~ ~ ACT I: THE DARKEST NIGHT ~ ~

Prologue

Far below the streets of Scuttle Town, Mimic continued to trudge his way through the dark caverns—alone. He stopped for a moment, attempting once more to wrangle in the heavy mess of metal wires and tubing he carried. While Mimic's trek started with the long pieces of scrap metal neatly draped over his shoulder, they soon coiled themselves around him in a tight embrace, making it harder and harder for him to move. But, through pig-headed determination, Mimic managed to make it to his destination.

There, at the cavern's end, stood a spire of glowing, white crystal that stretched from the bottom of a shallow pond all the way up to the ceiling far overhead.

Mimic shook himself free of his metal bonds, letting them crash to the stone floor. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he stared up at the wondrous sight before him. Mimic nearly lost himself in its comforting glow before being interrupted by the sound of shuffling feet reverberating through the cavern.

Mimic tensed up as he waited for the source of the noise to come into view. Slowly, from the shadows, approached a tinkerbat. It glared unflinchingly at Mimic until it noticed the mound of scrap metal and tools piled on the ground. The tinkerbat shuffled over to the mound and began inspecting each item closely.

Mimic sighed. "It's all there," he said.

Ignoring Mimic, the tinkerbat continued its inspection until each and every piece of the pile had been thoroughly scrutinized. Then, with narrowed eyes, the tinkerbat turned back to glare at Mimic once more.

"If that's all settled then," said Mimic, "can we get this over with?"