Chapter Text
Hello fellow readers,
First of all, I would like to thank each and every one of you for visiting my story. Second, this story takes place after Munches Oddysee, mixed in with the new Oddworld Soulstorm game. I didn't include Sam, the mother of the Mudokons, into this story, keeping it a mystery if she was saved in the end to keep true to the game’s story thus far, hoping that this story of mine will blend in smoothly with the new game in the distant future.
Thanks again and enjoy!
Hidden deep within a mountain off to the Northwest of Splinterz on Oddworld, a lab rested. The Mudokons had no clue that the lab stored a type of transportation that the Mudokons use. It was the bird portals that they use to move about Oddworld. A Glukkon named Luksin and a few Vykker scientists stole the Mudokon’s unique technology and wanted revenge on Abe and the other Mudokons. The portal was locked in tight inside the glass room, and Sligs were on stand-by if anything were to jump out from the portal. Luksin and the Vykkers were safely in another room, looking in the glassed chamber. A Mudokon shaman was also strapped onto a device, forced to chant to open up the portal in the room that held the birds tightly inside. This shaman was known as Big Face to Abe and many others in his tribe. How did these guys manage to obtain the portal, and how did they capture Big Face? We will soon find out when Abe gets involved….
Before the Almighty Raisin, Abe, the messiah, savior of the Mudokons, stood next to Alf, his friend. The Raisin had called for Abe to explain the dangers threatening their land and that Abe needed to stop this Glukkon before they figure out the portal and ambush them in their peaceful forest village. He explained as much as possible to the Mudokon with stitched lips and a unique blue shade to his skin.
The Raisin spoke deep and quiet, “This is why I need you, Stitch Lips, to go out and find this new lab that a Glukkon named Luksin and Vykker scientists built before they figure out how to control the birds. You need to save Big Face from his torment and free any remaining creatures along the way.”
Abe shook his head, a bit flustered on how they managed to get ahold of the birds in the first place and how they could capture Big Face as well. He’s a hard shaman to even locate around Oddworld. “I’ll need some help with this task. I can’t do it alone.”
“Alf here will assist you, and you need to locate Munch for this task again. His sonar will come in handy to get into the lab’s entrance hidden within the mountain.”
Alf sighs. He didn’t want to go on yet another crazy adventure. “Gee whiz, can’t we get a little rest around here?”
Abe chuckles and nudges his friend before replying. “Guess not. We’ll need some supplies first. Like my backpack and the blimp that we stole back when we saved Munch and the last of the Mudokon eggs. So why don’t ya get all that ready while I finish things up around here, Alf?”
“Sure thing, Abe!” Alf rushes off out of the Raisin’s cave, leaving Abe to talk to the Almighty Raisin alone.
Abe waved Alf along, turning back to the Raisin to ask one last question, “Say, do you know where I can find Munch? Since ya got all these ratz runnin’ about being your eyes and ears, surely you can help me out a bit in finding him?”
The Raisin took a breath before speaking and giving Abe hints for his quest, “Munch is in the deep ocean tending to the younglings that hatched. I will have my ratz escort you to his whereabouts. I also need you to help another creature that will soon be needing it. Follow the ratz. They will lead you to her and then….and then….” His four orange eyes began to close as he fell asleep in mid-sentence, leaving Abe to wonder who this girl was and why he needed her.
“Welp, at least I know the first thing to do when we head out. Follow the ratz….” Abe shrugs and walks out of the cave, leaving the Raisin to rest….
~
It was in the dead of night as I lay under a tree with blood on my left shoulder and arm. I had no idea what time it was. I could only guess it was about 3:00 in the morning. My brown shirt had blood stains on it now and dirty tan pants from me falling down a few hills to escape the enemy. My mouse-brown hair tied up in a ponytail started to become crusty from my dried blood that got onto it. I grew faint, feeling me lose consciousness from so much blood loss. My backpack was stolen from me, along with my camera that was inside it. The only thing I have on me is a black hoody that I ripped up the sleeve to wrap my left arm and shoulder. I leaned on the tall abstract tree as I look up to the night sky, sighing to myself, “Why me?”
