Kirby nodded at Naija’s plea and was off like a pink blur, racing toward the warp elevator. It inhaled deeply, inflating into a round balloon. It fluttered up to the elevator control pad and jabbed in a 4 and a 9. It exhaled its breath on a sudden spurt. The marshmallow deflated and dove into the elevator to be warped away on a white light. It appeared, hopping out of the elevator on the 49th floor.
“EY!” Kirby called. There were droids flying about the lab with welding tools attached to their robotic arms. They flew about repairing electronics and machinery. Kirby tried to wave the machines down, but they ignored it, continuing in their programmed tasks. Growing frustrated, the pink ball glanced about the floor and found a bolt to chuck at one of them. With a
clank and a spark, one of the droids stopped and whirled as though enraged. It gazed upon Kirby.
“Ey!” it cried again for help. The droid only responded with threatening pops and sparks tumbling from its welding tool. Kirby’s eyes grew in fright as it started to run. The droid chased it, trying to stab the marshmallow with its tool until an old man with a cloudy-white beard held up his hand to halt the machine.
“Now, now, leave the little fella alone,” the old man told the droid. The droid seemed to understand. With an electronic buzz sound that sounded like a
hmph! it turned and left the puffball hiding behind the legs of the old man.
He was Dr. Light; and he gazed down at the odd pink sphere at his feet. He then crouched as Kirby scrambled to stand before him. Throwing up its nubby arms, Kirby attempted to explain what was happening.
“Ey! Wah!”Dr. Light pinched its red dimpled cheek and tugged on it surprised when it extended out as though made of rubber. Releasing Kirby’s cheek as it snapped back against its face, Dr. Light blinked in surprise.
“Fascinating. I’ve never seen anything like it.”Kirby rubbed its cheek and then narrowed its eyes at the doctor.
“Ey!”“Are you trying to tell me something little one?”“Ey!”Kirby turned toward the elevator waving the doctor along. Dr. Light stood and stroked his beard curiously.
“Whatever you’re trying to tell me. It seems urgent and I’ll follow you.”The doctor followed Kirby to the elevator and together they were warped back to the reception hall. Kirby raced over to Naija and Rosalina informing them in the only manner he knew how that he had brought someone. Dr. Light was stunned to see Guile in the arms of Rosalina.
“Good Gracious! What happened?” the doctor gasped as he briskly walked over to assess Guile’s condition. He watched as his wound seemed to repair and disrepair over and over again.
“If this were one of my prototypes, I would have suspected a computer virus of some sort. I have never seen anything like this.”Guile rasped,
“His sword…if not for Rosalina…I would be dead.”“His sword you say? Could this be caused by nanites? I don’t think a mere sword could cause this kind of damage.” Dr. Light looked to Naija and Rosalina.
“I came upon Dr. Solus unconscious in the lab. My droids had him moved to the infirmary. This wound…” He frowned in contemplation.
“There’s a cryostasis capsule we could put him in.”Guile snagged Dr. Light’s arm.
“No…if you freeze me. I may not wake up.”Dr. Light frowned sadly in concern.
“I…well…” He shook his head and frowned in determination.
“We have a rejuvenation chamber. That should keep you alive. At least long enough for me to run some tests.” He looked to Rosalina and Naija and said,
“We must hurry! Your Lumas appear to be tiring.”Rosalina gazed up at her children whose eyes were half-lidded as though they would pass out any moment from using so much recovery magic.
“Please don’t give up. Just a little longer,” she pleaded to them.
One of the stars raised its pointy limb in a determined salute before it resumed healing Guile. Rosalina attempted to heft Guile but even his arm seemed heavy to her.
“Help me please,” she asked Naija.
Dr. Light also offered to lift the large soldier to his feet.
“This way!”“Ey!” Kirby echoed, clutching Guile’s pants leg as though it were making an effort too!
Rosalina heard the call over the comms from James.
“James, we’re headed to the lab with Dr. Light. Nothing is working to seal Guile’s wound so we are going there. Please meet us there!”Meanwhile in Platform City…
Hunter stared at the monkey girl who wound up turning into a human (or appeared at least), and then the floating eyeball who appeared after her. Pointing at it with his thumb, Hunter asked,
“What’s with the eye?”Agreed! The best plans are made in a saferoom…or a safe room, but rarely on roof tops! See you at the castle!Hunter blinked at the wheelchair turtle and pointed to his vanishing figure next.
“What’s with the gimp turtle?”Sparks watched as the others were racing onto the castle and glanced between Hunter, Naija, and Charger.
“We’re gonna get left behind. It seems like something crazy has happened!”Just as Sparks had said that, the massive ship’s engines ignited and it started roaring away like a rocket into the cosmos. Hunter and Sparks watched it leave. The cat’s ears were raised in surprise.
“There goes my ride!” His green eyes then darted over to Sparks.
“Well, our ride I suppose. If you guys are saying that you know of another way to get to Dragon Land, then I have no choice but to follow you.”Sparks nodded.
“Yeah, these are good guys Hunter. They saved me from Gnasty Gnorc!”“Gnasty Gnorc? These guys took on Gnasty Gnorc?”Sparks nodded proudly.
“Mhm! Come on Hunter. Let’s go with them.”Hunter sighed softly. This adventure was just getting bigger and bigger. The cat sprang to all-fours and followed after Taric and the wheelchair turtle.
Simple Unicycle
Mixtape Ghost N
