Chapter 2

Friend or Foe?

In the underground lab, the Vykkers had the camera in their possession. They were looking at it with wonderment, trying to get it to fire as a gun would do. One of the Vykkers pressed the button to snap a photo having the flash pop up, flashing the Vykker in the eyes. It screamed, rubbing its two beady eyes in agony. The Vykker set the camera down to make sure his buddy was alright, only to get smacked by the Vykker that was blind for a moment.

"You idiot! Watch what you do with that strange contraption!"

"Sorry! I didn't expect that to happen. Maybe we should dismantle it to see how it ticks?"

"Not yet. We don't know if it has a bomb in it or not! It's best to keep it locked up until we know what's its actual function and capture that creature that knows how to use it."

"Interesting that it kinda reminds me of the cameras we use for video making. How will we be able to find that freak? That thing was nothing like anything I've seen on Oddworld! Do you think it was a deformed Mudokon?"

"Possibly. The only way we'll know for sure is to catch it and do some testing on it."

"I'll have the big-bro Sligs be on the lookout around the area for any hints of where it may have wandered off."

It was about 5:00 in the morning. A strange-looking creature arrives out of the water near me as I lay under the tree passed out. His large square-ish head and one foot made it obvious who it was. Munch, the Gabbit, smelt the blood of an injured being near the shore, and he was curious as to whom I was. Munch cautiously made his way up to me. Fuzzles came out of hiding, scoping out the situation while the ratz stayed close by my side. Munch took a step back after seeing my features look, well, odd. Something he has never seen before, tan skin, five fingers fur on the scalp. What was this creature he had stumbled across? Sadly, Munch couldn't help me out in this time of need. He looked out in the distance seeing red lasers of guns deep within the forest from the Sligs on the hunt.

"Oh no." Munch softly cried out. "I'm sorry, I can't help ya out." I only lay there motionless as my breathing was slow. I could hear muffles from someone close to me, yet, I didn't know who it was.

Meanwhile, Abe was aboard the blimp with Alf closing in on a field nearby Munch and me. Both Mudokons witnessed Sligs scouting the ground. Abe needed them gone before they could land quietly in the field. The blimp was far enough away from being noticed as Alf lowered it down just enough for Abe to jump off onto the soft grass. He hid behind a large rock and started his chant onto the unsuspecting Sligs scouting the forest that ventured closer to Munch and me. Abe possessed one of the Sligs and shot anyone that got in his way. Once the forest was Slig free, Abe killed off the remaining Slig he took over. Alf had the blimp descend and landed in the field after the coast was clear.

Ratz started to make their way over to Abe, trying to get his attention to follow them into the woods. He wanted to wait for Alf, except the ratz seemed to be determined, pushing Abe along. "Okay, okay. Just make sure you show Alf the way too, okay?" He sighs out, soon following the ratz into the forest.

Munch's body was close to me as he was about to touch the wounds on my shoulder until he heard gunshots in the distance. He dashed back into the waters for cover, thinking it was the Sligs spotting him with the stranger he found.

Everything grew silent. No lasers were in the distance either. Munch poked his head out of the water, looking around before hopping back towards the shore. The fuzzles growled at Munch, listening to the ratz all around that tried to protect my unconscious self. Munch tilted his head and questioned, "Why are you angry?"

The fuzzles explained that Munch needed to help the stranger out from the order of the Raisin. They scolded him for fleeing. Munch was at a loss on how even to accomplish this task that the Raisin bestowed upon him. "But….how? I can't move this creature, let alone take her out to sea. She'll drown!" before the fuzzles could say another word, they all heard twig snapping in the forest in front of them. Instead of Munch fleeing like a coward this time, he stood his ground. Sparks formed above his head from his sonar, waiting for the intruder to appear out of the darkness. Once the shadow of a figure stepped out into the moonlight, Munch took a sigh of relief. He spoke in his froggy, low voice. "Oh, it's you, Abe. I thought it was the Sligs back there."

"I took care of them. it seems like the Sligs were looking for something?" Abe scratched his head in wonderment until he looked down at my limp body under the disfigured tree. "What in the Odd is that!?" He jumped back, seeing my features clear as day from the two moons shining down upon the area before the sun were to rise.

