Chapter 4 / The Ruined World
It's been a couple days now since we arrived in this world of ruin. Fortunately we were able to find a small spring that with a little bit of filtering made it drinkable. Not exactly the best tasting water but it was certainly better than nothing. Sleeping arrangements were a bit...complicated because we essentially turned the dome that we arrived at to our makeshift home. We later found evidence that the name of the dome was Bangor Dome. Kind of an odd name but still a name. And in exploring our new home we found a door that seemed to be impossible to open. Lucca also found the emergency power but in doing so found that the main power was coming from a different location via wires underground. And there was a whole sewer system that went underneath... theoretically we could follow it to the power factory or whatever it was to see if we could re-activate it but there didn't seem to a point to that. Plus we had spotted another dome to the South of us, but it would take about half a day to walk to.
"Think someone lives there?" Marle asked from my side as I looked off to the dome in the distance. Marle hadn't slept well that first night. We only had a bit of a makeshift pillow and a emergency blanket that Lucca had brought. Other than that our supplies were massively limited. Last night, Marle asked to sleep next to me. Instead using my chest as a pillow as she slept. It seemed to have done the trick as she was a lot more lively than she had been yesterday.
"I haven't seen any movement outside of it but they may be self-sustaining inside there. Considering how it feels just being out here I won't blame anyone wanting to stay indoors," I sighed. I didn't care to speculate too much because we were going to be heading there within the hour. "You know...this whole thing hasn't left us much time to get to know each other, Nadia." Since it was just the two of us I figured I better use her real name.
She giggled, "I was thinking about that too. It's gone really fast, hasn't it?"
"Us too," I scratched my head for a moment. "So...why did you kiss me down in the dungeon anyway?" I bet most people were never direct with her because I saw her face go red. But she had to admit we were moving fast...sure we had connected and I felt that rush when I was with her. But that could easily be dismissed as a spring fling. I wanted it to work though. Still I didn't know what Marle thought of the situation.
"Well I realized that me breaking you out could get us both killed so..." she said softly. "And you had saved me Crono...I was dead...or something close to it...and you put yourself in danger for me, when you didn't have to. It may not have been a big deal to you. It might have been easy for you to do. However, it doesn't change the magnitude of what you did for me, and what you rescued me from. Everything you've done has only made me want to be closer to you. To know you, to hold you. And damn it, I wanted to kiss you. Let me ask you the reverse...why did you fight against it?"
Naturally I had stopped the kiss from happening when she tried initially. In the dungeon I was already a dead man and figured Marle had come to a decision just by coming down there. There would be no changing her mind from what she had already put into motion. And honestly my initial resistance had quickly disappeared as soon as I felt her lips on mine. But I had reasons. "Do I come off as a confident person?" I settled on a way to start.
Marle blinked a couple times and after a moment she realized I was going somewhere with this, "Yes, you do. You don't second guess your actions."
"Hmm, I suppose that is true. The truth is actually quite different though. To be honest, I'm really an insecure individual. I don't want the people around me to be negatively affected by my presence. So I don't want them to worry about me. So that's why I came up with my system. First I evaluate all options...I decide which will have the least amount of impact on other people and then once I have decided on a path I don't look back and commit to it the whole way through. My Mom always taught me to be proud of my actions...so I should always choose the path I would always be proud of. I saved your life...if that means I had to die in order for that to happen, then so be it...that was just how it was meant to happen," I said with a shrug and looked towards her. "But reciprocating your feeling initially could have led to feelings of regret on your part and meaning I would have a negative affect on you. And when you went back to the castle I didn't want to..."
"You didn't want to hurt me...because you knew that when I went back to the castle...there was a good chance we would never see each other again," Marle said this as she moved next to me and grabbed my arm. "Anyone else would have taken advantage of me because I was the Princess..."
"And that person would probably deserve to be executed by your Father," I shook my head. "You being a Princess doesn't matter. Even if you weren't...we still barely know each other and there is still a possibility that we'll end up hurting each other along the way. But at the time I didn't want you to rush in to this kind of thing. Plus it was highly likely we would never see each other again regardless. It was something that was on the mind when I figured out who you really were. You see, I'm a coward when it comes to interacting with others. But I'll do it if push comes to shove. Still...I'm no good at relationships."
"You seem to be doing just fine so far...we're talking a lot more right now than I have ever done with anyone else in my life. If things are always like they are right now then...I mean as long as we keep being honest with each other..." Marle said as she held my arm against her. "Crono, I mean it. I know we're still learning about each other and that what I feel for you could just be a lot of things culminating together. But I want to believe that the connection we've shared so far is real. And until I'm shown otherwise, I want to selfishly call you my boyfriend."
"I know what you're saying," I said with a smile. I was glad she wasn't just accepting things at face value. She knew very much that we were still new to each other, but at the same time it seemed like she was staking claim on me. I was fine with that...I kinda liked the fact that Marle had been somewhat possessive of me. "But we'll take this one step at a time. Face each problem as they come...thats all we can do. And along the way we'll get to know each other better. And we'll figure out if this storm of a romance is real or not."
"If it does work out, it would be a great story to tell," Marle grinned. Though it would be a heck of a story to tell even if it doesn't.
"Alright we're all set here," Lucca said as she came from behind us. "I bottled up as much water as I could...but I suppose depending what we find, at the other dome, will determine our next move."
"So you guys really don't want to think about where we are? Or when we are?" Marle asked us. I gave a slight shrug.
"We want solid proof more than anything," Lucca said. She sighed and looked to me. "No signs of wildlife?"
I thought about it for a moment. The signs I had observed around our location gave some odd results and just more questions, "No signs of usual wildlife."
"Huh? What do you mean Crono?" Marle was definitely concerned with how I had phrased it.
"There is life...but what it is...I can't tell based on what I've seen. My guess, whatever it is, only passed by here looking for food...found nothing and moved on," I shrugged and moved a couple steps forward. "Either way we can't just stay here. Water is one thing but we won't last too long on just the rations that Lucca brought."
