Dino Thunder: Chemical Beast!

Chapter 24: Damsel in Distress.

Alright... Everything's in the folder now. Pictures, my recordings, documents of Solar's experiments, and lastly... Amelia trailed off as she stood in the lab and stared deeply in thought at the open tan folder on the surface. Her Portal device was taken out from her lab coat's pocket to examine it. I have a gut feeling he will do something and it'll be too quick for me to register it. She stared at the device for the longest time and pondered Ace's possible next moves. Either he will come in like a wrecking ball with his recruits or he's going to ambush me again as he did last time. So all in all, I need to leave this on top of my folder. That way- if he does decide to use recruits, I could run to the folder, grab it from the top, and sprint out of the room. But if he comes in and ambushes me himself, at least this will be left behind for my Beasty. She was alone in the room since Stevie was fast asleep in the Tyrannodrone room after a hard training session.

If I know Mesogog right... He will probably come after me. But this is very risky. Relying on my Beasty to save me just in case I'm captured and taken back to the Facility. He would have to charge into the Facility with what images I was able to print out from my phone and stash into the folder. I only put in there what I believed was needed. Something for him to visualize so he could get the coordinates and use my device. Frowning, clenching her free hand, the redhead bore her blue eyes strictly at the tan folder as she gently shut it and sat the device on top. Mesogog, my Beasty... Please, don't get yourself hurt in the process. If worse comes to worse... Trailing off once more, her eyes glanced at the test tube racks ahead of her on the station and stared at the light blue liquid she recreated.

Quickly, her lab coat was removed, and began to restock on chemicals. The rejuvenation liquid, explosive chemicals, more Chemic Bombs, and two Barrier Bombs. Lastly, her fingers hovered over top the particular test tube that said Skin of Steel across the label, and smirked. From the pocket, she yanked it out and carefully sat it next to the device.

The coat was soon hung over fat cords to the second Geno-Randomizer, which the Author still believes there are two of them. Nonetheless, a nod of approval to herself and an uneasy but forced smile crossed her lips after everything was in place.

"Alright. Mesogog's turned into Mercer right now, so he's probably doing business stuff. Meanwhile- I wonder how Elsa is doing! Oh, and I am curious about the cloned White Ranger. Maybe he'd be interested in playing a fun little game with me. Who knows.~" Her heels clicked across the floor as she began to sway her hips and head to a delightful tune she hummed. I wonder what Mesogog did with Solar's weapons. He left them here by accident... Weird.~ Oh well! Hahaha! Giggling to herself, she was halfway through the room when a particular sound reached her ears. Her feet paused the moment she whipped her head around.

