Chapter 4

The Blimp Ride to the Lab:

Abe and Munch waited next to the temple where I went to heal my wounds. Both were sitting off to the side as they made small talk. That was until the doors opened up, and I slowly walked out, rubbing my healed arm, thanks to the Shaman Healer. Abe and Munch stood up and looked at me silently. I looked down towards the path, only to stop and glance over to the two and smile slightly. "Well, that was not a pleasant experience." I broke the silence.

"But you're healed, though, right?!" Abe rushed over to me to have a look at my shoulder, holding it softly.

My brown shirt looked awful from the dry, stained blood, but other than that, perfectly fine. "Yeah, that shaman is a lifesaver. But I would love to go wash this blood off of me." I watched Abe let go of my arm as I lower it.

Munch hops over to us and responds, "There's a small lake close by; you can wash up over there."

I hated to have them escort me everywhere, but with the Mudokons all around in a deep stare, I wasn't hesitant to ask for one of them to follow me to the water. "I hate to ask, but….could one of you come with me? I'm getting strange looks from the villagers here."

Munch scanned around, seeing the Mudokons stare intently over to where we stood, "Sure, I'll come along, follow me."

Abe wanted to get going as soon as possible but allowed it, "Alf and I will get the blimp ready for take-off when you return. Just please, make it quick."

Munch spoke, "You got it, Abe."

Munch and I made our way towards the water while Abe went in the opposite direction seeing Alf nearby the blimp. We arrived at the lake with haste while I got concerning looks from the Mudokons all around. They paused their actions to scope me out. Most of them started to follow me in the distance due to curiosity. I heard their whispers to one another saying, "What is it? Why is Abe helping this newcomer?" I ignored the voices behind me and pulled out the scrunchy from my hair, releasing my hair from the ponytail. They all gasp and back off a few feet. Munch tilted his head after seeing me let down my hair. I just chuckle under my breath as I hear the gossip behind me.

"Don't worry about them, Tree. The Mudokons just never seen a creature quite like you before, is all." Munch reassured me.

"I'm not," I reply while cupping the water and washing my hair down, getting rid of the dry blood on me. Munch wanted to ask how I changed my hairstyle so quickly. I knew he wanted to ask the question, so I answered before he could give it. I show him the scrunchy around my wrist, "I use this to hold up my hair if you were wondering. Think of my hair like a fuzzle hair, just….longer." I tried to explain the best I could for him to understand.

"Ah. Very interesting. I've always wondered what that mop on your head felt like." Once I finished cleaning the blood off myself, I stood up and put my hair back up in the ponytail. Munch adds, "We better get back to the blimp. I think Abe is getting antsy and wants ta resue Big Face as soon as possible."

"All right," I reply, turning around, only to see the Mudokons hiding behind the trees. They all scattered like cockroaches once I spotted them. I just laugh out loud, feeling a bit more comfortable with the situation I'm in. It made me forget about the troubles that soon will follow at the lab. Munch and I head back to the blimp while we ignore the constant stares from the villagers.

Once arriving at the blimp, Munch starts to leave me, getting onto the blimp while I stopped to look at it in awe. Even though the Mudokons stole this blimp from the Glukkons, I was fascinated by the craftsmanship. It was the very blimp that Abe rescued the last of the Mudokon eggs. The sails reminded me of a fish, one in the back like a tail fin and two on the sides like pectoral fins used for steering in the air.

Just then, Abe came around the corner, seeing me interested in the blimp. "Ya ready to head out?" I glanced down at him and nodded with anticipation. "All right, follow me." I pause for a moment hearing his words. It brought me back into reality, remembering what the shaman had told me back in the temple; that this was a game that the humans made up. I shook my head, amazed at how a human's mind could create a whole Tulpa-like world based on a video game. Abe snaps me out of my daze. "You okay?"

"Uh….yeah. Just thinking of how we'll be able to save your friend back at the lab is all." He waves his hand, gesturing me to follow him to the front and get aboard the aircraft. I was now able to check it out in fuller detail. Where I was standing, it reminded me of a ship's deck. A railing went all along the ledge. Barrels full of supplies and large anchor chains were off to the sides. Alf and Munch were already in the cockpit inside. I wanted to check out the back end of this flying contraption. I walked past them like they were ghosts as I peek into the room where I was before. I felt the blimp start to take off while scoping out the engine next. There wasn't just one engine; there were eight of them in the back! I couldn't take a deeper look into the engine room due to the heat from the take-off. So I made my way back to the cockpit only to catch Alf give a small stink eye at me before I headed towards the deck of the airship blimp. I had a feeling he didn't trust me at all. I looked down from the ledge and was in deep thought.