We started walking towards the next dome in the distance. The thing that was most unsettling about this environment is that we were continually covered with clouds...sun light never managed to get through...but Lucca had speculated that it wasn't just clouds...but also smoke and ash that filled the sky. As we had been there we had seen several indications that the land itself had been scorched. It explained why things hadn't been growing but usually over time an event like that...would usually give way to new life...but like we had all discussed before...the atmosphere felt off...something about it felt like everything was prevented from even taking root, much less grow. That was just how it felt to me...not that it was necessarily the truth.
After a few hours we got to the dome faster than we expected. As we approached there was a sign above the entrance, "Trann Dome?"
Lucca pushed up her glasses, "Hopefully this place is in better working order than Bangor Dome. Still lets see what we can find."
We walked in and took it cautiously but we found ourselves in a rather large area with...people. Actual people...but there was something instantly wrong about the whole thing. They all looked to us for a moment and seemed just as shocked as I was at the moment. A man approached us seemingly calming the other people by him taking charge of the situation.
"I'm Edward, what business do you have here," his tone was cautious. I understood why. Everyone here were in rags...and what I meant is that they simply covered them but it was obvious they didn't have a means to properly clothe themselves. Considering there was no foliage...that meant no livestock which meant no material to make clothing. But...there was no way they could be living here right? They had no way to grow food or hunt food...and...
"We're travelers that have lost our way. We were hoping you could tell us more about the area," Marle spoke...which was probably for the best. She was a Princess so social interactions were likely something she was well versed in. Still she was also shocked by the state of things but she was managing to be the diplomatic voice and was already making it clear that we weren't a threat to them.
"Travelers?" the term sounded foreign coming from Edwards mouth. Still he seemed to ease up at this news that we were travelers...though it was obvious it was a concept that didn't happen often. "Well...this is Trann Dome. There is not many of us here, but I'm unsure of how we can help you."
"How is it that you all live here? It doesn't seem like it is comfortable..." Lucca said without real thought. It was hard to not make comments about the way it looked. For one it seemed like they all lived in the main area...there were other doors but this was obviously the main living area. Were there no showers and what about food?
"Comfortable?" he gave us an odd look. The question of the word comfort told me more than anything he could say. "We have the Enertron. It's all we need to live."
"Enertron?" I asked. "What is that exactly?" Obviously it was really the answer to how they were managing to get by.
"You don't know? It be better to show you," Edward said as he indicated for us to follow him. We did so moving past several individuals. They were alive sure...but they didn't seem to be living. No...this was just existing. I could feel something uncomfortable building in myself.
He took us over to a large device on the far side of the room. "It be best to experience it to understand. Step on in." As he said this a hatch opened and swung out...it was definitely more than enough for someone to seat comfortably inside.
I shared a glance with the girls and then as instructed I sat inside of it. The Enertron door closed and after a moment I was enveloped in some sort of mist and...did something puncture me? I couldn't tell but just as soon as it started it was over and the hatch opened. I stepped out and...I felt... rejuvenated? But it was odd cause I hadn't eaten anything and...yeah...I was definitely still hungry. But I'm pretty sure it had punctured me too...I'm pretty sure there was something going on that happened so quickly that it didn't register. I looked to the girls as I stepped out. "I feel well rested and...well it feels odd."
"The Enertron gives you everything your body needs," Edward stated.
"Everything?" Lucca was skeptical. "May I?"
Edward nodded as Lucca entered the Enertron next. The hatch closed and then only a moment later it opened back up and Lucca stepped out. She was looking at her arms and legs...she knew something had happened.
"I see what you mean, Crono," Lucca definitely had energy again. "Marle you should step in as well." Lucca pulled out her scanner from before as Marle stepped in. She held it over the device.
"Should I be worried?" Marle asked me.
I shook my head, "It's fine...you'll understand what we mean in a moment."
Marle nodded as I closed the hatch for her. Then came the sound of the Enertron running and then the hatch opened once more. Marle looked back at me, "That's...weird."
"Hmm...it appears the Enertron essentially infuses you with all your needed nutrients. But not just that but it scans you first to determine what you need and then essentially fixes what it believes to be a problem," Lucca said as she must have been monitoring the process of the Enertron. Just what was she capable of doing with that scanner of hers?
"I see so the body doesn't need to eat to get what it needs with the Enertron," I said.
Lucca nodded, "However the human body is programmed to ingest food to get those nutrients. Just because your body has what it needs via another method does not cancel out those functions of our body. As a matter of fact it can cause several other problems."
"Oh...so even though they don't technically need to eat...you'll still be hungry...that can't be easy," Marle said thoughtfully.
"It sounds like torture," I commented looking at the Enertron. The digestive system needed something to digest...like Lucca said...not having something to eat can cause problems. This...was no way to live.
"It is a pain you get used to," Edward said who had respectfully let us experience it. "Where did you all come from?"
"It is far off from here," I said simply. More than likely I didn't expect him to care too much about it. He was probably just curious. Judging from what I've seen they had no desire to even attempt to improve their situation. "Do you all not have the ability to grow food?"
"Grow?" he didn't seem to understand what I meant. "Well...Arris Dome has food and they are to the northeast. But to get there you'll have to get past the ruins of Lab 16. It is highly populated by mutants."
"Mutants?" I ask.
"I don't know much about it...but its full of creatures that were affected by...well you know," he shrugged. "It's a rough route to travel. You might want to talk with Lars over there. He makes trips to Arris dome to try and keep us supplied with medical needs. At any rate you folks seem okay to me...though I don't think I've seen people as...well you have unique clothing."
"Thank you, we appreciate your hospitality," Marle said with a well practiced bow. He gave a strange look before turning to head to a woman in a corner, whom he started speaking with.
"I guess that is one problem we don't need to worry about," I said as Lucca was still examining the Enertron.
"What do you think would happen?" Marle asked me.
"With things as they are, I wouldn't have put it past survivors being aggressive and attacking on sight when encountering anyone else. But this...is the opposite of that," I shook my head. No...it was more like any hostility they could have had just...wasn't there. Like they had no energy to put in to...well anything. It wasn't like they didn't have the energy...what they were missing was drive. They had no desire or goals. I was starting to feel sick to my stomach by these thoughts.
