Just as soon as Shu had hit the last step, he was beginning to miss Alex.
The basement was nothing like basement. It looked like some cavernous room, right out of ancient times, complete with glow torches providing dim light. The air was musty and humid, almost enough to suffocate. The heat was sweltering, without the air conditioning, and aided by the torches.
"Why, in the name of Arceus, would anyone want to come here?" Daichi had muttered just as soon as he had come down.
"Where were you?" Chiyo had demanded. While Daichi was explaining his interaction with Alex to Chiyo, Carlos and Damon, Shu was taking a tour of the huge room with his brother and May.
"There are a…lot of photos of Groudan." May commented, inspecting one photo so old it looked ready to snap in pieces.
"And scrolls," Drew added, "Don't forget the scrolls."
Shu picked up one of the mentioned scrolls and tried to read it in the dim light. After trying for few minutes in vain, with the words flying around and not making any sense, he relented, "Is it just me or this is not English?"
"Nor is it any other language we know." Carlos said, peering over his shoulder.
"Really?" Chiyo had jumped at the chance, snatching the scroll out of his hand, eyes squinting as she tried to read in the dim lights. After few moments, she nodded, "It does not look like any language we know."
"Some sort of ancient language?" Daichi suggested. Before they had a chance to mull that thought over, May's voice called our attention.
"Guys, you might want to see this."
O.o
"Kei. Where were you?" Courtney had asked icily when the blue haired man had joined them.
He glanced at Mack, who once again had his hood shielding his eyes, and turned back to Courtney with a sneer, "I don't feel obliged to answer you."
"Who was responsible for the start of machine?" Their boss roared, startling all of them.
"E-excuse me?" Kei stammered, rushing to check the machine with Mack, cradling the stone in his hands like a baby. "It is not started…why is it not started?"
"That is exactly what I'm asking you! Why is it not started?"
"I started it! I inserted the water-"
"The water stone is missing. Along with the fire stone." Mack interrupted.
Kei whirled around, eyes wild, "What? That cannot be! I…I personally put them there!"
"Did you, Kei?" Courtney questioned grimly, though her eyes danced with smugness, "Did you really?"
"You!" Kei whirled around, pointing a wildly accusing finger at her, "You stole them!"
"Me?" Courtney took a step back, her pretty face contorting with outrage, "You are accusing me?"
"You…you always wanted the glory to yourself! You couldn't believe that boss tasked me with-"
"How dare you!" Courtney shrieked, "How dare you suggest-"
All through this, Maxie's patience was wearing thin. "You both shut up. Shut up."
The two stilled immediately. Mack sighed. Their boss continued, "Kei, did you really get the stones?"
Kei's face paled before his expressions dissolved in disbelief, "You…even you doubt me?"
"Kei." Maxie said firmly in a dead calm voice, "Did you get the stones or not?"
Kei made to retort before stopping, and took a deep breath, "Yes. As per your instruction, stole the water stone from water department and the fire stone from the fire department."
"Right under Kiyoshi's nose," Their boss mused for a moment before remembering the task at hand, "And then what did you do?"
"Came here, powered the machine with it, started it, and then left." Kei replied.
"And did you post the guards outside?"
"Obviously." Kei rolled his eyes, "You saw them yourself, right now. They have not left the post until just now."
"Then where are the stones?" Courtney glared at him, "Did the machine eat them?"
"Courtney." Maxie admonished, "Kei. Are you sure no one came in and out?"
"You got the full report from the guard yourself!" Kei cried, "No one came in! The four guards rotated among themselves, the door was guarded at all times! There are no other entrances to here!"
He turned in a circle, meeting all three of the occupants in the eye, his eyes challenging anyone to doubt him. Maxie sighed heavily, and closed his eyes.
"The stone. Do you have the stone?"
Kei held up the box like a trophy. "Yes, I have it. Courtney, do you want to open it? See if the box had eaten it?"
Courtney's glare intensified, but on Maxie's command, took and box and opened it. Nestled between the fold of red velvet was a fist-sized stone, the light in the room making it glow different colors. Gold, like blazing fire; blue, like flowing water; emerald, like the forest; silver, like the moon; bright clear color; warm colors of the sun; quiet blue shades of dawn….
Courtney snapped the lid shut and breathed heavily, clutching the box to her chest. The loud snap had made the others to snap out of their trances as well.
"Alright," Maxie said, shaking his head to clear his mind, and cleared his throat, "Now, where is Tabitha?"
"Outside." Mack replied.
"Does Kiyoshi still think he can win, after we have this?" Maxie chuckled, and took the box from Courtney.
"A foolish notion, sir." Mack said duly.
"They might win," Courtney said testily, glaring at Kei, "if we do not find the water and fire stone."
"All in due time, my dear." Maxie replied. "Now, go. Find those stones."
O.o
May stared at the sight in front of her, aware of Drew standing behind her, one hand on her waist. The others rushed to where she was standing and drew in a surprised breath.
"What…what in the name of Arceus is this?" Damon gasped.
In a puddle of water, which had a purplish tint or maybe it was just the light, two stones, one blue and one red, were sitting together.
"The fire stone…" Chiyo breathed, kneeling down and scooping up the two stones in her hands gently, "and the water stone."
"What are they doing here?" Shu questioned, "Weren't they…"
"Supposed to be at the Rubello Headquarters? Yes. Yes, they were supposed to be there." Daichi answered.
"But why are they here? And how?" Carlos mused. They all stood for maybe a minute together, when May called them again.
She was standing behind Drew, who was crouching before the puddle, "Guys, the water is warm."
Daichi cocked an eyebrow at the teen, "This place is like the inside of a volcano!"
"It is inside a volcano." Carlos reminded him.
"Right." Daichi nodded, "So, the water is obviously warm."
"And soft." Shu noted, crouching next to his brother.
"Soft?" Damon questioned.
"Yes, the water is soft." Drew confirmed.
"How would you know that? It's not a big deal anyway. So, tap water. Now what?" Chiyo crossed her arms.
"No." May said, touching the water puddle, "It's soft. Not the 'no calcium, no magnesium' soft but soft to touch. Velvet soft."
There was a pregnant pause before Daichi, Chiyo, Carlos and Damon rushed to confirm the brunette's words.
It was, indeed, velvet soft. And warm. Body temperature warm.
"What the-!" Drew toppled back, and May and Shu also backed away when the liquid gave a ripple.
Suddenly, there was a blinding flash, causing everybody to look away.
I have the next few chapters written down. I am not getting much time to update since I am at my brother's in Dubai. I'll try to update quick.
Thank you to those who reviewed.