Chapter 9
The Challenges
“Damn!” cried Zavier. “Duplex will skin us alive for this.”
“Where are we?” wondered Saffyre. They were standing in a wide room. Unlike the dark, rocky tunnel outside, this area was furnished and almost cosy. Antique books lined the shelves on one side of the room and the floor was covered in a thick carpet. A soft light filled the area.
“This looks like the Professor’s private rooms,” said Saf-fyre.
“I think we’d better get back to the others,” said Zavier. “I don’t fancy running into the Professor on our own. He’s not exactly going to invite us for dinner.”
They spent the next few minutes frantically tapping on the wall and trying every password they could think of. It was no good. The rocky wall remained stubbornly closed.
“I think it’s sealed for twenty-four hours or so,” said Saf-fyre finally. “Remember the voice said something like and seal it off for another day? We’re just going to have to press ahead on our own, until we find the others.”
“Great!” said Zavier. “You realize that we could have to do all sorts of horrible things to get through this maze?”
“Come on then, let’s get it over and done with!”
They walked quickly through the room and exited through a door on the far side. They were soon standing in a dark, rocky tunnel again and this time it seemed to take an eternity before they reached the next deck of cards. It was lucky that the tunnel was lit because they no longer had the Azurite light.
Zavier reached across and used the key pad to highlight ‘spin.’ He then pressed the ‘enter’ key. With hearts beating fast they waited for it to stop spinning. Finally, it slowed down and stopped on a Duke of Garnets. A voice spoke:
“An interesting spin, my adventurous friend,
The way will open around the bend.
But play again and a garnet spin…
A spare life and free spin, you may win…”
“Did you hear that?” cried Saffyre. “A spare life! You don’t think these challenges could actually kill us do you?”
“Probably! He’s pretty ruthless, the Professor. Didn’t Duplex mention threats that could kill us? Anyway let’s spin again.” Zavier reached up to press again.
“Are you mad? Why on earth spin again? Any horrible challenge could come up. Let’s just take the easy entry.”
“Miss a chance for a spare life and spin? No way.” said Zavier. And, ignoring Saffyre, he highlighted ‘spin again’ and punched ‘enter.’
Again the cards spun rapidly. They watched with anxious eyes as the huge cards spun on and on until they finally slowed down and stopped, this time showing an Ace of garnets.
The virtual voice spoke again:
“Prepare to challenge my adventurous foe
Arm yourself from head to toe…
For if the challenge you do win
You will earn that spare life and a free spin.”
A door on their left swung open in the tunnel and they stepped inside a small room. It consisted of a stage floor, similar in detail to the one that Zavier had dueled with Lazar, back in Star Fire City. He walked over to the stage and stepped on to it. Immediately the stage lit up in a rainbow of colours, and Zavier was covered from head to foot in red armour. A virtual human-like figure materialized in front of him, covered in ebony armour.
The virtual voice spoke once more: “Red player one, you may choose first.”
Above Zavier’s head, virtual weapons began to appear. There were four in all and a green circle highlighted each in turn. The virtual voice continued; “There are four weapons. When you are ready to choose please press the key on the keypad located to the left of the stage and select your weapon. The four weapons consist of an electric chabazite, a garnet light-blaster, a raven snapper and finally the most deadly of all – the quartz poison dart.”
Zavier quickly highlighted the electric chabazite and he was soon swinging it at the ebony opponent. He was quick on his feet, the challenges against Lazar paying off, and he was soon way ahead on points. A final swing zapped the virtual opponent and Zavier was declared the winner.
Saffyre, who had hardly dared to breathe while watching the fight, clapped enthusiastically.
A voice spoke; “Well played, red player one. You may now proceed to the next entrance. At your feet you will find two cards; the free spin and spare life. You may use them at any time; just place them in the pocket near any deck of cards.”
A grating noise began and a huge door opened to the left of the stage area. Zavier picked up the two cards at his feet and then he and Saffyre hurried through the door.
“I wonder how the others are getting on?” said Saffyre.
Zavier shrugged. “Wherever they are, I bet Duplex is furious with us.”
The tunnel was very dark, forcing them to feel their way along the rocky wall. They really missed the Azurite light. When they arrived at the next lighted point they searched through their pockets for anything to use as a light.
