Darkness. Unclear shapes. Anxiety, regret, premonition. All these and more permeated Janga's dreaming mind as he tossed and turned in bed besides Batz. Batz himself was lying next to him, awakened from feeling him move around in his sleep. It wasn't completely unusual, Janga had had such night terrors before, but it had been a while since the last one, and this one seemed particularly bad, from the amount of scared mumbling sounds Janga was making.
At last, as it seemed to plateau, Janga woke with a start in a cold sweat. The yelp of fear died on his lips as he tried to calm back down, his feline eyes quickly adjusting to the dark bedroom, relief pouring over him as he saw where he was.
The figure lying next to him shifted around to face him, a little put out that he had been woken up, but not holding it against him in the slightest.
"That nightmare again?"
Batz looked over at Janga, who seemed to recover far quicker once he saw his significant other beside him, and the feline grimaced a little.
"Guess so, yeah. Just my head making shit up as usual."
Batz chuckled.
"Well, there ain't nothing your dreams can do to you. Not when I've seen you survive plenty out on the job."
Usually such words wouldn't help much, but to Janga any sagely advice from his loved one was more than enough to calm him down, especially after the nightmare he had just had.
"Yeah, you're right. I'll be fine."
Batz grinned as he spoke with a fake scolding tone. "Just don't let your dreams go waking up Guntz too much, alright? The kid's five now, he needs all the sleep he can get."
The memories of his dream fading fast, Janga finally found the energy to smile.
"Yeah, alright."
Happy that the matter was settled, Batz mumbled an exhausted "Goodnight" and rolled back over to finally get back to sleep.
Janga did the same, feeling much more secure in his company, knowing that it had just been a silly dream. Of course, nothing could happen to the two of them, not in a million years.
And as he drifted back off, he whispered something quietly enough that only he could hear.
"Goodnight, my Batz..."
…
Janga was really starting to hate waking up on unfamiliar surfaces. It was happening with increasing regularity, and he was getting sick of it.
Not yet opening his eyes, the room he was in was dark rather than searing bright this time as he tried to remember what had happened to him last. Garlen had attacked the airship; they had fought him… he and Guntz had fallen to the ocean below-
Oh god.
Managing to prop himself up, aching all over, Janga opened his eyes and scanned around. He was in a room that resembled a hospital ward, but much less sterile and more homely. He was dressed in a night-gown, sat in a bed, and he wasn't the only one as he looked at the sleeping faces of the others in the room.
He saw Klonoa, Lolo and Leorina sleeping in some of the beds nearby. Starting to worry, he looked round, and recognised the sleeping forms of Guntz and the High Priestess. Guntz looked alright, suggesting he had made it through the fall just fine. The High Priestess looked a little more banged up, and had a bandage covering most of her head, but seemed to be sleeping soundly too.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Janga heard someone stir nearby as he turned and saw Lolo wake up and look at him drowsily, his movement seeming to have disturbed her sleep.
"Mm… Janga? Are you having trouble sleeping?"
Janga thought for a while before replying. As bad as things seemed, no less because Garlen now had the Aeternus, things… oddly didn't seem hopeless. They had all gotten out of it alive, and they surely still had fight in them.
Maybe all was not lost after all.
"Actually… I only woke up just now. I'll probably be fine."
Lolo nodded, wanting to get back to sleep but still taking the time to smile at him. "Alright. Probably going to be a busy day tomorrow." She said as she laid back on the pillow and was out like a light.
Smiling a little, Janga surmised that she was right, as he lay back down to let sleep overtake him, dreams transporting him back to happier times…
…
The following morning, the group were awake and being tended to. As it turned out, they were in Emperor Jillius' palace, the Emperor having had the group brought to his residence to receive specialized care and treatment, knowing full well the severity of the situation.
The High Priestess had taken a knock when Garlen had struck her in the head, but she hadn't sustained any severe damage and was healing up nicely. Likewise, Guntz had only sustained minor injuries from the impact of hitting the ocean, Janga having soaked up most of it, and of course his cybernetics had healed that right up.
Even so, though, the mood was quite dire. Not only was the Aeternus in enemy hands, but they had gotten official numbers on the lives lost during the destruction of the L.O.A Momett. 40 people had been killed, people who hadn't been part of the attempt to transport the artifact but had been killed in the carnage anyway just so Garlen could get ahold of it.
