Near the centre of the complex, Maria and Tai are still following the signs to Bio‑engineering.
"How long have we been walking now?" Tai asks.
"I have no idea," Maria admits. "I've completely lost track of time."
"Want to know what I find most surprising about this place?" Tai continues idly.
"That it's a century old, yet still has a fully‑functional power supply?" Maria asks.
"You took the words right out of my mouth," Tai confirms.
"I am a good kisser," Maria smiles cheekily.
Tai cannot help but giggle at the quip. "The best," she agrees.
A few minutes later, the two felines arrive at a large set of double doors, above which they see a sign that reads 'Bio‑engineering'.
"Well, we've found it. Now, how do we get in?" Tai asks.
"Maybe there's a‑" Maria begins, stopping when her ears twitch. Curious, she backtracks down the corridor, ninjato drawn, and searches anywhere someone could be hiding. However, her search is in vain, and she returns to Tai a few minutes later. "Sorry, thought I heard someone."
"It's OK to be spooked out by this place," Tai assures.
"What was I saying? Oh yes. Maybe there's a vent we can crawl through?" Maria asks.
"You just want to stare at my butt, don't you?" Tai teases.
"Your fault for having such a cute tushy," Maria replies in kind.
"I've worked on it hard enough," Tai smiles. "Unfortunately, I don't see a suitable vent."
"I don't know whether to be disappointed I won't get to see you wiggle, or impressed this place was built by people who actually understand security," Maria replies.
"I'll give you a private show later," Tai promises. "For now, want to give me a hand breaking this door open?"
"Sure."
Together, the two felines approach the door and analyse it for weaknesses.
Up the corridor, trying her best to remain out of earshot, Corazon watches the felines work out how to break into the lab. The lynx's hearing is spectacularly good, better than I anticipated. Also, I need to have a word with Kalaw later. Corazon keeps watching for several minutes while Maria and Tai work on the electronic lock. Eventually, the felines crack the lock, and the doors open. The felines' jubilant cheers and long, tender kiss after the door opens don't impress Corazon in the slightest, and she snarls silently at the saccharine display of affection. They're not focussed on the mission at all. Pathetic.
Corazon watches Maria and Tai enter the lab, the door closing behind them. The wildcat wastes no time: she sprints to the electronic lock and uses one of her greasemonkey's devices to change the combination, locking the door with the Scarves inside. That'll keep them out of my way while I locate Merga.
Unaware they're trapped, Maria and Tai start searching the laboratory, exercising caution, not knowing what to expect. At first, they don't find much, just disused equipment and scattered notebooks. Nevertheless, the felines analyse everything they find, even if they don't understand most of the notes.
After an hour of searching, they regroup in the centre of the lab.
"They were definitely working on something big here," Maria concludes.
"The question is, just what were they working on?" Tai asks.
"The notes I read seemed to be talking about creating some sort of creature," Maria answers.
"The key to the Bakunawa?"
"Possibly."
"This whole situation is getting much larger than I feel comfortable with," Tai admits.
"I fought in the Gotoshi Naisen as a giant fifteen‑foot kitty against a twenty‑foot mutant scorpion and a twenty‑foot mutant succubus," Maria reminds. "I also fought in the Siege of Shang Tu, and the Siege of Shuigang that ended the Brevon Crisis. I'm used to things escalating quickly."
Tai gives Maria a comforting hug. "Some of the notes I read talked about a storage facility below the lab," she informs. "Since we didn't find anything here, shall we head downstairs?"
"Sure," Maria agrees.
The hug breaks, and the felines jog over to the door, only to find it locked from the outside.
"We're locked in!" Maria exclaims.
"She knows we're in here," Tai concludes.
"Which means she's locked us in here to keep us out of her way," Maria adds. "And she's changed the combination to one far more complicated than the one we cracked."
"It can't be that bad," Tai assures. "The original code we cracked in minutes."
"This code is six times longer," Maria informs.
"Ah."
"Yep."
Tai thinks a moment. "Did you ever see that TV show about this guy who would cobble together seemingly crazy contraptions from nothing but junk, and make them work almost as well as the real thing?"
"I prefer pastel coloured magical ponies," Maria answers. "But Fluff‑Tail and Miss Spiky like the show you're talking about, so I've seen some of it."
"Good," Tai smiles. "Then you know what I'm about to suggest."
"We better get started," Maria decides.
[One hundred years ago]
Another month has passed, and Cordelia's health has deteriorated further. However, she continues to defy her physician's orders, and remains as active as ever. With work on the final creature proceeding well, the princess is spending more and more time in the lab, growing more desperate each day for the work to be completed, knowing that each day spent risks Zynnia Lilac finding out and attempting to put a stop to the whole project.
This day begins much like any other, with Cordelia heading straight for the lab after another consultation with her physician. The lead researcher greets her as always, but he cannot ignore the obvious discomfort the princess is in.
"Your Majesty, you should be resting," he advises. "We'll inform you when the creature is ready."
"I don't care what you say, or what my physician says," Cordelia dismisses. "I want to be here the moment work is complete."
"Very well, Your Majesty," the researcher acquiesces.
The rest of the morning and the bulk of the afternoon proceed without incident. As afternoon turns into evening, however, everyone in the laboratory stops and gathers around the largest incubator yet: a sarcophagus large enough to hold a creature at least a foot taller than even the tallest person in the room.
The lead researcher stands next to the incubator and turns to the others. "Everyone, this is the moment of truth. We have all worked so very hard for this, and in just a few moments, we'll finally see if our toil has paid off. All that remains is to open the incubator."
The lead researcher types a command into the incubator's control panel, then presses a button. The seal is broken with a loud hiss, allowing the atmosphere in to mix with the air inside.
Slowly, the incubator opens, everyone silent as they get their first look at the creature inside.
Cordelia eventually breaks the silence. "Leave me with her," she orders.
The researchers share quizzical looks, but none want to risk angering the princess. Reluctantly, they all leave the laboratory.
Cordelia approaches the creature. "Hello."
The creature opens her eyes. "Hello."
Cordelia smiles. "Ah, good, you understand me. That will make things much easier."
"Who am I?" the creature asks.
"You are Merga, and you have been created to serve me," Cordelia answers. "I am Princess Cordelia."
"Why have I been created?" Merga asks.
"To eradicate Zynnia Lilac and all other impure dragons, so that we may restore the purity of our species," Cordelia explains.
"When do I begin?"
"Soon. First, let's see what you can do."
[Present day]
«Cordelia audio log #6»
«My health is failing me, that I can no longer deny. I may not live to see my creation achieve my goals. But I have seen her in action. She is magnificent. She is everything I had imagined, and more. She will achieve my goals for me. She will bring purity to the dragon race. She will save us from the harlots who seek to pollute us all with their insipid corruptions.»
The recording ends.
"You're still listening to those?" Carol asks.
"I need answers," Lilac explains.
"How many more recordings are there?" Milla asks.
Lilac looks at the display. "One."
"Play it," Carol requests.
Lilac hesitates. "I'm scared of what I'll hear. What if it's my relative failing?"
"There's only one way to find out," Milla states.
Lilac looks at the device for several moments before deciding whether to play the last message or not.
"What's 'Bio‑engineering?" Milla asks suddenly, her eyes on a sign over a door down the corridor they're about to pass.
Carol halts and follows Milla's gaze. "Somewhere we need to check out," she decides. "Lilac?"
"Hm?" Lilac responds, a little distracted by her thoughts. "Oh, right, yes, we should look there."