Chapter 6: Heart of the Core Part 1: Ethos
'Darcy's wish for Anne to join the core has finally come true, but how will her wish play out exactly? And Terri seems to have received a mysterious message from Anne from the Amphibian realm. Will she be able to decipher it in time?'
Previously
Undisclosed Secret Laboratory (Earth)
Joyful humming filled the room as papers were shuffled neatly on the desk next to a computer monitor with a high-resolution image of a lily pad on the screen. The shuffled papers were then gathered up and placed into a manilla folder that were then carried to the other side of the room to a neatly organized desk. The folder was then placed on the desk as an ice blue haired scientist took a seat while placing a strand of lose hair behind her right ear, that strand having escaped from the ponytail that was wound neatly in a bun at the back of her head.
"Ok, now I can finally get these papers uploaded into the system." Terri excitedly stated as she continued humming to herself. "I know Dr. Jan has been freaking out about not having these forms for the museum. Sorry Jan, but the life of a scientist isn't easy either. Especially when you're working for the government and your boss is technically Mr. X."
Sliding her mouse to wake her computer up, the screen came on and prompted Terri to input her password.
"Of course." Terri happily sang as she entered her password to access her system. The home screen appeared that displayed the same lily pad image that was on her lock screen. Opening her email application, Terri noticed that Dr. Jan sent her an email. Clicking on her envelope, Terri's eyes quickly scanned the message and released a playful chuckle.
"Dr. Jan, Dr Jan, you just will not stop talking about that pocket dimension discovery will you?" Terri stated as she continued laughing to herself. "Ok, I'm going to send you the information right now and then you'll get the forms to bring up the rear."
Clicking reply, Terri's fingers were positioned over the keyboard when a low whirring sound hummed from the computer behind her. As loudly as the humming occurred, the sound died off just as quickly. Brushing the disturbance off, Terri began typing her email reply to Dr. Jan when the humming sound reoccurred and became louder. Halting her assignment, Terri turned around to notice that the computer screen's resolution was a cyan blue, a bright hue that she has never seen before. Cocking an eyebrow at the technological anomaly, the needles of the energy meters next to the computer monitor were moving back and forth erratically, which caught Terri's attention as well. The computer monitor's resolution then returned to normal as cyan blue waves appeared and began streaming across the screen. Terri's eyes grew wide as she rushed over to the computer to read the energy outputs that were flashing across the screen.
"It can't be!" Terri whispered in shock as she quickly deciphered the message that was standing out to her. "That energy signal! That cyan blue energy signature belongs to…."
Quickly grabbing the office phone's receiver next to the computer that was outputting the energy signals, Terri speed dialed the first number on the phone's base with the other line picking up just as quickly.
"Hi, Mr. X!" Terri hurriedly shouted. "Are you sitting down? Good! Because you won't believe what just popped up on my computer screen!"
Currently
Song played: Sea of Voices (9th Parallel Remix) by Porter Robinson
Fungi Forest HQ
A wooden chair slammed into the wall as its contents flew in different directions from the blunt force.
"I hate you!" Sasha screamed angrily as she picked up another chair and hurled it against the wall towards the picture she nailed to the wall of her, Marcy, and Anne in middle school. The chair was hurled particularly at Marcy's side of the picture, the angry blonde's blue orbs burning with hatred for the raven-haired girl. "It was YOUR fault we got stuck here because of your SELFISH CHOICE! Now she's gone and so are you! You got what you wanted! Are you happy now?!"
Balling up her fists, Sasha slammed them down on the wooden table's surface, forcefully splitting the table top in half as the legs of the table gave way under the blonde's tremendous strength. Sasha then pulled out her dagger from her right side's sheath and rammed it into Marcy's face on her side of the photo several times as she screamed with rage and resentment.
"You didn't think about anyone but yourself and now look!" Sasha continued screaming. "We are stuck here! You have no idea how much pain you're causing me and Anne, especially to Anne! You state you love her, but you're hurting her! She's terrified and wants to return home, but you won't let her! You won't let us! Why are you doing this to us?!"