"No...its worse," Lucca said as she put her scanning device back in her bag. "This isn't a society trying to recover...this is one that has given up on living. They are simply going through the motions...as if something is preventing them from trying to...I don't know..."
"Live," Marle provided. "It's fear...they are afraid to live. That's why we didn't see anyone outside...they won't even leave the Dome's..."
I saw that most of them were talking in hushed voices...I had a feeling that no one here would be able to give us the answers we needed. Still at the very least we had a lead on a place that might have actual food, and if they went there to get needed supplies it might be a much better hub and better populated. "Lucca, any way we can pull information from the machines or..."
"Like a computer?" She looked over and I nodded in confirmation. She shook her head, "No good. My scans picked up a wide area network connection that seems to control the dome's various climate and energy consumption systems but doesn't seem like there is access here. We could go to the maintenance area but without a password the system would just lock me out. From my readings the system is meant to lock up if anything is tampered with and then reset back at the main facility, which I believe is Arris dome that Edward talked about."
"Whoa, you managed to learn all that from your device?" Marle was impressed. Honestly I only understood the fact that we needed to head to Arris dome either way.
Lucca pushed up her glasses once more, "Most of it I learned from Bangor Dome, but a quick scan shows that this place is the same. Seems like they felt a centrally controlled system would be the best way to manage it. And maybe it was when it was set up." I knew what she was getting to...some event occurred to leave the world as it was...and I doubt it would have been something that anyone could have prevented.
"Save your speculations...let's find out the truth of what actually happened," I waved off the subject as I moved over to the man that Edward has said to be Lars. "Excuse me, Lars. I was told you knew how to get past the ruins of Lab 16."
"Huh? The Labs?" he gave a puzzled look and seemed to inspect me for a moment. "No trick to it, just cross 'em and avoid being killed by the mutants. Once past the ruins you'll see Arris Dome, clear as day. Biggest Dome in the world after all."
At the very least, Lars seemed to have more life to him than the other residents of Trann Dome. "Where are the Lab 16 ruins anyway?"
"Head to the North...there is a road that goes through the Lab but...Mutants tend to look out more for scavengers but will attack you if you get too close...and watch for the rats too...they have a tendency to try and take anything they can from you." Lars warned. Wait...so rats have sticky fingers or something? I could hardly imagine being pick pocketed by a rat.
"Thank you for the help," Marle said with a curtsy.
"You guys are strange," he shook his head. "If you make it to Arris dome, tell the girl Lana that I'm okay. And that I won't be back for a while. Wouldn't want her to worry about me."
"Not a problem," I said before we gave a nod of goodbye and walked towards the exit of the dome. Marle and Lucca weren't too far behind me...Marle staying close to me. As we left Trann Dome and back to the outside world I couldn't help but feel the chill...and sense of dread that seemed to cover the world. "So at least there are some people that are doing...something...whatever that might be."
"Yes but it is hardly much of a society at this point. Just a group of people that are just...surviving. They aren't living, Crono," Lucca was quick to point out.
"Maybe all they need is a reminder of how to live," Marle spoke in a soft tone next to me. This whole area was definitely a shock to her...living as a Princess in that castle had probably limited her exposure to a lot of problems people had...but this was worse than even that...this was a place with people that literally had nothing...surviving only by a technology that could run out at any given time. This was a land...a place with no hope of a future...a land desolated with death. There was nothing much worse than this.
At the same time, thanks to the Enertron I felt invigorated in a strange way. Fortunately we still had some rations from Lucca if we really felt the need to chew on something but at the same time, we should conserve as much as we can until we had a clearer picture on what we were dealing with. "So, is our plan to head to Arris Dome then?"
"I believe we should," Lucca said as she was putting her scanner away into her bag. "Arris Dome seems to be a central location and we might be able to get a better idea of this place. Plus if they have the equipment I might be able to find another Gate."
"So we can head to another time period?" I was a bit skeptical about this. "Is jumping through these Gates the best thing to do?"
"I think we need to find out why the world became this way before anything else," Marle commented and moved next to me. "If this is our future then..." she stopped. I could understand that...if this was the future of the world...how could we really just live our lives knowing that one day humanity would live in such a state where there is no desire to even live?
"Okay, for now we'll head to Arris Dome and try to gain as much information as possible. After we have a better understanding...then we'll make a decision on our next action," It was a tentative plan, but the best we could do with what little we knew. "So we head up and through Lab 16. Once we arrive, we're supposed to head straight east in order to make our way through." I pulled out my katana for a moment and inspected the blade, it was still fine for now, but if we went against these mutants they talked about then I'd have to pay close attention to it. Repeated battles always brought increased risk of a sword breaking. That was something I couldn't allow to happen if I was going to protect both Marle and Lucca. As tough as the two girls were, they were not trained for close quarters combat. Not to mention there was no telling how long it would take to get through Lab 16.
Marle walked next to me as we headed north to Lab 16. Lucca wasn't too far behind either. This situation was somewhat awkward now that I thought about it. The relationship between Marle and I was definitely more than friends, essentially we're dating without putting anything too official on it. Well scratch that...we were dating, no point in trying to give myself a way out just because I was worried about things going wrong. She deserved me to put in an honest effort to our relationship. On the other hand there was Lucca, who was my childhood friend, and had come to help Marle to get me out of prison. Though I think her plan originally was to do it herself. Either way, they both sacrificed their futures to help me. I felt responsible for getting all of us to a better situation. This place, this future, was definitely not where we wanted to be. It was a place I wanted to take both of them away from. Not to mention there was an odd tension between Marle and Lucca that I couldn't quite put my finger on.
The stench of death in the air certainly didn't help. It was more than that though, as if there was just a continuing presence of dread that seemed to wrap itself around us as we walked. The wind only brought chills. It was like the world itself had given up on life...not just its inhabitants. If this was the future of our world, I could only imagine what could have led to it being this way. A part of me didn't want to know. However, figuring out a solution for our immediate situation came first.
