http://users.bart.nl/~jamin LBA 2 CHAPTER 1: Hello...it's me, Twinsen, the hero of this adventure... ...Today, our world is peaceful. The sun shines brightly in the sky and all is calm... But, no sooner had I uttered these words when a violent storm broke on Citadel Island. All of Lupin-Bourg's inhabitants rushed indoors, and I took Zoé into the shelter of our house. As for poor Dino-fly, well he didn't even have time to land. Struck by a bolt of lightning as he was approaching the house, he crash landed in the garden, wounded and incapable of picking himself up. It was a few minutes later, from the bedroom window, that Zoé saw him lying there and asked me to go into town to the pharmacy and find something that would relieve his pain. In the meantime, she went out to comfort him. Before heading for town, I took the cellar key from the dresser in the bedroom. In the cellar, I found my good old magic ball that I'd carelessly left lying on a barrel, my holomap - put away on a shelf and last but not least, my three darts. Then, I hurriedly left the house and headed into town. On the way, I met a grobo friend who, because of the storm, was even more hyper than usual, and a stranger, who couldn't understand why the weather wizard wasn't doing anything to calm the stormy sky. On arrival at the pharmacy, where on the roof a lad was sitting, I enquired as to what would cure Dino-Fly. The pharmacist said she had nothing in stock that was suitable, but a customer was just starting to say she could possibly help me, when a young lapichon entered, stole her umbrella and ran out. She gave chase and I had to follow her to ask for her help. She said that she would only help me if I managed to get her umbrella back. The thieving lapichon was some way ahead of me and scampered off each time I started to get near. So I approached from behind in 'discreet mode' in order to speak to him. He asked me: - Mr Twinsen! Could you tell me why you're following me?! - Give me the umbrella back. - But it's my umbr...Oh!!! Excuse me... I...I thought it was mine. I was confused, I'm so sorry...I'm always doing things like that... When I'd given back the umbrella to the pharmacy customer, she thanked me and suggested that I go and see her boss, Ker'aooc, the healing wizard. He had what was necessary to cure my old friend Dino-Fly. The wizard lived on Desert Island, which meant I had to go to the port, buy a ticket and take the ferry. At the port, from inside his house, the docker told me that all crossings were cancelled because of the storm. He mumbled and cursed the weather wizard - the only one who could stop this tempest. Not giving up, I headed towards the cliffs as far as the weather wizard's tent. Bersimon explained that he couldn't do anything to stop the storm as he had to climb the lighthouse to cast his magic spell. Unfortunately, the lighthouse was closed and Raph, the lighthouse keeper, was nowhere to be found. That meant it was up to me to go and find him if I wanted to put an end to this terrible storm. Dino-Fly was in pain. So I decided to go and fetch Raph. At the lighthouse, his fiancee was waiting for him. She didn't know where he was. She hoped he wasn't out playing his guitar on the Corniche again, because an old legend spoke of Tralù, the horrible cliff monster, and this scared her. At the port, Felix the fisher lapichon, who was a terrible coward, told me he didn't know where Raph could be found, but suggested I go fetch my magic ball and robe just in case I headed for the cliffs or the Corniche. In other parts of Lupin-Bourg, I was told to try "Chez Luc", the bar where Raph's friends hung out. But his mates had no idea where he was either. They also mentioned the Corniche and his habit of going there to play his guitar. Recalling Felix's advice and the engraved plaque in my basement saying that my robe could be found at Miss Bloop's, I decided to go to the museum, fetch my robe and then head for the cliffs and find this Corniche. At the entrance, the idiot behind the cash desk didn't even recognise me. So I had to pay to enter my own museum. Miss Bloop was pleased to see me and asked if I could unlock the stair door. It was stuck and the controls which opened the case containing my robe were inaccessible. The door was jammed shut, so I went outside the museum, climbed on the roof and passed through an open window to enter the stairway. There, a switch opened the door and another opened the case. Running, I grabbed my robe. This activated my magic ball. Moments later, I was en route for the cliffs and the Corniche, that is towards the tip of the island where the weather wizard lived. I found a cave in front of which was a sign indicating a path leading towards the Corniche. I entered a cave filled with monsters that I dispatched with the aid of my magic ball. The cave led out onto a Corniche along some cliffs. I had to jump over a rock to reach the cave entrance, I entered. Inside, I found Raph, held captive behind bars. He explained that he had been caught by Tralù who was planning on him being his next meal. To save him, I had to take another direction and activate a mechanism with the aid of my magic ball to open a door. Further on, a second switch, much easier to find, opened the second door. Behind this, I found my friend Joe who was having fun performing some of his famous magic tricks. After that, I came under attack from two small monsters. Defending myself, I took the key they were guarding, which meant I could open the door that would bring me face to face with Tralù. Against this legendary creature, I had to use my magic ball skilfully, in order to defeat him and collect the key that would free Raph. The young lighthouse keeper thanked me, then hurried back to work. As I was leaving, I bumped into Zoé at the mouth of the cave. She wasn't particularly pleased to see me playing the hero, and I had to take her home and calm her down. Just as we arrived, we were met by the weather wizard, who asked us to follow him as he was finally going to be able to climb the lighthouse and cast the spell that would calm the storm. Following him, we climbed the lighthouse stairs to the top. Bersimon did what he had to do, and the storm disappeared to be replaced by brilliant sunshine. Then, suddenly, spaceships emerged from the dispersing clouds!! They passed, skimming the lighthouse, and landed near our house at Lupin-Bourg . After taking Zoé back home, I went to have a look at these Extra-Twinsunians. The spaceship opened and we saw what appeared to be a humanoid. He announced that his people, the Esmers, had come in peace. The population, reassured, dispersed, and I went to buy my ticket from the travel agent and take the ferry to Desert Island, where the healing wizard lived. Stopping at Mr Bazoo's shop, near the entrance to the port I bought some Nitro-Meca-Penguins in case new adventures awaited me. CHAPTER 2 The ferry took me to Port-Ludo where Ker'aooc lived. I found his house on the corner of the main square where some people were playing pétanque. There, I met again the customer from the pharmacy who was also employed by the wizard. She explained that the healer had left on a trip. She didn't know when he would return. However, she said I could try the School of