Monkey Spider Mountain (Chapter three)

The great ship titled the Majestic stood still in the dark waters having long ago cast its anchor off the coast of the Vine Jungle. Aboard the helm of the Majestic sat Zarek the mighty ship's captain was in open communication with his search team lead by Malcom aboard a wrecked ship called the Sarada. The owner of the Sarada a royal Consulate named Ari along with his manservant Mensa were all that the search team had found when they raided the abandoned ship. The ones who discarded the Sarada so far ashore along with its two former hostages had long since ventured into the dense brush of the foreboding jungle.

The conversation, between the two parties was broadcast completely on an audio link after communications were hailed by the Majestic. So far, to Zarek's satisfaction, the primary objective of finding Console Ari had been secured now it was imperative to keep him safe as well as secure aboard the Majestic. However, upon hearing a skirmish in the distance involving loud primal screams far off in the jungle, Malcome felt that it was unsafe to move the console at this time.

"What about Duncan?", a distressed Marlena cried out as she was consoled by prince Randors Handmaid Drusilla.

Malcom gave his sincerest answer through the communications link up." We are doing our best Lieutenant." A proper sign of respect was given by addressing Marlena not in first name but by her alien Earth rank for which did not have to be acknowledged at all. As firstly, Merlena should not even be present during these communications, yet it was permitted by Zarek who had a fondness for the lady. Malcom made no objection to Zarek's allowance of Marlena's presence though perhaps addressing Marlena by a military rank albeit not of this world was Malcom's way of permitting the discretion.

Malcome knowing his curt reply was unsatisfactory, went on," As I have first stated, upon our arrival to the shore, numerous Royal Navy bodies were discovered. No, movement has been detected since then or from that skirmish in the jungle not long ago. However, we have limited vision at night, so it is harder to detect potential threats or otherwise. That is why I strongly suggest we wait until dawn before we move out. As far as Duncan is concerned, according to Mensa, he is somewhere inside that jungle, though again we need to wait until dawn to have a better chance of finding him."

Captain Zarek turned to Marlena to reassure her," Fair not my lady, dawn is fast approaching, just as soon as it is here, I will send another team to collect the consolette. That will free Malcome up in order to track down Duncans whereabouts."

Marlena Glenn with a blank expression on her face affirmed Zarek's assurance with a simple nod.

Drusilla rubbed Marlena's shoulder for comfort as she said to Zarek, "Malcom will find Duncan, he's an expert tracker."

Zarek neither nodded back at Drusilla nor did he give any kind of affirmative response. Instead, Zarek turned straight ahead in his captain's chair to properly commence," You will provide me with any updates from here on. May the power be with us all, good journey, over."

Once the transmission had ended, Mensa told Malcom, "He trusts you immensely."

"He's one of the few that do. I trust that after this adventure that we have had that I will still be employed as Prince Randors bodyguard for much longer.", Malcom wearily proposed.

"Do you have that little confidence in what others think of you?", Mensa asked.

In stark reply, Malcom answered stoically," I have no confidence in what others think about me. It also makes little difference to me. What I am concerned with are the results that I get from performing my duties. My measure as a man comes from my success rate, strive towards that success rate as well as my ability to get the job done. Though to answer your question more accurately my trust in what confidence goes a short stone throw away. That is why I work tirelessly in that pursuit."

"You must put a lot of pressure on yourself.", Mensa adds

Almost playfully, Malcom insists, "Not on my off time, I don't."

Suddenly, a roar cries out just outside the shipwrecked Sarada!

Without hesitating, Malcome slings round a laser rifle strapped around his shoulder before exiting the cabin as he tells the only other soldier, "Stay inside with them! Do not exit your station under any circumstance! I am going out to investigate!"

No sooner said was Malcom on the deck of the shipwrecked Sarada alongside three other Navy soldiers. One of the soldiers was scanning the bow of the Sarada with illuminescent binoculars with crystalized lenses designed to automatically brighten one's sight through them in darkened areas.

"Get back to your stations!", Malcome ordered the other two soldiers before asking the soldier who was scanning the jungle, "Have you spotted any movement?"

The soldier affirmed, "I saw something dart behind that tree on the right. I have been trained on that spot ever since."

"Good job.", Malcome said appraisingly," I will remain on deck for a while out here with all of you. Just keep your sights where they are. We move out at dawn...so hang on till then it won't be much longer."

"Do you have any idea what could have made that roar?", the solder asked worriedly.

"On this side of Eternia, it was probably a Panthor or Green Tiger.", Malcome indicated.

A falcon's cry shattered the silence after Malcome made his statement where it's glided down only to perch itself nearby on the top of the Sarada above the cabin. The falcon gave an acknowledgment to Malcome as if to indicate that whatever made that sound was virtuous. That there was a pathway leading towards glory in the foreboding jungle before them. The falcon sat confidently with its beak pointing out like an arrow in the very same direction as where the tigers roar came from.

"I think that fortune has shined on us my friend.". Malcome assured the soldier.

As seeming fortune shines on the surface shoreline just outside the deep jungle terrain, deep below the shore as well as the jungle in a technologically built structure underneath a mountain girth, an investigation is underway.

Without any assurances, Duncan donning his helmet once more along with Kronis as well as four Monkey Spiders travers the corridors below even the Cerebrum.

