18 Chapter 18 - Island of Mu

After a few hours spent on the the chopper, the shape of land started to outline itself on the horizon. I could see on the face of our ex-pirate Baulder, that he was about to yell 'land-ho,' but he eventually managed to stop himself. Just before getting to the island, Malcolm told us to brace ourselves for landing.

After an annoyingly long descent, we finally got to the island, and started to disembark. We didn't really have an abundance of stuff to grab, but Malcolm managed to get us some change clothes, from our prison uniform, and he even brought Meda's luggage. After grabbing everything, he asked us to follow, and took off in a seemingly random direction.

"As you already know, this island belongs to the Cult of the Seven. What I neglected to tell you, is that this island is directly under my command, and no one will come here, unless I authorize it," he explained, "I mostly use this island for my men's training, but for the time being I'll lend it to you. Everything on this island is temporarly under your jurisdiction, Temptation. Now, let us go to your living quarters."

As we traveresed the island, I noticed a few things to note. One, this island seemed to be a weird mix of pure nature, and super high-tech military base. Two, there seemed to be small robots running around, taking care of the place. Three, there were quite a few different areas all over the place. Some were all sorts of fields of crops, others were recreational areas, like sports-fields, and the remaining were sparring, workout, or running fields. Essentially, we were in the middle of a field-ception.

After about ten minutes, we have finally arrived to a relatively normal looking condominium. As we strolled in with our few and small bags, we could still barely fit into the elevator, mostly thanks to a certain big tree person. We got rooms adjecent to each other, but that's really all there is to talk about. They were really basic rooms, with all the basic amenities. We were here to train, not to relax.

Right after, Meda and I went over to the medical facility, to somehow fix up our broken parts. Even from the outside the place looked impressive. In the side of a hill, there was just this huge metal gate, sort of a huge vault door, with probably a million locks inside. As it opened, we could hear a loud creeking noise, and we could finally enter.

Inside, there was about ten to twenty small robots running around, well more like wheeling around, as they were organizing all sorts of medications, setting the beds, and preparing gods know what. Once they saw us, they instantly recognized us as patients, and delivered us to medical beds, bringing all sorts of items to set our bones to their original place.

It took about a week to heal, but finally we were out of the med-center. The rest of the guys told us that they were resting and recuperating as well. We gathered at the center of the island at the request of Malcolm. We waited a few minutes there, but eventually he showed up. He apologized for being late, and got straight to the topic at hand.

"All of you are quite weak at the moment, and I don't mean because of the fight," he started explaining, "You are now outcasts, in all sorts of places, and quite a few organizations are after you," he paused, and then continued, "If you want to survive, you'll need to train, and train hard. During this past week, I have devised a proper training plan, for each and every one of you, I hope it'll be to your liking," he said humbly.

Telling a bunch of prison-breakouts that they're weak, is probably not the best course of action. I could feel the tension, especially from Francis and Meda. Recently they seemed quite competitive, I wonder why.

"That's right, you'll need to give quite the rough training for a certain kitty-cat here," Francis said in a mocking manner.

"Right, right. No wonder, a spaghetti freak like you wouldn't understand true power. Go and bake a pizza, or something," Meda replied, with probably the worst come-back in the history of mankind.

"Oooh, you're either a feisty one, or just a pussy," Francis replied.

"That was low, take it back," she hissed.

"Make me," he said, with the most coldness I've ever seen from him.

"Now, now. That's a great attitude. You'll be sparring with each other for the forseeable future. Hold onto your current feelings, and try to be faster," Malcolm jumped in between the two. They'll be sparring? "Baulder Wodinson. You're [Oarshield] ability depends on your botanical knowledge. I'm giving you access to the library on this island, as well as our Botanical Garden. Feel free to learn as much as you can," Baulder nodded, and with that I was the only one left.

"Temptation, Godly One. You're assignment might seem weird, but please trust me. You'll be spending most of your time alone, in a cave," he said, "For now, you won't be fighting. You'll know when you've completed your task, and at that time, you'll be learning how to use that gun of yours," he pointed at the pistol I took from Russel, holstered on my hip.

And with that, he said his goodbyes, and left for the helicopter. He left the island.

"Dan," Baulder came up to me, right before we left for our training.

"Yeah?" I turned to him.

"I- I don't know how to thank you," he started, "If you didn't help me, I would've died. I owe you my life."

"Don't sweat it. I helped you so you can help me," I explained.

"Then! Please, let me serve you, from now on, until I die," He kneeled in front of me.

"Don't be rash, friend," I put my hand on his shoulder, "Just help me out, until you can."

He looked up at me, well more like, he looked straight forward - even kneeling he was the same height as me - and nodded, with a tear in his eye. I don't get emotional people like him. I just used him, didn't I? I literally just needed him to be my shield, and I ended up saving his life, along mine. Nothing to be so dedicated to.

I waved goodbye, and went to my new place of training.

The cave itself was rather nice, although it was a bit foggy, and humid. Like you could almost cut it with a knife, level of humid. It wasn't that crazy, it just had a pertruding rock in the middle, and it was pretty spacious. It also had some levels of 'natural' light, with quite a few times of glowing fungi dotted all over the walls, and the tunnel leading here.

There also seemed to be some kind of carving all over the place, but I couldn't really read it. I couldn't even tell, if it was a type of writing, or just art. Given the fact that it looked like some sort of ancient place, that a long lost civilization left behind, I could only think that it was writing, but I wasn't really the best at that sort of thing.

After all, I was just a highschool graduate, and a prison escapee, right? I walked around the edge of the cave, checking every bit of it, but I didn't find any proper training device. I didn't even have a clue as to what to do, not to mention that I was supposed to know when my training would end.

Eventually, I decided it was probably safe to assume, that my training had to do something with the object in the middle. Upon closer inspection, it looked more like an altar, or a seat, of sorts. Maybe a--

How can I be so stupid? This clearly was a throne. Maybe even the same type as the one from my dreams...? I mean Malcolm probably knew about it, if Halla did. Why wouldn't he know about that Throne?

I was sweating quite a bit, given that my realization amde way too much sense, in this particular context. The real question here, is whether I was allowed to sit on it? What if this was a trap? What if--

No, this really wasn't time for what-ifs. I mean I wasn't particularly in a hurry, but if some of our new enemies find us here, we are doomed. I had to do this. I had to climb on the Throne, I sit on it. As I was climbing, I heard a familiar voice.

"Yo, partner. Nyeehehee!" shrills raced down my spine.

There was a man on the other side of the Throne. He was very familiar. Almost looking like me, and he was-

Smiling.