Magic in the hope that I could get some help to cure Dino-Fly. She didn't know where the school was, and so I had to go and look for it myself. Just before leaving, I discovered a flask of gallic acid on the wizard's shelf. She told me I could keep it. So I did! On Desert Island, some of the inhabitants had heard of this school, but no-one could tell me precisely where it was. However, it was on the other side of the island, at the hacienda Del Monte-Pelado, that I found the best indication yet. Behind his counter, the landlord refused access to the roof because of a recent accident that had occurred at "Chez Luc", the bar on Citadel Island. As he always kept an eye on the hammam, I headed for the women's baths. Their screams attracted his attention and I just had time to return to the bar, sneak behind the counter and climb the forbidden ladder which brought me on to the roof of the hacienda. There, I met an old sage whom I'd known for many years. He explained that the School of Magic was hidden in the island's cemetery to deter strangers. The cemetery was in the middle of the desert, just next to Temple-Park. The gate was closed, but a path in the cliff on the left allowed me to get in. Inside, I took a slightly raised path which by-passed a second gate and led to the main door of the school, overhung by a carved rock head with menacing eyes. In the school hall, I passed a door which led into a large room, apparently a dining hall, haunted by ghosts. This place was decidedly strange but the door which would have let me leave this room and continue my search was closed. Beyond the tables and ghosts, lay a chest on a stone staircase. So I ran between the tables dodging the ghosts and tentatively approached the chest. I quickly realised that 'discreet mode' was better if I wanted to avoid a shower of fireballs. The chest contained the key to the door. I carefully retraced my steps, opened the gate and carried on further into the school. This was how I arrived in a room where a young and pretty Lapichon announced the arrival of the school's Principal. He wasn't at all young, but his dynamic appearance was impressive for a magician of his age. He explained that to cure Dino-Fly, I first had to obtain a Diploma in Wizardry and that meant registering with the school. For this, I would have to pay an extremely high fee (120 kashes). As I did not have enough kashes, he told me about a treasure trove inside the ancient temple of Bù. I left to find this hoard of treasure. Accepting a test of skill in "Tir O Canardo", I succeeded in breaking both targets with the help of my darts. The owner gave me a beautiful bunch of balloons which carried me high into the air and over the entrance to a shaft. I let go of the balloons and fell into it. Inside, I found a fortune in Kashes. After I had registered, the Principal asked me to accomplish three tests: "To become a wizard, you must accomplish 3 tests in any order you like. You can bring me the result of each test when you want to, but I won't give you your Diploma in Wizardry and your new magic level until you have successfully completed all 3!! To take the blowpipe test, just pass through the door at the end of this room. You must shoot down all the targets within the time limit. For the slate test, you must first go to the small island of Dome Slate just off Citadel Island. For the test of healing, you must bring me some balsam. It is a rare desert plant.. For the blowpipe test, I went through the door at the end into a room in which some moving targets appeared that I had to shoot down one by one with my ball - and in quite a short time. I quickly realised that I had to shoot in a certain rhythm without moving. As I left the room the Principal gave me the blowpipe as a reward. This weapon was certainly going to be handy sooner or later given the behaviour of these Extra-Twinsunians. I had already noticed that these Esmers were particularly hostile towards me, in spite of their declarations of peace and the Twinsunians' opinion of them. In the spaceship that landed near Port-Ludo, I'd seen some of them waving my picture and making gestures that left no doubt about what they planned to do to me. Some even hid in bins and cactuses. I didn't know them, and I couldn't understand why they were set against me. To become a wizard, I had two more tasks to accomplish. In the heart of the desert, at the top of an apparently inaccessible rock, near to the circuit, a Balsam flower could be found. In order to pick it, I first made my way to Baldino's to fetch a mechanical part that had been specially made for Zoé. I returned to Citadel Island and gave Zoé the part that she needed to repair our car. Then, I set out for Desert Island again because Baldino had forgotten to give me a portable radio. On leaving Baldino's again, Zoé called me so I could try the car. I used a springboard to get to the Balsam flower. It was near the secret passage to the School of Magic. I could easily spot it thanks to the tyre tracks left in the sand. I brought the plant to the school and gave it to the Principal. Delighted, he rewarded me by giving me the Conch of Triton, which allowed me to heal any living being. I quickly hurried back to Citadel Island, at last able to treat Dino-Fly with the conch. The poor thing must have been in a really bad way, because it took no less than five hearts to cure him. Finally back on form, he offered to take me wherever I wanted to go, which was to Dome Slate Island where the third and final task for the Diploma of Wizardry awaited me. This consisted of a small labyrinth. To get to the exit, I cautiously walked along the left-hand border of the flagstones which lit up under my feet. The Principal met me outside and gave me the magic slate as a reward. He asked me to meet him back at the school and then teleported in front of my eyes. Climbing onto Dino-Fly, I set off in the direction of the desert. Back at the school, the Principal gave me my diploma and my new magic level: green ball!! He also asked me to go and see a travelling salesman who toured the desert to get a ceremonial wizard's robe and then told me of a disturbing event: "Congratulations, Twinsen. From now on, you hold the title of wizard. Unfortunately, I don't have any more wizard robes in stock at the moment. But there is a travelling salesman on the island. I'll let him know so that he can get you one. Go and find him...and also let your beard grow. Now listen to me, I must tell you of a serious problem. Nearly all the wizards of Twinsun have disappeared, and no-one knows where they are. It is vital that they are found. You are the only one capable of accomplishing this noble deed. The school is counting on you, Twinsen!!" Things looked bad, I toured the island asking everyone if they had seen the wizards. Most had caught sight of them heading for the Hacienda del Monte Pelado. So I decided to go and have a look around there. After passing via the women's hammam again, I met up once more with the sage on the roof who explained that the Esmers offered to take the wizards to their planet on a cultural exchange programme. The school wasn't told of this because they might not approve. Before arriving at the hacienda, I had come across the travelling salesman