"Are you ready, Alit?" Dumon asked.
"Hell yes! I'm going to make that son of a female dog pay!" Alit snarled, clutching the modified sphere cube in his hand.
"Very well," Dumon opened an overlay network for Alit, "Now remember, try not to be seen for as long as you can and when you return, go to the place you came out at. That's where his defenses are weakest."
"I'll try," Alit promised as he absorbed the sphere cube, "See ya!" he jumped through the overlay unit and arrived with his back to a cold stone wall. He looked at his hand and saw he was still in his barian form. He crept silently around the corner and, after making sure no one was there, he darted out and into the room he recognized, from being forced to study the map of this place intently, was the study.
Looking around, he muttered quietly, "Now if I was an insane bastard and kidnapped a guy who I turned into a book, where would I hide said book... wow, I really should've brought Vector along on this mission. He'd have some insight." Alit shuffled through the desk in the center of the room but found nothing. "Damn it, not in here," he whistled. He turned and scanned carefully through the bookcase on the other side of the room but still, nothing.
He huffed, "This is going to take forever. This place is huge!" he took a deep breath then let it out, "But I have to find him. I told him I'd help him and I will! Even if I have to get into a fight with that sorcerer bastard!"
Alit crept out of the room and snuck down the hallway, looking for the bastard's bedroom where was the closest place that he could've stashed the book. But as he was halfway to the bedroom, he heard footsteps from around the corner. Alit reacted on instinct and dashed into the closest door. It was almost completely dark inside save for the slightest light coming from a tiny lantern. Alit exhaled slowly as he heard the footsteps pass by but stayed completely still.
He looked around in the room then realized he wasn't alone. He could dimly see by the faint light a small, squat creature standing in the corner of the room. A pair of dark brown eyes met his own. Alit took a quick breath in and tensed up. Oh shit, was this one of that bastard's minions? Maybe if he pretended he was also a minion of the sorcerer's...
"You... break in?" Alit started as he heard the creature talk. It had a gravely, yet definitely feminine, voice and seemed to have trouble speaking correctly.
"Uh... no, I'm just a minion of his. Just checking in to make sure everything's good here! I'll be going now!" Alit reached for the doorknob but was stopped by the creature's next words.
"No... you not. I know... you not."
Alit gulped again, "Um... no, I definitely am! Yep, definitely am!"
"Then... what his... name?" the creature sounded smug.
"...Joe?" Alit guessed.
The creature rolled her eyes. "You... break in."
"Don't tell him I'm here," Alit begged, seeing no point in lying anymore even though begging was never going to work. This creature was loyal to that bastard and there was no way she would-
"I... won't."
Alit blinked, "...what?"
"I no tell," as usual, the creature seemed to have trouble getting words out.
"Why?" Alit asked.
"I... hate..." the creature struggled with the next word.
"Him?" Alit suggested. The creature nodded. "Why?"
"He's him," she said simply and Alit didn't need any further explanation.
"Oh, that makes sense... why can't you talk much, by the way?"
"Him. He make... me no talk... much." the creature said sadly, "So... I stay... loyal. Didn't work."
"Bastard," Alit muttered and in the dim light he saw the creature's frog-like mouth turn up in a smirk.
"He is." she agreed, "Why... you here?"
"You know the guy he turned into a book?" Alit asked. She nodded. "I'm getting him back. I promised to help him and his family if they're still alive and I will! First step is by getting him back. Do you know where he keeps him?"
"On... his... person," the creature said.
"Shit," Alit muttered.
"Family... alive," she added.
"They're alive?! What did he do to them?!" Alit asked.
"Bad... things," she said, "I... can... get girl."
"His daughter? You know where she is?" Alit asked.
"Yes... son... can't get... easily... at moment" she seemed to really struggle to get the sentence out, especially the last word.
"Oh," Alit sighed, "So about the book... I have to get him back by fighting that bastard?"
"Don't!" the creature cried, sounding frightened, "He... danger...ous!"
"His powers can only transform a human. I'm not human, as you can probably tell," Alit said, laughing slightly, "Besides, I can manipulate energy so he won't have much advantage with his magical powers."
"Show." she requested. Alit obeyed, levitating the lantern a few feet into the air then set it back down.
"See? I'm awesome!" he cheered.
She smiled softly for a moment then frowned, "He... still... danger... be careful," she brought up a green hand to her throat and winced.
"Does talking hurt you?" Alit asked.
