After we rested from our training session, we assembled in the Gateway room. \u201cAre we ready?!\u201d I called, eager to try out my new strength. Everyone had confirmed. \u201cCHARGE!\u201d I shouted. We all ran for the Gateway, but nothing happened. The portal didn\u2019t appear in the Gateway ring! I reared my horse back, warning everyone to stop, too little, too late. We all crashed into each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour Highness,\u201d began Richard, \u201cI mean no disrespect, but, WHAT IN ALL THE LEVELS IN ALL NINE CIRCLES OF DANTE ALIGHIERI\u2019S INFERNO<\/em>, HIS DESCRIPTION OF HELL ITSELF, WAS THAT ABOUT?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf one of you older guys have their hand on my butt\u2026!\u201d hissed Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cApologies, my friend,\u201d called Emmanuel, \u201cthat\u2019s me. Trying to disentangle myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe portal never opened,\u201d I said, answering Richard\u2019s question. \u201cWe would have crashed into the Gateway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?\u201d yelped Vortoranii. \u201cX-PO, I thought you said you found a workaround for the passenger limit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPassenger limit?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere was a limit on the Gateway once,\u201d explained Vortoranii. \u201cOnly seven people could go into a dimension at once. I thought X-PO removed that for this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2026I\u2019m sure I did!\u201d spluttered X-PO. He zoomed over to the main computer under the connection between Gateway generator and platform. He keyed in some commands and then saw the problem. \u201cOh, I see,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid it malfunction?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, more like I changed the code when I was disconnected,\u201d answered X-PO. \u201cWhen I was connected, I had made a workaround for the seven-traveler limit, hence why I could get you all to a dimension. When I was reassembled, I took the code for that workaround with me. It\u2019s no longer in the Gateway. I can only send seven people to your destination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow long would it take to remove that limit?\u201d asked Lukas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEven with you, Batman, Rusty, Sheela, Irina, the Brigadier, and myself,\u201d replied X-PO, \u201ctoo long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe don\u2019t have the time to fix it,\u201d I resolved. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to pick seven. The first five are obvious, those who carry the Keystones. All that\u2019s left are two more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m coming with!\u201d called Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah right!\u201d hissed Emily. \u201cI\u2019m coming with!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNon!\u201d protested Emmanuel. \u201cIt\u2019s me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNein! Me!\u201d shouted Lukas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy should you go?!\u201d snarled Sheela. \u201cI barely did anything when getting the Keystones!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA tough decision,\u201d mused X-PO, \u201crequires a tough method of choosing. Keystone bearers, please get on the Gateway Pad.\u201d I got on the circle part while Wyldstyle and Gandalf flanked my left and Batman and Hongo flanked my right. \u201cIf the rest of the Riders could get in a circle,\u201d called X-PO. They managed to get into a circle. A circular trapdoor opened, revealing a screen with two rotating arrows. \u201cThis is the Roulette Reader,\u201d explained X-PO. \u201cIt takes the coordinates of the destination and reads who is most qualified to help you through the dimension.\u201d Game show lights then flashed everywhere. \u201cIt\u2019s time for a bit of Rider Chance!\u201d Holographic showgirls then appeared and started dancing, the Gateway Pad flashed, the arrows spun and stopped at different people, and X-PO started dancing in the air. Catchy, upbeat music was playing, but it didn\u2019t calm our nerves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGuys,\u201d whimpered Emily, \u201cthis whole thing\u2019s doing me a frighten!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t chicken out now!\u201d called Richard. \u201cI\u2019m scared too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd the ones going to this dimension shall be\u2026\u201d began X-PO. A drum roll sounded as the arrows spun in circles, one going clockwise, the other counterclockwise. One landed on \u201cEmily!\u201d announced X-PO. Emily jumped a few times, clapping her hands and giggling like a child. The other arrow stopped on \u201cand Tanisha!\u201d finished X-PO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right!\u201d cheered Tanisha. She and Emily joined us on the Gateway Pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, are we ready?\u201d I asked. My team confirmed. \u201cCHARGE!\u201d I called. This time, the Gateway opened a portal and we jumped in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We arrived at a room that was white and metal. We looked around. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t look like a bakery,\u201d observed Batman, remembering the Foundation Element we had to get for X-PO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe went to the past,\u201d recalled Wyldstyle. \u201cMaybe this is a futuristic space-bakery?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomething about this dimension seems familiar,\u201d mused Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cD\u00e9j\u00e0 vu?