Zander woke up coughing. His throat felt dry and coarse. Like he had tried to swallow a bucket of sand. He rolled over and propped himself up to his hands and knees. After a minuet he was able to catch his breath and take a look around. He seemed to be at the mouth of an open cavern. On each side of him were tall jagged walls of rock that letter boxed the bright blue sky above. The entire hall was only four feet wide and seamed to weave back and forth with the stone. When he turned around he gawked at the desert landscape spotted with small patches of brush and lined with the distant mountains. It looked vast and desolate.
"Where the hell am I?", Zander said out loud.
The last thing he remembered was making his butterfly application video. Zander had become quite concerned for his friends. They had all seemed to start following this guy and his problems. Good natured as they we're, one by one they had all started disappearing, leaving Zander alone. At first he tried contacting Caught and Natalie, but had gotten no response. He even considered messaging Help3r but opted first to see what Roivas knew. Since they had all become these "Butterflies" strange things had been happening. And if anyone knew where they were it was probably him, or them rather. But Roivas doesn't talk to non butterflies. So Zander made the video and waited. Waking up in the desert was not what he was expecting.
A hawks cry drew his attention back to the sky. As it passed over the ridge he heard the echo of footsteps from inside the rocky crevasse. Someone was around. Maybe they knew how he got here. Or maybe he was brought here by them. Either way his choices seemed to be limited to follow the noise or bake in the sun. So reluctantly he opted to follow the noise. He stood up and brushed himself off before entering the cavern.
The inside was cool and breezy. He did his best to both avoid the jutting rocks and keep quiet. He had no idea what was going on but there was no need in getting into a potentially bad situation. Like yelling with your arms flailing. That was for later when things got crazy.
Please don't let things get crazy, he pleaded in his head.
Following the long trail, a slight hum started coming from just beyond the next rock. He rounded a corner to a widened part of the hall. Above a few giant fallen boulders had pressed themselves together to create a sort of ceiling. It also made a much smaller hole about, five feet tall, to another part of the cavern. Zander stopped and backed off suddenly when he saw the figure of a small girl. She was looking out and seemed ready to pounce at any given moment. The hum had now turned into a large rumbling filled with the accents of metal on metal. The girl rushed through the hole and disappeared. Zander was about to follow when the hawk swooped down and nearly knocked him over. It tucked its wings in and quickly shot through the hole. Zander gave himself a few more seconds before peaking through the hole. The noise became almost deafening as he saw a huge enclosed cave. Artificial lighting bounced around the ceilings and walls, giving shape and form to this place. A very thin walkway lowered to the cave floor where hundreds of dolls were being constructed. And tons of giant metallic looking bricks we being welded and powered up. Every one that was completed joined a marching formation. The dolls and drones just standing at an opposing exit to the outside, waiting to be sent out. He looked up and saw directly across the cave from him was a suspended room. Attached to the rock wall with a metal staircase going all the way to the floor. Inside was a figure with a black hoodie and gasmask. Help3r was working in his lab as his army assembled below.
On the floor, some movement caught Zander's eye. The little girl was trying to sneak around and moving toward Help3r. She wasn't being terribly discrete and if Zander could see it, he doubted Help3r would miss her. As Zander tried to figure out what was going on he was nearly scared to death by the sound of a little black cat meowing next to him.
"How did you get here?", He thought. "Are you Help3r's evil cat or something?"
"Hardly", the cat responded.
Zander threw himself back a bit at the sound of voice in his head.
"So, you must be a butterfly now Zander." , the cat thought.
Zander stared wide eyed at the cat. Not only was he in this desert filled with some sort of narmy Help3r army, but now he was having a telepathic conversation with a cat.
"It's called Hivemind.", the cat started again. "But we can't talk right now Zander. Zero is getting in some serious trouble."
"Who are you? Am I even doing this right?", Zander asked.
The cat walked past Zander toward the walkway. "It's Xilaya. And yes you are. Now come on." Xilaya, the black cat ran down the walkway to the assembly lines. Zander while in shock followed anyway.
The walkway led them to a series of large containers perfect for hiding. Xilaya sat on the floor looking up at Zander. She turned her head toward the mini factory. Zander stole a look around the container. Large lines of doll parts were being put together by other dolls. Arms attaching, legs moving and heads turning, it was creepy to say the least.
