Chapter 7: The Cabin
Ralph Cohan and his wife Lorraine were members of the Resistance, like Cain used to be. Although they were broken like most of the members of the Resistance, they were honest and generous people who had given their trust once Cain had cited the secret oath of the Resistant Fighters.
Fighting Longcoats and freeing D.G. and Raw had been easier in the company of Glitch than he had assumed. And once more the straw man had left him speechless. Now they were on their way to find the Emerald of the Eclipse and had gained a new member, who according to D.G., was her old tutor, but Cain knew that guy and he had never really liked him.
Now, however, they were all sitting around a filled table in a dark cabin in the woods and if you looked at all of them you wouldn't assume that Cain was suspicious about the pooch.
Ralph was just telling them rumors from a resistant fighter (something drawing Cain's attention back to the memory of his son and wife who were still alive) about the workers in the mines and when he mentioned a line in the Black Mountains it, this time, caught both his and Glitch's attention.
"Morotanium, big M, little T, number 216 in the Ozian periodic table," Glitch whispered to himself before he looked at the others, resembling surprise. Neither he nor the others could tell where that flicker of information had come from.
For a long time, after the night in DeMilo's wagon, Cain had thought about his suspicions. Hours he had observed Glitch, searching for familiar trademarks and characteristics, but soon he had realized that it was foolish to hope that the Scarecrow was his old friend Ambrose so he had abandoned that thought again.
Now, though, it surprised him that Glitch reacted and that he seemed to know something about Morontanium, an element that Ambrose could talk about on ends. Was there a flicker of his old friend again or was he secretly wishing it to be true so hard that he couldn't differentiate between the two anymore?
Whatever it was he had to shake it off, there was no time to lose and they needed answers.
"Morotanium, what's it for?" D.G. asked and for a moment Cain thought that Glitch would answer but he didn't.
"Besides its strength Morotanium is valued for its ability to conduct magical energy," Cain jumped in instead, which earned him a surprised look from his friends.
"What? Am I not allowed to know some physics? Your Uncle was obsessed with Morotanium and he told me about it," he said as the group kept staring at him.
"Ambrose Gale, of course! People in the Resistance are saying that he changed allegiances and that he is now working for the sorceress!" Ralph exclaimed and Cain's blood froze when Glitch jumped up in protest.
"That's ridiculous why should the duke do that? I heard that he is a loyal and wise man, I doubt that he would ever betray his sister," he returned in rage and sat down again with a loud thump and arms crossed.
Glitch was right it was ridiculous, no matter how much the sorceress might have tortured him. Ambrose had a strong will and a stubborn mind, he would never sell his ideas and work for Azkadellia. But what had happened to his friend then?
Cain had found out that no one had heard of him in ages and Ralph wasn't the only one who believed that the Duke was now working for Azkadellia.
More than the Resistance fighters bloomy theory though, he was confused by Glitch's actions again and once more his old suspicions returned. Who was that man?
As much as he wanted to believe that Ambrose wasn't working for the Sorceress, still alive and maybe an animated Scarecrow now, he remembered a conversation with Ambrose that wouldn't want to leave his mind and that maybe could support Ralph's theory.
"I agree with Glitch, Ambrose and I have been friends for centuries and I can't imagine that he would do something like that. However, I knew that he was planning to built a machine that needed Morotanium to work," Cain said with sadness in his voice which even got stronger when he glanced at Glitch.
"So if she gets hold of the Emerald and uses this machine, she could focus the power however she wants?" D.G. asked in real shock looking at her tutor.
"Not if we get it first," the pooch answered reassuringly.
"Well, I'm not sure. He said it's a sun seeder but I can't remember what it was supposed to do," Cain said, helpless.
"We don't have time for this Cain, we need to know." D.G. touched his arm and suddenly glanced to Raw. Cain looked at Glitch who didn't move one inch of his burlap face since he still seemed to be upset, and when Cain looked into those pleading blue eyes he knew what D.G. was going to ask of him
"Okay kiddo, but I'm not sure if our fur ball here will find something useful in that head of mine."
O.o.O.O.O.O.o.O.O.O.O.o.O.o.O.o.o
The group watched Raw as he was preparing for the viewing session by doing some relaxing exercises and searching for the right aura. Cain was seated in an old armchair and Raw would show them his memories through a mirror that was hanging over a small fireplace. Candles were spending soft light in the darkness and as Raw raised from his place close to the armchair Cain got a little nervous.
What would they see? The conversation about the sunseeder with Ambrose , or something completely different? Would it help them to continue their journey or would Raw only waste his energy by leading them into the memories of Cain's past? Whatever the outcome might be Cain wasn't sure about all this, but when D.G. touched his hand lightly and assured him that they needed whatever they could get, and that Cain' memories might be the key, he relaxed visibly and offered his head to Raw.
Against all his expectations Raw's touch wasn't cold but soft and warm. The searching for the memory itself didn't hurt at all but when one hand left his head for the mirror and Raw concentrated on a memory of what he called "A dark day", Cain's body suddenly felt like it was struck by lightning.