\u201d asked Tanisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs that you?\u201d quizzed a computerized, monotone, woman\u2019s voice. Emily and Tanisha tensed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot her!\u201d gulped Tanisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow did you escape from your\u2026?\u201d began the voice before it stopped. \u201c\u2026No. You\u2019re not her. You\u2019re just another unwelcome visitor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUh, good lady?\u201d asked Gandalf as he took off his hat and tried to locate the source of the voice. \u201cAre you the proprietor of this establishment? We wish to buy a cake.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCake?\u201d replied the voice. \u201cWhy do they always want the cake?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEmily, let\u2019s get it out of our system now,\u201d muttered Tanisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood idea,\u201d agreed Emily. They turned to face us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe cake is a lie!\u201d they yelled together. The reference went over our heads as we gave confused looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, you actually have a cake?\u201d asked Batman to the voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe can pay!\u201d continued Gandalf as he took out a coin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d replied the voice. \u201cYes, you WILL pay. But first, a test.\u201d A circular sliding door opened behind us. We went through and entered the next room labelled Test Chamber 01. \u201cWelcome to the Aperture Science computer-aided Enrichment Center,\u201d welcomed the voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d asked Wyldstyle. \u201cLord Business\u2019 R&D Department?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo,\u201d replied Tanisha, \u201cthe lair of the Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System, GLaDOS, for short. We\u2019re in the world of Portal<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGLaDOS will throw everything at us to make us fall slowly into madness and death,\u201d continued Emily. \u201cWithout the portal gun, she may get that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou say that in front of those that control Keystones,\u201d I answered. I then noticed an orange portal on an upper ledge above some dirty looking liquid. I noticed a Keystone transmitter in front of the portal. Behind the transmitter, in the portal, was Batman looking down. I turned and saw Batman beside me. He was looking at a blue portal that showed us down below. I then got an idea. \u201cHongo-san,\u201d I directed, \u201csee if you can get the transmitter down to our level.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot it,\u201d confirmed Hongo. He jumped up and kicked the transmitter through the orange portal and came out through the blue portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s not how you use that,\u201d called GLaDOS. She shut off the portals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe don\u2019t need those portals,\u201d replied Batman. \u201cShift Keystone, activate! Yellow, on the overhanging panel! Magenta, in the observation room! Cyan, near the transmitter!\u201d The portals appeared in their assigned places. \u201cShift! Emily! Magenta!\u201d Emily jumped into the portal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUnauthorized portal detected,\u201d observed GLaDOS. \u201cUntil the source can be identified, please press the Aperture Science Switch ahead of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought these kinds of rooms were beyond your notice,\u201d mused Emily as she pressed a button on a cylinder in front of her. \u201cBesides, shouldn\u2019t you have received a shock for giving me the answer? Or even a hint?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suppose I turned off those circuits,\u201d replied GLaDOS. \u201cMy bad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPassive aggressive to the end,\u201d observed Tanisha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019M passive aggressive?\u201d asked GLaDOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs for us,\u201d I continued, \u201cwe\u2019re just full blown aggressive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat makes no sense,\u201d stammered GLaDOS. \u201cWhy would you say you\u2019re aggressive? Logic error detected. Please proceed into the Chamberlock after completing each test.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShift! Emily! Yellow!\u201d announced Batman. Emily ended up on another platform with another button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLogic error detected,\u201d called GLaDOS. \u201cSubject should not have been able to enter that part of the testing chamber without the aid of an Aperture Science Handheld Portal device.\u201d A cube dropped into a closed chamber. \u201cPlease attempt to place the Aperture Science Weighted Storage Cube on the fifteen-hundred Megawatt Aperture Science Heavy Duty Super-Colliding Super Button.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBatman, could you send Gandalf up here?\u201d asked Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShift! Yellow! Gandalf!\u201d announced Batman. Gandalf appeared next to Emily and used his magic to put the cube onto the button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLogic error detected,\u201d droned GLaDOS. \u201cSubject should not have been able to move the Weighted Storage Cube in this way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s magic,\u201d I replied, \u201cwe don\u2019t need to explain it.