A/n: Yes, this next chapter has taken awhile! But it's up now so please RR! The restore points were kindof inspired by the Ace Lightning game. Which is a good game!
Cutting across the lava field had probably not been wise she decided. The warning system had turned itself on again, deciding the driver was either on something, insane or possibly asleep. She angled sharply around a spurt of fire.
"Steady, Sparx," said Ace from behind her.
"You try driving," she muttered as she dipped under the falling rock she'd nearly flown into.
"Just stay in control. We want to get there in… one piece."
Well that's not a good choice of words, she thought. She whipped the Bolt in a tight turn, avoiding both an outcrop of rock and another spurt of fire. The flight had been getting steadily more hazardous as they neared the volcano. There was a restore point across the other side which just happened to be the closest. Even so she'd probably have to fly at full power to get there in time.
Restore points had started appearing across the sixth dimension some time ago. They had the unique property of being able to repair almost any damage. They also had the annoying habit of occasionally altering the users program, sometimes making physical or mental changes. Why they chose to do this to some and not others was unclear but some said that those it happened to had sold their soul in exchange for the upgrades. However the points worked they had set off the Knights on a whole stack of rules of use. Luckily they had the sense to allow their use in life or death situations. She was sure this counted as one.
"Can we go any faster?" Ace asked.
"I'm going at full power already."
Ahead of them the earth suddenly split open, throwing a wave of rock into the air.
She reacted almost instantly, pulling the ship higher. Even so the Bolt was hit by a few fragments of rock, luckily not enough to cause serious damage. However the warning system stopped beeping.
"I think we just lost the sensors, Sparx. Can you still fly through this without them?"
"I wasn't really looking at them, actually," she replied. "At least that beeping has stopped."
"Ah… good."
She took a slightly curved course to avoid flying right over the volcanos cone. Even she knew that would be suicide. It was when they started moving away from the volcano instead of towards it that the real trouble started. Before she could see the molten rocks flying towards her through the windshield, but now they were coming from behind her and with the sensors gone they were impossible to pinpoint.
She realised this as one flew past to port and slammed into the earth ahead of the Bolt.
"Woah!" she yelled as she tried to regain control of the ship as it bounced from the all too close impact.
"Sparx, be careful!"
"I can't see those things until they actually hit us, Ace!" she shouted back.
"Hang on."
She heard the hatch open and a second later the wind whipped inside.
"Sparx pull left!" he shouted a moment later. His voice was torn and tossed by the wind but still strong enough for her to pick up the note of urgency. She pulled the control yoke hard left just as an explosion of fire erupted on her right.
He'd been put to the test, trying to figure out which falling rocks were hazards and how to avoid them. It had taken all his concentration to keep his mind on the task. More than once he had the urge to turn around and check on Random but then he'd be sure to miss something that could quite possibly be fatal. Yet all the while he kept his eyes outside he'd had the nagging feeling that when he finally turned around he'd find Random had disappeared completely.
As they finally moved out of immediate danger, he looked over his shoulder and found that fear was unfounded. Random still lay in the backseat but he could see his friend's power had dropped even further from when they'd found him.
"There it is!" Sparx shouted in triumph from upfront.
He came and stood behind her. Sure enough up ahead he could see the green circle that was the restore point. It was about four feet in diameter and spun slowly, giving out small sparkles of light every few seconds. This was the device that would restore Random's power. And hopefully without any side affects, he thought. Still, they had little choice and Random was already fading fast.
Sparx brought the ship down next to the device and together they lifted Random out onto the green surface. It flared brightly and they both stepped away. What was left of Random's body seemed to saturate with the sparkles of light and then disappeared.
He let out a sigh of relief.
"How long is it going to take?" Sparx asked.
"I don't know."
"Just as long as it doesn't turn him into a chicken or something."
"Sparx, I don't think that's something we have to worry about."
"I hope not."
He sat down with his back up against the side of the Bolt, his eyes on the restore point. "We're just going to have to wait until it decides to spit him out again. Hopefully it'll have fixed him up."
"Well you do know HQ's going to want to fix him up too?"
"Yeah, I know."
When he didn't reply further Sparx came and sat down next to him. Together they waited.
The young Knight was still stuck on the mediocre jobs. At least he thought they were. He hadn't yet accumulated enough time on them to move onto 'the good stuff'. Which was a pain, he was bored. He was currently situated at the prison. Although considered a slightly dangerous placing a few of the newer Knights were sometimes sent there. Probably because the security was so high-tech and nothing ever happened. Basically, he had absolutely nothing to do.
He looked up and saw one of the guards walking up the hall. He probably should have asked her for her pass. It was regulations but he couldn't be bothered. He nodded to her as she walked past but she studiously ignored him. Probably as bored as me, he thought.
But then she suddenly turned into the main control station, so quickly, she was through the door before he'd even stood up.
"Hey! You can't go in there!" he called after her. Never mind, the Knight on duty in there would set her right. He'd probably get in trouble though. He walked up to the door; at least he'd make it look like he was doing something. That's when he heard the other Knight scream.
"What's going on!" he yelled pushing the door open and panning his wrist cannons around. He stopped frozen at the sight of a huge dog creature standing in the middle of the room.
He only had enough time to wonder how it had gotten in before it leaped on him and clawed his throat out.
She assumed her normal form as the Knight before her vanished. She would have rather thrown one of her bombs at him but the energy would probably set off the alarms or simply be rendered inert. That would not be a problem in a few minutes, once she turned all the safeguards off. This, however, wasn't as simple as pressing a button. There were certain measures in place to make sure what she was about to attempt would not succeed.
Like passwords and codes for example. These she had obtained simply, many of the guards would shout them at the security systems, seemingly oblivious to the fact the prisoners would hear. Not that it would do them much good. The microphones were voice sensitive too. They'd only work for the guards. Not that that was a problem for a shapeshifter.
The hard part had been finding the correct place to assume a new form and the correct persons form to assume. A nondescript guard would never work, the security cameras would pick her up automatically as someone who shouldn't be there. And they'd also notice two of the same pretty soon. She also just couldn't destroy someone and then take their form, not where the security would pick her up anyway.
The Lightning Knights, however, didn't seem to really mind what the prisoners did to each other inside the cells. They hadn't bothered putting any cameras in there. It had been a simple matter of insulting the guard one too many times. She'd walked all the way in to tell her to shut up. As far as the cameras were concerned she'd walked back out ten seconds later.
And now she was in the main control station. She put on the voice of the warden and gave the code she'd obtained a few weeks ago.
"Code accepted. Proceed with your request," said the computer.
She smiled to herself. "Unlock all cells. Transfer energy suppression systems to electrical based weapons only."
The computer hummed. "Request granted."
A few seconds later the alarms began to go off. She stepped out of the control station and went to join her lord, ignoring them. They now served little purpose other than making noise.