Sasha felt her anger trying to diminish as she continued stabbing the picture, but mustered what energy she could to continue her rampage.
"And to think I was actually falling for you!" Sasha continued screaming as she pulled the knife from the picture and chucked it across the room. Sasha then tore the picture from the wall, hastily ripped it to shreds. Feeling her anger simmer out, Sasha fell to her knees as tears continued rushing out of her eyes and onto the floor in front of her in a puddle. Sweat running down her forehead and into her eyes, Sasha placed her hands to her face as waves of sadness mixed with guilt racked the warrior's frame continuously, the blonde loudly crying to herself.
"This is my worst nightmare." Sasha loudly sobbed as she sat on the ground, her face still buried in her hands. "Our worst nightmare! I just want you both back and to return to earth! Is that too much to ask? Is it?! First my parents split up and now this?!"
Outside of the commander's chambers, the room Sasha were holed up in, the resistance members overheard the blonde's rampage and exchanged worried glances at each other, unsure of who should speak to their commander in her current state.
"This is really tearing her a part." Olivia stated with slight fear in her tone as she leaned closer to Yunan. "One of us should try reasoning with her so we can regain our focus on the mission."
Olivia then looked to Yunan, who furiously shook her head in a no direction.
"You heard how she ripped me good when we arrived back here." Yunan hurriedly stated, deflecting Olivia's suggestion. "Why don't you speak with her. You've always had a way with words."
"Sasha will literally eat her alive, especially when she is like this." Grime chimed in. "I should go talk to her as she will listen to me no matter what state she is in."
"I don't think that's a good idea Grime." Hop pop quickly spoke up. "When our children behave in that manner, they don't want to even listen to us. They can be quite stubborn when as upset as Sasha is right now. Trust me, I have plenty of experience in that area."
Shooting Polly and Sprig a quick glance, Hop pop straightened up the front of his suit.
"I'll go talk to Sasha." Hop pop volunteered. "Maybe she will listen to me, someone who isn't her parent. We've grown quite close since the toad tower incident and the formation of the resistance."
"That is my daughter and I will do the honors!" Grime replied with fierce insistence. "After all, you wouldn't stand a chance against the lieutenant. She was trained in one of the best armies in Amphibia! She'd have you for lunch!"
"I vote the toad!" Polly pipped up, gaining Yunan and Olivia's vote for Grime to go in and assist Sasha. After all, someone has to try and calm down the blonde.
Listening to everyone go back and forth, Sprig released a sigh and cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention.
"I'll do it." Sprig spoke up, everyone turning to the pink frog as if they saw a ghost. "I've spoken to Sasha before and she's actually very nice compared to when we first met. Maybe she'll listen to me."
The area suddenly became tense with nervousness and uncertainty, eyes from just about everyone's sockets sprung out from her skulls. From a collective recollection, upon Sasha and Sprig's first meeting, Sasha targeted Sprig for simply knowing Anne and tried to dispose of him on several occasions upon learning that he was Anne's best friend. However, since the formation of the resistance against Darcy and King Andrias, the relationship between the two had vastly improved, but considering the state of mind Sasha was in, Sprig trying to speak the angry blonde worried everyone. What if Sasha acted on the past feelings of Sprig being Anne's best friend in place of her? What if she tried targeting him, forgetting about the improved relationship? So many questions hung in the air concerning the pink frog crossing that threshold in the commander's chambers.
"Sprig, I don't think that is a good idea." Hop pop cautioned. "Maybe we should leave her alone for the time and when she's calmer, you can maybe try then."
"Hop pop, she's hurting right now." Sprig firmly stated to his grandfather. "When someone is hurting, you don't leave them, you help them! You always taught us that, especially when we first met Anne. She needed our help when she first arrived to Amphibia and we gave her just that. How do you think she would respond if she knew how we were acting when one of her own needed help? Sure, Sasha can be scary and was at one point, but we have to look beyond the anger to something more. She lost her best friends and could use some support right now. I don't know about any of you, but I'm going to speak with her!"