The airship's captain Suiryu had relayed the news to the group after he'd recovered himself from being rescued from the wreckage. The High Priestess, in response, had stormed out of the room with him to confirm the details and speak to the higher-ups of the empire, Leorina following behind her. An audience with Jillius would need to wait a little while, but for now she was determined to find any way she could to make Garlen pay for this senseless loss of life.
As the group sat quietly, ruminating on the deaths that had occurred, the door opened, and a familiar shape bounded through holding a toolbox.
Klonoa recognised them immediately.
"BALUE?!" He cried out incredulously.
"The very same!" said Balue, sticking his chest out proudly. "What d'you think, Klonoa? I'm now under contract of Jillius' special services!"
"Didn't think they'd need a stone mason to help them rescue people." Guntz said sarcastically, his sense of humor still intact even if his demeanor seemed more dour than usual.
"Stone mason?!" Balue bellowed with amusement. "I'm hardly as boring as to just be good at carving rocks! I have experience in mechanics, you know, I help them maintain their vehicles and defense systems! Now, I'm here to see a Mr. Janga. I was told he had some cybernetics I should look at."
Janga looked surprised at the prospect but figured that it was something Jillius would want to know about, so he spoke up to identify himself and let Balue take a peek.
"Hmm, very nice." Balue mused as he looked over Janga's visible implants, especially his fully cybernetic leg. "So, these things keep you alive forever, right?"
"Yes." Janga said dryly.
"Very nice indeed." Said Balue, scratching his chin as he reached down and started taking some tools with his toolbox. "Well, time to get to work!"
"Woah, woah!" Janga said, raising his arms as Balue made for his cybernetic leg, tools in hand. "What are you gonna do with those?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Balue said with an amused grin. "I'm gonna take a look inside! Apparently there's a tracking device in here you need shot of, right?"
Throwing up his hands, knowing he was right, Janga nodded begrudgingly and let him get to work.
It was an excruciating process, and Janga had to grit his teeth as Balue almost tore his way through the cybernetics in his leg, removing numerous bolts and lug nuts in the process. Eventually, he seemed to find what he was looking for and reached into the hole he had made, grabbed something solid, and pulled hard. Janga howled in agony, his leg somehow able to feel pain as this solid object was pulled on, before it finally gave in and came loose, settling in Balue's hand.
"There, y'see?" Balue said as he held up the object for Janga to see, it was spherical, and covered in numerous red blinking lights. "I don't know much about Garlen's inventions, but these sorts of idiots always design tracking devices the same."
Placing the tracking device in a container, Balue began to fix up the hole he had made in Janga's leg. Once he was finished, he packed up his toolbox and started walking back towards the door, when Janga suddenly thought of something.
"Wait a second," Janga called after him. "What if there are other tracking devices in me somewhere?"
Balue looked back with a reassuring glance. "Ah, don't worry yourself. Jillius' guys know how to detect tracking devices, and they only found that one in your leg when they scanned you over while you were out cold yesterday." He snorted. "Textbook hubris if you ask me, Garlen thinking that just the one was enough. If I were him, I'd have flooded your bloodstream with the things."
Janga's horrified face at the prospect was apparently amusing, as Balue cackled and raised his hat in goodbye, waving to everyone as he headed out. As he exited, another of Jillius' servants entered the room just as he was leaving, this one just as familiar from his Kangaroo form and trademark boxing helmet.
Again, Klonoa recognised him right away.
"Oh my god, Chipple, you're working here too?" He called out happily as he ran over to give Chipple a hug."
"Sure, I've started doing some odd jobs around Jillius' palace to make some extra money, it's been a surprisingly fun time!" Chuckling a little as he peeled Klonoa off of him, Chipple turned to the rest of the room "They asked me to give you all back your clothes. They had to repair some of them quite a bit, but they should mostly be alright."
Chipple gave the clothes out to everyone, who was glad to have them and quickly headed off to the adjacent bathrooms to change from their nightgowns. But when he got to Janga, he gave him an apologetic look as he only had one article of clothing to offer him.
"Sorry, Mr Janga, but the damage to your clothing was really bad." He spoke. "They were able to save your trousers, but the waistcoat and shirt were totally ruined."
Janga hung his head low. Another remnant of happier times gone. Then he remembered something and quickly looked back up.
"You haven't thrown them out, have you?"
"Not yet, I don't think."
"Could you bring them to me?"
Chipple nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Janga alone. Sighing as he sat down, he spotted that his backpack was beside him, having survived his fall as well. Looking inside, he saw that everything was mostly intact, if smelling a little bit of mildew. Even the little bottle of liquor had somehow not smashed on impact. More importantly, though, he found his purple coat and striped scarf inside. He had not expected to wear them again, but it seemed that desperate times called for desperate measures.
