Crono: Um, there is some really weird stuff here. Really!
Robo: LuccaxRobo? What's that mean? *appears puzzled*
Yaoiboy: Nothing! Ehehe ^_^;;; Why don't you go laser something, or whatever it is you do.
Robo: Affirmative. *walks off*
Lucca: *reads the chapter* Hey, I'm not THAT lonely!
Yaoiboy: ^_^;;;;;
Disclaimer: Chrono Trigger does not belong to Sea world, PBS, Enron, Oprah Winfrey, OR McDonalds. Oh yeah, I don't own it either. ;_;
Crono had exchanged one puzzled look with his equally confused companion before Lucca punched a code into a keypad on the vault door, and the huge circle of metal creaked open.
"Alright boys, follow me," she said, and without ceremony, she climbed down into the hole.
Crono followed after her, stopping at the edge of the opening to see a simple earthen tunnel, and a metal ladder down which Lucca was quickly climbing.
Hmm...
Crono knelt beside the hole and began to climb in. A slight draft from the tunnel sent a chill through him, and he shivered just a bit.
"Scared?" Magus asked, and the tone of his voice made it obvious that he wasn't talking about the tunnel.
"A little...yeah," Crono responded, and immediately began to climb down.
Terrified even, he thought, and the monotony and relative silence of the descent allowed the negative thoughts from earlier to creep back into his mind. Where was his mother? What had happened to Marle? Why was everything destroyed?...Were they stuck in this world forever?
He kept replaying the memory of the ravaged landscape above him, the razed countryside, the ruined village. He wished that he could have a moment to stop, and compose himself, to steel himself against whatever surprises were in store for him now, and he knew there would be more of them.
Probably unpleasant, he thought.
The one good thing to come of the situation was the closeness that seemed to be developing between Magus and himself. It had not gone unnoticed by the boy how concerned his companion seemed to be as of late, ever watchful of Crono's every move. Magus had even held him...
Why can't I be excited? he thought, knowing that the answer was everywhere around him.
Down and down they went. Magus looked down at the mop of red hair beneath him when he could, but the darkness blotted everything out after a while, and he just climbed down and thought to himself about everything that was going on.
Crono probably hasn't noticed everything I have...he thought, as he went through all the things he had seen.
First, there were the zombies at the castle. Their armor was the same as it had been back in their normal time, which meant that whatever had happened to them, it hadn't happened too long after the disastrous trip. The fact that they called Marle the queen probably meant that they had worked under her, but Magus knew that Necromancy was a dark art that she could never have performed with the powers Spekio had given her. Even so, she could have somehow been responsible for the state of things...
Unlikely, but even so...We have to be ready for anything.
...or that King Cronus whom they had mentioned was responsible. In fact, judging from the battle that had been raging at the bridge near Porre, that HAD to be the reason. The only force in the north was the Gaurdian Army, so then the King had to be making war on the southern villages...
But why?? And what force would they have that could hope to stand up to the royal army?
Then, there was the state of Truce to consider. Either the forces from the south, or wherever they were from, had attacked Truce by surprise, or the royal army was responsible. Given the hostile attitude of the zombie guards, the latter was more likely the case. That would point the finger at the royal family of Gaurdia as the cause of all the destruction.
Or, Magus thought, someone who married into the family....who knows?
It occurred to Magus that there was a large advantage in being able to view the situation objectively, and that it was an advantage that Crono did not share with him. The boy had a mother to worry about, and friends. Magus had not known this place since childhood, he had not played in fields or grown up here. In fact, the first time he came to Guardia, his intent was to destroy as much as he could to keep them from meddling in his affairs, and to keep his Mystic minions at bay. Even so, he did not like war and destruction, and liked even less the stamp of sadness it had left on Crono's face. He kept having the urge to hold him like he had before, but there was something that kept him from it.
Don't think about it, he told himself, but not to think about it would mean not thinking about the one boy who was constantly on his mind. Simply put, it was something he could not do.
A faint light began to illuminate the tunnel gradually the further down they climbed. No one had said anything, and the only sounds had been those of the short, dull, ring of boots against the metal rungs, and breathing.
"Almost there, guys," came Lucca's voice suddenly.