She nodded, "It... alright."
"Damn, I just keep getting more reasons to kill him," Alit growled. She smiled again.
"Go... I get... girl..." the creature made a shooing gesture.
"Alright," Alit opened the door and quietly walked out with the creature following. Once in the light, he saw the creature was bloated around the face, limbs and torso with pea-green skin and oily black hair, wearing only a simple white dress that was stained with various liquids. Alit almost winced but restrained the impulse, feeling he was not exactly the person who should be judging appearances. The creature looked back at him, apparently getting a better view of him as well.
Alit took a deep breath, "Wish me luck."
"You... need it," the creature responded.
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence," Alit said sarcastically.
The creature smiled and shook her head, "You still... need it." She waved goodbye then sprinted as fast as her short stubby legs could carry her.
Alit strode down the hallway, preparing himself for battle because he did not think this guy was going to want to duel him. His muscles were tense and his mind was clear and alert, as it always was when he was fighting. He turned the corner and saw a man wearing a green suit with white-blond hair sitting comfortably in a plush chair. Alright, time to initiate a fight. He should make it clear he meant business, like maybe "you kidnapped my friend now prepare to die" or "you should've double checked who you pissed off". Something like that. Alit took a breath in, then yelled,
"Hey bastard!" That worked.
The man jumped up and whirled around, snarling. "Who are you and how did you get in here?!"
"Does it really matter?" Alit asked coldly, "Hand him over, and don't pretend you do not know who I am talking about."
The sorcerer sneered, "Oh, is that right? Well, if you want that pathetic loser back, then you will have to pry him from my cold, dead hands."
"Okay," Alit said, "Bring it on, bastard!"
The man aimed his staff at Alit, "Gladly. Now, since I have to admire your resourcefulness at getting in without alerting the guards or triggering any traps, I'll give you the choice, you can be my pet poodle or my pet Persian cat, which will it be?"
"Neither, I'm not human," Alit replied then lunged at him, punching him in the jaw and giving him a kick to his stomach. He recovered quickly then shot a beam of light at Alit which threw him back a couple feet.
"What does that have to do with anything?!" he snarled.
"...do you not know how your own magic works?" Alit asked.
"Of course I do! I can use my powers to manipulate the human body into any form I want- oh." he seemed stumped, then shouted, "DAMN IT! Is that why I wasn't able to get a pet chihuahua when I retook that fool from that blond ponce?!"
"You were trying to turn my friend into a chihuahua?!" Alit cried, "Okay, now you're dead, you bastard!"
"I have a name, dipwad!" he snarled.
"For once, you calling me dipwad is really rich. Second, it's not like I know your damn name and I'm perfectly fine with calling you bastard," Alit replied.
"MY NAME IS GATTAS!" he roared.
"Still calling you bastard," Alit shrugged. Gattas snarled and shot another beam of green light at him, which he countered with a blast of his own as he ran in to punch Gattas in the stomach.
Gattas gasped and staggered back. Alit lunged forward but Gattas put up a force field just in time and Alit crashed into it. He stumbled back, dazed as Gattas blasted him once again.
"Damn," Alit muttered, his head spinning. Those blasts really packed a punch! And Gattas himself took his blows a lot better than any normal human would. He shot a red beam of energy at Gattas who put up a shield that protected him although the blast decimated the force field.
Gattas looked like a fish out of water. "What... inconceivable! How can you use magic that powerful?!"
"First off, we've evolved far enough not to call it magic. Second, we're higher energy beings, meaning all members of my species can manipulate energy." Alit said.
"So there's a whole race... stronger than me?" he squeaked.
"There's a whole lot of humans stronger than you, too," Alit snapped as he attacked once more. Gattas snarled and grabbed a poker from the fireplace and swung at him. Alit dodged then punched Gattas in the nose. Alit 'smirked' bitterly as he heard a crack.
"Damn you, insolent worm! I just finished healing that nose!"
"That explains why you aren't covered in cuts and bruises," Alit shot back at him.
Gattas trembled in rage before seemingly calming down. That was never a good sign. "Fine. You really want to fight me? Then let's fight. Guards!" he yelled. Two giant troll-like creatures marched in and Alit took a step back. Oh shit... "Get him!"
... (^0^) ...
Alit hissed in absolute agony. Taking on that bastard one on one, doable. Taking on that bastard with two giant goons who seemed to be almost brain dead, not so much.
"Surrender yet, worm?" Gattas gloated.
