Wilson adjusted the curtain over Swiftshadow's shoulders. It had been a day and a half since she had crashed into the tower. She hadn't done much except sleep. Brief moments of wakefulness where she'd down a beaker of water before returning to slumber. Wilson would then make the round trip to the gutted lab for more. When he wasn't tending to her needs he was tinkering with the visor and saddle. Making minor adjustments here and there making sure that they weren't damaged in the escape from Lockdowns ship and ready for action.
The 'Neal' character fortunately remained on the lower levels of the castle. Whenever Wilson had gone to fetch some water he would always peek on the man. Wilson was pretty sure that Neal didn't know of the power locked inside the wolf gem. Otherwise there would be some of that shadow magic being flung about. Which was good. Swiftshadow was in no condition for battle. Hopefully it would be a simple manner of lifting the gem. Unfortunately whenever Wilson was peeking in Neal had the gem in his hand and was awake. Wilson had to just wait until he caught the man asleep to snag it.
Wilson couldn't help but compare his situation to that of a fairy tail. A hapless princess locked in a tower guarded by ferocious dragon waiting for a knight in shining armour. In this version the princess was the dragon hiding away in the tower. Wilson wondered if that made him the knight in shining armour. Instead of slaying the dragon, he was guarding over it.
"Wilson," Swiftshadow grumbled as she stirred from her slumber. Her talons extended out before her. A tender stretch rolled over her like a wave. Her back and wings arched stiffly as she worked out the ache that no doubt permeated her muscles. Wilson wasted no time in handing her the beaker. She downed it in a single gulp. "Thanks, Wilson,"
"Feeling better?"
"A little. My wings no longer feel like their going to fall off," She looked around the room, "Where are we?"
"According to my maps we are in an abandoned castle in the Hebrides of Scotland,"
"Scotland eh, wanna go to a certain loch and go monster hunting again?"
"Wait until your back into fighting form first. Besides Loch Ness is around a hundred and eighty some odd kilometres from here,"
Swiftshadow transformed and settled onto the bed. She dug through her bag and pulled out a few granola bars. Scarfing them down with reckless abandon, she grabbed a water bottle and chugged its contents. She traded the bottle for another one. This one was not filled with water. Two small shards of deep blue crystals lay at the bottom. All that was left from the chunk of energon she mined out from Crystal Cove Lake.
"What are the chances there's an energon deposit in the UK?" She popped one the shards into her mouth and began to suck on it.
Wilson sighed, "I think we should discuss a couple things. Especially the whole Lockdown situation,"
Swiftshadow tensed. Her claws gripping the bottle tightly. "I know,"
"Firstly Lockdown. Is there a possibility he survived the crash?"
"Maybe. I know Cybertronian's don't need to breathe air. So he couldn't of drowned. If he survived he would have to escape before the oceans pressure got too great. If had an escape pod then maybe…"
Wilson knew the name Shockwave. He knew what he did to her. He could scarcely imagine what horrors he put her through. It was little wonder as to why she panicked so badly. With Lockdown potentially lurking about venturing out of this castle would be risky business. The hard truth was they could not stay here forever. At the rate Swiftshadow was eating the rations would only last one more day. He doubted that any store in Scotland would accept American currency.
"Do you know of any that could help us?" Wilson knew it was a long shot. He did have an unclear timeline of events before Swiftshadow found him.
She thought in silence for a long minute. "No."
Wilson was unsure if it was the tone she used or the way the thought about it. Deep down, somehow, he knew she was lying.
Carmen and Shadow-san crept through the halls. Dark stone walls stretched on forever. They stopped by every room to search for Neal. So far everyone was empty. Devoid of life. Only silence filled the void. It wasn't until she found the remains of Bellum's lab that the silence was broken. But not by her.
"Is this where it happened?" It was more a statement than a question. Shadow-san's gaze was a sympathetic one. Carmen one nodded. "You don't have to-"
"I have to do this," Carmen interrupted him. She strode into the room. ACME had stripped the place bare. Wires and cables hung where computers and machinery once operated. A musty dampness hung heavily in the air. A fine layer of dust had settled on everything. Abandoned and lifeless. Yet she could not shake the dread creeping over her shoulder. Maybe it was an unearthly chill or the haunting atmosphere. Something about the place made her shiver.
She could not find any evidence that anyone was here. That was until she examined the sinks. There was a knotted stretch of wire looped over a cabinet handle which sat above the sink. One end was split in two strands. One of the strands was tied into a loop and the other was connected opposite to the loop. The other end dangled loosely on the other side of the handle. she noted that around the sink the dust had been disturbed. The basin was still slightly damp like it had been used only hours before.