She had not been exaggerating. A minute more of climbing, and they trio found themselves on level ground once more, standing at the end of a twisting, natural tunnel of rock. Up ahead there were torches on the gray walls, and up ahead were many branch tunnels, also torchlit.
"What...is this?" Crono asked. He was squinting off into the distance. Following his gaze, Magus could see something with a metallic glint cut across the tunnel into larger offshoots on either side.
...
"Well," Lucca began, pulling the goggles down from her eyes once more, so that they dangled from around her neck."This is a sprawling network of prehistoric tunnels that have existed since, well, before 65,000,000 B.C." This she said with a small smile, as if to say 'You all remember 65,000,000 B.C.'. "We call it the Rebel System though." Before Crono could fully open his mouth, Lucca held up a hand to quiet him."We can sit and talk on the rail. It's not really safe to stand around like this. Come on, this way."
With that, she began to walk down the tunnel, and Crono followed, looking both curious and upset. No doubt there were questions that he wanted answered right away. As for Magus, something Lucca said had partially answered one of his own questions.
Rebels...the only thing they could be rebelling against is the king.
The two followed after Lucca just until they reached the silver metal bar that cut across the tunnel.
So that's what was glinting...
A faint rumbling could be heard down the cavernous intersecting tunnel to the right. As it got louder, the metal rail began to vibrate, creating an annoying high pitched sound that echoed through the tunnels.
"Stand back," Lucca ordered, and they all stepped away from the rail. Within seconds, a bullet shaped contraption shot out of the right tunnel and came to an abrupt stop in front of them. Lucca turned to the two of them with a broad smile. "This," she said, he voice full of pride,"is the Rail Rider."
"Wow...," was all Crono could think to say as he looked over the sleek black vehicle that hummed before him. It was like nothing he'd ever seen before. Though, at the same time, it wasn't much to look at. There were no windows, or anything adorning the gleaming black surface. However, a ripple would pulse across the surface every few seconds, as if the thing were breathing, or had a heartbeat. The most astonishing thing about it was the fact that it wasn't even connected to the metal rail beneath it, but rather, hovered just above it without any visible signs of instability. It was eerie.
Weird...Crono thought.
"Impressive," Magus said, looking the thing over with what looked like suspicion. "And you made this, of course."
"Of course," said Lucca, that undeniable "I'm so smart" borderline arrogant tone proving once again that this was the same Lucca.
Crono watched as a thin rectangle of light appeared on the Rail Rider's side, and the area within that rectangle began to slowly come away from the rest of it, leaning down till it touched the ground, a ramp to the opening before them. There was a strange man standing in the doorway, silhouetted by the bright light from within. He smiled a knowing, friendly smile, and opened his arms to all of them.
This must be Ayla, Crono thought jokingly to himself. Boy, she's changed a lot too.
"Finally," the man said, and Crono felt his breath catch in his throat as he peered at the man to see if it was really him talking."Greetings Crono, Magus. It's been far too long."
"R...Robo?!?" Crono exclaimed in disbelief.
"Why of course," he replied, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
"Preposterous," Magus spat. "What do you take us for, imbeciles?"
Crono found himself wondering the same thing. The man before them was NOT Robo. Robo wasn't even technically a man! He was just a robot! This person before them was definitely not a robot. He had a head of ruffled brown hair, two bright green eyes, pale red lips, smooth looking skin, a nice-Crono noted-body, and a million other things Robo did not have.
They do...sound alike though....but it can't be. No way.
"It IS Robo you guys, trust me. He's just had an...upgrade, I guess you could call it," and with that, Lucca walked up the ramp, and embraced the man who was SUPPOSEDLY Robo."Underneath this sexy body, there's the same bucket of bolts you once knew."
"I resent that," the man responded. "However, it is the truth. Do not let my appearance fool you. It is I."
Crono did not know what to think, or to say or do. If it was really Robo, then what was with that whole sexy thing...and the love, and the hugging?
Though...he DOES look good, he thought. He's no Magus, but...ack, what am I THINKING! He's a robot!
Lucca untangled herself from "Robo", and shook her head at the two disbelieving faces staring back at her.
"Come on board. I'll explain everything while we ride."