"Those are Help3r's dolls. Along with the brick drones they attack and hunt us on a regular basis.", Xilaya explained. "I followed Zero here. Blue thinks she may be looking for revenge."
"Revenge for what?", Zander asked.
"For the death of her family." Another voice had invaded Zander's mind. A figure walked out of a darkened corner of the cave. It was Applestar, she was dressed in all black and had her hair tied up in a ponytail. She approached Zander and cat Xilaya. "She's heading directly for him. I don't know what she has planned. Or knowing Zero, not planned."
"Where the hell did you come from?", Zander insisted.
"I've been following you since you entered the cave", Applestar explained.
Applestar had even taken Xilaya by surprise. She had been quite the absent butterfly and the only reason Xilaya knew she had arrived at Home was because Hoop had told her. But that wasn't necessarily Applestar trying to be evasive. Her power, like the others was not always under her control. And as such she often walked around Home without being seen or heard. She had attained a stealth beyond most people's senses. So when she overheard Blue telling Xilaya about Zero running off. She decided to go after her. Xilaya had no idea that she was being followed. Which would explain how Applestar knew the little cat was Xilaya.
Zander was now confused beyond all thought.
"Wait, so I'm talking to a cat that used to be Xilaya, and a ninja? Who are tracking Zero who is trying to avenge the death of her family?", Zander proposed. "What the hell happened to everyone?"
"It's a long story Zander. Which we will be happy to explain as soon as we get Zero and get out of here.", Xilaya pushed.
"How do you suggest we do that?", Applestar asked.
Just then a loud scream came from cave. The three looked and saw a giant doll holding up Zero by her hair. She struggled and squirmed as the doll presented her to it's master. Help3r, casually walking down the staircase, eventually arrived at the hostile butterfly.
The doll dropped Zero. Zero immediately got up and removed a knife from her pocket lunging after Help3r. The large doll grabbed her by her arms and stopped her just short of him. Zero was furious. Hot tears streaming down her face from her failed attempt.
"Why did you kill them?!", Zero yelled.
Help3r just stood there looking at Zero. He raised his hand and pointed to the far left. Just beyond the parts for the drones was a hot furnace. Various dolls were tossing faulty parts into it. The giant doll turned and slowly moved toward it. Zero was screaming and squirming the whole way.
"We have to do something!", Xilaya exclaimed.
"Xilaya, can you turn into an animal that's big? I mean really big.", probed Applestar.
"Maybe, I've never tried....this whole thing is kinda new to me still.", Xilaya said unassured.
"We need a distraction. Right now Xilaya.", Applestar pushed. She quickly ran back into the shadows and disappeared.
Xilaya concentrated. She focused her mind on the largest animal that came to mind. The little black cat began to grow. Her fur falling off and revealing tough skin underneath. She kept growing with the little ears getting bigger and bigger. Her nose elongated until she reached her full size. Zander had to run to not get instantly crushed.
Suddenly Xilaya the elephant came bursting around the crate. She moved through the first assembly line of doll parts crushing it, leaving pieces in its wake. Help3r brought his attention to the new development and took out a remote control from his pocket. He pressed a few buttons and three brick drones ascended and moved toward Xilaya. She noticed this and proceeded to run around the cave making a huge mess of things.
Meanwhile Applestar made her way toward Zero and the giant doll. It was pretty easy to sneak around even with Help3r there, thanks to Xilaya. She saw a few loose pipes on the ground and grabbed one up as she ran by. Using it like a bat, she went at the back of the doll's knees. It didn't even flinch. Applestar knew she wasn't going to be able to take this thing down alone. So she went for the next best option. She followed the electrical cords from the furnaces opening hatch to a control panel. The panel was in Help3r's lab. Without hesitating she ran back to the stairway. Help3r was right here, watching the chaos ensue as the drones had finally reached Xilaya.
She was turning and whipping her trunk. Raising up and stomping another set of dolls. The one drone came at her hard and hit her side. She trumpeted in pain and fell to one knee. The other two drones would of hit her if she hadn't had the sense of mind to quickly turn and run. She ran full speed at the finished dolls by the exit and proceeded to stomp and crush them to bits. The drones turned and doubled back to catch up to the giant menace. The first one, being closest made the best time on Xilaya and rushed her. But this time she was ready. Just before it approached her she fell on her side and it just bounced on her body, scraping some skin and hopping over crashing into a good chunk of the army and the neighboring wall.
