." He tapped Matt's forehead with his knuckles and called out, "Matt! Matt! Get a grip!" Matt grabbed Sparx to make him stop. "Good grip." Matt finally stopped laughing and released Sparx. "Just...like home...we could walk in...there...hahahaha." he said before laughing again. Genghis unlocked from his charge alcove. "Some of us are trying to recha...oh dear...has Mr lynch got space dementia?" he said, looking at the giggling Matt.

"I'm starting to wonder that myself," said Spyro, "that is space dementia means he's going crazy." Genghis nodded. "Indeed...its a side effect of the DNA treat...oh he's better." he said as Matt finally seemed to calm down. "I have very good news...and a plan." he said.

--

The group were in the ships old canteen. Matt was trying to lay out the plan. "Basically...its down to politics...gaul probably got into the top job by being the most successful and best fighter." he said. "I think that's right," said Cynder, "Apes do follow the strongest leaders." "So therefore, Gaul wouldn't have told his people back home about his mishaps, which means we're virtually unknown here." Said Matt. He continued. "They will not know about Cynder going over to your side either...so we pretend to be, say...a special envoy or something. We can stroll in, find the stone, swipe it and be out just like that...OW!" said Matt, snapping his fingers and wincing.

"Good idea, there's just one little problem," said Cynder, "They hate dragons." "I've thought of that, and I don't think you'll like my idea for that," said Matt.

--

They hadn't liked the idea. Matt, with Spyro and Cynder in tow, approached the town again. The storm had eased off a bit and the main wall could be seen. It looked like an old stone fortress wall. Repairs had been done using planks and logs to plug breaches but that was it. Several dozen apes could be seen peering suspiciously at the approaching group. "We're back...can we come in?" said Matt. He looked back at the two dragons. The idea had been simple, Spyro and Cynder would be 'prisoners'. In Matt's defence he hadn't turned on the shock collars. Silently he was hoping it would work. Luckily the ship was well in range and plan B was so easier...basically involving turning the whole town into beated glass with the Maelstrom stars K-Cannons.

"I feel so degraded," said Cynder, "like I'm some kind of pet." "Would you rather pretend to be one?" said Matt. Cynder sent him an icy glare that quickly answered his question. "Heh, I could get used to this," said Sparx. "Shut up, Sparx," said Spyro, who wasn't finding this funny either. A hatch in the gate opened. "Oh...it's you again...are you coming in this time?" Matt nodded. "We're messengers from Gaul and Cynder...I'm sure they'd be upset if you kept us waiting out he..." said Matt and was nearly knocked out as the gate hammered back into the wall hard enough to crack the rock. Matt stared. "Wow...that's service." he said, noticing the way the apes were staring. Obviously in her darker days Cynder had been held in high regard, fear wise.

"Right," said Matt, "I have capture these two dragon hatchlings and I'm taking them to the prison." "Oh, that's just fine, go on ahead," said one of the apes. As soon as they were beyond earshot, Cynder hissed darkly, "I'm a lot older than a hatchling." Matt hissed back. "Really?" he said but the glare he got said 'drop the subject' in five feet high neon letters. The gang headed in the direction that the ape pointed in a bored way. The 'prison' looked similar to the dragon temple but looked a lot older and had been modified with various things like barred windows. It also had a rope net spread over the roof.

The apes in the street stared at the dragons in varying levels of fear and distaste. A large ape was standing at the gate of the 'prison'. "Ok...hand them over." it said gruffly. Matt just then won a award for fastest thinking ever. "I've got to hand them over to Gaul personally...they stay with me till then." he said. "Hmm, I think I better take them anyways. Dragons are tough creatures. I don't think a whatever-you-are can handle them," said the warden ape as he signalled for some guards to take Spyro and Cynder. Matt glared. "Please try...I'm not in a good mood...your patrols kept using me and my partner for target practises...well...they were patrols till we were finished." he said before whispering to the apes. "Don't let that fearful stare fool you...he's a killer." he muttered pointing at Sparx.

The apes looked at Sparx and than each other. The next second, they were guffawing and hooting with laughter that they could barely stand. Matt sighed. "That's what the other guys did too." he said sadly. The apes stopped laughing and one reached for Cynder. There was a blur and he fell back yelling and Matt had suddenly gotten his ion staff out. "He'll live..." he said. The warden glared but decided he wasn't paid enough. "Get them out of my sight." he said.

