Chapter 10: Tower of Time: Peering into the Embryo's Dream

Hello there. What can I do for you?

Ratchett, I'd like you to take a look at this sword.

How do you know my name? I don't recall ever meeting a talking frog.

Don't be like that. It's me... It's Cyrus.

Cyrus? Impossible! Can it really be you?

In the flesh. However I may change on the outside, I would never lie to you. Is cow milk still your favorite? I'll treat you to some if you help us out.

It IS you! Oh, Cyrus! I can't believe you're really back! But...what happened to you? You could have warned me to prepare myself for a shock, you know!

It is a long story, and not one I'm willing to tell right now. But I'd be very grateful if you could examine Aldo's sword. I believe it's enchanted, and I thought you'd be the best person to ask...

Very well. Where is this sword?

Good heavens! I've never seen a seal this strong before. This is no ordinary weapon.

Can you undo the seal?

Not with my elemental magic. But I may be able to weaken it temporarily...

Does that mean the sword's power could be unlocked, even if only for a short time?

I believe so. But I wouldn't advise it. It may be too much for you to handle.

What do you say, Aldo? Will you attempt to break the seal?

Yes. Even if things do go south, it shouldn't be a problem if I keep the sword sheathed, right? Besides, we could have some tough battles ahead of us. I'd like to have some extra firepower up my sleeve.

There you have it, Ratchett. Can we count on your assistance?

All right. You can start by bringing me some Acrylidactyl Meat.

That sounds suspiciously like busywork to me...

Look... This is not going to be an easy job, all right? It's going to be taxing on both body and mind. Not to mention my stomach!

Pax! I yield. We'll bring you whatever you desire.

That's more like it. You can find Acrylidactyls out on the Derismo Highroad. I'll get things ready here in the meantime.

You heard the lady, Aldo. No time for lollygagging. The hunt is on!

A fine Acrylidactyl specimen. These have been a favorite of Ratchett's ever since she was a child.

You really eat these things?

A warrior does not judge by appearances. Their tough, stretchy texture is absolutely delectable.

(This coming from a guy who eats flies...)

Calculating nutritional value...

Analysis complete. Subject is an ideal source of nutrition. Has anyone tried domesticating these beasts?

No way, I don't think I could take the sight of a farm full of these monsters.

Unless you two intend to bore our quarry to death, I suggest we prepare for battle!

Heh. Quite an easy win.

Would you like to try some? Ratchett will never know...

Thanks, but I'll pass.

Setting course for Palsifal Palace.

Ratchett, we've returned, bearing gifts. Will this be enough?

That's great. I just finished setting everything up. Shall we begin?

Yes, please do.

Remember, we can only release a portion of the sword's power, not break the seal completely.

Sure. That's good enough for me.

Then bring the sword forward...

Wh-Where am I...

Aldo, ye who shares the rancor of our clan... Thou hast done well to break our seal so soon.

Ogre Rancorem, is that you? What's all this about your clan and their grudge?

The beastfolk wiped out our entire clan... Even in death, this burning need for revenge shall never fade. If thou desire it, we shall lend thee enough power to expunge each and every one of them. We are allies, after all. Thy fate has been intertwined with ours for longer than thou hast known.

What?!

The truth shall be revealed...

Wait! Ogre Rancorem! I still have so many questions!

Aldo! Come on now, open your eyes!

Are you okay, Aldo?

Urgh...yeah, I'm fine. Just spaced out for a little conversation with Ogre Rancorem.

A sword with a mouth is like a fish with arms. You must have been dreaming.

In any case, the weakening of the seal is complete. This is all I can do for you.

Nice! Thanks a lot, Ratchett.

You're very welcome.

Now that I take a closer look at it, this sword is the spitting image of one owned by His Majesty. Though this one looks older, not as well preserved.

Really? King Palsifal has a sword just like this one?

Sacred, huh...

Best not to dwell on that. For now, we should concentrate on getting to the Tower of Time.

You're going there, Cyrus? Be careful, all of you. That place is protected by illusions. I can dispel them from here, though.

I can't thank you enough, Ratchett. We are in your debt.

Before we go... Can I ask you to keep my return a secret? I'm not ready to reveal myself yet.

Are you sure?

Yes. It's better this way.

All right. If you insist, I won't tell anyone.

I'll explain everything when all of this is over. I promise.

Come, Aldo. Let us be on our way. The tower lies beyond Derismo, on the Keruri Highroad.

Got it. Tower of Time, here we come!

So this is the Tower of Time...

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread, or so it is written in my data banks.

True. Exploring this place will be no picnic. Keep your wits about you.

What is up with this place? These walls look like they're made of muscle and bone.

Based on my readings, it would appear the entire tower is a living organism.

Surely you jest! Even a building as irregular as this cannot have a life of its own...can it?

Alive or not, this is where the king and the Oracle are rewriting history. We just have to find out how. The secret has to be in here somewhere.

What in the world?

Glowing boards with moving pictures? What devilry is this?

These artificial embryonic lifeforms are seeing into these futures and projecting them back.

You speak of these things with such familiarity... Are you even from this world?

Infinite possible futures... That's what we're seeing? Which one are we headed for now? Where's the one that's all in ruins?

Huh?

That's it! This is the future I saw. Seems like these things can understand what we're saying.

