When Crono, Marle and Lucca came out of the gate, they appeared in a small
room.
Marle looked around.
There's no way the Chancellor can reach us here. But, where are we?
Lucca looked around.
They were trapped inside a room with metal walls.
The civilization here seems so... advanced...
Yeah. Marle said. Like we're in another world.
Crono checked the room for doors. There was one door to the north, and one
to the south.
On the north door, there was some strange inscriptions. The south hadnt.
Crono tried to open the north door, but it didnt budge.
Any suggestions? Crono tried, but no one answered.
Well, it wasnt my... Lucca started, but Marle interrupted
her.
Whatever you like it or not, were here. And its much better
here than there.
Crono opened the south door. They saw a wasteland outside.
Still so sure?
Im freezing to death! Marle exclaimed as they walked. The
land had no grass, only brown dirt. It was snowing, but the ground was free
from snow.
Then walk faster! Lucca answered.
They had walked a bit, and was just going to check the nearby area from a
hill.
Crono looked around as they came up.
There was a big dome to the south, and a lot of collapsed buildings to the
north.
On the east, across the sea, was a big mountain. It looked scary.
Any ideas? Crono asked.
Nope. Youre the leader.
Marle turned to him.
Just go someplace warm, okay?
Crono nodded.
...and where we can rest. Marle continued.
Rest! shouted Lucca suddenly. Im not tired!
Me neither! Crono said.
What? Marle asked supriced.
Its a side effect of gate traveling. Lucca explained.
But we show no affect of it now... Perhaps our bodies are getting used
to time traveling.
Crono nodded.
Yeah. Maybe...
Lets head south. Those buildings in the north dont show much
interest to me.
Lucca and Marle nodded, and followed Crono.
They had reached the dome after two hours of walking.
It looked like nobody had been here the last 100 years.
Lucca could see different machines who had been without electricity for...
centuries.
Crono found the main entrance, and they walked in.
The dome looked much like the place they came to.
Just like the last building, all walls were metal.
All over the floor was a lot of different metal things.
Inside the dome sat people dress in torned clothes.
It looked like... sacks...
Most of them looked like theyve never eaten a full meal ever in their
lives.
No one reacted when Crono, Marle and Lucca came in.
Eh... Lucca said, trying to get some attention. I know
this is a stupid question, but...
When is this? What year is it?
First silence, then...
Who cares?
Crono walked around in the room where everybody was sitting.
Some of them sat very close to each other to keep the heat up.
Can anyone tell me where this is? Crono said. Truce
dome?
One man looked up. Truce dome? Never heard of it. This is... or was
Trann dome.
Then silence again.
This got to be the future! Lucca said to Crono and Marle.
Crono nodded.
How far? Marle asked.
Lucca shook her head.
I dont know.
Then she saw something.
Hey, you!
She walked to one man.
He looked up on her.
What?
She pointed at a small object beside him.
Is that a gun?
The man nodded.
May I buy it? Lucca asked.
The man shook his head. Money is useless here.
Lucca picked up something from her bag.
Then what about this?
The man rose.
Deal. Gimme!
Lucca gave him the food she had showed to him and then took the gun.
Thanks.
The man nodded and started to eat.
One woman came up to them.
You look... strong. In Arris dome, they have food. Can you go there
and get some for us? Please?
Crono nodded.
I can. Where is it?
The woman pointed in a north direction.
You must pass the ruins, or Lab 16 as they call it.
Crono nodded.
I know what you mean.
How nice of you to help them. Marle said, when they were outside
the dome.
Me? Hey, youre in it too.
First, Marle looked supriced, but later she nodded.
I guess I am.
Lab 16 was far away from Trann Dome. I took even more hours to get there.
Once they got there, Crono, Marle and Lucca could see that it contained most
of crashed buildings. Small paths were leading through.
They slowly walked in.
I got a bad feeling about this... Lucca said.
Youre not alone about that... Crono added.
Definitly not. Marle confirmed.
They seemed to walk in eternity. All they saw was buildings everywhere.
How long is this Lab 16 anyway? Marle asked.
Stop complaining. Lucca said. Its over once its
over.
Not long. Crono said, to avoid any conflicts.
Suddenly...
Did you hear that? Marle exclaimed.
What? Lucca asked.
I heard it. Crono said and draw his sword.
I wonder what... Lucca said. Marle watch out!
A big rat jumped up and grabbed something from Marle.
