Alvin and the Chipmunks Video Game Purgatory 10.

Chapter Ten

First Fight

The lizard’s eyes stared ferociously at the robotic warrior, its sharp fangs dripping.  Before the lizard could move, the tigress Lora was already on top of him, having leapt at a great speed.

While Lora was attempting to clamp her jaws around the reptile’s neck, Alvin grabbed hold of the steering wheel.  Unlike the steering wheels of cars, this one could be pushed in or pulled out, perhaps serving as a forward/backward control.  “Let’s do this,” he said with a determined grin.

He tried thrusting the wheel forward, but the robot didn’t budge an inch.  He tried again, but to no avail.  Alvin pounded his fist on the wheel.  “Come on!  What’s wrong with this thing?”

“What are you doing?” Simon asked, stepping to Alvin’s side to investigate.

“I’m trying to drive this thing, and it’s not moving,” Alvin said.

“Is there a button or switch you forgot to pull?” said Simon.

Alvin scanned the control panel.  There were buttons and switches, but way too many to count.  It didn’t help that they weren’t labeled.  “If I knew which button did what!” Alvin snapped.

“Here, let me see,” said Simon, reaching his paws to the control panel.

While the two brothers argued, pressing buttons and pulling switches fruitlessly, Theodore and the Chipettes watched the brawl between Lora and the lizard, their hearts pounding.  The tigress appeared to be having an easy victory, until the lizard dug its razor sharp teeth into her side.  Lora howled, and swiped her paw at the lizard’s face, slamming it into an adjacent tree trunk.

Suddenly a loud metallic voice boomed.  “INPUT YOUR COMMAND, MASTER.”

Theodore jumped.  “W-what was that?” he said, looking around the control panel.

“What was what?” Alvin said.

“I AM CREATION NUMBER 61855-697820, CODENAME ‘FREEDOM FIGHTER’.  I WILL ELIMINATE ALL TYRANNY FROM THE PREMISES.”

“That voice,” Theodore said.  “Did you hear it?”

The other chipmunks paused to listen.  “I don’t hear anything,” said Simon.

“YOU HAVE SUPPLIED ME WITH THE NECESSARY ENERGY TO PERFORM MY DUTY.  YOUR COMMAND IS IN MY PROGRAMMING, MASTER THEODORE.”

“See?  Did you hear it now?” said Theodore.  “He just told me I was his master—”  The chubby chipmunk stopped midsentence to realize what he had just repeated.  And it hit him that the voice speaking to him was that of the robot…

“INPUT YOUR COMMAND, MASTER.”

“Either we’re completely deaf, or you’re crazy,” Brittany said.  “Because there isn’t anyone else talking.”

“He might be right,” said Simon.  “Considering all the other crazy things we’ve seen in this world, it just might be plausible that he’s hearing something the rest of us aren’t.”

“Okay, let’s say that is true,” said Alvin.  “I still don’t follow what Theodore’s talking about.  Whose master?”

“Freedom Fighter’s,” Theodore answered.

Alvin stared blankly at his brother.  “Who?”

“That’s the robot’s name.  ‘Freedom Fighter’.”

“So you mean to tell me that you control the…?”  Alvin’s jaw dropped.  “Are you serious?”

Theodore nodded.

“How come Theodore gets to be this thing’s master?” Alvin griped.

“Freedom Fighter just said he doesn’t like being called a ‘thing’,” Theodore said.

Alvin sighed.  “Whatever!  Tell ‘Freedom Fighter’ that I would make a great leader.”

“He says you’re not the one with the flute.”

“Or the one with enough common sense,” added Simon.

“Freedom Fighter says he agrees with Simon,” Theodore said.

“Okay, enough!” said Alvin.  “Can you ask him how I can get him to work?”

“Freedom Fighter, I give you permission to let Alvin pilot,” Theodore said, directing his words toward the ceiling.

“ACCESS GRANTED.”