on his flying carpet. Forewarned by the school Principal, he sold me a ceremonial wizard's robe plus a false beard for the reasonable sum of 50 kashes. The Principal had also told me that if I looked carefully, I'd find a protection spell. But that wasn't urgent I'd look later. Inside the hacienda, near the fountain, an Esmer made me an offer. As I was disguised as a wizard, he didn't recognise me: "There is an ultra-secret exchange programme reserved for wizards. Come and discover our science and our civilisation and show us the secrets of your magic in exchange. You will return rich in knowledge and experience. Don't mention this to your School of Magic, it's too soon, they wouldn't understand. Are you prepared to come and spend some time on our planet?" I decided to go and follow the wizard's trail. The Esmer led me into the depths of the hacienda, to the bottom floors of the Temple of Bù and took me aboard one of their space shuttles. From out of Mont-Chauve, it headed for the Esmers' planet Zeelich. CHAPTER 3: Inside the flying saucer, a poor quality publicity film proudly boasted the tourist highlights of the planet Zeelich. Whilst exploring the shuttle's hold, I discovered a translating device which would prove to be very useful later on. A little bit later, the shuttle landed, disembarking, my feet touched the ground of Otringal Astroport. A soldier and an ambassador invited me to follow them which I did. I found myself in a corridor where I came face to face with...Joe the Sprite!! He instantly recognised me and jumping for joy yelled out my name. The Esmers, who hadn't realised until now that I was disguised as a wizard, pounced on me. I woke up later to find myself in prison. Joe occupied the cell next to me. His ability to walk through walls allowed him to join me. It was then that he revealed some terrible information: - Oh Twinsen, I'm so happy to see you!! Say, you're not very popular with the guys around here are you! As soon as they heard your name, they hurled you to the ground, knocked you out and stole your wizard's costume. Now we're in prison. - Thanks, Joe! But what about you, what are you doing here? - I was with the wizards when they were invited by the Esmers to come to this planet. Now they've been taken prisoner by the Emperor. They say that the Esmers want to take Twinsun's children. I was scared, so I was leaving and that was when I found you. - What do the wizards say?? - They say that the Esmers have left for our planet to kidnap Twinsun's children! They say that there's nothing that can be done. As for me, I'm still hopeful. I'm sure that you're going to manage to get to the Astroport and steal a space shuttle to go and save the children!!! At that moment, a prison guard who was passing by the cell, saw Joe keeping me company. Clearly irritated, he asked his colleague upstairs to activate the switch that opened my door so he could catch Joe and put him back in his cell. I made the most of this piece of good luck, and my fist eloquently made the point that I didn't like being imprisoned. While looking for the exit, I freed another prisoner who directed me to the correct door and briefly gave me some information concerning his planet: "Thank you for releasing me. I am a rebel. The Emperor and Dark Monk, our reincarnated God, control the population of Zeelich. They lie continuously. But let us not waste time. If you want to leave here, don't go via the main entrance as it is kept under surveillance by soldiers." I took the door he indicated and found myself in the prison's inner yard. A Walker robot was patrolling, but thanks to my magic ball I got rid of him and destroyed the fence that was blocking my way. Seeing that the only remaining path led to the Astroport and remembering Joe's words about saving the children, I climbed up the control tower and grabbed a route disc. Then I inserted this disc into the shuttle's control panel. The shuttle took off, and once more I was travelling through space, this time towards my planet Twinsun!!! CHAPTER 4: Over on Citadel Island I realised that the shuttle was having some problems. It landed so sharply that it caused enough damage for it not to be able to take off again. I had landed near the weather wizard's tent on the cliffs. I barely managed to leave the shuttle when Zoé called me on the portable radio. She asked me to join her immediately! Fighting my way through some rather aggressive Esmers, who were now showing their true colours, I hurried home to where Zoé greeted me with the terrible news: - Oh Twinsen, you're here at last! It's horrible. The Esmers have kidnapped the children and taken them aboard a shuttle. Nobody knows where they are!! You must go and find them! - But hasn't anybody done anything? - No! Baldino had already left for the Emerald moon as he had seen some strange goings on there. He left you the Proto-Pack in working order at the left-luggage office in the centre of town. - But what can I do? I don't see how I can pick up the children's trail. - You should go to the School of Magic. Now that you are a wizard, they're sure to help you!! So I headed for Desert Island to ask for help at the School of Magic. The ferries had stopped running, so my old friend Dino-Fly took me there. At the School of Magic, the Principal was powerless to help, but he gave me some useful advice: - Master, Twinsun's children have been kidnapped by the Esmers. Can you help me? Don't you have some sort of spell that might tell us where they were taken to? - No Twinsen, there is nothing I can do. Only you can save them. But you will have to strengthen your powers before confronting the Esmers. Only the Ball of Sendell can help you do this. - And where can I find it? - After FunFrock disappeared, it was hidden on Citadel Island by the weather wizard. He sealed it in a case of ice protected by a powerful spell. According to him, only a lightning bolt is capable of melting the ice and freeing the ball. In order to get a bit of help, I went to see the weather wizard hoping perhaps that he could tell me where to find the Pearl of Incandescence. Dino-Fly took me to Citadel Island. But the wizard wasn't there. A message gave me the following information: "Do not forget to finish the lightning bolt potion. For this you will need to find the Pearl of Incandescence on Desert Island." Even if I didn't know exactly where to find this pearl, I had a pretty good idea who could help me. But before returning to Desert Island, I stopped by the left-luggage office to fetch the Proto-Pack that Jérome had left for me. Once there, the manager let me go down to the store room to get the box. With the help of a helico-magnet, I got it out of the store room. A worker offered to help me for 102 kashes. I decided to push it myself, following the arrows the manager had indicated. Now that I had the Proto-Pack, I went to visit my neighbour. He had told me about the sewer map, saying he needed some gallic acid to restore it. As the holomap indicated that the Ball of Sendell was in the sewers, I gave him the flask of gallic acid that I'd found at the healing wizard's place. The old lapichon applied the acid to the map. This revealed the following message: "The magic globe hid in the secret room at the centre of