When I opened my eyes, I was met with the familiar sight of my room in Fossil Park Asia. Nibbles was curled up at the foot of my bed, his bandana still around his neck. I yawned and sat up, looking around in confusion.
"Good morning, Tria!" I heard a gentle voice sing. I turned to see Penny sitting on her bed across from me, smiling. "How are you feeling this morning?"
I stretched my arms, yawning again as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. "Well-rested." I stated, getting up and looking for a change of clothes, "How'd I get here? Last I remember, I was in Fossil Park Europe."
"Yeah." Penny said, "That was yesterday. Apparently, you fell asleep after disbanding a gang with Leon and Dahlia. Dahlia carried you here on her back, and Leon and Nibbles were following. They brought you here and made sure you were comfortable before leaving." She smiled wider, adding, "I'd never seen those two act so gentle before. They were intent on taking care of you."
I laughed softly. "Those two are quite the interesting characters."
Penny nodded, before perking up. "Oh yeah! Dahlia left a message for you on your phone! She told me to tell you to check it once you woke up."
I hummed in acknowledgement as I pulled on a clean shirt and grabbed my phone, reading the message that appeared on the screen.
Tria. Thank you for covering for me. I can never thank you enough, but I can start by making you my Paleo Pal. I know you'll agree, so I already registered you! Just throw me in your party whenever you feel like cruising around a dig site! Thanks again!
I smiled as I finished reading. "Dahlia's as excitable as ever, I see." I said fondly.
"I know what you mean." Penny agreed, "I was her partner for the Warden Test. She was crazy, but I wouldn't have passed without her."
"She's a fine Warden." I said, nodding, "She could do with a little more self-control, though."
Penny smiled, looking at me with gleaming eyes. When I raised my eyebrow in question, she looked away, muttering shyly, "You know, I really admire you, Tria."
"Oh?" I asked, "For what?"
Penny looked up at me, blushing. "You make friends so easily! Even people who are hard to get along with, like Leon and Dahlia, bond with you quickly and care about you very much! You should have seen the look of pure horror on everyone's faces when they'd heard what happened to you during the Warden Test. Even Leon looked like he was about to pass out, not that he'd admit it." she told me, laughing at that last part. I laughed too, walking over to my roommate.
"I don't know about making friends 'easily', but people care for me because I care for them. It's a two-way street." I said, patting her shoulder, "You have people who care about you, too, you know. You, Nate, and Roland are the best team I've ever seen. You guys care about each other."
"I guess so." Penny said, blushing slightly and smiling at the thought of her fellow Asian Wardens. Her train of thought was interrupted by my stomach, which growled loudly.
"Sorry…" I muttered, glaring at Nibbles, who was snickering, "I guess I missed dinner last night." When my stomach growled more loudly, I grinned sheepishly, "I think I missed lunch, too."
Penny laughed with me before doing a full double-take. "Wait a minute…you mean you've gone an ENTIRE DAY without eating?!" she screamed in a mixture of exasperation, disbelief, and horror.
I awkwardly scratched the back of my head. "Yesterday was a busy day. I guess I just forgot."
Penny stared at me, her eyes as wide as saucers. "You FORGOT to eat for a WHOLE DAY?!"
I shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time…"
Penny grabbed my wrist, dragging me out of our room and toward the kitchen, "Come on, Tria! You're not doing ANYTHING ELSE until you've eaten! I am going to make sure of that!"
"Yes, ma'am!" I yelled back as she pulled me along. Nibbles followed close behind. He was as hungry as I was.
"Hey! Look who's finally awake!" Nate greeted us when we entered the kitchen. He waved us over. "Come on, sit with us!"
I waved back, moving to get some food, but I soon found myself shoved rather forcefully into a chair.
"Oh no! YOU'RE gonna sit there and relax!" Penny ordered me, "I'LL get your breakfast!"
"What's the fuss about, Penny?" Roland asked, "Is Tria injured again?" He looked at me worriedly.
"No, she's not injured." Penny sighed, looking at me in exasperation, "She just has a serious lack of common sense!"
I shook my head and raised my hands in defeat. "That, I cannot deny."
