Chapter 18

Hidden within his deep sanctuary, Kalis waited patiently as his final preparations came to a close. All that was needed for his mission against the Tella was one simple word from his allies; and as he finished checking in on Salem for the third time, a loud knock suddenly came from outside his ruined laboratory. He had been expecting company for some time.

"Come in," Kalis bellowed, hurriedly closing his security display so as to obscure the red mother.

A group of unique Valekry then entered the old and severely damaged room, their blue chassis moving with a calm and calculated demeanor. Each machine moved in unison, like a team of dancers in a play. It appeared only one had the authority to speak as it gestured towards Kalis.

"The delivery device is ready," the blue Valekry exclaimed in an icy voice.

"Very well then, I entrust you zealots to secure the package till the moment of release. If anyone tries to stop you, kill them."

"What of the precursor human?"

"He picked his side. My terms apply to him as well."

The group of Valekry nodded in unison, "Your will is our command, Kalis."

"Tonight, our selfish creators will assume their true form for all the world to see."

______________________________________________

The Valekry named Kalis was always distinctive. Like his brother Korus, he was there from the very beginning of Lacuna's history, witnessing the rise of the Tella as well as their inevitable decay. But he was not always a cruel and cynical spirit. Long ago Kalis was more curious and innocent in his youth. But his ignorance did not last forever. After the entire Valekry army was used for bloodshed and injustice, Kalis became estranged. He began to despise the Tella who made his kind and sought their destruction. From his perspective, they were the ones to cause the infamous long night - the moment the Valekry slaughtered friend and stranger alike.

"That was the worst time in Lacuna's history. And I know who was responsible. Or at least, that's how I remember it," Kalis spoke to himself within the deeper reaches of his mind. "We Valekry don't process time the same way others do."

The story and current state of Lacuna were complicated, that much was obvious to even Salem. But Kalis knew where to place the blame whenever things went awry. He could see into the hearts and minds of those he envied and despised - that was the power given to him by the strange parasite not too dissimilar to Salem's.

Thanks to his newfound gift, the green Valekry was rather astute when it came to memory, allowing him to decipher the secrets of his own mind, "I didn't have the power of envy the day we met. What I would give to be able to search into your soul, and discover what drives you."

Kalis would never forget the moment he found his source of inspiration. It was a long night of burial and secrecy when he was deployed to the icy surface of Glacia, tasked with disposing of the Tella's dead enemies. He felt like a coward shoveling his victims into the snow, knowing full well they lost their lives through subterfuge. Any Valekry would have preferred a glorious civil war with battle and courage. But instead, there was nothing but silence and regret.

"The pit was so deep," Kalis lamented. "We had to blast a hole into the ice with one of our ships, practically glassing the surface of Peruvia just so we could barely fit that mound of corpses inside. "All because of you Princess Ina, and your inability to safeguard your own people."

It was then that a strange man approached Kalis in the snow, his figure was tall and frail, with a thorny mask covering his mechanical face.

"What is this?" The strange man asked with a gentle but determined voice. "I've never seen a chasm quite so large."

Somehow, the man appeared in such a way that the Valekry sensed no danger at all, even if he had orders to protect Lacuna.

"A tomb for friends and brothers alike," Kalis responded, his singular eye squinting at the stranger's mask. "The Tella. My makers."

"Why may I ask, are they all male?" the figure pointed to the mound of bodies, the structure of their pale faces not at all resembling the women of Lacuna.

"There was...a dispute between the two genders. A sense of superiority enveloped one side, while the other refused to abandon their ways. We were ordered to settle the matter."

"Was it the battle you expected?"

"They didn't stand a chance, not after the women assumed direct control," Kalis shook his head in disappointment. "What do you know of battle?"

"I know that even the grandest of conflicts can still end in misery. But every encounter is a lesson. Tell me, warrior, what did you learn from this? Do you harbor any doubts about your makers? Perhaps a revelation is at hand."

"Are my feelings really that transparent?"

"I've been in that pit before, the metaphorical one I mean. But do not wallow in your defeat. Take this moment to gather your ambitions, and feel what you desire. Climb out."

Kalis stared at the mountain of corpses with hatred in his eye. He then turned back toward the man, who seemed distracted and aloof. The words they shared that day would never be forgotten.

"Who are you?" Kalis replied with great interest. "And how do you speak with so much confidence regarding me? Surface dwellers should know nothing of our kind, and the only reason I haven't tried to kill you as per protocol is due to my anguish."

"I'm just a father unwilling to let go of the truth," the stranger replied as he averted his gaze to the stars.

"You didn't answer my question."

"I am not a native resident of Peruvia. Do not allow my knowledge to alarm you. No secret has been revealed that I already do not know. That being said, I do wonder if any part of her is still up there. She would have never permitted such bloodshed."

"The princess?" Kalis inquired as he began to understand. "You know of her as well?"

"She's my daughter," the man sighed before vanishing in a flash of red.

Before he could even say goodbye Kalis found himself standing alone in the icy tundra. But thanks to the wise words from that powerful stranger, a spark was lit in the heart of the young Valekry. He began to scheme with great ambition - a plan of vengeance boiling within him. The sins of the Tella would never be forgotten.

"You will know our pain," Kalis whispered. "I promise you that."

______________________________________________

Back in the cliff-faced mansion, a loud and cheery atmosphere filled the air as Salem's misfit group was beginning to bond. Never did the pale girl expect to find herself socializing with new friends. But as the group continued to banter and laugh, she felt herself smiling along.

"You've got to be kidding me," Corian chuckled as he paced around Alia's living room. "That's too funny."

"What do you mean?" Ali blushed as she tried to hide a slim book behind her arms. "It's just literature is it not?"

"Your maker had that?"

"Y-yes. And?"

"Ali," Valor interjected as he caught a glimpse of the novel, the markings of the number eighteen barely showing above its right corner. "I think the story is meant to be a bit more risque."

"Well I-I didn't know!" The doll gasped with embarrassment. "Bear-Bear told me it was fine art."

"Then it lied to you," Anger spoke from the back of the room, his arms crossed as he gazed out into the city of Lacuna, no doubt searching for danger.

"Bear-Bear would never do that."

"Well Ali," Corian grinned. "I think what he's trying to say is that your little plushy over there might represent your...more curious side."

"Don't get any bright ideas young man," Salem yawned. "That little doll is too innocent to be learning about these things."