There before her eyes was a fist that reached out and punched her hard enough that it sent her across the room, and into a nearby wall. No grunt or sound came from her, the impact was strong enough to make a harsh thud echo throughout the room. The last thing she saw was Solar stepping out of the portal and cracking his knuckles. No! No, no, no! Devastation filled her mind and reflected in her eyes as her thoughts cried out in disbelief. The ringing in her ears and the blood she felt trickle down her forehead, told her that she was going to black out soon. With one final attempt, the middle finger was lifted and out like a light, she went.

~~~~

"Where is Amelia?" Mesogog who strode toward his Throne, with his claws behind his back, paid Elsa no mind. He knew she was occupied with one of the Chemistry stations, so there was no need to see what she was doing.

"She said she wanted to finish up the preparations so she went to the main lab. It's strange though... She's been in there for a very long time. She hasn't come out to ask about lunch yet and it's one in the afternoon," The concern in the goth's voice was evident, for Mesogog halted in his trek upon the mention of lunch being skipped and hummed to himself.

"She seems to forget to eat, often. But... I find it odd that she has not come to greet me or report to me any updates on her projects," He glanced at Elsa from the side after a slow turn and watched her do the same. Her knitted brows and barely parted lips proved how right he was about it.

"Yes. Normally she would have. She is, after all, obsessed with you, my lord. The moment word spreads that you have returned, she always comes to see you despite what work she is doing," This time the goth moved her gaze to the double doors of his Throne Room and gave it a hard stare.

Something is not right... I do not like this. His claws twitched behind his back, for he dangerously bore his golden hues at the doors as if expecting her to burst through them any minute and the longer he waited, the more annoyed he became. "We will see her!" Growling irritably, jogging across, he ran out of the room and paid the goth behind him no mind when she came along.

The irritability stemmed from his desire to see her energetic and warm face. He needed her around him, lest his stress and anger cloud his mind. No, it wasn't just to reduce those, but it was also the feeling of acceptance. Her as a whole kept him wanting more of her each day. However, when he entered the lab, she wasn't there. "Where is she?!" Furious now, his eyes aimlessly examined the area for any possible signs of her there, but alas, there weren't any.

The silence bugged him, his growls became worse, and his movements grew more aggressive with each twist and turn he'd make while he searched. However, when a crunch occurred behind him, he whirled to see Elsa move her foot away from a pair of broken glasses near a wall. Elsa's wide eyes went ignored as he stared at the blue-rimmed glasses that he bought for her, and the film's fragments that were crushed.

"S- Sir... I think Solar-" She didn't get to say much since his dangerously loud hiss and monstrous growls erupted from his throat.

"He took her!" The lengthy exhale he gave was meant to show his anger when he nearly pushed Elsa aside and picked up the broken pair of glasses. Purely livid, he was, for he had taken what belonged to him and only him. The one woman who accepted him for who he is, the one who he has grown addicted to being around, was ripped from his claws. She was making preparations for his possible ambushes, so she was expecting it to happen at some point in time. There must be a backup plan that she made, behind our backs. Fury burned in his golden gaze as he stared at the glasses with an intensity that could kill.

When he looked around again, a tan folder with a test tube and her portal device that was on top of it, caught his attention. His gradual steps brought him to the surface and eyed the test tube he saw that was full of lime green liquid. Skin of Steel was on its label, which he noticed was purposefully made so anyone could read it without having to pick it up. Next was the portal device, and to the side of the folder sat Amelia's recorder that he recalled she used to tease him, about his supposed habitat.

If I know her, she has more than likely left a message for me. Why else would she leave her recorder out for anyone to take? She would not be as reckless as to leave her portal device and other significant items out in the open. His claws hovered above the recorder for a moment, hesitating, before he picked it up and stared at the red holographic button that sat on the screen.

"Perhaps she left you a message. How would you play them? Her technology is far more advanced than ours," Elsa who came closer to his side, gave the recorder a hard stare before glancing at her boss.

"I figured out how to access her phone. Her recorder should not be an issue," Determined, Mesogog moved his fingers about to try and unlock the screen and when he saw a padlock icon, he tapped on it. The Passcode screen appeared, along with numbers, so without further ado, he typed his name in and saw it say 'Access Granted!' in bold.

There were several records displayed, all of which were listed from old to new. He could tell the newest ones were at the top, so he swiped his finger to make the screen scroll down and saw the oldest recording labeled as 'Project A'.

"It looks like she documented a lot before she came here," Stated the goth, however, she was ignored when Mesogog kept his gaze upon the Project A record and slowly inched a finger to it.