My name is Theresa, nickname, Tree. I’m sure you’re wondering how I got into this predicament? Well, let me tell you how it all started. It seemed like a typical day on Earth, taking photos in the forest near my home, listening to the Cannon River flow and the birds chirping along with the geese honking in the river to ward off any predators. I wanted to take photos of birds today, having my large 500-millimeter lens attached to my Canon T7i camera. So many birds to choose from as I snapped photos, hearing the calls from many species where I live in Minnesota. But I was unaware of a type of bird that stumbled into my world. The same birds that got me into this predicament.
I left my dog Finn at home to get a chance to capture some shots of the wildlife peacefully without him tugging me around and demanding me to play with him in the river. With my backpack on my back that held my lenses, my camera was around my neck. It started to feel heavy around my neck from how long I’ve been taking photos of random things. I was out for about two hours wandering the trails that zigzagged around. My feet started to feel a bit sore on how far I walked. My back was feeling the pain from the backpack with all of the lenses inside. But I still pressed on to find some hidden treasures within the deep woods as I stepped off the trail for a moment seeing something moving in the distance. It was a deer. Not just one, four of them! I quietly snuck to have a closer look, but they knew I was there. They stood still as if they saw headlights from a truck. I had a great view of them as I started to take photos of them before they began to dash off deeper into the woods.
I took a moment to look back at my camera’s screen to view the images I’ve taken with a smile on my face seeing some of the shots turned out crisp. As I looked through the pictures, I heard fluttering behind me. It sounded like pigeons or doves by the sound of it. I turn to face the direction where my ears listened to the flutters to see if I can spot them in the trees to take a photo, but I saw nothing around. Not even cooing calls sounded. It was like everything around me grew silent all of a sudden. And knowing this as the Oz effect, I started to sweat.
The hairs on the back of my neck began to rise. Something terrible was about to happen. I quickly made it back onto the trail, thinking I was safe. I retreated back the way I came until I heard feathers flapping behind me once again. I whipped my head around, seeing a brief glimpse of tail feathers from a few birds. I started to back up slowly from where I heard the birds. In the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of light. I shot my head around to face the object in front of me, only to feel the pull from it forcing me inside the strange portal-type thing. Around this portal, a group of birds circled, creating another dimension. My mind went wild as I tried to remember where I saw this before. But I had no time to think about this! I had to get away from the pull of the portal that opened up in front of me! I tried to back away, but my shoes slipped on the rocks on the trail, and I fell, having the portal take me into another world.
~
Big Face softly hummed, opening the portal with his chant for the enemy once more with his body strapped onto a machine that shocked him if he refused to cooperate. His humming sound grew louder to have the birds create the door to the other side. Big Face opened the portal into random areas to stall time by sending the enemy off a cliff or into the open ocean somewhere, which he did many times over to the poor Sligs that had to go through them. Luksin and Vykkers knew this, so they threw test dummies into them.
One lower class Slig was about to go into the portal until I shot out of it. I rolled out, protecting my camera in my grasp for it not to get damaged. Once I came out of the fetal position, I looked down at my camera, ensuring it was unharmed. Once I sighed in relief, I slowly looked up, seeing the horror surrounding me. I stuttered, trying to gather up my words, but nothing came out. “A Slig….from Oddworld? How is this happening!?”
I had no time to think more on the matter, hearing a Slig shout out, “Freeze!”