All the buttons and switches lit up the control panel like twinkling Christmas lights.  The sound of an engine revving up filled the air.  A seatbelt strapped Alvin to the captain chair on its own accord, causing him to jump with surprise.

Filling the chipmunks’ ears was another piercing roar, their attention diverted back to the fight.  As if from nowhere, three more of those lizards had joined in, now having Lora outnumbered.  The reptiles clung onto the tiger, keeping her immobilized.  She tried to fight them off, but their claws dug deep into her skin.

“Chosen Ones!” Lora shouted, her face temporarily turned to the robot.  “What are you doing?”

Alvin didn’t have to think about what he was doing.  He thrust the wheel forward with all his might.  The entire cockpit jerked forward, sending the other chipmunks flying toward the windshield.  The robot was running toward the lizards, whose attention now focused away from Lora at their new prey.

“Crud, what do I do now?” Alvin said.

Before anyone could answer, a lizard dove into the robot, knocking it backward.  The other five chipmunks hit the wall in the back.

“Have you tried the buttons?” Simon said.

The lizards all piled on top of Freedom Fighter, which lay hopelessly on the ground.  The vile creatures scratched and bit the robot, as though it would do any damage.

Alvin reached for a large red button.  The chipmunks heard a loud blast, like that of a fiery explosion.  It suddenly felt as though everything was traveling one-hundred miles an hour.  Outside the windshield, Alvin could see the treetops getting smaller and smaller.

“Alvin, what did you do?” Brittany screamed.

“I don’t know!” Alvin yelled back, sounding panicked.  “I don’t know what the heck any of these buttons do!”

“Freedom Fighter told me you activated its rockets,” Theodore said.

“Great!” Alvin said, throwing his paws up.  “Is there anything else Freedom Fighter forgot to mention?  Heck, ask it if it comes with an instruction manual.  I could sure use one!”

“There’s one in the glove compartment,” said Theodore simply.

For a moment, Alvin gaped at his brother as though he didn’t believe him.  He then said, “Then go get it!  Hurry, before I lose control of this thing and crash us all!”

Theodore reached for the little drawer underneath the control panel, and pulled out a little book.  He flipped through the pages, a look of confusion crossing his face.  “I…I can’t read this,” he said.

Alvin groaned loudly.  “Seriously, Theodore?”

“Let me see it,” Simon said, taking the book from Theodore.  The bespectacled chipmunk examined the pages closely.  “Strange.  I don’t recognize any of these characters.”

“How helpful,” Brittany said.  “They give us an instruction manual, and we can’t even read it.”

Suddenly, Simon’s face elated.  “Brittany, get out your compass.”

Brittany crinkled her brow.  “Why?”

“Just do it,” Simon said.

Still confused, Brittany did as she was told.  She took a deep breath, and watched as the arrows began to spin and slow down, positioning themselves toward the instruction book.  The compass glowed amber brown, and the runes on the pages lit up in the matching color.

“What’s happening?” asked Jeanette.

“I see now,” Brittany said, amazed.  The runes had transformed into English letters before her eyes.  She started flipping pages.  She turned to Alvin.  “Pull that green lever above your head!”

Alvin looked up until he spotted the aforementioned switch, grabbed it, and yanked it.  The robot halted in midair, its rockets toned down so that it was just levitating.

Alvin sighed in relief.  “Okay.  So now how do we get down?”

“Pull the green lever again, but halfway,” Brittany said.  “It should be slow enough that you can steer more easily.”

The red clad chipmunk grabbed the switch again, and gently pulled it to the middle.  The robot was now moving upward, and Alvin took hold of the steering wheel.  He veered the robot in the direction toward the treetops below them.

“Eleanor, Simon, you see those two joysticks over there?”  Brittany pointed to the joysticks, which sat on either side of Alvin’s steering wheel.  “Those control his arms.  We can use those to help Lora fight the lizards.”

