Part Three : Location - The Fairy Temple, Loren's world.
"There. Everything's set, Loren," Mara told her friend as they stood at the front of the power source in the Temple. "Just, be careful." Mara was concerned for Loren, who was about to undergo a very dangerous procedure. Mara had spent ages setting everything up with her magic, taking longer than she should have done. It couldn't be helped. Everything had to be perfect, after all, changing a fairy into a human was a very tricky business!
"Mara, I'll be fine," Loren groaned for the millionth time. She stepped gracefully forward onto a hazy glass platform, three quarters surrounded by misty vapour walls. "You worry too much. But before I go, promise me one last thing." Loren handed Mara the letter she had written earlier. It was addressed To the Supreme Chancellor. "Please make sure this letter is delivered after I'm gone." Mara looked dubiously at the letter, then placed it in her long silken pockets. She opened the hatch of the power resistor. If everything went according to plan, all the energy from the power source should flow along the channels into the containment tank above the platform, and enter into Loren's body through cables attached to the tank, then the transformation would begin. Mara's role was to use her powers to steady the flow of energy, to regulate it and make sure it did not exceed it's limit. If the tank overheated......Loren would probably not make it out alive.
"Are you sure you're up for this, Loren? It'll take over the average time to get to the Other Side if you do manage to make the change, and that means spending a lot of time in The Black Region." The Black Region was the dark, blank space in between the worlds, known to Tails as the Void,, the vacuum monstrosity that the Hiatus Orb had the ability to unleash.
"Look, all I'm asking is for you to use your power to help me make the change. If you don't wanna help me, that's fine, but I'll find it a lot more difficult to do it alone." Loren looked sternly at Mara, strapping the cables above her to her arms, neck and ankles.
Mara laughed.
"I suppose there's no stopping you! Okay, get ready.....one, two, THREE!" Mara unlocked the resistor and the whole of the power source in the Fairy Temple began to course freely through the channel pipes and into the tank, where it gathered and built up energy, before shooting the lot into Loren. Loren flinched at the initial contact, but soon regained her self- control and stood serenely as an eerie golden light washed over her. Mara steadied the energy flow whilst setting the controls around her to channel the right frequency so that the right transformation was made. Loren began to transform and the whole room was filled with brilliant golden sparks.
Suddenly the pipes began to fizz and splutter, black smoke puffed out in thick chunks from them. Uh oh, though Mara. That could only mean one thing. The power source was completely drained, all the energy having gone into the tank. There was too much energy in the tank now, far too much for Mara to control. If she did not steady it, Loren would die.
"Loren! I can't hold it any longer!" Mara cried, straining to maintain the force-fields of fairy energy she had set up. Loren had reached the half-human stage, and when she saw her friend struggling to control the energy that had been unleashed, Loren slammed shut the sliding glass door around the platform, severing the connection between her and Mara.
Mara dropped back, exhausted. When she had regained her breath, she looked up and saw that Loren had set up a barrier between them. Now Mara could not reach Loren to help her!
Mara got to her feet shakily. Loren could hardly be seen because of the golden sparkles around her. Mara could not do anything else, for the door behind her burst open and in trooped a group of Regiment Guards. Just in time, Loren made the change and slipped over into the Black Region. The guards surrounded Mara and marched her out of the Temple. Scared as she was, Mara could not help rejoicing. Loren had managed to make herself human! Hopefully she would make it through to the Other Side.
* * * * *
Location - Karmen Island, at the centre of the stronghold.
Groping around in the dark confines of the cell, Amy struggled up, holding on to the thick iron bars for support. She instantly collapsed to the ground again with fatigue. Never before in her life had she been so tired as she was now. Even though her eyes were open, she was still half asleep.
Suddenly lights flickered on all around her. Having been accustomed to the dark for so long, Amy immediately scrunched up her eyes and shaded her face from the sudden brightness.
"What the...." Amy groaned, dazed by the light. She shuffled backwards, her head buzzing. She felt extremely woozy.
