Chapter VII – The Rescue

Minutes later Chrono found himself back at the palace, only this time his hands were firmly cuffed behind his back. And – this time, he would be going downstairs. The Chancellor seemed to revel in that thought.

Benny and Corny were on either side, the Chancellor on their heels, as they marched Chrono past his original "cell," to the administrator's office – which was not a whole lot different than the cell. "Sir?" the clones stepped into the brightly lit complex, where a very prim and proper young gentleman sat writing some legal jargon on a pad of paper.

The young man glanced up, every last blonde hair perfectly in place. "Yes? Oh, please, enter."

The Chancellor kicked Chrono in the leg, and he fell to his knees in the office. "I'm sure you've heard of this child?"

"Somewhat, yes." The administrator stood and crossed to the boy. "Do you have his papers?"

"Certainly." The Chancellor pulled yet another paper from his tunic. "The boy is to be executed in three days."

"Boy!" It was the administrator. "Chrono. Get up, please." He turned to the Chancellor. "This isn't the face of a kidnapper. A misdemeanor? A felony?"

"Looks deceive, sir."

"Very well. Cell 305 is open and ready for an inmate. And he'll only be there three days?"

"Read the papers yourself, sir."

"In my spare time," the administrator joked, a casual smile creasing his jaw. "Speaking of time, it is running ever short, so I would appreciate if I were left alone to business."

"Certainly, sir."

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

Benny and Corny had not been allowed to escort Chrono "downstairs." Only the Chancellor remained, but he soon picked up his own escorts: two gargantuans in full steel armor, inside and out. His hands were still cuffed behind his back, and the cufflinks were beginning to seriously itch.

Chrono was headed for cell 305 – simply, the fifth cell on the third sub-floor, the deepest level as well as the dankest. The cell probably hadn't been even looked at for years. Not only would he be able to write his name in the dust, but he could create a miniature dust bunny model of the entire castle. He got to feel its thickness up close as he was ever so gently thrown to the floor, face first.

Before he could recover from the fall, he felt a steel boot nail him in the gut. "Get in, you rat!" one of the guards bellowed, kicking him again in the back. Soon the other one joined in, kicking him in the legs.

"Stop!" the Chancellor cried. "Don't kill him yet, you morons!" The guards instantly stopped, still hovering over the boy's body. "His legs are still dangling out – get him in, quick." They complied. "Unchain him. He'll need to eat eventually." With that, the Chancellor huffed away.

Once Chrono had been deposited fully downstairs, the guards set to work unchaining him. "Filthy rat you are," one growled. "Enjoy your last three days on the planet, you will – scum. We'll be back." He stood and departed.

The other began to follow, but stopped and turned around. After a brief internal struggle, he charged the floor and gave Chrono one last, good kick in the gut before he, too, left the boy alone on the dank and dripping floor.

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

Benny glanced up from working just as the Chancellor darkened his room, followed by two gargantuans. "Sir." He rose to attention.

"Sit down, Benjamin." The old man motioned to the thugs. In unison, they marched to the front of his desk. "Sorry to interrupt your work."

"Oh, no. I was just reviewing Chrono's case."

"Excuse me, what?"

"Chrono's case. I have the court transcript as well as all the collected evidence, and I am reviewing the case." Slowly Benny reached for the drawer on the underside of his desk.

"You don't need to do that. The verdict is final, and the boy dies in three days. Pierre has it all taken care of."

"That's a lie, sir." His hand was on the drawer now.

"Please, give me the transcript."

"Which copy, sir?"

"Give it to me, please, right now."

Benny's hand tensed on the drawer. If any of these three made a false move, they'd be meeting their maker with an extra sinus cavity. "Sir, this is not the original transcript. I made copies and distributed them through the legal department."

"Then, please give me that copy. I have yet to see the transcript."

"As you wish, sir." He shuffled some papers with his free hand and pushed them across the desk. One of the goons picked them up.

"Give me that!" The Chancellor leapt and snatched the papers out of his aide's hands. "Thank you for your time, Benjamin – and I would spend my time on a matter of more legal importance than that of this rapist."

Benny's hand moved from the drawer.

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

Chrono curled up on the bed. How long had it been? He'd lost all track of time… it all depended on how much time passed in between each drip from the ceiling. He'd counted about 783 drips.

That was since he flopped onto that bed in the first place. He'd immediately regretted that, for the bed was harder than a plate of stale rock. However, he had enjoyed the privilege of putting a blanket over his body, though he had the feeling it used to be a table napkin.