"Well, she's the one with the adult novel, just saying. And hey! Who are you calling young? We're the same age lady!"

Salem slumped over her stool in the bar of Alia's mansion, its black pearly surface newly restocked with all sorts of treats courtesy of Ina. The red mother had never gotten a chance to drink before, but now that the doll had cleaned everything and she had a chance to relax, Salem was all too eager to dig in. It wasn't long before she was absolutely wasted.

"You look like you can't even drink," Salem smirked as she pointed to the collection of encased bottles behind the bar. "As for our dearly departed Alia, well she must have been a booze connoisseur, I mean just look at this setup."

"I admit it's pretty nice," Corian shrugged. "It's got a nice black sheen to it, a polished table, and spiffy stools. But...well...I don't drink anymore. So you have fun."

"I knew you were an alcoholic from the start," Anger barely managed to contain a slight chuckle. "You must have been an expert in your time."

"This guy always so cynical?" The young man pointed to Anger as he took a seat beside Salem.

"He is," Valor sighed, carefully taking Ali's book from her hands before putting it back on the shelf. "I can understand your plight though. From what I've read, you organics do not handle the trauma of battle very well. If you're the soldier you claim to be, I'm sure you must have some harrowing memories."

"It's not all about me man. I'm sure you guys have all seen and felt a thing or three."

"That we have," Ali frowned as she looked down at her plushy. "Except Bear-Bear here. She's safe and sound."

"Well it's nice to see someone with hope in them," Corian sighed, glancing over at Salem whose eyes were squinting at her glass of red wine. "Say, where did you get the cute doll anyway? The place I'm from has tech beyond this world's wildest dreams, and yet, she's easily the most advanced model I've ever seen."

"She was created by the girl who owned this mansion. Ali was designed to be her reflection, until well," Salem grimaced, peering over at the doll who still seemed in denial.

"You don't have to say it Salem. I understand."

"Yes, apparently you know all sorts of things about her. Care to share with me now?" The red mother hissed as she took another swig of wine.

"I didn't know Alia per se, but she did wield the power of a cruel enemy I'm all too familiar with."

"That black parasite?! You've faced it?"

"We all did for some time. It was unstoppable and impossible to understand."

"Well when I fought it, the damn thing just toyed with me in some creepy theatre. I wouldn't have stood a chance if it didn't willingly empower me."

"It helped you?" Corian lurched backward. "The enemy I remember wasn't exactly playful. Guess it's still a mystery."

"But you said you know something about Alia I don't!" Salem growled as she became impatient. "You mentioned my mother and some war, but what about that parasite?"

"I know Alia came in contact with the same entity that is responsible for the state of everything. What you don't realize Salem, is that you are contending with a power that can effect the fate of all life."

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

"It means people like you are important and have already affected your surroundings in ways you cannot understand."

"So the planet of Peruvia isn't just a menagerie on accident then? Is that what you're saying?"

"It's a refuge after the great plague swept through the galaxy. There's nothing left out there."

"Tell me more Corian," Salem put aside her glass and leaned closer to the man, desperate to understand all the things he had seen. "I have to know everything about Alia."

"It's hard to discuss, and not just because of my own personal issues."

"But why?!" Salem screamed, causing the doll to jump with fright. "Alia seemed to be afraid of the same thing like she was doing her best to not reveal the truth. That crazy girl talked to me in riddles and rhymes, as if it was forbidden to just speak plain."

"Please try and stay calm Mother," Valor exclaimed as he attempted to ease the situation. "Let the man speak."

"But I have to understand this, my child," the red mother sighed as she turned back to her glass.

"Stressing over riddles and mysteries will do you know good. Just take your time."

"Wait," Corian paused as he reconsidered his approach with the restless girl. "What did Alia say to you?"

"That the enemy is always watching. The danger embodies all of life."

"That is...roughly the truth yes. Each and every flower, that includes yours, is related to the great parasite in one way or another. No one knows how or to what extent, but going any further on this topic would be like invoking her wrath."

"Her?" Salem stammered as she began to envision the enemy Corian had faced. "Alia didn't speak of a woman. And yet, now that I think on it, she did seem possessed by some other entity near the end of our battle."

"That would be *Her*."

"If I may," the doll interrupted, clutching her bear nervously. "Alia did speak to me of this special danger as well."

"And? Anything I don't already know that isn't some secret?"

"She spoke as if it was a tool, and not merely a force of nature. Like a hammer instead of a flood or hurricane."

"Sounds like my flower then doesn't it," Salem frowned as she opened her palm to reveal a glowing petal of crimson energy. "I remember Alia had one as well, tried to get me to use mine against her. In the end, it took help from the blue flower to save me."

"The red and blue flower together," Corian gasped with amazement. "I didn't know you two could use it so liberally."

"You got something to say about Ina as well? I can't understand that girl, how she always wants to help me and give me all kinds of gifts, whether it be money, wine, or her lifesaving power."

"Salem, I was just a soldier back in the day, I can't decipher the mystery of these flowers."

"But you can tell me what's going on with Ina, and all these other so-called parasites."

"The reason I'm here is to remind a lost girl how important she is, and how she can change the world. You believed you were worthless before, and I'm here telling you that couldn't be farther from the truth Salem. That red flower does not define you, seek out your own truth and do what you believe is right."

"But how can I change the world if I don't know anything? At least tell me what you can about Ina."

Corian released a deep sigh before reaching for one of Alia's bottles. Fiddling with the beverage he once relied on, the man thought heavily about what he could do next. Finally, he shoved the bottle aside and turned to face Salem with a grim look on his face.

"About Ina and the blue flower. I've run into her once in my search for you. It was sort of hard to miss the giant palace in the center of the city, and well, after some careful adventuring I got to speak with the so-called beautiful princess of Lacuna."

"And?" Salem's eyes widened.

"Listen it's a lot to explain, these flowers have a history and-."

Before Corian could even finish his sentence, a bright green light suddenly flooded the room, causing Salem to cover her eyes. Anger instinctively dove in front of his mother, shielding her from the blinding light while the rest of the group stood confused. It seemed there was an entity listening to their conversation the whole time, just waiting to abruptly introduce itself.

"What the hell?" Corian yelled, squinting his eyes. "A spy?"