She and Shadow-san glanced at each other. His cocked his brow, frown deepening his wrinkles. Who or what could've made this and for what purpose? They knew they wouldn't find answers here.
Footsteps interrupted their musings. Their rhythmic confidence echoed down the halls. She and Shadow-san glided the sides of the door. Shadow-san reached for his new katana. They waited for the steps had nearly reached the door. They burst into the hallway weapons drawn. Before them stood Neal the eel. The wolf gem shone brightly on his chest.
"Oh, hello," He said raising his hands, "Fancy seeing you here. Care for a spot of tea?"
"Give us the gem, and turn yourself in," demanded Carmen. She eyed his every movement waiting for either the moment for her to strike or his.
"Let me think about it," He made a pretend thinking sound, "I think… not." His fist barley brushed her chin. Not this time Carmen thought swinging her own fist. Neal bent out of the way kicking her square in the chest. Shadow-san swung his blade but Neal nimbly flexed his way out of the razors path.
For every swing, punch, or kick aimed at Neal, he would simply slip, slide, or weave his way around them. He wasn't named Neal the Eel for nothing. The few times Carmen grabbed him he would slip right out again. It was like he was dancing circles around them laughing all the way.
Neal darted down the hall. Carmen and Shadow-san pursued close behind. Neal dove into a lounge as a katana swung a hairs width before his nose.
Neal flipped over a chair landing in front of a lit fireplace. Carmen noted the rest of the stolen relics on an antique nightstand.
"Freeze Neal!" Chase's order echoed from the doorway. His tranquilizer gas gun was pointed directly at Neal. Jules was right next to him paralleling Chase's stance. The pair slowly flanked the thief. Carmen silently thanked Player's vigilance. Zack and Ivy would be here soon.
"Give it up Neal. You are surrounded," Spoke Shadow-san.
"Nah, still don't think so." Jules and Chase pulled their triggers. Neal slipped away from the sleep inducing cloud into a corner. Shadow-san struck with his blade. The gem on Neal's chest glimmered then something happened that Carmen would've considered impossible.
A shadowy hand rose from the floorboards its sharp fingers dug into Shadow-san's flesh pinning him in a chair. Her stomach dropped as a blobby creature with sharp spindly limbs rose from the floor. Bright shining multicoloured eyes opened all over its inky body. A fearful chill ran down Carmen's spine.
Carmen and her companions couldn't help but stagger back. She didn't know what to make of this. The only thing she knew was that the Celtic Wolf now glowing brilliantly around Neal's neck was somehow responsible. She just couldn't fathom how.
"Well would you look at that?" Said Neal, "Creature release," The thing immediately released its grip on Shadow-san, Its arm retracting so it was proportional to the other. Blood stained Shadow-san's shirt from several deep gouges. His sword lay at his feet. She dove for it, gripping the hilt tightly she plunged it deeply into the things body. It felt like stabbing tar. Thick and gooey. The creature did not react until the sword was hilt deep in its form. It was wrenched out her hands and thrown back with such force that it was imbedded hilt first in the opposite wall.
Neal chuckled. "I wonder what else you can do? Creature sit and roll over." The creature sat and rolled over like an obedient dog. Carmen and her crew could only sit in shock. "Creature attack Carmen Sandiego."
The creature struck like lightning. Carmen barely had time to react. A thin trail of blood ran down her unbruised cheek. This creature was fast and without any blind spots. The eyes stared unblinkingly from every surface of its body. Its claws dug deep grooves in the castles ancient stonework. One hit from those and she was a goner.
Shadow-san struggled to get up from the chair as Julia ran to his aid. His wounds hindered his every movement. Chase grabbed a fire poker and swung at the beast. It proved to be just as effective as the katana. He was tossed like a ragdoll into a bookshelf.
At the worst possible moment she tripped. A fold in the carpet threw her off balance enough for gravity do its work. She looked up for what she believed to be the last time in her life. Razor shadows bore down heralding death. She almost felt her life flash before her eyes.
But a blaze of silver fire did instead.
The creature gave a horrid ear splitting shriek as the flames consumed it into nothingness. In a moment all that was left of the thing were the gashes in stone and flesh. Carmen traced the source of the fire.
In doorway was a beast of myth and legend, only found in fairy tales. Sabre teeth and crowned with horns, great leathery wings and shiny metallic scales. Black and gold with scarlet streaks down its muzzle. A bladed tail twitched dangerously. A white wolf crest shimmered on its shoulder. The beast panted as its fiery azure eyes glared furiously at Neal.
"Give me the diamond," The dragon growled as it bared her teeth.
"Why would I do that?" Neal replied grinning like a maniac.
"Cause that thing will tear you apart."