It stole a tonic! Marle shouted.
Yeah... Crono said and leaped forward.
He tried to slash the rat, but it was too fast.
After a few seconds, it was gone.
But that wasnt what I heard... Marle said and picked up
her crossbow.
Lucca picked up her new gun.
Suddenly, a big pink creature jumped down from one of the crashed buildings.
What... is that? Marle said.
Why dont you ask it yourself? Lucca replied.
It was a tall creature with two legs. It had small arms, and the top part
of its head was yellow.
The rest of the body was pink. It roared with a strange voice.
Is it friendly? Marle asked.
The creature kicked Lucca into a wall 3 meters away.
Uuufff...
Crono looked at Marle.
Does that answer your question?
Marle nodded and fired an arrow.
The arrow hit the creature in its body, and purple blood flowed out
from the wound.
But the creature seemed to ignore the damage.
It gave Marle a kick. Like Lucca, she flied into a wall.
Dont. Crono said, and made a leap forward. He cut the thing
in its stomach, but it ignored this to. A red tentacle came out of
its mouth (or what looked like its mouth) and surrounded Crono.
It grabbed him.
AAAaarrrggg... Crono yelled.
Marle and Lucca came up.
This situation demands a radical action. Lucca said and ran forward.
The tentacle squeezed Crono harder. Crono lost sword, so he couldnt
counter attack.
Lucca picked it up and cut the tentacle in two.
AAAhhhh... Crono said and took a deep breath.
Lucca gave him his sword and he stroke back.
The creature tried to kick Marle but she evaded.
As a response, Marle smashed the shaft of her crossbow in the head of the
creature.
Now it hurt.
It screamed.
Cut the yellow spot! Marle shouted, and she didnt have
to say it twice.
Crono jumped up, and drilled the sword deep into the yellow spot.
The thing fell down dead.
Crono dried his sword on the dead body.
Nice. Marle said. What is it?
Lucca shook her head.
Dont know.
They watched the body for a long time.
Lets go. Crono said finally.
But they didnt get very far. Their way was blocked by a flower looking
thing.
It looked like a flower with legs.
What... Marle said.
I think its a scavenger. Lucca said. It felt the
dead body.
Crono nodded. Let get out of here.
They walked around the flower and it ignored them.
They continued carefully.
When the darkness came, they had crossed the ruins. On their east was a bigger
dome, but it looked just as the last one. No light, just a metal dome.
Carefully, they entered the dome, and what they found inside was not very
much different from what they found in Trann dome. Just inside of it was
a barley readable sign who said:
Arris dome
There were probably more people here than in Trann, but the attitude was
the same.
Once they came into the big room, where all people was, an old man shouted
at them.
You there, where're you from?...
They looked at each other.
We came from the laboratories to the west. Crono said.
W, what? The old man said. Hey, we've got people who crossed
the ruins!
Crono nodded as a lot of people looked up.
Say again? You're joking?! one said.
So there ARE people who can beat up those freaky mutants... the
old man said.
Pardon me, I'm Doan. I'm the descendant of the Director of this
info center.
In the basement, there's a huge computer and a storage center for food.
But we can't get through 'cause of the robot guards. It's a pity.
Yeah. Marle said. Those guys in Trann dome said something
about food here.
Doan shook his head.
We dont have more than they do.
Lucca nodded.
The computer... Does it know anything about time gates
Doan nodded.
It knows everything, I believe.
Marle looked at the stairway down to the basement.
Perhaps we should...
Crono nodded.
They walked away to the stairs.
Are you going down below? Doan asked.
Marle nodded.
Of course! Someones got to help you.
But no one's ever returned from there. Doan said.
Gotta try, right? Lucca replied.
Doan looked down.
...
It's nice to see spirited young people for a change.
Careful, now. And come back alive.
Crono nodded and climbed down the ladder.
Marle and Lucca followed.
The came into a room with two doors.
Next to each door was a console.
The room was not totally dark, cause some lights were working.
Lucca couldnt figure out why they worked, and not anything else in
this building.
She checked the consoles.
The west one was broken, but she could use the east one.
We need a password. I think it will open this door.
Lucca tried a few combinations, but nothing worked.
Lets try that door. Crono said and pointed at the left
door.
Marle nodded.
Yeah. Cmon!
They all entered it.
On the other side was a huge room.
It looked like a storage of some sort.
Immediately when they came in, they found themselves standing on a platform,
5-6 meters over ground. Small iron girders was laid across the room, probably
made for people to cross it.
