breath20k

That's what I love about Luigi; it doesn't matter if he has a cowardly personality.

CVGWJames

Actually, to me, it's hard to feel sorry for Hooktail. I mean, she killed all those Koopas that tried to fight her.

LiamTheYoshi

LOL! Good one, Liam!

mariobroultimate

I wonder why Hooktail was that kind of dragon obsessed with feet or something like that. And Baldi's Basics is one of those horror games that are humorous at the same time; I thought I'd lighten the mood right there.

Nataly Guardado

We'll find out the new Star Spell very soon.

…

Chapter 12: Grodus and TEC-XX

Meanwhile, in an unknown location, two soldiers resembling Lord Crump's minions escorted Peach into a throne room with the appearance of a laboratory. Lord Crump was standing on the left end of the room.

"O great, exalted Grodus! We brought the Princess Peach you ordered, sir!" the first soldier said. Grodus was standing at a console within the shadows.

"Well, well, well, my pet... Isn't it about time you told us where the map is?" Grodus asked. He turned around and stepped out of the shadow; his face was similar to Lord Crump's but his head was a computer board encased in a glass bowl. He was wearing a purple cloak with black rims and a white neckband. Finally, a long red cloth with a white pattern extended from the neckband to the floor. Grodus also held a gold scepter with a transparent blue orb on the front end.

Grodus was expecting Peach to answer his question, yet she didn't say anything. "Princess Peach. You will speak when spoken to."

"I'm telling you, I don't know," Peach answered.

"There's no point in trying to hide it, silly girl. We know you had it. We know this. Trust me, it's very much in your interest to be absolutely honest with us. We X-Nauts are not all rainbows and lollipops, I assure you. We're quite nasty."

Just then, a TV screen on the left side turned on, showing an X-Naut about to address Grodus.

"Grodus, sir! I have news."

"Report at once," Grodus ordered the X-Naut.

"You know that Crystal Star we thought maybe Hooktail had? Well, someone nabbed it."

"What?! What did you say?!" Grodus asked in a surprised tone of voice. "Someone else is after the Crystal Stars? And he defeated that Hooktail creature, you say? Speak, soldier!"

"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir. There's more, too. See, according to the report..." the X-Naut explained. "…there were two mustached menaces in red and green hats with blue overalls who pulled the job."

"MARIO! LUIGI!" Peach yelled. She immediately covered her mouth, having accidentally revealed Mario and Luigi's identities. "Dang it! I said it again! I didn't mean to!"

"Excuse me? Mario and Luigi? Gaackackackackack!" Grodus cackled. "I see… So you know of this Mario and Luigi, do you? Hmmm... These fools matter not at all. I'll know all about them before long, that I promise."

"Don't! It was-"

The second X-Naut slapped Peach's cheek, stopping her from speaking. "Silence!"

"I grow bored of talking. Take Princess Peach back to the holding room," Grodus ordered the X-Nauts.

"Yes, sir!" the X-Nauts replied before escorting Peach out of Grodus's throne room. At the same time, the TV screen shut off.

Grodus turned to Lord Crump. "Well, Lord Crump…if these Mario and Luigi characters have the map...then it's highly likely they'll find the Crystal Star we're hunting in the Boggly Woods. You must return there immediately and hasten the excavation. It must not fail."

"Whuzzat?!"

"You heard me!"

"Uh… Oh yeah! Sure!" Lord Crump agreed. "Roger, Grodus! And with that…" Lord Crump waited for a brief second and started to run away. "Pow! I'm gone!"

After Lord Crump left the throne room, Grodus returned to his console. "I wonder if sending Lord Crump there alone is wise... He is a bit...out there. Hmmm..."

Grodus turned around and called out, "X-Naut! I summon you!" His voice was loud enough to prompt another X-Naut to enter the throne room.

"You rang, dude? I mean, sir? You rang, sir, Grodus, dude? Grodus? Sir Grodus, sir?"

"SHUT UP! You'll call me Grodus no matter what!"

"Yes, sir," the X-Naut replied.

