Spark of Life 1/4
(Theme song - Kim Possible by Disney Channel on YouTube)
(Lacey's POV)
*It's been a few days since the tournament. Today, me, Tails, Rotor, Bunnie, & Big were fighting Gaia monsters that were attacking the Sky Patrol. Rotor was manning one of the cannons, Sally was slicing at them with her Ring Blades, Big, Tails, & I were fighting them with punches & kicks. Sonic, Bunnie, Antoine, Abby, & Huck were away in Aptos, looking for clues about Chip's purpose*
Rotor: Get these things off my ship!
Sally: Working on it! How long till sunrise!?
*Nicole appeared through T-Pup's eyes*
Nicole: Less than three minutes! Precisely two minutes, seventeen -
Tails: I don't think we have - Ahh!
*Suddenly, a bunch of monsters jumped on him & attacked him*
Lacey: Tails!
*I was about to go save him, but Sally beat me to it, jumping off the ship, slicing the monsters in half, & nearly falling into the lava below if Tails hadn't saved her*
Tails: Thanks for the save!
Sally: Same to you!
*Just then, the sun came up & all the monsters disappeared. I groaned. Another sleepless night was over. This can't be good for my skin*
Tails: Hah . . . That felt like a long two minutes.
*We all went on to the bridge of the Sky Patrol, feel exhausted. Cream was already waiting for us with some muffins & croissants*
Cream: Is everyone okay!?
Sally: No worries, Cream. We're all fine.
Tails: Just tired. Poor T-Pup's gonna need repairs again.
*Rotor sat in a chair, ready to fall asleep*
Rotor: Sky Patrol too. Nothing like getting up before the sun does.
Lacey: Tell me about it. If this keeps up, I'm going to get bags under my eyes. And if that happens, it's going to take more than a face mask to get rid of those.
Cream: Oh, I'll go make some coffee.
Rotor: Thanks, kiddo.
*She left the room with a skip in her step, but that left me & Sally worried*
Sally: She can make coffee?
Rotor: Apparently.
Lacey: With the coffee machine you built?
Rotor: It's not that complicated.
*Suddenly, we all heard a loud bang & a scream. Rotor immediately jumped up from his chair & ran to go help her*
Sally: Guess cream and coffee don't mix.
*I cringed at that joke*
Nicole:*off-screen* Please don't tell me your proud of that joke.
*She appeared in the bridge*
Sally: Oh shush. I'm tired.
Nicole: Sally . . . I know everything turned out for the best, but if I may. What you did back there was reckless. Creatures like the ones harassing Tails disappear once the sun rises. They would have not lasted much longer.
Sally: I know that. But it's not like I could just watch and do nothing either.
Nicole:*sigh* I understand. At least, I think I do. But still - *suddenly, she screamed* . . . What . . . Dr. Ellidy . . .!
Sally: Wait, what? Nicole!
*Rotor came in with a mug of coffee*
Rotor: Now what's wrong?
Sally: She's gone. I don't get it. She said something about Dr. Ellidy and disappeared!
Rotor: We haven't heard that name in a while.
Tails: Nicole isn't anywhere in our systems. But . . . We're showing readings from the digital world, so I think that's where she must've gone.
Lacey: Um . . . Hello. . Who's Dr. Ellidy?
Rotor: He's a brilliant scientist who used to work for Sally's Father. He's also the one who created Nicole.
Lacey: Whoa. Really?
Sally: Something man have happened to Dr. Ellidy . . . We'd better check his residence on Isolated Island. But Nicole . . .
Rotor: She can always jump back from the Digitel World to the Sky Patrol's systems. But if the 'ol Doc's in trouble, you'd better get moving.
Sally: Okay! The Tornado will get us there fastest! Tails! Big! Lacey! You three with me! Let's move!
Lacey:*groan* So much for getting some sleep.
*An hour later, the four of us were in (& on) the Tornado, flying to where this Dr. Ellidy lives*
Lacey: I haven't seen Dr. Ellidy since I was little.
Big: Um . . . So Dr. Ellidy is Nicole's Father?
Sally: You could say that.
Tails: He's also the guy who made the Mobotropolis Grand Archive, right? It's got information on just about everything! I could sit for hours reading it . . . Uh not that I have. Well, not too often.
*I rolled my eyes. He's so cute. Sally summoned one of her Ring Blades*
Sally: Back when he worked for my Father, he was the Kingdoms lead researcher and developer for computer technology. He also made these Ring Blades for me.