\u201d We entered the adjacent room and found the elevator. We soon arrived at Test Chamber 02.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re doing very well,\u201d said GLaDOS. \u201cThat is to say, I suspect you were cheating on that last test. Cheating is wrong and, ultimately, the only person who loses when you cheat is yourself. For instance, like the other human, you might lose your freedom, or your mind, or some teeth. I will be monitoring your behavior more closely in the future. Now, on with the next test.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOther human?\u201d I quizzed. \u201cWhat are you talking about?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid I say \u2018human?\u2019\u201d asked GLaDOS. \u201cI meant sentry turret.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is a bald-faced lie, you 8-megabyte twit!\u201d insulted Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Not dignifying that,\u201d answered GLaDOS. \u201cProceed with the test and try not to cheat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGuys!\u201d called Wyldstyle. \u201cI see a red chroma disc in that tube up there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need to open it,\u201d I declared, \u201cand find the other discs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEmily,\u201d requested Batman. \u201cMind going into Batman Steel? I see a grapple hook over on the wall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGot it!\u201d called Emily as she drew out her i.d tag. \u201cHenshin!\u201d After changing, she swapped the i.d tag for Batman\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBatman Steel!\u201d announced her belt. She then pulled out the grapple gun and fired it. Batman did the same with his and they yanked the wall off. Inside was a man in traveler\u2019s clothes. He was Japanese and looked half crazed from being in isolation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet him out of there!\u201d I yelled. We got him out and looked him over. Physically, he was all right, but his mental state was in question. He finally opened up from his fetal position and looked at us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs this a dream?\u201d he asked, shakily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, sir,\u201d I assured him in a relaxing tone. \u201cI am Hishikawa Megumi.\u201d I heard Touch\u00e9 cancel her transformation. \u201cThese are Emily Saunders and Batman, the ones who rescued you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello!\u201d called Emily as she bowed to him, the proper way to greet someone in Japan instead of a handshake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice to meet you,\u201d rasped Batman as he bowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is Tanisha Akintola,\u201d I introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHello,\u201d greeted Tanisha as she bowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s Wyldstyle,\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow\u2019s it going?\u201d asked Wyldstyle as she grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s Gandalf the Grey,\u201d I went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood day,\u201d greeted Gandalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd that\u2019s Takeshi Hongo,\u201d I finished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood to meet you out of your suit, OOO,\u201d (pronounced O\u2019s) said Hongo as he bowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know me?\u201d asked the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know of your rider name,\u201d replied Hongo. \u201cI\u2019m the first Kamen Rider.\u201d The man\u2019s face brightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow I remember you!\u201d he cheered. \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve properly introduced ourselves when the Showa and Heisei riders had their feud. I\u2019m Hino Eiji.\u201d He got up and bowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRider name?\u201d I asked, echoing Hongo\u2019s words. \u201cYou\u2019re a Kamen Rider as well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKamen Rider OOO,\u201d confirmed Eiji as he drew out a black slate with blue lines running all over it and three slots with windows on the front. \u201cThis is the OOO driver, the belt I use to transform with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPlease, go ahead and bore me to death while talking to the previous cheater,\u201d called GLaDOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou shut up,\u201d snarled Tanisha, \u201cor we\u2019ll go into your major databanks with an electromagnetic axe, you circuit crossed dolt!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSticks and stones may break my metaphorical bones,\u201d replied GLaDOS, \u201cbut your words are just annoyances I can ignore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMinna,\u201d called Eiji, \u201cthere\u2019s a button that connects somewhere in here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJudging by the blue line that indicates connections to a part of the puzzle,\u201d observed Tanisha, \u201cI\u2019d say that it operates the tube the chroma disc is in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen let\u2019s press it and find the others,\u201d I declared. I did the honors and freed the chroma disc. Now, two more discs left. A panel wobbled beneath Tanisha\u2019s feet. We pulled it out and found the blue chroma disc. Wyldstyle used her scanner to find a control panel hidden in the wall. She pressed some buttons and released the yellow chroma disc from its prison. \u201cNow,\u201d I muttered, \u201cwe need to find a transmitter.