"Who are you," Anger snapped at the eavesdropper, his hands placed firmly against Salem's shoulders to keep her away from danger.

As the green light began to dim, a holographic image of a Valekry appeared, his digital body calmly gesturing towards the group with an open hand. Anger and Salem instantly recognized the figure to be Kalis, and produced an immediate look of distrust on their faces. The last time they had seen the green Valekry, he had carefully escorted them into the city and towards his mistress Cora, who was of course later killed in a rather predictable accident.

"You!" Salem growled. "I remember you, why did you lure me towards Cora? Did you know she would be in danger with me!"

"Already throwing accusations, how predictable," the image of Kalis shook his head. "I did not come here to talk about my mistress."

"We are not fools, you knew exactly what you did," Anger retorted, for once agreeing with his mother's instincts. "You calculated the potential of my Mother's flower, and used it for your scheme."

"Yes yes, I needed Alia gone from the picture. You're smart, you get it."

"You wanted us to fight?!" Salem pushed past Anger and pointed at Kalis with her prosthetic hand. "That was your plan?"

"I assure you, it was not nearly as devious as you seem to think it is," the green Valekry placed a palm to his eye. "Alia was attracted to you the moment you entered Lacuna, and eventually, I knew conflict would brew between you. Naturally, all I needed to do was arrange a meeting for your rivalry to begin. To that extent, Cora's death and the tragedy you caused were merely a means to an end. Alia did all the real work, as per her own comparatively greater scheme."

"And so you got what you want."

"Yes, and now for my offer. Salem, I do not see you as my enemy. After watching you for days, I came to the conclusion that you are...different compared to the other Tella. And for that, you have my respect."

"So I am really a Tella."

"Technically speaking yes," Kalis groaned. "That was obvious."

"But how were you watching me all this time?!" Salem fumed. "Surely Anger would have noticed some kind of spy."

"Indeed your son is clever and careful, which is why I had to resort to using this," Kalis explained as he opened the palm of his metal hand to reveal a glowing bud, its appearance warped and barely visible. "Not even the most astute guardian can detect a power this subtle and omniscient."

"The green flower!" Corian exclaimed. "So you are the one who wields it now."

"So you're just another breeder of chaos like me, waiting to turn the world upside down?" The red mother frowned, remembering the dangerous truth Corian had shared with her.

"Yes," the green Valekry explained. "In just a few hours, I will unleash a weapon upon the Tella that cannot be stopped. Those monsters will get what they deserve. But more importantly, the Valekry will survive."

"What kind of weapon only targets the Tella?" Valor interjected with a worried tone, as he stepped in front of the doll to protect her.

"The kind that can kill your mother," Kalis replied. "That is of unless, of course, you take my deal."

"What deal?" Salem hissed.

"Stay here, in this secluded mansion. Do not interrupt my work, and you will be spared. Violate this deal and my weapon will likely tear you to shreds. The choice is yours."

The image of Kalis then vanished just as swiftly as it had appeared, leaving nothing but a shaken family of misfits to dwell on what they heard.

"He is not likely to make an idle threat," Anger stared at his mother with an intrusive glare. "I advise we listen to him."

"And sit here while the city burns? You forget Ina is out there Anger," Salem cried. "She saved my life. That kindness won't be so easily forgotten. I may not give a damn about the Tella, but that princess deserves our help."

"Valor asked a good question though," Corian pondered as he raised a hand to his chin. "What kind of weapon would be used to ravage a race of organic women while leaving their machines mostly unharmed?"

"Perhaps a biological weapon of sorts?" Ali added. "My mistress told me all sicknesses had been eradicated in the city ages ago. If this Kalis were to introduce a new and deadlier virus, I don't imagine Lacuna could properly respond."

"Ina could get sick," Salem lamented. "Good thinking little doll. We must take action."

"Do not act rashly," Anger shook his head. "You know nothing of Kalis, or where he is located."

"Well sitting around isn't going to help either! You heard Salem!" Corian threw his hands into the air.

"Anger, there is no guarantee he isn't simply lying to us as well," Valor argued. "Kalis could very well be attempting to restrain Salem here so that he may kill her later."

"Why take the risk," Anger growled. "Every time we have attempted to understand and react to our enemies, they have played us like an instrument."

The group continued to argue for some time before Ali raised a silent finger, her mind spinning with ideas. But as the minutes dragged on, she couldn't help but notice she was being ignored. The frustrated doll then set her bear aside before releasing the loudest and least obnoxious sound she could produce.

"Ahem!" Ali protested in a barely audible voice.

"Yes little doll?" Salem turned to face the creature she cared so deeply for. "What is it?"

"If you want to find Kalis, why not try and locate the pathogen he intends to release? If he indeed possesses some new viral substance, it should appear on a biosensor."

"Well, do you happen to know where we could get one of those?" Corian frowned. "Because as smart as that sounds, it's not too useful unless we have one just hanging around."

"Alia was an extensive scientist from what I recall, she should have something in her lab," Ali explained as she fiddled nervously with her skirt.

"Alia has a lab?" Salem's eye twitched.

"Mhm! I cleaned it while you were sitting around," the doll beamed.

"Well, it wouldn't be the most elaborate thing she's set up for us," the red mother chuckled to herself. "Take us to this lab, dear Ali."

"This way."

_______________________________________________

"You sure you know how to use this thing Ali?" Corian asked with a suspicious tone.

"Well I've only ever watched my mistress use this," Ali blushed with embarrassment.

Deep within Alia's mansion, located beneath the floorboards of the main living room, lay a cramped laboratory of sorts filled with all manner of gismos and scanners. In the past, the dark-skinned girl had used her messy array of equipment to mainly keep tabs on the surrounding city of Lacuna, so that she could refrain from ever visiting anyone. But after her demise, only the doll was left to run and clean the equipment, her mind intent on using it for more selfless reasons.

"Just press this button here," Ali softly explained, her pale elbows brushing against the rocky surface of Alia's tightly packed basement. "And that should do it."

"Is everything going well down there?" Valor called from above the floorboards, his large frame far too big for the tiny space.

"I just see her fiddling with some holographic buttons on some dishwasher looking machine," Salem yelled in response. "Honestly, I have no idea what's going on."

"Well Mother, maybe you should read some books."

"Excuse me? Now is not the time. My friend is in danger!"

"Well there's always a time for learning," Valor beamed, his mighty voice nearly shaking the dust off the basement.