Lacey: That's a big jump. Going from computer programming to studying Magic Rings.
Sally: Well, the Ring research started after he retired . . . A lot of things changed.
(Flashback - 13 years ago - Third-Person POV)
*A dark tan male lynx with gold eyes, light gray & black hue, black ears, markings on his face, & wearing a black coat lined with purple, white gloves, & brown shoes was shaking hands with King Nigel. A suitcase was next to him & Queen Alicia was next to King Nigel*
Dr. Ellidy: My boat lives in a couple of hours, Your Majesties. I'd better be on my way.
King Nigel Acorn: I'm still sad to see you go, old friend. You've done so much for this Kingdom.
Queen Alicia: If there's anything we can do . . .
Dr. Ellidy: I know. I know. Please don't trouble yourself with me, Your Majesties. I think this move is just what I need. A fresh start of sorts. There are too many old memories here . . .
King Nigel Acorn: I understand.
*Elias & Sally (when they were children) watched from behind a door. Sally was the first to enter*
Little Sally: Are you really leaving, Dr. Ellidy.
Dr. Ellidy: Ah . . . Just the Princess I wanted to see. Here before I go, I have a little something for you.
Sally: A present?
Dr. Ellidy: At first, I wasn't sure what to do with this . . . But I think you'll make the best use of it. *he took out Nicole's handheld computer* This is my most powerful computer to date. It houses an advanced A.I. A very smart program that connects directly to the Grand Archive. With this, you'll have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips.
Little Sally: Wow . . . So I can ask it anything?
Nicole: Affirmative, Princess Sally
Little Sally: Oh, it talks . . . And it knows my name!
Dr. Ellidy: Yes, all of it's software is state-of-the-art.
Little Sally: But what's her name?
Dr. Ellidy: Her . . . Name?
Sally: Yeah! She sounds like a girl. So what should I call her?
Dr. Ellidy: Ah . . . Well . . . How about . . . Ni . . . Oh, no . . .
Little Elias: How about "Nicole"? After a long-past Queen of our line.
Little Sally: Ooh, I love it! Your name is Nicole, okay?
Nicole: Acknowledged. New designation accepted.
*Little Sally went to hug Dr. Ellidy*
Little Sally: Thank you, Dr. Ellidy! I'll take good care of Nicole! I promise!
Dr. Ellidy: I know you will, Your Highness. And you, your Father, Mother, and brother . . . Take care of each other.
*The Royal Family waved him goodbye as he left the castle*
(Present Time - Lacey's POV)
*We soon arrived on Isolated Island. Big helped me & Sally off the plane*
Lacey: Thank you, Big.
Big: No problem.
Tails: Sorry I couldn't land us any closer. Dr. Ellidy's place should be right over there.
Sally: Yes. I saw it before we landed. Let's go. Keep an eye out for anything unusual.
Big: This island is nice. Reminds me of home.
Lacey: There's supposed to be a Lake of Rings here, right?
Sally: Yes. Dr. Ellidy only started researching Rings once he moved here. When he sent me these Ring Blades, it was the first time we'd heard from him in years.
Tails: It sounds so . . . Lonely.
Big: Yeah. Even in the Mystic Ruins, I always had Froggy with me.
*We started walking down the path to the Doctor's house*
Sally: I hope Nicole's okay. Whatever's happening here could - *suddenly, a Motobug came out of the bushes* Look out!
*We all got ready to fight, but instead of attacking us, it . . .*
Motobug: Hello! Are you in need of assistance? If so, please follow me!
Lacey: Uh . . . Do those things usually talk?
Tails: Not ones I've seen before. I think it's a pre-recorded message.
Motobug: Are you in need of assistance? If so, please follow me!
Sally: Um, we're looking for Dr. Ellidy . . .?
Motobug: Please follow me.
*It went down the path & we all ran after it. Soon, we came to a house with plants growing all around it. Different Badniks were tending to them. We all went inside*
Big: I don't like this.
Lacey: Me neither. This is wrong on all levels.
Sally: These are all Dr. Eggman's Badniks . . . It's creeping me out.
Tails: Huh. I think they've been modified.
*We started look around the house. Which was nicely decorated*
Sally: Dr. Ellidy? Hello?
Lacey: Anybody home?
