This chapter will take place at a familiar location for the heroes from the last story, and the return of a familiar face!
Ch29: The Cipher
Back in the wasteland, at the Monk Temple, Seem and her fellow monks were currently still doing their own research. Joining them was Volteer, Cyril and Zaxto trying to aid them in the search into the catacombs. Even though the dragons couldn't interpret the runes the library scripts were written in, their taller stature at least helped in collecting scripts a lot faster for the monks. At one end of the table where nearly a dozen scripts had been unraveled, Volteer and Cyril were overseeing Seem as she and two of her monks were reading them.
"Despite these texts being written in a foreign language unknown to us, clearly there is a dense conglomeration of knowledge embedded in every paragraph, if not every line," Volteer said aloud.
Seem was still getting used to the electric guardian's excessive use of words, but kindly replied, "Yes Guardian Volteer, our predecessors spent the majority of their lives collecting and recording all of this, a tradition we still carry today."
"That's quite a legacy," Cyril commented, "though you should see the library we have in the Dragon City of Warfang, its perhaps triple the size of this one! One could spend a lifetime scouring every shelf."
"I wouldn't doubt anyone who attempted would Guardian Cyril," said Seem in agreement.
"Yes, in fact it's how I found my most eager student, isn't that right Zaxto?" Volteer asked his student.
However, there was no response. The dragons looked across the table and saw that Zaxto appeared to be engrossed in the texts spread out on the table in front of him. He must have not heard anything from them since he didn't even look up.
"Zaxto?" Volteer asked again, with still no response.
Volteer tried once more with a firmer tone, "Young dragon!"
Zaxto blurted out, "AAH! WAIT! WHAT? WHERE'S THE FIRE?!"
Zaxto looked up to see his mentor glaring at him, and Cyril and Seem looking at him stunned. "Oh master, sorry did you say something?"
"Yes I did, twice in fact. what happened? Did you get lost in some novel?" the teacher asked his student.
"I'm actually trying my hand at learning the language master, thanks to these interpretation scrolls the monks provided. I'm using them to attempt in reading this manuscript, so actually yeah, hehe, I am getting lost in a novel," Zaxto explained.
"You are becoming your world's first Elorian translator?" questioned Seem.
"Yes maam, hoping to be anyway," Zaxto answered.
Cyril cut in and said, "Young Zaxto, while I do not deny your study habits are the greatest among the current acolytes, no one can hope to learn an entire language in the course of a day."
"I'm not saying I can master it, just be useful enough to help make some headway." The acolyte replied before continuing, "besides Master Cyril, I'll have you know I spent a whole week learning the lost language of the ancient Magic Crafters, mastering it in said time."
'And Volteer calls me arrogant' Cyril thought to himself, Zaxto's boast clearly not lacking pride like himself.
"It's true, he spoke several fluent paragraphs in clear translation, it's how he attained his passing marks to acolyte," said Volteer.
Zaxto spread a wide grin in response to his comment. Cyril, Seem and the other monks just sighed. At that moment, the Head Research Monk walked over to the table and sat down next to Zaxto.
"I found some more material in ancient precursor architecture, I'll start with this one, and whenever you feel comfortable with interpretation, jump in with the next one young scholar," he told Zaxto.
"You got it sir," said Zaxto.
Watching the two converse, Seem thought, 'Guardian Terrador definitely chose the right acolyte to stay behind, I just hope the other two will become accustomed to Spargus just the same.'
In Spargus, defenses were being organized through efforts provided by Sig, on Damas's orders. Kleiver had finished pillaging most of the marauder scraps he had scavenged and was over at the Spargus gun turret ensuring it was up to spec. At the same time, Damas was conversing with Terrador, who just as he promised, had brought from the temple Chloro and Saphira to help aid in Spargus defense. Once the shock had subsided for both the wastelanders and the acolytes upon their arrival, introductions were made and each of them set out to aid the Spargus natives in any way they could. Currently, Chloro was with Sig over near the far end of the city near the beach. He was organizing defense plans and contingency attack plans with the Spargus warriors and gunners. Sig continued to converse to everyone who sat in front of him.