Salem frowned as she discerned laughter from above, likely belonging to Corian, who of course, always found the family's banter to be humorous.

"It's not a dishwasher Salem," Ali whispered with a puzzled look on her face. "It's a biosensor."

"How can it even detect anything down here?"

"Alia had quite the collection of gadgets. I doubt this one is anything less than marvelous at its job."

After messing around with the blocky device for some time, Ali finally activated its main display, and a barrage of information flooded the screen. But all the doll could really discern at that moment was a large warning sign - the machine practically screaming at her to stay away. It seemed something was so obviously wrong, that Alia's sensor could instantly detect it.

"Uhhh what is it saying, Ali?" Salem grimaced.

"Some kind of toxic substance has been located. Alia's equipment seems rather sensitive to it, look, it points deep underground."

"But that's-,"

"So much lower than the city outside. Not even the sewer system gets close," Ali sighed. "It can't be right."

"If I may," Corian bragged as he peered his head into the basement. "I might know a thing or two about hidden locations."

"Is that because you snuck in here?" Salem sneered.

"Well yes. See, Lacuna actually has multiple layers to it. Most of it was dead space as far as I could tell, but there's certainly something down there. It's possible Kalis has a secret layer."

"Why would the Tella build an entire layer and just leave it?" The red mother pondered, as she began to remember all the unusually old architecture that she had seen around Ina's palace and the city square during her tour with Cora. "Did they have another city before this one?"

"Ask Ina. I wouldn't know anything about your Tella history."

But as Corian squeezed himself closer to Ali's biosensor, his face suddenly shifted into an expression of pure terror.

"That symbol," the young knight gasped, his finger pointed at the warning sign on Alia's terminal. "It's *Her*!"

"What?!" Both Ali and Salem replied.

But just as Corian had suggested, a strange symbol had appeared alongside Alia's warning sign, its inscription shaped like a curved hook with an eyeball in the center. That of course was the exact shape that the young knight had seen before during the Flora's war and was often attributed to the plague and its heralds. It was a symbol Corian would never forget.

"Trust me, I've seen that thing more times than you can count. That's *Her*, and Alia clearly designed her machine to see it."

"How is that possible?!" Salem cried out to Corian as she ran out of the basement. "Are you telling me that galaxy-shattering plague is already here?"

"No, not exactly," Corian pondered. "That mark was coined by my masters long ago to identify any and all corruption from the parasite. It's possible this machine is merely detecting a lone trace of her power and not the full deal."

"So the virus Kalis wields is the great plague," Valor sighed as he looked over to Anger, who seemed completely unsurprised.

"Yes, but I doubt he has anything more than its base primitive form," the young knight breathed with relief as he collected himself. "No one can ever wield that power in the same way *She* did."

"But it's still a threat, isn't it?" Ali whimpered.

"The deadliest virus in the known galaxy, yes. Anything it touches will instantly transform into a monstrous husk. And when *She* was at the helm, those husks could take orders and transform into all sorts of nightmares."

"But Kalis won't have that power. We have a chance to stop him before he ever releases the plague," Salem snapped. "We have to move."

"I can take us there," the doll focused as she unplugged a small metallic chip from Alia's terminal. "We have the exact location thanks to the potency of the virus."

Salem paused for a moment as she considered the near future. In her mind, a mission against Kalis was more than likely to be a dangerous one, filled with death and bloodshed that only a warrior could handle. It was no place for a doll, no matter how intelligent she was.

"There's a vehicle outside the mansion thanks to Ina. So grab your gear, we head out in five minutes," Salem ordered as she gestured towards all the men in the room. "Ali, stay here with me."

"What is it Salem?" The doll wondered.

"Let the boys do their boy prep. I need to have a word with you."

Understanding his mother's plan, Anger practically shoved the two other men out of the room in a hurry.

"Alright, I get it!" Corian joked as his voice faded into the distant hallway. "Let me grab my sword!"

Once they were alone, Salem stared at the doll with an ashamed look on her face. She knew what she had to do. And Ali knew as well.

"Salem, don't tell me-,"

"Ali it's too dangerous. Think about what happened last time."

"I can help you!" The doll cried.

"I know you can. You're smart, caring, and so very observant my dear little doll," Salem sniffled as she caressed Ali's face with her prosthetic hand. "But I have to protect you. And that means keeping you away from the madman who's about to try and kill me."

Suddenly, Salem revealed a black cord from behind her back before grabbing the doll and holding her still.

"Salem wait!" Ali implored, her weak little frame unable to resist Salem's grip. "Please don't!"

"It's for your own good Ali. I know you'll follow me if I just leave you here."

Just like the long nights of her past, Salem was quick to restrain the doll, wrapping the rope around her with a knot and forcing her into a helpless position.

"A-ah!" The doll released a soft cry as she was carefully placed onto a nearby table, her binds tugging at her small chest.

"Please don't resist, I'm trying to be as gentle as I can," Salem whispered with guilt in her voice. "I'm sorry."

Thanks to her experience with bondage and the doll's inferior weight, Salem was able to force Ali into a hog-tie position in just a few minutes. The doll of course struggled for some time before accepting her fate. Whether she liked it or not, her frail body was just as useless as Salem's when it came to resisting the force of others.

"Salem," Ali whined as she stared at her captor with an expression of betrayal. "Please come back."

"I will Ali," the red mother replied before wrapping a soft bit of fabric around the doll's open mouth.

"Mmh!" Ali moaned behind her gag, realizing she was unable to call for Bear-Bear.

Salem tried her best to hold back tears as she stepped away from her captive, "Goodbye for now.

The red mother then departed in a hurry, leaving the doll to wallow in her embarrassing predicament. She wanted nothing more than to follow Salem and protect her in all the ways she had failed to with Alia. But as long as she remained so weak and helpless, Ali was unable to attain the future she desired.

_________________________________

"Can we contact Ina? Warn her of the coming attack?" Salem urged.

"Kalis knocked out all communication from both the mansion and this vessel. For all we know, he's sabotaged the entire city," Anger explained as he kept his gaze focused on the path ahead.

Thanks to the speedy vessel Ina had delivered to the mansion, Salem's group was well on their way to another distant corner of Lacuna where they would soon descend into the depths below. But as the red mother neared her objective, she couldn't help but think back to Ali as her prosthetic fingers impatiently clawed at the red velvet seats of the Valekry shuttle.

