"Madigan? Are you in here?"
Young James Ian Pryce cautiously searches the shadows of the unexplored areas of the Ganthorian Hilton. He needed advice and the chance to offer a warning to her. Uncertain now of what her mindset was after losing her physical body permanently for a second time. He had searched high and low in the corridors as well as rooms that they knew about. Now it became a game of hide and seek. For a ghost she could be anywhere. James was worried about her just as much as he was for her daughter. It was taking all of his increased telepathic powers to evade his older body. Eavesdropping a bit he was convinced that Orin Ridge had somehow taken over the elder body of James from the future. Who knew that crazy crap like this was even possible?
Having gone off on his own mission now that Malcolm and Cameron had left to pursue the Osirian deity Atum he decided the only one capable of getting through to Sophia was her very own Mother. Her daughter being very selfish in her Mother's time of need. It was only hours ago that the alien Tree of Life known as Briar had assumed Madigan's body. Leaving Maddy no place to reside in her ghostly form. In her imbalanced mind Maddy chose a bit of isolation. Choosing to eavesdrop on the Ganthorians in her distrust of their almost robotic actions. It was the only thing she had left. Finding a way to protect her friends.
"Maddy?"
Shining a flashlight about James and his faithful dog Xander crept along. In the lower power of the X'Hal only certain areas were lit up by the Ganthorians as they repaired the crippled vessel. If that was what they were truly doing. Even James worried what was really going on.
A loud clinking makes James jump. Following the noise with his light he notes a circular jar rolling across the floor. Jerking about he casts the light higher to see a familiar face.
"MOE! What the hell Dude."
"Moe bored."
"Help me find Madigan then. Don't scare the life out of me."
"Make Xander go pee." His dog telepathically growls.
"Great. Try not to step in it. Come down from those shelves Moe."
Climbing down easily Moe follows James further into the large room. Deeper within it got creepier. Strange containers carrying what appeared to be swirling embryos reacted to the light.
"What is this place?"
"Is food?" Moe touches the glass. In response the embryo stew lashes at his hand print like leeches sucking at the glass.
"More like you're their food I think. Better stop touching it and let's keep going. Maddy has to be here somewhere."
Continuing onward the darkness grew intense and the air almost constricting. Sweat beaded all of them. Finally the battery in James flashlight flickers, "Oh come on. This is no time to die. Freaking batteries." Another flicker then pitch blackness.
"Xander pee again."
"Right behind you Xander." James swallows. A putrid odor suddenly strikes their nostrils, "Don't tell me."
"Moe go poo."
"Ewwww! Dude what have you been eating?"
As they huddle together James feels a draft over his hair. In an attempt to restart his flashlight he pelts it numerous times. Finally it illuminates once more. Its beam directed at Madigan Ridge hovering beside them.
"AHHHHHHHHHH!" All three Amigos screamed until they realized Maddy was telling them to be silent by touching a spectral finger to her lips.
"Maddy? We've been looking all over for you." He halts his words and attempts sign language while holding the light under his chin. Seeing images cast on the wall Moe begins making his own shadow puppets chuckling at his creatures. Maddy maintained her gaze on James.
Knowing she knew sign language helped. Trying best not to think what he was relaying so as Orin Ridge could not read his mind he sang tunes in his head. All the while letting her know that Orin Ridge was inside the body of the elder James Ian. Then letting her know that Sophia was in danger. After a few more attempts Maddy swooped away leaving the trio alone once again. Seconds later out went the light.
"If I step in Moe poo I'm going to kill you. Ancestor or not."
A loud fart made them all head for fresh air.
Below them Greta Winston had calmly led Harpea, Elle, and Animahni to the storage closet where K'Vyn and the docile baby Orin were hidden away. The baby had not eaten in a day or more but seemed healthy in body if not a mindless shell at this point having had K'Vyn's thoughts purged of his imprisonment within the baby. K'Vyn was lifeless his own brain toasted by Orin.
Sickened Harpea did her best to block her thoughts on the matter with a telepathic shield. It was not strong enough as her nose began bleeding. Elle retrieved the baby from K'Vyn's grasp while Greta and Annie eased the Ganthorian to the floor. He was long gone as Harpea frowned at his loss. He was a good Scientist if not her best. As if anticipating the future Elle hands Harpea the baby.
"What do we do now?" Greta joins with Elle as they had before. Annie looking betrayed suddenly. She had not witnessed their strange union of privacy before now. In a bold move Elle brings Annie in encasing even her in her gemlike state. It freaked Animahni out until Elle spoke.
"Relax Annie. It's only temporary. As long as my body touches yours in this form you and Greta are immobile. We're safe here I think."
"Bringing the baby into this ain't smart Elle. What if Orin can still see through its eyes? Hear through its ears?"
"Pretty certain Elvis has left the baby."
"Poor thing."
"Poor nothing. That bastard was hanging out inside an innocent looking baby and plotting to take over the world. Over us at least. We need to think smart here girls."
"How are you doing this?" Animahni shivers.
"New trick I figured out. Wasn't sure just how far I could take it until I brought you in. Within my shell I think we're safe from Orin's mad mind reading. Our life fiber suits are linking us within Greta's stealth mode. Think of it as your paralysis touch. We have to make him believe we have no clue. Sneak up on him and make him force his hand. Annie? Once we distract him I need you to paralyze him. Hopefully your touch can fog his mind just enough for Harpea to get the drop on his head. Maybe some form of sleep to keep him in check."
"What about Sophia? She won't take lightly to abusing her beau."
"Don't let her touch you Greta. Simple as that. Sonics took her Tyrants by surprise down south of us. We can use that on her again if it becomes necessary. Alright? I'm gonna recall my diamond shelter neither of you can think about doing what we got planned. We let this fall into place organically. Deal?"
"Agreed." Both speak up.
As the gemlike flesh trickles back into Elle they shiver at the sensations. She had literally gelled her diamonds around them before hardening and then retreated just as easily. It was almost horrifying.
Harpea held the baby in her open palms looking distraught. Her shields waning she felt helpless. A finger to her lips Elle claimed the baby and walked away. The others followed leaving poor K'Vyn to a bed of tile. Lifeless he would be dealt with later. Each of them worried that Harpea's mental shields were not strong enough to keep their secret. Plenty of humming was going on.
The City of Gold, just outside of Celestial City.
"Please Lord God save my baby."
Renee Ramse held up in a dank dark corner caged in planks of bamboo. The Moons in the sky glowing brighter her only light source. Having been captured by a mish mash of Indian cultures that resided together in this region she was separated from her child Jimmy Jack. At merely a year old he appeared older, acting smarter than most. Still he was a baby. He needed his Mother. Looking out over blazing fires amid the City of Golden Temples she searched for him the only way available to her currently. She had been to the Yucatan before and seen the sites. These temples dwarfed them in stature and beauty. A marvel in a lost world such as Pangaea where it seemed that everything lost had found a home. Renee Ramse was one tough lady. Though frantic of heart her adrenalin was ready to motivate her at any second. She knew it would do no good to attempt escape just yet. Her limbs were still numb from the blow dart that incapacitated her up on the mountain where the Maltese Cuckoo crashed. Her greatest hope was that her friends would not abandon her. Surely not. Her child was a Reflection of God. He was too important.
"Where are you Jack? We came too far to let things end without you ever meeting your son. Even if I don't make it he needs his Father."
A timid glow appears to her left in the darkness. Suddenly she found herself with two unexpected visitors. Having only heard of the man seeing him meant nothing until the introduction.
"Well now, who have we here?"