The area fell silent as Sprig walked past Yunan and into the commander's chambers with confidence that he would be able to assist Sasha like he did Anne and even Marcy. As the door closed behind the pink frog, the sound of the door hinge latching caused everyone's hearts to drop into their stomachs.
Crossing his right hand over his heart, Grime walked to Hop Pop's left and placed his right hand on the older frog's shoulder.
"I will have his tombstone sent over first thing in the morning." Grime stated with condolences. A deep sigh was released from the older frog in response to the toad's statement.
Having crossed the threshold into the chamber, Sprig's vision immediately noticed the debris that was sprawled about the room and then noticed Sasha curled up in the corner of the room almost in the fetal position.
"Hey Sasha." Sprig called out to the disheveled blonde. "I came to—"
"Get out!" Sasha venomously spat, her words dripping with ice. "I don't want to talk to anyone right now, especially you!"
The feeling of fear immediately slammed Sprig as Sasha rejected his presence, but just as quickly pushed the emotion off as he was determined to get through to Sasha, even if it meant possibly getting bruised in the process. He knew which Sasha he were speaking to at that moment and it was not the commander of the resistance he came to know and respect.
"No Sasha, I'm not leaving you." Sprig firmly stated as he stood his ground. "You're hurting right now and I'm offering my shoulder for you to lean on as we get through this together. I know you miss Anne and Marcy, we all do, but this is what Darcy wants, to weaken us so she can win and destroy the earth, our home. We can't let that happen."
Sasha felt her rage reignite as Sprig's voice echoed throughout the room and him refusing to let her grieve in private. She did not want anyone to see her in that state and having one of her own teammates seeing the blubbering mess she turned into was not one of her proud moments. Slowly grabbing the handle of her red heron sword with her right hand, Sasha turned to the pink frog, her left eye slanted in rage as she honed in on her target.
"I told you get out and leave me alone!" Sasha hissed as she slowly climbed to her feet and just as slowly turned her body towards Sprig. "As your commander, you are to listen to what I tell you, but you just had to ignore a direct order! Well guess what? You're going to pay for going against your superior squeak toy!"
Seeing the lieutenant slowly approaching with the deadliest look he has ever seen her hold, Sprig debated with cutting and running from the angry blonde or continuing to hold his ground, knowing that the Sasha in front of him was not the same person he met a while back. The Sasha before him was strong, was not intimated easily, and was able to handle the toughest of diversity with her signature grin. That Sasha was being controlled by her emotions and was not thinking rationally in that moment.
As Sasha continued approaching the frog, she gained a mischievous grin as thoughts entered her mind of how she was going to dispose of the young frog without bringing attention to herself, ignoring the part of her brain that was yelling to her to stop and think about what she was going to do.
"You know, I never did like you Sprig!" Sasha stated with the most hateful tone as she stopped two inches from the frog. "Sure, you're useful on some grounds, but not very. Anne didn't know any better when she picked you as her best friend! Well, that won't be a problem anymore now will it? She won't even miss you the way I'm going to dispose of you! Too bad she didn't get the chance to say goodbye!"
Raising her sword, Sasha's grin grew wider as she caught with Sprig's vision, hoping to catch what scent of fear that radiated off of him. However, Sprig continued blocking his fear as his vision was locked with Sasha's, hoping that his resistance to react snapped her out of her current trance. With her sword raised above her head and ready to strike her target, Sasha's frame was suddenly slammed with guilt as she began shaking furiously. Losing her grip on her sword's handle, tears rushed to Sasha's eyes as her sword slipped from her grip and hit the floor with a loud clang. Falling to her knees, Sasha lowered her head as she profusely sobbed, tears pooling at her knees.
"Anne was right! I'm such a horrible person!" Sasha loudly stated as she covered her face with her hands, the messy blonde strands of her bangs mixing with her sweat and tears. "I was going to hurt someone who doesn't deserve it! I'm no lieutenant, I'm a coward and a fraud! Have I not learned nothing from all of this?"
Releasing the longest breath of relief that he swore he were holding in forever, Sprig approached Sasha and placed his right hand on her left shoulder for comfort.