Chipple soon returned, holding his ruined shirt and waistcoat. Handing them over to him, he noticed his coat and scarf and offered to have them washed and cleaned for him. Accepting the offer and giving them over, he turned his attention to what was left of his old clothes.
As he looked them over, Klonoa and Lolo returned, wearing their familiar clothes and looking better than ever. Chipple smiled and waved at the others as he headed back out the door, ready to wash Janga's coat for him.
Klonoa winced as he saw the state of Janga's clothing. "Sheesh, Janga, I'm sorry they got so thrashed…"
Janga only barely heard him, though, as he was frantically searching for the breast pocket on the shirt. Please, god, let it still be there…
He found the pocket still in one piece, and opened it, letting out a sigh of relief as he took out the photograph. It was a little warped from water damage, but the photo was as vivid as ever, showing him, Batz and a young Guntz together.
Klonoa came over to look at the photo and his eyes widened in surprise. "Is… is that Guntz's dad?"
Before Janga could reply, the photograph was ripped from his hand by Guntz, who looked at it in total shock and disbelief. He was so dismayed upon seeing it was indeed what he had feared left him unable to even wrack up the energy to be angry.
"Where…" he bleated out. "Where did you get this…"
Janga tried to quietly reason with him. "I've always had that…"
He should have written it all off as a lie, a ruse Janga made up to screw with his head. But all these recent events left Guntz unable to believe it like he once would have done easily. How Janga had told him about the threat to the world… offered to help them defeat Garlen… saved his life when given the option to let him die…
Dropping the photo, he began to run for the door, his face warped with anguish, and he disappeared out through them and down the hallway.
"Guntz, come back!" Klonoa cried out as he ran after him, Lolo sheepishly picking the photo up and handing it back to Janga.
As she did so, though, she took a glance at it and smiled. "You all look really happy in that photo."
A tear welled in Janga's eye. "Y…yeah, we were…"
At that moment, before Klonoa could get very far, the door opened again and the High Priestess entered, back in her regal priestess uniform and a grave look on her face.
"Where is Guntz?" She asked as Klonoa came rushing back on sight of her.
"He… he ran off…" Klonoa panted, and the High Priestess groaned. Of course, he did…
But it didn't matter too much. They could fill him in later.
"Get yourselves ready, everyone. I have secured us an audience with the Emperor."
…
Guntz collapsed against the wall in an isolated hallway, no one else around to see him in this state as he couldn't hold back his frustrated tears.
It felt like his whole world was coming crashing down. Janga, his greatest enemy, comes along and says he wants to help them. Obviously a lie, or so Guntz assumes. But then everyone goes along with what he says because it lines up with what they already knew. They couldn't ALL be that stupid, could they? Even Klonoa had gone along with it, who Janga had tried to KILL at least once.
And then, when he tries to expose the deception for what he thought it was, no one takes his side… and then Janga saves him… he was given the option to let him drop, let him die like he always said he would at the drop of a hat… and he just… refused to let him go to get ahold of the artifact that could end the world. He protected him from the fall…
And now that photo in his breast pocket of him as a baby, his dad… and Janga… all together… smiling…
He had seen pictures like those before… in a photo album he had found under his dad's bed whilst cleaning… of Janga and Batz together… close together… like they were… they were…
Guntz let out a choking cry as he collapsed to the floor, unable to stop himself from crying as it was all too much for him. Was everything he knew a lie? Was Janga really the evil monster he had always thought he was?!
He couldn't take it. He felt like he wanted to die in this moment, let oblivion overtake him so he could be with his dad at long last…
But then, a little voice in his head shouted out.
Guntz, you FUCKING MORON! You're going to give up NOW?! Never mind the situation with Janga, have you forgotten that the entire world is at stake right now, there are more important things than wallowing in your own misery! Get yourself up, dry yourself off, and HELP YOUR FRIENDS. Are you really going to let the world go to shit because you can't get over yourself?!
And Guntz realized… hey, that's right! What the hell was he doing? He was the Golden Killer, for god's sake! He should be leading the charge into Garlen's compound, not crying like some wuss because his nemesis won't act the way he should!
Standing up and drying his eyes, he began to walk back. The feelings were still there, but he suppressed them for now. No time for angst while on the clock.
There was work to be done.
...
"Klonoa! How good it is to see you again; if only it were under more well tidings."