When Eleanor and Simon hurried over to the joysticks, Alvin frowned in disappointment.  “Aww, I want to fight.  Will someone else take over driving?”

“Alvin, stay focused,” Simon said.

Once the robot neared the ground, Alvin pulled the green switch, shutting off the rockets.  The chipmunks looked for Lora and the lizards, but the vicinity they were in was quiet and still.

“That’s funny,” said Alvin.  “Did I land in the wrong place?”

“Look!”  Theodore pointed.  A body lay a few yards from where they stood.   The chipmunks instantly recognized it as a large striped feline.

“Lora!” Eleanor exclaimed.  “She looks hurt.  We have to help her.”

“But where are the lizards?” Alvin asked.

Alvin drove the robot closer to Lora.  Her fur was disheveled and covered in blood.  Her eyes fluttered open and closed.  “I…I tried…” she uttered weakly.

“Lora, are you okay?” Theodore asked.

“…don’t think…make it…” Lora mumbled.  The chipmunks all exchanged worried glances.  They hoped they wouldn’t have to witness a second death on the same day.

“What do we do?” Jeanette asked.

Suddenly, loud hissing noises came from behind, and the robot was knocked forward by impact.  Alvin saw flashes of green scaly bodies pass the windshield, and he furrowed his brow.  “The lizards are back.  Simon, Eleanor!  At your posts now!”

Simon and Eleanor did as commanded.  Alvin gripped the steering wheel, a determined grin on his face.  “Let’s pummel those reptiles.”

“But what about Lora?” asked Theodore.  “We can’t just leave her.”

“Come with me,” Brittany motioned to Jeanette and Theodore.  “Alvin, you guys fight the lizards.  We’ll take care of Lora.”

“Sounds good to me,” Alvin said with enthusiasm.

With Freedom Fighter’s instruction in his head, Theodore led Brittany and Jeanette through a shaft that took them to the exit.  The three chipmunks hurried toward Lora, who was still breathing, but slowly.

Theodore turned his head briefly to watch the battle between the Ancient Giant and the group of lizards.  There seemed to be many more of the reptiles than he remembered there being.  Freedom Fighter swung his torso, throwing a punch that sent two lizards soaring across the clearing into a tree trunk.

“Lora, are you awake?” Jeanette asked the tigress.  The Chipette patted Lora’s cheek.  “We’re here to help.  Don’t worry.”

The tigress let out a faint growl.  Jeanette turned to her sister.  “How are we going to heal her?”

“I don’t know,” Brittany admitted.  She then realized that she had a compass that could lead her to the answer.  She pulled out the golden trinket, and held it forward.  “Where can we go for help?” she asked.  Her heart was pounding furiously.  She knew Lora’s time was numbered and that they had to hurry, but she had to force herself to calm down and focus.

The spindles rotated in a full circle before stopping in one direction, which pointed eastward.

Brittany turned to Jeanette and Theodore.  “You watch Lora.  I’ll be back.”

As the auburn-furred Chipette scurried away, Jeanette spoke soothingly to Lora while Theodore watched the battle before him.  Freedom Fighter now had a lizard gripped by its tail, and the robot swung the creature like a baseball bat, knocking other lizards down.  Alvin, Simon, and Eleanor appeared to be getting the hang of controlling the robot, let alone fighting in it.

…

Meanwhile, Brittany was running as fast as she could in the direction the compass was leading her.  She wondered what sort of help the compass had in mind.  Was there a doctor?  Someone with healing powers?  How far away was he or she?  Would Brittany be able to make it back before it was too late?

Then Brittany spotted it.  An amber glow led her to a single flower planted in an isolated spot.  Was this it?  Would this flower heal Lora?

Brittany didn’t have time to question it.  She plucked the flower out of the ground and hurried back where she came.

…

Lora’s breathing was becoming softer.  Jeanette continued with her encouraging words, but was worried about Brittany making it back in time.  Or if she even found a solution to the crisis at hand.