Applestar was extra careful around Help3r. She moved as quickly and quietly around him as she could. Zero screeched, getting dangerously close to the furnace. Applestar couldn't wait any longer she had to make a run for it. She turned and rushed up the stairs only to be caught by her ankle and pulled back down to the main platform. Applestar hit the floor and winced in pain as she dropped the lead pipe. Help3r dragged her to the rock floor and placed a foot on her chest. He pressed a button on his controller. Four half finished doll torsos with arms crawled over to her. They grabbed her with their half assmebled bodies and held her still. With another few commands Help3r called two of the drones back. And Applestar could of sworn she heard a muffled laugh in his mask.
Xilaya looked up and noticed the other drones going toward a trapped Applestar. Zero now screaming at the top of her lungs was almost at the furnace. Xilaya tried to think but was so hurt from the last blow that she panicked and didn't know what to do. Applestar tried so hard to free herself as she watched Help3r back off. She knew what was coming. Squashed Apple.
The drones neared.
Zero screamed as she felt the heat from the furnace.
Xilaya could hardly move.
And there was Zander.
Walking among the chaotic scene. He had seen the entire thing from the safety of the containers. He was confused and worried and furious that he couldn't do anything to help. He just wished everything would stop. And it did.
The drones were frozen in mid air. The doll had hesitated to drop Zero. Even Zero stopped screaming. Applestar had a look of sheer terror in her eyes. Xilaya the elephant was in mid transformation into some other animal. Zander didn't understand any of this. But he knew that they were in trouble. And he seemed to be in a position to help.
He walked up to Help3r's lab. He wasn't sure how long this would last so he tried to work quickly. Inside the lab was a large board. On it was a working chart with the butterfly names. It looked like Help3r was trying to find a connection between certain butterflies and Roivas. Something more subtle. Nearby were three corked vials in a holder. Each had a different butterfly name on it. Chewie, Paradox, and Mesay. All three had separate colors. The Chewie one was a dark brown. Paradox's was a deep red. The Mesay one was a bright blue. He grabbed the vials and continued to look. After another minute he found the control for the furnace door. He hit the button and watched the door close. He turned to leave and found another lever for the exit. Zander when ahead and pulled it. As it opened the light from the afternoon sun streamed inside. That was perfect. They had a way out now and Zero would be safe. Zander left the lab and quickly descended the stairs.
At the bottom he reached Applestar. Feet over her were the drones. A second later and she would of been killed. Zander didn't hesitate. He started to peel her from the doll fingers when she suddenly jerked. Zander backed off as she struggled.
"You were stopped.", Zander started.
"I was what?", She continued.
"Nevermind. Let me help you get out of this.", Zander could figure this out later.
"Zander? What is going on?", Applestar asked.
"I'm trying to help you super whatevers.", Zander replied. "You got a ninja pack or something?"
"I have a satchel on my side here, why?", Applestar asked.
He finished releasing her from the dolls. Then he took the vials and gave them to her. "Put these in there."
Applestar decided not to question it and she placed the three vials into her back. The two then ran off to Zero's aid. Once they got there they noticed that the doll was holding up Zero by her arms. But in the struggle she must of gotten her right arm free. Because the doll was only clenching her shirt on that end. They tried their best to move the giant doll's fingers but it wasn't budging. Zander slipped and touched Zero's arm in the process, releasing Zero from the time stop.
"Get your damn hands off me!", Zero screamed and flailed.
"Zero relax!", Applestar yelled back.
Zander backed off for a second and took a look around. Everything was had been so still. But when he touched a person or thing it moved again. He was slowly wrapping his mind around it. But he was a full fledged butterfly. Complete with the powers to not only stop time but animate specific things aside from it.
"Cool", Zander thought.
"Zander, a little help please?", Applestar asked.
He threw himself back into the moment and tried to think of something. Suddenly things began to feel different. Zander looked around and noticed the doll starting to move. He looked behind them at the dolls Applestar had just been released from as they twitched. Time was returning to normal.