The infrastructure being travelled down is a passageway that is entirely artificial.

Green lights illuminate the way forward, there light is generated from square jade crystals attached along the walls.

"What are these light fixtures, housed along the walls?", Kronis wonders aloud.

"Do you know much about Gar-Shan technology?", Duncan asks.

In answer, Kronis states, "Only that it rivals anything else on Eternia."

"Those crystal lights are called Legacy Stones. The crystal itself is luminescent, projecting its light from within it which is itself power. For these crystals were once liquid Coridite though unlike geologically based Coridite that is mined from mountains and already formed; liquid Coridite is manufactured as well as heated into this well sculptured design. The Legacy Stones also house memory as in thought as well as artificial intelligence.", Duncan explains.

"So that crown that you wore acts as a link to this system of Legacy Stones.", Kronis postulates.

"As within as without.", Duncan says, while elaborating," The AI Controller is the link as well as the activator to whatever is being housed down here. Meaning that when this missile or whatever it is cleared for take-off, the controller will merge its sentience with it."

In astonishment, Kronis asks, "For what purpose?"

"That is what I am hoping to find out.", Duncan says without telling Kronis that his own AI is trying to get that information from the Controller this very instant.

The blocked off doorway of the only entry point going forward appeared. The door that blocked the only way forward was massive and round with a golden spiral in its center. The Monkey Spiders seemed curious yet fearful of the solid metal seal.

"Your navigation guidance system relies heavily on sonics correct.", Duncan put forth to Kronis.

"Yes, that is correct, why?", Kronis asked.

"The way in which these Monkey Spiders are behaving makes me believe that whatever is behind this door is directly linked to them. So, see if you can pick up any kind of low-level frequency from behind this door.", Duncan tells Kronis.

Kronis proceeds to activate only his harnesses helmet. Then once his skull cap is covered by the larger Kondor helmet, Kronis starts to use his harmonics to detect a frequency.

"The frequency is very low and faint.", Kronis tells Duncan.

Duncan tells Kronis to disrupt the frequency with a stronger one. Once Kronis accomplishes the Monkey Spiders become as they were before reaching this point.

"Keep disrupting that frequency.", Duncan tells Kronis as he feels along the surface of the sealed door. As Duncan concentrates feeling along the round golden circle, he notices that the doors seam cuts down in-between it.

"That circle that you are fixated on appears to be the locking mechanism.", Kronis observing Duncan attention too it reasons.

"The circle is completely flush with the door as it should be. It makes it impossible to get a hand hold in order to pry it lose.", Duncan admits.

Kronis denotes, "I could puncture it open with one piledriving talon from my Kondors wing. It would be instantaneous."

"Do it only after you stop disrupting the sonics from behind the door. I have a feeling that in there calmer more rational stated that these Monkey Spiders may attack you otherwise.", Duncan advises Kronis who turns of his sonic disruption of the sub-sonic frequency from behind the sealed door.

After a slight delay, the Monkey Spiders become much more fear full then they were before as they actually begin backing away from the entranceway.

Once the Monkey Spiders have reverted back to their fearful state again Duncan tells Kronis to proceed.

The action to activate one of Kronis' Kondors wings takes a few seconds though once activated the efficiency, accuracy and speed in which the talon is used to puncture into the golden circle is awesome!

No sooner is the literal seal compressed inside the door with such force that its function is gone. Kronis retracts his one wing as almost a sign of good faith to Duncan showing him that they are on the same team. Though for how long, at least until they escape Monkey Mountain.

The smashed in seal begins to turn halfway counterclockwise until it breaks down as the doors unseal themselves open.

Nothing prepared the two interlopers for the site beyond the doorway. What was a towering, gigantic statue in a female form with six arms with the first upper two arms in a praying position above its head while the other four lay palms open at its side. The giant female statues body was on full display with its bear bosoms nipples hooked up to what appeared hoses with fluid being pumped in. The giant robot which is what it was could be taking in water as a giant coolant system. The head of the lady was as pointed as the crown Duncan had worn in the Cerebrum. Yet on the sides of the pointed head there were many pointed horns that jutted outward. The giant robotic lady was seated on a round platform with it legs high as if it was giving birth. A sealed off circle with lines patterns on it was in place of where a real woman's womb would be.

"What is that?", Kronis shouted in awe.

"Shavasustra as realized in Mekka form set to destroy just what I don't know once activated and launched.", Duncan also said in awe.

Then the wombed circle became alive as it whirled in place. A churning sound could be heard inside the womb as smoke began to rise in the room.

Duncan cried out for their safety, "Run back to the Cerebrum!"

Fortunately, for both the fleeing interlopers of Duncan and Kronis the passage back was empty of Monkey Spiders! Duncan had found out what was deep inside of Monkey Spider Mountain. A weapon used by the Gar-Shan in previous wars with Eternia there was one that was defeated near Goshua in the Golden Isles. It was sunken to the bottom of the sea never to be seen again until now. Duncan tried to remember his military history though at the moment it was impossibly hard to do that while fleeing for your life!

When Duncan had reached the robot mouth opening to the lift back up it now made sense of the design of the entry point.

As soon as both Duncan and Kronis entered back into the Cerebrum they were greeted by the voice of the Controller," Welcome back deceivers!"