After ten minutes in the air, Abe made his way over to me. "Quite a view, ain't it?"

"Yeah." I smile, feeling the breeze on my face. I had this question in my mind for a hot minute while I tried to make small talk with Abe, "So, how did Alf ever learn how to fly this blimp?"

Abe rested his arms on the railing as he educated me, "Toby, one of the Mudokons followers, taught him a while ago. Toby even knows how to drive the trains that the Glukkons use for transport. Very lucky ta have a Mudokon like him in our team. Very smart and a fast learner."

I almost smacked my head until I stopped myself from doing the action. "Duh, Toby was with them on the trip back at Soulstorm. That makes sense." I could only nod my head as I said nothing more about the topic. But my train of thought wondered where that small amber amulet with that little female bug locked inside went. Remembering that was his guide in the Oddworld Soulstorm game. I could only guess that he was hiding it in his backpack. Abe gets up off his slump. Off to the side of him was a barrel full of water. He scavenged through the barrel and took out two water bottles, one for him and another for me. Abe presented it to me as I took it tenderly. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. We'll need ta keep our strength up before heading into Luksin's Lab. Food is abundant on this blimp, so feel free to take anything if you're hungry. And there's a toilet in the room you stayed in." Abe finished as he rested his arms back on the railing, looking down at the world below.

"Thanks for helping me, Abe. I don't know what I would've done if you three hadn't helped back there. Though, I feel as if Alf's not taking a liking to me much." I gave out a stressful laugh at the end.

"Ah, it's Alf. He acts that way towards new people. Don't beat yourself up over his actions."

My body started to be less tense as I relax my arms off the railing, mimicking Abe. I glance down, and to my surprise, my favorite Oddworld creature appeared. A group of scrabs started galloping like a herd of horses would do on Earth. "Scrabs are such amazing creatures in your world."

"Wait 'til you encounter one. You'll change your mind quickly. But at least the wildlife is coming back stronger than ever, unlike in the past when we ate 'em up." Abe didn't catch on that I knew the names of the critters beneath us; I think he started to get too comfortable with my presence and forgot that I was not from Oddworld.

I scoff. "Scrab cakes…." My body tenses up soon after the reply that came out of my mouth. I drank the water soon after, hoping Abe wouldn't catch on this time around.

"Wait…." Abe rose from his slump posture to glance over at me. "How do ya know all this? The Raisin said that you came from another world. He told Munch and me, you came out of the bird portal back at the lab if I remember correctly."

I scramble to think of what to say next as I swallow the water in my mouth slowly. I tried not to spoil the truth. "I uh….the shaman told me a lot about your world." I then proceeded to lie, "When I saw those carvings in the temple back at your village, I was curious to know more of your homeworld."

Abe looks back down to the scrabs, following the blimp only to watch them part ways from the aircraft. He relaxed his body once more. "Gotcha."

I sighed out and thought to myself, "Good save there, Tree." Before saying anything else that could get me in trouble, my mind starts to ponder how we will get into the lab. I then question restlessly about this mission that's up ahead, "So….what's the plan once we get here? I don't have any extravagant powers like you and Munch do."

Abe pushes his body away from the railing, waiting for me to ask that question, "Let's head on inside and talk with Alf and Munch. We have a few tricks up our sleeves, but we need your help more than ya know." I oblige and follow him to the cockpit where Alf was steering the blimp to our destination. I felt a bit more confident after hearing that from Abe, who uses chant to possess his foes and the power of Skrykull as a last resort.

Both Abe and I arrive in the room. Alf and Munch look at both of us, waiting for one of us to speak. Abe didn't skip a beat, "So the Almighty Raisin told Alf and me that we needed Munch and….Tree here for this mission." He started to explain, almost forgetting my name when Munch told him. "This lab's hidden from view inside a mountain up North close to Splinterz." Abe took out a map in his back pocket, the same map that came with the amber amulet. "We need ta find the entrance, and that's where you come in, Tree." He looked over at me. "We need your help ta find the area where you escaped. Once we locate the entrance, Munch's sonar can override the door and open it for us." He ended his talk allowing anyone to speak up.

I was the first to respond, remembering in great detail what was inside those doors. "It's a train station where I escaped from, and Sligs patrol that area heavily. With how much they want this lab hidden, it seems like they rarely use the train, only for bringing in supplies." They listened intently to my words as I proceeded, "I escaped out of a vent that can lead right to the room where your Mudokon friend, Big Face, is and the bird portal they stole from you. When we get into the train station and take care of some of the Sligs around, it should be easy after that. Then, someone can go into the vent and arrive in the room we're searching for."