"I'm not sure, but she's wounded," Munch explained as he pointed over to me with his webbed fingers.

"It's a she?" He stepped closer to my body to have a better look at me. "Do you think she's an experiment gone wrong or somethin'? I mean, there is a lab nearby here, and I was ordered to check it out by the Raisin."

"Possibly. Maybe that's why the Sligs were scanning the area? To find their experiment?"

"Well, I don't think we can take her on this journey. We have bigger fish to fry, no offense, Munch."

"None taken," Munch shook his head, only to add, "But the Fuzzles tell me we need to save this creature. The ratz demand it."

"But….but Alf and I just got here. We need to find Big Face that's locked up in this hidden lab somewhere. I was sent here to locate you and have you help me." Abe whined out, having his body slump over. He looked down to the ratz huddled close to my body, then glancing down at me before his orange eyes shot back at Munch to sputter more words, "Fine. But you'll need to come with me, Munch. I guess we'll need your sonar to get into this lab the Vykkers and the Glukkons made hidden in the mountain." He pointed over his shoulder where the blimp landed nearby.

"Can't a Gabbit catch a break? I just hatched the Gabbit eggs not too long ago. I need to watch them closely."

"Do you have anywhere safe for them for the time being?"

Munch thinks for a moment before replying. "I think I know of a place. An underwater cavern close by here. Get the creature to the blimp. I'll be back as soon as possible." Munch jumps back into the water to call the baby Gabbits.

"Just make it quick…." Abe pauses for a moment looking at me, still passed out. The Mudokon makes his way over and bends down, rolling me over to grab my arms to position me onto his back, giving me a piggyback ride back to the blimp.

We made it out of the woods safely, with the ratz following, running around Abe's feet. Alf was waiting in the field as he waved at Abe, showing the blimp's location. Alf runs over to Abe, and his eyes grew wide in shock. "What the in the Odd is that!?" He freaked out with his slurring voice, seeing Abe carrying me on his back.

"Don't ask. I don't know either. But we need to save this creature." Abe explained as he pushed Alf along to bring them to the blimp. Once making it onto the blimp, Abe set my limp body down on a bed made of soft fur for the moment. He stands up and looks at Alf. "Watch her until I come back with Munch."

"You found Munch already? That was easy." Alf shrugs and lays down on the floor cross-legged across the way from me. Alf was keeping his distance, still wary of what I was.

"Yeah. It won't take long." Abe reassured Alf as he walked out of the room they placed me in. All you could hear was grumbling from Alf having to babysit as Abe left to find Munch.

Munch stepped out of the water, already hidden the baby Gabbits until his return. Knowing now the forest was cleared from all the Sligs thanks to Abe, he ventured out to look for Abe.

Alf started falling asleep as his head began to nod up and down while using his hand as a headrest. I began to slowly move my legs and arms, grunting from the pain. I used my one working arm to push my body up off the soft fur I was lying on. I opened my eyes, squinting from the lightened room, trying to ignore the pain from my left arm that felt like it was on fire. I forced myself upright and crossed my legs, shaking my head while holding it with my right hand. "What on Earth?" I whimpered out, finally looking to my left seeing Alf nodding off in the corner of the room. I was not on Earth; that's for sure, as my eyes did not deceive me. I was about ten feet away from a legit Mudokon, the species in a game back at home I play.

I scream out loud and stumble backward, pressing my back against the wall. Alf jumped up and looked around in shock from the sudden shout, only to see me wide awake. I thought it was all just a wild dream, and I was in my bedroom, but clearly, that was not the case.

Luckily I knew this Mudokon's name quite well. But knowing I was not from this world, who knows what Alf could do to me. He had the strength to kill me off in one go if given a chance with those large hands of his. I stood my ground and had my back still pressed up against the wall, keeping my eyes fixated on Alf as he lifted his paws to his chest, gesturing he was not a threat. Alf didn't speak out. He thought I couldn't speak his language at all. I didn't say a word as my heart pounded like a drum within my chest. Suddenly, a sharp pain distracted me—my injured shoulder that pressed against the wall. I slid down to the ground, not having any energy to fight as I smeared the new blood on the metal wall.