The second he tapped it, he heard her voice. My first recording, yay! This is Dr. Amelia Ray, jotting down my progress on Project A! My first baby ever! It took me two months to build its frame and craft the AI for it! I had to have a lot of help with the robotic parts, but my design for it outshines everyone else who brought up their ideal designs! Mr. Solar picked mine! I'm so excited, hahaha! My beautiful baby will eventually be walking on two legs and flying through the air! I wanted to create A.O.D. as a means to protect and assist most life on this planet. To help with things that most people can't do on their own! Take care of plant life, preserve animal life better, and even help re-create and nurture extinct creatures! Someday, I want to bring back the dinosaurs and have them be more adjusted to modern life, too! There are too many humans on this planet and the planet is having a hard time fighting back... So hopefully, with A.O.D., things will get better! After an airy end, the record clicked and ended.

"Would you like to listen to Record number two?" A female automated voice from the recorder questioned Mesogog.

"Yes," Came the beast's words. He wasn't sure whether talking back to the AI would work or not, but when a beep occurred, it was safe to assume it worked. If he wasn't so torn over the fact that Amelia was kidnapped, he would've found it pleasing to see the technology work.

Woo-hoo! Dr. Amelia Ray, here, recording updates! All that's left for Project A now, is the development of the AI! I plan to implement a hidden recognition system. I'm beginning to get a vague suspicion that Mr. Solar is up to no good with my invention... So! I'll just have to figure out how to put in a secret coding for the AI to register, upon vocal command! In case Solar decides to try and steal my work, he will fail! With facial and vocal recognition, A.O.D will realize its true owner, me! A deep coding so far into its system won't be noticeable to Mr. Solar, that way! Hehehehe! Giggles echoed over the recording before it cut off with a click.

"Would you like to listen to Record number three?" Questioned the automated voice.

"Yes," Something didn't feel right, Mesogog knew by the pictures that it wasn't sunshine and daisies. When the next record began, his stare hardened and saw Elsa's brows knit together in his peripherals, upon the sound of heavy breaths.

I... She began on the recording. I can't... Take this hell. Heavy breaths kept her from speaking properly, the grunts and whimpers they heard was enough to say she was either exhausted or in pain. It's almost been an entire... y- year since I made my last up- update. She continued with a few more pained whimpers. A- Ace Solar has discovered my secret. I have to get out of h- here... It hurts, so much. I- I can't... She trailed off for a moment and when she did, background voices could be heard talking about her. He doesn't know I hid my recorder inside the room here. I have to m- make this... Quick. Another lengthy inhale and a few whines from the pain made a moment or two of silence. I have been w- working on a portal device... Behind his back. He has kept me in a p- padded room for weeks and only lets me out, when he needs m- my expertise. Grunting, and sounds of rustling clothes were a clear indication that she was moving and most likely was adjusting her position. When it's finished... I will pick a world, a place, somewhere that w- will help me stay hidden. I need... Help. He's like a demon in human skin. Faint sobs soon accompanied painful whimpers, Mesogog couldn't help but growl irritably at her words. I will... Find a way out. I will... Escape! For a moment she paused before one last word came out. Even if it kills me. With a pained whisper, she added before it clicked off.

The automated voice asked if he wanted to listen to record four, he approved and heard it beep before the next recording began. Dr. Amelia Ray, here.~ Updating my progress! They thought they could keep me here and treat me like a guinea pig after all the years I've spent with them and helping them with Project B. Project A had failed and resorted to the next best option, but when they realized they needed more than just blood samples or live subjects, they found out about my little secret. They've run tests on me, experiments, but I'm not going to just sit by and let them continue! So far- I've made some progress in my escape plan. A momentary pause ensued long enough for them to hear gunshots and screams of a false location on the recording. Hopefully, this will keep them off of me long enough! My new invention! If I can't get away in this world, I'll go to another one! Date: January 14, 2050! This is the end of my update! After it clicked off, it asked if he wanted to hear the next one and he approved once more.

Eeee! Hahahaha! My all-time favorite villain agreed to let me stay! I'm so excited! His lab is beautiful, amazing, spectacular! I get to watch everything unfold before my eyes in person! Now that he let me stay, so long as I prove to be useful- I can get started on preparations! I can start re-creating prehistoric DNA! If I can do some tests, I might be able to make actual dinosaurs! This is so exciting! I get to bunk with a hot dino beast, Zeltrax, and Elsa, who I always thought was badass! Hahaha! She's so inspiring! So far, I've created Chemic Bombs! My idea for chemical reactive bombs has been a success! I also made my very first Franken Baby! He's so adorable! He has Mesogog's handsome features, feline, and dinosaur traits.~ Her speech was so fast, it was almost hard to decipher anything she said, but when she took a momentary breather, Mesogog's chest puffed with pride. Why am I such a fangirl over him? I'm so weird! Anyway- Dr. Amelia Ray, out! With that, it clicked off, and it asked him about the next one.

"Yes," Again, he approved. He wanted to hear everything. Every tad bit of information he can get before he trudges off to a scientific wonderland in another world. He didn't know that Elsa was smiling like an idiot behind his back, mostly due to the major compliment she received.

Here... We see a predator in their natural habitat.~ Positioned to kill, should anyone attack! Look at how it carries itself. All tense! It could be a defensive state.~ Amelia paused a moment before she continued. Mesogog nearly face-palmed at the memory, as if it were yesterday when she made that recording. Ah- and it sees us, or could it be that it smells its prey nearby? Let's watch and see what happens.~ Suddenly, some movement could be heard, and a faint growl. Hey! I need that! With that, the recording ended, and asked if he wanted to listen to more.

