The children sat in their groups, cutting out the various shapes. They laughed as they put together their collages while in the next room, Angela smiled while listening. It reminded her of the lessons she gave, even though hers were very different from this.
"Would you like some more tea?" Mr. Polestar offered.
"Oh, yes," Angela said, "Thank you."
Mr. Polestar poured the hot tea into Angela's cup. She reached for the sugar and put a spoonful in her tea.
"So that is quite a story you two have told me," Mr. Polestar said as he sat down at the small table.
"Well, like I said, we can't be sure of anything," Angela explained, "But after seeing a mook, I fear the worst."
"Indeed," Mr. Polestar said as his eyes wandered off.
Kayla sat nearby next to a window. She gazed into the sky above, knowing Michael was still out there.
This entire thing was taking longer than she expected. They still had no clue where Michael even was. She could feel the edge of despair creeping up in her heart and struggled to fight it back.
"Did you hear me?" Angela asked.
"I'm sorry, what?" Kayla started.
"Mr. Polestar was asking us what we have seen so far," Angela said, "I told him about Pokey of course, Elder Mook, and that creepy man who was following us, but I know you saw other things in Fourside."
"Yeah, "Kayla said, "The ones who kidnapped Michael. Elder Mook was there too along with this guy in a big cloak. I think Elder Mook called him Georg. He was pretty scary and I could tell his PSI is very advanced, and..."
Very suddenly, Kayla's mind seemd to hit a roadblock.
"And?" Angela said.
"I... can't remember," Kayla realized, "Something inside me is saying there was a third person there, but for the life of me I can't remember."
"Well, you were blown clear across the street," Angela reasoned, "You probably hit your head."
"Yeah," Kayla said, although she didn't feel convinced. She felt more violated than anything else, despite her confusion.
"So what are you going to do from here?" Mr. Polestar asked.
"Ooh, I'm not sure," Angela admitted, "We have little to go on right now. Pokey escaped and we have no real information on Elder Mook or those guys."
"Ah, this all just serves to remind me of the stuff my daughter had to go through twenty years ago," Mr. Polestar reminisced.
"Hey!" Angela piped up, "What about them? Paula and Ness!"
"What about them?" Kayla asked.
"We could try calling them from here!" Angela said in excitement.
Mr. Polestar shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"How will they help exactly?" Kayla asked uncertainly.
"They must know something," Angela pressed, "How could they not?"
Kayla wanted to ask if Angela was just using this as some means to meet Ness and Paula, but the thought suddenly made her angry. They needed to focus on Michael. That's why Kayla went to Angela. Why should they go off on this distraction just for Angela to meet her idols?
"So, could you call her?" Angela asked Mr. Polestar.
Mr. Polestar slowly got up from his chair and walked over to the counter.
"I'm afraid I can't," he answered, "The phones won't dial out of Twoson."
"Really?" Angela said, "Well, I guess we could go there ourselves."
"Do we really have time for that?" Kayla asked cooly, "I've never been to Onett. We would have to walk it."
"Shouldn't take that long," Angela reasoned.
Kayla's eyes flashed and she quickly looked back outside.
"I wouldn't advise going there really," Mr. Polestar interjected, "You would have to travel by Chaos Central. You may be caught."
"Caught?" Angela asked, "Chaos Central? Since when was there a place called that in Twoson?"
Mr. Polestar sighed, "I didn't really want to mentios this. I figured you girls would be going back towards Threed, but if you're considering going Norht then I should tell you."
"What's going on?" Angela asked.
"I'm afraid Twoson has been overrun," Mr. Polestar said, "The mayor's been exiled and they've turned this place into sort of a dictatorship."
"Under whose authority?" Kayla asked, looking back from the window.
"It's some mob of sorts," Mr. POlestar explained, "The guy in charge is called Mr. Torch. Not sure how he got that name. Rumors fly around about some scar he got from a torch. He made Chaos Theatre his base due to its central location and renamed it Chaos Central. He made the neighborhood up north his personal territory. The people there are under such strict guidelines. We all are really, but those poor folks are getting the brunt of it."
"That's awful," Angela said, "Why would someone do something like that? It's so... odd."
That's when Kayla receieved the flash in her head. It was brief, but she saw gold, and Michael. She let out a gasp.
"What's wrong, Kayla?" Angela asked.
"I... saw something," Kayla murmured, "I saw a brief image of Michael. I don't really understand it."
"You have a gift similar to my daughter's," Mr. Polestar realized, "She had the gift of premonition. It helped guide her and her friends throughout their journey."
"Can you figure out what the vision meant, Kayla?" Angela asked.
"No," Kayla said, "But I have this feeling now. I feel as though we need to go to Chaos Central."
"And kick Mr. Torch out!" Angela said with a tone of glee.
"That would be very dangerous," Mr. Polestar warned, "Are you sure you want to even think about it?"
"Yes, we have to," Kayla said, "I'm sure of it."