The ruins of Lab 16 gave off a different atmosphere than the name implied. It looked less like any sort of lab or research location and more like a city. Remnants of large buildings that must have stretched high into the sky had collapsed to the ground. Evidence of a road that was now fragmented and eroded as we made our way through. Strange poles with what looked like sources of light that no longer functioned scattered about. Everything around us showed that at one point it had been a high populated area. On a few occasions I would spot a rat or something else, waiting along the shadows...looking for us to have a moment of weakness. I hadn't thought about it when we had entered Lab 16 but now that we were in it there was no stopping until we were safely past it. Mutants, I hadn't seen one clearly yet...but they were there. They didn't seem to want to attack until they had an opportunity.
I stopped as we came down a long section of road. There was no mistake...this was an ambush point. Suddenly they were all around us. There was no time to think. I started running. I pulled out my sword. "Stay behind me!" I called out to the girls as I ran. I had to assume they were behind me, but I had no time to look and make sure. The mutants were moving to attack. There were several...maybe a dozen...perhaps more that sprang out to try and attack us. That was why we had to move. I was not ready to fight a battle of attrition when there could be many more waiting to pick up the scraps. Slowing down to attack would only be a mistake on our part...allowing other mutants to get the drop on us after winning one battle. But why us? Why attack us? The one we talked to before had obviously crossed this place before. But he knew this area...and unlike them...we stood out. Out clothes were brighter, unique, my red hair probably didn't help either. I suppose we were an attractive target.
I gripped the hilt of my sword with both hands as I continued to run...a group of three mutants...larger ones moved to block our escape. How long had it been since I had used one of my techniques?
"Tell me, my son. Where do you think a soldier gets their strength from?" Mom asked as she stood across from me...a sword in her hand.
"Skill, and determination," I replied as I prepared to defend myself. When she came at me she came at blinding speed striking again and again with me barely able to deflect her strikes.
"True enough...both skill and determination can take you far as a knight of Guardia. But determination means nothing without the heart behind it. It was not merely determination. What do you need to be determined?" Mom paused only for a moment before continuing her attack on me.
"Belief...faith..." My mind came across another word. "Passion."
Mom smiled, "That is the secret to our family, what sets us apart from soldiers. We don't defend this land because of honor or obligation. Our family defends only what we cherish most. Our passion drives us, motivates us to act. It fuels us, empowers us. And with that behind you..."
"That's right..." an energy coursed through my hands and into my sword. "Slash!" I swung outward...energy traveling along the ground...but as it passed each mutant...it was as if blades erupted from the ground striking the mutants in our path and slicing through without resistance. The mutants fell to the side...regardless if they were defeated or not, I moved past them and pressed forward.
Passion, as Mom had put it, that fuels our abilities and power, its our emotions. Powerful emotions resulted in greater power...supposedly. Passion was a powerful emotion a collection of different emotions in fact, and that would always make us better. The secret of our family is we became better when our emotions took over. Not exactly something most people would be told to do when practicing a discipline like sword fighting. Right now...my desire to protect Marle and Lucca and get away from this place was driving me.
"Crono! Up ahead, strike the end of that building as hard as you can! I'll take care of the rest!" Lucca yelled from behind me.
I didn't hesitate...I sprang forward, willing more energy into my sword. I knew what Lucca would do...I swung hard as more energy gathered at my feet, and I moved with quick speed hitting the side of the building as I whipped around again and again...and then Lucca added fire. It enveloped the blade of my sword...this was..."FLAME WHIRL!" both Lucca's and my own voice called out as I destroyed the side of the building with our combine techniques. The building shifted...I ran, with Lucca next to me and Marle now ahead of us. Behind us the large building lost a key supporting structure and fell collapsing on our pursuers. We didn't stop our sprint until we saw nothing coming after us. After a time...we finally came to a stop to catch our breaths.
We could see it in the distance...Arris Dome. I couldn't help but wonder...how many battles laid ahead of us. And what horrible truth could be waiting in store within Arris Dome...the truth of this world with only remnants of life.
There was a significant amount of people residing in Arris Dome. Unfortunately...the situation here was no better than Trann Dome. There was little movement in response to us as we made our way further in to the Dome. We came to what felt like a bit of a courtyard type area. While we had been watched by a lot of people...it wasn't until we got further in that and older man approached us.
"You there, may I inquire as to where you came from?" He was easily the oldest among the ones around. And the way he approached us and the other residents seemed to be silently watching...he must have been the leader of the survivors here. Survivors...I noticed in the corner was a Enertron. Were they dependent on that device here as well?
"We came from the laboratories to the west," Lucca gave a simple answer. True enough.
"You came through Lab 16? How did you get past the mutants?" he asked.
I scratched the back of my head, "Well they attempted to ambush us. So in order to get away we collapsed one of the buildings onto them. It seemed like a good solution at the time. I suppose that will block off the route between you guys and Trann Dome though."
The older gentlemen smiled and shook his head, "You've nothing to apologize for young man. I'm glad to hear that you were able to make it through. Are any of you hurt? Ah, where are my manners. My name is Doan. I am a descendant of the Director of this Info Center."
"Info Center?" Lucca had already been looking for a computer or something similar since we had arrived but...maybe it was just in a different area. "Wait...descendant?"
Doan nodded, "Yes, my Grandfather was the original Director."
"So you're entering the fourth generation that has lived in this dome?" I asked.
"Indeed. The mutants combined with the mechanical guards below has made it difficult for us to change anything...we do what we can to keep the status quo as it is. From what I've heard there is a computer as well as a storage center for food down below us," Doan took a moment and looked to me. "Perhaps it would be too much to ask strangers such as yourselves."
"If we do, do you mind us taking a look through the computer?" this might be the only way to find out what really happened...if Doan had been their leader since his Father died...then likely his son would go on to lead after him. They were locked in a stalemate...as he said...they had struggled just to keep the status quo. We could break it though.
"Really?" a woman approached us. "My husband went down to find the food storage area below. Please if you see him then..."
