Chapter 5: Mother Earth of Dishonesty

"Okay, so we'll see if the transporter to the area around the Central Dome is functioning, but with the explosion, it may not work. If not, we've got a long hike ahead of us."

Danielle scratched the back of her head slightly. "The transporter isn't far from here, isn't it?"

"No, it's not, but the switch for the gate is on the other side of it." Rico frowned, looking at the locked gate she had found Danielle by. "We'll have to make our way through the entire area to reach it. The security system must have activated automatically when the animals began entering the areas."

Danielle looked up at Rico, brushing a strand of her brown hair out of her face. "Guess things can never be easy, huh…?" She pulled out the Handgun from her vest pocket, handling it carefully as they walked back through the residential section.

"Of course not," Rico answered with a slight smirk on her face. She adjusted her glasses slightly. "If no one's here, they must be inside the Central Dome," she murmured to herself, just barely audible to Danielle. Her smirk had fallen away now. "I hope…" she added quietly.

Danielle looked up at her again, the trees they were walking under filtering the light from the afternoon sun. "Huh…?"

"Sorry, just thinking out loud," Rico replied now, shaking her head. The pathway's gate hissed open before them, opening up into a wide-open area. To their right was a bio-gate, its lines of light glowing red. Left of them was a locked gate, but no switch was near it. Danielle couldn't understand why it was locked. The area looked pretty clear. She was about to step through, but was stopped as Rico held her back by gently gripping her shoulder. "Wait."

Danielle was confused until she saw the ground in the next area shift slightly. "What in the world…?"

"Boomas. They dig through the ground and can pop up almost everywhere. It's rare to ever see just one. They travel in groups almost all the time. Tan-furred Goboomas and purple-furred Gigoboomas are increasingly tougher." Rico readied her Red Saber now. "Didn't you know about them?"

"I… uh… w-well…" Danielle was a bit flustered. "I kinda forgot…"

Rico just shook her head now. "Stay back near the gate and cover me, okay?"

Danielle nodded, raising the Handgun as Rico ran through the gate. As soon as the Boomas dug themselves from the ground, Rico struck with such speed and precision that Danielle stared in awe. In two swipes, both of the animals in front of her fell to the ground. More Boomas and a few Goboomas emerged, Rico lifting her head slightly as she crouched down. She dodged a strike from a Goboomas, spinning in one fluid motion and cutting into its back with her Red Saber. A Booma came up from her left, but she raised her left arm to block the attack with her Red Ring, kicking it hard in the gut. The Booma staggered before Rico thrust her free hand forward, a fireball shooting from it and into the animal's face. The remaining enemies surrounded her, but Danielle could just watch as Rico unleashed her Gifoie technique. Flames wrapped around her, spreading outwards and engulfing the Boomas and Goboomas.

Wow… She really is as good as they say… She thought to herself, completely focused on watching the hunter. "Danielle, behind you!!" Rico shouted now, startling Danielle a bit. She glanced back over her shoulder in time to see a Booma bring its claws down. She let out a yelp of surprise as she staggered out of the way, hearing the claws whistle past her head. If she had been just a second late… Snapping up the Handgun, she let loose a trio of shots that tore into its face. With a moan of pain, the Booma fell forward and didn't move again.

A roar came from her right now, and Danielle took the Handgun in just her right hand before blasting the Booma at point-blank range, the weapon held sideways.

"Wow, not bad," Rico commented, walking up to her now as the gates unlocked. "But you need to pay attention to your surroundings. If you had been alone, you'd be dead right now." She had a serious look on her face as she spoke, making Danielle feel a bit ashamed for making such a stupid mistake. After a second, Rico allowed a slight smile. "Still, though, you did okay for a beginner. I bet you'd make a good Ranger with more training."

The most famous hunter around saying I'd make a good Ranger? No… She's probably just saying that to make me not feel so bad. There's no way I could be a Ranger… Mom is, but I'm not…

Rico headed for the southern gate, glancing back over her shoulder with an encouraging smile. "And I'm not just saying that."

Danielle was caught off guard by this, wondering if it was that obvious what she was thinking. She quickly followed after Rico, shaking off the surprise she felt. Without even thinking, Danielle spoke as they entered the next area. "Mom is a Ranger. I want to be like her, so I practiced a bit until Dad made me stop."

Rico raised an eyebrow now, looking down at her. "Why would he want you to stop?"

"Because he's a jerk," Danielle replied, a hint of anger in her voice. "All he ever cares about is his experiments, especially ever since we arrived. It's like he doesn't even care about me anymore. That's why I ran off."

Rico paused slightly, her eyes flickering a bit. She laid a hand on Danielle's shoulder. "Well, things are different now. You do have someone here who cares about you. Me."

Danielle was even more surprised now, a small smile spreading across her face. She felt better now, more confident than before. She wasn't alone anymore.

