Chapter 8
One Thousand Versions
"Tails? Mommy!" Cream leapt from her bed yelling. She was sweating. Not again. She checked her sheets about a thousand times before thinking, Phew. Good. Saving the galaxy from the malicious Dark Oak, and the trauma from both previous battles only made the dream worse. Luckily nothing else. I'm glad that the stranger came to us when he did. But why did he come to me first? Why not help us then? She sat up on her bed, the room was not as dark as before. Why don't I go ask him that myself?
Cheese lay at the end of the bed quietly. And quietly Cream scurried over to him, "I'll be back," she whispered and delicately kissed the blue Chao.
Other than being more on edge, and having part of the ship blown away-in fact the men's rooms were completely gone from the explosions- the ship really hadn't changed all that much. It was still creepy, and dead silent. It wasn't lively anymore which was the sad part. If only there was something more this little girl could have done. Maybe she could go back in time and stop herself from not stopping -. That would be preposterous though, wouldn't it?
Maybe you should ask him that yourself. Why don't you mess everything else up while you're at it!
Excuse me.
This had been right where she had first met him, right outside the ship, close to one of the artificial trees on the runway. And there he was, sitting? Kneeling as a matter of fact. He was actually talking to himself, Cream only heard some of it.
"...the last time. The Old God is dead, and you'll be sorry you cross me, just like he did." Éleos sensed the girl right behind him. "Curses. Let's try that again."
Even the artificial trees looked duller than before, all charred up. Cream could see the stranger now as she walked outside the ship. This was the spot where they met at first. He was Kneeling.
"...just like he did." Éleos did not turn around. "It's impolite to sneak up on folks."
"I'm sorry," Cream apologized. "Who were you talking to?"
"Actually I was in the middle of praying."
Cream froze,"Oh! I'm so sorry."
Éleos smiled, "No need. Come." Cream sat next to the kneeling hedgehog. "What is it you need from me my dear?"
The question had caught the rabbit off guard,"Uh, hm. Why did you appear to me, first? Why couldn't you just help us? And help Tails before?"
"Something told me you would ask that. I simply needed you to trust me. Maybe I could have shown my loyalty by warning you ahead of time. And you did wonderfully, you got everyone away from their respective rooms." This answer made Cream cringe fearfully. "What's the matter?"
The girl put her hands on her face,"I told Tails... to go back." The stranger had his full attention on her. "I could have..." The girl wouldn't dare finish her sentence.
"Little Cream, he is safe now and so are you." He parted her hands from her face, "See, that's better." She stared deep into the stranger's eyes, they were soft, and full of mystery. His eyes were a piercing green, almost like the ones Sonic and Amy had. She put his trust in him, he was telling the truth. She stayed with him a little longer, until she worried for Tails.
"Do you want to come with me?" Honestly Cream didn't want to go alone, the dark hallways made her uneasy at times.
"Well I, quite frankly I'm just a hitchhiker to them, I don't fit in very well." Only the truth again.
"C'mon, Tails will be happy to see you."
"If you say so malady."
They both made their way to the hospital wing. Fortunately this part of the Typhoon had not been blown into. They caught Tails looking at one of the machines.
"Oh hey you guys." He responded to them coming in unannounced.
"Tails! You're supposed to be in bed." Cream reproached, hands on her waist.
"Cream I'm fine now, besides it doesn't hurt anymore." He checked his scar on his side, moving around a bit to show her. "See?"
"I just don't want you straining yourself Tails." She made her way to him and held him.
"Aw Cream. Thanks." He embraced her as well, blushing himself.
Éleos looked at the scene sadly.
Tails looked over to the stranger. "Hey, I never had the chance to thank you." The fox approached him. It was odd to have another hedgehog on board. He shook his hand, "Thanks, for saving my life back there."
"It is the least I can do. You most likely have many questions for me. Questions about you." He said excitedly.
"Yes as a matter of fact."
Éleos began but was interrupted, "In due time evidently. We are close to your planet Marmolim."
At that the intercom screeched,"Brace for a hard landing everyone." It was Christopher.
Tails spoke as they made their way to the bridge, "Finally something other than space."
"Tell me about it."
The chaotix had heard stories of this planet, and they wanted to join in on the fun. They went with the Sonic team.
The Marmolian's economy had once thrived in intergalactic fortune telling. It wasn't exactly the best vacation spot though, a lot of it used to be desert. But ever since the planet egg returned, there had been pockets of water seen from orbit.
Tails remembered the fortune that had been given to -, it told of death in her haste. He cursed the planet under his breath as they walked around the not-so-busy kiosks.
Amy broke the silence,"Lue! Lylem! Momo? Where is everyone?" Not a single soul was in attendance other than the Sonic team. "Maybe they are in their palace." Sonic shrugged.
"All of them?" Éleos wondered, staring at the pink palace. It had a golden star in the middle of the lintel.
"Then let's go talk to Ghana, and see what's going on."