"Don't worry," Marle approached the woman and took her hand in her's. "We will search for him."
"Thank you," the woman said.
"Truly, anything you can find out will be of benefit, thank you," Doan gave us a slight bow. "It does my heart good to see such spirited young people for a change. Please, be careful down below. And come back alive."
Doan led us to an opening. I went down first, followed by Lucca and Marle. The path split into two direction...but a sign clearly displayed that food storage went to the left...and some sort of maintenance area? The writing was muted out from the sign. We stood at the split for a moment.
"Lucca, why would robots fight off humans from coming down to the food storage room?" I figured if anyone had a theory about it...it would be her.
She pushed up her glasses, "My guess would be control. Likely no one here knows what happened in the past...but if there was an apocalypse event...the ones in control of supplies had all the power. And an easy way to keep that power is to control the source. Possibly the one responsible changed the robots protocols or even removing the friend or foe programming...instead opting to attack anyone that got close. It's just a guess. I would need time and access to their memory to know for sure."
"I see...I guess even in a time like this people would still insist on having power over others," Marle spoke softly next to me. "So we're going to be attacked as soon as we approach the food storage area, right?"
"More than likely. Still, everything here is dilapidated and old...rusting. The robots are likely not as effective as they used to be. What do you think, Lucca?" It looked as if Lucca had already been crunching numbers.
"If Doan's family only gives up the leader position at death then if we factor that in along with lifespans are likely less due to dependency on the Enertron...I would say the robots have between a 30 to 50% less effective rate after years of disrepair and general degradation of internal parts. Assuming they don't have a means of self repair." Lucca put her scanner away and shrugged. "Either way, we still want to see what we can do right?"
I nodded, "If we do nothing...then we won't find out anything. This status quo is definitely something that can't be left the same." I pulled out my sword and started walking towards the food storage room. A door opened as we approached and opened to a wide area...from the looks of it...this was where people were attacked at...there was plenty of evidence to show...many people had died over time trying to get to this room. Were...we being too hasty coming here?
The moment we stepped in...alarms screamed and a huge mechanical...being? It came down from the ceiling and landed in front of us, hell if it had dropped a second later it would have landed almost on top of me. It shook my balance but I recovered. The door slammed shut behind us...I guess there was no turning back...and likely meant that any that came down here...never went back up. "You two back me up! I'll try and keep his attention." I called back as I charged forward. Well...I had fought Lucca's robot's in the past...but something this big? Definitely new to me.
I pushed myself as fast as I could as I saw the large...was that an eye? No it was a camera...definitely its optics equipment. That's what Lucca had called it before, right? I am so not ready to be facing robots that were actually trying to kill me. And as if it wasn't enough to have the big one to worry about...two more robots came flying down from the ceiling...although they were small by comparison...but the moment they dropped down, they attacked. Lasers...really? As if it wasn't crazy enough that there are robots...now they are shooting lasers and...you know I should really stop thinking about how nuts everything is considering I've already done time travel and altered time just to save a girl. And now we got to this place, which is likely the future through yet another Time Gate, and...oh crap I need to be dodging right now.
I dived off to my left as the two smaller robots fired again and come close enough that I can feel the heat from the bright yellow orange lasers. Hell I don't know what color it was, it blinds me for a few seconds before I finally come sliding to a stop. "Lucca! Don't you ever add lasers to your robots!"
"Noted. Keep moving! I'll see if I can't figure out where the power source for the optic sensors are. Marle, see if you can't help out Crono somehow," Lucca said it more than loud enough for me to hear as I was jumping off to my side as the the two smalling flying...bits? Can I call them bits? I'm gonna call them Bits.
I landed back on my feet as one of the Bits swung towards me, but was pelted by bolts from Marle's crossbow and sent it spiraling hard into the wall. Fortunately Marle was pretty fast on her reload but it still took time. The remaining Bit turned towards her but the moment it diverted attention away from me I jumped towards it and stabbed my katana into its back and then slamming it to the ground. The bigger robot was not impressed by this. It charged up and released its own laser...straight at Marle. I had already been moving towards her after subduing the last Bit and tackled her to the ground and the laser drilled right into the wall past us.
"Crono, above the optic eye where the laser came from. There is a panel there, get that open. If it can use a laser that means there is a power source leading to it," Lucca was close by but there wasn't much time as I got back to my feet. Not even having time to check if Marle was okay.
I started running towards the robot. Yeah...once more towards the thing that can fire a laser from its eye...great idea. Naturally, as I'm busy worrying about it, the robot starts to charge it. I dive off to the right so that when it fires the girls won't be in the line of fire. I then see a decent path...assuming I don't get myself killed by lasers in the process. I jump up onto a pipe from the wall and kept up my momentum up to the side of the wall, then got as close to the wall as I could before vaulting off and towards the robot as it fired its laser again. I slammed my katana into the panel that Lucca had indicated and came to a stop. I used my katana as an anchor and reposition myself before tearing off the panel itself. Of course by doing so I lost the thing that kept me anchored up there and I stumbled back and down to the ground.
As soon as I was clear, Lucca and Marle pelted the exposed circuitry with everything they could. There was a loud noise as electricity sparked and then it stopped moving at all. I just stayed on the ground and looked up. It was the moment when I realized that the laser must have singed my shoulder, because it hurt...a lot.
"Crono!" Marle was in my view now. "Hold on, let me see it...I can fix this." She sounded somewhat panicked...I wasn't too worried about it. But then...her hands glowed and...my burn disappeared and the pain along with it.
"I...whoa, how did you do that?" I sat up and Marle gave me a smile. "Some sort of royal family secret?"
She shook her head, "Nothing like that, it's just if I concentrate I can heal. It's like...an Aura. You were only scratched so it wasn't that bad. I was always discouraged from using it because, well, it isn't something that is normal. I can't do it all the time...it wears me out after a while if I do it too much."
"Well, its nice to have but we shouldn't rely on it, right?" I chuckled. "It's likely similar to the techniques I use."
