The Unusual Occurrence Of Mote
Chapter 8: There is no "I" in TEAM

As they continued along the mysterious path, they stumbled upon what could only be described as a surreal laboratory. Eary's eyes widened in wonder and trepidation as they entered the room. Strange, bubbling vats containing bizarre creations, lined the walls, and instruments emitting mysterious lights filled the space. Alice, her long braids swaying with each movement, cautioned, "I'm not sure where we are, but I think it's best if we don't touch anything."

Mei, however, seemed distracted. "Do you hear something?" she asked, her voice filled with ambiguity. The room fell into a hushed silence as the faint sound of sobbing echoed through the eerie laboratory. Eary's heart skipped a beat. "I'd recognize that sobbing anywhere!" he exclaimed, his excitement mounting. "Come on!" He beckoned, darting deeper into the labyrinthine space.

As the crying grew louder and more distinct, Eary's rush subsided, and he approached cautiously. "Mote!" he yelled out, his voice echoing through the room. "Mote!" The source of the cries was none other than Mote, the small creature they had been searching for, confined within a tiny cage on a cluttered workbench.

"Mote!" Eary exclaimed, his eyes brimming with tears as he reached out to rescue his friend. Mote quickly cautioned, "Wait! Don't touch that!" But it was too late. A resounding "ZAPP" filled the air as Eary retracted his burnt hand, crying out in pain. However, the pain subsided quickly as blue lights healed his wounds.

"The door  seems to be some sort of zappy force field," Mote explained, empathy in his voice. "It got me too, a few times." Eary examined Mote's cage-a sleek, white structure filled with intricate gadgets. No doubt these mysterious contraptions were responsible for the impenetrable force field sealing the only exit. Eary whined in desperation, "How do we open it?" He turned to find Alice and Mei, who had just caught up with him.

"Hey, we need to stick together," Alice scolded Eary gently. He nodded and then excitedly gestured towards Mote. "It's Mote! See?" The two girls peered hesitantly at the tiny creature, who stood on his hind legs and waved cheerfully. "Hey! How ya doin', little hand?" he greeted them with a warm smile.

Alice and Mei jumped back in surprise. "It talks!" Alice exclaimed, her astonishment clear. Mei, on the other hand, couldn't contain her excitement. "He's SO CUTE!" she gushed.

Mote cleared his throat and addressed Mei. "First of all, lady, I'm adorable, not cute. Second of all, I ain't no stuffed animal, OKAY?" He grumbled, trying to maintain his dignity.

Mei giggled uncontrollably, unable to contain her delight. "Oh my gosh, okay! You're so ADORABLE!" she squealed, clasping her hands together and shaking them with joy.

Alice, ever the problem solver, approached Mote's cage. A shroud of purple mist surrounded it momentarily, then dissipated, leaving the cage untouched. "I can't break it! The force field comes from inside," she lamented to Eary.

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Mei, her enthusiasm undeterred, suggested, "Maybe I can fry it?" Mote quickly interjected, "Uh-uh, LADY! This ain't no rotisserie oven!" 

Eary took a deep breath, realizing it was up to him. He contemplated his powers. First, he tried his force field, but it was merely reflected and dissipated. Next, he summoned white flames, but they had no effect either. He attempted to heal the device, but it remained stubbornly intact. Frustration building, he grabbed a nearby wrench and wildly struck the cage. Each blow created a strange shimmer, deflecting the force of his strikes. Overwhelmed by despair, Eary collapsed to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. The futility of his journey and the losses he had endured weighed heavily on his heart and mind. Ephraim lost to his own brother, and Luke vanishing right before his eyes, twice. Dark thoughts swirled, threatening to consume him in this bizarre laboratory of despair. 

As Eary's sobs echoed through the room, he suddenly found himself distracted by a vivid red glow radiating behind his closed eyes. When he opened them, a strange new energy enveloped him, infusing him with an unfamiliar power. With newfound determination, Eary wiped away his tears and extended his hands, now glowing with an intense red hue.

Drawing upon this surging energy, Eary unleashed a tremendous bolt of electricity that temporarily blinded his three companions. When their vision returned, they surveyed their surroundings in awe. The cage that had held Mote was now hurled across the room. Eary, a note of fear in his voice, called out, "MOTE?" A gruff voice responded from above, "Hey! Watch where you're aimin’ with that stuff! Sheesh!" Mote exclaimed as he gracefully flew into Eary's waiting arms.

Eary caught his longtime friend, embracing him gently. "Mote! I've missed you!" Eary sobbed, his relief palpable. "Me too, kid. Me too," Mote replied, his own voice choked with emotion. Eary continued through his tears, "I've been so worried I'd never see you again." His tears flowed even harder as he poured out his feelings. Mote, concerned, asked, "You were afraid? I was worried about what that freak was going to do with you. He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No, no, my friends helped me escape, Mote. I'm fine," Eary reassured his cherished companion.