However, Elsa stifled a chuckle at the stupid recording, which earned her a warning growl from the beast. "Yes. How many of these did she make?" As if on cue, the next record started and a low irritated growl came from him.

Dr. Amelia Ray, here. I... Have made a lot of progress since I've been here. We were chased by Cyborgs, hunted down by Solar's soldiers, and traveled to different worlds in an attempt to confuse them. Beforehand, I managed to make Plasma Dual Pistols. I created a Barrier Bomb, too. My Beasty and I have done so much together, it was shocking! He's downright amazing, to me.~ But... Now isn't the time to be thinking back on all of the fun stuff we did, or the quality time we've spent together. Because right now... A deep breath gave her a few seconds to calm down. I fear Solar will manage to capture me. I just don't know when. Through a tired exhale, she added and continued. My Beasty. If you find this message... I want you to listen closely. Those words perked him and Elsa up, the tilt of Mesogog's head proved his curiosity as he waited. By now, he probably kidnapped me and took me back to the Facility... To that hell hole. Another deep breath on the recording told him that she was afraid. Her next words, however, solidified his assumption. I'm scared. Again, another breath was taken after she whispered, before she continued. Mesogog... I didn't want it to come to this. I don't want you or anything getting hurt, because of me. But I know how stubborn you are, so I left you with a few things to help you find me. After a few more shaky breaths, she continued. Inside the tan folder, there are various documents on the experiments he's made. Some photos of his lab and a couple of rooms I've been put in before. I left behind my portal device, so you could use it and I finished the thicker skin potion you wanted so badly. It's permanent though... So be careful with it. Again, she paused and breathed.

Beasty... An emotional stir in her whisper made the dino man lean closer to the recorder and bore his golden hues dangerously. Please... I'm so sorry. You mean everything to me. So don't be stupid and barrel through like you own the place. Don't be reckless. I can't bear the thought of seeing you or anyone get hurt, or to see you get captured by him and treated like a guinea pig- like I was. He heard it, the silent sobs and the few sniffles that somehow made his anger boil. You gave me something no one else has. You made me feel like I was a living being, like a person worth talking to. You've accepted my craziness and my personality, where most would've looked the other way. You don't treat me like I'm a freak of nature... You made me feel alive and not dead in the shadows as I've felt most of my life. Just because I am always smiling, that I'm always laughing, it doesn't mean I'm not grieving or spiraling into a pit of despair. I've gotten so used to putting on masks, but now... I don't think I need to anymore. I want to stay with you... Wobbly, and emotional, she was when she explained with a few sniffs as if she was about to cry. After that, the record clicked off and Mesogog stayed frozen in his place to go over everything she said.

"You have reached the end of the recordings. Would you like to-" Before the automated voice could continue, the recorder was turned off.

Mesogog stood in pure silence, his intense gaze on the recorder never faltered nor blinked. More and more, the longer he stood there to go over everything she said, the look in his eyes was like that of a protective dangerous beast. The look of a predator. Silent wrath, territorial, and the need to shed blood were evident on his face when his head lifted barely an inch.

"Master... Perhaps we should-" Elsa was about to suggest something when a claw lifted to make her stop and let out an enraged growl.

"Gather the Tyrannodrones and go get the cloned White Ranger! I am going to retrieve who was stolen from me... No one gets away, with taking what's mine!" Relentless snarls were evident when he slammed the recorder onto the station and flipped the folder open.

"Yes, my lord! At once!" He didn't need to look to know she left to do his bidding. The clack of her shoes growing fainter by the second told him, so he chose to examine each photo she put in the folder.

"If Ace Solar took her... He will more than likely begin his experimentation with her DNA, right away. If he claims she is his DNA Database for Project B, then he will likely waste no time dawdling about," Each picture from the small stack, was placed aside and separated in neat rows. "If he is experimenting on her right now... She wouldn't be in this padded room," He concluded when he stared at the vibrant image of the padded room and its small, singular window on the door.

To the side, he moved it to the second row of pictures. He looked at them all until his eyes landed on a giant, pure-white room with chains on the walls and blood stains on the floor. "This one... She's most likely in here," His red claw tapped at the said photo before he lifted the portal device and took the test tube she left him.

Moments later, Elsa strode in with a horde of Tyrannodrones and the cloned White Ranger who folded his arms behind her. "We're ready, Sir," The goth donned her blade, which Mesogog saw after he glanced at them, and noticed her smirk.

"Good!" He didn't waste another second to stand around, for he knew, what he had to do. "We are going to run into his Facility, get Amelia, and come back as fast as possible. We do not know the level of security he has, so we have to be swift with our infiltration," Whipping around, the portal device was placed to his temple, and saw a flash of red which indicated it read the coordinates.

"As you wish! We will be ready for anything!" The White Ranger, who Mesogog ignored, didn't notice him slam a fist into his palm and salute.

