Chapter 14
The Time Draws Near
"There it is, that abomination
is Lab 1." Johnny said pointing to a far off, bleak looking building that
touched the very sky. Crono and Marle could only gawk at the sight before them.
The building itself was made of strange, stone like material, which Robo later
called concrete. It was twenty times the height of Castle Guardia and to them
literately touched the sky.
"This is incredible. You mean
that we actually gain the ability to construct such buildings?" Marle asked
turning to Robo.
"This is nothing, you have seen
the domes from before." Robo said pointing to one of the far off domes.
"Human ingenuity came up with
the idea. Robots under the thumb of Gato, had human slaves construct them. Who
knows, in this new world maybe we won't ever see things like this." Johnny said
looking on. Cron and Marle thought
about Johnny's words. What were they going to create in this new world? Would
they actually succeed in creating a world where humanity could finally live
free? Marle looked over at Crono who had an angry look on his face.
"We will put right what has been
put wrong here. I promise this to you Johnny, after we're done; you'll be back
to you good old racing self." Crono said, as his angered looked changed to a
reassuring smile. Marle turned back to see that Robo was not so happy. He had a
cold look in his that she had never seen the lovable robot with.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Nothing, just thinking about
the past… my past." He answered returning his glare to the far off abomination
of the structure.
"That wasn't you. You didn't
have control over what you did!" Marle said slapping him upside his metal head.
"That is exactly what Kain said
to me. I just don't know if is true or not." Robo returned.
"Lucca once said to me that
robots are neither good nor evil, they just follow the orders of their
programmers… well maybe not exactly that, but it's true! You didn't have any
control over what you were doing here before Crono found on his journey, Gato
saw to that. We need you, we don't know how to get through this and most likely
wouldn't be able to without you. Now come on, show us the way." Marle said as
she pointed the way for him to go. He was happy that she was trying to help him
and readily accepted it, but he knew that his destiny was unavoidable; he would
pay for his crimes soon enough. However, he knew that he had to get them where
they needed to be first.
"Come on everybody, we are going
right to door. Afterall, it would be rude of us as guests not to knock first."
Robo said as he led them across the ground. They all stayed low as to avoid
detection by the aerial drones and ground runners. They finally had crossed
enough ground and Robo knew that it was his time to shine.
"Alright everybody, stop here.
This is as far as we go without assistance. Here, I have designed these to be
attuned to each of your bodies." Robo said handing out small devices to each of
the group.
"What are they?" Crono asked
examining the device.
"They are field generators,
designed to create a field similar to that of the prism aura that surrounds you
both. However, it is much stronger and made with one major modification; it can
block the effects of the Neutron Scattering Field." Robo said as his pressed
the button on top of the device he kept for himself. As he pressed the button
the device activated and a prism colored field surrounded him. Crono and Marle
in tuned activate theirs; Johnny however was a little more skeptical.
"So what, I am just supposed to
press this button and this magical field comes out and encompasses me… right.
So what, does this make us more detectable or maybe it just kills us outright.
I don't trust you for a second and certainly don't have time for this." Johnny
said as he tossed the device back to Robo. He stood up and began to walk away
when an alarm sounded in the distance. Robo looked over as the guards on the
tower prepared a Neutron cannon shot. He didn't think, he just acted. He stood
and ran at Johnny as the guards fired their deadly weapon. The bolt struck him
as Johnny turned around and realized what had happened.
"… EMERGENCY, SEVERE SYSTEM
SHOCK. MAIN POWER SCRAMBLED" The computer voice rang through his mind.
"Go to auxiliary systems. Begin
auto repair." Robo responded to himself.
"AFFIRMATIVE, AUXILIARY SYSTEMS
ACTIVE, AUTO REPAIR IN PROGRESS." The computer responded as he felt some of the
pain disappear. He stood to see that Johnny was simple in awe at what he did.
"What… how did you survive that?
Why did you risk your life to save mine?" Johnny asked dumfounded.
"I survived… because the prism
field works. I did what I did… because it was what partners do. I cannot
accomplish this battle alone and as lone as we are working together we need to
have at least some trust for each other." Robo struggled as he said this.