the sewers. The weather wizard placed it there. He says, it is connected to the Prophecy of Sendell. I locked this room - it can only be opened with the small pyramid." Pleased with himself, the neighbour gave me this pyramid object then continued to look at his maps. I left him and once more headed for Desert Island. I arrived and went to see the school Principal: - I've read a message left by the weather wizard. He needs a Pearl of Incandescence to finish a lightning bolt spell. Do you know where I can find one? - There is a giant shell which lives in a cave at the bottom of the sea in the inlets near Port-Ludo. This produces the Pearl of Incandescence. Now I knew where to find this pearl, I rapidly made my way to the wooden jetty a little further on, past Port-Ludo pier. There I called on my friend, Moya the turtle. She allowed me to climb on her back and took me down to the underwater cave. Thanks to the Proto-Pack, I reached the bottom and took a Pearl of Incandescence from inside a giant shell. As I was on Desert Island, I went to have a look around the hacienda. On the roof, I looked through the telescope out at sea, I saw a cave on a small island. Dino-Fly took me there and using the Proto-Pack, I entered the cave. I stacked the two boxes by the entrance, to reach the protection spell which I used to get out. A bit later, pearl in hand, I was back on Dino and heading for Citadel Island. I dropped the pearl into the weather wizard's cauldron and took the lightning bolt spell which would allow me to free the Ball of Sendell from its case of ice. According to my holomap it was located in the sewers of Citadel Island. To get in, I had to go to "Chez Luc". He had locked the door since a lapichon nearly broke his neck going down the cellar. According to that same lapichon, there was a very strange hole down there. I searched inside the barrels behind the bar and found the key. I opened the cellar door and there I discovered the hole. I jumped in and found myself in the island's sewers. Near the staircase on a stone edge, I noticed something strange. With the pyramid key given to me by my neighbour, I opened a door to reveal a secret room. Inside was the case of ice containing the Ball of Sendell. To free it, I had to use the lightning bolt spell and for that, I had to be at the peak of my magical abilities. Leaving the room and leaping onto the floating barrels in the sewers, I soon found a key which allowed me to open a door behind which lay a chest containing a myriad of little blue phials filled with magic. I returned to the room containing the case of ice and cast the lightning bolt spell freeing the Ball of Sendell which I took. Thanks to this, I attained a new magic level: red ball!!! I had hardly left the secret room when Baldino called me over the portable radio: - Twinsen, I'm on the Emerald moon. I've discovered a diabolical plot organised by the Esmers!! The kidnapping of the wizards and children was but a part of their plan. They are on the verge of destroying our entire planet!!! Listen to me Twinsen, it is vital that you get over here straight away!! - But how can I do that, you left...aboard your space ship and I don't have one. - The Esmers have built a base somewhere on Desert Island. Find it and steal one of their shuttles!! Only you can save Twinsun now!!! So I had to return to Desert Island to find the Esmers' secret base and grab hold of a space shuttle which would allow me to join my old friend Jérome on the Emerald moon. According to the few inhabitants left in the desert, it seemed that the Esmers had gathered in the Temple of Bù. I entered it and searched the floors for their secret base. I diverted some direction arrows to bring the wagon to the second level of the temple basement, I found a key in a box surrounded by two statues spitting fireballs which I could only pass in 'discreet mode'. Opening the door to their secret base I found myself in the dormitory where I discovered a strange document addressed to soldiers who had left for the moon. "OFFICIAL NOTICE...all shuttles going to the moon base...new password...without which soldiers will intervene... operation GREEN MOON!!" At the far end, taking a small lift, I used my Proto-Pack to fly over an electrified rug and ended up in a small room. There, I found a route disc which enabled the shuttle to take off and head for the Emerald moon. CHAPTER 5: As the shuttle was about to touch down on the Esmers' lunar base, a strange and charming metallic voice asked for identification: "Lunar base to shuttle. Lunar base to shuttle. Please give your identification password. I repeat, please give your identification password." The shuttle landed and I slipped on a space suit, opened the door and stepped onto lunar soil. Some guards were standing about in front of the doors. They pointed to the reception building. Once inside, a map allowed me to memorise the layout of the base. After knocking down the guards, I activated the three spherical style switches which appeared to control the doors of different airlocks manned by the guards who I'd already met. Leaving the reception building, I chose to go through the door opposite, that's to say, the furthest from the shuttle. The airlock meant that I could now remove the space suit, revealing my familiar blue robe to the world once more. Perhaps it was a bit too familiar, as I was identified and attacked from the moment I entered the base. I turned a large metal wheel resting on a black and yellow striped plinth which opened the door whose frame had the same pattern. This led into a corridor ending in a cell. I easily got the key from the jailer after he'd succumbed to a taste of my magic ball. In the cell, I found Baldino and a rather strange character. We immediately fell into conversation: - Twinsen!! At last you're here! It's horrible!! The Esmers have built some reactors on the Emerald moon to project it onto Twinsun and blow up our planet!! They are obeying their God, who has miraculously been reincarnated and want to fulfil an ancient prophecy which says that it will return their planet back to its former paradise. - It's true! We've been duped by Dark Monk, our reincarnated God. He must be stopped! But the reactors are indestructible!! They're controlled from Zeelich! The control centre was built on the small island of CX. Our only chance to prevent this catastrophe is to destroy it!!! - We must go there! We have to save Twinsun!!! - I will lead you to the resistance. Only they can help us!! They tend to gather around the bars and other shady places! Let's not hang about, we mustn't stay here!! Meanwhile, the door in the corridor had shut, but another metal wheel allowed me to open it. From there, Jérome and the engineer who had gone ahead of me were met by some guards. The engineer had been mortally wounded, when Baldini rushed into a corridor, asking me to follow him. The engineer's final words were: "Go...on CX...the island of CX..." I left to catch up with Jérome, who was waiting for me in front of an airlock right at the end of the base by the Esmers' main computer. I went to open the door so that Baldino and myself could escape. Baldino, equipped with his rocket suit, took us to his unusual looking ship and set a course for Zeelich