~~~~

Amelia's shrill scream would've been enough to send anyone running in, but alas, no one did. The door to the large room was made of energy, for her head lifted and jerked, the glimpse of the door was all she could see. The wave of pain that sent her mind into a spiral made her fall back against the steel table that she was bound to. When Solar yanked a large knife out of her leg, it made her scream again and whimper. It hurts, it hurts! She couldn't move her hands, her feet, or her torso, for they were held down by steel cuffs.

"Let this be a lesson... To not run away next time! As long as you're kept alive, it doesn't matter what I do to you. You're just a thing, an it, an ingredient to implement into Project B!" Solar walked along the side of the table and traced the tip of the blade along her thigh, up to her waist, and gave her another stab.

"AAAAHHH!" It wasn't deep enough to be fatal, but it sure hurt. Her scream erupted when another surge of pain riddled her body and was enough to cause a few tears to trickle down her cheeks. When he jerked it out, another cry escaped her, before he began to rub the teeth of the blade along her bicep.

"Whatever that freak said to you, to make you defiant, he will pay for it! He thinks he has a right to keep you?! He thinks you belong with him and chooses to keep you away from your purpose?! The audacity of it all!" His voice boomed and bounced off the walls before he raked the teeth of the blade across her skin to make a painful gash. Once more, a scream erupted, before he slashed at her hand, then her other bicep, and lastly close to her neck. "Who does he think he is?! Making you believe you're anything more than a tool?!" Amelia's blurry blue hues did their best to focus on Solar, as he wiped the blade clean with a cloth and strode toward a distant scientist.

I have to hang in there. I have to endure... I've been through this before. I can do this... I can do this. I can do this! The iron in the air and the agony didn't help her stay confident that she would see Mesogog again. But she tried, she knew she had to withstand it until her beasty would show.

"You! Latch her to the electric chains! Her last punishment. Make sure you put it at maximum voltage since she's able to handle electricity better than the average human," Amelia heard the sound of Solar's finger snap and the shuffles of the scientist he ordered come closer to her.

When her tired eyes landed on the guy, she could tell he wasn't pleased with Ace's methods. The frown on his lips and the sympathy told her plenty. He's so young... He has to be roughly nineteen. Why is he here? Confusion made her brows knit before the cuffs snapped open and the kid's hands worked to support her weight. As much as she wanted to lay there and not move, she knew if she didn't, the boy would receive Ace's anger.

Her legs pushed over the edge and she felt the boy steady her, and walk her towards the chains that she paled at. No... No, no, no. There was no way she was going through that electrical hell, so she tried her best to push away from the kid and run, but he was quicker. His stronger arms hooked around her waist and felt herself be dragged backward and harshly against the wall. Regardless of her weak attempt to fight back, she was quickly tied down by more cuffs around her feet. "Y- You don't have to do this, kid. G- Go home. Save yourself from this demon! This monster!" Her whisper yell caught the kid's innocent brown eyes, for she saw them briefly lift to meet hers before averting to the rest of the cuffs. There was little to no emotion on his face, save for a glint of sympathy. He knows... He knows if he so much as speaks, he will get hurt. Lower-ranked scientists tend to receive more fire from Solar than the higher ones. The poor boy. She wanted to cry, the bite of her lip and the gulp of her saliva, was enough to keep her from a sob fest.

Now that her hands and feet were bound in chains, the pull from the machinery behind her yanked her back harshly against the wall. "Out!" Solar ordered the kid, to which she saw him sprint out of the room.

Blue eyes landed on dark ones across the vast room. Solar, who stood near the energy door, only gave her a displeased expression before it twisted into a sinister smirk. Once he turned and left, the energy returned to the door, and a loud but swift buzz echoed throughout the room.