Rico nodded to her, then looked up to scan the area. "Okay… That gate to the left leads back to where I found you." She pointed to the gate on the right in the distance, a small creek running near it. "The transporter is right through there." She walked forward now, a focused look on her face as she held her Red Saber in one hand, Danielle keeping close beside her. Rico suddenly tensed up, just as Danielle spotted the shadows on the ground. Three bird-like creatures dropped to the ground, sitting there and not moving towards them. They were just smaller than Danielle, covered in yellow feathers with their stomachs being colored white. Their short wings rested at their sides, red eyes just over its short beak. Two antennae-like appendages rose from their heads, swaying gently in the breeze.

"Uh… Aren't those Rag Rappies? They don't look so dangerous…"

"Looks can be deceiving… Although I have to admit, they are cowards…" Rico pressed a button on her wrist unit, the Red Saber vanishing. Particles of light gathered into Rico's hand now, taking the shape of her Red Handgun. Without waiting, she raised the weapon and firing quickly at the three Rag Rappies, one shot for each of them. As soon as they were hit, the creatures immediately began to scurry away. "Did I mention they were cowards?"

Danielle raised an eyebrow slightly. "Yeah, really…" She walked after Rico once more as they headed for the gate on the right, walking through it. The path curved around slightly, revealing an area slightly smaller than the last with trees spreading their shade over the ground. The transporter was there to the left of the path, still active with red rings of light. "Hey, it's working…! We'll be able to get to the Central Dome quickly now." She looked back at Rico, who nodded a bit. Her expression was hard to read, but Danielle could almost see a look of dread in her eyes. Danielle's smile slowly fell away as she realized what Rico was thinking. There was no telling what awaited them at the Central Dome. Would there be survivors there? Or would everyone be gone or dead? Shuddering a bit, Danielle followed Rico into the transporter, hoping for the best.

-----------------------------------

The warm rain on her face felt comforting… for a whole five seconds. It was just a light shower, but already she was very wet with her shirt plastered to her back. Her wet bangs fell in front of her face, forcing her to continuously brush them out of her way. Danielle gazed up at the dark clouds overhead as they went through a gate and down an incline. When Boomas and Goboomas dug themselves from the wet ground and Rag Rappies dropped from the air, Danielle was ready. As Rico charged in to fight in close-range combat, Danielle covered her with well-placed Handgun shots, scaring off the Rag Rappies. When the final Booma fell, a pack of Savage Wolves leapt into the area, the blue-furred Barbarous Wolf that was the leader growling at them. Danielle stayed back on the incline to where the Wolves couldn't get around to her back so easily, taking careful aim. Two well-placed shots brought down the Barbarous Wolf, and as the Savage Wolves let out mournful howls, Rico rushed in with her Red Daggers and cut a swath through them. The gate before them unlocked, Rico continuing her pattern of recording message capsules before they headed through the gate.

The pathway they were now walking down was a bit narrow, the foliage and naturally-formed rock walls giving them only about eight feet or so of walking space. Rico only glanced into the two gates they passed by, both of them leading only to dead ends. The path opened up to a larger area before them, more Boomas, Goboomas, and Gigoboomas attacking. Rico took one step forward, exchanging her weapon out for her massive Red Sword. Danielle couldn't help but be amazed at how easily the hunter wielded the weapon, not even straining as she swung it. The Savage Wolves that leapt out from the trees hoping to make Rico their next meal were instantly met by a hail of green Photon bullets. When it seemed all clear, Danielle noticed a buzzing sound in the air. "Huh?"

"Oh great… Mothmants," Rico muttered. Danielle frowned, recalling when one of them had attacked her, its needle-sharp mouth going deep into her arm. She raised her gaze skywards, trying to find the Mothmants. That was when she spotted them, lowering some kind of giant nest thing. It had a large, purple sac-like body with green legs that looked like they were composed of vines. "You shoot down the Mothmants. I'll deal with the Monest."

"Uh, right." Danielle brought up the Handgun, squinting a bit as she aimed at the Mothmants that were now hovering about in the air. It was harder to hit them, since they were so small, but she took a deep breath, focusing on steadying her hand. Her first two shots missed them by a longshot, but the next ones hit their marks. The insects were blasted to pieces by the Photon bullets, their frail bodies unable to withstand the impacts. Danielle lowered the Handgun now, seeing Rico drive the tip of her sword down into the fallen Monest and finishing it off. She pulled the Red Sword out of the ground, swapping it for her smaller Red Saber as she looked between the eastern and western gates. "Hey, how would you feel about checking the east area while I go west? The warp to the entrance to the Dome would be in your section, but I want to check and see if there is anything in the other direction."

Danielle hesitated now, a bit uncertain. "Are you sure…?"

Rico nodded. "And if you can't handle them on your own, head over to my end, okay?"

Danielle took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. "Okay." She watched Rico head through the western gate before she turned to the one she was to go through. The large circular area beyond it seemed clear. A set of bio-scan gates, their lines currently red, blocked a warp pad tucked away in an alcove. With the gates red, she couldn't get through.