"We'll need each of our vulnerable sections protected by at least 2 guns, so the pair near the gate will protect against the southeast side, the pair in between will cover the southwest, and lastly the final one mounted at the end plus the main cannon here in the city will cover our coastal side."
"There's only five of us to handle six guns, who is going to man the sixth?" asked one wastelander.
"Jak and Kleiver are the ones who have handled the main cannon the best, Jak will be primary once he gets back, and in case he doesn't, Kleiver will be backup," Sig answered.
"Alright, but where does he fit in all this?" Another wastelander asked gesturing to Chloro. "We appear to have all of our bases covered, so what do we need these dragons for anyway?"
Chloro kept quiet but still felt some resentment at that comment, as did Sig who said, "Now that is no way…
"Hold on Sig!" said the first wastelander who spoke, "Look pal, I know we are all sketchy about the presence of these outworlders being here, but after seeing how two of them selflessly help defend us and our families from those filthy marauders, I think we can extend to be more lenient."
Chloro gave a grateful nod to the speaker in response, and the wastelander continued while turning from his fellow native to the dragon, "though the question still holds, where are you and the rest of your kind going to station yourselves in this defense?"
"Well to clarify sir, though we dragons are the newcomers here, we have an advantage you natives don't, natural flight. So we will provide aerial cover, and split the area in between both our peoples, while everyone else covers the ground below, that way any open windows are minimized if not eliminated," Chloro answered.
"That all sounds good, but you should know you dragons aren't the only ones who can fly out here, marauders ain't the only things littering this desert. Metalheads are loose around here as well, and some have been reported to fly like your kind can," replied the first wastelander.
"If that's the case so be it, because believe me sir, your people aren't the only ones with a vendetta against these metalheads," Chloro said remembering Jaks story of how the metalheads destroyed the original dragon homeworld long ago. All the wastelanders and Sig gave a look of realization, knowing the dragon wouldn't hesitate to crush a metalhead once he saw one.
Saphira meanwhile, was with Damas and Terrador in the Spargus marketplace speaking with the vendors. Damas was clarifying with the shopkeepers about the provisions that would be dispersed and saved among the populace. When holding out for an inevitable battle, it was always critical to ensure the army fighting would be sustained after all, something Terrador was quite familiar with.
"Having enough to sustain your armies is one thing, but the matter to be addressed is leaving them out in the open to be destroyed and soiled is some cause for concern," Terrador said first before asking Damas, "Though I presume you already have a means of fortifying your provisions for safekeeping?"
"Indeed, in fact there are storehouses located all across Spargus, each one known only to the local residents of the area, and all are known by me of course," Damas replied.
"Which would guarantee being able to replenish anywhere in the city, correct?" asked Terrador.
"Correct," Damas answered.
"Lord Damas I daresay your battlefield preparations rival even my own, and I don't recall ever meeting an equal on my own world!" Terrador said, causing everyone present to chuckle.
"Yes, well that's our King Damas," said a female warrior standing by her shopkeeper husband who nodded in response.
"And that's Master Terrador," Saphira added in diverting their attention. "In fact my mentor Master Cyril once told me the story of how the Earth guardian was able to fend off an entire swarm of vicious dreadwings from a mole encampment. They were in deep woods on a trek to eliminate remainders of the former dark armies, and had run out of provisions. Then the dreadwings appeared out of nowhere to swarm and eliminate them all, but thanks to a contingency provided by Terrador, various traps were sprung, and he along with our mole allies eliminated all the dreadwings with no casualties."
"That so lass?"asked the shopkeeper, "well 3 years ago, Lord Damas once held off an entire metalpede incursion from these very walls. He had just had those guns mounted as an extra security measure against such hostiles. They had their first test run that day, with the king himself manning the one by the gate, and that was a victory we celebrated all day and night!"
Needless to say both Terrador and Damas were both flattered and embarrassed being reminded of their great moments, but the king ended it saying, "Alright everyone, that's enough storytime. It is well in learning from past victories, but it also important remembering what went wrong to learn even more from. We may have had a recent victory, but that does not entitle us to be arrogant. Remember the fight to come is against an enemy like none we have ever encountered, so preparation and patience are everything."