--

About an hour later, Matt was in a room at the towns local inn. Once there was no one around, Matt took off the dragons' shock collars. "Ugh, those things are so itchy," said Spyro as he scratched at his neck. Matt shrugged. "Yeah...you'd think they'd have fixed that." he said. "Well...we're in anyway and we've probably got weeks till my 'contractor' arrives back. Scanners seem to say the stones underneath the town itself." he said, looking at his PDA before looking back up. "Sorry about the idea...it was all I could think of." he said.

"You know, I vaguely recall some catacombs being underneath this place," said Cynder, "But that was a long time ago." Matt looked up. "Catacombs? You've been here before?" he said. "This is probably where they trained her to be the terror of the skies," said Sparx. Matt and Spyro both glared at Sparx at his comment and said in unison "SPARX!" There was a knock at the door. Matt went and opened it a crack. The inn owner was there. "I-is everything to your satisfaction....s-sir?" he stuttered. Word about the wardens had gotten around. "Fine...go away." said Matt and shut the door. He turned back. "You don't happen to remember where the entrance was, do you?"

"Um, all I remember are metal bars and rocks, that's all," said Cynder as she started scratching her neck. Matt looked out the window. "The only place I can see with bars is...oh...It's a damn curse...isn't it?" he said, his gaze falling on the prison. "That would be a good place for the entrance to the catacombs," reasoned Spyro, "It would make it very hard to get in and out." Matt nodded. "Very hard. Might as well get some shut eye. You guys can use the bed...I prefer the floor." he said, sitting down against the wall. A second later, snores were heard.

--

Later in the night, Cynder was tossing and turning. Her dreams were filled with sharp weapons and dark flames. She saw Gaul forcing her onto a pedestal, green flames circling her, Malefor's laugh. She woke with a start and lay there panting, if she had sweat glands, they would be working. "Cynder, is something wrong?" asked Spyro. He was the only other one awake.

"Just a bad dream, that's all," said Cynder. "Normal bad dreams don't leave you gasping," said Spyro, "It was about them corrupting you, wasn't it?" Cynder shuddered and said, "It was so terrible, I was barely out of my shell and they were torturing me. They used sticks and stones, and I think they put some spell on me. It was so awful." Spyro wrapped one wing around her and said, "That time has passed. You're not that person anymore. I know you're not." Cynder smiled and said, "Thank you, Spyro, for everything." The two curled back up and went back to sleep.

--

The next morning, Matt was the first up and chose to have a better look at the prison and maybe find a way to breach the security. Out in the street, the town seemed strangely deserted. Most of the market stalls seemed deserted and the houses seemed to be locked up. A ape guard came round the corner and spotted Matt. "Ah...there you are...Gaul has returned so you can hand over the prisoners...what's wrong?" the guard said, suddenly concerned at how Matt went almost pure white. "Run...run that by me again?" he said weakly.

"I said that Gaul has returned, the streets are being cleansed in celebration of his return." "Ok, I better put these two in a cell," said Matt, whose voice was nearly a squeak. The ape shrugged and watched with interest as Matt headed back to the inn so fast there was a small sonic boom. "Professional...so highly strung." he said and headed back to his post.

--

Matt shot up the stairs 3 at a time and burst into the room. "Good news and bad news." he said to the others. "The good news is we'll be able to get into the prison REALLY easily." "What's the bad news?" asked Spyro as they were taking a drink. "Gaul's back in town!" The ensuing spit takes nearly knocked Matt over. "So I think its time we left...VERY fast." Matt finished, looking out the window and spotting some junk below. "And I think the door will be a bad idea." he finished, vaulting off the ledge and missing the pile of junk altogether. "...so was that." he said, getting up painfully.

The others landing was more graceful, due to the fact that they had wings. "Wait, what about the collars?" said Cynder. Matt shrugged. "They didn't work anyway and once gaul is told about his 'guests' I doubt the charade will keep." he said and headed down the small alley they were in. He turned the corner and spotted Gaul, with Avarona alongside...oh yeah, and about 60 of his ape troops. "Woops...I'm sorry. Wrong turning." he said and headed back down the alley.

