Mortimer led them on through the vast desert.
"What a sight, eh?" Mortimer offered after what must have been miles of dirt and shrubs.
"Yeah, great," No.9 responded, trying his best to hide his true opinions.
After what felt like hours of follow-the-leader, Mortimer stopped.
"Here we are at last," he exclaimed with a trembling voice.
No.9 stared at what looked to be the same desert they had walked through for miles in front of Mortimer. There wasn't a garden in sight. At that moment, No.9 seriously questioned if Mortimer was truly all there. Perhaps trusting him wasn't the right call after all...
"Um, I can't see anything," Blonde Bomb replied to Mortimer.
"Yeah," Mr. Invent cut in behind No.9, "come on Mortimer! You said you would take us there!"
Mortimer looked at everyone in confusion. "But I did! It's right in front of your eyes," he said, pointing at Blonde Bomb.
"Where?!" Everyone yelled back in frustration.
Mortimer glanced around nervously for a few moments before slapping his four fingered hand to his forehead.
"Of course," Mortimer replied. "The security system won't deactivate for outsiders!"
"Security system?" L.G. spoke up.
"Yes, sir. It's intended to keep any unwanted visitors away," Mortimer explained. "If any men from the continents were to wander here by accident all they would find is an endless desert. We started taking our security pretty seriously after the Deltoids."
Suddenly it all made sense in No.9's head. The picture they had seen shatter to a million pieces before landing, the blacker than black that took over the windows after they had landed. This was all meant to drive them away. It was just one big fence that they needed to climb over to reach their goal.
"How can we bypass the security system?" No.9 asked Mortimer.
"There's a special vocal recognition," Mortimer replied. "Each of you need to repeat exactly what I tell you. Afterwards, you'll be saved into the security system permanently. You'll be able to see everything as it really is."
"Great," No.9 replied enthusiastically. "Let's get started. We'll start with Blonde Bomb and go down through the line."
The team formed a straight line from the rough one they had been in while walking through the desert. Blonde Bomb stood alert at the front next to Mortimer, ready for instructions. Bringing up the rear was No.9 after he switched spots with Mr. Invent. Out of sight at the back of the line, he had unzipped his gym bag and quietly pulled out his Stun Sabre in case something should go wrong. He trusted Mortimer, but only as far as he could throw him.
"Alright," Mortimer motioned for Blonde Bomb to walk forward. She walked a few paces until Mortimer frantically waved his arms and yelled at her to stop. "Far enough! Far Enough!" Mortimer sighed in relief before continuing with his instructions. "Repeat these words exactly as I say em'," he directed Blonde Bomb. "Luthra," Mortimer called out this strange word in an unknown dialect. "Silconium. Gardius." He paused between each word and then nodded to Blonde Bomb to repeat them.
Blonde Bomb stared into thin air and repeated each strange word exactly as Mortimer had told her to. For a few seconds she looked around worried that she had said something wrong or couldn't mimic the alien accent just right. But suddenly her eyes opened wide and she stood dumbfounded on the spot. She slowly backed away with her mouth open wide.
"You guys are never going to believe this," Blonde Bomb finally let out in shock.
Soon they wouldn't have to take her word for it.
Genie Wiz followed Blonde Bomb in line and No.9 stuffed the Stun Sabre back into his gym bag without anyone noticing. After repeating the pass phrase her reaction was similar to Blonde Bomb's. The two girls walked slowly over and settled behind Mortimer. No.9 couldn't be sure if this was because they felt Mortimer was the only one who understood what they were both seeing, or if it was because they were afraid and Mortimer offered a tall pink shield to hide behind.
L.G. and Bombshell followed Genie Wiz. It took L.G. a minute or two to file out of the line because he was so interested in the once invisible garden. Finally, Mr. Invent successfully repeated the "magic words" and No.9 was all that was left. He repeated the words slowly and accurately and looked to Mortimer when he was done. Mortimer stared back and gave No.9 a small nod in approval. No.9 smiled and turned his head slowly in front of him, where the Garden of Saccoy was starting to appear in front of him.
Inches from No.9's face was a charred black iron gate at least thirty feet high, covered in green vines. A black fence connected to the gate and stretched left to right for at least a mile, but through the spaces between each jet black iron bar No.8 could make out the inside of the garden. There was a dirt path that lead from the gate and all around it were blue and red and white rosebushes that must have been six or seven feet high. Strange bugs, (or were they birds?), glided between each of the saucer sized flowers. In the distance No.9 could make out what must be the center of the garden. A huge stone fountain jutted out from a large circular pool around it.
