Tom and Sarah were in the car as it rolled towards an unknown destination. Siado wasn't with them as he decided to announce the news that Peyton was kidnapped by creatures.

The Mipedian was more in danger than themselves.

"Where are you taking us?" Tom asked the cultist who drove the car.

"We are taking you to our Matriarch. She will explain everything to you. With a Metalist showing up, it's clear what their intentions are," the man replied.

The woman by his side nodded, "There is a lot to say and it might break you."

"Come on," Sarah grunted. She wanted to leave the car, but couldn't. Before, she didn't want to get in the car, but the cult surrounded them. She stopped grunting when it suddenly was a bit brighter in the car.

The two teenagers watched it quietly. They couldn't say anything at the very sight of the light.

Chapter 16: Disappearance

Siado approached the house of Peyton and his parents. He was nervous. He felt his heart beat strongly in his chest. He had a feeling Judy would destroy him when she learned the news.

The creature wasted no time and opened the door, "Judy. I need to tell you something grave. Just try and kill me after I explain everything."

The woman walked at the entrance and already seemed a bit angry. She got the message clearly, "Where is Peyton?"

"I'm sorry…" the Mipedian took a deep breath. He decided to speak quickly, "Peyton has been captured with a creature from our world. It is an unknown tribe that shouldn't be able to come here… but he did. He took Peyton away and we have no idea where he might be."

He told a bit more detail about the metallic creatures. He added how much his tribe and the other tribes knew nothing about those creatures. Now, all he could was wait for her wrath.

Judy smile was gone. The joyful woman had horror written all over her face the moment she learned that her boy disappeared by unknown creatures. She noticed the bruises on the body of Siado. It was obvious to her that he fought to protect her child. She was merciful… this time, "So… He wasn't suppose to show here?"

Siado noticed her voice got shaky. He guessed the emotions started to overwhelm her, "Yes. I have no idea how he managed to pass the Codemasters. They wouldn't make a mistake like that. Not only that, but he used the Telerbacer to teleport around," the creature glanced at the side. He sighed quietly in relief that he wasn't dead meant by now. He raised his gaze, "I am still sorry I couldn't protect him. I fought, but he teleported away when the cult shows up."

Judy took out her cellphone, "I have to call the cop right now," she quickly called the authority about the disappearance of her son. She had no idea how to contact those responsible for anything related to creatures. Thankfully, the operator was knowledgeable and put her into contact with the organisation. She explained everything that happened. It was obvious she fought hard to hold back her tears. It was harder and harder until, "And please save my son!" her voice cracked.

She hung up and rested against the wall. She sobbed and cried, "I want to me mad at you!" she yelled at the creature, "But… you got hurt protecting him… You fought to keep him safe," she sobbed louder now, "I- I have to call Lucas…" she tried to get the phone, but couldn't call her husband.

Siado came and hugged the woman, "I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect him."

He let her cry. He remembered the sight of many of his tribe, who lost their child during the skirmishes from the other tribes. A mother tears was hard to handle, even from a warrior like him. He held her for a while.

Once Judy regained composure, she called Lucas and told him the news.

Peyton opened his eyes and noticed he was in a strange room. The place was dark. He yelped when he was put on his feet by the creature who kidnapped him.

"You might be confused, but it will be clear once we make sure you remember everything you forget. Your code came back with those blocked memories," Titanium glanced at him, "Then. I will explain why I brought you here. I want you to understand the position my people are put in before you know of my plan," he snapped his fingers and one Metalist came.

He was a white metalist with a golden head, a slim metallic body, blue eyes and a scar on his chest. He wore a red cloak with a black belt. He watched the human with a bit of interest. He put his hands in his cloak pocket, "So… This is the real Peyton this time?"

The teenager rather remained quiet. He was in a strange and unknown situation. It was something that never happened before. He corrected himself, that didn't happen for a long time. A real human in Perim. He decided not to try his luck and remained silence for now. He just hoped that nothing really bad would happen to him. Because it was his real self and how they weren't violent against him, he decided to do as they said. The large creature kidnapped him for no reason and it made little sense why he would be after him. Maybe he'll get an answer and a way to escape.

"Yes. Restore his memory and make sure everything is okay with him. We used his code to affect him. Once you are done, bring him to the Record Room," he turned around and left the room.

The white metallic creature smile remained, "Hello Peyton. Please follow me. We will make sure that you remember everything."

"O-okay," Peyton decided to be cooperative. He noticed the presence of guards in the room and maybe around. He was surely in the castle of the ruler of the tribe. He followed a bit slower behind the creature.

"I am Electrum. If you need something, you can ask me, while we are together. If it's something unimportant, please bother our king instead," the creature warned him.

The portly boy had the feeling he wasn't the talking type, "What did you do to my memory?" he went on with his first and important question.