"Lord Damas is correct, so we best continue where we left off. Saphira aid in the populace with having as many provisions stored in these storehouses as possible," Terrador said, with the blue dragoness nodding in response.
"Whichever group she is aiding will be responsible for directing her to them, now let's move everyone, time is ticking away," said Damas. They all bowed as the leaders dispersed in the opposite direction, and Saphira walked up to the shopkeeper couple as they began gathering everything together.
Damas continued conversing with Terrador, "Springing a trap to capture your enemy unaware? It sounds like simple tactics are often the most effective anywhere."
"Sometimes one must refer to the basics to regain advantage, and yet you have secured your city greater than most fortresses I have ever seen. Makes me believe the danger we have most recently encountered is only the tip of the iceberg," commented Terrador.
"Believe me guardian, you have no idea, though I fear you will soon," Damas replied somewhat somberly.
Watching them walk away, Saphira couldn't help but observe something while she spoke to the Spargus couple, "If I may say so, your king seems to be more of a warrior rather than a ruler, from what I can tell at least from my experience."
"Have you met any other kings lass?" asked the shopkeeper.
"Not personally, but we do have a Dragon King back home in Warfang. Though he speaks more regally with longer speeches of inspiration. Whereas your King Damas seems just as inspiring with short speeches and direct action. Much like how Master Terrador always does."
"Perhaps there as many differences between our worlds as there are similarities, no two kingdoms are ruled the same after all, even on our own world," said the shopkeepers wife.
"Very true," Saphira, "but maybe we can continue comparing worlds after we get all your food stores…"
"Mom...Dad!"
Saphira was interrupted as she turned to see two children, a boy and a girl running toward the shopkeeper couple. Their parents faces went cheerful as they embraced them. Needless to say the heart warming moment was felt by Saphira too.
"There you are! Did you finished getting washed up?" asked their father.
"Yeah Dad! Were ready to help," said the daughter.
"Though I much rather be helping wipe out those marauders!" said the son. His parents chuckled at their son's battle spirit.
"They'll be time for that later young man, for now why don't you help our guest with finding our storehouses," said their mom gesturing to Saphira.
The children looked at the blue dragoness wide-eyed. They were among those who originally met Terrador, but never actually spoke to him. They still weren't sure how to properly speak to these foreign creatures, so they started with something simple.
"Uh hi," said the boy nervously.
Saphira gave a warm smile and said, "hello little one, I'm Saphira."
"Wow, that's a pretty name," said the daughter.
Her parents chucked at the sweet scene as Saphira blushed, "thank you, so can you both help me where we need to go?"
"You got it! Follow me!" responded the boy.
"Not without these," his father said placing a sack in front of him. The kid groaned while everyone just laughed a bit in good spirit.
Setting: Haven City Sewers
The hero party in the sewers were feeling quite damp making their way deeper in. They had just recovered from a waterfall slide that took them down to a lower level. Afterwards, they made their way back up over a flowing sewer river to another junction. Upon making the next turn after it, they ran into a grated metal wall, which blocked them from advancing any further, that is except for in the water or the air.
Spyro, Cynder and Sparx all flew over the wall while Jak, Daxter and Calidan dived down under it. Upon breaking the surface again, they looked up to see the dragons engaging more deathbots perched on another walkway up top. Daxter had to ask Jak, "why couldn't you take a hint from them and fly over the wall too?"
"Guess I just forgot, besides we're already wet, what's one more sewer dive?" Jak threw back.
"One more too many that's what!" Daxter argued. Jak just shook his head and saw a series of revolving steps protruding out from the waterfall in front.
"Come on rogue! We're heading up!" Jak called.
"Right behind you, and stop calling me that!" Calidan yelled back.
They made their way up and saw the dragons on the walkway, they made their way over and regrouped. They all jumped up another series of revolving steps and found another wave of deathbots in front of them. Each of them took out at least one, ending the sewer opposition. Jak looked across the junction and could see the power box they were looking for embedded in the far wall. They all made their way across, and Jak pulled down the lever. An electrical pulse sound was heard in high pitch, and then faded away.
