Avocadalia's Las Hope

9.Toco-Toco

Paltio and his friends moved stealthily among the abandoned houses when they heard noises coming from what appeared to be a basement secured by rusted chains. Mok pulled out one of his knives and, without making a sound, cut through the chains blocking the entrance. When they opened the doors, everyone was stunned to discover a dark passageway emanating anguished sounds—like the cries of people in torment.

"Let’s go in," Paltio said with determination. "Someone must need help."

"Hey, Paltio, but didn’t you want to search for the scepter piece?" Golden interjected, sounding somewhat concerned.

"Yes, but I can’t just leave someone in danger if I can do something about it. I’ll try to help," the prince responded without hesitation.

"Well, you’re noble, kid," Golden commented, though he thought to himself, I hope that doesn’t work against you in the future.

They ventured carefully into the basement. Upon reaching the end of the path, they discovered it split into several dark tunnels.

"Now which way do we go, Paltio?" Ron asked, eyeing the passages uncertainly.

"I don’t know," the prince replied, stroking his chin as he evaluated their options.

Suddenly, piercing screams echoed in every direction.

"What is that?!" Alita exclaimed, visibly frightened.

"It sounds like someone’s in constant pain," Mok added, looking at her with concern.

"We should split up here," Ron suggested, swallowing hard to mask his fear. Though trembling inside, he wanted to appear brave. "It’s the most logical way to cover more ground. There are six tunnels, and there are four of us. Two should head back once they’re done to check the other two tunnels."

"You don’t need to do that," Golden interrupted.

"Do you have an idea or a way to handle this without splitting up?" Paltio asked, intrigued.

"Of course. And I have someone who can help us. I hope I can bring him," Golden replied confidently.

"Who?" everyone asked in unison.

"Alright, then I’ll take him," Golden said before calling out loudly: "Toco-Toco! Come here, my dear and brave companion!"

From Golden’s hologram emerged a shadowy figure with hypnotic eyes. It was a small creature, resembling a cat walking on its hind legs. Its fur was black with red stripes, and it had one green eye and one red eye. Around its waist hung twin sai blades attached to a blood-red belt, and around its neck gleamed a golden medallion embedded with a crimson ruby.

"Tell me, sir, how may I be of service, meow?" Toco-Toco asked, bowing respectfully toward Golden outside the hologram.

"Excellent that you could come out. Now, I want you to help these people figure out which of these tunnels they should take. Do it quickly, my faithful assistant," Golden ordered.

"As you wish, Lord Golden, meow," the feline replied enthusiastically.

In the blink of an eye, Toco-Toco vanished from sight. He moved so fast that only the faint glow of his ruby could be seen with each turn. After a moment, the little cat returned and announced:

"Done, master. I’ve checked all six tunnels. They’re all connected to each other."

"Wow! Did you really check all of that? That’s incredible!" Paltio exclaimed, impressed.

"That’s impossible… You’re so fast!" Mok added, equally astonished.

Toco-Toco, who was now casually licking his front paws, responded:

"Yes, I’m very quick."

"He’s the fastest I know," Golden stated proudly, causing the feline to blush slightly.

"Wow, he’s adorable," Ron said, looking at the little feline with a smile. Everyone turned to watch him.

"Yes, he’s kind of cute and tiny," Alita commented, approaching Toco-Toco, but then added teasingly, "I didn’t think the tough guy would be so sensitive."

"I… uh… nothing," Ron stammered, blushing as he looked around and whistled to play it off. Everyone laughed.

Alita moved even closer to Toco-Toco and gently pinched his cheeks.

"How cute!" she exclaimed.

"Hey, hey, girl, let go of me! I’m not your stuffed animal!" the cat protested, trying to wriggle free.

Ron watched from afar, and inside, he thought: I wanted to pet the kitty too.

"Alright, Toco-Toco," Paltio interjected, regaining the group's attention, "can you tell me if you heard any strange noises while you were checking the tunnels?"

"Noises? I heard plenty, though everything was pitch black," the cat replied, straightening proudly. "But nothing escapes my sight; I have the sharpest senses."

"So, no matter which path we take, we’ll end up in the same place?" Mok asked.

"Exactly," Toco-Toco confirmed.

"Good, then let’s go," Paltio said, and everyone followed him, lighting their small lanterns.