Emperor Jillius was a comparatively young emperor, still being in his early 20s. Once upon a time, when new to his throne, he had attempted to outlaw dreams in his empire as he could not sleep at all. But then he had met Klonoa, who had struck down his double-crossing advisor Bagoo and freed him from his insomnia fuelled insanity. Ever since that day, he had striven to be a more benevolent and fairer ruler, and in the short time since his empire had prospered into the major power it now was.
La-Lakoosha had been in correspondence with him in preparing the Aeternus for arrival, but now that such a thing was seemingly impossible, it left him with a problem.
"Now that the Aeternus is in Garlen's hands, what do we do now?"
The High Priestess shook her head gravely, wincing at the pain from her still bandaged head. "I can only think of one option: make a final stand here. Join our forces together and face Garlen. Even if the odds are supremely against us, we will draw our last in defiance of him."
Klonoa shivered. "I don't like the sound of that."
Jillius nodded in agreement. "Neither do I. It is certainly an option, but I do not wish to give the order for my soldiers to run into a battle they know they will not win."
"There is another option." Janga spoke up. "We could find Garlen's secret base and stop him before he can use the Aeternus. It would appear that he has not actually activated it and achieved infinite power as of yet; we may still have a chance of getting there before he does."
"But would we have enough time?" Leorina asked. "For all we know he could have already used it without us knowing!"
"Not if I know Garlen." Came a voice from the doorway of Jillius' throne room as Guntz stepped inside, his face raw from crying but a determined look on his face. "Garlen is as vain as he is evil. He wants his name up in lights. If he used the Aeternus, he would make sure the whole world knew the exact moment he did so."
Jillius looked over at Guntz, a little confused. "I don't believe we've met. Are you one of Klonoa's friends."
Guntz looked over at Klonoa… and gave a reluctant smile. "Yeah, I guess I am… but that's not the point. Garlen may have planned this for years, but the fact it's taken him this long suggests the process of getting the Aeternus to work for him is more intensive that we realized. We may have the perfect window to launch a stealth assault and take him by surprise."
Leorina had another eureka moment as she realized something. "He has a point! According to La-Lakooshan scripture, it's only wieldable by those already of great power… and without his technology Garlen isn't exactly physically powerful."
"Exactly!" Guntz said, getting more animated than any of the group had seen him in days. Janga was especially surprised to see him in such high spirits, but in a way it made him feel more secure, as if things were more right again in the world.
"I don't doubt he could eventually get it to work, but if we acted fast enough before he does, Your Highness," He gestured to Jillius at this moment, who raised his eyebrows with a bemused smirk. "Can mobilize his forces and engage Garlen's armies, preventing him from using them to support himself while we move in and strike him down!"
"Wait, hold on, I'm having trouble keeping up!" Lolo cried out, not used to these diplomatic meetings. "Something still doesn't make sense here; this plan relies on us already knowing where Garlen's base is. But it's a complete secret, it could take us weeks to find it!"
This was something Janga knew, but before he could speak up about it, the High Priestess and Emperor Jillius gave slight grins.
"Actually, funny you should mention that." Jillius said as he got comfortable on his throne. "My men have just gotten us the coordinates of Garlen's base from a very reliable source." He called out behind him. "Bring him in, boys!"
At that moment, some of Jillius' guards stepped forward, carrying with them a chained up and dejected robot, clearly one of Garlen's minions.
"Turns out Garlen left a few of his guys behind when destroying the airship that you were on, and this fellow was in working enough order to be repaired. He was a little uncooperative at first, but we found ways to make him more agreeable. Isn't that right?"
The robot gave a metallic croak as it whimpered under his gaze. "Y-yes! Yes... P-please, just, no more… no more software updates…"
Grinning from ear to ear, Jillius waved a hand to let his guards take the minion away to his dungeons. "Well, as I said, we now know where Garlen is hiding out, which means we might be able to stop him."
Turning the group, he began to speak quicker, his logistical skills as Emperor coming to the surface. "We have little time to plan, but I believe this can be done. I will mobilize my armies, and if it pleases you, Miss Ōmiko ("Omiko?" Janga and Klonoa mouthed in surprise), we can bring some additional forces from Lunatea who will rendezvous with us near Garlen's base and assist us in the battle. We shall begin as soon as possible, but it will still likely take time, which is of the essence."
Listening in, Janga decided to throw his piece in properly. "A small group of us could move to Garlen's base earlier as an advance mission! We could infiltrate his defences, see what he has planned, and maybe even sabotage him before he's successful, allowing your forces to come in and overwhelm his."