"What did you do to get Penny so riled up, Tria?" Nate asked me, laughing in amusement.
"Well, apparently, I'm not eating enough." I replied, shrugging.
Penny, who was getting some bacon and eggs from the provided buffet, turned on me again.
"That's the biggest understatement I've ever heard!" she growled at me before addressing the two boys, "She hasn't eaten anything since breakfast yesterday!"
"WHAT?!" the boys screamed, gawking at me.
"How do you go an entire day without eating?!" Roland asked disbelievingly, paling at the thought.
"Uh…" I muttered awkwardly, "I was busy?"
"Dang…" Nate said in awe, "Now that's dedication. I wish I had that kind of drive."
"No, you don't!" Penny scolded, "Roland, help me get food for Tria. Nate, go get a steak for Nibbles."
"Got it!" Roland said in affirmation, getting up to do his assigned task. Nate was not as eager.
"What?!" he screamed again, "You want me to feed that can-chomping vivosaur?!"
"Rawr!" Nibbles growled, finding Nate's reaction funny.
"See! He's just waiting to bite my poor butt! Listen to him!" Nate yelled, backing away from Nibbles.
"No, he's not." I corrected him, laughing as well, "He thinks you're funny." As my giggles died down, I smiled at the pink-haired male. "If you're really worried, just think of it this way: if he has the steak, he's less likely to attack your butt than if his jaws are unoccupied."
Nate's eyes widened in realization, his mouth forming a small "o". Without another word, he darted off to the meat storage, leaving the group behind him laughing their heads off.
"I've gotta hand it to you, Tria. You do have a way with words." Penny said, impressed at how easily I swayed Nate's decision.
"It's almost scary." Roland muttered, setting a plate of toast and a glass of orange juice in front of me. I nodded to him in thanks as Penny brought me my other plate.
"Thanks, guys," I said gratefully, "You really didn't have to do this."
"Nonsense!" Penny said, waving her hand dismissively, "You've been working hard. It's the least we can do."
"Besides…" Nate said slyly when he returned "With all of us here, I can finally tell the story I've been dying to tell since we all got here!"
"A story?" I asked through a mouthful of egg.
"Tria, don't talk with your mouth full!" Penny scolded me.
"Sorry, mother." I apologized once I had swallowed. Penny huffed at the title I had given her.
"What kind of story?" Roland asked Nate.
Nate smiled. "Do you all know how Captain Stryker became the leader of the Wardens?" he asked.
"Didn't he save the world from an evil mastermind?" I replied, making sure to swallow before speaking this time.
"Correct!" Nate said, propping himself up on his elbows as he began his story.
"Five years ago, there was a scary organization that was plotting world domination. You know…like they do." We all nodded, so he continued, "They were called the BR Brigade. They were scary in a lot of ways, but worst of all was their secret weapon: enhanced dark vivosaurs!"
Nibbles whimpered quietly, and I glanced at him and lay my hand on his head in an attempt to comfort him. The others didn't notice.
"I hear that they even used those vivosaurs to take over certain Fossil Parks. Finally, the International Fossil Police- or INTERFOL- decided to take a stand. They put Captain Stryker on the case and charged him with disbanding the BR Brigade once and for all. Captain Stryker tracked the BR Brigade's leader, a man named Dr. Baron von Blackraven, to his totally awesome submarine lair. And yeah, I guess he's both a doctor AND a baron? I don't know. Seems like an overly long name if you ask me."
"Woah…" Penny and Roland chorused in awe. I remained silent, listening intently as I continued stroking Nibbles, who had crawled into my lap.
"Anyway…" Nate hummed as he got back on track, "Captain Stryker and Dr. Blackraven fought like a couple of wild badgers, but, eventually, the Captain emerged victorious. And yeah, lots of people helped behind the scenes, but Captain Stryker was pretty much the hero of the day. I think they had a parade for him or something, but I'm a little fuzzy on that part." He sweatdropped. "Anyway, as a reward for taking out the trash, they made Captain Stryker the leader of the newly-established Wardens."
"Ooooooo." Penny almost sighed as she stared at Nate.