"Hey, the last thing you are is a horrible person." Sprig comforted Sasha. "You're scared of what may happen to Anne and Marcy. I get it, but you're not in this alone Sasha. You have an entire team standing behind you."
Looking to the pink frog with tears in her eyes, Sasha cleared her vision and took a seat on the ground as she stretched her legs out in front of her. Spring pulled to Sasha's left and sat next to the commander as he hugged his legs to his chest.
"When we were first transported here, the first thing on my mind was what I did all the time back home, take control." Sasha spoke in a low calm tone. "When my parents divorced and took control of everything I did, I felt helpless. From when I visited them to what I ate. I felt like a pawn in their game of chess. When I were with my father, I was pretty much alone as he worked all the time. When he returned home, it was like pulling teeth to get his attention. I was lucky if I got a hug or a kiss on the forehead. And my mother, don't get me started with her. She was a total control freak and never listened to me when I needed to talk to her. Now I know why my dad can't stand being around her because she is extremely bossy!"
Sprig nodded his head in agreement so not to interrupt the blonde.
"When I met Anne and Marcy at school, it was like their personalities were begging for a leader because they seemed so lost without someone." Sasha continued. "So, what did I do? I bossed them around until Anne stood up to me at toad tower. That was something I never expected to happen because she always listened to what I told her to do."
Sasha then looked to the ceiling of the room as a "heh" escaped her throat.
"You know, now that I think about it, I was no better than my mother towards Anne and Marcy when she was manipulating me and my father." Sasha slightly laughed. "I could bet every copper in Amphibia that is why my father never bothered to spend time with me when I visited him on weekends because I reminded him too much of her. He always sent me shopping with the nanny just to get me out of his hair and pretended to care when I was so excited to show him what I bought. I can never get his voice out of my head when he stated how much I reminded him of my mother. The hair, the eyes, my voice. My mother always told me, taking control can get you anywhere, but what has it gotten me? Both of my friends are gone and here I am letting it tear me a part. Taking control has gotten me nowhere except…well here. Thanks for everything mom! Your advice is a keeper!"
"Sasha, I want you to hear me out." Sprig began, his voice full of confidence. "You can't change the past and what happened to you, but you can change how you respond to the situation. I was just as horrified when I saw what Darcy was doing to Anne too, but we have to remember. That's not Marcy, she's being controlled by that thing and if she could put a stop to all of this, I know she would. Marcy is a good person and you are too. You have changed a lot since we first met. I remember when you really couldn't stand me being anywhere next to Anne."
"That's another thing." Sasha pipped up. "I wanted to control our friendship so much, I wanted to choose who Anne spoke to and hung out with. I can't tell you how sorry I am for how horribly I treated you Sprig."
"That part I would say is part of your leadership." Sprig continued. "You are a leader Sasha and you saw two people who you wanted to lead. Maybe not the best choice of how you chose to do it, but you did it. Maybe it took Anne standing her ground with you, but look what happened after. When Anne came back to Amphibia, you wanted to lead right along with her. You made her feel part of the team without hesitating or taking total control of the situation. If you ask me Sasha, you're the best we have against what we're facing and when we get Anne and Marcy back, you three will be unstoppable!"
A smile formed on the blonde's face as she turned to Sprig.
"Thanks twer- I mean Sprig." Sasha stated with a light laugh. "You know, I never told anyone about that part of my life, not even Grime, but I'm glad I was able to talk to you about it. When Anne chose you as her best friend, she made the right choice. I couldn't imagine anyone else being her sidekick."
"Sidekick?" Sprig laughed right along with Sasha. "Yea, maybe I can be the sidekick as everything always happens to me anyway."
"Yea, like a trouble magnet I guess." Sasha laughed.
"So you ready to give the rescue one more go?" Sprig stated with encouragement to his commander.
"I wouldn't dream of ever giving up!" Sasha stated as Sprig got to his feet and stretched out his hand to help her up. Smiling to the pink frog Sasha climbed to her feet and took Sprig's hand while shaking it. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Spring replied with a nod.