There was probably a lot of questions about it...but it wasn't outlandish or anything. There was plenty of history records that indicated that magic had once been quite common. And likely Marle's family line had something to do with her talent...maybe. Her family had led Guardia for a thousand years after all...well maybe even longer than that...although the future of the world may not be very bright if this time period was anything to take to heart.
Meanwhile Lucca had climbed up to the open panel on the robot and was now chucking out different parts. I guess we were still locked in the room at the moment. "Aha, found it," Lucca said as she seemed to yank something from the robot as I was getting to my feet. Then the doors opened and Lucca jumped down...now covered with grease from the machine.
A weird thought came into my head, "You know they have the Enertron...but from the looks of it I don't think they really shower or bathe..."
Lucca looked at herself for a moment, "Likely the Enertron also acts as a sanitizer. It didn't seem that anyone was sick. Still these robots aren't too far off from my own designs...at least in terms of their inner workings. Their power source is incredibly more efficient. I mean it would have to be to be able to use lasers as a weapon as effectively as it does. Either way we should check the refrigeration unit." She didn't seem too concerned to have herself covered in grease. Actually she wouldn't be...that's how she usually ended up when working on Gato or any number of her other inventions.
"Crono, are you okay?" Marle asked me one more time as we headed to the door behind the now defunct robot.
"Are any of us?" I sighed. "I don't feel anything from that injury if that is what you are asking. But I'm kinda worried about finding out about where...and when we are."
"Yeah...me too," Marle said as she took my arm and we walked into the next room. The moment we went inside we were bombarded by a horrible smell that was nearly enough to make me vomit.
Either way we all took a look around the room. Lucca shook her head, "Everything's completely rotten. Looks like the refrigeration failed a while ago." She was holding her right arm over her nose to try and mask some of the smell.
"Wait is that..." Marle was on the far side of the room. There was a blanket covering something...she moved it and she screamed and stumbled back. I quickly made my way to her. There was a man underneath the blanket she had moved and he was clearly dead. Guess it explained how the smell was so bad in here. It wasn't just rotting food but the smell of death mixed in. "Passed away long ago, I suppose..." Marle had regained her composure enough and looked closer. "Hold on, he's holding something."
"Here, let me," I stepped passed her and knelt down by the body. The moisture in this room certainly hadn't done any favors for this guys body, but I grabbed the folded up paper from his hand. I moved away from him and slowly unfolded the paper. Good thing I did as a few objects fell into my hand. The light wasn't the best but it wasn't hard to tell what it was. "Seeds...a few different ones."
"So he managed to get in here but he couldn't get back?" Lucca was speaking softly.
"Yeah, looks like he took a hit through his stomach. I doubt it was the most pleasant of ways to go," I scratched my head as I looked at the paper. "Looks like he left a message for his wife. Dear Elma, I had hoped to at least see you once more but it looks like I won't be making it back. Everything down here is gone and I only managed to get here by tricking the robots, but I got injured and trapped inside as a result. If anyone makes it in here, please take these seeds back to the Elder. Plant them for our future. We can't assume that the Enertron will continue to last. It will take time and careful planning to grow food and make enough for everyone to survive on. I know it will be rough, its been a long time since our people have planted anything, but look after it every day and I'm sure it will work. Elma, I love you and, of course, our amazing daughter, Heather. I hope you and her will find a way to keep pressing forward. Look after the seeds until they grow. I wish I could be there with you. I'm sorry. Love Always, Darrel."
I put the seeds back and folded the paper up again before placing it carefully into my bag.
"Let's go check out the maintenance area before heading back to the surface. Maybe we can find that computer that is supposed to be down here," Marle spoke as she turned away. I moved behind her and wrapped my arms around her. She leaned back into me. "Please, lets keep moving...I don't want to think about it."
"Yeah, me too," I said as I separated from her and left the food store room and past the downed robots and back out to the original junction. After making our way back we went towards the maintenance area and came to a door and next to it was some sort of terminal.
"Leave this to me," Lucca pulled out her scanner and approached the terminal. Marle stood next to me...but was gazing at the floor.
"I want to keep a positive outlook, but the people here," She shook her head. "Just what kind of life is this?" Marle said it as a whisper, and I only heard it because I was so close to her. "They live here...but robots killed anyone that approached the food storage? Meaning everything in there, it all went wasted. They were so close to it and yet couldn't get to it."
"Yeah, its frustrating. More than that...it doesn't look like any of them living here know how to fight. I know its hard...but we need to know the truth of this place. If this is our future...then maybe we can..." I stopped as Marle looked to me.
"I got it," Lucca announced as the door to the maintenance area slid open. "Looks like all of this leads to a central Information and Control center. We should be able to find more significant answers there. I'm not sure exactly what we'll find but its the best bet that we have."
I nodded, "Be careful. It's highly likely that more robots are defending the maintenance area." Marle was quiet...if anything way too quiet. The only thing I could do for her was support her for now...we needed to find the Information and Control center so that hopefully we could find some answers...maybe some that we very much needed. Or we felt we needed. Still as we stepped into the corridor it eventually led past a bunch of pipes. It all seemed rather elaborate...just what was this place supposed to be? We moved and entered a much larger area...on the far side there was a door and over it was clear markings of the Information and Control center. But the moist air and smell of metal made it apparent that something had gone wrong in here.
"More robots," Lucca noted as she moved past and towards one that wasn't moving at all. She still had her scanner out and ran it over the robot. Then she pulled on its head. "Rusted, badly...I think everything in here is. Looks like there was a water leak...it had to have been years ago...the air here is definitely thick with moisture...hurry up we have to make sure the computer is safe." Lucca didn't wait and vaulted around the robot and headed to the door in the distance.
Marle was quick to follow with me bringing up the rear. I took a quick look around...it was like she said...everything was rusted...it might have been a decade or more ago when the water leak occurred. Which means the refrigeration unit might have slowly gone out over time...and no one knew where to look to fix it. Where had all the maintenance technicians gone then? Lucca got to the door and ripped something off a panel and stuck her hand in. I'm not sure what she did but the door opened and she disappeared inside. I followed in behind Marle.