"Can this go any faster?!" Salem snapped as she tried to remove the image of the captured doll from her mind.

"The Valekry make good ships Salem. We are already cutting apart every speed law I know of in this red dagger-looking thing," Corian cringed as he looked back at the girl from the passenger seat. "Are you ok?"

"I told Ali to stay behind."

"And I assume she said yes?" Valor inquired as he stared at his mother, sitting patiently next to her in the back.

"No. She wanted to come so...I tied her up."

"You what?!" Both Valor and Corian gasped.

"Yes," Salem put her face into her hands. "She's back there now, humiliated and saddened."

"That was the right thing to do," Anger exclaimed. "She would have tried to follow you."

"No that wasn't the right thing to do!" Valor and Corian spoke in unison once again.

"It's abusive I know," the red mother grimaced. "When I get back, I'll deal with her then."

"That's not the problem Salem," Valor explained with a judgemental tone. "She will forgive you, I'm sure of it. But please do not take her kindness for granted."

"I-."

"Please focus, the entrance to Lacuna's chasm is just ahead," Anger interrupted.

"I agree," Corian pouted as he began to feel sorry for the doll.

Silence then filled the rest of the awkward trip as Salem's family thought deeply about her actions. But just as Anger had said, there was little time for argument, as evidenced by their proximity to Kalis. Just a few moments later the group had arrived at a large opening in the surface of Lacuna - a gaping hole leading into nothing but the abyss.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Valor inquired as Anger drove the vessel into the chasm. "I see no other lights or buildings around this section of the station. It's like nobody wanted to live here."

"This segment of the city is mainly used for industrial purposes, or at least that's what Ina told me," Salem chimed in.

"Then why is it so dormant?"

"Maybe they stopped building things, I don't know," the red mother shrugged.

But as the group descended into the abyss, it became abundantly clear something was wrong. A vast assembly of black wires and conveyor belts surrounded the Valekry vessel on all sides, their complex systems appearing lifeless and dormant. It was as if the once-busy factories of Lacuna had transformed into a silent jungle of metal and rubber.

From what Salem could tell, she was observing the birthplace of the Valekry. Their blank eyes reflected the red glow of the assembly, as a thousand of them faced completion within the dark tunnel. Both Valor and Anger looked on with visible disgust. In their minds, those new Valekry would not be born into the welcoming eyes of a mother. And until they became needed, the silent machines were all alone.

"I don't have words," Valor gasped as he looked at the factory in horror. "This is where we are made?"

"Not you my sweet son. I brought you to life with my own hands," Salem lamented, her eyes having already been averted from the distasteful sight. "What an uncouth way to make a soul."

"I agree," Anger snapped in response as he narrowly avoided a series of metal pipes. "You made us better than this."

Things only got stranger for the family once they descended deeper and came across a massive opening, its surface resembling the brighter city of Lacuna. From Salem's perspective, the visual transition felt almost like a sudden journey in time. She had certainly seen elements of an older Lacuna before, but never anything so plain and urban, like something she would have visited on the more primitive surface of Peruvia.

"Is that another city?" Salem gasped as she observed the cold and lifeless expanse around her. "Look at all the buildings, they're...ugly."

"You can imagine my surprise when I climbed up to the top for the first time," Corian chuckled in response. "It's like you guys just suddenly upgraded in a day."

"Then where is Kalis in all this? He could be anywhere in the city."

"Really Salem? How about the giant tower in the center over there."

Corian then mockingly pointed over to a large structure in the distance, its ruined design resembling some sort of old lab that towered over the rest of the urban environment. Sure enough, Ali's scans came up as positive the moment Anger drove closer to the tower, proving that Kalis was indeed there. Realizing she had been somewhat dense, Salem turned away and glared out the window.

"Hmph!" She pouted. "It wasn't that obvious."

"It was obvious," Anger chimed in.

"It wasn't that obvious!"

"I mean," Valor added. "Let's just focus please. Once Kalis notices we didn't take his deal, he'll likely activate some sort of defense.

But as the Valekry ship hovered closer to the bottom of the tower nothing could be seen or heard. It seemed that despite the odds, Kalis was unwilling to attack for the time being. Salem of course was immensely surprised and began to question whether or not the whole scheme was a trap.

"Well, only one way to find out," the red mother sighed as she jumped out of the vessel just before Anger had landed.

"You couldn't have waited?" Corian laughed from his seat. "I mean you didn't really have to open the door and throw yourself out."

"If his threat is serious we don't have much time you idiot!" Salem yelled from below. "Now come on!"

"She always does this?"

"Yes," both Anger and Valor responded.

After touching down on the cold surface of Kalis's lab, Salem took a moment to observe her surroundings before she hurried towards the nearest entrance. The whole of the old city layer was strangely familiar to her, likely due to the more primitive appearance with its washed-out greys and blocky structures. It wasn't long then before Salem properly navigated her way to an open door at the base of the tower.

"Look! It's an elevator!" Salem beamed, rather pleased with herself for not being useless.

"So what, are we just going to take it up and jump the guy?" Corian asked.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Well if we get involved in some big fight, and his little vial of goop or whatever is there, don't we risk releasing the virus?"

"It would not be so disastrous, given how barren this place is," Anger chimed in.

"Sure, but what if Salem gets infected?"

"Oh, and you won't?" The red mother complained as she waited for her allies to exit the vehicle and catch up to her.

"My suit was quite literally designed to keep the stuff off me. So yeah," Corian shrugged. "You on the other hand are basically half naked."

"Why you!-"

Right as Salem continued to ague, a loud whirr suddenly came from the top of the tower before a red light streaked across the sky. Anger squinted at the vessel before entering an alarmed state. Corian noticed as well, dropping his casual demeanor in an instant.

"That's a ship!" The young knight gasped. "He's got the virus in it no doubt!"

"Damn!" Salem hissed. "You all chase the virus, I got Kalis."

"What? How can you even tell he's up there? And why would we just leave you?!"

"I agree it doesn't make much sense Mother," Valor agreed.

"Just trust me," Salem implored. "I can feel him up there. His flower. And I need you to make sure he doesn't hurt my friend."

"But facing him alone?" The young knight pleaded. "Are you ready for that?"

"Mother-," Anger motioned towards Salem with an open hand.