"We seal it away in your brain. It surely followed you when you port out, but it was still sealed away. If not… we might have been in bigger trouble with the other tribes," he put his hand on his back as he raised his chest, "It is my invention and it was a success, as I predicted," he chuckled.

The boy knew who was the responsible now, but decided not to comment on it. It was best not to get him in a bad mood.

"You see, I created a special invention with our technology and the materials of this world to create a helmet that could affect your code, as you body isn't directly here. It was all to mess a bit with your code in a discreetly fashion," Electrum went on with the entire process as he shared his great invention, which bored Peyton out of his mind. Thankfully, they reached their destination, "This is my lab. One of my labs. I will make sure that you remember everything with your first meeting with Titanium, then… He will explain everything to you. It would be best that we don't leave this mystery for too long. Because I don't want to live with your endless questions in the matter."

"Will it hurt?" Peyton nervously asked.

The creature didn't immediately answer that question. He avoided eye contact before he finally answered, "No."

"You took way too long to answer that!" the boy yelled nervously. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Electrum twitched his head and bit before chuckling lightly, "It seems to be the case. Anyway, it's time for you to access those memories," he took out a helmet.

Peyton backed away as he it. He had no idea how it worked and what it would make to him. He had the feeling it might pierce his brain with many sharps' blades and syringe.

"I have no time for this. You either be cooperative or I'll restrain you. One of those options might traumatize you," the creature warned him with an emotionless expression. It was as if he actually traumatized an uncooperative creature.

"I'll be cooperative!"

"Good. On the count of three, I will inject this before I put the helmet. It's for your own good," he took out a syringe.

"O-okay," the boy gulped loudly. He closed his eyes and waited. He didn't even have time to wait he was jabbed, "You didn't even c-" he felt a bit weak. He dropped on the ground as consciousness seemed to leave him.

He saw was the creature grabbed him quickly, before he touched the ground, "This will make the memories coming back hurt much less. The pain will be greatly reduced," he then brought a helmet. It was brown with a few silvers line on it. The creature repeated, "This is what sealed your memories and will restore it," he put it on the boy, "It will hurt."

His head hurt a lot suddenly and jolted him back to full consciousness. He grunted loudly as everything came back somehow. The first meeting with king Titanium. After a minute, the helmet wasn't on his head anymore. He felt another sting on his neck and everything was back to normal.

"And done. Tell me what you remember," Electrum asked.

Peyton explained, "I woke up here because…" he became clearer by the seconds, "Titanium wanted to meet me. He said a few things and that we would meet again," he then added the details that came back more and more. His strength also quickly came back. It felt like the stuff in the syringe had a quick and short effect.

The other creature nodded as he put the gear away, "Good. Good. It looks like everything is going well in your brain. Are you still feeling pain?"

"No."

"It worked better than I thought. Anyway… I'll escort you to our king. He will explain everything to you," the creature took the lead.

"Everything?"

"Don't ask for the type of girl he likes. His personal life is not part of everything."

"W-why would I ask that?"

"I want to say ask it yourself because you are wasting my time, but I already told you to not talk about it," Electrum sighed at his conundrum. He turned around, "To make it short. Don't ask anything personal. He is pressured a bit to take a mate and have a successor."

"Okay dude."

"Anyway, we are here," he opened the door and the king was with another creature. They talked about something he couldn't hear well.

Titanium grumbled, "And make sure they don't try anything."

"We will find them. Meanwhile, we will reinforce security around the palace," the metallic creature bowed and left. He stopped when he noticed Peyton. He nodded at him, "Welcome to our little kingdom," the creature left.

Peyton turned back. He wondered what the creature meant. He decided not to reply. He focused on being cooperative. He turned towards the king.

"Hello again Peyton. I hope you are feeling alright."

"I'm okay."

The creature who escorted him left. It was only the boy and the Metalist king in the room.

Titanium went on, "Let me tell you everything that is going on Peyton," he put his hands on his side.

Meanwhile, more was going on in Perim. Tom managed to find Takinom who prepared to land in the castle of Chaor. He caught his attention by waving his arms.

The Underworlder landed near him as she closed his wings, "What do you want?" she asked with a bit of distain to the Overworlder guide.

The teenager took no offense. He expected that, "I found out where Kaz is. I'm sure of it."

The creature grabbed the boy by his shoulders, "Where?"

He pointed at the direction he came from, "There. Not sure where it is, but it is an abandoned building. I heard the voice of a creature who kidnapped Kaz. He might not be alone. H'earring is a prisoner too. That's all I know."

Takinom frowned for a few seconds, before she let a small smile, "Thanks. We will get him out of there now. Don't get in our way."

"I won't," Tom replied.

The creature flew away, searching for Chaor and told him the news.

The human knew he did everything he could. He decided to wait for Sarah and searched what to do next.

AC: This is the end of this chapter.

Next: The Cult Duty.

On Earth, Tom, Kaz and Sarah were brought to the location of the cult and met the Matriarch, who told them a lot about their duty.