Then at the corner of her eye, she saw Brittany come out of the trees, and she sighed with relief.  She was holding a flower, which raised hope in Jeanette.

“How is she?” Brittany asked.

“She’s hanging in there,” Jeanette said.  “Though I think she’s getting close to...”

“Okay, let’s try this,” Brittany said, climbing up Lora’s back.  She tipped the flower over one of Lora’s wounds, and a droplet of clear liquid rolled out of the flower’s center.  As soon as the drop landed, Brittany’s eyes widened.  The wound was closing up as immediately as the liquid soaked in.

“Wow!” Brittany breathed, her mouth widening into a smile.  “It’s actually working!”

Jeanette smiled as well.  “That’s wonderful!”

Brittany continued to drop the flower’s nectar onto as many wounds as she could.  However, after the sixth one, no more drops came out.

“We need another one,” Brittany said.  “There’s no nectar left.”

She was about to pull out her compass again, until Jeanette spoke up.  “Wait, Brittany.  I have an idea.  I need the flower.”

Curious about what Jeanette was planning, Brittany handed her sister the flower.  Jeanette reached in and pulled out the seeds and buried them underground.  With her Sun Rod in hand, Jeanette said the words, “Little seeds beneath the earth, arise as flowers from your birth.”

Right before their eyes, sprouts pushed out of the dirt, and quickly grew longer until they blossomed into new flowers.

“Jeanette, did I ever tell you that you are a genius?”  Brittany said as she picked one of the flowers.

“Uh, actually, no.  You didn’t,” Jeanette said a little quietly.

It didn’t appear Brittany had heard anyway.  “Theodore, you and Jeanette grab a flower and help me.”

The two chipmunks did so, and climbed on Lora’s back with Brittany.  The tigress’ breathing seemed to be picking up, which was a very promising sign.

…

In the cockpit inside Freedom Fighter, Alvin was dishing out commands to Simon and Eleanor.  “Simon, swing your arm to the right.  Eleanor, give the lizard in front a good uppercut.”

The timing of the sequence was just perfect.  Simon had delivered a karate chop on a lizard’s stomach, while Eleanor seemed to have dislocated another one’s jaw.  Alvin grinned in satisfaction.  It felt so good to be in a leading position, as well as kicking lizard butt.  Alvin knew he was born for this role.

It had taken the three a while to get coordinated and comfortable with the controls, but once they did, they became an unstoppable fighting machine.  It was like playing a video game.  Well, technically they were, but it was definitely better than using a simple game controller.

There were so many immobile lizard bodies on the ground, Alvin wondered how many they had actually defeated.  Right now, they were dealing with two more.  The last two, he assumed.

“Let’s do something a little creative with these guys,” Alvin said with a devious smile.

Simon sighed.  “Let’s hear it.”

Alvin could barely contain his glee.  “We’ll ground pound  ‘em.”

Eleanor gave Alvin an uneasy look.  “What do you mean?”

“I’ll show you,” Alvin said.  “First, I need you guys to grab those lizards.”

Working together, the chipmunks eventually got the last two lizards gripped in Freedom Fighter’s metal hands.  Alvin then reached for the large red button, which activated the rocket boosters.

“Are you really doing that again?” Simon said.

Alvin gave Simon the look that said, “You’ll see.”  Freedom Fighter shot higher and higher into the air, the lizards looking like they want to faint on the spot.

Alvin pulled the green lever so that the robot stopped.  “Now position the arms underneath Freedom Fighter.”

Simon and Eleanor exchanged confused glances, but did as commanded anyway.

Meanwhile, Alvin worked the controls, and made it so that Freedom Fighter was in a sitting position, with both hands under its rear.

Alvin then switched off the rockets, and the robot began to freefall.

“Alvin!  What are you doing?”  Simon exclaimed.  “Are you insane!?”

Simon and Eleanor were gripping the dashboard tightly to keep them from flying against the ceiling.  Alvin shot both paws in the air, cheering as though he were going down a steep drop on a roller coaster.  The other two chipmunks felt a lurch in their stomachs.