A roar of "GET THEM!" was heard just as another group of apes appeared at the opposite end of the alley. "Ah nuts." said Matt, the group turning around again and rushing back out into the road where gaul and avarona were. "What did I do to deserve this much bad karma?" said Matt as he found himself between a rock and a hard place very quickly. Matt stopped dead. "I'll see if I can create a distraction. Try and get to the ship." he said, turning and pulling out his ion staff. "Hey, glass eye...pick on someone your own species." he shouted at Gaul. Striker sounded in his head. "Are you crazy?"

"C'mon, he's a baboon, how tough could he be?" responded Matt. Gaul drew two swords which he clanged together, creating a magical shockwave. "Oh, magic weapons, didn't see that coming." Matt glared at Gaul. "You think you can beat me, human?" said Gaul in a sneer. Matt shrugged. "Can't hurt to try." he answered rudely. Avarona smirked behind Gaul, the ape king had been annoying her a bit. Gaul charged Matt and brought his swords down in a nasty chopping movement that Matt barely blocked in time before answering with his own set of blocked slashes.

"You are decently skilled, human," said Gaul. "I should be from all that flash training," said Matt. "However, I am willing to wager there one thing you are unable to deal with," said Gaul. "And what's that?" Gaul's green eye suddenly shot out a blast of energy that took off the top part of his hair. Matt glared. "HEY!" he said and had to dodge another blast. Avarona spoke up. "Gaul...my master needs him alive...if only for Striker." she said softly. Matt gulped and made another lunge at Gaul only to be knocked back onto his back. "Ouch...can we call this a draw?" he said getting up and looking at the approaching Gaul.

Matt managed to scramble up and ran the way Spyro and Cynder had gone. "Wait for me, guys!" he yelled, following the two dragons tracks and quickly spotted them. The way back to the gate was blocked by more apes, some of which appeared to be riding giant bats. "Oh, come on. What next? Giant spiders?" Matt said. The only way was into the prison which was apparently, according to Matt's scanner, where Spyro, sparx and Cynder had been forced to go, presumably by the blockade Matt saw.

Fortunately, the door wasn't hard to find. Opening it was another matter. "Let me in! Let me in!" yelled Matt as he pounded the door. Spyro took the door handle and pulled it open. Matt threw himself through the door. "Shut it, quick." he said and helped push the door closed, just as the first of Gaul's apes got to the door. The four of them quickly shut the door and Spyro managed to generate enough ice to freeze it. "That should hold them for a bit," said Spyro, "I wouldn't bet on it lasting long." The door was already shaking from the apes pounding on it. "Guess the only way is in." said Matt, looking into the maze of tunnels.

"I'll light the way," said Sparx as he floated forward. "Good idea," said Matt, "You're too light to set off any booby traps and you can warn us of those." "Booby traps?" said Sparx, turning to stare at Matt. "Matt shrugged. "Well...I wouldn't put a super evil artifact in a basement without some protection...in fact this reminds me of Indiana Jones...everyone watch out for giant boulders." he said in a serious voice. Cynder looked at Matt and whispered to Spyro, "You sure he hasn't lost his marbles?" "I'm not really sure of anything anymore," said Spyro.

Matt had wandered ahead. "well...I may be wrong." he said, walking forward and not noticing the axe pendulum that swung past behind him, closely followed by a hail of darts. He turned back as the traps stopped. "C'mon. We should put some distance...whatever these traps are they're laughable..." there was a crash as a 3000 pound lump of rock landed a millimetre away from his nose. Written on it in neat english was the legend 'Laugh this one off.' Matt made a funny whimpering noise and slowly stepped around it. "Ok, no more scoffing the traps," he said as he was carefully watching where he put his feet and making sure not to brush the walls.

The tunnel finally led into a large chamber with three tunnels leading off, not including the one the gang had used. There were runes above each arch. "Anyone read that?" said Matt, squinting at the middle arches label. "Oh, sure," said Sparx sarcastically, "I'm just a fluttering ancient writing encyclopaedia at your service." Matt glared and rolled his eyes before felling Striker coming up the front of his brain. 'The one on the right says 'exit'. Simple really.' the resident soul said. "Great. Even the voice in my head taunts me." muttered Matt.