Jillius smiled approvingly. "A bold strategy, to be sure! I like it! Very well, if you all agree with this plan of action, I shall arrange for secret transport to get you to Garlen's headquarters undetected."
The High Priestess nodded approvingly, as did Leorina. Janga gave a little bow; glad his idea had held water. Klonoa and Lolo gave little responses that indicated they were on board but also made clear their slight intimidation with the task ahead.
All of them then turned to Guntz, to see what he thought on the matter.
Surprisingly quickly, he replied: "Sounds good to me. Will give me a chance to give Garlen the beating he deserves face to face."
Looking around, he saw everyone, save Jillius, standing there looking at him with shocked expressions at how easily he had gone along with the plan, no less since said plan had come out of Janga's mouth.
"What?!" he asked incredulously.
…
"So, you're saying he saved Lolo's ass back there?"
"Yeah, he did." Leorina said into the receiver, talking with Tat, who was back in Lunatea over a telephone. She had felt in the need for advice and companionship, so had managed to get access to a telephone to contact her.
"Sounds like he can be trusted to me. A twist villain would have just let her die and say it was an accident." Tat said, amused by the story.
"My thoughts exactly." Leorina replied, glad to hear Tat's voice. "His plan holds water, and the Emperor and the High Priestess are planning to put it into action as we speak. They're going to head out in a few hours I think."
She smiled as the topic turned away from business. "I'm glad to hear from you again, It's been a while since we've met up since I went back to the temple."
"Aw, no worries!" Tat trilled. "I've managed to find plenty to keep myself busy. And I've been finding ways to help you out with tasks they give you there, haven't I?"
Leorina chuckled with a grin. Then, her voice got quite low. "Listen, there's going to be a movement of troops from Lunatea to meet with Jillius' armies real soon. If I tell them to expect you, could you rendezvous with them and bring the Crimson Iris over here?"
Tat mulled this over on the other end of the line. "When are they heading out?"
"A few hours, maybe."
Tat smiled. "I might be able to make the trip. I'm in the middle of something but I suspect it'll be finished long before then."
Leorina's grin widened. "Brilliant! I can't wait to see you again, Tat!"
"You too, Leorina!" Tat said happily, blowing kisses into the receiver as she hung up and began to return to her table. She had reserved a seat at this real nice restaurant, and her date was none other than… Popka, wearing a bow tie. "Date", of course, being a rather generous term for whatever she had strung him along on.
"So…" he said, sweating profusely as she returned to the table. "What would you like to order?"
"Oh, whichever entrée and wine is the priciest." Tat said coyly, sending a playful wink his way. "And don't forget, you're paying for us both."
…
Janga sat outside in the palace courtyard. It had been decided that Klonoa, Guntz and himself would move forward in secret to infiltrate Garlen's base in secret, leaving the others to finish mobilizing their forces to engage Garlen's robotic minions. It was a great plan, and with luck they might yet be able to stop him.
He was on a full stomach for the first time in forever, Jillius having insisted on giving the three a proper meal before they left, which they were due to within the hour. He knew he was likely doing the right thing, and yet he still felt nervous about it… so much he still had to make up for… would this mission be enough?
He reached into his backpack by his feet and pulled out the small bottle of liquor that was inside. He didn't intent to get drunk, but at least a quick swig would help warm the cockles a little.
As he opened it up and took a drink, a voice came up behind him.
"You alright, Janga?"
Janga jumped when he heard the voice, and he whirled round to see Lolo sitting there. Sighing that it was just her, he resealed the bottle and put it away again, figuring he could finish it later. "You ought not to sneak up on people, Lolo, you almost made my cybernetics frazzle!"
Lolo chuckled, and Janga noted that she seemed much more at ease in his presence and was able to look at him without fear or derision.
"I heard that you're going on that mission with Klonoa and Guntz. Sounds pretty dangerous. You think you'll be able to get back alright?"
Janga stopped for a moment. Truth be told, he had expected it to be a one way trip, but the question left a pit in his stomach for some reason…
Lolo seemed to sense his answer as she cleared his throat. "Listen, I know I might not get another chance, so I just wanted to thank you."
Janga looked over at her. "What for?"
"Well, for saving me." She spoke. "I didn't think you would, but you put yourself in harm's way for me and ensured I got out alright. I… don't like seeing people get hurt for my sake, but I did want to tell you… I appreciate it…"
Janga smiled a little as he looked at her, happy that she took the time to thank him.
