XVIII

Melody in the Mind

Her voice seared like white-hot blades through the matter of his mind. It was an all-corrupting presence, all other thoughts forced out through the completeness of her takeover. "You have seen what I know," she hissed. "Out there in the Deep Dark."

"You know about the koopas?" he asked inside his mind. On the outside, he was still screaming. His friends were powerless to help him and too scared to move.

"Before my babies and I were brought to this horrid place, we dwelt with the koopa who calls himself king. Have you seen his castle of fire and stone?"

"No. But I've seen his Sky Fleet." Tears streaked his cheeks. He carved his fingernails into the flesh of his cheeks. Blood ran in the river of his tears.

"Then, the Bullet Bills will fly again," she said. Her voice had a melody that was high and terrible. "We were there so long ago. During the Air Raids."

"So you're an ally of his?"

"Do not be too quick to judge," she snapped. "The turtle king neither has nor wants allies. He has slaves. Slaves in the walls."

"Then, why live with him?"

"Because it was the only warm place in the dark. This planet does not agree with my kind. The cold is torture to us. Our limbs become stiff and brittle and our songs fade."

"What songs?" He heard no songs, only a deafening cacophony that seemed on the verge of splitting the seams of his skull wide open.

"You talk with crisp and guttural mouth movements. It offers no music. It has no color. For my kind, speech is a symphony of sounds played upon our tentacles. You could hear it if you'd listen."

"I thought you communicated by some kind of hivemind."

"A primitive understanding. I conduct the symphony but the melodies are played by my babies."

He noticed then through his teary eyes that her tentacles were indeed vibrating like harp strings. "So, if I kill you, that's it. No more songs." But the threat was empty for while she corrupted his thoughts, he could do nothing but writhe like a wretch.

"Yes," she said and her tone softened. Her voice seemed to order itself, approach a structure he could recognize. "But what cause do you have to kill me?"

"What cause?" asked Mario incredulously. He was sucking wind from his screaming and the side of his ribs knotted in stitches. "Your babies are trying to kill me and mine."

"Because they have lost touch with me. They are confused and they are scared. Release me and I will call off the attack. I will take my kind far away and we will build a new home for the rachquids."

"Where will you go?" Despite his agony, he was testing her. If she really intended to leave in peace, she must've had an idea of where she would make a new home.

"Somewhere warm. Somewhere private. We will search the galaxy until we find it."

The answer was far from reassuring but Mario was desperate to end the conversation. His mind could take no more and he felt like he was going to black out. "How do I know if I can trust you?"

"I can give you the next piece that you're looking for. As a token of good faith." She waited for his consent but the ability escaped him so in an act of trust, she continued. "There is a steam garden on Pinna. Underneath that garden is a Deep Wood. On a hill, there stands a lone tree."

The act did not escape Mario's notice but he was baffled by the piece of information. "How does that help me?"

"Find the tree and you'll find your missing ghost."

"Lady Bow?" He racked his brain through the intensity of the shooting daggers. How could this creature, so primitive and ugly, come about that kind of knowledge? She was in a cage underground, a simple beast trapped by greater predators. Surely, she was playing him for a fool. "You can't know that," he said at last.

"I hear the songs of the galaxy. You could too if you'd listen," she said. Again, he was baffled. She spoke in odd angles, her perspective on reality warped through a fish lens.

"Pinna is two relay jumps away," he countered.

"The cold has taken my voice, not my hearing." Suddenly, her tone dropped low and ominous. "And the songs from Pinna are played on the drums of war. Now, make your decision, biped!" The last words were spoken like thunder that echoed for miles and then, as suddenly as it came upon him, all was silent. His mind was empty of all thought, hers and his own. He fell silent and his fingers relaxed from their clawing. Over cardboard hills in a popup book, he could hear his friends calling out. They were standing on those hills and their faint voices traveled on the wind. Then, the book snapped shut and they were suddenly standing next to him, their panicked shouts ringing out clear as crystal. He opened his eyes and they were hovering over him. His brother shook him by the shoulder.

"Mario!" he exclaimed. "Finally, he's opening his eyes."

"Shit, man, you just collapsed," said Toad, wearing a wary look.

"Are you okay?" asked Peach, keeping her distance.

"Yea, I'm fine," said Mario, though that was far from the truth. He sat up and caught his breath, leaning back on his palms. After taking a few breaths, he stood and approached the containment field. He turned back to Peach and wiped the bloody tears from his cheeks. "Release the queen."

"You're obviously not fine because that's fucking nuts," said Toad. He pulled out a cigar, lit it, and shook his head as he took a puff.

"I don't have time to explain. Princess, you're just going to have to trust me." He found her eyes and she held his gaze. His eyes were kind and genuine and they didn't waver. Her brow knitted and her lips began to part as she prepared to protest. But there was no give in him, no trace of doubt. She could see that well enough and though she didn't understand, she pursed her lips and gave him a small nod. She went to the terminal and tapped a few keys. The screen flashed green and warning sirens sounded with red beacon lights flashing.

The Rachquid Queen's tentacles shivered as the shields lowered.