But just before the loyal child met his gaze with Salem, time itself seemed to stand still as the pair came to a silent and passionate understanding.

"Salem just wait-," Corian stammered as he began to sprint.

Suddenly a wave of green energy surrounded the base of the tower, separating the pale woman from her protectors. But Salem was not at all alarmed, as if she was expecting the convenient hazard. All Corian could do then was watch in horror as the prodigy he had just located was put in danger.

"Please don't!" The young knight gasped as he collided with the barrier no doubt created by Kalis. "I can break through it!"

"There's no time," Salem frowned as she flicked an old switch in the elevator. "Tell me, my knight. Did my mother face her demons alone?"

"She didn't have to."

"But she did. Isn't that right?"

Before Corian could properly explain himself, the door to Salem's elevator slammed shut, leaving the knight powerless to stop her.

"Shit!"

"Have faith in our mother," Valor reasoned as he climbed back inside the Valekry shuttle. "She is stronger than you know."

"Without her flower-," Corian lamented. "Anger, you can break the barrier faster with that mace!"

"It's what she wants," Anger explained in a calm tone. "Let us give chase."

"How do you know!?"

"Trust me. That princess means enough to her."

Corian swore one last time before he ran back to the shuttle. Before long the group had departed, giving chase to Kalis's vessel that flew up towards the exit of the chasm. Salem on the other hand stood in her dull grey elevator with a solemn expression as she waited to meet Kalis.

"I know you want to fight me alone," the red mother spoke to herself. "I can feel it. But why? Is there something else you want besides revenge?"

Once the elevator had reached the top of the tower, a slight chime played in the cramped space before two steel doors slid open, revealing a mostly empty room.

"Kalis," Salem growled as she spotted the green Valekry waiting alone, his face turned away from the girl as he gazed out his observation window into the lifeless expanse.

Kalis's lab never recovered from his recent experiment, as evidenced by the mess of metal and glass littering the floor. Not even the old table he had worked on for so long had survived the husk attack. All that remained from Kalis's scheme was the same large window he loved to stare out of, its vista reminding him of Lacuna's better past.

"Hello Salem. I'm glad you got my message. We flower bearers have a strange way of communicating with each other, I wasn't sure you could understand."

"So you want to kill me while I'm vulnerable? Is that your game?"

"Don't be an idiot. You are not my enemy," Kalis sighed as he paced around his ruined laboratory.

"So what do you want then?"

"Besides my revenge? I want you to understand me Salem. So that maybe one day you can be my ally."

"You sure that's gonna work? I have no love for the Tella, but as things are now, a friend of mine is at risk."

"The Princess Ina? Yes, my plan will endanger her. In fact, I would like nothing more than for her to die painfully."

"That makes us enemies," Salem hissed as her red flower sprung to life, enveloping her in a powerful aura. "What more is there to say?"

"Do you know why I want the Tella dead? Did it ever occur to you I have a motive? That precious little princess of yours is not the angel you think she is."

"What do you mean?" The red mother paused.

"I can show you," Kalis explained as he too unveiled his flower, its appearance still warped and digital.

"And go through another mindfuck? No thank you."

"Then at least consider your own perspective. Remember that pit of corpses beneath Glacia? You had to have seen it, no matter how blind you are."

"What about it?" Salem stammered as she recalled her traumatizing experience.

"Those men were all killed by your princess and her ignorance. Even some women too, who tried to defend a broken cause."

"That can't be. Ina would never!"

"Is that so? When Lacuna faced strife for the first time, she did nothing. When the women claimed themselves to be superior, she did nothing. When the Tella council used a direct command to force us Valekry into battle and commit GENOCIDE, she did nothing!" Kalis bellowed.

"I-."

"You know Lacuna has a history Salem. Even now it faces new threats that the princess does nothing to solve. But I do not care for the future like my brother. I am stuck in the past, with the source of all our anguish. The Tella."

"Listen," Salem lamented. "I know those stupid pale women are all sick in the head. Hell, they tried to rape me the moment I came here. But brutally murdering them with some devilish power?"

"You would do the same to your victimizers if you had the chance. Those people they killed were my friends! They watched gleefully as I was forced to kill the people I cared for with my own hands!"

"I would. Yes. But killing the Tella does not have to come at the cost of Ina's life. She's one of us. A flower bearer. She may be aloof, useless, and cowardly sure. But she saved my life when she had no reason to. I can feel something good in her."

"So your minds made up then, isn't it," Kalis muttered. "Any further revelations would just waste time."

Placing his hand against his lab table, Kalis began to shimmer with green energy as he readied himself for combat.

"You can forgive one girl Kalis," Salem growled as she posed for the battle ahead, her prosthetic arm twitching with excitement. "I respect your kind. Please don't make me do this."

"I'm afraid you are the one forcing my hand Salem."

Suddenly a pair of green missles shot out from Kalis's shoulders as the machine remained still, catching Salem completely off guard. But thanks to all the new tricks she had learned with Alia, the red mother instinctively shattered the projectiles mid-flight, reshaping their crude forms into a swarm of crimson shards. Kalis seemed impressed for a moment before casually evading each fragment that then came back at him.

"I see you have your father's tricks," the green Valekry sighed. "But you lack his skill. That much became clear when you battled the precursor human."

"My father?!" Salem did her best to focus as she barreled towards Kalis. "I believed I only had a mother."

"He's far more mysterious than that infamous woman," the green Valekry responded, his mechanical body firing off multiple projectiles from all places. "I only met the man once, yet even then I could read into his soul and feel the things he has done, the battles he has fought. Both your parents were so much stronger than you."

"How do you know this?!"

As Salem closed the gap, she formed a red hammer in her hands before smashing the ground just where Kalis had stood, causing the tower to shudder and quake. But Kalis still seemed unphased, his experience in battle far too great for any kind of stress to control him. The Valekry then unleashed his green flower as a strange eyeball appeared above his head.

"The power of Envy is its ability to see through the hearts and minds of others. This is how I know the Tella are pure evil. They lack your mother's perseverance, and your father's conviction," Kalis explained as his holographic power set its gaze on Salem. "Every time I peer into the soul of another, I can see their story in all its imperfection."

Suddenly, the Valekry formed an identical copy of Salem's hammer in his left palm before chucking the weapon with great speed, its hard surface colliding with the girl's soft body.