"I am not saying that I trust
you,' Johnny said offering him a hand up, 'but you just took a huge step up in
my book." Robo accepted his hand and brushed himself off.
"That is good enough for me
right now." Robo said assessing the damage. However, before he could run an
internal check; his computer already had an answer.
"AUTO REPAIR COMPLETE, MAIN
POWER RESTORED TO NINTY-ONE PERCENT EFFICIENCY." It sounded throughout his CPU.
"Three percent less then
nominal… it will have to do." Robo said as he turned around to face the guard
post where they were recharging the Neutron Cannon that had shot him.
"Computer, acquire target." He
said aiming his gunarm.
"TARGET ACQUISITION IN
PROGRESS…5…4…3… UNABLE TO COMPLIE, MALFUNCTION, TARGETING SENSORS OFFLINE."
"What, explain. Why didn't auto
repair fix targeting sensors?" Robo asked, as he knew his time was quickly
becoming shorter.
"TARGETING SYSTEM DAMAGE
IRREPARABLE, SEVERE NEUTRON PARTICLE CONTAMINATION."
"Fine, activate manual targeting
sight." Robo said as small set of crosshairs appeared at the top of the barrel
of his gun arm. He knew that was not going to be as accurate a shot but with
shell, it really didn't matter.
"System, activate Quantum Field
Charge." He stated taking aim. He weapon charged and he got his bearings. He
discharged the massive shell and it flew forward to its target. Crono and Marle
watch in awe as a massive explosion rocked the front of the building. When the
smoke cleared and the dust settled, the guard towards was completely wiped out
of existence.
"Any questions?" Robo said as
his hand returned.
"Quantum Field Charge… are you
insane? That could have killed us all!" Johnny said slightly annoyed.
"Why, what's wrong with a
quantum field charge?" Crono asked as the two robots stared at each other.
"With a quantum field charge,
there is a low risk of punching holes in the fabric of time. Earlier
experiments had us doing this about once a week. But know that they are
perfected the risk is minimal." Robo said returning Johnny's scowl.
"Still, I didn't like them then
and I still don't. Besides a normal blasting shell probably would have done the
job." Johnny said turning away.
"Yes, but in this case I needed
weakened time-space layers. That way our fields will be more effective." Robo
said picking up Johnny's discarded field generator.
"Oh yeah, that." Johnny said
looking back at the Lab building before them.
"Here, catch." Robo said tossing
him the field generator.
"I guess I use try this thing
out. Besides, those colors make me look even cooler… if such a thing is
possible." Johnny said activating the field. Crono and Marle laughed as this
statement reminded them so much of the original Johnny. Robo just shook his head and looked on.
"Come, we don't have much time
before the aerial patrol returns; we must hurry." Robo said calling them forth.
They followed closely behind him. After a few hundred meters of running, they
reached the gates to Lab 1. Johnny looked up at the ominous entrance of the
place that had haunted his mind since it was created a century before. The
building was even more massive up close. Two large metal towers that Robo and
Johnny could identify right away as the power source for the Neutron Scattering
Field framed the entrance. Crono and Marle couldn't help but stare at the black
and menacing building.
"Well, this is where we see if
these things actually work." Robo said pointing towards the towers. Johnny
looked on skeptically and Robo just shook his head.
"Fine, I will go first." Robo
stated as he crossed the threshold. As he touched the field, it immediately
became visible to all of them as it sparked and sputtered around him. He
crossed the boundary with no problem.
"Apparently, I was right. Come
on, we need to keep going." Robo said as Crono and Marle crossed the barrier
followed by a reassured Johnny. Crono entered the building and actually could
feel the chills running down his spine. He looked back at the automatic doors
slid closed behind… leaving them in complete darkness.
"Anybody got a light?" Marle
asked with a strained little chuckle. However, Robo was not one to be
unprepared for the perils of his old home. He pressed a set of buttons on his
shoulders and two flaps popped open and from them light shined on their
surroundings. Not to be outdone, Johnny
activated his own light source and it became as bright as it was on the
outside. However, this really wasn't an advantage as what lay before them came
into view.