to find CX Island and prevent the lunar reactor from working!! CHAPTER 6 : The surface of Zeelich was covered in a strange layer of gas, and skimming over it, monsters came out from the cloud-like layer, trying to enclose the ship in their mouths. Baldino only just managed to avoid them, but it all ended with a crash landing into a piece of rock supporting the town of Otringal from which I escaped in Chapter 3. Outside the ship, Jérome checked the damage. He needed gazogem, the fuel used by the Esmers which his cellmate had told him about. With this gazogem, he could not only repair and improve his ship, but also transform my Proto-Pack into a more powerful vehicle. He asked me to go and fetch some while he sorted out the ship's bodywork. With the help of my Proto-Pack, I went from rock to rock, finally reaching the port where I found some jet foil taxis flying and skimming over the gas. None of them wanted to drive me to CX Island. They seemed frightened at the very thought of it. Only one old sailor agreed to give me some information, possibly even to take me there, but he wanted 100 zlitos. I didn't have a single Zeelichian coin, only Twinsunian money, so I headed for the path which took me into the centre of town. After the little bridge, on my left, I found a shop selling souvenirs of Twinsun. Inside, the shopkeeper, recognising my origins, offered to buy some of my things. I sold him some bits and pieces, which earned me a fair sum of Zeelichian money. Rummaging around some dustbins, I found a few more Zlitos and I returned to the port. In a seedy looking tavern opposite the quayside, people refused to speak of CX island. One of them suggested that I talk to the old sailor known simply as 'The Captain'. So I went back to see him and paid the amount he wanted. He then mentioned a bloke he knew: "I know a bloke who's been there. Today he sells souvenirs out on Celebration Island. P'haps I could drive you to him... and for you Squire, I'll do it for nothin'! Take a seat aboard Léontine, my taxi!!" Once on board his broken down old tub, Léontine, I soon arrived at Celebration Island. Before letting me off, The Captain turned to me and said: "There you go Squire, we're here. You'll easily find him, he sells souvenirs." Unfortunately, after barely a few steps, I was recognised by some soldiers who must have been at the prison from which I escaped. After valiantly defending myself, I climbed to the top of a volcano and by the edge of the crater found a fellow covered in bandages. He was obviously the survivor The Captain had told me about. The chap wasn't exactly even tempered. The conversation went a bit like this: - Is it you who went to CX Island and came back alive? - Yeah, that's me or what's left of me. What do you want? - What is it like there, what did you see? - Ha Ha! what did I see there...a secret fortress Sir. That's what. A fortress built by the government, where army shuttles land and everything else that approaches is shot down. I don't know what they're hiding, but they don't want anyone to know about it. And they mean it. - How could I get there? - Don't make me laugh. Nobody can get near. The only ones crazy enough to try a stunt like that are Rick's men. Rick's the owner of the bar on the port. But he's much more than that. He controls all the shady goings on in Otringal. Go and see him, perhaps he can help you. So I decided to go and see Rick, Otringal's Mafia boss, to try and get some help. Taking a taxi from Celebration Island, I arrived in Otringal. Wanted posters of me were on all the walls and a price had been put on my head. Information spread rapidly, even if I still didn't quite understand why the Zeelichian authorities were out to get me. At Rick's tavern, the customers weren't very talkative, and the barman advised me not to get tangled up in anything. The mere sight of some bodyguards in stripey vests watching the room was enough to put me off. I went to the backroom via a hidden door to find another way. There was an air vent high up above me. Some pasteboard pillars, which were usually used in stage productions, were easy to move, and I used these to build a platform that would let me reach the vent. Unfortunately it was still firmly closed. But by operating the nuts, that's the round wooden cranks, I managed to open it. I had to do it in the right order, but it wasn't difficult. I slid through an airduct which took me to Rick's office. Face to face with the boss, I wasn't feeling too comfortable but I knew how to defend my corner: - So, you're the Twinsunian who's been looking for me. You're on the run my friend, the police are looking for you everywhere. Now talk, what do you want from me? - The emperor has built a secret base on CX Island. From there, he will trigger the reactors that have been constructed secretly on the Moon. And the Moon will destroy my planet. I must go to this Island and prevent it from happening. Could you help me get there? - I'm glad you speak frankly. Unfortunately, I have no-one who can take you there. However, there is a group of rebels hostile to the government. Go and see Johnny Rocket and tell him I sent you. He'll lead you to the rebels. He's at the Imperial Hotel in the upper part of town. So I left on a new mission: to go and see Johnny Rocket at the Imperial Hotel. But as I was leaving Rick's tavern, Baldino called me on the portable radio. He still needed some gazogem, and in my quest to save Twinsun, I had completely forgotten about it. In the town centre, a fuel pump attendant wasn't able to sell me any gazogem because he had run out and was waiting for some to be delivered. He told me that this precious fuel was refined on Knarta Island, so I took a taxi to get there. Knarta village was really quite strange. The inhabitants drilled holes everywhere to try and find precious treasure. Dark Monk had promised the Zeelichians to return their planet to its original state in a grand ceremony. In order to do this, each of Zeelich's four races had to bring its divine fragment to the ceremony. But the Knartas had inadvertently lost theirs. At the Burgomaster's house I met his brother who made me the following little speech: - Roger de la Fontaine, was my kid brother. Well, he was the Burgomaster around here and the one responsible for our fragment. Roger always hid the fragment somewhere without telling anyone where it was...I'm upset because he's been eaten by a gas monster. - You didn't note down where it was hidden? - I don't think so. And anyway, the cupboard - that's the one he had decorated with stuffed little gas monsters - well that's locked... and then I lost the key. So... I decided to let the Knartas get on with their tasks and continued on my way to the refinery. The entrance was guarded and closed and I had to jump on some pipes to get over the wire fence. Once inside the enclosure, I made my way into the main building. The way to the gazogem container wasn't easy. I had to learn how to stop or change vapour jets by turning the wheels that controlled them before reaching the little red boxes containing the keys I needed to get further into the refinery. One spot was particularly dangerous and I had to crouch in 'discreet mode' on a moving platform to get out of there unharmed. The