"Now, go get the Shadow Sirens," Grodus told the X-Naut.

"The Sh-Shadow Sirens, sir? But they-"

"SHUT UP!" Grodus shouted. "I don't care how you planned to end that sentence, fool! Go get them, I say!"

"Yes, sir!" the X-Naut hurried out of the throne room, leaving Grodus alone again.

"The honorable Grodus has need of us?" an elderly voice asked out of nowhere. "Then we arrive without delay."

Suddenly, three purple figures rose out of the ground. One of them wore a blue and white witch hat, the second one had yellow straight hair with a yellow and white witch hat, and the third one had pink curly hair with a red-violet and white witch hat.

"Mmmweeheeheeheehee..." the first Shadow Siren laughed. "Pray tell, did the princess tell you where the map is?"

"Still your tongue, Beldam!" Grodus exclaimed. "We would already have it if you'd snatched her earlier... But now, since you missed your chance, two poor fools named Mario and Luigi have the map."

"It wasn't my fault, truly! There were too many prying eyes there. Too many..." Beldam answered. "Besides, a strange old man showed up at the moment of truth, and we had to retreat. Why worry? All we need to do now is find this Mario and Luigi and steal the map, yes?"

"Indeed, that is yourduty. Must I remind you?" Grodus asked. "That map is vital to the X-Naut plan. I will have my men prepare all available information on this Mario and Luigi. For now, hear me, Beldam! You Shadow Sirens must take care of these troublemakers!"

"Mmmmweeheeheehee... Fear not, sire. I, Beldam, shall return with what you seek." Beldam turned to the other two Shadow Sirens. "Let's go, my lovelies! Marilyn! Vivian! Come! We've got a job to do!" Beldam sunk into the floor.

"Guhhhhh..." Marilyn grunted before she disappeared.

"Mmmhmhmhmhm..." Vivian wondered before disappearing too.

…

The two X-Naut soldiers escorting Peach tossed her into a holding room before leaving quickly. Peach held her left cheek, which was sore from being slapped earlier.

"Well, this is what I get," Peach said. "Why is it that I call out Mario and Luigi's names every time I hear someone mention their appearances?" She stood back up. "I might need some therapy later."

Peach gazed at her surroundings, wondering where she was. "Hang on a moment… Where am I? It's so unfamiliar… I wish I could at least let Mario, Luigi, and Toadsworth know that I've been caught. Why did I not do that?"

Peach decided to explore the area, starting with the left end. Through the metal door was a bathroom with a shower in the middle.

Hmm… Nice shower they've got here… I don't see any soap scum too…

Peach decided to go in the shower and clean herself off. She hung her dress on the curtain rack and entered the shower.

I wonder if it works…

Upon closing the curtains, Peach turned on the shower, letting out warm water. Letting out a sigh of relief, she washed herself up for a couple of minutes before turning off the shower. She put her dress back on afterward and put her hair into a ponytail.

"This feels much better…" Peach sighed. She left the bathroom and walked to the right end of the holding room. The metal door didn't open when she stood in front of it; she assumed it was an automated door.

Hmm… Doesn't seem to open. Just as Peach turned around, the door opened by itself, getting her attention. What happened? How did that door open by itself?

The next area Peach entered was a hallway with a bunch of machinery.

Weird… It doesn't look like…anyone's around…

At the end of the hallway was another metal door that opened by itself. Peach was getting more confused.

I don't get it. Why do I keep making these doors open?

The next area was dark and an elongated computer was stationed in front; the computer had a red eye above the central screen. Peach studied the eye for a brief second.

Does this look like something out of 2001: A Space Odyssey? Peach asked herself.

Suddenly, the lights turned on and the computer activated, allowing the eye to move around.

"Hello, Princess Peach," a soft monotone voice said out of nowhere.

"Huh? What? Who said that? Where are you?" Peach asked with confusion, looking around the room.

"How amusing. I am right here, before your eyes," the voice answered. Peach turned to the computer, assuming the voice came from it. "I am this laboratory's main computer. I am the TEC-XX. Many call me TEC; you may call me that name too."