"Ah, I see our little 'guest' has finally woken up," drawled a sharp, icy voice that made Amy's blood run cold. Squinting under the glare of the intense lighting, Amy looked up and saw the woman who had ambushed Tails, Sandi and she on the cruiser. The same woman who had so very nearly killed Tails.
"But - wh-where are we?" stammered Amy. "What is this place?" Now that she could see her surroundings better, she began to get a bit scared.
"Well, if you must know, we are in a secret underground stronghold on a remote island far away from any human civilisation, called Karmen Island. There's no need to be afraid. I'm sure your friend Tails will come to see you sometime soon."
"You mean.....I'm a hostage?" Amy spluttered. She was wide awake now. In anger and frustration, she kicked at the wall then thrust her weight against the solid bars separating her from the sinister woman. In a flash, the woman drew a weapon and shot a tranquilliser dart into Amy's arm.
"AAA!" Amy shrieked, yanking out the dart from her arm. The effect was instantaneous, and Amy dropped to the ground feeling incredibly weak as the tranquillising chemicals swept through her body. Gasping with shock and weakness, she clutched at her left arm where the dart had pierced it. It was swollen and painful.
"Calm down, little missy. You've already had enough of that sleeping serum to last a lifetime." The woman took a puff of her cigarette and slid down the wall until she was sitting down, her back to the wall so that she was facing Amy.
"You...can't...do..this...to me," Amy pronounced through gritted teeth. The woman draped her arms casually across her knees, playing about with her cigarette before saying;
"Oh, I can alright. But - that's not why I wanted to talk to you. I don't think I've introduced myself. I'm Stella Novacassica." Amy folded her arms and snorted in reply. "I already know who you are, Amy. Just tell me this - are you sure you're fighting on the right side?"
"What d'you mean?" Amy gaped.
"You mean Tails hasn't told you?" Stella looked shocked. "Dear girl, there's something you...ought to know about Tails. You see, he is in possession of one of these Amulets of Hiatus. I know, because I was there. I saw Sonic give it to him," Stella said, craftily manipulating the events she had seen the night the Orb had taken Sonic.
"But, what's so important about that?" asked Amy in puzzlement. She had the feeling that Stella was trying to lead her into a trap.
"Can't you see? Even your friend Knuckles knew he was the enemy."
"Knuckles was possessed. He didn't realise what he was doing," said Amy defiantly.
"This might change your mind," Stella said, unrolling a blueprint for a killer weapon. Amy gasped. "When those beetle robots broke into Tails's flat, they uncovered this. A modification of the Plasmic Generator, designed by M.T.Prower. It only operates when one of the amulets is placed inside it. Take a good look. It's an original." Stella showed the blueprint to Amy nonchalantly. "Now do you believe me?"
"Why should I believe anything you say?" Amu burst out vehemently.
"Hmph. What else do you think he does in that workshop of his? Remember, your friend is a very gifted young mechanic. I don't think anyone would be willing to waste such a talent in saving the world when the world could be theirs to own," Stella said slyly, flashing her venomous smile as she tucked the now rolled-up blueprints under one arm. Amy was dumbfounded. Did Stella really expect her to believe a lie like that?
"It's not true!" Amy said stubbornly. This 'Stella' person was beginning to annoy her.
"Well, I can't say I didn't try telling you the truth," said Stella. "You do realise there's a reason why you're here. Tails wants those amulets just as much as Dr. Robotnik and I. We can't let Tails get the better of us, can we? Can't let him beat us to it. So we're gonna need some information. And you're giving it to us."
"No way! You might as well talk to a brick wall, 'cos I'm not telling you anything."
"Argh, you aggravate me, little missy. When you come round to my way of thinking, you'll want to tell me everything." Stella leapt silently to her feet and purposefully crushed her cigarette to the ground with her boot. "Until then, I'm afraid I'll have to leave you in the dark again." She strode out of the door, switching off the lights and securely locking the door behind her. Amy was left all alone again.