"Zero! Let me have your knife!", Zander said. She stopped moving and opened up her hand so he could take it. He grasped it and went back to her left side where the doll held tight.
"Now old still Zero. I don't want to cut you."
Zander proceeded to cut the fingers off of the giant doll. He hurried as fast as he could while time quickly caught up with them. One by one the fingers fell to the ground slowly releasing Zero. Finally Zander finished the last finger. The one side of her body dropped. The other side the doll was grasping held for another second before ripping her shirt from the weight and eventually plopped Zero on the ground with an, "Owwww!"
Time was moments from starting up again. Zander and Applestar picked up Zero and made a run for Xilaya. They rushed past Help3r and hurdled the reanimating half dolls. When everything returned to normal a loud crash hit the ground. It was the two drones now sitting where Applestar would of been. Help3r looked up and saw the three running for the door. He looked around in confusion for a second before heading up to his lab.
The three rushed past all the chaos and dolls. The machines and fighting. They finally reached where Xilaya had been but was gone from sight. They slowed down to look for her until they heard a hawks cry. It flew down and morphed back into Xilaya's human form just in time to catch them running together. Now Zero, Applestar, Xilaya and Zander were running into a storm of dolls. The only thing between them and the exit. Help3r got into his lab and pulled the door lever. Zander watched the dolls rise up and the door begin to close. That was it. They were trapped.
"Everyone keep running! Don't stop!", Zero yelled. She put her hands up and created a force field a few feet around them all. As they ran the dolls bounced off the invisible shield. It was awkward and tough but they got through. With plenty of time to get under the exit before it closed. As they ran into the desert they saw a giant dust trail approaching them. Zander looked and saw a car with Blue behind the wheel. She stopped a few feet in front of them.
"Get in!", Blue yelled.
Everyone pilled in the car. Blue didn't wait for all the doors to be shut before tearing though the sand and dirt and away. Zander looked behind them and couldn't see anyone or thing following them. He couldn't even see the exit anymore. Between the dust and the sun he wasn't able to.
"Everyone okay?", Blue asked. Wincing a bit as she tried to drive with a bandaged up hand.
"Yeah. Some awfully good timing on your part Blue.", Zander prodded.
Zero looked at Zander, "It's called Hivemind. Duh!"
"It's called not running off and perusing some personal vendetta Zero.", Blue scolded.
"What the hell does vendetta mean? Besides he killed my family Blue. What the hell was I suppose to do?", Zero retorted.
"How about you not run off.", Blue started.
"Or endanger yourself.", Applestar continued.
"Stop it guys! Your making me feel all shitty.", Zero complained.
"We just don't want to see you hurt Zero", Xilaya offered. "We're a bit mad, yes. But you need to look at where we just were. We almost died in there."
"I didn't want you to follow me Xil!", Zero defended.
"What are we suppose to do? Just let you go and kill yourself?", Applestar said.
"I could of killed Help3r! I could of ended all of this shit!", Zero yelled.
Zero.....please calm down.....I don't want you to die.
Zero heard the voice that seemed to come from nowhere. It was like the Hivemind but felt different. She knew exactly who this was though. As the others yelled around her she thought to herself. "But he killed my family. I couldn't just let him get away with it."
"Zero, come to the room. We will help you understand this better there. Please don't be mad at your family. They love you."
Zero quieted. The others noticed her sudden silence.
"Do you understand what we're trying to tell you Zero?", Xilaya asked.
"Yes.", Zero answered. She kept looking forward. She stayed silent for the rest of the ride to Home.
Zander tried to analyze everything. Strangely enough though, he didn't have as hard of a time understanding the superpowers and Help3r or even the army of dolls and drones. What he wondered most was what was in those three vials that Applestar kept safe in her satchel.
"Applestar, could you give me those tubes I gave you?", Zander asked.
She opened up her satchel and gently retrieved them.
"What is that?", Xilaya asked.
"I don't know. But I think the people listed here should know that Help3r has some kind of experiments he's running on them.", Zander said.
The group stayed quiet for the rest of the ride. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts. As they approached Home, Blue motioned for Zander to look. He gazed at the large structure that seemed to oddly jut out of the landscape. At that moment he knew that he was right.
Things were going to get crazy.
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