Chapter Four: The Nightmare Experience
Rayman had to use his scarf on his eyes so Nelegus wouldn't see where the rebels had their hiding place. So annoying. He could hear happy sounds and conversations around him and feel gentle jungle wind on his face but he needed to see some less hectic moments too. For first time in his life he actually hoped that the adventure he was currently involved would be over. Robopirates were the first hero work he remembers so pure excitement kept those thoughts away. As for hoodlums and rabbids, he just couldn't take them seriously enough to feel fear.
Rayman felt an arm gently touching his shoulder.
"What's in your mind, Rayman?" Ly asked.
"I'd really like to enjoy my time here but Nelegus is ruining that too."
Ly sighed.
"Be glad that you can't see your surroundings. Nelegus' influence can be seen here too. In the distance there's the silhouette of his base of operations, Culture Chateau. So menacing and...pressing. Below it there's Culture City which has spread nearly every corner."
"Does it keep spreading?"
"No. Nelegus says that nature is an important place for artists to get inspiration."
Rayman hated to sadden Ly more but he had to ask it:
"How did you get in here?"
"Well...it happened when Andre started to make hoodlums. Polokus ordered me and Clark to gather all lums to safety. Polokus could protect the lums but that would make him weaker. We couldn't save the red lums or that one purple lum from turning to hoodlums but all the others were gathered into Polokus' holy place. And then...he came."
Ly breathed heavily.
"He used...lums' energy to create a portal between...the two planets. It swallowed...all the lums inside of it. He made a spell on Polokus who...froze to his place. Then his hideous claws...crabbed me and...he gazed right to me with his yellow red-pupilled eyes and...I could see the very essence of darkness!"
"Calm down, Ly," Rayman said and gently hugged her. "Nelegus is not here. Calm down."
"Yeah, sorry," Ly said when she had got her breathing steady. "He is just very frightening when he uses his gaze of evil. I passed out and woke up in a prison. Nelegus talked to me and explained everything about the culture. I pretended that I would co-operate. I have helped the resistance ever since."
"So what you've been doing all these years?"
"Polokus mentioned that every inhabitant in this planet has to make something related to culture. Because I'm good to sew I started to be a fashion designer, to make clothes. Eventually I got enough resources to get more people to do the making part while I did the designing part. Now I'm an anti-citizen so I can't continue my work. Even if I could, I'd have to change my job tomorrow because Culture Council was discussing about is fashion art or not. Perhaps it's already decided that it's illegal to be a fashion designer."
Rayman wanted to discuss more but then he heard king Otmeozo's voice:
"There you are, Rayman. Nice that I could meet you before I have to leave."
"Is it really wise for you to be here?" Rayman asked.
"Do not worry about Nelegus. He can hear only small samples of our speech. He thinks that I am grounded in Teens...I mean Fairy Council but I have founded easy way to get out of there. Nelegus can't do anything about it because he doesn't know where I ran. But I came here to..."
"Wait a minute", interrupted Rayman. "What you were going to say before Fairy Council?"
"What? Oh, I was going to accidently say Teensies' Hideout. Why, you think I would actually co-operate with his Culture Craziness to gain more power?"
"Oh, of course not, your majesty," said Rayman shamed, "forgive my doubts."
"No harm done. These are hard times and everyone's nerves are strained. But I came here to inform that I'm now going to pretend co-operation with Nelegus. I also wanted to wish you good luck, Rayman. I know you can heal this world."
Rayman heard that Otmeozo's steps moved forward.
"Globox mentioned that he wants to continue the journey with us," Ly said. "He has become more courageous during my absence. I'm so proud of him."
"So am I," agreed Rayman.
For a moment he and Ly sat quietly and enjoyed the warm breeze of the wind.
"I want to thank Tarayzan for his hospitality." said Rayman. "Would you help me to get there?"
Ly took Rayman's hands and helped him to walk. Although Rayman couldn't see it Ly smiled warmly.
*****
So Rayman was going to travel across the Swamp of Bad Dreams. Razorbeard knew that Rayman had been in tough places before but he just couldn't understand how Rayman thought to survive from that miserable place. Hostile creatures nearly everywhere, wet land nearly everywhere, bizarre shapes nearly everywhere. Luckily he didn't need to land on that place. The prison ships were full of robopirates to use.