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo need,\u201d replied Vortoranii. \u201cI now provide such functions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Thanks, we could have used that earlier,\u201d I groaned. \u201cFind the Chroma Lock.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI found it!\u201d called Wyldstyle. It had a red circle, a blue left L-shape, and a green right L-shape. \u201cChroma Keystone, activate!\u201d The lock design appeared in the floor. \u201cChroma! Red! Eiji!\u201d I pushed Eiji into the red paint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat are you trying to do?!\u201d he yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust step into the circle bit,\u201d I assured in a relaxing tone. Eiji did as asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChroma! Blue! Batman!\u201d called Wyldstyle. Batman jumped into the blue paint and landed on the left L shape. \u201cChroma! Yellow! Tanisha!\u201d Tanisha stepped into the yellow paint and got in the right L shape. Batman then joined Tanisha. The chroma lock revealed a panel that came up from the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook at us,\u201d joked GLaDOS, \u201cmaking scientific discoveries together. Please use the Aerial Faith Plate to proceed but be careful. It has a weight limit and I worry that you may exceed it.\u201d Flame projectors then descended from the ceiling just barely scratching the surface of our arc if we used the Aerial Faith Plate (jump pad) now. Another jump pad path would have us go through active Tesla plates. Gandalf puffed on his pipe for a while as if he were thinking on how to proceed. I grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right, keep your secret,\u201d I said to the wizard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeg pardon?\u201d he asked, acting as if I had interrupted his train of thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know you have a way to get us all there,\u201d I observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood gracious me!\u201d called Gandalf, acting surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe DID nab some powers that you\u2019ve mastered,\u201d I reminded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIndeed?\u201d asked Gandalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPowers that allow us to get across natural obstacles,\u201d I continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you\u2019re referring to the Elemental Keystone,\u201d countered Gandalf, \u201cI haven\u2019t yet mastered giving you all a power. All I did was try things out on you individually.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhatever the case,\u201d I declared, \u201cwe need to be on fire, literally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWHAT?!\u201d shrieked Eiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElemental Keystone, activate!\u201d called Gandalf. \u201cElement of fire, all allies!\u201d The red aura surrounded us. We were immune to fire now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf I may lead?\u201d asked Emily. She tried out the jump pad and landed safely on the other side. \u201cHeavyset and fabulous girl: 1, Passive aggressive machine: 0!\u201d she called out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCongratulations,\u201d droned GLaDOS. \u201cI always believed in you and your ability to do that thing that you just did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI guess sarcasm is this thing\u2019s only language,\u201d muttered Wyldstyle as the rest of us rejoined Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElement of lightning, all allies!\u201d announced Gandalf. We used another jump pad and went through the lightning, landing on another jump pad that landed us at another puzzle with electric coils and a button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re gonna need a person on each coil and a button presser,\u201d I observed. \u201cEiji, you take that coil, I\u2019ll take this one, and Tanisha can press the button.\u201d My coil activated hard light barriers over small pools of a liquid I was sure was acid and Eiji\u2019s coil activated pushers for a small ball that Emily released with the button. It landed in its slot at the bottom and it opened a door and activated a jump pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell done,\u201d intoned GLaDOS. \u201cAlthough, you obviously have abilities that are not listed in my database and are using them to complete the tests. In other words, you\u2019re cheating.\u201d We used the jump pad and entered the door to the elevator which took us to Test Chamber 03. \u201cAs a punishment for your recent cheating, I have added several Aperture Science Sentry Turrets to the following test. I didn\u2019t want to do that, but you left me little choice. I\u2019m very sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLying, as usual, you sparking malfunction,\u201d hissed Tanisha. The sentry turrets were on three legs and had a single red eye with a laser sight. The hallway terminated with a pool of acid. Another path led us down to a platform with a tube on the ceiling with a grapple hook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese tests are getting more and more deadly,\u201d rasped Batman as he fired his grapple gun. He yanked down the tube and released another person! This was a man in a red suit and tie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cK\u014dsei-san!\u201d called Eiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho now?\u201d I asked as I helped the man up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s K\u014dgami K\u014dsei,\u201d explained Eiji as he helped me. \u201cHe\u2019s the one who provided me with equipment to fight my main enemy, the Greeed.