Peyton watched as Sarah and Kaz were arguing with Tom, lecturing him for leaving without them. He didn't bother joining in, it wasn't his style. Either way Sarah and Kaz were doing a better job of scolding Tom then he ever could. He was the chill one. Too chilled.
"It's been a day already! Can you get off my back?" Tom grunted, greatly annoyed by the endless reprimand. He obviously already got the sermon from his friends back on earth. "I-."
"It was stupid and dangerous Tom. We promised not to go anywhere on our own. You didn't even tell us where you went and didn't answer my call!" Shouted Kaz, his arms crossed.
"You could have been kidnapped by the M'arrillians or anything else happening. We couldn't help you or find any traces of you." Sarah added, glaring at him.
Peyton remembered that Intress also reprimanded him yesterday when she overheard about it. It was kinda funny to see the creature being a little maternal with his friend, but it was necessary and no one opposed it.
"It was important," Tom commenced, standing up and slamming his hands on the table, "because I've been trying to tell you something important since yesterday!"
The two were quiet for a second. Taking his cue Peyton stood up, "Tell us Tom. We need to know what you saw there." He gazed at his friends, silently telling them to be quiet. He didn't want them to complain about it for a while. It was obviously important.
"Thanks Peyton. Anyway, I went to a location where I found Phelphor."
"Phelphor. You saw him there Tom?" Kaz asked as he checked the location his friend put on his scanner.
Even Sarah put her frustration aside, knowing this was important, "Did you get anything from him?"
"Yeah." Said Tom, scratching the back of his head. He took a deep breath and sat back on his chair, "He told me that the M'arrillians might want to use Chaotic to attack the other tribes. They could use it to port anywhere in Perim. Like attacking directly inside the city, ignoring the walls protecting the city. They might even use it to reach our world and conquer it." Tom raised his left hand as he finished his explanation, as if unsure.
The trio was quiet as they listened to it.
Tom waited a little. None of his friends tried to say anything, "He also told me a little what was going on with the M'arrillians. There might be something big going on with their tribe. A civil war might come for them. The tribe is currently divided by those who believed in what Aa'une believed and those who want to respect Alexandre wishes, as he said."
"So good M'arrillians vs bad M'arrillians dude?" Peyton wondered, picturing the scenario.
"Maybe." Kaz said uncertainly before Tom could give a reply to that.
Sarah sighed and nodded, "Yeah. I won't take the risk to check it out anyway." She replied.
They talked a little more about it and eventually Tom was once again getting reprimanded by his friends. He didn't try to protest now, having said what needed to be said.
Peyton just hoped that their friend wouldn't do that again. They were all really stressed at what could have happened to him. As it kept going on, Peyto decided to walk around a little. He still had a lot in his mind right now.
Chapter 38: Peyton and Lulu
Peyton wandered around the court for a while putting his hands in his pockets as he entered into deep thought. He still felt like he'd been used by the king of the Mipedians. He still had trouble processing the whole thing. He wasn't sure of the sincerity of Theb-Saar's words. He knew the king wasn't dishonest, but the doubt remained nonetheless.
He sighed and looked around, noticing the two creatures who were in the Port Court today. It was kinda strange to see two creatures from two different tribes casually talking like that. Still, he wouldn't complain. There was no risk of them fighting against each other.
Still, Najarin and Tianne were together and seemed to enjoy it. From what little he caught from the conversation they were having they were talking about the old times, back when Tianne had been apprenticed to Najarin.
Peyton remembered he'd heard about that before and it explained why they were friendly with one another.
"Hey Peyton." Said a voice from somewhere around, startling him.
He searched around and saw who called him. A girl with red hair and brown eyes came towards him. She wore a green vest with a brown shirt under it and a black skirt, "Hey there Lulu." He said with a smile, recognizing her.
"Is something wrong? I saw you getting depressed before I called you." Lulu asked as she crossed her arms.
The boy let out a small sigh, she certainly wasn't the same girl when he first met her. He guessed that he had influenced her a little, "A few things."
"Last time I saw you; no creatures were coming to Chaotic." Lulu commented.
It had been busy for everyone when the creatures first arrived. Peyton knew that Lulu had been absent for a while after Theb-Saar came. He didn't know when she came back, but it was good news she ported in once again, "Me too. I came back the next day, just like my friends." Peyton explained, pointing at them.
Lulu glanced over at them and nodded, "That's good. I didn't want to take the risk for a week. I really don't want to lose my code in Chaotic."
"They added that little rule that if we get coded here, we'll get it back." Peyton reminded her.
"Yeah, but I was nervous about it. I would ask myself what would happen if like a big fight broke out between creatures here." Explained Lulu as gazed at Najarin and Tianne. Not only them though, realized Peyton as she looked at the defensive measures around. Things may be more stable but the battle machines were still around. They couldn't be ignored, "Still, I'm glad to be back."
"Yeah." Peyton replied empathically.
"You know, maybe we can have a match soon. This time, we both go all out."
"I'm ready to pull up a real fight from beginning to end Lulu." Peyton began mimicking a battle, making the girl chuckle.
"Yup. This will be a real match."
They continued talking about their planned match. After a while, Lulu sighed and asked, "Peyton. What's exactly going on with you?"
He scratched the back of his head, "Things. You know, things like this and things like-" he saw her gaze and nodded, "Fine. A few things I can't talk about because it will put you in trouble too. Like, big stuff going on." He raised his arms and extended it left and right, emphasizing on big.
"Obviously. Chaotic can't have those robots without a reason…and I think creatures showing up is why."
"More than that, but I don't want to say it." Peyton replied.
"Are everything you still you can't tell me?" Lulu asked with a hint of annoyance. Clearly, she still remembered their first match.