* * * * *
"There. Everything's set, Loren," Mara told her friend as they stood at the front of the power source in the Temple. "Just, be careful." Mara was concerned for Loren, who was about to undergo a very dangerous procedure. Mara had spent ages setting everything up with her magic, taking longer than she should have done. It couldn't be helped. Everything had to be perfect, after all, changing a fairy into a human was a very tricky business!
"Mara, I'll be fine," Loren groaned for the millionth time. She stepped gracefully forward onto a hazy glass platform, three quarters surrounded by misty vapour walls. "You worry too much. But before I go, promise me one last thing." Loren handed Mara the letter she had written earlier. It was addressed To the Supreme Chancellor. "Please make sure this letter is delivered after I'm gone." Mara looked dubiously at the letter, then placed it in her long silken pockets. She opened the hatch of the power resistor. If everything went according to plan, all the energy from the power source should flow along the channels into the containment tank above the platform, and enter into Loren's body through cables attached to the tank, then the transformation would begin. Mara's role was to use her powers to steady the flow of energy, to regulate it and make sure it did not exceed it's limit. If the tank overheated......Loren would probably not make it out alive.
"Are you sure you're up for this, Loren? It'll take over the average time to get to the Other Side if you do manage to make the change, and that means spending a lot of time in The Black Region." The Black Region was the dark, blank space in between the worlds, known to Tails as the Void,, the vacuum monstrosity that the Hiatus Orb had the ability to unleash.
"Look, all I'm asking is for you to use your power to help me make the change. If you don't wanna help me, that's fine, but I'll find it a lot more difficult to do it alone." Loren looked sternly at Mara, strapping the cables above her to her arms, neck and ankles.
Mara laughed.
"I suppose there's no stopping you! Okay, get ready.....one, two, THREE!" Mara unlocked the resistor and the whole of the power source in the Fairy Temple began to course freely through the channel pipes and into the tank, where it gathered and built up energy, before shooting the lot into Loren. Loren flinched at the initial contact, but soon regained her self- control and stood serenely as an eerie golden light washed over her. Mara steadied the energy flow whilst setting the controls around her to channel the right frequency so that the right transformation was made. Loren began to transform and the whole room was filled with brilliant golden sparks.
Suddenly the pipes began to fizz and splutter, black smoke puffed out in thick chunks from them. Uh oh, though Mara. That could only mean one thing. The power source was completely drained, all the energy having gone into the tank. There was too much energy in the tank now, far too much for Mara to control. If she did not steady it, Loren would die.
"Loren! I can't hold it any longer!" Mara cried, straining to maintain the force-fields of fairy energy she had set up. Loren had reached the half-human stage, and when she saw her friend struggling to control the energy that had been unleashed, Loren slammed shut the sliding glass door around the platform, severing the connection between her and Mara.
Mara dropped back, exhausted. When she had regained her breath, she looked up and saw that Loren had set up a barrier between them. Now Mara could not reach Loren to help her!
Mara got to her feet shakily. Loren could hardly be seen because of the golden sparkles around her. Mara could not do anything else, for the door behind her burst open and in trooped a group of Regiment Guards. Just in time, Loren made the change and slipped over into the Black Region. The guards surrounded Mara and marched her out of the Temple. Scared as she was, Mara could not help rejoicing. Loren had managed to make herself human! Hopefully she would make it through to the Other Side.
* * * * *
Location - Karmen Island, at the centre of the stronghold.
Groping around in the dark confines of the cell, Amy struggled up, holding on to the thick iron bars for support. She instantly collapsed to the ground again with fatigue. Never before in her life had she been so tired as she was now. Even though her eyes were open, she was still half asleep.
Suddenly lights flickered on all around her. Having been accustomed to the dark for so long, Amy immediately scrunched up her eyes and shaded her face from the sudden brightness.
"What the...." Amy groaned, dazed by the light. She shuffled backwards, her head buzzing. She felt extremely woozy.