Mote turned his attention to the two girls, Mei, in tears of joy and Alice with a perplexed expression. "I should thank you two. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to my Eary," Mote said with a warm smile as he returned to Eary's shoulder. He then made a formal introduction, "I should properly introduce myself. The name's Mote! Pleased to meet you!" He exclaimed with a little bow.

Mei eagerly chimed in, her eyes filled with childlike wonder. "Hi! My name is Mei Wong!" she announced.

Alice, with a hint of annoyance, crossed her arms and questioned the critter, "Yeah, I'm Alice. So what are you?" She was clearly intrigued but trying to maintain her composure.

Mote responded with enthusiasm, "Ah well, I don't really know! Eary and I just call me a 'Moteling,' after me, Mote!" He declared, pointing to himself. "I don't really know much more than that. But I can tell you about my first memories!" He looked up at the girls, and a silence fell over the room as Mote began recounting his mysterious past.

"I remember a bunch of mes. A whole flock of 'em. We were in a crate, see, and there was a whole bunch of rumbling. And then I saw light! So I flew off." Mote paused, his furry ears drooping somberly. "I was the only one to get away," he lamented.

"I'm so sorry, Mote," Mei consoled the critter, her touch gentle as she scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah, well, sometimes that's just the way things are," Mote replied, perking up and puffing up his fur. "But I was a free Moteling in the big city. NEW YORK, BABY! I learned the ropes in the busy streets of Manhattan and found a nice little setup out in Brooklyn."

Alice interrupted with a realization, "Ah, so that's why you've got that accent. I was wondering why you and Eary talked differently."

Mote nodded, grinning mischievously. "Yeah, no, I didn't meet Eary, here, until much later. Before him, I had an old lady convinced I was her pet cat, which was delicious, by the way." He winked at the girls.

Mei's expression shifted from adoration to horror. "You eat cats?" She questioned in disgust.

Mote continued to explain, "Eh, not anymore, you know. It was a different time, and I was a starving Moteling looking for my next meal."

Eary interjected with pride, "Mote is really stretchy and eats just about everything. It's taken a long time, BUT we've gotten to the point where Mote knows not to eat anyone's pet!" Eary smiled, satisfied with their progress.

Alice chuckled, "It's taken a long time?" She teased.

Eary sighed, "Yes, yes, it has."

Alice paused and examined Eary closely. "So what, you just get new powers now?" She asked suspiciously.

Eary lifted his hand and, going through the same steps as before, it quickly erupted in a red glow. With a bit more focus, he generated a small electrical field between his fingers. "It looks like it, though. Why? Is that odd?" He asked, concern in his eyes.

Alice continued to probe, "Well, it's just that I have two powers and one light."

Mei added, "I only have one power and one color, too. And you just developed something like mine. Just like that!" She extended her hand in a matching fiery fashion to Eary.

Eary stared at Mei's hand in amazement. "I always thought the different colors were normal. I ALSO thought I was the only one. So..." Eary paused, reflecting on his entire life. "I don't know what I thought."

Alice sized up the boy for a moment, then smiled warmly at him. "Hey, it's fine. It's just odd, that's all. But I'm sure it'll be useful. Just be careful with it," she advised as she placed her arms behind the group of four, leading them further into the mysterious laboratory.

Another daunting stretch of empty corridors lay before them, leaving Eary to groan in frustration. "This place is a maze! How are we supposed to find our way out?!" he complained. Alice, ever determined, led the way, saying, "We go up. No windows, no light. I think we're underground wherever we are." With resolve, she crossed the threshold of yet another hallway filled with mysterious doors. Mei followed suit, nodding in agreement. "Sounds like a plan to me."

Eary, though disheartened by their predicament, had no better suggestion. "I agree," he stated somberly as he trailed behind the girls. Their journey continued along when a great shattering erupted from the room they had left behind. The unmistakable sound of breaking glass and rushing liquid reached their ears. Eary's eyes widened with realization. "The vats!" he whispered urgently to the group.

Suddenly, an unnatural and bone-chilling howl pierced the air, echoing ominously through the corridor. "RRRRAAAAARRRGGGHHHH," it roared. Fear surged through them all as they comprehended the dire threat they faced. "RUN!" Alice commanded, the three bolting in the opposite direction. They sprinted through the winding passages, hearts pounding in their chests.

After what felt like an eternity of fleeing, their path was abruptly blocked by a sealed fire door. Eary, his voice tinged with desperation, turned to Alice. "It's sealed shut! Alice! Can you break it down?"

Alice moved quickly to the door, determination in her eyes. Purple smoke began to encircle the seams of the door as it started to vibrate under her focused efforts. Mei's scream pierced the tense atmosphere as she pointed down the corridor. Eary's blood ran cold as he turned to see a pair of ominous yellow eyes glowing in the darkness. A grotesque mass, pink and gory, writhed and slithered beneath one of the few flickering lights in the corridor. Eary couldn't help but scream, "Hurry! Hurry! AHHHH!" A sudden loud crack and slam resounded from behind him, clearing their path. The two were already ahead, and Eary screamed, "HEY!" as he hurried to catch up.

The two girls slowed down, allowing their pint-sized companions to catch up. "Hurry up!" Alice commanded, her voice edged with urgency.