\u201d K\u014dsei then groaned and opened his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhere am I?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re in another dimension,\u201d I replied. \u201cThis place is run by an evil machine that wants to kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI simply need you to complete the tests without cheating,\u201d countered GLaDOS, \u201cthe turrets should prevent you from cheating.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnother dimension?\u201d cheered K\u014dsei. He then grinned. \u201cSUBARASHI!\u201d (Wonderful!) \u201cThe birth of new possibilities has arrived! Happy Birthday to the proof of other universes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Happy Birthday?\u201d I whispered to Eiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe says that a lot when something begins,\u201d explained Eiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd another person\u2019s birthday is coming today,\u201d continued K\u014dsei as he pulled out a strange gun. It looked like it had a bag attached to its underside and a single slot for something circular. \u201cIf I could have the Taka (hawk) Medal you have?\u201d said K\u014dsei. Eiji pulled out a cracked red coin with a gold border and handed it to K\u014dsei. K\u014dsei then put the medal into the slot on the gun and closed it. \u201cInside the bag,\u201d he explained, \u201care enough Cell Medals to give our old friend a body, with a few Core Medals as well. This gun should fix the broken Taka Medal and restore his consciousness and body. I researched how the alchemists made the medals, so this should work, in theory.\u201d He then raised the gun into the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnyone know what\u2019s going on?\u201d asked Wyldstyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf only Hiroki were here,\u201d I muttered, \u201che\u2019d know the answer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s talking about the Greeed that helped me become OOO,\u201d explained Eiji. \u201cThe Greeed are made of silver coins called Cell Medals. The things that determine their bodies are colored medals called Core Medals. The Greeed that helped me gather Cell Medals was a red, bird themed one called Ankh. He gave his life to help me save the planet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd his mind was in the broken Medal you gave K\u014dsei-san?\u201d I guessed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d confirmed Eiji. He turned to K\u014dsei. \u201cGo ahead.\u201d K\u014dsei pulled the trigger, releasing red light. Cell Medals came out of the bag as well as five red Medals, this Ankh character\u2019s Core Medals, I guessed. He fired into the red light with the broken Medal as the ammo. It fixed the crack in itself as all the Medals coalesced to make a humanoid shape. It crouched down, then came up, spreading its limbs out and releasing red light. The light then made a shape around the Medals and made a new shape. Its left arm and legs were mummified, the right arm had talons and rings with a set of tiny, folded, feathery wings, a red jacket with a feathery design, and a bird-like head with green eyes. The creature examined itself, then started preening itself like a bird.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have to say, Eiji,\u201d snarked the creature, \u201cI didn\u2019t think you could get me back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnkh!\u201d called Eiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHappy Birthday, Ankh!\u201d cheered K\u014dsei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, great,\u201d moaned the creature, Ankh, \u201cthe Ham\u2019s here.\u201d Ankh then looked around. \u201cWhere IS here, anyways?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAperture Science,\u201d I explained. Ankh then noticed us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd who are you?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, that\u2019s rude,\u201d I hissed. \u201cIt\u2019s polite to introduce yourself before asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTch,\u201d said Ankh. \u201cIf you must know, I\u2019m Ankh, a Greeed that needs Medals to survive. Normally, I can do so by creating Yummies, monsters of just Cell Medals with no Cores.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour endless talking and not testing is causing my sanity functions to decay at a quicker rate than SHE did,\u201d snarled GLaDOS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2018SHE\u2019 being the main protagonist of Portal<\/em>, Chell,\u201d explained Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse me,\u201d I answered. \u201cLocate Keystone, activate! Initiate rift detection!\u201d I walked down the lower hall and found the rift near the entrance of the hall with turrets. \u201cIdentify source of rift!\u201d The information beamed into my head. \u201cWell, what do you know?\u201d I mused. \u201cThat dimension pulls through again! Locate help from W-1-Z-4-R-D-0-F-0-Z!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOz?\u201d asked Emily. \u201cWhat could help us there?\u201d She got her answer as one of the Talking Trees appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDeploying,\u201d droned the turrets in a cute, electronic voice as two barreled guns popped out from the sides and fired on the tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey!\u201d shouted the tree. \u201cWhat are those things doing, shooting at me?! Take that, you little scamps!