One person he wanted to use was that clumsy sidekick of his. Never for any good use. But Razorbeard knew Nelegus wouldn't allow that because of the Creature Rights Article, paragraph 36: "Every creature is useful. Therefore the 'uselessness' of a creature is not a tolerated reason to send them into certain doom". He would want someone cleverer like professor Barranco. He hated how Sergueï mistreated him all the time. Razorbeard decided to offer to exchange sidekicks with him. Although Razorbeard had a one good candidate for the next second-in-command but there was much work to be done to ensure her loyalty.
Razorbeard decided to go to look for her. After a walk he founded her sweeping the deck and guarded by four robopirates. She was a fairy with red hair and bright green dress and hat. Like Rayman, she too had no limbs.
"Could you leave me and our prisoner for a moment?" asked Razorbeard from the guards.
Robopirates doubted their admiral's command but they knew it wasn't wise to argue with him so they left.
"There is a good reason why you're sweeping the desk, you know."
The prisoner look Razorbeard with look that radiated despise.
"I think spoiling the food of the monsters like robopirates should be awarded with a medal."
Razorbeard sighed. This was going to be tough.
"Betilla, try to understand that if it wasn't me deciding your punishments you would never see the sunlight again. I believe you could become a good second-in-command."
"Second-in-command?" said Betilla without believing her ears. "But I'm a rebel fairy who is an anti-citizen. And besides, don't you have a sidekick already?"
"Yes, but he is completely useless..."
"Nelegus wouldn't be happy if he heard you to say that."
"Please, leave my superior out of this. But you have spirit and guts, some abilities that a second-in-command should have. I believe that if we can reach to mutual respect and understanding..."
Razorbeard noticed that Betilla didn't listen to him. She just stared horizon oddly attentive.
"He's...here?" said Betilla and a hint of join was seen on her face.
"Who's here? Rayman?"
Suddenly Betilla ran towards the edge and jumped out of the ship.
Razorbeard knew that this was definitely something Nelegus wouldn't like to hear.
*****
Drop from this high won't be good for health. But I had to make the daring attempt to escape, for Rayman's sake. Luckily I can levitate and use that power to slow down my speed. But even then there has to be something to soften my drop. Well, it is mean thing to do but I have no choice. Hopefully he doesn't hurt himself too much.
Rayman, so glad to see you.
*****
Rayman couldn't help but to feel frustrated. He had to cover his eyes in a calm and happy place but the first thing he had to watch some swamp-like place that was filled with bizarre-shaped light blue rocks, chunks of ice and...lava, apparently. He, Ly, Globox and Moskito were traveling towards the Sanctuary of Bad Dreams. They've been told that Vaharnos instructed Ssssssam to help them to get across the swamp so Rayman didn't feel so frustrated.
But Sanctuary of Bad Dreams...a mere name made Rayman to shiver. Even the sky was more menacing than usual. Then he noticed that something was coming towards him but he didn't have time to react.
Ly, Globox and Moskito fell by the sudden impact.
"Was that a meteorite?" asked Globox.
"I don't think so," answered Ly and stood up, "there didn't fly any rocks. But is Rayman okay?"
The tree of them ran to watch Rayman's condition. He seemed to be okay but he stared surprised the fairy that had hit him.
Rayman's head filled with memories when he looked this faintly breathing red haired fairy with no limbs. He remembered how she had given all his powers: how to hit with his fist, how to hang (is that a superpower?), how to grab objects with his power fist, how to use his hair as a helicopter and to run with extreme speed. Rayman remembered how she was captured by some dark and mysterious man, how he saved her and apparently the whole world and there was a huge party.
"Betilla...?" Rayman asked when the name popped to his mind.
"Rayman?" Betilla said faintly and stood up slowly. "I guessed you might suffer from memory loss but you remember me after all. So good to see you."
She gave him a brief hug.
"You're Betilla?!" asked Ly amazed. "I heard you have been imprisoned for long time. It's sure lucky to have you back!"
"Thank you," Betilla replied, "nice to see Rayman has new friends. I know you are Ly, the famous fashion designer and Moskito I have known for long but who is this toad?"
"Oh," Rayman said, "he is Globox, my best friend."
Their conversation was interrupted by a blue snake called Ssssssam who rose up from the swamp. Perplex silence occurred.
"Uuu...Vaharnosss mentioned only four people," he said after a while. "Can you fly miss...?"
Their conversation was interrupted by a distant humming voice.
"Looks like we have to leave introductions to later," Rayman said when he noticed a robopirate warship. "Ssssssam, take Globox with you, I go with Moskito."