"What is that?" Marle asked in
near horror. For with the light in full focus, a foreboding maze came into
view. The paths stretched for what seemed like miles before them. It looked as
if it had no ending.
"That,' Johnny let out a sigh,
'is the maze of forgotten souls. I had heard rumors of its existence but never
thought it would be anything like this." Johnny said activating a scan to
attempt to find a way through.
"Why is called something like
that?" Crono asked looking over it.
"It is believe that once, a long
time ago this place housed a government office where humans came to get
permission to drive automobiles. It was said that the people were forced to
spend so much time in these lines that they eventually forgot who they were and
why they had come to this place in the first place… I believe they called it a
DMV, whatever that means." Johnny said returning to his scan.
"That entire idea is
preposterous, besides this was built to keep intruders from reaching the inner
sanctum of the lab. It is beyond this maze that the central chamber lies. We
must fight our way through here to reach Gato." Robo corrected him.
"So does that mean that you know
a way through this?" Johnny asked him.
"I used to spend most of time
here, of course I know a way through. However, my command authorization is no
longer functioning so we will have to fight our way through." Robo said calling
upon his weapon.
"That's never stopped us before,
let's go." Crono said summoning his lance. Marle and Johnny both prepared their
weapons and jumped to the ready as Robo signaled them all forward.
……………………………………………………………………
"We can't go any further, we'll
have to rest here for a while." Robo said leaning against a wall.
"You are actually thinking about
stopping? What are you insane?" Johnny asked as he looked around for more
drones. They had been fighting their way through column after column of drones
guard for the better part of a day. Robo knew that he and Johnny could continue
as long as their power cells held out. However, he knew that Marle and Crono
didn't have that luxury. Marle helped Crono down against a wall. He held his
shoulder, which had been blasted by an errant shot a few hours prior and all
the activity was finally catching up with him. Marle did the best she could to
help him but she was weakened as well by the bond they shared and Robo knew
this full well.
"No I am not insane,' Robo
walked over to Johnny and picked him up as if he were nothing more then a throw
pillow, 'Crono and Marle need a rest and you and I are going to make sure they
get it. Got it!" He said as he put him down.
"I got it, I got it." Johnny
agreed brushing himself off as he followed Robo to ahead. Marle and Crono laid
in each others arms, attempting to recover from the exhaustions.
"I didn't… think it would be
this hard." Crono said as Marle rested her head against his chest.
"We'll be all right, it will
just get some taking used to. Mostly we are tired because of that wound. I was
able to heal it, but it took a lot of energy from both of us." She said with a
yawn.
"Yeah, I can feel that it's
gone; but it still stings." He said as he looked down at an already sleeping
Marle.
"Goodnight sweet princess." He
whispered as he kissed her hair and fell asleep.
………………………………………………………………………………
Robo and Johnny spent their time patrolling the
area.
"Why are they so important to
you?" Johnny asked breaking the deafening silence.
"It is not me that they are
important to… it is all of us." Robo answered back.
"What does that mean?"
"They are the keys to ending
this horrible timeline and replacing it with a better one. Only they have the
strength to face Tempest and Gato. Only they can put right what has been put
wrong here." Robo said cryptically.
"You know something that you are
not telling me or them for that matter don't you?" Johnny returned.
"Yes."
"So tell me." Johnny ordered.
"Very well." Robo said as he
spent the next few hours explaining the black file, the mission, and everything
he knew. Johnny just stood there dumbfounded.
"How could you know all that?"
He asked.
"I am unsure of just who placed
this file within me, I do know however what will be outcome of all of this."
Robo responded.
"Is there nothing we can do to
alter this destiny?" Johnny asked processing what he had just been told.
"Think about what you just said,
destiny. No, there is no way to alter this for if we did so; existence itself
could come suffer serious harm."
"So what you are saying is, if
we do what we are supposed to do. This timeline will be averted entirely and
everything will be better?" Johnny asked as they continued their scans.
"That's not what I am saying at
all." Robo answered quietly.
