A few days after they had met with the Organization, Sarah found herself in the Port Court and was mentally preparing herself to talk with Queen Aszil. With everything she had found out with her friends, she was ready to ask the hard questions.

They knew the creature's intentions; they knew why we were going to use them to find something in Chaotic and they knew they wouldn't do it.

Sarah tapped the table as Tom asked, "You sure you are ready for this?"

"Yeah. I got to find out why they decided to use me for this. We figured it out, so it might be better for them to come clean with me." Sarah replied as she tapped on her scanner. She gazed at the creatures wandering around. One per tribe.

"You think something is going on Sarah? I mean, I feel like they are on high alert for something." Tom commented as he pointed at them.

"I know. It's like they think something might attack soon." Sarah said, examining the creatures.

"I have no idea what is going on." Tom admitted.

Sarah frowned as she pushed her blond hair away from her face. She looked at her friend and asked, "What about you? Got more from him?"

"Not yet." Tom replied. He grabbed his scanner and said, "I'll wait for Peyton and we'll go on a scan quest in the Arsenal. It might be safe in the city, but with everything going on," Tom pointed his finger at her, "and how much you've insisted, I'll go with him."

"Good. You're learning," Sarah said sarcastically.

"And you, going alone to meet the queen or are you waiting for Kaz?" Tom asked, daring her to answer.

"Not a chance. They'll chase after us or him if I do that. It's too much trouble to just wander around." Sarah saw her friend frowning at her. She knew he was about to call her out, "Unless he comes with me and we sneak around until we find Odu-Bathax or Wamma, then he ports out."

"Better. You are learning." Tom said smugly, smirking at her.

"Yeah. Yeah. I know, but it's much more complicated in Mount Pillar. Maybe I should also bring this up. I mean, I barely showed up there and I might have some leverage. Almost no chance, but might as well try." Sarah suggested.

"Best you try."

The two stood up and were ready to port to Perim.

"Tom. Be careful."

"You too."

They waited for their friends to show up before porting to Perim.

Chapter 56: Confronting The Queen

It took half an hour, but Kaz finally ported into Mount Pillar with her.

"I know you're nervous Kaz, but if I don't go in there alone, Tom might do something like that again." Sarah sighed as she walked with Kaz.

"Yeah. I know. Sarah, are you sure you're ready to talk with her and ask everything?" Kaz asked.

They said nothing as a patrol passed near them. When it was clear, they continued as they searched for Wamma or Odu-Bathax.

"Yeah. I'm ready. I have to tell her what's in my mind and if it's going bad, I'll port out." Sarah replied.

"Better be quick enough about it." Kaz sighed as resigning himself.

The two continued for a while until they heard someone and hid.

"There is an intruder at the entrance!" Said the voice of Odu-Bathax as it echoed through the cavern.

"There he is." Kaz whispered quietly.

"Just stay here until I'm gone." Sarah told him. She crawled towards another hiding spot, just to be sure that no Danians would check where her friend was hiding. Once she was there, she approached the blue Danian.

The creature noticed her and grumbled, "What are you doing hiding like that?" Odu-Bathax quickly approached her with heavy steps, "You have no reason to do that. No one would chase you." He grumbled as if she were an idiot.

Sarah noticed the undertone, but didn't press on it. She stood up and replied, "Reflex. I've done that so many times that I just do it without thinking. Anyway, I came back because I want an audience with the queen."

Odu-Bathax grumbled, uncertain if it was the best time, "I'll send someone for your request."

"I see that you are here Sarah." A voice commented, startling her. Behind Odu-Bathax she saw Lore coming towards her.

At that moment, Kaz heard someone approaching him. It was too risky to stay and decided to port out. Everything would be fine for his friend. He really hoped so at least.

Meanwhile, Sarah nodded, "Yeah. I asked an audience with the queen."

"And what is this about?" The High Muge asked.

"Something between her and me." She replied, not ready to talk to another Danian.

"You should-." the blue danian began before Lore cut him off.

"It's fine Odu-Bathax. I do not mind as she will tell everything to our queen." Lore gazed at the side, "I have to admit that Chaotic isn't what I expected when I first came there. Although, Chaor coming just before me really cut some of that discovery."

"Yeah. It wasn't as chaotic as when Theb-Saar first came." Sarah replied, crossing her arms. It wasn't a nice memory, but not a terrible one either if she was honest.

The High Muge nodded, "Indeed. There are many things there that I would never expect your kind to do. The food in particular was exquisite." He admitted.

"You mean they have good food?" Odu-Bathax asked, curious given that he hadn't been to Chaotic yet.

"Yes. Though the names are foolish, the food is great," he replied.

"It stays with the theme of the Chaotic Game. Of course, there's going to be some stupid name for it." Sarah said waspishly, then asked "And did you ask for someone to get an audience?"

After a short awkward silence, Odu-Bathax went to a guard and asked him to send a message to the queen.

"That was a no." Sarah sighed with both annoyance and amusement that he had been distracted like that.

The reply soon came that the request for an audience had been accepted and Sarah was escorted towards the entrance of the Queen's throne room with Odu-Bathax and Lore following her.

Sarah wasn't happy that those two came with her. She wondered why they even bothered to follow her there. She guessed that Odu-Bathax was to protect the queen, but she had no idea as to why Lore would. Still, it put her in a difficult situation as it would be harder to port out if things went south.

The queen was present, Illexia, the previous queen, standing besides her.

Sarah wondered why Illexia was present when she had asked for an audience with Aszil.

"It has been a while since we last met Sarah." Aszil told her.