There it was, the sound she dreaded the most. As soon she heard it, her eyes squinted shut, and her mind was soon sent into a frenzy of pain. "AAAAAHHH!" Her chest arched, her feet lifted when the chains yanked her from the ground, and her body flashed a bright white. Despite the gown she was forced to wear, it didn't help much to hide her skeleton when she lit up like a Christmas tree. After a few passing moments, it quit, some slack on the chains made her feet touch the floor and when it did her body nearly went limp.

Beasty... Beasty. Her thoughts were full of Mesogog and the moments they shared. Flashes of the sweet memories, how she teased him, how she rubbed off on him a bit and got him to be playful. From the beginning to the part where he licked her cheek for the first time. Again, another buzz occurred, and she prepared for the worst.

Another surge of power made her scream bloody murder, as the chains lifted her high off the floor. After a good minute, it finally quit, and some slack returned to let her stand weakly away from the wall. Another round... No, two more rounds, and I might pass out. Mesogog... My Beasty. Elsa, Zeltrax. I'm so sorry... Tears trickled down her tan cheeks when her eyes began to grow dull with depression.

Again, there came the same buzz then another surge of electricity. Her cry of pain erupted from her throat and her body lifted no thanks to the pull from the chains. She wasn't able to hear the screams outside the room, however, she was sure her pained cries were able to be heard through the halls since it was only an energy door. Once the electricity ceased, heavy breaths were all she was capable of.

She felt the chains slack and drop her to the floor, which she barely caught herself to stay upright. However, an explosion in the halls made her head weakly lift to see through the energy door but all she could make out was the hallway and a distant picture frame. When she saw a dark silhouette run and stand directly in front of the door, many more joined. Tyrannodrones? A momentary thought crossed her mind, that was, until she saw the familiar red on someone's face and a blast of power that knocked the energy door's power out of place.

Through her blurred, teary vision, she could hardly make out the figures of Elsa and the cloned White Ranger. She was so tired, she couldn't keep her head from shaking when she was trying to lift it more, but when the buzz returned her eyes shut tight. Another surge of electricity lit her up like a Christmas tree and made her throat erupt a powerful scream. She wanted to cry, she wanted to escape, but she knew if she fought against the chains it would only tighten and keep her dangling in the air.

As soon as it quit, it dropped her, and she didn't even try to land on her feet this time. The sound around her was dull, but she could tell it was Mesogog who spoke and Elsa who answered. I'm so tired... I can't move. Blue eyes watched her fingers shakily lift as she sat there on her stomach with her head turned. There was no way to move, her muscles, her body screamed at her to stay still and rest. Across from her, something black, shoes was what she could guess, was mere inches from her face and a loud clang echoed near her wrist.

Again, another buzz occurred, she couldn't find the strength in her to close them this time. The pull on the chains slammed her against the wall and electrocuted her once more, causing her to cry in pain. That was it, she couldn't take it anymore. She had no idea what their expressions were, her blurred vision and exhausted body made it impossible for her to know. My beasty... He's here. Her last thoughts were but a whisper in the back of her mind.

Once it stopped, the chains dropped her and the black void soon welcomed her into the world of unconsciousness.

~~~~

"My lord, these chains won't cut!" Mesogog looked to the goth who spoke and saw her lift her blade again, in another attempt to slice through it. He saw the devastation on her face, he could tell she was concerned for the redhead and the method Solar resorted to.

"Out of my way!" Roaring, growling, he pushed her out of his way and coiled his claws around the base of the chains. Both hands were used to pull at the base where a metal plate was, and managed to yank it out of its socket. His head jerked toward the busted doorway upon the sound of soldiers and Solar's voice. "Pull them out, before the next round hits her!" Hissed the beast when he looked at the cloned White Ranger, and Elsa.

"Yes, sir!" That was all he needed to hear from the goth, for she rushed to the other hand and pulled on the chains.

When he saw the clone do the same to one of her ankles, he hurried to the last one and jerked it from its plated socket out of the wall. Chunks of the wall came with it, but he didn't care. Regardless if they were still attached to her limbs, he picked her up bridal style and glanced at Elsa after she used the portal device. "The Tyrannodrones will keep them busy! Go!" Without further ado, he sprinted through the portal as soon as it was opened. He didn't have to look to know the two were right behind him.

Once they went in, they had just missed the prick scientist's men barge through the busted door, since the portal's platinum color flashed and disappeared.