I lifted my hands so fast that my camera’s strap pulled my neck down from the weight of the heavy lens. The Slig slowly made his way to me and looked at my camera, thinking it was a weapon. I saw the details of the Slig’s green finger-like mouth and the metal pants they all wore. He pulled my camera off my neck, and everyone around was mumbling softly to one another. I saw a lone Glukkon and Vykkers all-around along with Sligs holding their guns towards me. All I could do was freeze and not say a word to them. Maybe they thought I was a disfigured Mudokon? While the Sligs were holding me at gunpoint and checking out my camera, I looked in front of me, seeing Big Face strapped to a machine. I could tell he looked dead at me through that elongated colorful wooden tiki mask of his. I gave him a terrifying look at what I have gotten myself into; granted, I came to a conclusion he was the one that brought me here by force due to the enemy. I felt the Slig’s gun press up against my skull as he shouted at me. “Drop da bag!” I didn’t hesitate as I quickly removed the bag around my back.
The Glukkon whispered to the Vykkers. “It understands our language?
The Vykkers then sputtered out, “What is it?” and then, “I’ve never seen anything like it on Oddworld.”
While the lone Glukkon and Vykker scientists were busy talking to each other, Big Face concocted a plan. He started to chant quickly, having shafts of lightning spark throughout the glass room. He took out the lights giving me a chance to escape. The door to the room was left open due to the Sligs walking on through to detain me. All I heard were gunshots in the bulletproof glass room where I escaped. The enemy saw me flee into the light and shouted out at the Sligs to give chase. Luck was on my side as Big Face’s distraction caused enough of a delay for them not to locate my whereabouts within the room.
I tried to keep my breathing soft as I think of a way out. Above me, an opened vent showed itself and some boxes for me to jump onto to get into the vent. The layout was just like in the game. But this time, I had to listen to the sounds around me, making sure the enemy was far away before making my move into the vent. Once I could hardly hear movement, I made my first move. I stepped on the boxes and jumped to the open vent. I made a loud sound that caught the attention of a Slig nearby, and he shouted at me to freeze. I didn’t heed his warning and kept pushing myself to keep going, slithering into the vent and avoiding the shots fired at me; hearing the bullets ricochet on the metal, I sighed in relief and tried to catch my breath for a moment before moving on. I thought to myself as I army crawled in the vent. “Well, there goes thousands of dollars back there. My poor camera….” I started to choke up from the stress but took a long sigh and calmed my nerves forcing myself to keep moving.
~
Meanwhile, Abe and his followers were getting the blimp ready for the trip up North near Splinterz. Alf was gathering food and items for the adventure while Abe looked at a map of the land, finding a safe place to land. After everything was ready to set sail, Alf made his way over to Abe. “So, where we headin’ again?” Alf asked while scratching his head.
“Here.” Abe pointed out with his finger. “We’re to find Munch around here…And I guess…The Almighty Raisin said we gotta find another in the same location? He said it was a female.”
“A female Mudokon? Do ya think she’s another shaman?”
“Maybe? I dunno. He fell asleep before he could explain the details…yet again. But we’ll have to follow the ratz for any clues.”
“Are ya takin’ anyone else on this journey?”
“Nope, just you, me, and Munch. The fewer ta watch over, the better in my book.”
“Good call.” Alf gave Abe a thumbs-up. “Well, I’m ready ta head out if you are. We have food for days, and the blimp is ready ta take off.”
Abe smiles and nods his head agreeing to move out as soon as possible. “I want to save Big Face as fast as we can. Who knows what those Vykkers are doin’ to the poor sap.”
“I hope they ain’t experimentin’ on him….” Alf shivered in fear as they both walked to the blimp.
~
Back at the lab hidden within the mountain, I was on my way out, safe and sound. The vent led me right to the exit. I just had to figure out how to open the large doors to get to the outside world. Once I get out of this lab, I can at least rest a little more….unless the creatures in the wild had other plans to make my day more difficult. I knew what could be out there, but anything is better than in here with the Glukkons, Vykkers, and Sligs, right? I jumped down out of the already opened vent as my black hoodie around my waist almost snagged one of the rusty nails on the vent. I hid behind some cargo boxes about to be stored on a train to make a trip around Oddworld. I thought for a moment. “If I can get on one of the trains, I may be able to get farther away from here. Then again, I have no idea where this train is going. It could go right to Nolybab.” I shook my head and took my chances of rushing out the large doors when the train starts to leave.