"Yeah. There was a lot going on." Sarah replied as she gave a quick gaze at the two danians.

"You asked for an audience with me. It must be something important to officially ask me. Odu-Bathax told me of your previous encounter and that there was something bothering you." The queen said, going straight for the heart of the matter.

Sarah was thankful for that. They didn't need to waste time with words, "Yeah. There is a lot bothering me and I needed to be ready before saying anything stupid or waste our time." She admitted.

"And if you are here, you are ready for this." Illexia said, looking at her curiously.

The girl nodded.

The queen gave her a serious gaze, "Tell us what's in your mind."

The Chaotic Player knew that the queen would take everything seriously. There was nothing friendly in her face or antagonizing. It was the dominant gaze of a ruler. She was thankful for that, "Yeah. The first thing I want to know is the real reason why they let me go around in Mount Pillar. I know it's not just because I saved Queen Illexia. There is something else." Sarah let it in the air and waited for the queen to reply.

"And what makes you think that there is another reason?" Aszil asked, her face neutral.

"Because the other creatures who also came to Chaotic and the fact that M'arrillians are interested in my friend Tom. They kidnapped him for something that had to do with the Cothica." Sarah without voicing her thoughts. She just wanted to see the Queen's face changed.

Odu-Bathax was a little nervous as his antennas twitched. Lore felt the same as his gaze focused forward and away from her.

Sarah looked at them as she heard the twitching. They were avoiding her gaze in order to avoid giving the queen trouble. As for the queen and Illexia, nothing changed on their face.

After a few seconds, Aszil let out a small smile, "You know why we are here. Alright, I won't humor you in waiting any longer." Aszil stood up and approached her, "We came to Chaotic because the other tribes believe we can reach the Cothica from there. Of course, access to the Cothica isn't possible. We cannot do this on our own as we are watched by the defense of Chaotic, which we have no intention of damaging." She stood in front of the human and concluded, "The only way is through your help Sarah. We foresaw this in advance just like the other tribes. We need a guide to reach Cothica and we picked you."

Sarah was dumbfounded that the queen went straight out telling her everything. She had been obvious that she knew their true intention. Still, it felt like it came out of the blue, "Right. That's what I know you are planning. You didn't search for anything. My friends and I know you want us to do something about it."

Illexia gazed at the girl and nodded. Since it had been admitted, even she wouldn't act like it was nothing, "Indeed. We cannot let the other tribes reach it first."

"It took a lot of energy just to find a way to get the Telebracers to reach Chaotic. We were so far behind and we managed to catch on." The queen let out a small smirk and asked, "Since you now know the truth Sarah, maybe you can help us in reaching the Cothica."

The girl knew it would come to this eventually, "I can't. Even if I try anything, they would know I am snooping around."

"And you think it is fine for your kind to show up in Perim, scan things and cause chaos whatever you want?" Lore asked her, his tone questioning rather aggressive.

Sarah couldn't deny that part. She needed to find an explanation, it wasn't that difficult, "If I am caught by them, I don't know what the consequences might be. Maybe I'll get banned from Chaotic and I won't ever come back here. It might be something else and I won't ever be able to try again with one of those battlegear there following me. Besides, my friends would probably be with me if I tried that anyway." Sarah crossed her arms and gazed at the side.

The creatures knew she meant the other players with her. Those three who were also chosen by the tribes as their guide.

"Asking you to search around is as hard a request to ask of you as any other creature." The queen concluded.

Illexia nodded and asked, "And what about Lore's question?"

Sarah wished that question wouldn't come back, "You're right about it being unfair. Still, it won't be the same as here."

"What do you mean?" Odu-Bathax asked as his face was near her. He waited for her to try a lie.

"I can't tell, but it will be really bad. When they try to be 'realistic', it gets really bad in one show I liked."

"Show?"

"It's a story made by people when they want to entertain people. Like theater and stuff like that." Sarah replied, "As for how bad, everyone died in the end."

The Danians gazed at her. That was not the kind of ending in a story they would hear in their life.

Sarah hoped that nothing bad would come since she couldn't help them.

"Then we won't demand you for your help Sarah. The risks are unknown for now," Aszil replied before looking at the Danians, "We have to search for more about Chaotic first."

The creatures nodded.

"Sarah. We hope to see you again." She told the human.

"S-sure." Sarah replied. She couldn't be outraged by something the queen admitted on her own. Maybe it was to avoid wasting time. Even when she was ready, she had been caught off-guard. Good thing she hadn't lie about anything in Chaotic. They knew almost nothing at all and it was a fact, "Thanks for being honest." Sarah added as she took out her scanner.

"There was no point in lying." The queen of the Danians replied frankly.

Sarah ported out, having a little bit of trust back for the Danians.

Lore hesitated for a second, but eventually asked, "I don't want to contest your decision my queen, but is it a good idea to tell Sarah everything?"

"It was clear that she knew what our intention was. She knew what we wanted to do. If we kept it a secret, she would never trust us again." The queen answered, her face pensive.

Illexia had to agree that hiding this would only have had a terrible outcome, "You are right."

Her support put the High Muge at ease and nodded, "Then how shall we find the Cothica?"

"She is still our guide, but we need a chance to reach it. Eventually, she will help us." Aszil said, her voice firm.

Odu-Bathax couldn't wait for his tribe to reach the Cothica first. They would have the greatest advantage against the other tribes.

AC: This is the end of this chapter. I hope you liked it.

Next: Fishing day.

Tom went to check on Phelphor. Kaz insisted coming with him and they met the creature, learning a little more about the M'arrillians culture.