He began to speak up as well. "Well, since I don't know if I'll see you again, I might as well say what I wasn't able to before."
Lolo gave an encouraging smile. "Go on."
Janga gave a slight cough. "I know that an apology isn't going to make up for everything I've done in service of Garlen, least of all what I did to you, but…" he braced himself for a moment, working up the courage to say it. "I'm sorry. For everything I put you through, and Klonoa. In the moment it was business, but now I realize how wrongly I was acting. I don't know if I could ever find a way for things to be even between us but—"
He was cut off when Lolo gave him a little hug, seizing up at the feeling as he was shocked that she would do such a thing.
"You don't need to. You saved my life, my friends lives, and you're going to save many more." Lolo said as she let go and stood up again. "What you're doing is really brave, Janga, and I think that you really are a changed person. Whether we win or lose against Garlen, the fact that you stood beside us against him will mean the world."
Janga's eyes teared up at her words, finding them incredibly beautiful. "Thank… thank you, Lolo…"
Lolo smiled, and began to walk away, before turning back and saying "Good luck" before leaving the courtyard.
Smiling, Janga looked at the bottle in his backpack, and zipped it up before standing again.
Maybe later...
…
Klonoa, Janga and Guntz stood in the palace basements, Emperor Jillius, the High Priestess and the others facing them as they stood beside a large machine resembling a drill designed by their engineers which would drill through the precarious mountain range around Garlen's secret base and deposit the three there undetected. It was an experimental device originally just intended to quickly create mineshafts, but emergency tests had proven it to be a speedy and efficient contraption, so they would get there in plenty of time. Not the most ideal mode of transport, but it was the only way they could find on short notice to get them there without being spotted.
"There are provisions, additional weapons, and a few other amenities on board." Jillius said to the three. "Enough to get you there comfortably, where you can then infiltrate his hideout."
"Our forces are being mobilized as we speak and shall move out almost as soon as you do." The High Priestess said. "Both Lunatea and the Empire Of Jillius thanks the three of you for the great bravery you are showing in the face of this challenge."
The three of them nodded gratefully, willing to take the challenge in the name of saving the world.
"There is one other thing." Jillius piped up as he turned to Janga, holding something up. "It was my understanding that your old claw enhancements were destroyed, so I commissioned my finest blacksmith to create these for you."
Janga held up the objects, a pair of shiny, sleek, and incredibly sharp claws, much like his old ones. They weren't exactly the same, but functioned mostly similarly, being worn over his hands so he could hack and slash at the enemy. Dressed in his old purple coat and scarf, he felt somewhat whole again.
"Thank you, your highness." He said gratefully.
Jillius nodded "May they serve you well on this mission."
He turned to the group. "That goes for you all. Fight well, and this world may live to sing your praises for a thousand years. Godspeed."
As the group around Jillius gave a grateful applause (much to the three's chagrin), they turned and stepped inside the drill machine, looking around and entering the cockpit to see…. Chipple?!
"What the heck are you doing here?!" Klonoa asked.
"I'm your driver!" Chipple said happily. "No one else wanted to volunteer to take you in this thing, so I got the job!"
"Do… you know how to operate it?" Janga asked gingerly.
"Sure, I can drive a motor vehicle just fine!" Chipple said without a care as he started the digger up. "And they gave me a crash course on the controls so we should be right as rain!"
Klonoa, Guntz and Janga looked at each other as the digger moved forward and started to bore into the wall of the basement, beginning its journey through miles of solid rock to Garlen's hideout.
This was going to be a bumpy ride…
…
"Are the preparations ready yet?!" Garlen yelled out at one of his robotic minions.
"Not yet, sir!" They said with a guilty air. "The Aeternus requires a high power level to be activated, it is taking time calibrating the pylons to harness the power it needs."
Garlen rubbed his temples in frustration. "Goodness, I'm surrounded by incompetence." He turned to the minion. "Continue the preparations and redouble your efforts. I wanted this ready yesterday, and my patience is getting thinner with every hour you delay!"
Saluting, the minion bolted out of the room, and Garlen paced around. He expected some resistance, and the fact that the tracking device in Janga no longer worked concerned him, but it would all be for naught. Regardless of what they did, the Aeternus was his, and with it, all of the world too.
He looked out of the window to the evening sun with an evil grin as he looked down at the artifact in his hand. Let them come. They didn't stand a chance.
Nothing could stand in his way now...