"Oh and if you ever mention what I told you to my girls, I'll replace your insides with grub-hog bits." Sasha flatly stated, her tone shifted to serious as she tilted her head back slightly as a sliver of light appeared on her slanted eyes from the hanging light above.
"Not to worry." Sprig stated as he swallowed quickly at the threat. "Your secret is safe with me."
Sasha's soft smiled returned upon hearing Sprig's confirmation.
Outside of the room, Grime happily picked up coppers off the ground along with Hop Pop. Both amphibians smiled ear to ear as they stuffed their pockets with the land's currency, but their concentration was interrupted by the room door opening as Sasha and Sprig, still fully intact, walked out of the room.
"Sasha, Sprig!" Grime happily chimed as he continued stuffing the coins in his armor's pocket. "Sprig, I'm shocked you came out alive—I mean were able to get through to my lieutenant after all."
"Say what?" Sprig began, but was cut off as Sasha passed him to hug her father.
"I'm assuming everything went well Sasha." Grime excitedly spoke to his daughter.
"Yes Grimsey, everything went very well." Sasha calmly stated as she released Grime. "I just needed someone to provide another perspective to me and I'm glad it was Sprig. He really gave me somethings to think about, including taking Darcy down and taking back what's ours."
"Taking back your girlfriend you mean." Polly muttered under her breath.
"Well that is very good news, which means you're ready to re-enter the battle and end Darcy's reign once and for all?" Grime excitedly inquired as he fist pumped the air.
"You know me, I never back down from a fight!" Sasha happily replied as she fist pumped the air as well. "Is everyone ready to battle and kick Darcy back to the dark dimension where she came from?"
"Yea!" Everyone happily cheered as they fist pumped the air as well, but their celebration was cut short by the sound of numerous coppers hitting the floor at their feet. From Yunan to Hop Pop, golden coins were splayed about on the ground as nervous facial expressions were exchanged amongst the group.
"Ok, why does everyone have so many coppers?" Sprig inquired as he leaned down and picked up the coins that were laid about in front of Lady Olivia. "And these are a lot of coppers."
"We were just playing a game to pass the time." Hop pop nervously spoke to the young frog. "And it was a tie so everybody won."
"Yea we were totally NOT putting together a pool of if you survived or not." Polly revealed as everyone glanced at the pink tadpole, their eyes ready to pop out of their sockets.
"Polly, you know that is not the truth." Hop pop scolded the tadpole. "Of course we knew Sprig would survive, even if he had a 50/50 chance of survival."
"Hop Pop, really?!" Sprig frantically asked the older frog.
"What! It was Grime's idea!" Hop pop stated as he pointed to the older toad.
"We need to refocus on our mission at hand." Grime pipped up as he scooped up his coins and stuffed them back in his pockets. "But first, lets grab some dinner shall we? We can't plan our next attack on an empty stomach."
With a cocked eyebrow each, Sasha and Sprig turned to each other with a look on confusion on their features.
Newtopian Castle (Infirmary)
The sounds of heartbeats mixed in with moderately loud static sounds were heard reverberating throughout the luxuriously decorated room that was the castle's Infirmary. Leads from the machine that were monitoring vital signs and brain waves were connected to Anne's outer thigh's armor and the core's crown that was placed on her after she was transported to the infirmary from the room she was discovered in. As the thai laid unconscious on the couch, Darcy hovered over her to ensure she transitioned to her next stage flawlessly. Orange and red muted eyes leapt between the sleeping thai and the monitor that read out Anne's vital signs and the data that was being transferred into the ports and crown.
"You're almost there love." Darcy whispered as Anne suddenly flinched and moaned lightly in her sleep. "Shhh, almost there and then we'll truly be united for all eternity. I hope you're just as excited as I am for this."
"Mmmmemor." Anne suddenly stammered out as she tossed and turned with Darcy lightly holding down the girl's limbs so she did not hurt herself as she tossed about. "Memories…lost…mem.."