I saw a Slig use a pully to open the large bay doors when the train is stocked and ready to go. But how will I be able to sneak past him without him knowing? It looked like slogs were sleeping next to him as well, which makes this even more difficult. Luck again was on my side. A few ratz hopped around me and distracted the slogs for me. The Slig started to shout out at his slogs, yelling at them to get back to their posts, making this the perfect time to make my move. I rushed to the lever and pulled it, and started to run to the large bay doors that slowly opened up.
“Come on….Come on!” I cried out loud. A few ratz stayed by my side while I eagerly waited for the doors to finally open enough for me to squeeze through the crack.
Behind me, I heard the words I feared most. “Freeze!” Shots fired out as my left arm and shoulder got shot in the process of wiggling out of the double doors. I made it out in time, hearing the doors close behind me. The Slig must have thought he could have squished me in between the doors, but he was too late.
The outside world was pitch black as my eyes tried to adjust when I came out of the bright train station area. The group of one-footed ratz led me somewhere as I followed their glowing green eyes into the woods not too far off from the lab. I didn’t take notice of the two wounds on my shoulder and arm. Adrenaline was kicking in, and I just wanted to get the hell out of there. Once I made it into the woods, I started to slow down some, not looking where I was going. I took one step and realized that there was a steep hill before me. I took a stumble rolling down the slope scraping my arms and dirtying up my tan pants.
I grunted from the pain of the fall and slowly got up, but suddenly, I started to feel the stinging pain from the gunshots on my left arm. “Shit…. When did I get shot?!” I looked to my shoulder and used my right hand to feel the damage—one wound on the back of my shoulder and another right above my elbow. Well, shit….” I cried out, seeing that I was bleeding nonstop. The fall must have made it worse and had opened up the wounds more. I looked about, seeing water up ahead. I forced myself to get up off the grass and pressed on once again. I looked down by my brown hiking shoes, seeing the round-bodied, green-eyed ratz following me like a hawk.
I started thinking deep into the lore of the Oddworld game. “That’s right. The Raisin’s eyes and ears are the ratz. Which means….” I thought for a moment, knowing I may know who I will stumble across soon here—a Mudokon named Abe. While I slowly make it to the water, I gather my thoughts on all of this, keeping it to myself, of course. “So, I’m guessing that the Glukkons and Vykkers are using Big Face to control the portals the Mudokons use? But why did the portal come into my dimension? Was Big Face planning on that to happen and for me to stumble across it? What would have happened if the enemy would have come into my world?!” My face became angry, thinking about how stupid it was for Big Face to even think about doing something like that. It could have caused problems in my world. Then I started to think about the other portals that open up into my universe and the sightings of creatures spotted by other people. “Maybe that’s why people see strange creatures spawn and despawn in our world….Interesting.” This train of thought helped me ignore the pain on my shoulder and arm for the moment as I walked to the water.
I made it to the water and slowly lowered down to the beach to wash off the blood around my left arm. The water was saltwater as it stung the wounds. “Ouch!” I cried out but kept washing it off to try to stop the bleeding. The blood attracted some strange creatures as I could hear sounds from all around and splashes in the water in the distance. I backed up away from the water and plopped down under a crooked tree. As the ratz watched my movements, I took off my hoodie from around my waist and ripped one of the sleeves to tie it around my arm like a bandage. I set my hoodie off to the side. I didn’t need it any longer, feeling the heat from the weather making me sweat, even if it was getting dark out.
~
So here I am. Under this strange-looking tree waiting for daylight to come, so I can keep moving and hope to get out of this mess that I’m in. But with how much I lost in blood from the gunshot wounds, I’m feeling dizzy and trying not to pass out from the tunnel visions while seeing blurry ratz next to me and the ocean in front of me. I’m hoping no creatures smell my blood and find me an easy snack while I lay here unconscious.