The invasion into his cranium felt like something was cutting his head open like a knife and he closed his eyes in the hope that it would reduce the pain. Little gasps left his lips and he started shaking , however Raw didn't let go of this one precious memory.
Cain couldn't hear or feel what was going on around him, but when the pain suddenly ebbed away he had a feeling that his friends were just watching the memory.
All he hoped for was that it would help them.
O.O.O.o.O.O.O.o.O.O.O.O.O.o.o.O.O.
Azkadellia was slowly gathering more and more dark forces around her and Ambrose had a suspicion that not only half of the Tin Man division of Central City were on her side now but also most of their most loyal generals, and Azkadellia wasn't even seventeen yet.
Her powers grew stronger every day and at some point they either had to defend and leave Central City for the Northern Territories or they had to pull up stronger forces against his niece. Ozma refused to let that happen though and he didn't blame her, there was still hope that they could save their Azkadellia and free her from the darkness. However, his sixth sense tried to convince them that they were risking to lose precious time.
A knock on the door interrupted that last thought and for a moment Ambrose thought that his heart would stop beating. From time to time Azkadellia would pay him unannounced visits, always asking him about his work, never looking him in the eye and never leading any other kind of conversation. He knew that she was searching for something, and now that he was currently working on his sunseeder, he could only hope that she wasn't standing in front of his laboratory.
"Hey Ambrose, can I come in?" Relief built up in his body and his heart slowed down when he heard the familiar voice that belonged to Cain and with a weak little smile on his face he opened the double doors.
"Sure, Tin Man, you are always welcome here," he greeted his friend, not showing the shock he felt when he saw how worn out Cain was looking. He himself must look the same, but there was something about Cain's look that concerned him.
He surely was sick with worry because his family was back in Old Creek and he was still here at the Palace , no matter how much Cain would protest, though, Ambrose had planned to do something about it and send him home.
"Are you sure about that? Haven't seen many Tin Men in your lab before," Cain returned teasingly, which earned him a low laugh from Ambrose.
"You're right I was kidding, only you are always welcome," the brunette returned, and by now he was an expert in repressing the blush.
"Never mind. What is it that brings you here, Captain?" Ambrose asked as Cain didn't respond to his little joke.
"Only temporarily, Ambrose. I'm not the right one for that kind of job. The Queen asked me to pay you a visit, she said that you are working too hard to find a way to stop Azkadellia. Now that I'm here I have to say that I agree with her, you look tired," Cain said, concern evident in his voice.
Ambrose shrugged it off with an absent-minded move of his hands before he turned around to his machine again.
"There is no need to worry about me, really I'm fine. Look at yourself first!" he answered waiting patiently for the sigh that soon followed his argument.
"Look, I know that you try to be strong for your sisters, but I'm not dumb Ambrose," Cain countered. So he really wanted to have a discussion then.
"And what difference would it make if I lay down now, huh? If I allow myself to rest? Would that keep her from sneaking into my lab searching for my plans? Would that keep anyone from fearing her next attack? Would that make you realize that you are as stubborn as myself and doing exactly the same thing? Do you have an answer to that Mr. Cain?" his tone was calm for there was no reason to scream or get furious.
Cain rubbed his eyes with his hand before he let out another sigh.
"No," he said, watching his friend who had drawn his attention to the unfinished machine on the table again.
"But that doesn't change the fact that you're pushing yourself to the limit. We're all tired and we all need a rest, so do you." One last attempt to break through that thick skull of his and then he would stop arguing.
"I can't. She will kill us all if I stop now." Ambrose's voice was faint but Cain could feel the sadness and fear that was attached to it.
"I'm scared Cain! Scared that my sister won't be strong enough to..."and with that the tears came back. In that moment the sight of Ambrose reminded Cain so much of the night in front of the Mystic Man's dressing room that it brought back the old aching pain in his chest. The feeling as if his heart was breaking and slowly crumbling to the floor.
He tried to comfort his friend as he had done all these years ago, but Ambrose pushed away the hand that he wanted to place on his shoulder. With a fast and skilled movement of his hand he wiped away the tears and after a short sniff no sign of the sudden breakdown could be found on his friend's face.
"You know that I'm here for you?" Cain asked and Ambrose nodded lightly.
Silence built up between them. Both of them knowing that the air was thick with guilt and fear and both of them not knowing what to say to comfort each other.
Assuming that Cain understood the message and would leave him alone, Ambrose grabbed for the screwdriver and started to work on the sun-seeder again.
"So what is this machine for, then?" his friend asked, sounding like he was honestly curious about it.
"Well, let's say this is my definition of 'resting'. This machine here won't stop Azkadellia, I'm afraid, but it distracts my mind and I hope that one day it will help the people of the O.Z.," he exclaimed proudly.
Cain had missed that sparkling in his friend's eyes and although this wasn't the relaxing and resting he had had in mind for him he knew that there was no further arguing with the inventor.