"Well, I'm outta the question for that mission," Munch responded, hinting that his one-footed round body would have a hard time crawling through the vent.

Abe explained, "You can go with Alf ta scout out the rest of the lab for any enslaved Mudokons or fuzzles in cages. Tree and I will go through the vent. But be on guard; I have a feeling once we free Big Face, alarms may go off."

"Where should we meet up once this is all set and done?" Alf asked while he slurred his words.

Abe was two steps ahead of him, "If ya finish before we free Big Face, head back to the blimp and wait for us there."

I chimed into the conversation soon after, "What about the bird portal, though? Can't we just use the one they stole to send us back to the village?"

Abe pointed at me, agreeing, "Good thinking, that'll be plan B if somethin' fails in plan A ." Alf, Munch, and I both eye at one another with a troubled look. Abe saw the facial expression of all three of us. "Oh, come on, nothin' will go wrong, you guys."

Alf crossed his arms. "Yeah, sure, whatever…."

I reflect for a moment, hearing that Munch and Alf's job was to scan the lab for any Mudokons and fuzzles. I suddenly hatched an idea, "There's one thing I do request, though…." As I sputter out, the three look at me with wonderment in their eyes. I look to Alf, "Since you and Munch are looking around for your buddies, maybe you can look for something of mine?" The enemy has my supplies somewhere in the lab…I….need it back." I scratch my scalp with the guilt of having them do this for me.

Alf snapped out, "Ya gotta be kidding me….Big Face and the rest of the Mudokons are more important than your silly items."

I hated to lie to them, but I was determined to get my camera back no matter what. "It's a backpack like that." I point to Abe's backpack he brought with that was off to the side. "In that backpack has unique technology and could do more harm than good in the wrong hands."

Alf broke out again, "How'll we know where it is?! It's not like we have a map ta the place!"

I reply with a snap of my fingers, "I saw a directory before escaping out of the train station; maybe there will be hints to where they might have taken it. Not only that, it may show the Mudokons and the fuzzles locations too. But it would be better to check every nook and cranny just in case."

Munch looked up at Alf that crossed his arms in annoyance. "She's got a point, Alf." Munch looks towards Abe soon after. "I'll get the fuzzles ta help Alf and me. I saw some in the forest when we rescued Tree. We'll get your backpack back, Tree."

Abe felt more confident that they could pull this off. "Okay, Tree and I will go find Big Face. Munch and Alf will hunt for your backpack and find any Mudokons and fuzzles along the way." He nodded, accepting this mission to get my camera.

I whispered out, "Yes!" After Abe allowed it.

"Before we get there, we should gather our strength and eat and drink." Abe ended the conversation as he pulled out a large crate with fruits and vegetables.

"I'm not really hungry. I'll stick with my water." I reply, showing the water I still had in my hands that was half empty. Abe paused for a moment, a bit flustered that I wasn't going to eat at all before we land. He instead handed me another bottle even though I already had one in hand. I shrug off his disturbed look, walking back out into the deck to have a breather while the three stay inside to eat and gossip.

"I hope ya know what you're doing, Abe…." Alf grumbles out.

"Sorry Alf, but if what Tree says is true, I don't want the Glukkons getting any new devices that could harm us. Besides, it's not from our world anyway. Best ta send it back to her world."

Alf sighs and admits defeat. "Fine, but if I get caught, yer saving my ass."

Abe laughs, "I've saved ya from Rupture Farms back there; I won't leave you behind at this lab. You have Munch here to use his sonar, and the fuzzles ta help out. Just don't get on those fuzzles bad side." Abe then changes the topic only to lecture Alf about his attitude with me. "Anyway, you need ta be more respectful towards Tree."

Alf sulked while he held onto the wheel of the blimp. "I don't know, Abe. I just don't trust her. After all, she did come out of that lab."

"If ya think she's the enemy, why'd the Raisin have us go find her? Anyway, the Raisin told us she came out of our bird portal. The Almighty Raisin doesn't lie."

Munch nodded, agreeing with Abe's every word as Alf groaned out. "Whatever you say, Abe." They ate quietly in the cockpit, ending the conversation abruptly.

I was outside feeling the breeze again from the movement of the blimp. I leaned over the railing as I drank the water in the bottle, placing the other that Abe gave me on the barrel next to me. I was viewing the scenery all around. I thought to myself about how we will accomplish this. "I know this is based on a game, and there will always be an ending, But I worry that we may get the bad ending, and I won't make it out alive. That, or I am dreaming all of this and not waking up. But the pain felt so real when I got shot…. So, I guess all I can do is be ordered around by Abe and follow him like a hawk."