Chapter 9: Eden's Garden
Location: Efrikan Continent
Several hours later…
A large region comprised of much of Eastern Efrika, Murasia was a region of plains, mountains, and forests. The skies had gradually darkened over the past twenty minutes, while the wind had begun to pick up.
"I'm not liking how this weather looks," Chuck stated.
The elderly human was seated in the X-Tornado's passenger pod, situated behind his grandson's seat.
"I'm thinking it's about time we land anyways," Tails admitted.
After hours of flying, they had only succeeded in reaching the outer limits of Murasia. Unhooking the mic for the CB radio, the twin-tailed Fox quickly contacted Acorn One.
"Acorn One, this is the X-Tornado. Over."
"We're receiving you, sugah," Bunnie reported.
"We're wondering whether we should press on or call it a day."
What followed was several seconds of silence, with Sally's voice eventually coming on the line.
"I think we'd better call it a day," she announced, "It'll give us a chance to consider our options."
"Copy that, Aunt Sally."
Glancing out the window of the aircraft, Sonic's eyes beheld nothing but endless tracks of foliage. As Tails pushed the X-Tornado forward, Chuck eventually spotted an elevated area rising up from the jungle.
"There," he shouted pointed to the mesa, "We can land down there."
The X-Tornado banked and dropped in attitude, heading in the direction of the mesa. Transforming into its X-Cyclone mode, Tails to land the vehicle and ventured into the forest. Acorn One descended not long after, with Antoine carefully maneuvering the aircraft. The forest was humid, but not so much that it was uncomfortable, and the canopy was thick enough that it would shelter them from the oncoming storm.
"Well so much for that," Sonic said, dropping down from the X-Cyclone.
"How long do you think this storm will keep us grounded for?" Chris inquired.
"Difficult to say," Tails admitted, "We'll need to tap into the weather satellites and see for ourselves."
The clamshell doors of Acorn One slid open and the others immediately began disembarking.
"Let's get camp set up," Sally suggested, "Tails and Rotor, why don't you two grab the telecom equipment and get us into contact with Mobotroplis."
"Rodger, Aunt Sally."
Watching the Fox and the Walrus head into Acorn One, the Princess turned her attention to the others.
"Sonic, I want you to conduct a quick reconnaissance of the area."
With a nod of his head, the supersonic Hedgehog disappeared into the surrounding wilderness.
"Amy, take Sticks and go gather some firewood."
The Hedgehog and Badger immediately headed off in the opposite direction, intent on carrying out the Princess' command.
"I can grab that picnic basket Ella gave us," Chris stated.
"That'd be good, Chris."
As the adolescent human wondered off, Sally discovered that Muttski was approaching her.
"I've managed to access a weather satellite, Your Highness."
"What did you find," she asked, ignoring his overly formal address.
The Canine handed over the AVA, which was displaying a slow-moving weather system. There was no way to know how long the storm would last, making landing the right decision.
"Alright, why don't you give Rotor and Tails a hand."
Muttski hadn't even manage to take a step away before Sonic returned, the Hedgehog having covered the entire mesa.
"It's just us up here," he reported.
"Then there's nothing we can do but hunker down for the evening."
Location: Murasia
One hour later…
Having gathered around a roaring campfire, the group dined on what Ella had prepared for them. As usually she had not disappointed, as she had provided them with prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella sandwiches with pesto aioli. Despite the storm's arrival, it wasn't enough to prevent the group from engaging in conversation. Rotor sat separate from his companions; his attention focused on surveying the region's topography.
"Found anything?" Sally asked, approaching the Walrus.
"A whole lotta nothing," he admitted, "I really wish whoever our benefactor is had provided us with coordinates."
"Chuck said that it was probably hidden. Where do you think the most likely candidate would be?"
"Mount Murasia, but that's an active volcano."
"I wouldn't be too sure," NICOLE stated from Sally's hip.
Grabbing the handheld, the chipmunk opened the device and caused the Lynx's holographic form to manifest. It wasn't the full-sized version she normally displayed, as it would require a more robust power source.
"What makes you say that?"
"I've been looking over the historical records, but I've not found any instance where Mount Murasia erupted."
"Are you suggesting they've hidden themselves in the volcano?"
"I'm saying that's not a volcano."
"Just because there's no record of an eruption doesn't mean that it isn't volcanically active," Rotor stated, "And isn't it a commonly held belief that the Murasian Civilization was destroyed by a volcanic eruption?"
"That's only a theory," NICOLE reminded.
"Rotor, are you still linked with the satellites?"
The Walrus gave the Chipmunk a perplexed look, unsure what the royal was trying to get at.
"For the next few minutes, I will be."
"Try pulling up thermal imaging over Mount Murasia."
Doing as instructed, Rotor's fingers tapped at the AVA's transparent blue touchscreen. Pulling up satellite imagery, the Walrus immediately switched the device over to thermal imaging.
"I'm picking up heat sources emanating from the mountain," Rotor reported, "But none of them enough for it to be considered volcanically active."
"I think it would be in our best interest if we send the X-Tornado to conduct reconnaissance of the mountain," Sally stated.
"Tails and I will have to install the surveillance equipment."
"We'll worry about that tomorrow."