Meanwhile, Toco-Toco telepathically communicated with Golden:

"Alright, I’m heading back to you, sir. That girl is crazy—look what she did to my whiskers," he complained, finally freeing himself from Alita’s grasp.

"Not yet. They might still need you," Golden replied.

"Fine, I’ll follow your orders," the cat said resignedly. Outside, a slightly annoyed "meow" could be heard.

The group continued down the chosen passage until they reached the end, where cries of pain echoed from all directions.

"We couldn’t see anything," Ron and Alita said simultaneously. The small lanterns barely illuminated more than three feet ahead.

"Paltio, it’s time to put your boots to use," Golden instructed.

"What should I do?" the young prince asked.

"All you have to do is tap your boots together twice."

The young prince obeyed and struck his boots twice. Immediately, a bright light emanated from them, illuminating the entire chamber and giving the boots a radiant golden glow.

"Awesome! Those boots are amazing," Alita exclaimed. "I want a pair too."

With the area fully lit, they could see thousands of people locked in cages that stretched from floor to ceiling. There were three levels of stacked cells, filled with the residents of Hassdalia.

"They’re the citizens of Hassdalia," Paltio said gravely. "This must be the dungeon where they’re being held."

"Yes, but I wonder why they’re moaning and screaming like that," Mok reflected aloud.

"It’s because they’re connected to those metallic things on their heads," Ron observed, pointing to the helmets covering each citizen’s head, connected by thick cables.

"But what are they doing to them?" Alita asked, horrified.

"Look, the cables lead to that massive machine over there," Paltio explained, pointing to an imposing structure.

The machine was an ancient, enormous computer with serpentine cables snaking across the floor and blinking colored lights.

"So, if we destroy that thing, we can save them," Paltio added.

"Quick, Mok, take it out," the prince ordered.

Immediately, Mok pulled several knives from his coat and, with precise movements, cut the cables and damaged the machine. A shower of sparks erupted from the device as it ceased to function.

The people stopped screaming, and one by one, they collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"What’s wrong with them?" Alita asked, worried.

Golden signaled for his feline assistant to check on them. In a flash, Toco-Toco darted between the cages and quickly returned to report:

"They’re all fine. It was just fainting."

"Thank goodness," Paltio sighed, visibly relieved.

Soon, as they discussed how to free the prisoners from their cells, they heard a voice coming from above:

"I think something’s wrong with the machine. I’d better check it out…"

High above, someone appeared to be trying to open what looked like a metal door.

"Quick! We need to hide!" Paltio exclaimed, and everyone scrambled for cover.

"Golden, how do I turn off the glow from my boots?" Paltio whispered urgently.

"Hide over there," Toco-Toco instructed, pointing to a nearby rock. Everyone followed the cat and took refuge behind it.

"Now, how do I turn this off? Someone’s coming!" Paltio said, looking at his glowing golden boots with urgency.

"Oh, I forgot. Just tap them once," Golden replied quickly.

Paltio tapped his boots once, and the magical glow immediately vanished, plunging them into deep darkness.

"So, twice to light up and once to turn off. How crazy… This makes me want a pair even more," Alita whispered almost inaudibly.

The voice of the person grew increasingly irritated. However, he wasn’t alone. He ordered his companions to turn on the lights. Instantly, the area lit up, revealing a peculiar-looking man: rat-faced, wearing a lab coat, as if he were some kind of scientist. He stood in a sort of elevator accompanied by two Blue Shadow soldiers.

"Quick, let’s go down!" the man ordered. One of the soldiers pulled a lever, and the machine began to descend slowly.

When they reached the bottom, the rat-faced man became enraged upon seeing his machine completely destroyed.

"Who did this?!" he shouted furiously. "Which one of you destroyed my precious invention?!" he demanded, scanning the prisoners in the cells with a piercing gaze.

When no one responded, his expression darkened further.

"Hmph! Won’t talk, huh? Well then, if you won’t cooperate nicely, you’ll do it the hard way. Get up, you lazy scum!" he yelled, pressing a button on the wall.

The cells were instantly electrified, causing screams of pain among the prisoners.

"Now then! Are you going to tell me who did it? Because no one—absolutely no one—is leaving this ‘ROOM’ until the culprit speaks," the man threatened with a cruel smile.