*We entered a different room*
Sally: Doctor? . . . Oh! *we saw an elderly male lynx wearing yellow goggles, a black coat lined with purple, white gloves, & brown shoes, asleep on a table with a digital looking visor over his face. suddenly, he woke up with a gasp, making us all jump. Sally ran up to him* Dr. Ellidy! It's Sally Acorn! Are you all right?
Dr. Ellidy: P - Princess Sally . . . Wha . . . Oh, my head . . .
*Just then, Nicole appeared on the computer screen behind us*
Nicole: Perfect timing. Sorry for leaving the Sky Patrol so abruptly.
Lacey: Nicole!
Tails: Here, just a sec . . .
*He took out handheld computer*
Nicole: The Doctor had digitized his consciousness and gotten trapped in the digital world for several hours.
Sally: Big, get some water, please.
Big: Okay!
*He left the room*
Dr. Ellidy: Oh, thank you . . . Thank you all for coming . . .
Sally: It's thanks to Nicole that we even knew you were in trouble. In fact . . . Why don't you thank her in person?
Dr. Ellidy: In . . . In person? How . . .
*Tails put a Ring at the top of the handheld computer & Nicole appeared in the room*
Nicole: Like I said, it's been a long time . . . And . . . I've learned a few tricks since you first created me.
*Later, Dr. Ellidy was resting in an armchair, while I made him some tea. Sally wanted to make it, but after she cooked a dinner that gave everyone on the team food poisoning, we all agreed that she wasn't allowed in any kitchen again*
Lacey: I found a can of broth in the kitchen. I hope you don't mind. You need to get your strength up.
Dr. Ellidy: Oh, thank you. *I gave him the tea & he took a sip* Hmm. It's quite delicious.
Lacey: Thank you. I also used some herbs from your garden to add a little flavor. Again, I hope you don't mind.
Dr. Ellidy: Not at all. I think it was just what it needed.
Sally: Uh, Doctor, if you don't mind . . . What's going on?
Dr. Ellidy: I'm sure you noticed my little Badnik buddies about? Long story short, Dr. Eggman left them behind after some failed operation out here, so I repurposed them. They help with the chores, and I use them to monitor the island. Also, as of late . . . They help deter those beasts that sometimes come lurking at night.
Sally: The Dark Gaia Creatures. We were attacked by some this morning.
Dr. Ellidy: It's horrific. Chuck called me to explain what was going on, hoping I had some insight. Not really my field, of course . . . But I'm glad you are taking action. After the quakes, I sent some of my robots out to investigate. Some of the footage I received . . . The water just stops and then, nothing but a clouded abyss . . . I don't understand why the ocean itself hasn't poured off the edge.
Lacey: Would you believe us if we told you it's magic.
*Nicole entered the room*
Nicole: I hate that excuse.
Sally: Even when it's accurate?
Nicole: Especially when it's accurate. Doctor, I wanted to discuss something with you.
Dr. Ellidy: Actually . . . I think I need to lie down. I'm still not feeling well . . .
Sally: Let me help.
Dr. Ellidy: No, no, don't trouble yourself. I just need to rest for a little while. Nicole . . . We can talk later.
Nicole: . . . Very well.
*He left the room*
Lacey:*in her mind* Is it my imagination, or is he avoiding Nicole.
Nicole: Sally . . . Am I causing Dr. Ellidy distress?
Sally: I think he's just had a rough day, Nicole. You've changed a lot since he last saw you. He's been living out here all alone for a while now. I wouldn't take it personally if he's being a bit distant, okay?
Nicole: All right.
*We went into the computer room*
Lacey: Actually, he didn't really answer our question about what was going on here.
Nicole: About that . . . He was a attempting to use the digitizer to troubleshoot a problem with the re-programmed Badniks when he was stranded in the digital world . . . I believe that someone or something deliberately attempted to prevent him from leaving the Digital World. And now I'm concerned that whatever or whoever placed that barricade may have been led back here or my already be here.
*Suddenly, I felt a chill down my spine, like we were being watched*
(Third-Person POV)
*Meanwhile, in the Digital World, an amorphous black mass with large mouth, serrated teeth, & wearing a white kitten mask with triangular ears with red inner ears, a triangular pink nose, yellow eyes, three pink markings-a ring on each cheek & forehead which are connected to her eyes & the back of her head by three red lines as it's face was watching them with a security camera*
Phage: Well, well. If it isn't my old friends, the Freedom Fighters. Now I can get revenge for the destruction of my previous form. Especially against you, my dear Nicole.
To be Continued . . .