by Joker1 and Eurostar
Internal data monologue:
I am Sente. And for the first time ever, I have no idea what the hell is happening. I came back in time -- yes, I am from the future -- I came back in time to destroy the would-be team known as the MBL.
The Meta Board League. They have saved both this universe and even others many, many, many times. If I stop the formation of the MBL... ZZZ... If I stop the formation of the MBL as I have planned to, then shortly the world shall die. Die. Die. Then I would be there to create a new world order. My world order.
But no. I have been fighting with them, and now, it seems, helping to stop an invasion of some sort. I now have no clue what to do. My programming. I wasn't programmed for this. Should I help? Should I kill?
Something is wrong with my wires. I don't want to kill them.
No. I have to kill them. No. Yes. No.
The Venetian castle that brought them to Antarctica held many hidden secrets, including a craft called the Jet, a mini-submersible that was now powered by Rhyme Guardian's rhyme energy. After Spark had opened a shaft through the ice sheet that covers the underground lake formed nearly twelve thousand years ago by the alien spaceship's fall, the team now use the Jet to dive deep into the shaft. Exile is piloting the ship and is on the controls, while Rhyme Guardian is at his side in the co-pilot's seat.
"Damn that Invisible Man," says Rhyme Guardian. "I knew we couldn't trust him. One man down, even though we've now got Disco Stave with us. I hope this isn't as big as it's being made out to be. We might be shorthanded."
"I guess we'll make do," Exile says. He pauses a moment. "Rhymer, you're not going to die. You'll see your loved ones again, don't worry."
"What?" Rhyme Guardian turned, and then realization broke upon him. "Oh, right. Hey, have I ever told you how I..."
"...hate telepaths?" Exile nods. "Yeah, I know." Both men smile for a second, as they get closer toward the ship, toward some of their destinies.
Some time later, Rhyme Guardian asks Exile, "You seem lost in thought. Is there a problem?"
"I'm unable to pick up the thoughts of Disco Stave. And there is something that bothers me about the Seven Senses."
"What?" asks Rhyme Guardian.
"I read some files about them back at Langley. The Seven Senses members are Andy Martian, Generator, Brain Tech, Disco Stave, Hooligan, Knight De Facto, and Caped Cadet. I've heard that Doug Silver is their mentor, but I've never heard about this Albino Chameleon who was in the group back there. And all of them were shielded telepathically," explains Exile.
"You mean...?"
"I wasn't able to read the minds of any of them. I fear that one or more of them is an impostor."
"Who are the two masked members?"
"Hooligan and Knight De Facto. The one missing is Brain Tech, and since Doug Silver is related somehow to the Seven Senses, that makes Albino Chameleon most likely the impostor."
"Chameleon... a shapeshifter?"
"I don't know."
"But if you knew all of this, why did you leave them there?"
"To keep Disco Stave from becoming suspicious. If he is brainwashed like I fear, he must now think we trust his version of the story." Exile smiles at his cleverness.
Meanwhile, in the back of the Jet, the others are waiting to enter into action. Sparks is recovering from the exhaustion of opening a tunnel into the ice miles deep. Sente's cybernetic brain is fighting his programming. The Trout is ready for his part of the mission, the exploration of the outer shell of the gigantic ship to find an entrance, but his mind is at home in Florida, where his son is dying of cancer. Marvino and Vendia are petting their dog, marveling at the adventure they have stumbled upon. And Disco Stave's mind remains totally blank.