All of them escaped deeper to the bizarre swamp when the warship started heavy bombing.
*****
It's certainly a lucky strike that Betilla is helping us. People have talked about her a lot, as an inspiring figure. She is actually the reason why Rayman has all his powers. I've never seen him running with extreme speed but all the other powers still remain. Without Betilla Rayman wouldn't be...Rayman.
Yikes, that deformed monster nearly got me! Take that! It's not wise to think anything else in hectic situations but I can't stop thinking how Betilla's help affected Rayman. Was she just a friend? A sister he never had? Or something deeper…?
Oh, come to your senses already, Ly! It's been who knows how many years since you last time saw him. He could have been moved forward, although I'm quite sure he hasn't done that. We are escaping from heavy firing and here I am, wondering does one man I met long time ago think me anymore. We weren't even seriously crushed, just two or three talks...
*****
Ly's thoughts were interrupted when a bullet destroyed an incoming robopirate. Then a voice was heard from a megaphone:
"How unlucky and unwise from you to enter my domain. Everything coming through here will become hunted!"
Rayman recognized that voice. He looked to the voice's source and there he was. The slim body of Razoff the Hunter was standing on the balcony of a rather roughly made mansion. His eyes were keen, aiming with coordinate but still heat in his mind. The long rifle he was holding spat a set of sharp projectiles that hurled towards another robopirate with smashing results.
Rayman would have been glad to see Razoff but he remembered his last encounter against this rather disordered hunter. And as Rayman predicted Razoff started to aim him and his companions. A shot barely missed Ssssssam but Betilla wasn't so lucky. Rayman however was able to grab her in high speed.
"Wow, that was...impressive." said Betilla who was still dazzled from the shot.
"Uh...you're welcome," said Rayman who was trying to focus on the hectic situation.
But the hectic moment was over as quickly as it was started. Couple of robopirates had managed to enter in Razoff's mansion and knocked him unconscious. This gave enough time for Rayman and his company to slip safely towards the Sanctuary of Bad Dreams.
The Sanctuary of Bad Dreams looked like an especially menacing spiked stone dome. Apparently it contained elements from all the other sanctuaries Rayman had visited in, as random chunks of ice and rivers of lava were placed on the side of this humongous rock.
Ssssssam would have wanted to aid his friends who he sees so rarely.
"So..." the snake started, "I guessss we part in thisss point."
"I guess so," said Rayman uneasy.
"Well...come visit sometime," said Ssssssam melancholy and dived to the swamp.
For a moment everybody watched Ssssssam going and stood there with pressing silence. So sad he couldn't leave anywhere from the swamps where most of the residents weren't as nice as him. But everyone knew that they had a mission in their hands so they went deeper to the Sanctuary of Bad Dreams.
Several unnamed horrors later they arrived to a grand, icy hall, rivers of lava pouring next to the walls. In the centre of the hall there was a stone pile. Rayman had seen this kind of piles before in other sanctuaries so he knew this one would hold a mask inside of it.
"I have experience about these places," Rayman instructed his friends. "This was way too easy."
Suddenly Rayman's eyes started to hurt and he had to fall on his knees.
"Why did I say that?! It's the ultimate jinx!" Rayman scolded himself.
Ly, Betilla, Globox and Moskito approached Rayman, asking what the matter was. While being worried of Rayman no one noticed a lone hovercraft that landed on an unreachable ledge. Rayman told his friends that everything was fine and the pain has stopped. When he looked at them they gasped in horror.
"Why you are looking me like that?" Rayman asked.
"They're...they're the eyes of Nelegus!" Betilla said terrified.
Rayman couldn't see it but everyone else saw his eyes which were bright yellow with red pupils. To Rayman's horror his lips started slowly move, making monotonic talk.
"Is...Razorbeard...here?"
Everybody looked around and far in the hall they saw Razorbeard and his hovercraft. He waved to the heroes when they noticed him. Ly yelled at Nelegus-infested Rayman:
"Get away from him!"
"Hold your tongue...anti-citizen," said Rayman.
Rayman started to yell furiously:
"Razorbeard! How...on earth...Betilla escaped!?"
"Believe or not," Razorbeard said, "she jumped from the ship. Just like that!"
"Really?" Rayman asked. "How...brave of you, Betilla. But...you will not...stay free for long. But...this is taking...too much energy...I must go but first...Jano! I summon...you!"
A black cloud appeared in front of the stone pillar and from it emerged the former guard of the Cave of the Bad Dreams. Expect the pupil in his big yellow eye wasn't black, it was pure red.