Wandering around, she went to one of the corners where a small space was hidden. There, her gaze fell upon a large, ancient-looking brown monument. Confused, Danielle looked up at the symbol located at the top. It was a circle with three points on it. For some reason, it seemed oddly familiar. But she had never seen the monument before, only heard about it. Danielle brushed her hand against its weathered surface, wondering why it felt so strange. It didn't just feel old. There was something else, something she couldn't really describe. A chill ran up her spine, coldness wrapping around her like a blanket. A fog settled in her mind, distorting her thoughts as flashes of images shot through her mind while a strange dark voice whispered words she couldn't understand. She was sinking into darkness, the dark presence taking her in, willing her to sleep…

"Danielle! Danielle, wake up! Hey, Danielle!"

Danielle winced, forcing open her eyes. Rico was kneeling over her with a worried look on her face. She had never seen Rico this worried before, but why was she like this? What happened? "Ugh…" she groaned, her head throbbing as she closed her eyes. She felt so tired still.

"Danielle, stay with me! C'mon, stay with me!" Rico shook her slightly, one warm and wet hand against the side of her neck over her carotid artery. "Don't close your eyes! You have to stay awake!"

Danielle tried to focus. She had remembered blacking out after touching the pillar, but why? And why was it so hard to breathe? "R-Rico…?"

"Yeah, it's me. I'm here." A relieved look spread across Rico's face as she pressed her fingers slightly to the side of Danielle's neck. "Good. Your heart rate's almost normal. I was worried you wouldn't pull through."

"Wouldn't pull through?" she managed to murmur weakly, feeling Rico's hand against her back as the hunter helped her to sit up.

Rico nodded. "When I came in, there were a bunch of animals all around. I thought that maybe they got you, but there wasn't a scratch on you when I found you. You weren't breathing, and your heart had almost stopped. If I had been any later…"

Danielle realized that she was shivering slightly as she gazed up at the monument. All of this had happened when she had touched it. Much to her surprise, though, it was now glowing. Strange characters adorned its surface, glowing with golden light. The circular symbol on top glowed with red light instead of gold. What had happened to her exactly? She was confused and scared. That feeling… it wasn't one she wanted to have to endure again.

Rico carefully pulled her back slightly to where Danielle's back was resting against one of the rocky walls covered with vines, her red eyes filled with concern. "Just take it easy and rest a bit… We won't move on until you're ready." Her eyes flickered back towards the monument now, and Danielle realized that Rico was curious about investigating it.

Well, she is a scientist, too. Not just a hunter. It's fine by me… I don't even think I can walk right now. Rubbing her eyes a bit, Danielle watched Rico examine the monument, recording data into her arm unit. She looked really confused, a frown on her face as she glanced between her unit and the monument, murmuring something to herself. Finally, she let out a bit of a sigh, placing a message capsule on the ground at the base of the monument. "Any luck?" Danielle asked now as Rico headed back over to her.

Letting out another sigh, she shook her head. "No. I can't translate those runes… And that thing looks way too old to have been placed here when we arrived…" Rico frowned deeply as she looked back at it, then shook her head once more. "Well, no time to dwell on it… We need to keep looking."

Danielle nodded a bit, bracing herself with one hand against the wall behind her as she slowly stumbled to her feet. Rico handed Danielle her Handgun, which Danielle didn't even remember dropping. Nodding her thanks, Danielle headed out into the circular area and to the alcove with the warp pad. As they stepped into its teal light, they were both sent to the ledge above them, the Central Dome now towering over them. They proceeded through the gate in front of them, nearing the entrance to the Central Dome. They were about to see about opening the door when the ground shook beneath their feet. A massive ape with black fur and blue patches of skin on its arms had landed in the area. Its red face turned towards them, yellow eyes peering out at them before it beat its massive fists against its chest and let out a cry.

"W-What the heck…? Is that a Hildebear? I thought they were supposed to be friendly!"

Rico gripped her Red Saber tightly, a frown on her face. "Apparently now. Whatever you do, make sure that thing doesn't punch you."

"You don't have to tell me twice. I'm not going to even let it get near me." Rico rushed forward, Danielle covering her from behind with shots that distracted the Hildebear. Annoyed, it swung its massive fist at Rico, who ducked under the punch and slashed up at its wrist. It let out a howl of pain, stumbling back and holding its wounded arm. The Hildebear opened its mouth, shooting out a fireball that very nearly missed Rico. The ground just to her right scorched black by the fireball, Rico waited for it to swing at her again before ducking and ramming the tip of her Red Saber deep into its gut. The Hildebear's yellow eyes rolled back in its head as it toppled forward, nearly crushing Rico. Luckily, she jumped out of the way in time, pulling her weapon free.

Danielle lowered her Handgun slightly as she watched the fallen beast for any sign of movement. There was none. "You're lucky that thing didn't crush you when it fell… I wouldn't have been able to pull you out from under it."

Rico pushed a strand of her red hair out from her face, nodding grimly as she looked at the Hildebear's corpse. "Yeah. That was too close…" She walked over to the door, examining it silently. Danielle could tell by the look on her face that the news wasn't good. "It's completely shorted out. We need to find another way in." She adjusted her glasses a bit, scanning the area. Her eyes narrowed a bit as she looked towards one of the white walls, going over to a vent built into the side. "And I think I just found it."