Peopleopolis was an awe-inspiring sight. It was a vast city of towering buildings of wildly differing shapes and architectures, yet the multiple designs seemed to fit together seamlessly.
"This is amazing" said Glimmer. She looked around in wonder as the Animax drove through the city, people waving to them and calling out happy greetings as they passed.
"It certainly is" Tarmac agreed. "It's the biggest city on the entire Liteside."
"I've never seen anything like it." Glimmer frowned as she thought how something like Peopleopolis could never be built on Etheria as long as the Horde ruled.
"Are you okay Glimmer?" Tarmac asked.
"Oh I'm fine" she replied. "I was just reminded of something."
"When we get to the Great Museum you can tell us everything."
"Great Museum?" Glimmer repeated curiously.
"That's right."
Before long they came to a large building with golden walls and a flight of steps leading up to a pair of black and white double doors. The Animax parked in front of the steps and the Road Tamers got out.
"Wait here Jungle Max" said Max Action. His partner made a low rumbling noise like a purr in reply.
Glimmer followed the Road Tamers up the steps and into the museum. Inside was a vast chamber filled with all manner of vehicles, ranging from horse-drawn carriages to large flying craft. Many of the designs were completely foreign to Glimmer.
Max smiled as he noticed someone. "Ah, there's Heater."
"Any excuse" Rhinox muttered with the same grin he'd had before.
Curious, Glimmer looked over to see who they were talking about. A short distance away was a beautiful young woman with long black hair wearing a purple jumpsuit and black boots. She was standing in front of a small crowd of people and gesturing at a white vehicle that looked like a space craft.
"This is a model of the Space Shuttle, a low Earth orbital spacecraft system used from the year 1981 to 2011 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration" she said, her voice calm and clear. "It was…"
She stopped as she saw the Road Tamers. "Hello Max" she called as she waved to him with a bright smile.
"Hello Heater" he replied as they walked up to her. "Good to see you again."
"Likewise" she said "Oh and the other Road Tamers too of course."
"This is Glimmer" said Max. "Glimmer, this is Heater Delight, Caretaker of the Great Museum."
"Nice to meet you Glimmer" said Heater as they shook hands.
"Same to you" she replied.
Max's expression turned serious. "There's something important that we need to discuss" he said. "Heater, can we talk to you in private?"
She nodded and then turned to the crowd. "I'm sorry everyone. Please come back tomorrow and we'll finish the tour then."
"No problem. Road Tamer business is top priority" said one woman as the people left. Once they were all gone Heater led Glimmer and the Road Tamers to a sitting room with comfortable chairs.
"We can talk here" she said. Once everyone had taken a seat she asked, "so what is it that we need to discuss?"
She listened intently as the Road Tamers recounted how they had met Glimmer. When they had finished Glimmer told them her story, having decided that she could trust them. She told them all about Etheria and the Great Rebellion's struggle against the Horde.
"Whoa, this Hordak guy sounds as bad as X-Tinctor" Rhinox commented.
"At least X-Tinctor doesn't have a galaxy-spanning empire behind him" Tiger Trakker added.
"Yes" Glimmer agreed. "The Great Rebellion has pledged to free Etheria from his rule. Can you help me get back?"
Heater glanced at Max and he gave her a small nod. "There may be a way" she said. "My mother had a secret laboratory under the museum with a lot of advanced technology. There might be something that could help you."
Max and Tiger Trakker resisted the urge to glance at each other as she spoke. Most of the technology in the secret lab, including the equipment used to clone Max, had been destroyed when the Motor Mutants had attacked it, but Heater had managed to salvage some technology that could be useful.
The three of them had talked about whether or not to tell Tarmac and Rhinox about the lab. Tiger had been against it, not wanting to take the chance they might figure out about Max being a clone, but Max and Heater had pointed out that if they ever needed to use any of the salvaged equipment then Tarmac and Rhinox would ask questions about where it came from. In any case Max didn't want to keep any more secrets from his team-mates than necessary. In the end Tiger had agreed. Fortunately they didn't suspect anything.
"At the very least it couldn't hurt to try" said Tarmac.
"Thank you all" said Glimmer.
They followed Heater down into the lab. It was a sight to behold, filled with high-tech machinery. Unlike Horde laboratories which always seemed menacing, this one inspired feelings of awe and wonder.
Heater pointed to a fluorescent slab with a clear oblong suspended overhead. On the surface of the oblong were display screens and keypad controls. "Okay Glimmer, lay down here and I'll get some readings."
"Okay." Glimmer did as instructed. Heater slid the oblong over her head and activated the device. A beam of green light played over Glimmer, scanning her. The display screens filled with data while the Road Tamers watched curiously. After a few moments the beam disappeared. Heater moved the oblong back.
"Okay you can sit up now."
"Did the scan find anything?" Glimmer asked.
"Yes. It seems that when that horde device's bolt hit you it opened a micro-tear in the space-time continuum. In the process your entire body was infused with some kind of electromagnetic particles. If we can energise those particles they'll re-open the micro-tear and send you back to your own world."
Her eyes shone with hope. "Really?"
"I think so but we have to hurry. If too much time passes then the trail back to Etheria will grow cold. If that happens you'll be transported to somewhere completely random."
Glimmer's hopeful expression became one of dismay as she heard that.
"How long do we have?" Tiger Trakker asked.
"About two hours."
"Then we have no time to waste" said Max. "Heater, what do you need to energise the particles?"
"I have everything needed except for a power regulator."
"No problem, we got one at the Jungle Lair" said Rhinox.
"Tarmac, Power Horse is the fastest of our Animax. Head to the Jungle Lair and bring the power regulator back here" Max ordered.
"Right away" he replied. "Don't worry Glimmer, we'll get you home."
"Thank you" she said with a radiant smile.
Tarmac and Power Horse departed immediately. To help keep Glimmer's mind off her predicament while they waited, the other Road Tamers told her about their world and their exploits against the Motor Mutants. She listened in fascination.
"Wow, the Liteside sounds like a wonderful place. I wish I had time to see more of it."
"It certainly is" Max replied. "And from what you've told us of Etheria it sounds amazing too. Except for the Horde of course."
"It's a pity we can't go with you and help fight those guys" said Rhinox. "We'd teach them a lesson."
"Likewise it's too bad your rebel friends can't come here and help us against the Motor Mutants" Tiger Trakker added.
"You all seem to be doing a great job of keeping this world safe as you are" she said.
Just then Heater hurried in. "Tarmac's in trouble" she said. "The Motor Mutants have him surrounded just outside the city."
"Let's go!" Max called. The Road Tamers donned their helmets as they leapt to their feet.
"I'm coming too" said Glimmer. "I won't let him be hurt trying to help me."
"All right" Max agreed. "You ride with Tiger."
"Let's kick some mutant exhaust!" Rhinox exclaimed.