Robo: LuccaxRobo? What's that mean? *appears puzzled*
Yaoiboy: Nothing! Ehehe ^_^;;; Why don't you go laser something, or whatever it is you do.
Robo: Affirmative. *walks off*
Lucca: *reads the chapter* Hey, I'm not THAT lonely!
Yaoiboy: ^_^;;;;;
Disclaimer: Chrono Trigger does not belong to Sea world, PBS, Enron, Oprah Winfrey, OR McDonalds. Oh yeah, I don't own it either. ;_;
Crono had exchanged one puzzled look with his equally confused companion before Lucca punched a code into a keypad on the vault door, and the huge circle of metal creaked open.
"Alright boys, follow me," she said, and without ceremony, she climbed down into the hole.
Crono followed after her, stopping at the edge of the opening to see a simple earthen tunnel, and a metal ladder down which Lucca was quickly climbing.
Hmm...
Crono knelt beside the hole and began to climb in. A slight draft from the tunnel sent a chill through him, and he shivered just a bit.
"Scared?" Magus asked, and the tone of his voice made it obvious that he wasn't talking about the tunnel.
"A little...yeah," Crono responded, and immediately began to climb down.
Terrified even, he thought, and the monotony and relative silence of the descent allowed the negative thoughts from earlier to creep back into his mind. Where was his mother? What had happened to Marle? Why was everything destroyed?...Were they stuck in this world forever?
He kept replaying the memory of the ravaged landscape above him, the razed countryside, the ruined village. He wished that he could have a moment to stop, and compose himself, to steel himself against whatever surprises were in store for him now, and he knew there would be more of them.
Probably unpleasant, he thought.
The one good thing to come of the situation was the closeness that seemed to be developing between Magus and himself. It had not gone unnoticed by the boy how concerned his companion seemed to be as of late, ever watchful of Crono's every move. Magus had even held him...
Why can't I be excited? he thought, knowing that the answer was everywhere around him.
Down and down they went. Magus looked down at the mop of red hair beneath him when he could, but the darkness blotted everything out after a while, and he just climbed down and thought to himself about everything that was going on.
Crono probably hasn't noticed everything I have...he thought, as he went through all the things he had seen.
First, there were the zombies at the castle. Their armor was the same as it had been back in their normal time, which meant that whatever had happened to them, it hadn't happened too long after the disastrous trip. The fact that they called Marle the queen probably meant that they had worked under her, but Magus knew that Necromancy was a dark art that she could never have performed with the powers Spekio had given her. Even so, she could have somehow been responsible for the state of things...
Unlikely, but even so...We have to be ready for anything.
...or that King Cronus whom they had mentioned was responsible. In fact, judging from the battle that had been raging at the bridge near Porre, that HAD to be the reason. The only force in the north was the Gaurdian Army, so then the King had to be making war on the southern villages...
But why?? And what force would they have that could hope to stand up to the royal army?
Then, there was the state of Truce to consider. Either the forces from the south, or wherever they were from, had attacked Truce by surprise, or the royal army was responsible. Given the hostile attitude of the zombie guards, the latter was more likely the case. That would point the finger at the royal family of Gaurdia as the cause of all the destruction.
Or, Magus thought, someone who married into the family....who knows?
It occurred to Magus that there was a large advantage in being able to view the situation objectively, and that it was an advantage that Crono did not share with him. The boy had a mother to worry about, and friends. Magus had not known this place since childhood, he had not played in fields or grown up here. In fact, the first time he came to Guardia, his intent was to destroy as much as he could to keep them from meddling in his affairs, and to keep his Mystic minions at bay. Even so, he did not like war and destruction, and liked even less the stamp of sadness it had left on Crono's face. He kept having the urge to hold him like he had before, but there was something that kept him from it.
Don't think about it, he told himself, but not to think about it would mean not thinking about the one boy who was constantly on his mind. Simply put, it was something he could not do.
A faint light began to illuminate the tunnel gradually the further down they climbed. No one had said anything, and the only sounds had been those of the short, dull, ring of boots against the metal rungs, and breathing.
"Almost there, guys," came Lucca's voice suddenly.