"What do the others say?" asked Cynder once Matt had transgressed the message. "He says the runes on that one point towards the gem," said Matt, pointing to the tunnel on the left. "Do we want to know what the middle tunnel's for?" asked Spyro. "Not important now, let's move," said Matt. The left tunnel looked like it had once had a lot of security. Matt spotted huge alcoves that reminded him of guard posts. "We're definitely on track." he muttered as the gang turned into a huge chamber with a large cage in the middle. Sitting in the cage was another of the soul gem boxes.

"This seems slightly too easy," said Matt, "I just bet there's some big booby trap that'll cause the cave to collapse or something." The only way to the cage was over a small bridge with two dragon statues staring at the middle. Spyro cautiously went across and had to jump back as the statues fired twin lasers that blocked the path. Matt glared as Striker laughed in his head. 'These sentinels won't let any being that the elders knew of cross that bridge.' Matt, upon hearing that, smirked. "That they knew of, you say." he said just as a distant boom was heard. The doors had given out.

"No more time for caution," said Matt as he ran between the statues. They didn't go off, indicating that Matt's guess was correct. "I sure hope they didn't think ahead of that," he said to himself. The old locks may have been made to handle brute force but a swipe with the ion staff went through them like a flamethrower through butter. Matt snatched the box and shoved it in his pack. "Time to go." he said, coming back across.

From the echoing in the caverns, Matt could guess a battalion of apes was coming. "I hope this is a real exit," said Matt as he and the others ran down the other tunnel. It was...however further in it appeared to be missing certain important aspect...like a floor. Matt peered over the edge to see no bottom. "Well...I'm dead." he said in a matter-of-fact voice. "You think we could carry him?" asked Spyro to Cynder. "I don't know," said Cynder, "He looks pretty heavy." "Hey! I'll have you know that I'm in great physical shape," said Matt. At that, the first few apes ran round the corner. Matt turned and fired a few rounds till they ran off. "Just go..." he said.

Suddenly an icy blast flew towards them. "Look out!" yelled Matt and everyone dove out of the way. The blast missed, but created a projection of ice that lead partway across the gap. Avarona, the ice shooter, was in the tunnel with more apes. "Thanks for the bridge, ice queen..." said Matt cheekily before trying to run on the ice...and ended up sliding along it, till a slight elevation at the end, sent him across the gap and into the wall. "Yes, I'll have the piranha truffles uncle" he gibbered.

Spyro and Cynder both flew across and each grabbed one of Matt's legs. Matt was just starting to regain his senses when he noticed they were fling towards some stalagmites. Matt managed to say. "Oh no." before the two dragons just avoided it. It was a bit of a shame that Matt head butted it on passing anyway. Matt's head swam for a bit, but cleared quite quickly when Spyro and Cynder accidentally went around a thinner stalagmite in opposite directions. "Can you please keep down that squealing?" said Cynder to the pain-ridden human. The trip finally ended at the other end of the tunnel. "I...hate...caves." whimpered Matt from the floor. The cries of more apes sounded. "Lets...just go." said Matt, pointing to the stairs at the end of the tunnel.

--

Avarona was pacing nervously in her 'office'. She was going to get a message from Malefor soon and she didn't want to think of how displeased he'd be with her. The dark crystal in the middle of the room flared into life. "Tell me, Avarona. How is it that this human and two hatchlings have managed to steal another soul gem? You claimed how easy it would be given that striker appears to not to be controlling him." Said Malefor, in a calm tone. "This human seems to possess a very sharp wit and a surprising amount of ingenuity," said Avarona, "I suppose his kind had to make up for their lack of physical abilities."

Avarona sighed as the human Sonya laughed. "He'll kick your butt, dragon lady." she said. Avarona ignored the voice. "There is only one left. Devina...you are to make sure they get it." Malefor said surprising Avarona. "What?" she said "Have you forgotten what type of dragon Devina was?" said Malefor. "Of course not, she was a Shadow Dragon," said Avarona, "You're not saying that..." If Malefor had been visible he'd have been grinning. "Miss Cynder will be a great help...see to it." he said.

So we've gotten a look at where the ape armies hang out when Spyro n Cynder aren't roasting em Cajun chicken style…and also how Matt needs to read, 'Infiltration for dummies'…Please R&R!