last key which gave me access to the container was held by a Knarta guard whom I had to convince, in a somewhat violent manner, especially since his fishbulls weren't very friendly. But thanks to this last key, I finally grabbed the gazogem container. I left the refinery enclosure by jumping on some barrels near the spot where I entered. Returning via the Knarta village, I met a rather strange mechanical owl. Following it, I came to a little niche, inside which I found a passkey, in all probability the one from the Burgomaster's cupboard. So I went back to his house and opened the cupboard. There, I found some notes that gave the following directions: "Look towards the centre of the bazaar, my back is stuck to the natural parasol against which I could do with a nap. But I must maintain my sporting instincts. Without adding anything else, there are enough posts, light and arches in the village to count the correct number of steps. Once there, the fences on my left take me in the wrong direction. It's on the other side, descending into the dip near some gas where I placed my treasure." The Burgomaster loved riddles. The natural parasol strongly resembled the village's only palm tree. Leaning against it, facing towards the bazaar, it only remained for me to count the number of steps corresponding to the number of lamps plus arches. I did this running, maintaining my sporting instincts. On my right, a small dip in the grass was almost at gas level. It all seemed to fit. Thanks to the pickaxe that I bought in the village bazaar, I dug and found the Knartas' fragment. Then I took a taxi to return to Otringal. There, I immediately brought the container of gazogem to Baldino. In exchange, he transformed my Proto-Pack into a Super-Jetpack. With this I could fly even higher. With this new equipment, I left at once to find Johnny Rocket and the Imperial Hotel. The lifts that went to the upper part of the town where the hotel was to be found, were out of order. I had to find another way. It was in the casino in the town centre that I found it. A fantastic prize was waiting for the best client of the evening. And in order to get the key, I had to win on the one-armed bandits. After a little time and money, I managed to win the Super-Jackpot. In the room with the fantastic prize, a shifty looking presenter invited me to spin the wheel of fortune. I had hardly touched it, when an enormous Gloum fell on me and tried to beat my brains out. He held a large club but I had my magic ball and managed to calm things down quickly. Thanks to the key that I recovered during the combat, I could open the door at the end of the room. In order to reach it, I used my Super-Jetpack. The door gave onto an unfamiliar spot in the Otringal cliffs where a stream ran that I could walk along, arriving in the upper part of town in front of the Imperial Hotel. Inside, a rather unpleasant bellboy didn't want to let me enter. He tried to stop me, so I had to make him see the sense in handing over the key to the hotel lounge. On a sunbed by the swimming pool, I found Johnny. He discreetly suggested I go and meet him in his room so that we could talk more freely: - You're lucky to get here on account of Rick. The rebels are wanted by the Government and you are taking some risks. Now, what do you want? - The Emperor has built a secret installation on CX Island. From there, he will trigger the reactors that have been discreetly constructed on the Moon and will destroy my planet. I must get to this island in order to stop it from happening. Could you help me get there? - I know you. You're Twinsen, the hero of your planet. The Emperor and Dark Moon are afraid of you. That's why they want to find you. The rebels will help you. Here, take this ring, go to the Twinsun souvenir shop and show it to the shopkeeper. He will take you to them. So I set off for the Twinsun souvenir shop. Inside, I showed Johnny's ring to the shopkeeper. He moved the shelf behind him revealing a secret passage which led down into a cellar. Down there, four rebel chiefs were waiting for me: - So, you're the Twinsunian that Johnny spoke to us about ? - That's me. I must get to CX Island and destroy the lunar reactor's control centre. I have to do it before they can be fired and the moon destroys Twinsun. - I understand perfectly! Dark Moon wants to blow-up your planet on the day of the Grand Ceremony. It's the firework display that he promised us all. But how can we prevent this? CX Island is off limits!! - I know! There is a passage between the gas underworld and CX. The entrance lies in the Mosquibees village, that's how they keep Government soldiers out of their village. - Where must I go? - Listen Twinsunian, go to the Mosquibees village. It is in the gas underworld. The majority of our rebel comrades are already hidden there. To get there, you must take the lift on the Knartas' platform. - To reach the lift, you'll need a powerful weapon. Here, take this Zarnon laser pistol. But you have to find a crystal for it to work. They can be found on the side of Celebration Volcano. So it only remained for me to find a crystal from Celebration Island in order to make this laser pistol work. On the island, I toured the crater jumping from rock to rock. Thanks to my super-jetpack, I managed to find a crystal. But it was way too big and so finally with the help of my Knarta pickaxe I cut it down to a size usable in the laser pistol. Returning towards the taxi, I saw a passage that would have been behind the CX Island survivor. I cursed myself briefly for not having seen it before and then carried on my way. With this weapon, I headed for Knartas Island and entered the building which faced the industrial port. Thanks to the laser pistol, I activated the levers which opened the two doors that led to the port. There, I climbed onto a small tanker which went to the platform where the lift which connected to the gas underworld was located. On the platform, a mercenary was waiting for me: - At last, here you are! I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to see you today. - B.But...who are you? - I'm a mercenary my boy. A mercenary hired by Dark Moon to take care of you. I don't know why he worries so much!! Hummph...you don't look so scary to me... - How did you know I'd be coming here? - My dear boy, you are about as discreet as a gas monster. When you made contact with Johnny Rocket, my spies were there. Since then we've been following you. I knew that you wanted to go down to the gas underworld, so I decided to wait for you here. But enough of this idle chit chat. Now my dear boy, prepare to die!! He was really far too dangerous to spare and I had to rid myself of his company so I could take the lift and head directly to the underworld. CHAPTER 7 : The lift exit was closed by a grill and I had to use my magic ball in 'discreet mode' to activate the switch at the end of the room and open the doors. Outside, I found myself on a platform linked to a band of rocks that formed an island. A sea of melting lava surrounded everything. Moving on, I passed in front of buildings belonging to the Building Company and a gemstone mine entrance. A little bit further on, the path brought me to a village. It was here that the Blafards