"You guys keep the surprises coming! The Power Room door is now open Jak, make your way there and we will stay in contact!" Packer said over the communicator.
Jak turned and directed the hero party to the exit door at the end of the power box hall. On the other side was another large area, where what appeared to be a large metal cylinder was stationed in the center. They trekked up the series of steps leading to it, and found a door embedded in it. On the other side was a door to an elevator and they all boarded.
Soon they reached the surface, and once the door locks fully opened up, the heroes found themselves at the bottom of a metal channel, similar to the first sewer entrance they remembered in Haven. Upon making their way up to top ground, they discovered they were in the middle of the KG city area. All present were concerned they may be ambushed by more deathbots soon.
"Do you think the KG knows we are here?" asked Spyro.
"I'm sure they do," Jak answered glaring at a nearby security camera, "but that's not going to stop us, come on let's move swiftly to the Power Room, follow me!"
He took out his jetboard from his back and activated it. He jumped on and he jetted away around the nearby corner to the Power Room. The dragons took flight leaving Calidan to pick up the rear with no means of quick transportation.
"What?! Hey! Wait!" He groaned before collecting himself to run. Jak rode the board around to the middle of the KG area, and toward the walkway ramp that led to the Power Room entrance. He reached the ramp in time, but as he made his way up, he noticed some more spydroids attempting to stop him. However a quick activation of the jetboards repulse burst blew them away. Soon he brought the board to a stop right in front of the door. He dismounted and re-holstered it while waiting for everyone else. Spyro and Sparx arrived in no time flat.
"Where's Cynder?" asked Jak.
"She was right behind me," said Spyro.
Suddenly the sound of flapping wings got their attention, and Cynder emerged from below the walkway while hoisting up Calidan via their arms. She allowed Calidan to touch down next to Spyro. Then she landed herself.
"Thanks," he said to Cynder.
"Anytime," said Cynder before glaring at Jak. "Next time make sure we all can keep up before you bring that thing out, alright?"
"Right," replied Jak before turning to the new recruit, "Sorry about that Cal, though I'm surprised you've never made a board yourself, being a mechanic on your own."
"Never found the right components, besides that wouldn't make up for the advantage you guys all have flying, and that is what I'm aiming to change," Calidan explained.
"What are you gonna do? Grow wings like Jak?" Daxter asked sarcastically.
"Don't be ridiculous, now come on let's go in and search the place," Calidan said turning to the Power Room.
They all approached its door and it opened for them. Jak went in first with Daxter, followed by Spyro, Cynder, Sparx, and Calidan. The Power Room interior was like how they all remembered, minus Calidan, except the virtual orb that used to float in the center was gone, and the warp gate at the other end was deactivated. Some changes had clearly been made since it was rebuilt after its destruction at the end of the metalhead invasion.
"Sweet layout," Calidan commented.
"Been a long time since the last time we were in here, but it's nice to see it all repaired now," said Spyro.
"So you guys remember this place too huh?" Daxter asked the dragons.
"Definitely, and we also remember the late ally we met here," Cynder said somberly.
"Yeah, I sure miss good ol Vin," Daxter replied.
"We all do," Spyro nodded.
"Yup Vin was a good guy, though a bit crazy," Jak added.
"Agree with ya there dude," finished Sparx, until a surprise voice startled them all...
*Hey! Who are you calling crazy?! I can't help it if the world is out to get me!*
"Who said that?!" Calidan looked around in a slight panic, who thought no one else was in the room until now.
"It can't be!" Cynder gasped.
"Was that?" Spyro said recognizing the voice.
"VIN!" Daxter said jumping down from Jaks shoulder while scoping out the interior, "wait a minute! Is that you?"
*Yeah it's me, well actually…*
A static face appeared right in front of them, one whom all who were familiar with him recognized. Vin had returned, though not in the way they expected. He had no body, and was a floating head of static.
