Chapter 15: The Abandoned Laboratory
Meanwhile, Vanellope continued leading the Sugar Rush racers through Dead Space: Rise Of Evil in the direction that the licorice piece was heading. They had been walking for awhile, but hadn't found Licortwist, Creamy, or any of the Frostbites. Taffyta groaned in frustration.
"Vanellope, are you sure that you know where we're going? You've led us around this game with a licorice piece as your guide! It's probably broken!" Taffyta asked angrily.
Vanellope sighed, stopped walking, and turned around to face Taffyta.
"Will you please relax, Taffy? Like I said before, this licorice piece is attracted to the other licorice pieces. It's like a compass. Where it leads us, we'll find Licortwist, Creamy, and the Frostbites." Vanellope replied.
Vanellope then resumed leading the Sugar Rush racers. Taffyta huffed and crossed her arms before following Vanellope, along with the rest of the Sugar Rush racers.
Ten minutes, the licorice piece led the Sugar Rush racers to the abandoned laboratory. They walked up to the front door of the abandoned laboratory, which had chains on it.
"Locked." Vanellope muttered.
"How are we going to get inside without Licortwist, Creamy, or the Frostbites hearing us?" Candlehead asked.
The Sugar Rush racers looked around, and Swizzle spotted an open window that was on the second floor.
"Guys, there's an open window." Swizzle replied, pointing to it.
The other Sugar Rush racers looked at the window.
"How are we going to climb up there?" Jubileena asked.
Vanellope looked at Minty. She realized that Minty could help them get up into the window. However, Vanellope also realized that she would have to go in and make sure that it was safe before letting the Sugar Rush racers in. Vanellope told her plan to Minty, who agreed to Vanellope's plan. Minty transformed into her Sakura form, and then she had her feet transform into the two foot-equipped rocket thrusters. Once she did, Vanellope turned to the Sugar Rush racers and handed Taffyta a candy walkie-talkie.
"You guys stay here. I'm going in through the window to see if it's safe that you come in, and then I'll let you all in. Use the walkie-talkie to communicate with me while I'm inside." Vanellope ordered.
The Sugar Rush racers nodded.
"We will wait here." Rancis said.
Minty grabbed Vanellope and flew up. Vanellope climbed into the window, and Minty flew back down. Once she was inside, Vanellope saw that she was on a catwalk, and she started making her way across the catwalk until she heard the familiar buzzing and clicking noise of the licorice pieces.
"Licortwist, the production is moving along nicely." a voice said.
"That's excellent, Steven." Licortwist was heard saying.
Vanellope got onto her stomach and crawled across the catwalk until she was looking down into a room. Licortwist, Frostbite Willow, and Steven were in the room, but what got Vanellope's attention the most was that there appeared to be a fifteen foot black metal ring structure that Licortwist was using the licorice pieces to construct. Vanellope took out a candy walkie-talkie and quietly contacted the Sugar Rush racers.
"Guys, Licortwist and Frostbite Willow are in here, and Steven is with them. Licortwist appears to be building something, and it's big." Vanellope quietly said.
Licortwist, Frostbite Willow, and Steven thankfully didn't hear Vanellope or notice her.
"Soon, I will have my revenge on the Sugar Rush racers. And Sugar Rush will fall." Licortwist said.
Vanellope gasped.
"He's going to use it to wipe out Sugar Rush." Vanellope whispered.
Licortwist, Frostbite Willow, and Steven then left the room, and they headed down a hallway that went deeper into the abandoned laboratory. Once they were gone, Vanellope climbed down from the catwalk, ran out of the room, and ran up to the front door and opened it. The Sugar Rush racers then ran in.
"Vanellope, what exactly is Licortwist building?" Taffyta asked with concern.
Vanellope led the Sugar Rush racers into the room that had the ring structure.
"What is that thing?" Citrusella asked.
Vanellope shrugged.
"I'm not sure. But whatever it is, Licortwist is going to use it to wipe out Sugar Rush." Vanellope replied.
Snowanna scowled.
"We can't let that happen." Snowanna said.
Gloyd looked around.
"But wait, where did Licortwist, Frostbite Willow, and Steven go?" Gloyd asked.
Vanellope pointed out of the room.
"They left to go down the hallway." Vanellope replied.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go after them!" Candi said.
Vanellope nodded and left the room before making her way down the hallway. The other Sugar Rush racers followed her, powers at the ready.