"It's-it's-it's," No.9 stammered, "beautiful."
"Yes, sir," Mortimer replied, his voice still trembling. "Beautiful, and deadly."
Mortimer walked over to the gate and put his pink hand onto it before he turned around to face everyone. "Are you ready, sir?" Mortimer asked No.9.
"Let's go," No.9 replied with determination.
Mortimer pushed on the black gate. It swung open and squeaked loudly. The team walked into the garden behind Mortimer, each looking around nervously for any sign of Setra. When they had walked a few paces in the path split. One way leading left, the other right. No.9 scanned around for the pillars, but couldn't make them out. To the right was a sort of meadow that fed into the the fountain, with a small pond covered in lily pads and surrounded by tall grass. To the left was a group of tress, a sort of forested corner, but all of the trees had been burned black.
Setra, No.9 thought as he gulped.
"Alright everyone," No.9 turned to face them all. "Our best bet is to stick together and follow the path around the garden. Gear up and be prepared for anything. Setra or human. Don't forget that we've got Cobbledhead's agents to worry about too."
Everyone fumbled through their backpacks and bags and pulled out their weapon of choice.
"Which way should we start?" Genie Wiz asked as she strapped her flamethrower to her back.
"The left's looking a little risky at this point," No. 9 replied, pointing out the burnt trees. "Best to follow from the right where it doesn't look like a volcano monster has been hanging around."
The team nodded in understanding, and probably relief, and followed No.9 as he walked on the path leading right with Mortimer at his side.
"You wouldn't happen to know where this Zeusi pillar is off the top of your head would you, Mortimer?" No.9 looked around them for anything pillar-shaped.
"No, sir," he replied apologetically. "I don't really come here if I can help it."
No.9 suddenly felt sorry for dragging Mortimer into this. They would have been stuck in an imaginary desert forever without his help, sure. But he shouldn't have to be in here risking his life for them.
After a few minutes the trail reached the small pond and curved left. As they came around the bend, grass on either side of the trail became as tall as Mortimer and formed a sort of grass tunnel. No.9 led everyone through the tunnel carefully and was relieved to reach the other side when a giant grey figure suddenly came into sight to the right of the trail.
No.9 stopped dead, his heart racing.
"Setra?" he asked Mortimer. The rest of the group stood silently behind them, trying not to move. Suddenly Mr. Invent started scratching all over his head and chest.
"Shhhh!" Blonde Bomb and Genie Wiz hissed at him.
"I can't help it," he replied desperately. "I'm allergic to grass!"
"Not to worry sirs," Mortimer replied. "This is just the first pillar."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and Mr. Invent continued to scratch hectically all over.
"Believe me," Mortimer continued, "when Setra decides to show himself, we will know."
No.9 didn't like that Mortimer chose to say "when" instead of "if." Nevertheless he walked quickly over to the pillar and started inspecting every inch of it.
"Look for the symbol," No.9 instructed the others.
Everyone spent a few seconds running their hands around the stone pillar before Mr. Invent exclaimed, "Found it!"
Everyone in the group looked over to Mr. Invent's hand. It was covering a stone carving that looked like some sort of animal that a four year old might draw.
"Ah," said Mortimer above and behind everyone's heads, "that's Seti's symbol. Zeusi's will look like a bolt of light from the sky."
Lightning. Of course! Was it a coincidence that the gods of Saccoy were so similar to the gods of ancient Greece? How did No.9 not recognize Zeusi right away?
"Let's keep moving," No.9 said as he got back onto the dirt path.
They walked faster now, but still looking over their shoulder or in each direction in case of a hidden threat. Mortimer assured them that looking for Setra this way was a waste of time. Setra wouldn't bother to hide from them at all. Still, who knows what other dangers were in this garden, or if one of Team 114 was waiting to pounce...
They reached the second pillar shortly before the path curved to the left again. This time the pillar was easier to spot as it stood tall in a pit of tiny pebbles. Genie Wiz found the symbol of a sun ("Lorti," Mortimer told them) and they continued down the path again.
"Where do you learn about these stories and symbols and stuff, Mortimer?" L.G. questioned after they hurried away from the second pillar.
