CHAPTER #2: YOUR BLOOD IS THE KEY
The frantic screaming rang out as the boy and the robot shot along the rainbow tunnel deep into space. They saw another solar system come rapidly into view, before shooting out the other end of the vortex into a bright yellow sky spotted with orange clouds. Far below them was a jungle sprawling out in every direction, treetops of many different colors, and winding rivers of neon green water.
“Uh-ah-uh-what?” Mallory looked around, disoriented by the change in scenery. The air was incredibly hot and humid with a strong sulfur odor. He found it hard at times to catch his breath, a slight burning sensation in his nose and lungs.
“Welcome to Ursamoor, Master Mallory!” the droid said excitedly as they flew down into a large clearing and landed on a patch of cobalt blue grass. When the teen was released from the tentacles, he immediately fell forward, overcome with severe nausea and gasping for air. The little bot yelped out and rushed over, extended a nozzle from one finger, and blasted a thick aerosol down his throat. “Apologies, Master!”
Mallory felt the sudden urge to gag at the intrusion, followed by a warm feeling in his chest and a sharp intake of breath. He began coughing violently, but then as it subsided, he realized he could breathe comfortably now. “What… What was that?”
“Respirator microbes, Master!” he explained. “Now your lungs will work in many types of atmospheres!”
“This… This is too much…” the boy still felt sick to his stomach. “This place smells like farts…”
“Oi! That’s the best part!” came a deep voice in a thick Australian accent. Mallory shot his head up as they were approached by at least a dozen figures clad in leather vests, spikes, chains, and other punk attire. What struck the teen most was that they were all humanoid warthogs with large snouts and curved tusks. Some had mohawks and sunglasses, and they were all armed with futuristic weapons and blades.
“Master Mallory, these are the men that sent for you!” the droid said as he opened his arms in a wide gesture. “May I present the Apex Potatoes!”
“That’s Apex Prowlers ya damn junkbox!” snapped one of them. They all had Australian accents. The bot started to apologize but was silenced with a gesture from what seemed to be the leader, who was covered in tattoos under the layer of fuzz on his muscular arms.
“Mallory Dane,” he said as he walked up to the boy, towering over him. “My name is Kader Dunn. I am pleased DBN-227 brought you to us in one piece. You’re an important lad.”
“I don’t understand anything that’s going on…” the teen said as he looked around confused. “This must be a dream. I mean, it makes sense. You guys remind me of Bebop from Ninja Turtles, and that droid is similar to F.C.G. from Critical Role but with the voice of Jacksepticeye… That rainbow tunnel was like the Bifrost from Thor… This all has to be generated by my imagination…”
“A great deal of fiction has a basis in reality,” Kader explained as he summoned a holographic screen from a watch-like device and pushed a few buttons. The vortex in the sky then collapsed and vanished from sight. “But we’re not here to convince you of anything. Frankly, we couldn’t give a rat’s ass about you beyond what we need you for.”
Mallory yelped out as the large hog-man flung the boy over his shoulder, but his struggles to free himself were futile. The group moved out of the clearing and under the tree canopy before descending into a network of underground caverns. They passed through the remnants of a tall stone door that had been blasted open before coming to a halt inside a tomb of some kind.
The teen was set down in front of an elevated stone platform upon which sat a black obsidian sarcophagus covered in strange runic engravings.
“This is your destiny, Mallory,” Kader said as he grabbed the boy’s right wrist and pulled out a hunting knife. He sliced Mallory’s palm open, causing him to cry out as the warm scarlet liquid ran down his arm. He dragged the teen over and placed his injured hand directly on the coffin, causing all the runes to glow red. “Yes! You see? Your blood is the key!”
Mallory screamed as he felt a burning sensation in his palm, the black obsidian becoming increasingly hot. The image of those greenish-yellow snake eyes returned to his mind as vivid as ever, and he could almost hear her laughing again. He desperately tried to pull away, but Kader had a death grip on his wrist. The entire chamber began to vibrate, and then the sarcophagus suddenly released a giant wave of crimson energy that shot out in every direction and threw everyone against the walls.
“Balls! That triggered a new barrier!” Kader spat angrily. A forcefield was briefly visible around the coffin before fading from sight. The runes gradually dimmed as well, but Mallory could almost feel the magic still there. It was strangely familiar…
He looked up in fear as a furious Kader stomped towards him, but then they were interrupted by a female voice with an Australian accent from the mouth of the chamber. “Oi! You lot gonna let the kid go or we gonna have a tiff?”
A pang of hope entered Mallory’s chest as a tall human woman stepped into the room, a cocky smirk planted on her face. She was quite muscular with tanned skin and golden brown eyes, sporting a purple mohawk that descended into a long braid in the back and draped over her shoulder. Like the hog guys, she was covered in tattoos and piercings and clad in leather, spikes, and chains. She must have had at least a dozen different blades strapped to her body and was resting a hand on the hilt of a sword sheathed at her side.
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