*...no it's not. I'm a multi layer hyper linking, digi-mech, bio-construct, super clocked, mega-memory construct baby!*
Everyone was stupefied by his lengthy explanation. Spyro and his friends couldn't follow his explanation at all. It sounded like an Elorian version of one of Volteer's lectures.
"Did you understand a word he said?" Daxter asked Jak who shook his head no.
"We're even more lost," Spyro added, and then all of them turned to Calidan.
"Don't look at me, he spoke too fast for me to even listen," said Calidan. Seeing how all of them were at a loss, Vin attempted to explain in simple terms.
*uh, when the city was overrun by metalheads, before they got to me, I dumped my brain into the eco grid. Everything's great now, those monsters cant get me in here! Heh, or can they?*
"He's even crazier then I remember," Sparx whispered to Spyro, after hearing what Vin had done to survive.
"Maybe, but at least he's alive, sort of," Cynder commented.
"Listen Vin, I'm happy you're...whatever you are, but right now we need to get into the war factory but the doors are sealed. We think the code to open the doors is hidden in the system," said Jak.
*It is*
"Really?" said Jak.
*Positive*
"Can you get it for us?" asked Daxter.
*Negative*
"Why not?" Daxter asked back.
*Because if you had half a brain cycle, you'd know those access codes are guarded by the central system, ancient nasty circuits in there, even we bit-sized brains can't nibble around there without getting our butts erased!*
"Erased?" asked Sparx.
"I'm pretty sure its synonymous with dead," Cynder explained to him, causing Sparx to gulp.
"We don't go directly for it then, if we can just get close we can lower the defenses and obtain it," said Jak.
*How do you expect to do that? Dump your brains too? Though I admit it would be nice to have a companion in here, oh we'd have so much fun*
"Yeah, let's not consider that option, like at all," Daxter said somewhat begging.
"Maybe we can interface with it and navigate another way," Calidan said pulling back his sleeve to reveal his left hand gauntlet.
"What good will your trigger do?" asked Jak.
*Trigger?!*
"This thing can do more than detonate bombs, with the right connection I should be able to interface with any system and display it on here. However I need the right hardware and interpreter," said Calidan looking at Vin. The others following his lead.
*What? me?*
"Who else Mr. Vin? This is your homestead, and from what I've seen and heard you know the system inside and out. I don't, so what do you say?" Calidan asked the virtual intelligence.
*I say...who are you?*
"I'm Cal the new guy, we can share stories later, now do you have anything I can use to interface with?"
*Perhaps, all old hardware was kept at the bottom of the station. Here, I can give you a lift down.*
They looked up to see Vin's old hovercraft descend from the ceiling of the Power room and set down next to him. Calidan climbed aboard and turned to the rest.
"You guys coming?" he asked.
"We don't know technology like you do, this is your area," replied Spyro.
"Just don't mess with anything down there you shouldn't," Jak stated.
"Sure thing...fearless," Calidan remarked as the hovercraft lifted up over the railing and descended.
"Is he ever going to stop calling me that?" Jak asked aloud.
"Maybe he will once you stop calling him rogue," remarked Cynder.
The hovercraft reached the bottom, and it was nearly pitch black down below, forcing Calidan to turn on his goggle light. He walked around the Power room basement interior, it was circular and littered with cables and pipes along the walls and even across the floors. Ahead of him he saw what appeared to be a load of toolboxes. A sign hanging in the vicinity said 'maintenance'. Knowing he was where he wanted to be, he started his search.
For about 15 minutes he scoured through every toolbox that was present, still coming up empty. Then while searching the next box, he saw it was labeled 'connectors'. He opened it and found what he had been looking for. Wires with various attachments designated for specific connection ports. He picked it up and prepared to head back to the hovercraft until he saw something else out of the corner of his eye. His light was shining on another chest labeled 'power supplies'.
He immediately remembered his invention, how it was missing a stabilization conduit and power source box. The contents of that chest could be the solution! Realizing he was pressed for time he made his way over to it quickly and opened it. It was indeed full of a lot of hardware, a lot of which he knew he could use. He said to himself, "this just might be the gold mine I was looking for."