"What happened to Dr. Baron von Blackraven?" Roland asked, sounding nervous.
"Well, I'm not sure." Nate answered, holding his chin as he put on his 'thinking' face, "But I think he's locked up somewhere in one of the Fossil Parks."
Roland looked about to comment, but stopped when my phone started ringing.
"Tria!" Stryker's voice came through the receiver, "Are you awake?"
"As far as I know, Captain." I replied, not feeling any need to act formal.
"Excellent. Please report to me as soon as you are able." he ordered before hanging up.
"Yes sir." I replied, though I knew he couldn't hear me. I had heard Professor Little's voice just before he had hung up, which likely meant something had happened.
"All right, guys. I have to go report to Captain Stryker. Thanks again for the food."
"You're going to work already?" Penny asked me, still sounding exasperated at my lack of concern for my own health.
"Dang, Tria." Nate whistled, "Do you EVER relax?"
"Depends on how you define 'relax'." I replied, signaling to Nibbles, who had just finished his steak. He snorted in acknowledgement, following me to the Captain's office.
When we exited the elevator, Stryker and Little were having a very serious conversation. I stood at the back of the room, unnoticed.
"I can't believe this is really happening…" Stryker was muttering. He was gritting his teeth and sounded genuinely upset. "He actually escaped?!"
"Escaped?" I thought, looking at Nibbles, who had suddenly become agitated, "That doesn't sound good."
"I calculate an 88% chance that he will seek revenge on you, Captain Stryker." Professor Little warned the Captain, his hands on Stryker's desk. He was trying to be serious, but considering that he was barely tall enough to reach it, the action just came off as comical. However, the obvious severity of the situation quickly snuffed out what light-heartedness there was.
Stryker crossed his arms in thought. "Hm…I'm not so sure. He knows that getting revenge on me is a luxury in the bigger picture." he said gravely, "That's what makes him so dangerous. Plus, it sounds like his two lieutenants got away along with him. If he's getting the old gang back together, it's for more than just revenge." Stryker then slammed his hands on his desk, looking at the child professor. "Inform the Wardens of this at once, and work with them to gather as much intel as you can!"
"Right away, Captain!" Little yelled in affirmation, before looking down, "Although…"
Stryker leaned back, smiling reassuringly. "At ease, Professor. I know exactly what you're worried about, and there's no need to panic. I've only informed a select few individuals about…that. Dr. Blackraven doesn't have any idea, I'm sure of it."
I looked at Nibbles, who shuddered at the mention of 'that', and stepped forward, knowing that I had already overheard too much. I put my arm back near the elevator doors, causing them to open again and then walked forward, as if I had only just entered the room.
"Excuse me." I said, my voice not giving any indication that I had overheard their conversation, "You called for me, sir?"
"Ah, Tria. You're here. Good." Stryker said, nodding to Professor Little, who nodded in return.
"I'll start informing the others at once, Captain." the younger male said, turning around and leaving, sparing a nod to me before entering the elevator.
Once Professor Little had left, Stryker looked at me. "I heard back from Drake. It sounds like you're doing excellent work out there. I'm proud of you."
I blushed, smiling shyly. "Thank you, sir."
Stryker smiled back at me before becoming serious and authoritative again. "However, right now, I need you to meet another leader here in Warden HQ."
I raised an eyebrow at the Captain, asking in confusion, "Um…I thought YOU were the leader?"
Stryker nodded. "I'm the leader of the Wardens, true. However, my duties often take me far away. That's why Warden HQ has its own dedicated leader who serves in the same capacity as Sean and Drake. His name is Liu Ren, and I wager you remember him from your earlier lessons." He smiled. "He's also the one who treated your injuries, if you'll recall."
"Yeah, I remember him…" I began. My eyes then widened as my face turned bright red. "Wait a minute…HE was the leader of Fossil Park Asia?!" I buried my face in my hands. "I can't believe I took up his valuable time just to teach me how to drive! And then I caused more trouble by getting hurt! I can't believe this Park's leader's first impression of me was that of a reckless rookie!"