"This is becoming a real adventure," Angela marveled.
"I can see there's little I can do to stop you," Mr. Polestar said, "At least allow me to help out some."
He opened up a drawer and pulled out two frying pans.
"These belonged to Paula," Mr. Polestar said, "She gave them to me after her journey. You two both remind me of her in your own ways. I feel as though you should have them now."
Kayla and Angela took the two frying pans in their hand.
"Thank you," Kayla said, "It would be good to have some sort of a weapon besides PSI in case we have to use too much of it."
"Right," Angela said.
Kayla put them in her backpack and slipped on her shoes.
"Please be careful," Mr. Polestar pleaded, "I'd hate for anything bad to happen."
"Don't worry," Angela said, "We handled a small army of cyborgs. We should be able to handle some mob boss."
With that, Angela hurried out of the preschool.
"Thank you again," Kayla said, "Hopefully we'll see each other again soon."
"Good luck," Mr. Polestar said.
Kayla's mind returned to Michael again. Through all the uncertainty, she felt some connection between Mr. Torch and Michael's disappearance. If it meant she could learn something to save him, then she couldn't give up. She had to defeat the mob and free Twoson.
She opened the front door and stepped out into the warm sunshine.
Saturn Meadows really was a peaceful place. It was one of those places that felt like it was almost perfect and it could never be anything less than what it already was. Become better? Oh, yes, improvement was always still possible.
As Brian and Mako went deeper into the meadows, the grass grew shorter and they could see now small huts and Mr. Saturns running all about.
"Friends!"
"Want some fresh Saturn Spring? Kay-O!"
"The meadows were a great choice for life. BOING!"
"Seek counsel from Grande! Grande knows truth!"
"They're certainly friendly," Brian commented.
"It's how they've always been," Mako said, "Sometimes they're overwhelming hospitality gets them into trouble, but it's still comforting to meet a kind like theirs."
They came into a clearing and could tell it was the center of their village. A larger hut stood before them shaped like a giant Mr. Saturn.
"This must be the place," Mako said, "Let's go."
They walked up to the door and knocked. After ten seconds of silence, they knocked again. Still there was no answer. Mako tried the door and found it unlocked. He slowly opened the door.
"Hello?" Mako called, "We don't mean any harm. We're looking for someone called the Grande Saturn?"
"And so you have found he whom you speak of," answered a gentle voice.
A Mr. Saturn walked out from a side room. He was slightly larger than the other Mr. Saturns. His single hair was longer and he wore a blue bow instead of a red one.
"Enter, brave children," Grande Saturn welcomed, "Do not be too hesitant of the goals that you seek."
Brian and Mako walked in and shut the door.
"You both have traveled far and wide to come here," Grande Saturn remarked, "Brian Margerson! From the continent to our west of Raptorland in the tiny town of Pikor. And Mako, son of the great Emperor Poo, hailing from the furthest eastern regions of Eagleland in the kingdom of Dalaam. Tell me, what divine events have led the both of you to this single sanctuary?"
Brian stared at Grande Saturn, unsure of what to say. Mako spoke up.
"We have come in response to a growing threat," he said, "We fear an alien much like Giygas who invaded Earth twenty years ago has descended upon us and is working to finish what the evil Giygas once set out to do."
"Distressing suspicions indeed," Grande Saturn answered, "Undoubtedly the return of a being such as Giygas could only mean conflict and terror for all of us."
"But as was always known, Earth is not so weak as has been assumed," Grande Saturn went on, "Strength lies ever vigilent within our lands, and courage."
Brian couldn't help but think about his fight with Senior Mook.
"I want to go home... Please don't hurt me... I can't do this..."
"Some courage," Brian mumbled.
"And so the doubtful one remembers his voice," Grande Saturn said.
"Sorry," Brian stammered, "Just thinking out loud."
"Yes, you have thought much the last few days," Grande Saturn, "The thoughts that one can ponder often lead to our decisions in life and usually guide us on the right path. Abusing this ability though can only lead to more questions and uncertainty. A balance must be reached between what is right and what is foolish."
Brian looked towards the ground again.
"So can anything be done?" Mako asked, "Is this new evil one that we can fight?"
"The heir of Dalaam wishes to see some light among the darkness," Grande Saturn answered, "A light that so often seems to burn out during the time of need, but to only see a flicker of it... Yes, a spark to ignite the flame. Perhaps then the light will always return."
At this even Mako looked to Brian for some help, but Brian remained as lost as ever.
"It will be judged then," Grande Saturn stated, "I have a task. It would be most beneficial for it to be completed soon, and if it is, then the truth should readily reveal itself."
Brian could feel his heartbeat. He saw where this was going. It was coming fast now, and still he wasn't sure if he wanted it.
"Brian and Mako," Grande Saturn spoke, "Do you accept this task?"
Brian and Mako looked at each other. Brian knew what words to speak, but his mouth refused to move. Mako turned back to Grande Saturn.
"We do."