Meanwhile, Munch saw Abe in the distance out in the field as the two made their way to one another. Abe was the first to respond, "Did you find a safe place for the baby Gabbits?"

"Yeah, they'll be fine until I get back."

Just before Abe could respond, both he and Munch heard Alf scream out from within the blimp, "ABE!?" The two looked at one another and started to run to the blimp, not saying a word to one another.

"Stay back!" I shout out at Alf after hearing him scream out Abe's name. I held my shoulder in pain, keeping one eye open towards Alf, who stumbled back a few feet after hearing me speak. I start to panic, not knowing what the Mudokon would do to me. Just because they were the "heroes" in a game I once played doesn't mean they are harmless. I knew what they could do to Sligs and Glukkons if given a chance. I look to my right, spotting a potential weapon to use for protection. A broken-down crate was next to me. I broke off a piece of wood with the sharp end pointed at Alf.

Abe and Munch come charging into the room where I stayed as Alf looks over to the two, strongly pointing at me. "It….it talks like us!"

Abe looks over to me and tries to calm me down, holding up his palms. "We're not here to harm you. Just calm down. We found ya wounded near the water." Abe looked down at Munch and proceeded to say, "Munch found ya hurt and kept you safe from our enemy."

I lowered my so-called weapon and dropped it off to the side. I sit down on the ground, crossed-legged back onto the bed filled with fur. I hold onto my shoulder in pain again as I look away from the three. Alf was too nervous to go over to take away the piece of wood I used for a weapon, but Abe was brave enough to walk over to pick it up off the ground and toss it away from me.

Abe got closer to me and knelt to have a better look at my appearance. He had some questions for me. His voice was slow but had a bit of fear within it. "What…in the Odd are you? Are ya some kind of experiment from the Vykkers lab?"

I didn't look up at Abe as I responded, "No, but I did come from that lab you speak of…."

"Abe, we need to head out soon. I fear that the blimp will blow our cover soon if we stay any longer. The sun is comin' up!" Alf interrupted our short talk.

Abe got up from his kneel and turned respectfully away from me. "We'll talk more later." He then spoke to Munch and Alf that stood before him. "We need to get back to the Almighty Raisin to have a word with him again and have a shaman heal the newcomer's wounds up." As Abe left the room, Alf rushes over to follow him out the door. Munch stood by the exit of the room for a moment, looking at me before he started following Abe and Alf, that was until Abe stopped Munch in his tracks. "Watch the newcomer, Munch. Since ya found her first."

Munch grumbles slightly but understood someone had to keep a close eye on me. At least he had his sonar for protection. I understood why they were still wary of my presence. I felt the same way towards them. But at least I can rest assure that Abe was not here to hurt me like the Sligs tried to back at the lab. I look up at Munch that slowly made his way into the room.

I at least had to thank my protector that watched over me when I was unconscious. Knowing that Abe said Munch's name out in the open, I could speak his name without the three being suspicious of how I knew them all so well. "Thanks, Munch, for….you know, watching over me back there." I stumble my words a bit, trying to have my brain process all of this still.

Munch took a moment to respond. All he said was, "Y'elcome." In his crackly low voice of his. He was relaxed enough to even lay down on the other end of the room. We both felt the blimp start to move as it started to rise from the ground. The room was silent for a moment until Munch broke it with a question to make conversation. "So did the Sligs do that ta your shoulder?"

I looked up at Munch and nodded softly, looking back at the wound wrapped with my hoodie's sleeve. "Yeah, I ran away from the lab that I came out of, and the Sligs caught me fleeing. Good thing the critters back there were so helpful, or else I would've never made it out alive."

"Ya mean the ratz? Why are they so interested in you? They told the fuzzles that we needed ta save ya."

"Good question. I don't know. I guess that'll be answered later on" I explained the best I could without revealing that I knew a lot more about their world.

Munch had another question that was lingering in the back of his mind. He was hesitant to ask it but ended up being very curious and said it anyway, "What type of species are ya, anyway? I've never seen a face like yours before here on Oddworld."