The disturbing "footsteps" of the abomination grew closer and closer. The trio burst into a large, empty room with a metal staircase leading to a catwalk. "The stairs! Hurry!" Alice yelled as the three raced across the room.

As they sprinted towards the stairs, an ominous "whoosh" sound filled the air. A colossal shadow loomed above them and landed directly in their path. The mass took on a grotesque form, and Eary's mouth fell open in sheer terror and disgust as the creature's origins became horrifyingly clear. Before them stood a nightmarish amalgamation of fused-together human body parts. Torsos from at least 14 different people breathed and writhed in twisted unison, forming a nightmarish quadrupedal entity. Its legs were a revolting oozing composite of limbs that more than likely belonged to the torsos. Two human eyes peered out from the central mass.

Eary stammered, his voice trembling in fear, "Is there a person in there?"

Alice, her breath ragged from their escape, stared at the abomination and responded grimly, "If there is, we need to put them out of their misery."

The abomination opened a maw amongst its mangled body made of torsos. From the gapping hole came another shriek "RRRRRRAAAARRRGGGGHHH" as it lunged forward at the three survivors. Alice and Mei jumped out of the way in time. Eary quickly erected a force field to which the creature slammed into. "Ah!" Eary screamed. A swirl of purple smoke surrounded the creature's hind legs. Being very heavy, Alice could only pull the creature off. Eary raised his hands, with a tremendous flash, let off a lightning bolt. It seemed to repel right off the horror's fleshy carcass. With a bright flash, a large jet of flames scalded the creature's flank. Much to their horror, the creature got back to its "feet" and charged once more.

Eary managed to leap out of the way. Alice yelled out, "Block it in with force fields!" Eary complied and erected a box of amber light around the monstrosity. However, the struggling creature quickly broke free. Leaping this time at Mei. She narrowly avoided the impact by launching herself out of the way with flame jets from her hands. Mei then surprised her companions by doing several back flips and summersaulting into the air. Again, she emitted the jets, but this time, she launched herself into the up. Spinning thru the air with extreme grace, the girl descended down on the best. As she did, she emitted a powerful stream of fire that suspended her above the abomination. Alice and Eary starred in awe. Alice gestured to the hand rail of the stairs. With purple smoke surrounding the pipe, she tore it free and thrust it directly into the creatures gasping side. 

Eary instinctively knew what to do next. Extending his left hand and pulling deep within himself, Eary let loose a powerful bolt. The electricity surged thru the air, making direct contact with the metal pole. The beast twitched for an unnaturally long time. Mei descended next to Alice, and Eary ran up to join the two. The three held each other as the abomination slunk to the floor. After a slight pause, Alice broke the silence. "Ok. So we're going to go up the stairs as quietly as we can. Let's go. Now! She whispered. She pulled the two close and slowly escorted the team around the monster. Making their way up the stairs, Alice guided the group down the right path of the catwalk. The trio was startled when an unnatural moaning was heard from behind. Alice whispered, "Go. Go. Go." As the team quickly shuffled away. 

Running down the catwalk, rounding the corner, and bursting into another room. The three barricaded the door behind them. This one was a well lit hanger of sorts. A large metal stair to their left, lead up to another set of catwalks. Large doors, big enough to move a tank through, were amongst the few features in the otherwise empty space. Mote flew off Eary's shoulder and landed on the stairs. "That was a close call there, that was." Mote said in relief. Alice piped in "HOLY SHIT! Yeah, it was. What the living FUCK was that thing anyways?" She ranted as she stuffed her guns in the back of her pants. "I am going to have nightmares forever!" Eary whined. "Mei! Where did you learn to kick so much ass like that?" Alice inquired. Mei, who had sat down next to mote answered "Ummm, well..." she giggled "I'm actually a trained gymnast. My dream is to compete in the Olympics someday. Been training all my life." Tears filled Mei's eyes as she lamented her situation. Alice sat next to her and placed a hand on her back and gave her a caring smile. 

Mote chimed in "Well young lady, I was thoroughly impressed!" Mei blushed in modesty. "It could be worse too. You could be in love with your brother's boyfriend like Eary." Alice giggled. Eary protested "Hey now! I just found out they were dating the night I got snatched." He continued "Secondly, We had been inseparable our whole lives until about two years ago. And two years before that I had sat with him everyday for four years while he had cancer. His asshole boyfriend went off to play hockey while I was doing that! But I'm the cast off. TCH!" Eary slammed down in a huff "And he's my fraternal twin. So it's a mega rejection. And our families are like the same family. I'm super fucked here!" The boy complained. Alice and Mei both started to giggle. First slowly then to all out laughter. "That's nice. Real nice!" Eary scolded the two. "We're laughing with you." Mei said through the laughter. Alice spoke up "because that really does suck. Damn! Fill me in completely next time." Eary stared at the two. Feeling a closeness he had not felt in years, he began to laugh as well. The three new friends sat and laughed and laughed. After a minute, Eary heard a familiar voice from behind. "HEY!"

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