She had not been exaggerating. A minute more of climbing, and they trio found themselves on level ground once more, standing at the end of a twisting, natural tunnel of rock. Up ahead there were torches on the gray walls, and up ahead were many branch tunnels, also torchlit.
"What...is this?" Crono asked. He was squinting off into the distance. Following his gaze, Magus could see something with a metallic glint cut across the tunnel into larger offshoots on either side.
...
"Well," Lucca began, pulling the goggles down from her eyes once more, so that they dangled from around her neck."This is a sprawling network of prehistoric tunnels that have existed since, well, before 65,000,000 B.C." This she said with a small smile, as if to say 'You all remember 65,000,000 B.C.'. "We call it the Rebel System though." Before Crono could fully open his mouth, Lucca held up a hand to quiet him."We can sit and talk on the rail. It's not really safe to stand around like this. Come on, this way."
With that, she began to walk down the tunnel, and Crono followed, looking both curious and upset. No doubt there were questions that he wanted answered right away. As for Magus, something Lucca said had partially answered one of his own questions.
Rebels...the only thing they could be rebelling against is the king.
The two followed after Lucca just until they reached the silver metal bar that cut across the tunnel.
So that's what was glinting...
A faint rumbling could be heard down the cavernous intersecting tunnel to the right. As it got louder, the metal rail began to vibrate, creating an annoying high pitched sound that echoed through the tunnels.
"Stand back," Lucca ordered, and they all stepped away from the rail. Within seconds, a bullet shaped contraption shot out of the right tunnel and came to an abrupt stop in front of them. Lucca turned to the two of them with a broad smile. "This," she said, he voice full of pride,"is the Rail Rider."
"Wow...," was all Crono could think to say as he looked over the sleek black vehicle that hummed before him. It was like nothing he'd ever seen before. Though, at the same time, it wasn't much to look at. There were no windows, or anything adorning the gleaming black surface. However, a ripple would pulse across the surface every few seconds, as if the thing were breathing, or had a heartbeat. The most astonishing thing about it was the fact that it wasn't even connected to the metal rail beneath it, but rather, hovered just above it without any visible signs of instability. It was eerie.
Weird...Crono thought.
"Impressive," Magus said, looking the thing over with what looked like suspicion. "And you made this, of course."
"Of course," said Lucca, that undeniable "I'm so smart" borderline arrogant tone proving once again that this was the same Lucca.
Crono watched as a thin rectangle of light appeared on the Rail Rider's side, and the area within that rectangle began to slowly come away from the rest of it, leaning down till it touched the ground, a ramp to the opening before them. There was a strange man standing in the doorway, silhouetted by the bright light from within. He smiled a knowing, friendly smile, and opened his arms to all of them.
This must be Ayla, Crono thought jokingly to himself. Boy, she's changed a lot too.
"Finally," the man said, and Crono felt his breath catch in his throat as he peered at the man to see if it was really him talking."Greetings Crono, Magus. It's been far too long."
"R...Robo?!?" Crono exclaimed in disbelief.
"Why of course," he replied, as if nothing were out of the ordinary.
"Preposterous," Magus spat. "What do you take us for, imbeciles?"
Crono found himself wondering the same thing. The man before them was NOT Robo. Robo wasn't even technically a man! He was just a robot! This person before them was definitely not a robot. He had a head of ruffled brown hair, two bright green eyes, pale red lips, smooth looking skin, a nice-Crono noted-body, and a million other things Robo did not have.
They do...sound alike though....but it can't be. No way.
"It IS Robo you guys, trust me. He's just had an...upgrade, I guess you could call it," and with that, Lucca walked up the ramp, and embraced the man who was SUPPOSEDLY Robo."Underneath this sexy body, there's the same bucket of bolts you once knew."
"I resent that," the man responded. "However, it is the truth. Do not let my appearance fool you. It is I."
Crono did not know what to think, or to say or do. If it was really Robo, then what was with that whole sexy thing...and the love, and the hugging?
Though...he DOES look good, he thought. He's no Magus, but...ack, what am I THINKING! He's a robot!
Lucca untangled herself from "Robo", and shook her head at the two disbelieving faces staring back at her.
"Come on board. I'll explain everything while we ride."