How much time had gone by? Maybe he'd fallen asleep somewhere. There wasn't much else to do. This cell had no writing desk and no room service. He began to relish the though of his execution only because he would leave this filthy room.

His thoughts were interrupted by a rattling at the bars. Chrono groaned and strained to see who was there. He almost jumped out of bed at the sight – Nadia! She had come all the way down here?

With a groan, Chrono hauled himself out of the bed and toward the door. His face fell right to the floor when he saw her escort. Milton. "Hello," he muttered to the both of them. "What brings you down here to see me?"

"Chrono, I – " Nadia began.

He cut her off. "That was a rhetorical question. Never mind." He paused a moment as if considering his next words. "Boy, I'm really glad to see you… even if this is the last time."

"No, no, Chrono – don't lose hope." He could tell it was she who needed the hope. "You'll be out soon. Really. I mean, who honestly believes you kidnapped and… took me? I mean, come on, I swore up and down to Daddy and the Chancellor, but they won't do anything."

"The king doesn't even believe you?"

Nadia winced. "This place is a dump! When was the last time it was cleaned!"

"You're hearing me, but you're not listening."

"That's not true! I mean – " She bit her lip, fighting back a sob. Chrono was a little annoyed to have to put up with an emotional woman, but he was glad at least someone had spilled tears over him. "Listen, I just came to say good-bye, so I should just go."

"Yes, you should."

Nadia gave Chrono one last pathetic look before she turned to leave. "Oh! Milton!" Chrono reached through the cell bars and grabbed his coat. "Milton! What's going on out there?"

The guard remained as rigid as possible. "The lawyers are reviewing your case."

"What's that supposed to mean? Am I getting out of here?"

Milton didn't respond.

"Come on! Where's Pierre!"

The guard coughed at that. "Pierre… it seems your lawyer has suffered a fatal heart attack, shortly after your trial. Bad diet, they say. What a coincidence."

"No way! There's no way he could have an attack right now!"

"Oh, he had a heart attack – but it wasn't from any high-cholesterol diet, I can assure you."

"Then how on earth do I get out of here?"

"Another lawyer has been arranged to take your case. He'll be here in three days."

"Three days! Milton – I die in two."

The guard looked away and cleared his throat. "Listen, Nadia has been down here far too long. I need to take her back to the castle." He turned on his heels and grabbed the princess's hand, escorting her through the gaping mouth of a door.

Chrono slipped away from the bars. Well, that's that. Your case is finished. His foot nicked something on the floor. What's this – food? It must have been slipped in while I was in bed. Not surprisingly, his "dinner" did little to whet his appetite. It had probably been shuffled from the dog's leftovers. He kicked it under the bed. Let the rats have it – at least food will do them good!

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

"All right, then – everything is ready."

Lucca sat on her bed, surrounded by a mountain range of junk. Most of it was new, though some of it was the accumulation of deserted projects and experiments. She slapped one suitcase shut and kicked it to her door – nearly clipping several teetering gizmos. Did she have the note? Yes – she was holding it in her hand – it wasn't going anywhere.

She stood, the folds of her bed springing to their original shape, knocking over a pile of metal whatchamacallits. Oh yes – the gate key – can't forget that! She hurried to the fallen clutter. In fact, she should keep this with her at all times!

The note fell out of her hand. Oops! She leaned over and gently picked it up, but her helmet fell right off her head. It clattered to the floor, her guns spilling out under the bed. Can't forget these, either! She knelt and retrieved her new weaponry. Once she had everything recollected, she rose and backed out her door.

She had to return to pick up the suitcase.

Quietly, she stole into the kitchen and plastered the note to the wall. Quickly she reviewed it for spelling errors before continuing toward the door. Lucca fought the urge to tear the note off and rewrite it for the umpteenth time. But, no, they couldn't know the truth – yet. Maybe she would be back.

THUMP!

Oh, no – she dropped the suitcase. Now they'd wake up! Hurry – out the door!

She was gone as a voice called out. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

"Don't worry, Lara, the house makes noises all the time."

"This was not the usual noise, Taban."

"Just go back to sleep…"

"No, Taban. Please go check."

"Fine." There was a rustling of covers.

"Be careful – don't trip over the wheelchair."

"Go to sleep, honey. I'll be right back."

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

Eventually Chrono grew so weak and hungry that even the glop served him twice a day looked appetizing. He never finished the "meals," but he greedily consumed all the water, even if it wasn't completely clean. Luckily enough for him, the amount of rat inmates wasn't so much that Chrono couldn't fend them off by himself. By the end of the second day, the rats stopped bothering him.

His boredom was interrupted by echoing footsteps. Now who dared to pay him a visit? Chrono sat up.