"Oh we all know the stories and myths in Saccoy, sir," Mortimer replied. "Every Ubleg is sent to Collag after they've learned to think and until they lose room to learn any more."
"Collag? That's like school then?" Bombshell offered.
"What is 'school' miss?" Mortimer replied with confusion.
"Never mind," Bombshell replied with a little laugh.
Trees were growing up all around them now, but not the burnt ones No.9 had noticed near the entrance. These were some sort of fruit trees, but No.9 couldn't name any of the strange shaped purple fruit he was looking at. The trees started to clump together the further they walked, and soon only a small patch of sky could be seen above them. Just ahead they could make out another pillar that was covered in moss.
Please let this be it, No. 9 thought as he searched around for a symbol.
"We should have started out to the left," Blonde Bomb called out. Her finger was pointing at a crescent shape that must have been the moon.
"Nearly there, guys," No.9 offered as reassurance.
Suddenly a whirrling noise was coming from the sky above them. They all looked into the tiny patch of sky that wasn't covered in trees to see a black blotch in the sky lowering towards them. It was a helicopter.
"They're here," Bombshell said.
"Come on," L.G. ran down the path ahead of them, "what are we waiting for?!"
No.9 sprinted as fast as he could with L.G. leading the way. The helicopter was getting louder by the second. No doubt that Team 114 would be in the garden in less than a minute. Without having to worry about what could be hiding in the bushes and trees around them they made good time to the next pillar. The fact that the trees became darker and darker with soot the further they ran never crossed No.9's mind.
L.G. and No.9 outran everyone except Mortimer. As soon as they reached the pillar Mortimer pointed out the lightning bolt symbol. No.9 pulled a plastic container out of his gym bag to capture the Satar particle. L.G. gave him a look to ask if he was ready. No.9 nodded and L.G. pushed the lightning bolt symbol into the pillar as if it were a button. A circular patch of stone that had the carving on it disappeared into the pillar and was replaced by a glowing yellow ball of light. No.9 placed the container below the opening and the orb slithered out and landed safely inside.
No.9 clamped the lid on the container as quickly as he could. In the corner of his eye he could see L.G. looking behind him, frozen still.
Just before No.9 could turn around, a low, deafening growl echoed through the garden.
"What a sight, eh?" Mortimer offered after what must have been miles of dirt and shrubs.
"Yeah, great," No.9 responded, trying his best to hide his true opinions.
After what felt like hours of follow-the-leader, Mortimer stopped.
"Here we are at last," he exclaimed with a trembling voice.
No.9 stared at what looked to be the same desert they had walked through for miles in front of Mortimer. There wasn't a garden in sight. At that moment, No.9 seriously questioned if Mortimer was truly all there. Perhaps trusting him wasn't the right call after all...
"Um, I can't see anything," Blonde Bomb replied to Mortimer.
"Yeah," Mr. Invent cut in behind No.9, "come on Mortimer! You said you would take us there!"
Mortimer looked at everyone in confusion. "But I did! It's right in front of your eyes," he said, pointing at Blonde Bomb.
"Where?!" Everyone yelled back in frustration.
Mortimer glanced around nervously for a few moments before slapping his four fingered hand to his forehead.
"Of course," Mortimer replied. "The security system won't deactivate for outsiders!"
"Security system?" L.G. spoke up.
"Yes, sir. It's intended to keep any unwanted visitors away," Mortimer explained. "If any men from the continents were to wander here by accident all they would find is an endless desert. We started taking our security pretty seriously after the Deltoids."
Suddenly it all made sense in No.9's head. The picture they had seen shatter to a million pieces before landing, the blacker than black that took over the windows after they had landed. This was all meant to drive them away. It was just one big fence that they needed to climb over to reach their goal.
"How can we bypass the security system?" No.9 asked Mortimer.
"There's a special vocal recognition," Mortimer replied. "Each of you need to repeat exactly what I tell you. Afterwards, you'll be saved into the security system permanently. You'll be able to see everything as it really is."
"Great," No.9 replied enthusiastically. "Let's get started. We'll start with Blonde Bomb and go down through the line."
The team formed a straight line from the rough one they had been in while walking through the desert. Blonde Bomb stood alert at the front next to Mortimer, ready for instructions. Bringing up the rear was No.9 after he switched spots with Mr. Invent. Out of sight at the back of the line, he had unzipped his gym bag and quietly pulled out his Stun Sabre in case something should go wrong. He trusted Mortimer, but only as far as he could throw him.