It all happened too fast.  The entire cockpit suddenly quaked violently upon the robot’s impact on the ground.  Simon and Eleanor’s grips were unfortunately not strong enough to keep them from crashing against a wall.  Alvin, with his seatbelt on, stayed put in the captain’s chair.

After a minute of recovering from the crash, Alvin said between exhilarated pants, “Those…lizards…are…def…initely…goners.”

Simon and Eleanor were on the floor, their bodies aching.  The bespectacled chipmunk glared at his brother with murderous eyes.  “Don’t.  EVER.  Do that again.”

Alvin unstrapped his seatbelt and ran over to his brother and friend.  “You guys okay?”

“Aside from my tail being slightly bent, I say I’m doing well,” Simon replied with bitter sarcasm.

Eleanor sat up.  “My back is sore, but I think I’ll be fine,” she said.

The three chipmunks exited the robot, and found that Freedom Fighter was halfway into the ground.  Theodore, Jeanette, and Brittany were standing at the site.

“We thought you might have gotten hurt really bad!” Theodore said, running up to his brothers and Eleanor and pulling them into a group hug.  “I’m so glad that you’re okay!”

“What the heck did you guys do?” Brittany asked.

“Alvin…” Simon said passing an angry glance at his brother.  “…chose now of all times to be a daredevil.”

“You gotta admit that was awesome,” Alvin said.

“Oh, how’s Lora?” Eleanor asked.

“She’s doing great,” Theodore said.

“We managed to find a magic flower with healing powers,” said Jeanette.  “Not only was she bleeding very badly, but she was also poisoned.  The lizards had venom in their fangs.  Now she’s doing much better, but she needs to rest for a little bit.  She’s still weak.”

Eleanor nodded.  “Well, that’s a relief.  I’m glad everything has worked out.”

“Except we might have a problem,” Simon said.  He was next to Freedom Fighter, inspecting it.  “It appears that because of Alvin’s little stunt, some areas are severely damaged.”

Alvin rolled his eyes and groaned.  “Okay.  My bad.”

“I don’t think we’ll be going anywhere anytime soon,” Simon continued.  “Freedom Fighter is in dire need of repairs, and Lora needs time to recover.”

Reluctantly, the chipmunks agreed to that plan and decided to camp out in their current location.

…

Night had fallen, and Lora still had barely any energy left in her.  She decided to take on the form of a chipmunk to make it easier for the Chosen Ones to help her when she needed it.  The girls were right there keeping her company, while the boys were busy tending to Freedom Fighter.  Simon had the expertise of working with mechanics so he would be doing most of the fixing.  He dragged Alvin along, insisting he help because he was the one who caused the damage in the first place, and Theodore’s ability to communicate with Freedom Fighter would serve useful.

Brittany, Jeanette, and Eleanor explained what had happened while Lora was out.  They were fortunate enough to have come across a Heaven’s Flower, whose nectar had healed her wounds and destroyed the venom in her body.  Meanwhile, Freedom Fighter had singlehandedly wiped out all the lizards that had appeared in the area.  Lora worried that more would arrive, but so far, no more had shown up.

Lora did not tell the girls this, but while she was out, when everything had turned dark in her eyes, she had a strange vision.  Her body was so weak that she believed that she wouldn’t make it.  The darkness had suddenly turned light, and a feeling of love and comfort enveloped her.  She was freed from the chains of mortal burdens.  She no longer suffered, and she could finally rest for all eternity.

And for a brief moment, she saw his face again.  His arms were open ready to embrace her.  She was ready to fall into them until her eyes opened, and she was lying on the ground again.

Lora kept this to herself as it was personal, and that she didn’t want to instill worry in the Chosen Ones.