Stryker burst out laughing at my paranoid rant. "I assure you, Tria, that he did not see you merely as a 'reckless rookie'. In fact, he, like everyone else, was very impressed by your determination and skills. You have nothing to worry about."
When I heard that, I sighed with relief, glad that I hadn't totally screwed myself over with my performance during the Warden Test. Stryker, noticing me relax, continued explaining my assignment.
"Anyway, I want you to officially meet him. You can find him in the Leader's office just below us."
"Sir." I said in affirmation, heading down to the floor below the Captain's. When I got out, I saw Liu Ren standing next to a desk, discussing something with Nate. Both of them looked at me when Nibbles and I entered the room.
"Heya, Tria!" Nate greeted me.
"Hey, Nate." I nodded to him before turning to Liu Ren.
"Hello, Tria." he said, as calm as ever, "Between America and Europe, it sounds like you're having quite the adventure."
"Thank you, sir." I said, bowing. When Liu Ren raised an eyebrow, I elaborated, "You took time out of your busy schedule to teach me, a newbie who wasn't even a Warden yet, the basics of driving, battling, and excavating. You also looked after me when I was in the hospital. I am very grateful."
"Oh, it was no trouble." Liu Ren assured me, his smile warm and kind, "I am glad to look after such a promising young Warden. Actually, your timing now couldn't be better."
I perked up. This must have been what he and Nate had been talking about when I arrived.
"We just received a distress call from a dig site here in Fossil Park Asia." Liu Ren explained, "Sounds like someone's Bone Buggy broke down and left him stranded. I need you and Nate to head out there right away and lead the rescue mission."
"Of course!" I said as I saluted, "We'll leave at once!"
"Thank you very much." Liu Ren said, smiling as he pulled a metal case out of his desk, "Here. You can use these spare parts to repair the Bone Buggy in question." He handed me the case. "Your destination is the dig site called Lantern Lake."
"Thank you, sir." I said the Asian Leader. I looked at Nate. "Let's go, Nate."
"Woo-hoo!" he cheered, "Finally! A mission! I was about to die of boredom!" He ran out of Liu Ren's office, yelling something like "Meet me when you're done yakking! I'm outta here!"
I shook my head. "He's as impatient as ever."
"Heh. Youth." Liu Ren said fondly, as if reminiscing about his past, "Well then, I wish you both good luck."
"Thank you, sir." I said, bowing again.
"Oh, Tria." Liu Ren chastised lightly, "No need to be so formal. You weren't so when we first met."
"I'm sorry." I apologized, "I was not aware of you position then, or I would've been more respectful."
"Forget my position." the older male ordered, "We're both Wardens now, and in that regard, we are equals."
"Thank you s- I mean, thank you, Liu Ren." I corrected myself, smiling and heading out the door. Before I left, I heard the Asian Warden call out to me.
"Oh yeah! Tria! The Fossil Shop is open now!" he told me. I waved in acknowledgement. I didn't have time to shop now, but I would check it out later.
Once I updated my Bone Buggy with the new parts I had gotten after ranking up after defeating the Speed Fiends, I headed out to meet Nate, who was waiting at Lantern Lake.
Lantern Lake was a dig site that seemed to be in a perpetual state of twilight. The sun was setting, making the dig site dark, but it never actually set completely, maintaining an eerie orange-and-violet glow. Over the shallow lake was a wooden path that led to hilly ground that eventually turned into a mountain that towered over the entire site. I drove up to the light blue Rock Crusher that I knew belonged to Nate.
"I've been waiting for you, Tria." he said in greeting, "C'mon! Let's goooo!"
"Hang on, Nate! Liu Ren's calling us!" I told him as his leader's face appeared on our screens.
"I've received additional information on the individual awaiting rescue. His name is Dr. Digmore, and he's an archaeologist." he said, "Apparently, he came out here to excavate some sort of relic. Hope he had the right permits for that…" He trailed off, frowning. He then continued awkwardly, "Er, anyway, he's stranded somewhere deep inside Lantern Lake. Good luck."
"Thank you, sir." I said as he hung up.
