(8) Residual evil...

Elsewhere...

"Wait a second!" Lara blurted out mid stride. "Why would there be a native tribe like this in Mongolia in this time period?"

"I don't follow," DK called back, dodging a fallen tree trunk protruding from the snow.

"Mongolia was-" Lara started, then dived into a roll as several spears sizzle past her head. She elegantly popped back up into her run full sprint, "-civilized by at least a hundred years ago."

"Are you sure?" Michael answered quizzically.

"Idiot, they're wearing loin-cloths in the snow!" Rachel added peeved, "what more evidence do you need that these guy don't belong somehow?"

"Okay, everybody freeze!" The party stopped altogether with the wildly ranting tribesmen closing in behind them. "You're right." Michael said calmly, despite the fact everybody's adrenaline was pumping. He raised his arm and formed an ice barrier between them and the onslaught of spears.
"A technique I learned back in Blizzard Lake... that should hold off the attack temporarily." But the look of sweat and paleness on his face showed that his energy was severely depleted.

"But if what you're saying is true, then where'd they come from?" DK asked, throwing Lara a skeptical glance.

"I think I know," Rachel suddenly piped in. She pointed toward Michael's head. "Does that look familiar?"

"Huh?" Michael reached for the top of his head, feeling something slimy. "Shampoo?"
Then it began to burn his hand. "Ow! I guess not."

"That looks like black slime from that tentacle that DK sliced off of you, back in our time," Lara noted. "It's part of their source."

"Their source?" Michael repeated.

"Remember? Their energy source was the hatred and doubt in people's hearts. They captured and transformed it into that tangible energy source that's on Michael's head right now." Rachel said.

"That's what spawned those monsters we fought in our time," DK piped in, stating the obvious.

"Great, liquid darkness. Something we don't need right now." Michael said with a humph.

At that moment, the barrier shattered, shocking everyone into remembering what was going on in the first place.

"Whoops, almost forgot about those guys." DK glanced at the others as they started to run full speed again.

"So are these people for real or not?"

Just then, one of the tribes people tripped on a snow-covered tree branch and fell flat on its face. However, to the shock of the party, when face met floor, the being instantly burst into the same liquid darkness it had formed out of and evaporated without a trace.

They immediately stopped running and glared at their artificial attackers. "Well, that explains a lot."
"So can I...?" Rachel said, reaching for her swords. DK nodded, charging up his arm cannon. Rachel grinned, unsheathing her weapons. "Okay boys. Gather around. There's plenty of me to go around." Then with a warrior's cry, she propelled upward into the air and dived into the fray, causing dark slime to splatter all over the white landscape.

DK blasted a few of the tribesmen into shreds. Lara casually stood back, realizing there was no real need for her assistance this time.

Michael took a step forward, then collapsed.

After the dust and snow settled, all that was left of the battle was the residual goo on everyone's weapons.

Lara and Rachel shook their weapons clean.
"Puh! Gak!" DK coughed, wiping grime from his face, "Well, that was fun, if not a bit messy."

Rachel and Lara giggled at the lame joke. Then they noticed Michael, doubled over in pain.

"Michael! Are you alright?"

Michael smiled weakly. "I just need some time to recharge." he said before passing out.

"Michael?" Rachel attempted to shake him awake. "Michael!"

Instinctively, she used the tip of her sword to fling the liquid darkness residue on Michael head away, which DK incinerated midair with a small blast from his arm cannon. Then he quickly blasted the remaining globules of slime that remained from their fallen foes.

"We need to get him to some type of shelter, quickly!" she said, concern etched all over her face.

"But where are we going to find..." DK began.

"Hey, guys" Lara interrupted. "is that what I think it is?"

The group looked in the direction she was pointing.
Sure enough, Winter Lake loomed in front of them, large, icy, and frozen over.