The boys eventually returned after a few hours, and all the chipmunks ate dinner of nuts and berries from their pack.  Simon suggested they sleep in the trees because they would shelter them from any more wild beasts.  Lora shared a tree with the girls.  They were all fast asleep, but Lora remained awake, despite her weak, tired state.

Her thoughts were busy, and at the moment she was feeling emotionally unstable.  She remembered what she had been told that morning by Gunther.  It was still difficult to accept that her husband was no longer here.  That she could no longer embrace him, hear his soothing voice whenever she was sad.  That she could no more tell him how much she loved him.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.  Half of her was angry at him for lying to her, and getting himself into the situation that cost him his life.  The other half was empty, cold, and lonely.  They had planned to start a family together.  Though Lora had difficulties conceiving, James remained determined that a miracle was going to happen.

Now, that was no longer possible.

A heavy lump weighed in her throat, and she involuntarily let out a sob.  It was no use trying to stay strong.  Every ounce of her emotions poured out like a waterfall.  She was glad that the Chosen Ones were fast asleep, and could not hear or see her broken like this.

Suddenly, she felt warmth cover her.  It was a familiar touch.  Lora had always felt it in times like this.

A soothing voice said to her, “Don’t cry, Lora.  I’m right here.”

Lora wasn’t sure if it was something she actually heard, or she was just imagining it.  She turned her head and saw a chipmunk with stone gray eyes she knew all too well.

Lora took a deep breath, and asked, “Why did you do it?  Why did you leave me?”

James’ expression was apologetic.  “I needed to.  The Chosen Ones are our only hope in a better future.”

“But…” Lora choked.  “Now we don’t have a future.  What good is a better world if we can’t be in it together?”

“I understand, Lora.  I know how painful it is,” James said, stroking his fingers through her hair.  “Even though the Past Realm has everything I ever want and need, it’s missing the one thing that matters to me the most.”

“I could have joined you,” Lora said.  “I was almost there.  I could feel your presence.”

“And I’m grateful you didn’t make it,” James said, much to Lora’s surprise.  “Lora, I know you can still find happiness in this life.  What you’re doing right now, it can lead you to that fulfillment.  Help the Chosen Ones achieve their destiny.  You can succeed where I have failed.  Don’t let my death be in vain.”

“But James,” Lora said.  “I don’t know what I’m doing.  During that battle today…I was too weak.  I let the Chosen Ones down.”

“You are not weak, Lora,” said James.  “Since my death, I have witnessed you do brave things.  You are strong, Lora.  No other Zenkradian could have escaped the police as you did.  You risked your life for the Chosen Ones.  You came out of the battle victorious.”

Lora said nothing, and let her tears flow.  James brushed his paw against her face, and continued, “My only wish is for you to follow your heart.  You make me the proudest man in the world for having a wife like you.  Follow your heart and use your strength to save the world.  We will reunite with each other someday.  I promise.”

Lora smiled slightly.  James took her face in his paws, and she wrapped her arms around him.  He felt so tangible, as though he were still living.  When their lips met, Lora would not let go.  She knew this would be their last in a long time.

Once they finally parted, James looked at her sadly.  “It’s time I return to the Past Realm.  I cannot stay anymore.  We will see each other again, though.  Just stay strong.”

Stay strong.

His words echoed after his figure vanished.  Lora expected to feel empty again after he left, but she didn’t.  Instead, a new fervor built up inside of her.  She glanced at the sleeping chipmunks beside her.  They were an important part of what James was fighting for, and she would help them for her husband’s sake.  For the sake of the world.

For the sake of dethroning the tyrannical monsters that took her husband away from her.  No one was to suffer this way anymore.  Her entire life she witnessed neighbors, friends, and teachers of her home village taken away to the execution building.  The Zenkrad she knew was ruled by fear.  Sometimes no one would go outside their houses, worrying they would lose their lives that day.

That wasn’t going to happen anymore.  She would help the Chosen Ones fulfill the prophecy, and instill freedom in the land once more.

I’ll do it, James.  I will be strong.