"Alright," Mortimer motioned for Blonde Bomb to walk forward. She walked a few paces until Mortimer frantically waved his arms and yelled at her to stop. "Far enough! Far Enough!" Mortimer sighed in relief before continuing with his instructions. "Repeat these words exactly as I say em'," he directed Blonde Bomb. "Luthra," Mortimer called out this strange word in an unknown dialect. "Silconium. Gardius." He paused between each word and then nodded to Blonde Bomb to repeat them.
Blonde Bomb stared into thin air and repeated each strange word exactly as Mortimer had told her to. For a few seconds she looked around worried that she had said something wrong or couldn't mimic the alien accent just right. But suddenly her eyes opened wide and she stood dumbfounded on the spot. She slowly backed away with her mouth open wide.
"You guys are never going to believe this," Blonde Bomb finally let out in shock.
Soon they wouldn't have to take her word for it.
Genie Wiz followed Blonde Bomb in line and No.9 stuffed the Stun Sabre back into his gym bag without anyone noticing. After repeating the pass phrase her reaction was similar to Blonde Bomb's. The two girls walked slowly over and settled behind Mortimer. No.9 couldn't be sure if this was because they felt Mortimer was the only one who understood what they were both seeing, or if it was because they were afraid and Mortimer offered a tall pink shield to hide behind.
L.G. and Bombshell followed Genie Wiz. It took L.G. a minute or two to file out of the line because he was so interested in the once invisible garden. Finally, Mr. Invent successfully repeated the "magic words" and No.9 was all that was left. He repeated the words slowly and accurately and looked to Mortimer when he was done. Mortimer stared back and gave No.9 a small nod in approval. No.9 smiled and turned his head slowly in front of him, where the Garden of Saccoy was starting to appear in front of him.
Inches from No.9's face was a charred black iron gate at least thirty feet high, covered in green vines. A black fence connected to the gate and stretched left to right for at least a mile, but through the spaces between each jet black iron bar No.8 could make out the inside of the garden. There was a dirt path that lead from the gate and all around it were blue and red and white rosebushes that must have been six or seven feet high. Strange bugs, (or were they birds?), glided between each of the saucer sized flowers. In the distance No.9 could make out what must be the center of the garden. A huge stone fountain jutted out from a large circular pool around it.
"It's-it's-it's," No.9 stammered, "beautiful."
"Yes, sir," Mortimer replied, his voice still trembling. "Beautiful, and deadly."
Mortimer walked over to the gate and put his pink hand onto it before he turned around to face everyone. "Are you ready, sir?" Mortimer asked No.9.
"Let's go," No.9 replied with determination.
Mortimer pushed on the black gate. It swung open and squeaked loudly. The team walked into the garden behind Mortimer, each looking around nervously for any sign of Setra. When they had walked a few paces in the path split. One way leading left, the other right. No.9 scanned around for the pillars, but couldn't make them out. To the right was a sort of meadow that fed into the the fountain, with a small pond covered in lily pads and surrounded by tall grass. To the left was a group of tress, a sort of forested corner, but all of the trees had been burned black.
Setra, No.9 thought as he gulped.
"Alright everyone," No.9 turned to face them all. "Our best bet is to stick together and follow the path around the garden. Gear up and be prepared for anything. Setra or human. Don't forget that we've got Cobbledhead's agents to worry about too."
Everyone fumbled through their backpacks and bags and pulled out their weapon of choice.
"Which way should we start?" Genie Wiz asked as she strapped her flamethrower to her back.
"The left's looking a little risky at this point," No. 9 replied, pointing out the burnt trees. "Best to follow from the right where it doesn't look like a volcano monster has been hanging around."
The team nodded in understanding, and probably relief, and followed No.9 as he walked on the path leading right with Mortimer at his side.
"You wouldn't happen to know where this Zeusi pillar is off the top of your head would you, Mortimer?" No.9 looked around them for anything pillar-shaped.
"No, sir," he replied apologetically. "I don't really come here if I can help it."
No.9 suddenly felt sorry for dragging Mortimer into this. They would have been stuck in an imaginary desert forever without his help, sure. But he shouldn't have to be in here risking his life for them.