Instantly there was a change...the air was different and when we entered the door behind us closed. A couple lights turned on and Lucca was walking forward. I saw it...a large screen was on the back wall, and several smaller screens sitting on the top of numerous keyboards and other buttons on the large terminal. Lucca went up to it and touched the keyboard and the monitors all came to life. "Seems like this room was sealed with its own ventilation system. They were likely worried of moisture getting inside. Give me a moment to familiarize myself with it."
"I've never seen anything like it. What's it called?" Marle asked strolling up to where Lucca is as she seemed to be navigating through various menus.
"It's a computer," Lucca provided while pushing up her glasses. "My Grandfather built the first computer before I was born. He literally had an entire room filled with it, just to make simple calculations. Over the years with the help from my Father they managed to condense it significantly. To the point where my scanner I have with me is essentially a mini-computer. We used it to help with the more complex calculations, and its how I program Gato and his functions, and naturally the calculations needed for the telepod. The Guardia Family has ordered us to keep it secret and continue to develop it along with newer inventions."
"Knowledge is a dangerous power. And in our world that is populated with monsters and neighboring kingdoms that may or may not be potential enemies." The truth of it was obvious and I think Marle understood the implications we were making. "It makes trusting that knowledge to be more widespread to be questionable. Either way that is what makes Lucca's family so valuable to the Guardia Throne. And why her family is given a bit of freedom to what they can do," I added explaining it to Marle.
"I see...and considering how hard it has been for us over the history of our Kingdom...we want every advantage we can have. There were several times in our history where we nearly were wiped out. So Lucca's family are really the only ones capable of using these computers?" Marle seemed rather curious about the whole deal.
"What!?" Lucca was suddenly typing furiously. "This computer is built using the same programming language made by my Grandfather. This operating system is essentially the same as what I use at my house. Let's see, I can bring up all the available programs...looks like this holds a bit of data. And its..." She stopped. She looked at the screen. "This is the year, 2300AD."
"2300?" I echoed. "So...I guess this is our future then." Marle wordlessly moved to my side and took my arm. "Lucca...where are we?"
Lucca was typing again, navigating screens faster than I could keep up. "Here I'll bring up the map on the big screen...but from the records here...we're...in Guardia."
"Guardia? No..." Marle breathed from next to me. "This...this is what happens to home?"
"Wait there is a file here, 1999, Day of Lavos," Lucca hesitated. "I'll play it on the big screen."
An image of a man in black and red appeared on the screen. "Greetings. My name is Varick Guardia, descendant of the Guardia line and Director of the Arris Dome facility. It is no longer safe to go outside. The world is either falling apart or still burning from the various impacts. The Dome itself is barely functional as it is. I have my best surviving technicians on it to hopefully keep the Enertrons capable of self repair. However there is also a sickness running rampant and the initial attack wiped out the hospital and most of the doctors. We don't know how it will effect us in the future. But we will push onward for our future in any way that we can. I have gathered here a record of the events of that day. Perhaps one day this record will be of use to someone."
The screen flickered and it showed a shot of the whole continent...the ground was shaking...and then...the ground split open...was this really happening? That wasn't it...something emerged...whatever it was, it was colossal in size. It had a shell with what looked like spikes...each one seemingly more massive then the other. Which I knew wasn't possible...but then something happened. A massive amount of energy was released from each and every one of those spikes, firing up into the air. Only to come crushing down onto the Earth. Massive craters were made...buildings destroyed...and the volley didn't stop. Until the video suddenly cut out.
We stood there...dumbfounded as we stared at the screen. After a moment the same man from before reappeared. It seemed like he had more to say. "It is a being known as Lavos. A name from ancient times when a meteor fell from space and pushed or planet into an ice age. We no longer have the ability to research this being as he quickly burrowed back into the Earth from which he had come from. Please...if you ar...istening t..." The image suddenly cut out.
Lucca hit a few keys, "Data corruption. A lot of the data here can't be opened." She said softly...clearly affected by what we had all just seen. "Lavos...it destroys our world?"
"He called himself Varick Guardia...so he is my descendant? And this is what the Kingdom is turned to?" Marle's voice was quivering...she was shaking. Fortunately I was already next to her. I wrapped my arms around her, and she lost her strength. "NO NO NO! Crono...we lasted so long...another thousand years after our time...and for what? To just be obliterated just like that? It isn't just our Kingdom but the entire planet? Crono...No...NO WAY! I refuse to believe it!" She collapsed fully against me, turning and clutching the front of my clothes as I could see tears coming from her face. "I knew it...I knew that we would find out something like this but I...I wanted to be wrong..."
"Yeah...some large creature just pops out of the ground and annihilates the world? What kind of crap is that? If there was ever something to do when messing with time then..."
Marle looked up at me, "Yes, that's it." She quickly wiped her eyes. "There's only one thing we can do. We change history. Exactly like what Crono did when he saved me."
Lucca turned to look back at Marle and I. She nodded, "After coming here...to go back to our own time and just live out or own life would be hard. Knowing what happens at the end. It wouldn't affect us, or even our children, but eventually someone in our families would have to deal with this destruction. Just like we already saw, the Guardia line survives to the day the world comes to an end. This Lavos must also be the reason why nothing grows, and why mutants and creatures run rampant."
"Depending on when he landed he could be responsible for a whole lot more, such as an ice age," I added. "Lucca, I know you were worried about us changing anything before, since you were careful that we just ensure that we restored the original events when we saved Queen Leene. I only wanted to save Marle then, so I didn't care. This is much bigger than that and I don't know what our future holds. But I don't want my children or anyone in my family line having this crap to look forward to."
"I know that," Lucca said as she turned back to the computer. "I wasn't going to object. The problem is where we start at. Unfortunately the archive here is mostly corrupted. And likely there is no data backup that would have been as well protected as here. There doesn't look to be any other information about Lavos here. However I did find something else here." She made a few keyboard strokes and suddenly the big screen showed a map. "Looks like there is some sort of device called a satellite that is in orbit over the planet. With it I can make some scans and maybe figure out a destination for us to head to."