\u201d He threw his dead limbs at the turrets, knocking them over and having them shoot at nowhere. Eventually, they deactivated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCritical error,\u201d announced one of the turrets. The tree then turned to us and recognized us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou again?!\u201d he roared. \u201cOh, you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDismiss help!\u201d I yelped. The tree was sucked into the rift, rather quickly, I might add, and we gained passage into the level above us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat was that?!\u201d snapped Ankh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPerhaps, another unauthorized element?\u201d quizzed GLaDOS. \u201cHow can I test with so many variables?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat, my greedy friend and Madame Rigid clod,\u201d I explained, \u201cis the power of a Keystone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve already experienced two before,\u201d supplied Eiji. \u201cOne of them, you have to paint yourself to unlock areas, another allows you to use the elements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd I think we\u2019ll have to change size for the next one,\u201d continued Hongo as we walked down the formerly turret infested hall. \u201cScale Keystone, activate! Lessen scale of Ankh!\u201d Ankh shrunk down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, Ankh-san,\u201d I said, \u201cI need someone to crawl into that vent and cause some damage inside there. Do so, and I\u2019ll see to it that whatever Cell Medals we acquire will go to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd I can get you two years\u2019 worth of popsicles!\u201d offered Eiji.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cConsidering I need you lot to get out of here,\u201d mused Ankh, \u201cI see no reason to refuse. Just warn me when use the Keystones on me again, all right?\u201d He entered the vent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh no, where have you gone?\u201d asked GLaDOS. \u201cI can\u2019t see you anywhere. How could you possibly have escaped?\u201d She dropped the sarcasm. \u201cYou know my cameras have zoom-lenses, don\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGuys, can you increase my size to a giant\u2019s height?\u201d asked Ankh from inside the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, why?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have an idea,\u201d hinted Ankh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomething you want to share with the class?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot yet,\u201d replied Ankh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay,\u201d I sighed. \u201cHongo-san, go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnlarge scale of Ankh,\u201d announced Hongo. A giant Ankh then burst through the wall and swept aside the turrets that were in front of us. \u201cNormalize scale of Ankh,\u201d said Hongo. Ankh preened himself with pride. A massive glass cage with a giant turret inside popped up from a panel in the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDeploying Prototype Super Deadly Mega Turret in 3, 2, 1!\u201d reported GLaDOS. The turret started firing from inside the cage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAllow me to handle this,\u201d offered Gandalf. He used his magic to lift the turret, making it sing a note, shattering the glass cage it rested in. He then moved it to other glass barriers, shattering them, then threw it into the acid pool. Eiji and K\u014dsei then went up ramps that popped up from the floors to the areas where the glass cages were and pressed the buttons there, making another ramp pop up and head to a door, which unlocked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Aperture Science computer-aided Enrichment Center congratulates you on yet another amazing job,\u201d droned GLaDOS. \u201cGo you.\u201d The door led to an elevator which went to Test Chamber 04. \u201cThis test room is impossible,\u201d called GLaDOS. \u201cThe enrichment center apologizes for this clearly broken test chamber.\u201d It consisted of three pressure switches and two large boxes. We needed help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLocate Keystone, activate!\u201d I announced. \u201cInitiate rift detection!\u201d The crack was near the door. \u201cIdentify source of rift!\u201d The information was beamed into my head. \u201cLocate help from B-4-C-K-T-0-T-H-3-F-U-T-U-R-3!\u201d I directed. Another dimension I happened to like. The Time Train barreled through and destroyed the boxes. The crew popped out. Marty had grown older and was in cowboy clothes, Doc Brown and Clara were about to hit their twilight years, and their sons, Jules and Verne, were old enough to have jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat Scott!\u201d called Marty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoc Brown?\u201d yelped Batman. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen are we?\u201d asked Jules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt this point, it\u2019s where,\u201d replied Tanisha. \u201cYou\u2019re in Aperture Science, in another dimension.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnother dimension?\u201d asked Marty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnother universe, like when Biff Tannen married your mom,\u201d elaborated Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t remind m\u2026how do you know?!\u201d asked Marty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause we\u2019re from other dimensions too,\u201d I explained. \u201cYour dimension is a work of fiction, set in three movies surrounding your adventures in time when you were a teen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI see,\u201d cheered Doc Brown. \u201cSo, we didn\u2019t travel in time. I thought so, given that that saloon girl stole the Flux Capacitor in the lamp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSaloon girl?