Chapter 5
“Are you sure about this, Miss Loveless?” The Dean of the University asked me. I had decided to quit my job since things have dramatically changed for me. “You can always just take a leave of absence for a while and come back when you’re ready. The students here say nothing but good things about you, and not to mention the educational staff.”
“This is for the best, sir.” I replied. “Family matters have to come first and I’m afraid this may take some time to resolve.”
If only you knew just what kind of family matters.
He sighed. “Well Miss Loveless... I really hate to see you go. I hope in the near future you decide to come back. We will miss you.”
We both stood up and shook hands. “I will think about it, sir. But it’s hard to say right now how long I may be gone. I’m glad you understand. I do love my job and am grateful to have had the opportunity to work here.”
He smiled. “It was an honor to have you as a part of our staff. Take care of yourself. I hope things turn out good for you and your family.”
Well, for ME anyways.
I left and shut his door behind me. I fidgeted with my hat still trying to get used to my ‘new features.’ I had already cleaned off my desk in the classroom and was carrying my box as I walked down the hallway for the last time.
I’m actually going to miss this place. I thought. But now concentrate on what you have to do now… Claim my birthright.
I headed for the Animarium.
…

Back at the Animarium, Merrick was talking to Shayla. She was rather fidgety.
Merrick was trying to calm her down. “Relax, princess… your sister will be alright. I think she can take care of herself.”
She looked to him. “I can’t help it. You should have never left her alone with Master Org. Who knows what he can do to her.” She continued to pace around. “She’s been gone for too long, and I can’t pick up on where she is.”
The other Rangers were doing their own thing around the floating island. Merrick spoke again. “If I really thought that she needed our help, we wouldn’t be here, princess. I know deep inside that Loki-Mara is more than capable of taking care of herself. You need to calm down.”
She sighed. “What if he hurt her bad enough that she can’t get to us?”
I had heard this as I arrived at the island. “It’s going to take more than a beating to keep me away.” I said as I approached her. I took off my sunglasses and revealed to them a bruised up face. It was a decoy of sorts to throw them off. If they knew that I was in cahoots with their enemy, the plan to take over this Animarium would fail.
Shayla gasped. “Loki! Your face! What happened? I knew Master Org would hurt you, I told Merrick he should’ve stayed with you but…”
I interrupted her. “I’m alright, really… besides, I’m not the ONLY one with bruises. I told you all I could handle him.” I set my box down. “After the nice little ‘chat’ we had, I decided that spending time with my little sister and getting to know this place is important. So I quit my job at the Turtle Cove University. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you guys where I’ve been, but I needed to do this on my own. See? You worried for no reason.”
“Well I’m glad you’re ok, I knew you would be.” Merrick said.
“It’s good to see that someone has a little faith in me.”
Shayla sighed. “I’m just concerned. With your new org powers emerging, who knows what the orgs will try to do with you. However I am glad you decided to stay here where you belong. You’ll be safer here.”
But YOU won’t be, my dear sister. Soon enough my time will come.
She walked up to me and gave me a hug. “Now we can get to know each other better!”
“I look forward to it.” I lied.
…
After talking for quite some time, I had known more about my heritage than I could imagine possible. I was starting to feel worse about what I had been plotting against my own sister and her guardians of the earth. It wasn’t Shayla’s or anyone else’s fault that I had a bad misfortune. It made sense that our mother had no choice but to let the King of Animaria send me off. I was a risk to the peaceful kingdom… like I am right now, in fact.
Damn…
I knew now that Master Org was responsible for everyone’s death 3,000 years ago. This included my own mother. He was destroying the whole kingdom and this is why Merrick had to take it upon himself to take my father’s power and stop him. I actually admired him for it now. That took a lot of balls.
Well so much for ME being the threat, huh? Maybe if they let me stay here back then. I could’ve been their salvation. Oh what irony.
“I…can’t do this…” I suddenly sputtered out.
Shayla looked weird. “Do what?”
I stopped before I said anymore. “It’s getting late and I should go back to my apartment and get what I need from there. After all, this is my home now.”
“I’ll send someone to go with you.”
I stopped her. “No, it’s fine. It won’t take long.”
We faced each other. “For all it’s worth, I’m glad that you’ve decided to be here where you belong. And really glad to have you as a sister.”
I squirmed inside. How can I go through with the plan? She’s too good-hearted and innocent. I have to put a stop to this, no matter what it takes. “I’ll hurry back, don’t wait up.” I left.
…

I was running through the forest till I felt it was safe to be alone. Then when I saw it was safe, I teleported myself to the Nexus. No one was expecting me to be there. It was instinct that allowed me to navigate the maze of the underground caverns. As I quietly approached the main room, I saw a dim light coming from an adjacent room. I cautiously approached and almost gasped loudly when I saw the unimaginable. Master Org was hornless. He was doing something to the helmet he wore.
He’s human too! This is what he meant by ‘we have a lot in common.’ I continued to watch in awe but then I heard someone coming up behind me.
“You! What are you doing here?” Demanded Toxica. She went to grab me but I ducked out of the way.
Jindrax was now behind me and grabbed my arm. “She asked you a question.”
I was struggling to break free but now Toxica was holding my other arm. “Perhaps Master Org can beat some answers out of you.”
Jindrax laughed, looking at my bruised face. “It looks like he already left a momento.”
“Let go of me!” I yelled. I tried to grab my Raven Crystal to free my friend to help me, but couldn’t get free.
Then Master Org approached us. “What’s the meaning of this?” He glared at the duke orgs.
“Master Org, we caught this intruder spying on you. What shall we do with her?” Toxica asked rather proudly.
He shot her with an energy blast from his staff. “You’ll do nothing you dimwit! She’s with us now and that’s all you need to know!”
“What? How were we supposed to know?” Jindrax asked him. “We didn’t mean to make you mad, we saw her spying on you and just did what we thought was right.”
“That’s a first.” Growled Master Org. “Both of you get lost now, or I’ll…”
“Y-yes master.” Toxica interrupted him and grabbed Jindrax. “Come on!” she told him and they both left before Master Org could say anything else.
“So you were spying on me?” He turned to me. “Explain yourself!”
I grabbed my raven crystal and clenched it. “I’m ending our deal right now, Master Org! The plan is off!” As I was about to release the raven, he shot at the crystal, shattering it into pieces. I gasped.
“You dare defy me?” He bellowed. “We had a deal, Loki. And now you’ll regret breaking it off!” He threw another energy blast this time at me, but I flipped out of the way.
I sorrowfully looked at the crystal pieces then glared to him. “You’re as much as human as I am! Imposter!” I leapt up and went to punch him, knocking him down. “I might as well have made a deal with the devil himself! I’ll never go through with this! I’ll destroy you before I’d hurt my own sister or anyone else!”
He sat up; blood was spilling from his lip. He wiped it off with the back of his hand and looked at it for a moment, then smirked at me. “I think not.” His hand reached out and vines flew out at me, entangling me. “Oh and yes, I was once human. But Dr. Viktor Adler is no more! And soon, none of this will matter to you.”
“What are you going to do, kill me off? Go for it, Dr. Adler!” The vines were crushing me.
“That would be too easy.” He stroked my hair as he watched me suffer. “I have much better plans for you.”
I breathed. “Whatever it is… I will fight it…”
He laughed and walked away slowly, then turned back to me. “Like I said, my dear Loki… none of this will matter to you. You’ll be loyal to me yet.”
“I don’t think so…” I trailed off…I couldn’t think straight all of a sudden. Then my mind grew dark and empty. In a few more seconds, all I could think about was remaining loyal to my new master.