"No. But really, you would rather not be in trouble on Earth and here." Peyton insisted.
Now, her annoyance turned into worry. Was it such a big deal it affected Earth too? She tried to pressure him, but he was dead-set on keeping her out of trouble. Finally, after several minutes of cajoling, Lulu crossed her arms, "And what can you tell me?"
Peyton didn't want to talk about it. It was something personal, but he didn't mind sharing it, "Well… You see. I recently became friends with Theb-Saar. The ruler of the Al Mipedim." he added.
"Of course. You told me about it, but you didn't get a scan." Lulu replied.
"Yeah." Peyton scratched the back of his head. He gazed at her. They went to a table as he continued, "It was great and fun, but with everything going on, I'm wondering about this friendship." They sat on a chair as he continued, "Theb-Saar was the first creature to come to Chaotic."
"I still remember how I freaked out. It got as chaotic as the name of this place." Lulu commented, thinking back.
The boy nodded, "Yeah. Theb-Saar came there, just near me when he showed up. After this, Sarah second guessed the sincerity of his friendship with me and I have to agreed with what she said. Maybe he was using me to reach Chaotic."
"Did he ask you anything like that?" Lulu wondered.
"Not as I can remember. Nothing is standing out. It's really making me unsure about everything. Did he use me for anything, or does he want to use me for something later?" Peyton had wondered about that a few times. He crossed his arms and sat his head on the table, grumbling.
Lulu nodded as she thought about it. She wasn't certain if there was more to it. She only knew as much as Peyton told her about. She rested her arms on the table and continued, "Peyton. I don't know if he wanted to use you or not, but do you think it's all just a lie?"
"Not really." He grumbled as he sat up once again.
"Then the big problem is…" Lulu prompted, waiting for him to reply.
"Sarah has the biggest problem with that. Theb-Saar is using me for something. Being friends was just a trick to get close to me." Peyton put his hand on his forehead and continued, "I'm not sure about it. I'm not sure about anything. My mind is all, Bzzzzz, buzzy and confused."
Lulu didn't get the rest. She thought about it. How he felt was a little similar to how she felt a while ago. They just talked about it. She wasn't happy that the Mipedian used her friend like that, but he wasn't the only one who did something like that. Peyton did it to her.
"I think we went through that once Peyton." Lulu commented.
The large boy raised his head and asked, "We did?" He thought back, "You mean that time?"
"Yup. That little plan of you to win your seven matches for Imthor Drome." Lulu began.
Peyton sighed with a bit of shame. Yeah, he hadn't forgotten what he did to get an easy win. After that, he couldn't bring himself to return to the Imthor Drome, in case he might be tempted to do a dirty thing like that again. Honestly, he was tempted when he gazed at the Drome sometimes.
No matter what he tried, he couldn't win his final match. Precisely, it took a long time to win his last match to challenge the Codemaster, "I didn't forget that. I tried to use you to win because you weren't that good here."
Lulu nodded, "Yeah," she tapped her fingers on the table, "Then you started to voluntarily lose a few of the battles. You tweaked some of the matches."
"Yeah. I… I felt bad for crushing you in the match. Still… Sorry for trying to use you like that." Peyton apologised.
"I'm completely over it. I know you really wanted to win and you felt really bad at using me like that. Still, I am a little grateful. You pushed me over my hesitations. I think… I never really went into the mind of the creatures." Lulu let out a small smile, "I finally did it when I decided that I couldn't let anyone step on me. You used me Peyton…but it still helped me."
"Yeah. You have a good track record now and your old nickname is now erased from everyone's mind." Peyton said, nodding.
"Except Klay, until I beat him." Luly sighed, "You know. He was the one who put me on that track. He was my first match and he crushed me. He said a few things and until I faced you, I thought I wasn't good in a drome."
"So, it was a jerk dude." Peyton frowned. It was typical of him, "No one really knows how to play well their first match."
"Since then, Klay never faced a new player again that I heard. The Codemasters were surely watching the match." Lulu added.
Peyton had to agree that he almost or never faced any first-time player in matches. It was a good thing.
Lulu then said, "You kinda did like Theb-Saar in the end."
"I tried to use you to gain something just like him." Peyton sighed. It was true.
"Still, you tried to help me too, but you screw this up and I beat you with all my real skill." She let out a small smirk.
"I really did." Peyton admitted. It was for the best he screwed that up, he thought while scratching the back of his neck, "Theb-Saar did say that he had to hurry things. That's why he wanted to meet me and became friends. I know he really sees me as a friend."
The two were quiet for a few minutes, watching a match going in Kiru City.
"I think you should keep an eye open for when he tries to use you." Lulu concluded.
"Yeah."
"And do it like me. I gave you another chance." Lulu let out a small smile.
The boy had to agree. She did give him another chance two week after their matches. It turned into a nice friendship between them, "You're right. I should do it."
"Still, be careful."
"I will." Peyton promised.
Lulu then came back to something they said earlier, "And you better go all out on me in our match."
"Of course. I won't be a big jerk this time. It was horrible enough."
"In Imthor Drome."
"What?"
"I broke my curse in there. You have to try and do it too." Lulu replied.
Peyton realized she wanted to beat him. Crush him, "You're still bitter about that match."
"Maybe." Lulu innocently replied.
Peyton whined. As he thought about everything going on, he snickered and grinned, "Game on."
The two decided to begin their match soon. They made the reservation and waited for the next opening.
AC: This is the end of this chapter. I hope you liked it.
Next: Mother And Son Scan Quest.
Kaz and his mother went on a scan quest in the Underworld. As they searched for Rothar, Kaz tried to avoid ending up crossing paths with Chaor, not wanting another interrogation as they searched for a creature.