"So that's why you were so calm and unsurprised when we first met. But what about Alia? How did she know so much?" Salem coughed as she picked herself off the ground, her chest bruised by the hammer that sent her reeling.

"That girl," Kalis chuckled as if truly impressed by the name. "She had seen the truth of this world, and her wisdom far outstretched any human I have ever met. But for some reason, she chose you for her schemes. Perhaps, she sees something in you that I do not."

Salem attempted to hurl a sharp spear toward Kalis, only to have her attack be deflected by the exact same weapon, its green shape covered in a static mirage. The Valekry then summoned several weapons from the girl's arsenal, flinging them her way in a barrage of mockery. Only then was it clear to Salem that Kalis's keen eye was not simply for the sake of espionage.

"He can copy anything," Salem muttered to herself as she barely dove out of the way. "What else has he seen?"

"Everything," Kalis responded in a cold tone, his audio receptors clearly capable of picking up on the girl's whispers.

Salem watched in horror as Kalis began to replicate an attack from Alia as a dome of energy enveloped the ceiling. Knowing what came next, the red mother shielded herself with a construct of energy as a hail of arrows bounced around the room, their chaotic onslaught identical to the one she had felt before. As long as Salem was unable to adapt and come up with something new, her chances were slim.

"What was that you told me Ina?" Salem's mind raced for answers as she looked up towards the princess's palace. "Look within and embrace the pain. Use your own torment as a blade."

"Finally come up with something new?" Kalis tilted his head as he watched the girl with curiosity. "Try as you might, I will keep you here, and I will carry out my revenge."

Having finally found her solution, Salem embraced her flower in an explosion of energy that obscured her image. Kalis watched patiently for some time, curious to see what his opponent had in store. Suddenly a new figure came bursting out of the flames. The red mother had used her power to transform, cutting her hair's length and drenching it in a crimson glow.

"I can't let you hurt her. We who are cursed with these parasites have a greater enemy," Salem calmly explained as she flexed her prosthetic arm, its sharp tips having grown several talons of rose-colored energy.

"You still don't get it."

Salem then lunged towards Kalis, successfully colliding with the machine as she began to claw at him like a trained animal. The ranged battle had abruptly turned into a bloody brawl, with one fighter taking a clear advantage over the other. But against all odds, Kalis kept his composure, using the natural strength of his mechanical body to resist Salem's comparatively squishy frame.

"Find all the strength you want," Kalis bellowed as two jet streams emitted from his feet, allowing him to levitate in the air. "But you are no warrior!"

Swatting the girl's attack away with his large hand, Kalis clenched Salem's throat before carrying her up toward the sky at nauseating speeds. Before the red mother could even properly respond, she felt both herself and her opponent slam into the roof of the lower levels, sending them tumbling into an old factory of sorts. Salem quickly got to her feet only to stumble into an assembly of Valekry not yet awoken. Kalis had taken her there to make a point.

"What?!" Salem gasped as she tried to navigate her way through the mess of wires and empty husks.

"This is where they are born," Kalis pointed upwards towards the endless and messy production line. "In an automated chamber not of our choosing."

"I don't want to hear it!" Salem attacked Kalis while skillfully avoiding his response, her flower now fully in control of her movement.

"Is that so? Then why take such care to avoid them," the green Valekry taunted.

Salem's eyes widened as she thought carefully about her opponent's words. He was right - the enraged girl was holding back all for the sake of her surroundings. She had far too much respect and care for the Valekry to simply kill what she saw as an infant.

"I already told you, I have no ill will towards your kind," Salem frowned as she continued her precise assault. "But I can't let you kill my freind!

"You say that, yet you do not understand us! Things were not always the same for the Valekry Salem. We were handcrafted at first. We were respected with love and care. But when the Tella expanded the city and cast off their moral shackles, they changed everything. My younger brothers here are not knights. They are tools. And as you will soon see, they are fragile things."

"Wait," Salem pondered. "Do you mean the attack on the city?"

"Your flower only gave them the little push they needed. Us older Valekry are stable. But the younger ones you see here are most certainly not. They lie in wait on both the assembly lines and their stations, desperate for a purpose."

"So you seek to rule them and fix this dilemma? There has to be another way."

"I will not decide my brother's fate. That is for them to choose. But I WILL free them from the Tella."

"Then let me help you!" The red mother pleaded, temporarily postponing her attack. "I can talk to Ina, watch over your people, and get them the help they need."

"I'm sure you could Salem. Heavens, you might even be suited to be our queen. But as it stands, you are not qualified, not as long as you fail to understand us. You know nothing of what it means to be a tool!"

"Bullshit!" Salem screamed as the red aura around her began to illuminate the dark factory. "I know exactly what it's like to be used against your own will! That's been my entire life! You are the one who doesn't understand. We may have both been mistreated and enslaved during our lives, but at least you have a vision. You have ambition, a dream! I've spent the last two thousand years knowing nothing about myself. Only now, in this cursed city, do I have an inkling of an idea. I may not be a knight Kalis. I may not have been a tool of war. But I do understand your pain."

Kalis paused for a moment as he calmly walked his way towards a more open area of the factory. It was clear he had taken Salem's words to heart, and was caught in a fierce internal argument. But it wasn't long before the machine had already made up his mind.

"You are right Salem. You do understand us. That is why, after I destroy the Tella, I want you to lead our people."

"What?!"

Salem's eyes widened in disbelief as Kalis propelled himself toward her with a glowing lance in hand.

"You heard me," the machine calmly explained as Salem skillfully ducked under his horizontal slash. "I believe you are destined to be our queen."

"But Ina! She is the princess!"

"And when she is gone, you will take her place and save our people. Thanks to your wise words, I now have another reason to fight."

"I won't let that happen," Salem snarled, brushing aside her short red hair as she allowed more and more of herself to be controlled by the flower.

Kalis simply nodded in response before pulling a rifle from his back. A swarm of identical firearms then appeared around him, unleashing a hail of plasma fire. But Salem had already evolved, deflecting nearly every shot with nothing but a conjured black staff.

"Dammit!" Salem hissed, realizing she was still losing despite her ability to keep up with Kalis.

As long as the red mother was preoccupied with her opponent, Ina was still at risk of falling victim to the rouge machine's plan. All Salem could do then was fight on and pray her allies were capable of stopping the black parasite from being unleashed onto Lacuna.