"You really are the computer from that movie…" Peach murmured.

"Sir Grodus created me to be a perfect computer, one that is flawless in its reason," TEC said.

"Grodus... Is he that awful dome-headed thing who interrogated me, right?"

"Sir Grodus is not awful. He is a very great person. He is marvelous."

"Well, I don't think so. But I doubt I'll change your mind," Peach responded. "So, I'm wondering... Why did you lead me here?"

"I am unsure. An unusual program deviation occurred when I observed you earlier," TEC explained. "My higher-brain circuitry malfunctioned and nearly overheated at your image. Also, an unidentified impulse sped through my processors. Those events are new to me."

"There is more to this phenomenon, as well. I ran diagnostic programs...and their solution was... I want to know more about you. I want to observe you," TEC went on. "Such a compulsion has no precedence. Cause unknown. I, the perfect computer... I must diagnose this unusual situation. I will not fail. That is why I led you here."

"Wait... Did you just say... You want to observe me? ...To know more about me?" Peach asked. "No. That's not true. You're a computer."

"What has happened to me? If you know my malfunction, you must tell me of it," TEC said. "Please tell me. Please. I am the world's best computer. I am perfect. There should not be anything that I do not understand. Please."

"Well, you know… Maybe…" Peach stopped for a moment to figure out what was wrong with TEC. "Is it possible that you're…in love…with me?"

"'Love'? What is…'love'?" TEC asked confusedly. "I am afraid I cannot compute this."

"You don't know what love is? Um… How do I explain?" Peach thought it over for a couple of seconds before speaking again. "Love tells you when you want to be with a person forever. It makes you feel happy just to see that person happy, like, smiling and having fun. When you love someone, you will do anything to help when he or she is in trouble."

"Happiness? Fun…? I have definitions for these words, but...my programming is insufficient," TEC replied. "There should be nothing I cannot comprehend. I am a perfect computer."

"'Comprehend' love? Love's not something you comprehend, TEC. You feelit."

TEC didn't respond immediately as he tried to take in what Peach told him.

"Princess Peach… Will you teach me to feel this thing you call 'love'?

"What?! You're a computer! Why would you care about love?"

"I am perfect. There must be nothing that I cannot comprehend. Nothing," TEC restated. "That is why you must help me understand this thing called 'love'. Please. If you have any wishes that I can grant you in exchange, I will grant them. But, of course, I am unable to grant such a wish as letting you escape."

"Urgh! You're not making sense!" Peach grouched. "Those X-Morons kidnapped me and beat me up! And now you call me in here and ask me to teach you the meaning of love?! I should smash you to pieces! Why should I believe you'll grant my wishes?! Huh?!"

"I understand you are angry. That emotion I do comprehend. You need not teach me now. But I must learn of this thing. I must," TEC said. "There is no alternative. I must be a perfect computer. That is why, if you would just consider teaching me, I will grant your wishes. Do you understand me, Princess Peach?"

Peach let out a sigh. "I don't want to trust you, but I'll try."

"Very well. Now, tell me your wish, please."

"Okay… What's my wish…?" Peach stopped to think of what wish she could tell TEC about. "Um… Can I contact someone? The X-Nauts broke my phone earlier and I need to talk to someone else. Not just you."

"Yes, of course, you may. Use my communicator to send wireless mail to anywhere you want. If you so wish, you can use it right now. It is no trouble. Use the keyboard in front of you. Enter the recipient, address, and message."

Peach approached TEC's keyboard.

"I don't know any email addresses, but I have some phone numbers on my list," Peach said.

"All right."

Peach typed the recipients' names, their phone numbers, and the message she wanted to send out.

"Okay. It's ready, TEC. Could you send it?"

Without hesitation, TEC sent the message.

"The message has been sent. For the time being, you may return to your room. I will call you in again when I want to ask you something," TEC stated.

"Uh… Okay then." Peach began to leave TEC's room; the door leading to the machinery hall opened by itself. "See ya."

"Goodbye, Princess Peach."

As soon as Peach left TEC's room, TEC deactivated himself and the lights turned off.