At first, I was hesitant to even respond to such a question. Yet, Abe and the others didn't know about the human race, so it wouldn't cause any harm for them knowing that, right? I finally answered his question. "I'm a race called a human. I guess you can say….I came from the stars up above?" I questioned myself, not sure if I was even correct with my choice of words. But I mean, I did come from another planet. So I was truthful about that part of the story.

Munch rubbed his chin for a moment, not giving it a second thought. "So….is that why the Vykkers had ya locked up in the lab?"

All I could say was, "Yeah." I didn't want to tell them yet that I came from the portal the Mudokons use. It may cause more of a scene, and I didn't wish Munch to ask more questions. I was hoping he was finished asking more until I saw his maw open up and ask another.

"What's your planet look like, knowing you're from another planet and all now?"

"Much like this one you live on: trees, water, volcanoes, wildlife, and we humans, polluting the planet with our industry," I grunt in irritation. Not at the fact that Munch asked another question, but at the fact that we are killing mother Earth slowly, just like the Glukkons are on this world.

"Oh," Munch spoke out short and simple, saying nothing more about the topic. "Oh, what's your name, by the way? Ya know mine being Munch now, hearing Abe speak it."

"Just call me….Tree. Like the trees from all around your would. You do….call them trees, right?" I inquiry, trying to remember if the beings of Oddworld call them trees.

"Yeah, the Almighty Raisin was a tree once. The trees give us Gabbits shade and protection on land. We're more water dwellers, though. Swimmin' is our specialty." He answered, showing off his one webbed foot.

Meanwhile, as the blimp took off, fleeing the area near the hidden lab, a group of big-bro Sligs saw the blimp take off. The enemy scanned where Abe and Munch left tracks in the ground and followed the prints into the woods getting to the water where Munch hopped out of the shore. They spotted dried-up blood on the tree, the grass, and the foliage. They never spotted the hoddie of mine that Abe left behind as it lay hidden in the bushes. The Sligs rushed back to the lab to report on what they found and saw fleeing the scene.

In the lab, Luksin the Glukkon always enjoyed science. He stayed with the Vykkers, testing on the critters of Oddworld. Luksin was the one that thought of the idea of catching the birds and using the portal for themselves, to potentially use it to get rid of the Mudokons that dared to uprise against them. When the machine he and the Vykkers created failed to start the portal, they came up with another plan to capture a Mudokon shaman that knew how to work the portals. Somehow they caught Big Face and made a device to force him to control the portal at any time. They still had to tweak a few things, now knowing that Big Face had the power to send the test Sligs into traps like cliffs and oceans.

Luksin wore a science coat fit for a Glukkon, pointed shoulder pads, and the coat went all the way down to the ground in a perfect triangle shape. Black shiny boots he wore along with glasses over his small beady eyes. He would have trouble seeing without them. He shouted out at the Vykkers that messed around with the machine Big Face strapped upon. His higher-pitched geeky scientific voice was a bit ear-piercing. "Come on, you lots! We need to get this thing working right before those miserable Mudokons find out about our plan!"

Just as Luksin finished speaking, a big-bro Slig comes charging into the room to tell his boss the bad news. "Sir, Luksin, we uh….we have a problem. I think a few Mudokons took away the creature that came out of that portal." The big-bro Slig pointed towards the room where the portal rested. "I have no idea if they already know of yer plans, sir."

"WHAT?! How could you morons lose a creature that was already wounded!? It couldn't have gotten far, and now you're telling me that our enemy may have it!?"

The Slig lowered his head. He had more to share with the Glukkon standing before him. "Not only that, sir. One of my men might've seen who that Mudokon is. It's possible it could've been that Abe guy. But it's hard telling after the blimp took off so quickly."

Big Face listened in onto the conversation as the Vykkers messed with the device that kept him from fleeing—hearing that Abe found the girl made him sigh in relief. He felt terrible that he caused all of this upon the girl. Once Big Face makes it out of this place alive, he will make it up to her.

"We'll just have to work harder on getting this machine to work properly then." He grumbles out. "See if you can catch up with that blimp before it gets away!" He then snapped at the Slig.

"Yes, sir!" The big-bro Slig runs off, getting to an airship in hopes of catching up to the blimp that has a head start.