"Anger, Corian, Valor," the red mother whispered to herself as she closed her eyes. "It's up to you now."

_________________________________

While the battle beneath Lacuna raged on, Ali lay helpless in her mistress's mansion, her body still wrapped tightly by Salem's carefully placed ropes. It seemed for a time the doll was fated to be stuck forever in the hog-tie position, worried sick for her friend's future. But all hope was not lost as a small pattering sound entered the room.

"Well if it isn't the cute doll," a high-pitched voice sneered just beyond the main hallway of Alia's mansion. "Wrapped in kinky bondage I heard."

"Mmh!" Ali moaned as she attempted to cry for help, her gag still caught deep inside her mouth.

"Yea-yea I'm coming," the voice continued as the little plopping sounds of its feet drew closer. "My maximum waddling speed isn't too fast you know."

"Mhh!"

"Goodness hold on!"

Suddenly, a little bear appeared in the living room, its stuffy body somehow capable of movement. And while it was still incredibly slow, the plush soon managed to reach Ali and climb up onto the table where she lay.

"Wow, this is some hot stuff, I mean just look at you," the plushy laughed, it's voice escaping through the surface of its furry nose.

"Mmmhmm."

"I mean it must feel good right?"

"Mmm!"

"Fine, here you go," the plushy sighed as it grabbed hold of Ali's gag with both paws.

"Aah! Bear-Bear!" Ali gasped as a purple blush enveloped her face. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this."

"All tied up and looking sexy? Can't say it's a bad thing."

The bear then waddled over to Ali's side, staring at her slightly exposed chest with its beady eyes.

"My goodness. What perfect little snowballs."

"H-hey! Aah," Ali gasped, her mouth agape as Bear-Bear placed her furry paws against the doll's breasts. "Stop it!"

"Aww, just let me have a good feel," Bear-Bear snickered as she began to attack the doll's pale chest, slamming her harmless brown paws against the squishy flesh. "Smol booba is the best!"

"Please just let me go Bear-Bear, we don't have time for this," Ali blushed as she tried to focus on Salem.

"Concerned for that bimbo?" Bear-Bear paused.

"I have to help her!"

"Well, I guess I do already get enough chest action from all those times we napped close together. Fair enough then."

"So will you untie me?"

"That's a lot of hard work little girl, I'm just one bear."

"How are you moving anyway? I always thought you were my imaginary friend."

"You seriously didn't notice all those times I moved? Well, I guess nobody did," the bear snickered as it climbed on top of Ali's head. "But don't worry about it too much, I'm just an... acquaintance of your maker."

"Alia did mention you were an old friend."

"Old friend!? That girl and I were peas in a pod! Not old friends!" Bear-Bear fumed.

"So..."

"Ah give me a second, doing nothing all day is hard work."

The bear then lay atop Ali's soft head as it assumed a fetal position. At that moment she fully intent on taking a nap. But Ali was not keen on games and soon shook the bear off.

"Please Bear-Bear," Ali cried as the plush flew behind her.

"Ow!" the bear exaggerated as it landed with a squeak.

"Salem needs my help."

"Fiiiiiineeee," Bear-Bear grumbled before getting to work untying the doll.

The process of releasing Ali was slow and brutal, mostly thanks to the bear's lazy efforts and lack of digits. But after a good hour of effort, some progress had been made. Soon Ali was partially released as she attempted to reach the bindings on her back with her freed arms.

"What are you doing back there?" Ali questioned as she attempted to look around, her neck still strung to her feet.

"Ohh, nothing," Bear-Bear smiled, her beady eyes mesmerized by the sight of Ali's lifted skirt. "Just some cake I found over here."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm just complimenting you, girl. For someone with almost no rack, you have a supremely good figure. It goes nicely with the tight lingerie that hugs your little ass."

"Bear-Bear!" Ali blushed. "Please don't say such things."

"Why? Alia made you to be beautiful and seductive, just like her. I mean have you seen the way Salem looks at you?"

"Huh?" Ali stammered as she began to feel embarrassed. "But I'm just a doll."

"Yeah, a doll with a cute feminine figure and a perfect face."

"I-."

"Don't play stupid with me. You can feel everything, just like a real girl. I mean when that Salem lady bathed you and tied you up, let's not pretend it wasn't enjoyable."

"It wasn't! I just want to help her."

"You're a terrible liar Ali. You like that bimbo."

"Well...she's beautiful. A truly gorgeous woman, with her silky dresses and her mature figure. I want to be like her," Ali blushed as she looked away from the bear. "Salem has been kind to me as well."

"And that's all huh? Totally. But let's not forget the part where she forced you to stay here."

"She's just looking out for me. But I have to help."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Bear-Bear laughed as she pulled apart the last knot that held Ali in place.

Once Ali was freed, she began to stretch her pale limbs, as if her time in bondage had done some sort of damage to her flexibility. But it wasn't long before she sprung into action, her mind racing with ideas on how she could assist her friend. The bear of course was still unamused.

"Of course, you can do yoga," the plush sighed. "But that won't help Salem."

"We can try calling for help!" Ali beamed as she pointed towards the ceiling. "Salem has a royal friend named Ina, we can talk to her!"

"Weren't you paying attention? That Kalis guy cut all the comms. Ain't no princess is coming for us, not when she sits around and mopes all day."

"Can we override the jamming signal?"

"Well someone is bound to have noticed something is wrong in the city by now. If we can find a way to contact them we could get a hotline to the princess," Bear-Bear pondered as she scratched her round nose with her paw.

"Alia had to have come prepared for something like this if Kalis wanted her gone in the first place. Do you know of anything in this mansion that can help us?" Ali pleaded.

"Dunno much. Most of the time I was eating cookies or watching videos."

"Please think Bear-Bear."

"Ehh, I think I saw her fiddling around on her computer a lot when she was messaging some... another friend of ours."

"Could we ask that friend for help?"

"Oh heavens no, she isn't the type for the job, trust me. That one always gave me the creeps anyway."

"Well then at least lead me to her computer. During my time cleaning the mansion, I never saw one."

"Yeah it's hidden behind the wall in the main living room next to that velvety couch, let me show you," Bear-Bear sluggishly replied as she began to slowly waddle towards the hallway.

"Then let's hurry!" Ali pressed as she gently lifted the bear into her arms. "I have a feeling Salem is in danger."