“Fantastic!” Zavier yelled as he searched through his pockets.
“You’ve found a light?” Saffyre cried.
“Better, I’ve got my 3D smasher. Wicked!” Zavier beamed.
Saffyre stared at him in shock. “We’re stuck in an endless maze, in the dark no less and all you care about is a freaky game? I don’t believe it.”
“Hey it’s not just a game; it plays on almost no power for unlimited hours, and has more than 1000 levels.”
Saffyre just glared at him. She continued searching through her pockets, then gave a yell of surprise. “Look at this thing; I’ve never seen it before. What do you suppose it is? ”
Zavier took the small object from her, which was the size and shape of a slim torch. He read the wording. “It’s written in Azurite. Do you suppose Onyx put it there?”
“Maybe,” said Saffyre. “I don’t know when though. What does say?”
“It’s called a tribazite,” he told her. “Tri, I wonder if that means it has three purposes.”
Saffyre took the tribazite back and examined it. “I think you may be right,” she said. “It has three different settings.” She pushed the button onto the first setting and immediately the tunnel was flooded in soft light.
“Cool,” said Zavier. “Try the other settings.”
Saffyre pushed the button onto the second setting. She gasped when a blue laser light beamed out and struck the tunnel wall, leaving a small hole.
“Wicked,” Zavier declared. “Surely Onyx should have warned us though. What if you’d pointed it at someone?”
“I hate to think,” said Saffyre soberly. “But you’re right of course, maybe she left a note.” She searched her pocket again and sure enough found a small folded piece of paper. She opened it and read:
“Duplex used his mobile communicator to advise me that you and Zavier have become separated from the group. I am using an Azurite object porter (known on your planet as the tourmaline-porter) to send you each assistance. Saffyre, your object is a tribazite. It will perform three main uses: the first will give you light; the second is a laser beam, only to be used if you find that your path is blocked. On the last setting you will find that the tribazite will emit the Azurite healing lotion. With you in thought and spirit, Onyx.”
“Great,” said Zavier sarcastically in reference to Onyx’s final words. “What do we do if we’re in trouble; send her our thoughts in telepathy or something?”
“Very funny,” said Saffyre. “Well come on, let’s see what she put in your pocket. Turn them out!”
Zavier hunted through his pockets and finally found Onyx’s object and attached note in his back pocket. “Forgot about that pocket,” he muttered. He then read aloud;
“Zavier, I thought you would find this sachet most helpful, its contents will turn into unlimited snacks with appropriate utensils. Regards Onyx.”
“You get a really useful tool and all I get is food,” he grumbled. Then he brightened, “Well I guess it’s not too bad.” Zavier admitted. “Let’s eat, I’m starved.”
“I’d say Onyx knew what was really important to you,” said Saffyre, dryly.
They sat down for a few minutes and tucked into a tasty pasta meal and orange juice.
“That feels a whole lot better,” said Zavier. “Let’s go.”
With the Azurite light to guide them, it made travelling down the tunnel much easier. They passed a tapestry hanging on the wall; it was of three ravens flying across a rugged coastline.
“Do you suppose it means anything?” Saffyre asked.
Zavier shrugged. “Hey look,” he said. “Words!”
“Actually they’re just letters,” replied Saffyre. “T W, what does that stand for?”
“It could be something to do with Quartz. What about The Weasel?” he suggested.
They continued on further and this time passed a locked door. They tried everything they could think of to open it, but to no avail. Further on the tunnel roof became very low and Zavier had to bow his head to get through.
“I don’t believe it,” said Saffyre when they finally got through. “We’re back at the tapestry again.”
“Are you sure it’s the same one?” Zavier asked.
Saffyre pointed to the letters T W. “I’m afraid there’s no mistake,” she said grimly.
Now, it was like being in a nightmare. They walked around again and again and passed the same locked door and came to the same low tunnel. On the other side were same tapestry and letters. There was no other path to take at all. They both felt tired and irritable and began to snap at each other.
“If you hadn’t raced ahead, we’d still be with the others,” complained Zavier.
“Hey, you raced with me remember?” Saffyre answered.
In the middle of the argument, Saffyre suddenly shouted; “I know what it stands for?”
“What?” Zavier asked.
“T W… of course. We’re stuck in a time warp!”