Chapter 17

After a while I eventually got used to the up and down motion, if I had to compare it to anything it was similar to the first time I rode a hourse. Took a while to find the right rhythm but once I did it was smooth sailing, haha I guessed it's smooth riding. Then Kord stopped us when we were closer to the giant shrooms.

"Alright so we're going to work on mecha beast maneuvering," he started, feeling cheeky I raised my hand like a student, he gave me a deadpan look, causing me to chuckle, like a child. After a few minutes he realized I was going to keep raising my hand until he "called" on me.

"Yes?" He said in a half defeated voice I snickered at his tone, but continued regardless. "I don't know if you have noticed, but…" at this point I pointed to the ceiling "it seems like the cycle is coming to an end ," we both looked up to see the light of the cavern dimming. Kord tsked at the sight and shook his head, while turning his mecha beast around. "Let's get back to the forge, and you can give Grendle a review on RB-6,"

After reaching the forge and giving Grendle a honest review of the RB-6 I set off to town to find somewhere to sleep, with a chorus of happy chirps and high pitched whoops that came from my team of three slugs we set off at a higher than necessary speed.

TIME SKIP

It had been a week since I had started to learn mecha riding, and I decided that it was time to hit the road again. Waving to Kord, and Grendle I set off into the wild blu- blue cavern… anyways. Soon we were alone in the middle of nowhere. We slowed down to watch the scenery of the beautiful cavern, untouched by the upper world. Another burning flash of memories assaulted me.

*AGONY

*MISERY

*BURNING FLESH

My breathing spead up to an unhealthy level, I felt my vision slowly clouded by spectral smoke and dust. Faintly I could make out concerned chirps filling the air around me, but they were distant compared to the pain filled screams that clawed at my sanity. The bright flash then the slow sensation of burning, my skin slowly becoming som-

A wave of pain washed across my body making me stiffen, and stop the unsteady race, that had become my breathing for a few seconds. The smoke that had covered my eyes slowly lifted, like the mist of a new morning, until I was confronted by three slugs, my slugs… I took a deep breath to steady myself, clutching onto my mecha to stop my trembling body. I was in Sluterra. I was alive… and I wasn't alone. Giving a shaky smile to my three companions I gently petted each and whispered, to my Taserling.

"Thanks Kilowatt, I needed a wake up call," he looked up at me with a serious smile and nodded, but there was a light of deep concern in his eyes. Taking another calming breath to slow the war drum in my chest, I decided that I would push the can of worms away again. I didn't have the desire or time for this. If I wanted to make a difference in the fight against Dr. Black I needed well trained slugs. Now I knew there was no way I was going to be able to get my team trained and ready for combat in just a couple of months, but we could sure try. Finally we made our way into a large clearing with plenty of rocks and boulders to act as targets stopping the RB-6 I climbed off and got ready for some training.