However, he knew he didn't have the time to search through it all. Remembering the present priorities, he simply retrieved the connectors toolbox and headed for the hovercraft. Up above, the rest of the party was still waiting, while conversing at the same time.
"So you've managed to preserve your mind in a way that's also able to preserve your soul?" Cynder asked Vin.
*That's one way of putting it, yes, for my neural transmission also included my consciousness, otherwise well, I would just be a blank ghost in the machine.*
"Now that I understood," stated Daxter.
"Congratulations," Jak said mockingly causing everyone to snicker. Daxter scowled back until they heard the hovercraft emerge from below. Calidan sat it down and exited.
"Sure took a while, did you find anything?" Jak asked.
"Found this," said Calidan holding the toolbox, before letting it down and opening it up.
"I know what connector my gauntlet uses, I just need to know what to use for the system interface," Calidan explained to them.
*Look for a Ontranet connection head* said Vin, causing everyone to look at him stupefied again, even Cal, who had no education on the technical terms that Haven uses.
*Oh right, um, it looks like a little ducks mouth.*
"Thank you for finally speaking English," said Sparx.
Calidan emptied the connectors and found three with his gauntlet connection port. He held them up for everyone to see.
"This is the port my gauntlet uses," said Calidan.
*An H-sub Port? Those haven't been used since the B-zone power grid, the transfer was always sluggish* Vin explained.
"Yeah well in the wasteland, one works with whatever he's got, now which one is the Ontranet head?" Calidan asked Vin laying the cords in front of his virtual head.
*In the middle*
Calidan took the middle cord and plugged the one end into his gauntlet. He took the other end in his hand and walked up to the console.
*You can plug into the port right in front of me. Keep in mind that once your in the system, the main security will slam down hard. Then it will be up to you beat the security puzzle and get out, otherwise your gauntlet will be eco-zapped and inoperable for good.*
"Well, better the gauntlet than any of our lives right?" Daxter asked glad he wasn't risking his tail to be permanently digitized for a stupid key.
"Yes, though that still doesn't change that this might be our only chance, no pressure," Jak said to Calidan, making him glare at him.
*Alright Cal dude, whenever your ready, input!*
Calidan nodded and inserted the cord into the port. His gauntlet screen came alive with a new interface and was immediately shown a square puzzle made with a center complex. The game was on as used his touchscreen interface.
With some clever quick thinking, Calidan managed to bypass the security measures. The cipher had been unlocked! A key code immediately loaded onto the Power Room main screen, as well as the gauntlet.
"Jackpot," said a smirking Cal.
"We've got the cipher!" cheered Jak. Everyone else's faces lit up as well. Suddenly, a static image of Torn showed up in the room next to Vin.
"Great work Jak, we just got the info beamed here, that cipher key will unlock the war factory doors, well get on it right away and get back to you."
"Listen Vin we've got things to do, but well keep in touch, we promise," Jak told Vin before he turned to exit with the dragons and sidekicks.
Torn's head turned toward Vin's, "Good to see your still around Vin, the city has literally gone to hell without you."
*I know, all the more reason why I'm in here! While still making sure nothing else here gets broken.*
"Good to hear, and we'll be working on an open connection for you, don't worry you wont be locked in here forever," Torn's head vanished at that instant.
*Sure! take your time...really no rush* Vin still wasn't sure about leaving what he believed to be the safe confines of the eco grid to venture to the outside world again.
"Excuse me Mr. Vin," Calidan brought his attention back, "I noticed a box of some power supply hardware down there that could complete my current project back home. Can I scour through it at a later time?"
Everyone had halted to hear Calidan and Vin's conversation , while Vin pondered what he was asking for a moment, *Power supply…oh that chest! Sure! In fact, take the whole thing! That stuff went obsolete with the old system anyway.*
"Really? Thank you! I'll come back for it I promise," Calidan said before turning around to exit with the hero party.
Of course I was going to bring Vin back! Wouldn't be the same without him, coming up next, the KG War Factory!
SIDE NOTE: I've also finished making edits to my original story "When Heroes Collide," feel free to check it out and review there too!