They could see a lot of containers below. They were quite big, probably 3
meters high.
To get down, it was easiest to jump down on one container, and from there,
jump to the ground.
But they werent going down. On the other side of the room, in their
height, was an iron door.
Crono walked on the girders to get there, and Lucca and Marle followed.
They looked down.
Is this the food storage? Marle asked.
Crono shook his head.
I dont think so. This is not the way to store food. Its
probably behind that door.
They walked towards it.
Crono carefully opened it.
Then...
BBBBBEEEPPP BBBBEEEPPP!!!
An alarm signal echoed in the room.
Suddenly a HUGE robot entered the room from nowhere.
Missiles came out of its body and the coming explosion threw the party
backwards.
Lucca picked up her gun, and jumped down on a container and took cover.
Crono looked around for Marle, but he couldnt find her.
The robot spun around and searched for them. Apparently, it couldnt
see very good.
Crono watch over an edge.
Marle was hanging there in one hand.
Crono... she said.
I help you up. Crono said, but...
No. Marle replied. Ill jump.
Crono looked down.
But theres no container under you... You wont make the
fall.
Marle looked up.
But he is up there...
Crono thought for a second.
Dont fear the reaper! he finally said, thinking about what
Melchior once told him.
Cmon!
Take my hand!
Lets scrap him.
Marle thought for a second. Then she grabbed his hand, and he helped her
up.
Lets go get him! Crono said, and turned around.
But then he saw two new robots.
They were smaller than the first one, and hovered around.
One got down and searched the containers.
Suddenly a BANG was heard, and a few sparks appeared.
The main unit and the second small robot went there immediately.
Marle aimed with her crossbow and fired an arrow on the other small thing.
It fell down with a few sparks.
Then the main unit went back to the ceiling and started to search on its
own way.
Then Crono realized that those two units were its scouts. It didnt
need to see, when the small ones could. Crono leaped forward and cut the
main unit. But his sword didnt broke through its armor. The robot
turned around and fired a missile at Crono. It missed.
The robot backed and then two new scouts came. They searched the floor again.
Crono and Marle, who were still standing on the girders were quite supriced
of that they didnt check the bridges first. But they were probably
programmed how to search.
Suddenly one of those scouts came up. Crono waved with his hands in front
of it.
Here I am! Come and get me!
But instead of calling for the big robot, the small one fired a laser beam
on Crono.
It hit him in his stomach. AAAAaaahhh.... he yelled.
Crono fell down from the girder, and landed on the roof of a container.
You.... Marle shouted, and fired an arrow on the scout. It fell
down.
The main unit came up. Execute program It said and opened an
eye.
A laser beam came out of it, but Marle evaded.
She fired an arrow right in its eye.
The whole thing exploded with a red fireball.
The explosion lit up the room even more, and small pieces of the robot flied
into every corner of the room.
Are you okay, Lucca Marle shouted.
Yeah. A voice said.
Marle jumped down on the container where Crono had landed.
She checked the wound.
This is bad! she said, and in the same moment, Lucca climbed
up.
How bad?
It went right through. You got a tonic? I lost mine.
Lucca nodded.
Just one.
They used it on Crono and the wound closed.
Crono opened his eyes.
Eeeeeegghhhh....
Lets go, superhero. Lucca said and helped Crono up.
They climbed back up on the bridges, and entered the room where the robot
had been.
It was quite a large room, and on the other side of the room was a door.
They entered it.
Once they came into the new room, they could hear a dripping sound.
In the room was a lot of capsules. In the other side of the room was a man,
probably dead, sitting against the wall.
Phew! Something reeks! Marle said, once they came into the new
room.
Lucca checked the capsules.
Everything's completely rotten. The refrigeration must have
failed...
Marle and Crono walked to the dead man.
Passed away long ago, I suppose... He's holding something. What do
you suppose this is?
Marle held up a small bag.
Crono checked it.
It looks like some kind of seed.
Lucca joined them.
A seed? Do you suppose it could grow in a place like this?
Perhaps. Crono said.
Marle took small bag with seed.
Then Crono found a chest in one corner.
Look! he said.
Lucca and Marle came.
Do you know what this is? Crono said and showed them the two
bottles who he found inside the chest.
Lucca shook her head.
No idea.
Someone might know. Take it you. Marle said.
Crono nodded and took the bottles.
