Built Different

Together we march down the long empty corridors, stopping every few corners for Dr. Creeks to mentally map out our directions. Our path leads us through abandoned halls with very few stragglers roaming through, those that attack us are quickly dispatched.

“This is it. These blast doors should bring us to the foot of the black spire, to the First Observatory…” The giant gateway is sealed shut by a sturdy looking reinforced door. Just to the side there is a keypad. The doctor taps a few buttons until lifting her hand to her chin in thought.

“Gil, do you think you can lift this open?”

“Sure!”

Gil stations himself in front of the door, as he does so we all stand back getting cover around the corner.

“Friends do hear me? I need you to grant me your strength once more.”

It’s strange how he asks to use his magic, but as his words are spoken his body begins to shimmer with golden light.

“Thank you. Now with our power we’ll open this door using our [Lifelight]!”

Those glowing arms form across his body again. Then he attempts to find some place to grip onto the door and pull it open. But no dice. Next, opting for the most rational option…

Gil winds back his arm–

WHAM–

And punches straight into the blast door. Despite feeling the whiff of air produced from the hefty strike, the door remained firm, only denting it partially.

Gil looks down at his hand then back at the door. He punches again.

BLAM–

Same outcome.

He sits down, criss-cross applesauce. Studying the door as the magic within him dims. With a soured look in his eyes he turns to us all, defeated.

“I can’t do it–what are we going to do now?”

Dr. Creeks steps forward to console him.

“There’s no need to be so down, kiddo. I just wanted to see how much you’ve developed… There is another way to open these doors. We just need the passcode.”

“But you don’t have it do you?” Lala interrupts.

“Actually nobody truly knows it. This door has a password that resets after an hour. And there are two halves to it, both on opposite sides of the lab… We’ll need to split up in order to both get the key pieces and make it back here in time to enter.”

“OOH–Dibs on grouping with Gil, we’re the best tag-team duo!” Lala walks over and shakes Gil around by his shoulders.

“Then it looks like I’ll move out with the doc.”

Dr. Creeks is stunned with how quickly the decision is made, she didn’t even have a chance to share her say.

“Oh-uh-ok, Lala, make sure you take close care of Gil and same goes for you Gil, take care of Lala too.”

“I will!”

Lala starts dragging Gil down the opposite end of the hall.

“Hey wait! The code you’re looking for should be in either the second or third observatories. Just look out for signs that have that written on it!” Dr. Creeks relays as they wave back and disappear around a bend.

…

“I really hope the second one isn’t there.” she mumbles under her breath.

“Hmm, what was that?”

“Oh it's nothing. We should get moving, wouldn’t want to be the late ones now would we.”

“Yea you’re right, let’s try to get this code quick and help them out! They’re probably thinking the same thing.”

Together we begin a quickened jog down the other direction to them.

~ ~ ~

Our perspective shifts, now following Gil, as he and Lala search for the password.

It’s a bummer I couldn’t get that door open… it feels as if I’ve lost some strength, what do you all think?

Gil my man, there’s no need to be such a worry wart, some things just can’t be accomplished with our strength alone. ~

I guess so. I just hope everything turns out fine on their end.

There you go worrying again. They’re strong just like us, you’ll all be okay. Now go on, don’t let Lala run off on his own. ~

…

“Gil, you think this is it? The door says “second observatory” I can’t believe we already found it! Come on, help me get the door opened.”

The door handle lies just out of Lala’s reach, so he opts to kneel down and boost me up to get the path open.

“Here, hop on up, big guy!”

“HUP!”

Click–

The door swings open and with it my balance falters, sending Lala and I crashing down inside.

“OOF!”

This room we now find ourselves in isn’t quite what I was expecting from its title of 2nd Observatory. It reminds me of a daycare, it feels almost nostalgic. A singular lamp hangs from above flickering on and off, it illuminates shelves of boxes and a playmat made up of giant foam puzzle pieces. Lining the walls are cutesy murals of the outdoors, rainbows, and animals playing. There’s a large mirror that has shattered partially revealing a hidden room concealed behind it.

“Wow this looks fun!”

I start digging through the shelves, finding old boxes of colorful wooden building blocks, as well as little animal figurines.

“Lala look–we could build a house with these blocks.”

Lala’s expression speaks more of concern rather than excitement. It seems this room scares him in some way. Lala walks over while looking over his shoulder.

It looks like your worries rubbed off on Lala. ~

Oh shush, I can imagine, this whole lab is crazy big and scary. Sure there could be monsters lurking, but I feel like we haven’t had much time to rest since coming here.

“I really think we should just get the code and get outta here, this place is giving me the creeps.”

Lala shivers perhaps fearing a monster could jump out of one of these many boxes.

“What’s got you so scared? I don’t hear anything out of the ordinary. And besides we got here pretty quick, the hour reset won’t happen for a while, and I want to play.”

“It’s just–don’t you find it weird? Why does a research facility that studies alien technology have a daycare? I don’t know, thinking about it gives me the creeps.”

“Hmm, well everyone has kids right, maybe they would drop them off here while they worked.”

That answer feels like the most logical, and besides I’d rather take a break.

“Are you just gonna play with these bricks for a bit?”

“Yup, you’re welcome to join us too!”

Lala turns toward the opening in the mirror.

“Thanks but I’m going to complete the mission first. There’s a code I gotta find.”

Lala steps out of the light into the backrooms.

You know the blocks aren’t going anywhere. We can help him find the code too. ~

I’ll join him later. I just wanna build one castle.

Let’s not lose track of time now; one castle… and maybe some stables for horses ~

Ooh and we can make a pond for the froggies.

And a house for everyone to live in. ~

Yes yes good ideas all around! I want there to be a big fluffy couch.

We should be able to find cushions around here. ~

END CHAPTER 31