lived. Around the village, I saw a toad. I kissed it and although it didn't transform into a beautiful princess, it did give me some strength back, which was very welcome after my recent battles. The villagers advised me to go and see Mr Lemoine who would know which path to take to the Mosquibees' village. The chapel door was firmly closed, and to enter it I first had to go and see a family who offered me some firefly tart, yuk...I took an extra piece to give to the old rogue in the centre of the village. In exchange, he gave me the chapel key. I went into the chapel and met Mr Lemoine. He told me that the best thing was to hire the services of the Ferryman. I needed to find some gems, then call him by singing a special tune. His servant knew the tune very well and that proved enough to go and see her. So, I learnt to sing the chorus then I returned to the mine to find some gems. I managed to collect quite a few, as a well as a glove used by miners to protect themselves from the lava and fire. On the path, I also found the entrance to a tunnel which brought me near the Blafards' fragment. But a shower of fireballs made access a little difficult. The protection spell was definitely needed to prevent some serious injury. Leaving the mine, I headed for the ferryman's calling place and hummed the song. He arrived, slowly, and in a frightening and booming voice asked: "Whoever wishes to cross the ocean of fire must pay me. My price is four gems. Where do you want to go?" Aboard his boat, I crossed the melting sea, and later found myself at the Mosquibees village. It looked like a cocoon stuck to a cliff. A guard was flying below. I approached him, and he demanded to know what I was doing here. I told him that I needed to see the Queen. He took me up into the air and dropped me in front of Her Majesty the Queen. This is what she said to me: - My rebel friend has confirmed to me that you are a Twinsunian. He took part in some missions on your planet. He saw how the Emperor's soldiers behaved. We know that Dark Monk and the Emperor have lied to us, that they have kidnapped your wizards and children. But you, what are you doing here? - I've come to get your help. Dark Monk and the Emperor have built a reactor on the Emerald moon. They're planning to destroy my planet during the next ceremony where Dark Moon has promised to perform his miracle. - And what can we do? - The control centre is on CX Island and the only access is a passage which goes from the gas underworld. The rebels above have said that those here could help me. - Can you prove all this? To show I was telling the truth, I showed her the ring that Johnny had given me. A Mosquibee standing to one side of the throne said: - Our secret calling sign! I believe he speaks the truth your Majesty. - But he is not a Mosquibee. To become one of us, you are going to have to demonstrate your courage and pass the truth test... After that, we will help you. To pass the test, I found myself in a ring. Thanks to my magic ball, I easily broke the rolling balls to find a key and open the correct door. Once inside, I found the Sarbatron, which was a very sophisticated blowpipe. No sooner had the Queen congratulated me, when a Mosquibee soldier announced that Imperial Parachutists were landing. They threatened the village and the Queen had to flee. With some other Mosquibees, I left towards the interior of the cocoon in the direction of the battle. I crossed the place under a hail of enemy shots. I left the cocoon via an opening which led to a path running along the top of the cliffs. I followed it and soon found myself opposite a footbridge, which I crossed. On the other side, up a rocky peak, the Mosquibees' fragment lay inside a locked chest. The monster who protected it launched fireballs, and it was thanks to the Blafard glove that I could throw them back at him. I had noticed that he launched fireballs with his head tilted back which suggested the right moment to use my gloves. I had to repeat this four times before he disappeared, leaving the key to the chest. Now that I had this new fragment, I retraced my steps, crossing the cocoon and found another exit which led to the beach where I had arrived. I went to the rocks in the direction of the Ferryman's calling point. Having found four new gems, I called out for him. He didn't take long to arrive and this time took me to the volcano island. The spot was at the foot of the rocky peak supporting the Celebration Volcano above gas floods. I had to avoid the lava flows and fire geysers so that I could find the small cave where some Mosquibee refugees were. They had fled during the attack. According to them, the Queen was being held in the vicinity of the Building Company on Blafard Island. I returned there. A few metres from the Ferryman's kiosk, on a rock near the lava, I met a wounded Blafard whom I cured with the aid of the Conch of Triton. To thank me, he revealed some important information. He confirmed that the Queen was being held in the Building Company prison, but he suggested that I make my way via the mine to reach her. He told me to follow the moving walkways. Then, after climbing onto some vertical conveyers, I found myself in a room where boxes were being moved. I hid inside one of them, allowing me to leave the place. On the other side I jumped nimbly out of the box onto a ladder. Reaching the roof, I spied a sort of pipe across the ground, through which I slid as far the Queen's cell. Her Majesty gave me the key to open the secret passage leading to CX Island then I left once more for the Mosquibees' village. In the cocoon behind the throne, I found the famous passage. I used the key on the throne and the back tipped out. I advanced cautiously.... CHAPTER 8 : The exit led directly onto CX at the corner of a well guarded gangway. After dispensing with some guards who didn't want to let me pass, I tried one of the two doors and entered a gas filled room. Thanks to my Super-Jetpack, I crossed it, watching out for monsters coming out from the gas. Then another gangway led me to the shuttle launch area. From there, I went to the central tower and then turned right into another room, once I'd taken the key in the red box which was behind a guard who kept firing at me. From this room, a lift took me to the main control centre where the Emperor and the red launch button were!! The Emperor spoke: - It's over Twinsen, you've lost. And to make your defeat even more bitter, I'm going to reveal the truth. With all these religious beliefs, I wasn't master of my own planet. The people only listened to the teachings of Dark Monk priests. One day, a stranger stopped on Zeelich and suggested a way to pass himself off as Dark Monk. Together, we made them believe he was going to fulfil the big prophecy. Of course, the truth is otherwise. I don't know why, but Dark Monk wanted to take over the magical energy contained in your planet. Since I wanted to become Master of Zeelich, we made a deal!! - That's impossible, I won't let you!! - Twinsunian, Dark Monk is invincible. In his statue, he's built a machine capable of storing all the stolen magical energy from your planet!!! My men went to Twinsun to kidnap your wizards because we needed them to attract your planet's energy to