"F*ck you!" Alit snapped as he delivered a back fist to one of the guards but was quickly blasted by a beam of light, courtesy of Gattas.
Alit felt his head spin and was short of breath. A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention and he saw the creature from earlier waving at him, gesturing for him to come over to her. Alit didn't want to leave the fight, but saw he was unable to win. Next time though... he'd kick that bastard's ass for sure.
Alit picked himself up and, dodging multiple attacks, ran for it. He skidded around the corner and the creature grabbed his arm then dragged him towards the wall. She pushed at the wall and it swung open as she pulled him in the tiny secret room. Alit held his breath as he heard the thundering of footsteps pass by.
"You... did well." the creature whispered.
"Not well enough, next time though," Alit hissed.
"There... will be... a next time?" she asked, sounding hopeful.
Alit nodded, "I made a promise and I will keep it."
"You... good person," even though it was pitch dark, it sounded as if she was smiling. "Can... you... make light?"
"Oh! Yeah," Alit held out his palm and made a tiny red light in the center of his palm that illuminated the room in a dim red light. He saw the creature bend down and pick something up that was slightly smaller than her. It was the size of a child...
"Here," she handed him the object and Alit held it gingerly. Now that he had a good look at it, he realized it was a life-sized doll of a young girl wearing an elaborate dress. Her dull eyes stared up at him without expression. He was unable to speak for a few moments.
"Is this...?" he asked shakily.
The creature nodded sadly. "She can't move... at all. Only if... he wants... her to. His... version of a... perfect... daughter. Can still... see and hear, though."
Alit felt tears of rage come to his eyes. "I changed my mind. Let me at him again."
"No... get her... away..." the creature ordered, "You... too weak... right now. Rest. Now... run!"
Alit held the doll close to his chest, then left the secret room and ran to the hallway where he had entered via overlay network. He opened another overlay network and, with a forlorn glance behind him, he dissolved into the overlay network.
He stepped out in the emperor's throne room behind Dumon, the doll clutched tight in his arms. Dumon turned around and 'frowned'. "I take it things didn't go as planned?"
Alit shook his head and explained everything to Dumon. The grey barian 'frowned' even deeper and Alit saw tears come to his eyes. "After all these years, I'm still horrified anyone can do anything so despicable. This is probably worse than almost anything else we have ever encountered, ethically at least."
Alit nodded in agreement. "Can you make her move?" he pleaded.
Dumon nodded. "Most likely, yes. I will need an energy signature from her, though."
Alit looked down at the doll. "Hey, taking an energy signature doesn't hurt at all, okay? You'll just feel a little tingly for a second." Somehow he felt she was not soothed in the slightest. "It'll be alright, alright? You're with friends now."
Dumon summoned over a crystal and laid it horizontally so it acted as a table. Then he summoned over a few more that hovered above and around the table, like spotlights on a stage. "Set her on the table. Do not worry, little one. We will not harm you."
Alit walked over and, after a moment of hesitation, laid her down on the table then stepped back, his eyes never leaving her. Dumon raised his hand, closed his eyes, then shot an energy beam through the crystals the enveloped the girl in a faint glow. It faded and Dumon looked at a crystal that was vertical to the ground with numbers and letters flashing across it.
"Pick her up. It will be a few hours before I figure out how to make her move and I want you to talk to her while we wait. Not about anything important, she will want to ask questions and-"
"It is a form of torture for kids who have questions to not be able to ask them," Alit finished.
"Yes," Dumon said, sounding amused, "Just keep her company."
"Will do!" Alit saluted and nearly ran over to the table to pick the doll up. "Oh, and Dumon?"
"Yes?"
"Any chance you can figure out how to turn her back?" Alit asked.
Dumon looked worried, glancing downward, and said hesitantly, "It... is definitely possible but will be difficult. It could take from weeks to years to figure out a solution."
"Oh..." Alit said, drooping slightly, "Well, um, come on, kiddo. I'll take care of you for a little bit while he figures out how to let you move again." he teleported into his crystal chair, laying the doll across his lap and cradling her head in his arms.
Alit forced a 'smile' and felt tears come to his eyes as he looked at her blank expression, knowing that inside there was a child who was probably terrified out of her wits wondering what was going on. "Don't worry, kiddo. You'll be alright, I promise! I'll take care of you. I won't let you get hurt like you were by that bast- jerk ever again." He brushed back her hair with his hand, "I promise."