"Are you just being intentionally vague so that I have to keep prompting you to speak?" I said dryly to which she laughed. It was probably a good change in the atmosphere to laugh and joke. Considering what we had just witnessed.
"No sorry, I'm really fascinated by all the technological advances here. Unfortunately with the data corrupted I can't find anything significant to help me. However the scanner on this satellite program seems to be fully functional," while she was talking she was typing something in from some readout from her scanner. "By changing the search parameters to the same frequency of the Time Gates. We should be able to find any other possible Gates we can use. Hopefully one that we can reasonably get to."
"Right, either way we won't do any good staying in this time period," Marle had regained her composure now and looked to me. "So is this what we're going to do? Save the future?"
"Do you want to get married and have kids?" I asked rather bluntly. This made Lucca and Marle both share a look. Marle flushing red. Obviously taking what I had said to a logical step and insinuating I was talking about us. It didn't matter if she thought of it that way but it was more than enough to get my point across.
"Well yeah...of course I do..." Marle answered.
"Like I said, I don't know what our future holds. I do know I want to have the chance to be married and have children. Knowing this future, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night with the knowledge that the future of my family was in danger. I'm not sure how we're going to save the future but we can sure as hell try. What do you think?" I knew there was a lot of problems but having a goal was better than nothing at all. Even if it was vague and we didn't know where to start.
"No, you're right. Crono, Lucca, together we can do this," Marle suddenly smiled. That was definitely an improvement over how she was a moment ago.
Lucca stopped typing, "Alright search parameters are updated. I hope we find something, or its back to Bangor Dome and taking our chances trying to get past the Guardia Military." Lucca hit one last keystroke and the screen immediately started moving. Meanwhile the display that Lucca was in front of seemed to be pumping out results from the scan. "Alright it listed Bangor Dome...and now...its moving past us...looks like there is another part of the continent and...there!" Lucca stopped it and brough up a focus on the map in front of us to a new area. Another Dome. "It's called Proto Dome, and the readings are slightly different but it is definitely another Time Gate. It's consistent with the readings I took from the one in our time. It's a long shot but its on the same continent so its a feasible location for us to get to."
"Crono, thank you. You've done so much for me already. Even to go so far in indulging in my selfish reasons for running away. You too Lucca," Marle bowed to the two of us.
"I had my own reasons too," Lucca admitted. "I was going to break out Crono one way or another anyway. I just knew that Crono wouldn't have liked the fact that your own Father had sentenced a friend of yours to death on a charge that is clearly made to be used against you. That was why when you told me to help you break him out I went along with it. My family has always been loyal to the crown. I don't agree with your Father, but I have faith in you, Princess. To me, being loyal to you is the same as being loyal to the crown. And if you think about it, saving the future is what's best for the Kingdom. Our home."
"Thank you, Lucca. Truly. I hope we can become good friends from here on out," Marle smiled.
I scratched the back of my head, "Hey, we're dating now right?"
She turned to me and then grinned before she stepped up to me and took my hand, "Yes, you're my boyfriend. Not the most conventional start of a relationship..."
I chuckled, "I dunno, I read a few books that involved a runaway Princess falling in love with some village boy. But never one where she went back in time and then the guy had to follow her...find her...then watch her disappear and then in order to stop her from disappearing he had to save that Princesses ancestor to save her...and then he goes back and gets arrested and sentenced for execution..."
Marle was giggling now, "Okay, okay I get it. But that's how this tale starts."
"Yeah, but this future, we can't let happen. I think you put it best," I said looking up at the big screen and the desolate wasteland that showed on it. "I refuse to believe it. This may be someone's future, but I refuse to let it become ours."
A/N:
In the game itself there are literally only 8 lines of dialogue in which they decide they are going to change the future. Just 8 lines. Do you know how weird that is to think about now? What sells this scene in the original game isn't that but actually seeing Lavos come out of the ground and rain destruction on the world. Up to this point you've seen people, but you wouldn't call them much of a society. They just look broken. Like they just don't care about anything. The game presents you a world after the world has essentially died. And you don't even know how they manage to survive.
I couldn't just leave things as they are. Right now the three of them are fugitives from their own kingdom but have learned that way in the future, regardless of what they do, and the life they lead...its something that they now know, and would haunt them. Maybe it wouldn't to everyone, but I feel like family lines are very important in the Chrono Trigger world. It seems that way to me, so that's kind of what I've established here. Lucca's family are a line of inventors for the Kingdom, which is more or less how it is in the game. Except they didn't seem to be constrained or restricted in any way...which is odd to me. So I decided to tie it in. Crono is now from a family line that is renowned for its proficiency in battle and capacity to use techniques. Obviously the Techs that he uses in the game...and just for fun I threw in Crono and Lucca's Double Tech.
In general I will only focus on key story fights, so don't expect me to hit every single boss fight along the way, unless I'm using it as a means to advance the story. Same with dungeon exploration. The layout I use will likely be different then the actual game as a means of bypassing a lot of dead space where I would have to figure out something to plug in...and I'm not a huge fan of filler.
I really enjoyed this chapter for a few reasons. Crono and Marle have a moment to realize..."hey we really rushed into this but lets see where it goes" kind of discussion. Considering how the game can't really develop their relationship because of Crono being a silent protagonist gives me a realm of freedom in this department. But I want them to be as believable as I can. That also means building a decent backstory and everything else to go with it. At the same time I'm making Marle see reality in a harsher light to break her down a bit...but instead having Crono to be the one that helps her bounce back to her usual cheerful self. I think its a dynamic that will be important to their relationship as we go forward.
Anyway, thank you all that have reviewed so far. It makes me happy to see people enjoying this as it doesn't seem like many come to the Chrono Trigger section of . Then again its for that reason that I couldn't find a Fan Fiction of Chrono Trigger that I wanted...so I decided to make it myself. I'm a few days late with this update, but I hope to get it up on time for next month. Thank you all again! Let me know what you think and also let me know what you want to see. I'll make sure it gets in. See you all next month with the next Chapter.