"My apologies, Rayman, but Nelegus has complete control of me," Jano said. "This is nothing personal."
Razorbeard had taken control of his hovercraft and started to shoot at Rayman's friends. Rayman was ready to face Jano but Rayman had hard time to focus as his eyes blinked in pattern of short and long pauses. Unfortunately Rayman didn't know what Morse coding was but Nelegus knew and shamelessly used Rayman's eyes to inform Jano about his moves. Rayman jumped away from Jano's fireball but was instantly hit by his skull wand.
"Moskito and...the blue one," shouted Betilla, "distract Razorbeard! I and Ly will help Rayman!"
Rayman was happy hear that as this constant blinking really started to annoy him. Jano was now busy with two fairies levitating around him and throwing energy balls at him. He tried to keep them away with his flaming skull wand that he dipped into the lava. At the same time Moskito was distracting Razorbeard and Globox was desperately trying to create a rain cloud but he was too afraid by the hectic situation.
"Forget the fairies, hit Rayman when I will give the signal!" morsed Nelegus through Rayman's eyes.
"Forget Moskito, grab Rayman when I will give the signal!" informed Nelegus to Razorbeard through the hovercraft's speakers.
Metallic hand came from hovercraft. It grabbed Moskito and threw him at the wall, knocking his lights out.
"NOW!" informed Nelegus to his two aids.
Jano hit Rayman at the right moment and made his head spin. Jano was quickly outnumbered by Ly and Betilla who tied him mentally. All of their energy was used to keep Jano bounded but at the same time Razorbeard was flying towards Rayman at full speed, ready to grab him and deliver him to Culture Chateau. Globox was however able to act now that he wasn't directly threatened. He started to make his rain dance, knowing that if this would fail, all would be lost. With huge mental effort he was able to create a rain cloud that rusted the controls of Razorbeard's hovercraft. It was enough to crash the thing to the ground.
Rayman started to wake up. He saw that Jano was held by the fairies and Razorbeard's hovercraft that was just a smoking pile of metallic scrap, perhaps he with it as well. He ran to the pillar and stopped in front of it. Magical energy started to emit from the round symbol that was on Rayman's shirt, linking with the round symbol in the pillar.
*****
Nelegus watched through Rayman's eyes and he didn't like about what he saw. The rest of the government – expect for Sergueï could see who was in hospital and replaced by Professor Barranco – was there giving Nelegus their full mental support.
"Concentrate harder!" Nelegus yelled. "We must get Jano free before Rayman gets the mask!"
*****
Jano managed to get free from the fairies' grasp and approached Rayman. He didn't notice this as he watched the mask that had came out of the pillars. Its sarcastic eyes watched him, like when he first founded it from the Sanctuary of Stone and Fire. Those were the days. Jano's long fingers grasped Rayman and...
*****
Razorbeard dug himself out from the rubbles of his hover craft. It was a miracle that he survived. But he didn't feel as lucky when he looked around and noticed that no one else was there.
"Uh, hello?" asked Razorbeard. "Could someone just pick me up?"
*****
The mask had teleported the whole party, including Jano back to Polokus' hideout. Rayman had remembered to keep his hands in front of his eyes.
"The first mask," Polokus said, "how outstanding. But I must now hurry and remove the eye control of Nelegus from you. Do not worry, this will hurt lot more Nelegus than it will hurt you."
*****
Nelegus commanded Mr. Dark to leave his body. He sat there, waiting nervously for the upcoming pain. Suddenly his eyes started to emit bright light and smoke. His eyes bloated, whirled in their sockets, finally stretching through the hall until they returned back to their normal size. For a moment he kept his long hands on his eyes while the government watched him worried.
"Well..." Nelegus finally said, his range slowly building. "We still have no idea where Polokus is hiding...but no matter, we have still three masks and therefore plenty of opportunities to catch Rayman and end this rebellion forever. But right now I am just really, REALLY, frustrated that he slipped from my hands when I was THIS CLOSE TO GET HIM!! GRAAAAGH!!!"
Nelegus pounded his fists on the table several times in pure rage until he stopped in deep depression.
"I have actually a surprise for you that will make you feel better," said Dirannah.
"Oh, please, tell me," said Nelegus melancholy.
"Do you want to know where Rayman is now?" she asked.
Nelegus' face went brighter by the mixed surprise and joy when he realized what Dirannah meant with her words.