"Ha!" Nate cried, as if he'd had some sort of revelation, "No wonder the guy's in trouble! Eggheads like that usually aren't very good at Fossil Battles. And I don't even want to think about him going toe-to-toe with a rogue vivosaur!"
"Nate!" I scolded, "Not all 'eggheads' are weak. It could be that something's wrong with his Bone Buggy."
"Whatever!" Nate yelled, flooring the accelerator on his Rock Crusher and speeding down the wooden path, "Let's go save the day, Tria!"
"Right!" I yelled in agreement, following in my Digger's Rig. I soon drove past him, leading him to the edge of the lake. There, we found our target.
"GYAAA! Go away! Shoo!" Thomas Digmore screamed through his radio at the Fire-type pterasaurian vivosaur, Sungari, that was pecking at his gray Heavy Hauler, "Oh, Mother was right! I really AM no good at Fossil Battles! S-Someone! Anyone! Please help me!"
"Told ya." Nate said to me, grinning smugly. I glared at him.
"Save it for later, Nate!" I yelled at him, "This guy's in trouble!"
"Oh man! That guy's about to be turned into vivosaur chow!" Nate exclaimed, "Wh-What should we do, Tria?!"
"Save him, duh!" I yelled, propelling my Digger's Rig forward as an Air-type V-raptor jumped down from the cliff.
"R-Right! Let's do this!" Nate yelled, suddenly sounding nervous in the face of the two vicious rogues. He sent out his strongest vivosaur, the Air-type Edapho, who growled in excitement. I let him handle V-raptor while I sent out Thalasso to take on Sungari.
The Sungari, with its notoriously low defense, was taken out in a one-hit KO. With the flying vivosaur out of the way, Thalasso then turned his focus to Edapho's battle with V-raptor. He was clearly having trouble landing an attack on his faster, more agile opponent. The quick-moving raptor jumped and evaded each of Edapho's attacks, lunging at the slower vivosaur and dealing massive damage.
"Hang in there, Edapho!" Nate yelled desperately as the V-raptor lunged again. The herbivore braced itself for the attack, hunkering down with its sail pointed at the carnivore.
Suddenly, before the V-raptor's claws could make contact with Edapho's sail, the carnivore was knocked to the ground by Thalasso's Middle Spear.
"Nice work, Thalasso!" I praised my vivosaur.
"Thanks, Tria!" Nate called to me, "I'll finish this!" He then turned his attention to his vivosaur. "Edapho! Tornado Sail now!"
Edapho growled again, shuffling over to the stunned carnivore and swatting it with both forearms before sending it flying with a spinning strike from his sail. As the V-raptor vanished in a flash of light, Thalasso and Edapho howled victoriously before returning to us. With the battle won, Nate and I drove over to Digmore.
"Augh!" he screamed through the radio. When he realized that it was only me and Nate, and not more vicious rogue vivosaurs, he sighed with relief. "Good heavens! I thought those things were going to tear me apart! I owe you two my life!"
"Uh…" Nate muttered awkwardly, "You're welcome?" He looked down at his screen to me, as if expecting me to say something, but I couldn't reply. After the battle had ended, I had developed a throbbing pain in my head. Luckily for me, Dr. Digmore continued speaking.
"Er, yes. Introductions." he said, sounding embarrassed, "Well, my name is Dr. Thomas Digmore, and I teach archaeology over at Fellings University." He then paused briefly before asking, "Who might you be?"
"I'm Nate." Nate answered, seeming to notice that I was in no condition to talk, "And this is Tria."
Dr. Digmore hummed in approval. "Nate and Tria, is it? Yes, yes. Fine names. Quite rugged." I could hear the smile in his voice. "As I said before, I can't thank you two enough!"
"It was nothing!" Nate said confidently, beaming at the praise, "Just a normal day on the job for us Wardens!"
"Nate…" I groaned, my sudden headache lessening my patience, "The spare parts…"
"Oh, right!" Nate exclaimed, scratching his head in embarrassment, "We should probably see about fixing your Bone Buggy." He then got out of his Bone Buggy and walked over to mine. "Can you give me the spare parts, Tria?"
"Here." I said, handing him the case with the parts down to him. As he took it, he asked me quietly.