Look over here! Lucca shouted. LRA. I think thats
our password!
What? Marle said. She walked to Lucca who was holding in a piece
of paper.
He had it. Lucca explained and pointed on the dead man.
Then lets find that computer. Crono said. I guess
its behind the door.
Tomorrow. Lucca replied. Its already midnight.
Weve been through a lot today. We have saved a princess and escaped
from the castle prison. We have all the right to rest.
The others agreed. They had no sleeping bags, but it was warm enough in the
room.
Laying in each corner they fall asleep.
Crono...
Crono.
Wake up, Crono.
Crono opened his eyes. It was still dark as usual.
What?
Shhh...
It was Marle.
Ive been thinking about one thing.
Crono looked at her.
Really... Is it nothing you can take tomorrow?
No. Marle answered. I want to take it now. Else I cant
sleep.
Crono smiled.
Then we have to do something about it, dont we? What is it?
I know this sounds stupid, but... When you look at me, what do you
see?
I see you of course!
A stupid question gets a stupid answer... Crono thought.
Marle looked away, trying to formulate the question different.
No... I mean... What do you see?
Crono thought for a second.
I see the girl I met on the Millennial Fair. Marle. Not princess Nadia.
Shes far from here.
Marle nodded and smiled.
Thanks. Im sorry for...eh...
For what?
...for thinking you thought of me as the princess. I realized that
you didnt when you said
take my hand.
Crono looked supriced at her.
Whats so special about that?
You see... Normal person would try to put the princess in safe, but
you didnt.
You offered me to join the fight.
Thanks for thinking of me as Marle.
Crono smiled.
That all?
Marle nodded.
Good night, Marle.
Good night, Crono.
Lets go and find that computer now. Crono said the next
morning.
He, Lucca and Marle walked out and to the first room with the two consoles.
Lucca typed in the password, and the right door opened. They walked in.
In they new room was two consoles, and one big screen on the wall.
So this is the info center! Lucca exclaimed and ran to one of
the consoles.
Good! The computer's still operational!
Let see... Oh! Its year 2300 AD... It was quite a jump we made...
If I run a search on time warps, we might find our Gate!
She pressed on a few buttons and a big map appeared on the screen.
It pointed out a dome.
There! East of Arris Dome... That would be Proto Dome, I believe...
Yes! Marle exclaimed gleefully.
Leave it to Lucca! I'm beginning to think you could do anything with
this device!
She walked forward to the console.
Say, what does this button do?
Marle pressed it.
1999 AD? Visual record of the "Day of Lavos"... Whats this?
Lucca said.
The screen turned black, and then a map... no, not a map... A visual record.
They recognized their own world. But instead of normal buildings, there were
domes.
But those domes were living. Cities were built inside of them.
Suddenly the picture became a little bit dark, and the ground started to
shake.
Just south of where the castle was in 1000 AD, the ground opened up, and
a big thing came up.
It was like a hedgehog, but much, much more bigger. It had huge spikes on
its shell and fired rocks and spikes from it. The spikes hit the ground
and destroyed everything.
The screen started to get fuzzy, and then black out.
Uh, what...IS that? Marle said.
Lucca looked down on the consoles.
Lavos? Is that what's destroying our world?!
Marle looked down on the floor.
We must truly be in the future...
Then she screamed.
NO! NO WAY! I refuse to believe it!!
She sat down on the floor.
Tears came out of her eyes.
This...
This can't be the way the world ends...
Crono and Lucca looked down on the ground.
The room was silent except for Marles sobs.
But suddenly she jumped up.
Crono... Lucca...
There's only one thing we can do!
We must change history! Just like you and Lucca did when you saved
me!
She looked at Lucca.
Okay, Lucca?
She turned to Crono.
Okay, Crono?
Lucca looked up.
I...guess so...
It was a stroke of luck that we were sent here through that Gate. Yes,
lets do it!
Lucca looked at Crono.
I dont know... What do you think we could... Crono whispered.
Lucca looked at him.
Cmon! Show Marle what your made of! But when she realized
what she just said, she quickly tried to correct it. I mean...
Lets do it. Lets save the future! Crono said. Save
OUR future! But it will be dangerous.
Marle shook her head.
I dont care! As long as you two are with me, I dont
care!
Together we can do this! Lucca said.
Marle nodded.
I know we can do this!
Let's take a second and do some more activities on Lavos's activities
back in our time period!
Lucca said. Next stop, Proto Dome!
.