Zeelich. Then we kidnapped your children when the wizards refused to co-operate!! You were our only obstacle. From now on, we've won. At the next ceremony, we will destroy Twinsun and use the machine. Even you won't be able to stop the lunar reactors. I tried to stop him, but as the battle turned in my favour, in a last ditch effort, he managed to activate the lunar reactor. Seconds later, Sendell appeared to warn me: - Twinsen, a cosmic cataclysm has started!!! The moon has begun to move! It'll soon point towards Twinsun and destroy our planet!!! - But what can I do to stop it? - You must stop Dark Monk from using the diabolical machine that he's constructed in the statue. It could attract and steal the energy we could use to stop the moon!!!! - But how can I get inside the statue? It's in Celebration Volcano and completely inaccessible!!! - You must bring together the four key fragments that the peoples of Esmer protect and display at each ceremony. With these, the Dark Monk statue will leave the crater!! When you have stopped Dark Monk, you must get back to Twinsun and in the Shaft of Sendell, I will help you to stop the moon!! I took the lift again and this time, with the help of the Emperor's sabre, I managed to get by the hussars who guarded the control tower door. They didn't leave me time to admire their magnificent uniforms and I had to use my new weapon which proved very efficient. In the control tower, I took a route disc. A little bit later, outside the tower, I boarded the Emperor's personal shuttle and headed for Otringal. CHAPTER 9 : In order to save my planet, I had to grab the Sup's fragment, hidden in the Imperial Palace, before returning to Celebration Island to confront Dark Monk. Eliminating the hussars who guarded the entrance to the palace, I slipped inside. The route to the Sup's fragment was a labyrinth protected by a load of soldiers, fishbulls, hussars and all kinds of mercenaries. With great difficulty, I got to the fragment chest. The ultimate palace guardian, a Streum, with two heads, didn't last long against the Emperor's sabre. I took the last missing fragment. Behind the chest, I saw a strange looking stained glass window. Throwing my magic ball in 'discreet mode', I broke it and discovered a secret passage which led me outside via a shortcut, and meant me not having to retrace my steps. I left the palace with the four Zeelichian fragments and headed for Celebration Island. CHAPTER 10 : At the volcano summit, inside a little temple by the edge of the crater, I inserted the four fragments that together made up the sacred key. At that moment, a violent trembling and terrible noise shook the whole island. Inside the crater, a gigantic statue of Dark Monk rose from the lava and came to rest in front of the little temple where I stood. I found Dark Monk standing on the Great Book of Names. He stared at me and revealed his true face to the dumbstruck eyes of the four Zeelichian races: - At last Twinsen I've found you! But this time it is too late!! With the Emperor's help, I have tricked the Esmers. How ironic that they believed I was Dark Monk reincarnated and granted me divine powers that I didn't possess. Thanks to the Esmers, I will finally get them when the moon blows up Twinsun!! - And what did you do with the children and the wizards?? - I needed the wizards to work the machine that I built in the statue. It will attract the magical energy of Sendell contained at the heart of Twinsun and which will be drawn from the explosion! The children were a means of persuading the wizards to obey me!! - You are vile FunFrock, and I'll prevent you from doing it! - You're welcome Twinsen, you too have helped me!! The statue will act as an aerial and I needed the four fragments to put it in the ceremonial position. I had sent my mercenaries, but you managed to elude them all the same! Congratulations!! Now you will attend the final destruction of your planet and my consecration! I only have to activate the machine and the cosmic shock will take place, the Sendells energy will belong to me. It will make me the equivalent of a God!!! FunFrock disappeared inside the statue. Without waiting, I gave chase. I climbed from pillar to pillar before reaching the statue's arms. I entered this immense stone body. There I found the wizards, locked in cages for the machine to use their magical powers. Turning the screens on in the right order - second, first, fourth and finally third, I managed to unlock the cages after pressing the final opening switch. Thanks to their powers, they destroyed an iron gate which barred my way. I told them to go and fetch Baldino urgently while I went to confront FunFrock and save the children. They all left and I found my old enemy on the next floor up. He started to lower the cage which held the children. Then he disappeared into a teleporter... With the help of the Nitro-Meca-Penguins that I'd bought on Citadel Island and those that I'd found in a hidden cave in FunFrock's statue, I destroyed FunFrock's grobo clones. Some of them, easily recognisable by their torpedo launchers, guarded the keys which let me go down progressively in search of FunFrock. Later I found everyone at the level of the statue's feet. At last I finally faced FunFrock, who had time to break the chain that was holding the cage full of children. It fell into the lava, there was nothing I could do to prevent it. Consumed with rage, I turned on FunFrock inflicting a ruthless punishment. Then, by a miracle, Baldino appeared before my eyes aboard his ship. The wizards managed to join him and they had arrived in time to save the children. The cage, which didn't have time to touch the lava, fell on Jérome's ship. I climbed aboard and asked Baldino to get us back to Twinsun as fast as possible. Meanwhile, the Zeelichians looked on as the volcano exploded and the gas and the monsters it contained were sucked inside. Moments later, Zeelich returned to its original paradise, fulfilling the hopes of all its inhabitants. Thanks to the gazogem, Jérome had improved his ship's capability and we were there in a fraction of a second. Inside the Shaft of Sendell, helped by the Goddess, I tried to push back the moon. Unfortunately I was only able to slow it down. Fortunately the Esmer fleet, commanded by Johnny Rocket and the Mosquibee Queen, appeared. They bombarded and destroyed the lunar reactor and I managed at last to put the Emerald moon back in its orbit. Once more I had saved Twinsun and all its people. EPILOGUE : Some time later on Citadel Island, under brilliant sunshine the peoples of Twinsun and Esmer met up on the occasion of the Big Festival. Johnny Rocket came to shake my hand and say a few words: - Thank you Twinsen. Without you, who knows what would have happened to our planets. - It's you that must be thanked. Without your help, Sendell and I would never have managed to force the moon back. - That was the least we could do. You have fulfilled our prophecy. Our planet has become once more the paradise it was meant to be. You saved Zeelich from the dictatorship intended by our Emperor. But better than that, you wrecked FunFrock's attempt to carry out his plans, you have saved our two planets!!! - The main thing is that peace is restored. LBA2 English 8