"Are you okay? You're acting weird, like you're sick or something."
"I'm fine." I groaned, sounding unconvincing even to myself, "Just a headache. Let me rest it off…"
"…All right. If you say so." Nate said as he hesitantly made his way to the busted Bone Buggy with a worried glance at me.
As I leaned back in my seat, I looked at Nibbles, who was in the seat next to mine. To my surprise, he seemed to be suffering, too. He was curled up on the seat with his eyes squeezed shut, trembling.
"You all right, buddy?" I asked him, placing a soothing hand on his back. He shuddered.
"What do you think?" he growled, trying to sound angry, but it only came off as pained, "I feel like I'm being torn apart while also being crushed!"
"I know what you mean." I replied, gasping in pain as I held my head with my free hand, "Where is this pain coming from?"
"Don't look at me." my little companion snarled, nuzzling my hand in a desperate search for comfort.
Nibbles and I turned our attentions back to the mission at hand when we heard an excited exclamation from the doctor.
"Great chattering skulls! You fixed it!" he cried joyfully, "Now I can go back to excavating relics!"
"It was nothing, really!" Nate replied, still beaming. He then started as Nibbles and I perked up, "Wait, did you say 'excavating relics'?"
"That's right!" Digmore confirmed happily, before cringing, "Oh dear. My hands are shaking from that rogue vivosaur attack earlier." He clenched his shaking fists, glaring at them. "This won't do! If I slip and damage some priceless artifact, my peers will never let me hear the end of it!"
I cringed, too, taking deep breaths as Nate's newfound confidence answered the unspoken question.
"Hey, don't worry! We'll get it for ya!" he offered enthusiastically. Dr. Digmore looked at us through his screen hopefully.
"Oh, would you? That's terrific!" he cheered, "We don't need to go far. My Relic Detector is already pinging like crazy! There's probably a fine relic right under our noses, don't you know? Oh my, yes!"
"Calm down, dude!" Nate yelled, blushing at the disturbing sound of the doctor's cry. I was in too much pain to care.
The excited archeologist didn't seem to notice the two Wardens' discomfort. "Anyway, just start digging around the area here and see what you find!"
"It might even be treasure!" Nate exclaimed, the excitement infectious, "Come on, Tria! Let's try it out!"
Dr. Digmore smiled, trembling slightly. "I'm going to lie here and try to banish the thought of my near-demise from my mind. Give a shout if you find anything."
"Will do!" Nate yelled, driving down a nearby path. I turned my Digger's Rig around, making to follow Nate. However, as I drove past the side of a nearby cliff, the throbbing pain in my head suddenly sharpened, like a raptor tooth being driven directly into my skull. Beside me, Nibbles cried out in agony.
"Nate!" I tried to yell, but it came out as little more than a croak. Fortunately, my companion heard me.
"What is it, Tria?" he asked worriedly, my pained voice alarming him, "What's wrong?"
"Something…" I gasped, pointing to the cliff, "Something's there…"
"What?!" he exclaimed, aiming his sonar at the area I pointed to, "Holy cow! You're right! It looks like…a coin, maybe? Let's dig it up!"
Nate then began to excavate the coin-shaped thing. With every movement of the drill, Nibbles and I cringed. When it was almost free, Nate called for Dr. Digmore. Nibbles whimpered, and I felt like an icy weight had settled in the pit of my stomach. "Goodness! You found it already! You Wardens really are something!" Digmore exclaimed, impressed, "Now let's see what we have here…"
He then pulled the flat disk out of the cliff face. At that moment, my vision flashed white, and an excruciating pain shot through my entire being. With that agony came intense feelings of fear, sorrow, rage, and loss, all fueling the unbearable pain that had overwhelmed my senses. I barely heard Nibbles scream beside me as I turned my Bone Buggy away from the panicking duo and floored the accelerator, my desperation to escape enough to make me forget my mission, the person I was supposed to be protecting, and the Warden calling my name as he freaked out. All I registered was the phrase that Nibbles kept screaming, the same phrase that was echoing repeatedly in my own mind.
Don't leave me!