To calm the girl down, Darcy placed a calming left hand on and gently caressed the thai's right cheek which slowed Anne's erratic movements. Looking into the girl's face, Darcy felt herself getting lost while basking in the thai's presence, even though Anne was not aware that Darcy was with her. Lightly sighing, Darcy's gazing was suddenly interrupted by the sound of the machine beeping, which indicated the data transfer were complete and that Anne's vitals remained stable during the transfer process.
As if unwrapping the biggest gift under the Christmas tree, Darcy carefully pulled the cords out of the ports and off the crown on the thai's head. Carefully lifting the thai up, Darcy quietly called Anne's name as Anne's eyes flinched at the sound of Darcy's voice.
"Wake up love and enter your new life." Darcy calmly, but excitedly stated to Anne.
The thai opened her eyes that were visibly muted orange and red, but just as quickly flickered between the color of her gem and the lilac color of the control collar. Anne's eyes then flickered back to the muted orange and red as Darcy grinned.
"The transfer was flawless." Darcy stated as Anne looked around the room and then to herself, to what outfit she was wearing. "So tell me Anne, what do you remember about your 'friends' and 'family'? Friends with black hair, others with blonde hair and maybe your parents?"
Anne then turned to Darcy as a confused look crossed her features, muted orange and red locked into a gaze.
"Fr…riends?" Anne slowly stammered out. "Pa…rents?"
A deep chuckle then escaped from Darcy's throat, satisfied with the result of the core's transfer into Anne.
"That's exactly what I was hoping to hear." Darcy stated as a mischievous grin warped onto the girl's face. "So my eternal love, why don't we take your new form for a test drive, shall we?"
Clanking metal approaching the two caught Anne's attention as a frobot carrying the main control collar on a pillow stopped on the right side of Darcy. Turning to the frobot, Darcy grabbed the collar from the pillow and quickly snapped it around Anne's neck, the thai not stating a word nor protesting to what Darcy was planning next.
"And I know just where to start." Darcy deviously stated as her muted red and orange eyes glowed brighter as she slightly tugged on the chain attached to the collar around Anne's neck. "We have a few pests here in Newtopia that I want exterminated and I know the perfect candidate to get the job done."
Core's Consciousness
Unrolling herself from the huddled bundle within her cape, Marcy stretched her limbs and yawned as she opened her eyes. Since being locked away in the core's consciousness, Marcy was limited to doing two things, solving a puzzle or sleeping. Since she solved more than half the puzzles presented to her by Aldrich, including flipwart, Marcy decided to take a rest, something she were not able to do much of back on earth. Between being distressed about her parents moving due to her father changing jobs, not wanting to lose her best friends, and being outcasted at school, Marcy was not able to get a restful sleep most nights. However, being in a place that was surprisingly calmer than expected, Marcy often found herself huddled up to sleep when there was nothing more to do.
"I have to say, I get more sleep here than I've ever gotten back home." Marcy happily stated as she sat up from the floating darkness that was formed into her bed. "It should be reversed, but hey, what're you gonna do? Well, now that I'm rested, it's time to do more exploring!"
Getting to her feet and stretching once more, Marcy turned around as a door suddenly appeared right in front of her. Confused at its sudden appearance, Marcy grabbed the knob and turned it, the door opening with ease. Entering the room, the sight of a human outline glowing cyan off in the distance caught the girl's attention, the outline hanging lifelessly in suspended animation. Squinting her eyes to get a better view, Marcy' eyes grew wide as the outline became a bit clearer. Running in the direction of the image in front of her, Marcy suddenly stopped in her tracks as the outline continued to become clear as the data downloaded into the form, a form that Marcy was all too familiar with.
"Anne?!" Was all Marcy managed to squeak.
A/N: And here is chapter 6! My apologies for the long wait as I had to restructure this chapter at least 5 times as I had so much I wanted to put in, but could only do so much without going outside of the structured outline prepared for this story. But hope you like it and chapter 7 will be out at the very start of 2024! Happy Holidays everyone and if you're new to The Last Versus, please check out my DeviantArt page for the art related to this story, handle name Alisi-Christine. More is on the way!