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome Asian woman,\u201d replied Marty. \u201cShe called herself\u2026Eagle\u2026I think. Her accent was thick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIgura!\u201d I hissed. \u201cSo, the Flux Capacitor was the Foundation Element of your world!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFoundation Element?\u201d asked Clara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ll explain later,\u201d I assured, \u201cI promise on my honor as the reigning monarch of the Feudal Nerd Society. But the time and place for explanations is not here, not now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFeudal Nerd Society?\u201d quizzed Marty. \u201cI thought \u2018nerd\u2019 was an insult.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot in my time or my universe,\u201d I replied. \u201cIn any case, you\u2019re not supposed to be here. I\u2019ll get you back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you,\u201d cheered Doc Brown as he and his family and friend boarded the Time Train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDismiss help,\u201d I directed. The train and its passengers disappeared into the vortex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, you fixed it,\u201d hissed GLaDOS. \u201cHow\u2026wonderful. You know, I was joking when I said it was impossible. That was part of the test and you didn\u2019t give up. You kept going despite knowing everything you were doing was futile. Just like the inherent pointlessness of your existence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSays the pointless malfunctioning machine,\u201d quipped Tanisha. The boxes that the Time Train destroyed revealed two buttons, one surrounded by electricity, the other surrounded by fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGandalf,\u201d I requested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElemental Keystone, activate!\u201d announced Gandalf. \u201cElement of fire, Megumi! Element of lightning, Emily!\u201d We were surrounded by the respective auras and pressed the buttons that corresponded to our elements. Panels came out from the ceiling and the floor as an energy ball came from the wall and was deflected by the panels to the other wall, undoing the first lock to the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShift Keystone, activate!\u201d announced Batman. \u201cCyan, in the left alcove! Yellow, in the middle alcove! Magenta, in the right alcove! Shift! Batman! Cyan! Shift! Eiji! Yellow! Shift! K\u014dsei! Magenta!\u201d Eiji and K\u014dsei were caught off guard as they were sucked into the portal. Ankh laughed as he turned into Cell Medals before reforming into a human shape. His disguise was a man with hair swept and curling to the right with the left part shaved. He wore a short-sleeved jacket with a red right sleeve over a white shirt. He wore red pants and tennis shoes. His right hand and forearm still stayed in its Greeed shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow I\u2019ve seen everything!\u201d laughed Ankh. \u201cHappy Birthday to a surprised K\u014dgami!\u201d The three men had triggered pressure switches that directed an energy ball to go down a certain path. It entered another socket on the other end and undid the second lock, allowing us access to the elevator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou must be very proud of yourself,\u201d droned GLaDOS. \u201cYou, *SUBJECT NAME HERE*, must be the apple of *SUBJECT\u2019S FATHER\u2019S NAME HERE*\u2019s eye.\u201d We entered the elevator and went up to Test Chamber 05. \u201cFor this next test,\u201d called GLaDOS, \u201cThermal Discouragement Beams have been added to the testing environment. Health and Safety would advise you to avoid contact with those lasers, however, the Health and Safety office is closed today, so, please, disregard that advice. In addition, the Aperture Science computer-aided Enrichment Center has employed the help of two mutations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMutations?\u201d I asked. That\u2019s when Turretorg arrived with a friend. It was a monster that had crab claws as well as crab legs draping from its back but stood on two humanoid legs and had hands under the claws. The monster seemed to be based off the Spider crab in Japan. It certainly had the face for it, with a human face underneath. I had a distinct feeling Vortech had a hand in this. Ankh tensed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Yummy?!\u201d he yelped.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After we rested from our training session, we assembled in the Gateway room. \u201cAre we ready?!\u201d I called, eager to try out my new strength. Everyone had confirmed. \u201cCHARGE!\u201d I shouted. We all ran for the Gateway, but nothing happened. The portal didn\u2019t appear in the Gateway ring! I reared my horse back, warning everyone […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[96,8],"tags":[14,16,56,9,17,54,12,53,24,15],"class_list":["post-138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kamen-rider-vortex","category-kamen-rider-vortex-chapters","tag-batman","tag-gandalf","tag-glados","tag-kamen-rider","tag-kamen-rider-ichigo","tag-kamen-rider-ooo","tag-megumi-hishikawa","tag-portal","tag-turretorg","tag-wyldstyle"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=138"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1080,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/138\/revisions\/1080"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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