Just as he was about to ask him another question though, their short moment of happiness was interrupted by a loud shaking sound that was too familiar to Cain's ears to not be an explosion. With a trained movement he tackled the Advisor to the floor and covered his friend's body with his own.
He could hear Ambrose breathing in deeply underneath him and before he would squeeze him to death he decided that it might be safer to get up again.
"What was that for?" Ambrose winced as Cain offered him his outstretched hand.
"That sounded like an explosion. Someone must be attacking the palace. The building could collapse I wanted to protect you," Cain answered flatly, completely being the pragmatic Tin Man he was trained to be.
"Yeah, thanks for that but I think you broke one of my ribs," the brunette winced again as he touched the right side of his ribcage.
"Always told you to eat more!" Cain countered before another explosion caused the floor to shake underneath their feet.
This time he pushed Ambrose down by his shoulder, paying special attention to the pressure of his grip.
"Stay down, hide underneath the table, you should be safe there for the moment. I will go outside and check the situation." The Tin Man now whispered to him in a demanding tone which was really unlike his friend.
Ambrose could feel that the situation was tense, beside that he felt the trembling of Cain's hand that was trying to push him down and although he had sworn himself to never use his role as a Duke on Cain he would now need to order his friend around.
"No!" Ambrose countered, his face completely blank. Cain had long since released the grip and was now making his way to the door but his friends refusal made him stop dead in his tracks.
"No? Are you crazy Ambrose? Get under that table now someone is attacking the palace!" he yelled at the advisor who had gotten up from the floor and who was now walking towards him.
"I beg your pardon! I believe you are the crazy one here, willingly walking into that trap like you want to commit suicide! You have a family, Cain! They need you! I know you are a Tin Man and I know you have sworn to protect us but as your superior and as your Prince I have to ask you to leave this place through the secret underground system and to not turn around! Go and protect your family," the brunette yelled at him with such force that it almost scared Cain.
"But...you!" the blond protested being interrupted by Ambrose before he could even finish his sentence.
"I can take care of myself. Azkadellia is probably testing how far she can go now. If she is really looking for some of my plans she won't harm me. Ozma and I will find a solution but this is something that we need to do on our own. So many people have died for us already, I don't want to have your blood on my fingers as well." The anger and fury was gone and unconditional guilt replaced it instead.
For a moment Cain wanted to slap Ambrose, to grab his arms and shake him, to do everything to talk some sense into his friend but when he thought about the man's words he had to admit that he was right.
He couldn't risk to be killed, he couldn't allow himself to be so stubborn and leave Adora and Jeb to an unknown fate. Ambrose was his friend but he was a grown man who knew what he was doing and what he was getting himself into so if he wanted to accept it or not.
He had to betray Ambrose in order to save his family.
The guilt that was evident on the brunette's face now wrapped his heart as well and with a nod of his head and a warm embrace he showed his friend that he was willing to obey his order.
"You'll take of yourself, won't you?" he whispered before he heard an unexpected laugh from the man in his arms.
"As long as you promise to make it easier for us and finally leave now," Ambrose answered and Cain could hear that he was trying to hold back more tears.
Both now walked to the door in a corner of Ambrose's study room that led to a secret system of tunnels and corridors underneath the palace. It would lead him into freedom and as both of them hoped it would give him a chance to protect his family.
"One day we will defeat her and that will be the day when we will see each other again!" Cain promised before he looked into Ambrose's sad face one last time and before the advisor closed the door in front of his face.
"To that day then," he heard him say through the door and without wasting another second Cain turned around and left the place of misery for good.
O.O.o.O.o.o.O.o.O.O.O.O.O.
Without his own notice he had started trembling and shaking again, light suddenly flooding his vision as Raw let go of his head and memory.
For a moment he had to focus and he couldn't tell where he was. Uncomfortably he shifted in his seat and searched for a clue why he was suddenly surrounded by his friends. Then it came back to him and he stared at the sad faces of the others waiting for them to tell him what they had just seen.
"What? Is Ambrose's machine bad?" he asked, worry fogging his mind.
"No, but whatever it is he surely did everything to stop Azkadellia and to save your life," Glitch responded lowly.
"That's why he had to let you go," D.G. added and suddenly hugged him tightly as if she knew something that Cain himself wasn't able to explain.
She was right the memory of losing his friend still haunted Cain, but it had also assured him that Ambrose wasn't working for Azkadellia and that they would meet again.
"Raw know that Ambrose not working for Azkadellia, could feel loyalty, could feel honesty. Something else running machine," the viewer said to comfort Cain and he was right.
Although there were still a lot of questions to ask and a lot of mysteries to solve all they needed to do now was to find the Emerald and to get D.G. into the palace safe and sound.
If he had enough luck and faith in himself he might even find his friend and keep the promise he had given a long time ago.
A.N: About this chapter..you might have sensed one of the changes ..yes since no one is supposed to know yet that Glitch is the missing Ambrose I thought it might be a nice idea to take a look at Cain's memories and at the same time make him deal with some of his suspicions again. Glitch acts