"Then what are you saying. From
what you explained, that's what it sounds like." Johnny stopped and looked at
him.
"You misunderstand me. If we do what we are supposed to do, this timeline will be erased and replaced with a new one. There is no way of telling whether it will be better or not. It is the risk you take with temporal mechanics, you can never be certain of what will happen. Only if you erase time itself and start over, can you truly know how it will flow and even then it is a mere guess as to what choices will be made. I told you of Chronopolis and the mistakes they made."
"Yes, but you also told me that
that doesn't happen anymore in this timeline."
"Of course it happens, because
it already has. Only the Chrono Trigger can reset time and erase this paradox."
Robo returned.
"Ok, you lost me dude." Johnny
said scratching his synthetic hair.
"All you need to know is what we
must do. As long as we play our parts the rest will fall into place." Robo said
as they reached a crossroads.
"Now which way?" Johnny asked
looking up and down the roads.
"Spilt up, you go that way, I'll
go this way. We'll meet back here in ten minutes." Robo said as he started down
one the corridor that lied to their left. He looked back in time to see that
Johnny had already left his sight. Robo looked around and realized that he
wasn't alone. It had been a hard sixteen hours to reach where they were
presently. It had taken a lot out of all them, Crono and Marle especially; but
he knew what he had to do. He activated his weapon and began to fight with the
few drones that had surrounded him. These battle were getting more difficult as
they went along, as he knew they would and must.
"Computer, condition report."
"MAIN POWER… 57% EFFICIENCY"
"AUXILLARY POWER… 64% EFFICIENCY"
"EMERGENCY POWER… DEPLETED."
"WEAPON ARRAY… 45% EFFICIENCY… MALFUNCTION:
TARGETING SENSOR OFFLINE."
"INTERNAL COOLING… 13% EFFICIENCY… CAUTION: SYSTEM
TEMPERATURE 94 DEGREES CELSIUS AND RISING."
"INTERNAL SENSORS… 71% EFFICIENCY"
"LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM… 62% EFFICIENCY… CAUTION:
STASIS LOCK RECOMMENDED AT 30% EFFICIENCY."
"COMUNICATION SYSTEM… 84% EFFICIENCY"
"SYSTEM CHECK COMPLETE."
"OVERALL RATING… 53% EFFICIENCY. CAUTION: MODERATE
SYSTEM DAMAGE… AUTO REPAIR SYSTEM: OFFLINE" Robo listened as his internal voice
told him the brunt of the problem.
"53%… Soon, very soon." He said to himself as he
turned around and returned to where Johnny was already waiting for him. Johnny
immediately noticed that the normally chipper Robo was not his usual self.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Nothing, you know what I… what we must face. I just
know that we shall face it soon. The entrance to the stronghold is up ahead.
There Crono and Marle will face Gato and decided the fate of the world. I am
just pondering the possible results of that battle."
"But you know the results of that battle." Johnny
reminded him.
"Not only that, but the results of this entire
ordeal, what will happen after my file goes blank? Will time simply cease to
exist?" Robo said as they returned to the sleeping Marle and Crono.
"Or perhaps something better. You yourself said we
couldn't predict what will become of the timeline after this is all over.
Perhaps even your programmer didn't know what was to become of all of this."
Johnny said reassuring him.
"What happened to you not trusting me? Here you are
reassuring me when yesterday you were ready to kill me." Robo said with a
chuckle.
"No… I was ready to kill Prometheus, you are not
that fiendish drone; you are Robo. You have saved my life more times then I can
count over our travels together these two days." Johnny said patting his back.
"Good, because we both know what will become of us.
It is time we awaken them and continue on. We have a timeline to change and
world to put right."
Author's Note: You know, the more I write on this story,
the more I have to write. When I started all that time ago, I finished with a
mere eleven chapters and a short epilogue. Now, I have added characters, added intrigue
and all the while, changed the whole path of the story. I don't even know where
this is going to end. I hope you are enjoying the world I am creating. Stay
tuned for the event I have been foreshadowing since chapter 10… I'll get to it
eventually.