Slugterra: The New Shane

Chapter 10: The Truth. Sorta.

//Next chapter! (: I wish I could dedicate it to more than one user, but I can't, so I'll just have to say, this is for all my readers, commenters, followers, everyone who is participating in this story! (://

Alana's POV

Once we freed the rest of the Shane Gang from Stalker's various traps and got back to the hideout, we all began doing multiple tasks. Kord began to instal a new upgrade on all of our Mecha beasts, locking himself up in the garage. You could hear the occasional mini-explosion and could see flashing lights that appeared to be from a blowtorch, but other than that, we all had no clue what he was doing in there. Trixie began to upload videos she had saved on her camera, putting them up on the SlugNet. They went from slug documentaries to clips from duels against Blakk's goons. Pronto was hogging the TV, insisting that he have a Max Jackson movie marathon, and eating up most of our snacks in the process. Me and Eli were outside playing with our slugs, talking about the day. It would be growing dark soon. We were both laying next to each other on the ground, with our heads propped up on a large stone. All of our slugs were around us, playing with each other.

I pet the Enigmo. "Curious little guy," I said, as he tried to shake hands (or whatever the technical name for whatever the slugs have) with Eli's Joules. He squeaked as he was electrocuted, then began to giggle.

Eli nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I wish I could figure out what he did, though."

I raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, brushing some hair from my face. "What do you mean? You got hit with it, you know what he does." Secretly, I was curious, as well. Could I have experienced the effects simply because that was another hidden ability of mine, or because it was important for me to be able to have the strange double-vision?

Eli shook his head, popping one of the bubbles that his Bubbaleone, Suds, was creating. "I know, but I feel like there's more to this slug than some bad eyesight. There has to be some real use for the effects of getting hit by it."

I shrugged. "Perhaps. Did you notice anything unusual when you had the double-vision?"

He thought for a moment. "Yes. There was something else that I saw." Eli frowned. "I just can't put my finger on it."

I toyed with my dark amulet. "We'll figure it out," I said calmly, hiding the extreme curiosity bubbling up inside me. I really wanted some answers. But if I let Eli know that, he would ask questions, and he might ask something I couldn't answer honestly.

Not being able to help it, I stared at the gemstone in my amulet once more. Why hadn't the Shadow Clan contacted me? That amulet hadn't glowed at all, hadn't given a single SPARK. For all I knew, the Shadow Clan had gone and forgotten all about me. I really hoped that was not the case and I was just overreacting.

Not expecting anything to occur, I just about had a heart attack when the gemstone started pulsing bright green. I sat up and yelped. Then I quickly dragged Eli to his feet and began to push him towards the hideout, his confused slugs following after their equally confused slinger.

"Whoa, what's going on?" he asked as I navigated him to the door. He tried to turn around. "Is your necklace-?" I pushed his head back around. "Just keep walking, Shane. I gotta go now. I'll try to be back in a couple hours." Then with one finally push, I sent him stumbling into the hideout. I dove behind some bushes, watching him. Eli shrugged, and then, muttering to himself, he walked inside and closed the door.

I turned to my slugs, who were all looking at me, amused. "Ash and Isis stay. The rest of you get inside and hang out 'till I get back, okay?" They nodded and began jumping into the hideout through the windows. Then I walked back to the clearing Eli and I had been in. A Shadow Clan emerged from within a bush. It didn't say anything to me, only held out its arm.