Now we just need to undo the change and get history back on track. Hey! How do we bring back the future that has Elzion in it? You guys can do that, right?

AUT0 SAF3TY ACT1VAT3D! UNAUTH0R1Z3D 0P3RAT0R! ALL AUTH0R1Z3D P3RS0NN3L 3VACUAT3!

Aw, crud. Looks like we're gonna have to calm these things down before they listen to reason!

Another victory for us. Now cough up that ruined future world!

New Operator Registered. Request Approved.

This future was never supposed to happen. It only looks like this because of what Palsifal did. Hey! Can you change it so Elzion gets built after all?

I'm detecting a massive tremor in spacetime. Existence of the Shining City Elzion confirmed.

Then everything's back to normal? Are Amy and everyone else alive?

The part of Ogre Rancorem that Amy's dad repaired is back, anyhow. That's a good sign.

Splendid work. Looks like we're done here.

No, there's one last thing we need to do before we leave.

You things are too dangerous to be allowed to exist. I'm sorry. I know this is just how you were made, but we can't risk someone else using you to change history. Riica, can you shut this place down? Make it impossible for it to be reactivated.

Engaging the CPU's emergency formatting will erase all data and programs.

Do it. The least we can do is give them peace...

Understood. Accessing Visus Embryo mainframe... Emergency Formatting activated. Erasing data...

40% complete... 70% complete... Ninety...per cent... Nine...ty...five...

Visus Embryo has been permanently shut down.

Thanks. That should put a stop to King Palsifal's time meddling.

I doubt His Majesty will back down, but I'll find a way to make him see sense. After we remove the Oracle from the picture, that is. He's the real mastermind behind this.

Well done, Aldo.

You again!

What manner of ghoul is this? Aldo, you know this bizarre phantasm?

Thanks to you, our lost future has been restored to its former state. I offer you my gratitude. Now the universe can speed toward destruction once more.

Destruction? What are you talking about?!

The Xeno Prisma. It amplifies temporal distortions, sending shockwaves throughout spacetime. As the distortions grow in intensity, the universe expends ever more energy to compensate. Soon, that energy will peak, resulting in a colossal timequake. In this way, the Xeno Prisma gradually erodes the fabric of reality. Until history was changed, that is.

A timequake? And that will destroy the world?

That was my intention, but then something unexpected occurred. History was altered, and the future in which the Xeno Prisma is created never came to be. I myself lacked the physical form to travel to the past and set things right. Imagine my surprise when I discovered you, someone willing to risk all to "save" that lost future. Most touching. Spacetime is once more suffering extreme stress. It is only a matter of time until the next big quake.

I have so little data on these timequakes... What will a quake that size do to the world?

That, I can answer. All of time and space will be ripped asunder!

Destroying all time and space... What could that possibly accomplish?

You're crazy! And you lied to me!

You wanted to save our lost future, and I told you how. Was any part of that untrue? Don't tell me you've forgotten what I told you when we first met? I said your decision would cause many worlds and countless futures to crumble, did I not? True to my word, by saving one future world, you have steered all of creation toward its doom.

How could you?!

You've fulfilled your role. Farewell, Aldo, Kit of Chronos...

What did you say?!

What's this? Brace yourselves, everyone! It's pulling us in!

And then, Aldo, he really embarrassed himself!

Hahaha! No way!

I know, right? He's such a lunkhead sometimes. I wish he'd be more honest with his feelings.

Sounds a lot like my brother. He never pays any attention to how people feel.

Oh! Uh, hi everyone. What's up?

Hey, beast! What do you think you're doing here? This forest is human territory.

Stop it! Don't be such a bully! Altena's no different from the rest of us. Can't we all be friends?

You some kind of idiot? She's one of the beastfolk...they're nothing like us. I guess a dumb little foundling like you wouldn't get that. Haw haw!

......

Maybe you're not even human. I bet you're a beast like your friend here, just pretending to be one of us!

That's so mean... Of course I'm human...

If you like the beastfolk so much, maybe you should go live with them! Feinne's a beast! Chase her out! Feinne's a beast! Chase her out!

Feinne's a beast! Chase her out! Feinne's a beast! Chase her out!

No...no, stop it...

Hey, cut it out!

You wanna fight, beast? You're outnumbered, and we're way stronger than you! Besides, if you do anything we'll just go tell the grown-ups. Just think what they'll do when they hear beastfolk are beating up children.

Urgh...

You'd better learn your place. It's us humans that run the world. Whatcha gonna do now?

Break it up!

Aldo!

Aw man, it's her brother.

See ya, lil' orphan Feinne!

Are you all right, Feinne?

A-Aldo... I... *sniff*

It's okay, it's okay. I'm here now.

Hey. You probably shouldn't come around here anymore.

C'mon, Feinne. Time to go home. Grandpa's been worried sick.

B-But, Aldo!

I know how you feel... But there's nothing we can do about it.

Let's go.

Altena... I... I'm so sorry...

......

Whoa! Where are we? What happened?

There was a researcher in Elzion named Professor Chronos. He may have been referring to him.

Maybe... But how could he be mine and Feinne's father? He's from hundreds of years in the future. Urgh, this is so confusing! Let's concentrate on finding out where we are this time.