After a few minutes the trail reached the small pond and curved left. As they came around the bend, grass on either side of the trail became as tall as Mortimer and formed a sort of grass tunnel. No.9 led everyone through the tunnel carefully and was relieved to reach the other side when a giant grey figure suddenly came into sight to the right of the trail.
No.9 stopped dead, his heart racing.
"Setra?" he asked Mortimer. The rest of the group stood silently behind them, trying not to move. Suddenly Mr. Invent started scratching all over his head and chest.
"Shhhh!" Blonde Bomb and Genie Wiz hissed at him.
"I can't help it," he replied desperately. "I'm allergic to grass!"
"Not to worry sirs," Mortimer replied. "This is just the first pillar."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and Mr. Invent continued to scratch hectically all over.
"Believe me," Mortimer continued, "when Setra decides to show himself, we will know."
No.9 didn't like that Mortimer chose to say "when" instead of "if." Nevertheless he walked quickly over to the pillar and started inspecting every inch of it.
"Look for the symbol," No.9 instructed the others.
Everyone spent a few seconds running their hands around the stone pillar before Mr. Invent exclaimed, "Found it!"
Everyone in the group looked over to Mr. Invent's hand. It was covering a stone carving that looked like some sort of animal that a four year old might draw.
"Ah," said Mortimer above and behind everyone's heads, "that's Seti's symbol. Zeusi's will look like a bolt of light from the sky."
Lightning. Of course! Was it a coincidence that the gods of Saccoy were so similar to the gods of ancient Greece? How did No.9 not recognize Zeusi right away?
"Let's keep moving," No.9 said as he got back onto the dirt path.
They walked faster now, but still looking over their shoulder or in each direction in case of a hidden threat. Mortimer assured them that looking for Setra this way was a waste of time. Setra wouldn't bother to hide from them at all. Still, who knows what other dangers were in this garden, or if one of Team 114 was waiting to pounce...
They reached the second pillar shortly before the path curved to the left again. This time the pillar was easier to spot as it stood tall in a pit of tiny pebbles. Genie Wiz found the symbol of a sun ("Lorti," Mortimer told them) and they continued down the path again.
"Where do you learn about these stories and symbols and stuff, Mortimer?" L.G. questioned after they hurried away from the second pillar.
"Oh we all know the stories and myths in Saccoy, sir," Mortimer replied. "Every Ubleg is sent to Collag after they've learned to think and until they lose room to learn any more."
"Collag? That's like school then?" Bombshell offered.
"What is 'school' miss?" Mortimer replied with confusion.
"Never mind," Bombshell replied with a little laugh.
Trees were growing up all around them now, but not the burnt ones No.9 had noticed near the entrance. These were some sort of fruit trees, but No.9 couldn't name any of the strange shaped purple fruit he was looking at. The trees started to clump together the further they walked, and soon only a small patch of sky could be seen above them. Just ahead they could make out another pillar that was covered in moss.
Please let this be it, No. 9 thought as he searched around for a symbol.
"We should have started out to the left," Blonde Bomb called out. Her finger was pointing at a crescent shape that must have been the moon.
"Nearly there, guys," No.9 offered as reassurance.
Suddenly a whirrling noise was coming from the sky above them. They all looked into the tiny patch of sky that wasn't covered in trees to see a black blotch in the sky lowering towards them. It was a helicopter.
"They're here," Bombshell said.
"Come on," L.G. ran down the path ahead of them, "what are we waiting for?!"
No.9 sprinted as fast as he could with L.G. leading the way. The helicopter was getting louder by the second. No doubt that Team 114 would be in the garden in less than a minute. Without having to worry about what could be hiding in the bushes and trees around them they made good time to the next pillar. The fact that the trees became darker and darker with soot the further they ran never crossed No.9's mind.
L.G. and No.9 outran everyone except Mortimer. As soon as they reached the pillar Mortimer pointed out the lightning bolt symbol. No.9 pulled a plastic container out of his gym bag to capture the Satar particle. L.G. gave him a look to ask if he was ready. No.9 nodded and L.G. pushed the lightning bolt symbol into the pillar as if it were a button. A circular patch of stone that had the carving on it disappeared into the pillar and was replaced by a glowing yellow ball of light. No.9 placed the container below the opening and the orb slithered out and landed safely inside.
No.9 clamped the lid on the container as quickly as he could. In the corner of his eye he could see L.G. looking behind him, frozen still.
Just before No.9 could turn around, a low, deafening growl echoed through the garden.
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