It was the Chancellor, of all people. Chrono briefly considered a death-match, but changed his mind when he saw the escort – another gargantuan in steel armor. Maybe it was one of the guards he had seen before, but that didn't matter. He knew he was in for an unpleasant visit.

The Chancellor flipped a lever, and the cage slowly opened. Can I run for it? Maybe if I – ah – stupid! You'll make it ten feet before you're shish-ka-Chrono. The lean old man and his escort stepped inside.

"Hello, again, Chrono." The old man's voice was not the usual – something more sinister… "Tomorrow's the big day. Are you ready for your next quest?"

Chrono tried not to show any confusion when he asked "what?"

"Don't lie to me!" the Chancellor snapped. On cue, the guard pulled out his sword. "No – don't kill the boy! What good would that do? Now – Chrono, let us continue.

"I know you are an innocent young child. That much is obvious to us all. But, sadly, you seem to have got yourself in a mess you can't get out of. Why you would run away with a strange girl, I don't know – but you did, and I am proud. Of course, we could not get you to actually perform the deed – I suppose I misjudged you, for I had never met you until you came to the castle." He read Chrono's surprise. "Of course I knew who you were – I have been watching you. Did you really think Nadia was bright enough to escape the palace on her own?"

Chrono couldn't help but roll his eyes. Please. Another sinister confession. Why waste my time.

"Yes, you do not understand why I am telling you this, do you? Then I guess it is too early. You do not know what I seek."

Chrono snapped to attention at the word early.

"Don't act so surprised, Chrono. If it is too early – you will go to your grave innocent, and I will look elsewhere. Do not lie to me, now. If you really know what I am talking about… please show me a sign."

"How can I?" Chrono quipped. "You haven't used a single concrete noun since you walked in here. Besides, what good would it do me to tell you?"

"I promise to let you live. Don't think I am toying with you. I may not be your greatest friend, but I am your only friend! When I make a promise – you can trust my word."

"What are you talking about? Honestly, I don't know!"

WHACK! Suddenly Chrono saw stars where the ceiling should be. The gargantuan stood above him, poised for another strike.

"Calm yourself! The boy is as good as dead. He never found anything! Let's go." With that, the Chancellor stormed out of the cage. The guard looked after him, kicked Chrono one more time in the gut for good measure, and then followed the old man.

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

Corny fixed his hair for the nineteenth time before finally ascending the stairs. "Remember to smile, now… and be cordial. She's been through a lot anyway," he muttered to himself.

His suave smile instantly fell off his face. Where did these two come from? "Hello?" he called in his friendliest tone. "Er… hello." The two gargantuans did not move from the top of the stairs. Corny took a deep breath and tried to pass as nonchalantly as possible.

"Sir!" one called in a voice not unlike a meat grinder. "You cannot pass."

"Excuse me?"

"This room is restricted!"

"I've just come to bring some flowers, for the princess." He pulled the gift from behind his back to prove his errand. "I'll be in and out in a minute."

"No one is allowed through."

"That's nonsense."

"No one, not even the princess herself, may enter without approval from the King and a royal escort."

"But I am a royal escort!"

"Sorry – sir, you must understand, the princess has suffered severe trauma. She must rest for a while."

"May I leave the flowers here?"

"Sorry, lover boy, but no."

The young man only sighed and returned down the stairs. Lover boy – that was a good one.

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

How long Chrono lay on the floor, he didn't know. All he could feel was the throbbing of his head and the pain in his stomach. He'd eaten as much of that disgusting slop as he could manage without retching. Still, he felt he hadn't eaten since the trial.

Eventually he just succumbed to the voices in his head, which were presently engaged in a spectacular show of words.

No! You can make it – you aren't going to die today.

Yeah right – you heard the Chancellor – he knew you were innocent and he still had you killed. You really think he's going to change his mind?

There is a way! There is a way!

No! He has it in for you. Face it – he won, you lost.

What did he have against me?

You are a worthless NOBODY! That's what he had in for you.

I did nothing wrong!


Did you do nothing wrong? Why did you treat the princess like you did – after you learned who she was? You hated her – that's what you did. You hated the fact she was a princess!


That is not true!

Quiet! Your time is over.

Chrono held his hands over his ears, as if that would stop the noise in his head. He crawled back into the bed – at least he would be more comfortable… if comfortable was the appropriate word.

His thoughts were interrupted by more footsteps. Time's up. There's no way out now.

Milton! "It's time, Chrono," the guard droned. "Let's go." He opened the cage, mourning in his heart the death of another innocent at his hand.