Chapter 4~
"Damn, that was too close!"
"For sure!"
"Why would you think so, you actually shot someone…"
"*sigh* Chrono it was all in self defence…"
All around the Epoch the darkness loomed. It seemingly devoured the small time ship and hungrily churned around as if to steal away one of the three passengers. Marle huddled up close to Lucca and as Chrono glanced back he felt himself yearning to be the one beside her. As if there were something between Lucca and Marle…that would be just creepy.
Letting go of the controls, since he didn't have to be in charge( the darkness and shift of time guided the Epoch ) he leaned back, not keen on the eerie silence.
"So what do you think we will find when we…get back to Robo's time…?"
Marle shifted uneasily and Lucca tilted her head. "I have no clue. It seems urgent, whatever it is."
"Oh I hope it's not bad…I'm too exhausted," Marle cooed to herself.
"Probably is I mean… Robo seemed anxiously awaiting our call…"Chrono replied softly and wished he didn't when Marle frowned sadly.
"But still, I mean, it's all about 'ifs' and 'seems' and I mean, we don't know for sure yet what is going on, so let's not worry ourselves," Lucca prodded, brushing her hair back behind her ear.
"Yeah," Marle agreed, with a half smile, "maybe you're right,"
Chrono merely shook his head but said nothing. He knew it had to be something. Putting off the inevitable would only prolong them into more disaster.
But he promised himself he would be there for Marle if she fell…always…
"Chrono look we're at the end!" Lucca cried out, pointing ahead of them.
Chrono whirled around and took control. The next thing he knew sunlight flooded in his eyes as they emerged from the time warp.
They were now in 2300AD and hovering gently in the air. It was sunny out and as usual, no one was walking about the earth; just huddled inside the various built Domes and factories. The sun was darkening if believable, always feeling like an eclipse. But otherwise, everything was normal. This place was very different from the time they first came and saw how ruined, bleak and deserted everything was. Now, the smell of death was gone since the destroy of Lavos. Yes, it did have a small, a sick, decaying smell of the dead but now…it was vanquished. Chrono immediately felt relieved he did not smell it. Breaking out of his trance, he took to steering the Epoch.
A few minutes later, Chrono arrived at the number one factory ruins. He didn't know it's name, but knew it by arriving here in the past and helping Robo, and destroying the R Series. Now, he guided the Epoch in and landed at a small air landing pad.
He helped Lucca and Marle out then the three stood and looked around. The factory was rebuilt and clean of course, with no random monsters running loose. Various people flitted about the machines and computers, so updated, Chrono and Marle and hardly even Lucca knew where to begin. Lucca's eyes were shining as she watched various people control the devices until Chrono led her towards a main corridor.
"This way genius…"He snickered softly, as the three were stopped in the metal hallway. It was a bit cold and the clash of machinery was heard all around.
A hunched over man dressed in fashionable brown robes glided up to them with a gentle smile, his eyes shining into Marle's.
"I welcome you, dear ancestor and friends to the new world of 2300AD,"
He spoke with a kind, hearty voice. Marle squealed happily.
"How are you and your people Doan? You seem to be getting along quite well!"
He chuckled, and nodded, "We've always been good. However it's unlikely for you to believe that, since you know what would of happened if you hadn't banished that bloody evil."
"You're too kind sir. So I believe you reviewed that computer disc I made up to show you what happened in the other situation?" Lucca smiled, stepping forth.
Doan's smile faded fast. "Yes, I cannot believe that was my home before you all came and stepped in to save it,"
"We did what we wanted to do. I'm just glad things are back to normal around here." Chrono added, pleased with Doan's politeness.
Lucca seemed to be staring past Doan."….May we…?"
He nodded and stepped aside. "Of course, go wherever you like."
"Sorry to stop then run," Chrono put in, nodding graciously to the man.
Once more, he smiled, "No no, not at all,"
Lucca nodded to him then set off alone down the dank corridor.
Marle hugged Doan and said sweetly, "Take care, we'll be back,"
"Oh I sure will," the elder said, then walked on past them.
Chrono and Marle ran to catch up with Lucca. "Hey where're you going so fast?" Chrono asked her. Lucca seemed determined about something and she had a hard look in her eye.
"I'm trying to locate an empty computer room where I could take the necessary time needed to scourge some data to figure out what kind of predicament where're in," She explained firmly.
"Aren't we going to find Robo?" Marle asked quizzingly, walking faster to keep up with Lucca's pace.
"Yes, and when we do, I'm going to use him to help me find the information we need."
"And what about us?" Chrono put in, as he walked on the other side of Lucca. What he just said made his stomach leap.
"I don't know, do whatever," Lucca shot back.
Chrono halted but Lucca didn't notice. Neither did Marle. As he stared after her, he wondered if Lucca knew about how much he felt for Marle.
"Hey Chrono, in here!" Marle called down from the hall. Her and Lucca were standing by a doorway, Lucca's hand firmly on the handle. She looked impatiently at Chrono. He ran down, then entered the room with them.
They walked into an empty room. It was partially dark, but Lucca could make out the dull gleam of Robo's body. The three moved in and shut the door.
There was nothing in the room but Robo and his seekers. Robo was on the floor, as if he was tired out. Lights flickered in his eyes when he saw them, but he made no effort to get up.
"Good morning Master Lucca, master Chrono, Master Marle…"
Lucca bent down in concern, like a mother to her child. "Robo, what's wrong?"
"I've been locked up."
"Whatever for?" Marle asked, sitting down beside him.
Lucca crawled in back of Robo and dug in her shoulder bag for tools.
"My mother…"
"What do you mean Robo?" Chrono bent down and observed the worn out giant.
Lucca motioned for Chrono to be silent, then poured a dark liquid into Robo's repair system.
"She has been calling me," Robo said, in much more detail, "I can sometimes hear her. I beg Doan and his people to make it stop but they accuse me of malfunctioning.I am doing no such thing and so they have locked me up to restrain me,"
"That's terrible!" Marle expressed, with deep sympathy.
Lucca still toyed around with the back of his head." Indeed. You should come with us for a bit. We believe you." She wiped her hands on her shirt and straightened up. Robo seemed satisfied and also stood up with a creak. He was like an eight foot tall monster.
"Thank you Lucca."
"Wait, hold on a sec," Chrono mumbled. Everyone looked at him and he appeared to be thinking. After a moment he looked up and spoke, "If your Mother is up and running, how could she be? Repaired by someone who wants her up again…"
"What are you getting at, Chrono?" Marle asked in a shaky voice.
He started to pace, and deliberately avoided all of their gazes. "I'm thinkin someone wants her back up because they know how twisted she is. C'mon, no one here in this era would want her back up, because they know what'll happen if they get associated with the robots again,"
"World domination by A.I." Lucca mumbled. "That's why Robo is being treated so badly, they're afraid!"
"Exactly my point. So there has to be a reason the Mother Brain is functioning again. Someone did it intentionally. Someone…"
Marle backed away with tears in her eyes shaking her head, "No NO!!"
She screeched out what seemed to be in pain, rubbing and clutching at her head, as she continued to howl.
"Marle!!" Chrono yelled, running over to where she stood. She collapsed in his arms and he went down on his knees trying to silence her, as she sobbed uncontrollably on his chest.
"What happened?!" Lucca gasped, turning frantically to Robo.
"My mother is contacting my friends as well but…it is much more deadly because she is not a machine to withstand it all…"
"Why is she doing this?!" Lucca cried, as she looked from him to Chrono nursing Marle.
"I do not know…maybe she is preparing us for the greater evil that will rise above even my mother…"