"Ah, I see our little 'guest' has finally woken up," drawled a sharp, icy voice that made Amy's blood run cold. Squinting under the glare of the intense lighting, Amy looked up and saw the woman who had ambushed Tails, Sandi and she on the cruiser. The same woman who had so very nearly killed Tails.
"But - wh-where are we?" stammered Amy. "What is this place?" Now that she could see her surroundings better, she began to get a bit scared.
"Well, if you must know, we are in a secret underground stronghold on a remote island far away from any human civilisation, called Karmen Island. There's no need to be afraid. I'm sure your friend Tails will come to see you sometime soon."
"You mean.....I'm a hostage?" Amy spluttered. She was wide awake now. In anger and frustration, she kicked at the wall then thrust her weight against the solid bars separating her from the sinister woman. In a flash, the woman drew a weapon and shot a tranquilliser dart into Amy's arm.
"AAA!" Amy shrieked, yanking out the dart from her arm. The effect was instantaneous, and Amy dropped to the ground feeling incredibly weak as the tranquillising chemicals swept through her body. Gasping with shock and weakness, she clutched at her left arm where the dart had pierced it. It was swollen and painful.
"Calm down, little missy. You've already had enough of that sleeping serum to last a lifetime." The woman took a puff of her cigarette and slid down the wall until she was sitting down, her back to the wall so that she was facing Amy.
"You...can't...do..this...to me," Amy pronounced through gritted teeth. The woman draped her arms casually across her knees, playing about with her cigarette before saying;
"Oh, I can alright. But - that's not why I wanted to talk to you. I don't think I've introduced myself. I'm Stella Novacassica." Amy folded her arms and snorted in reply. "I already know who you are, Amy. Just tell me this - are you sure you're fighting on the right side?"
"What d'you mean?" Amy gaped.
"You mean Tails hasn't told you?" Stella looked shocked. "Dear girl, there's something you...ought to know about Tails. You see, he is in possession of one of these Amulets of Hiatus. I know, because I was there. I saw Sonic give it to him," Stella said, craftily manipulating the events she had seen the night the Orb had taken Sonic.
"But, what's so important about that?" asked Amy in puzzlement. She had the feeling that Stella was trying to lead her into a trap.
"Can't you see? Even your friend Knuckles knew he was the enemy."
"Knuckles was possessed. He didn't realise what he was doing," said Amy defiantly.
"This might change your mind," Stella said, unrolling a blueprint for a killer weapon. Amy gasped. "When those beetle robots broke into Tails's flat, they uncovered this. A modification of the Plasmic Generator, designed by M.T.Prower. It only operates when one of the amulets is placed inside it. Take a good look. It's an original." Stella showed the blueprint to Amy nonchalantly. "Now do you believe me?"
"Why should I believe anything you say?" Amu burst out vehemently.
"Hmph. What else do you think he does in that workshop of his? Remember, your friend is a very gifted young mechanic. I don't think anyone would be willing to waste such a talent in saving the world when the world could be theirs to own," Stella said slyly, flashing her venomous smile as she tucked the now rolled-up blueprints under one arm. Amy was dumbfounded. Did Stella really expect her to believe a lie like that?
"It's not true!" Amy said stubbornly. This 'Stella' person was beginning to annoy her.
"Well, I can't say I didn't try telling you the truth," said Stella. "You do realise there's a reason why you're here. Tails wants those amulets just as much as Dr. Robotnik and I. We can't let Tails get the better of us, can we? Can't let him beat us to it. So we're gonna need some information. And you're giving it to us."
"No way! You might as well talk to a brick wall, 'cos I'm not telling you anything."
"Argh, you aggravate me, little missy. When you come round to my way of thinking, you'll want to tell me everything." Stella leapt silently to her feet and purposefully crushed her cigarette to the ground with her boot. "Until then, I'm afraid I'll have to leave you in the dark again." She strode out of the door, switching off the lights and securely locking the door behind her. Amy was left all alone again.
* * * * *
