A few days have passed since Catnip and Gorgonia escaped from planet Lona; the tracker on the stolen ship still doesn't show on the map; the explosive brothers' interrogations had led to dead ends and everything in general has been tensely calm since the last fight.
Mauzarella kept thinking about her right arm and what she could do with it ever since.
Aside from her new strength, she also had some minor ailments like dizziness and occasional nausea, so she decided to visit the only other person who had been bitten by a Ockutie: Doctor Gerbo Von Braun.
Doctor Braun, had returned to work on his research, thanks to the new funds obtained by the recommendation of R.O.E.S. His lab wasn't very big yet, but he already had some equipment and staff working for him.
Mauzarella enters the Doctor's office, who was inside a burlap bag, tied with string.
Mauzarella: Doctor? You are here?
The Doctor's voice was faint, but she could hear it clear enough.
Dr. Braun: I'm here!
Mauzarella: Where?
Dr. Braun: Inside the bag.
Mauzarella: Inside the…? Are you okay?
Dr. Braun: Yes. It's part of my latest experiment.
Mauzarella: Experiment?
Dr. Braun: I call it, "Fetal Memory". I'm trying to reconnect with lost memories, simulating the early stages of life.
Mauzarella: In a bag...? Anyway, Doc, I need your help, you see... my arm...
Dr. Braun: It is stronger than before, you can do things that defy logic and you have some discomfort.
Mauzarella: How do you know?
Dr. Braun: It's very simple, but first... Can you get me out of here? Apparently my assistant's memory is worse than mine, and she left without opening this thing.
Mauzarella opens the bag, releasing the Gerbil, who comes out even more disheveled than usual, and takes a deep breath.
Dr. Braun: That… didn't work at all. It just made me hot and hungry. Which reminds me, do you have any food?
They both go out to a small restaurant, where the Doctor orders a large number of dishes, while Mauzarella only orders a small dessert.
Between bites, Doc. Braun tells his theory.
Dr. Braun: Let me explain… When Catnip's henchmen got tired of beating me, I clearly felt internal bleeding and damage to my tired organs; liver, kidneys, pancreas, everything began to fail. After the Ockuties cured me, everything worked again and even better than before. I know this because I had health problems and now I'm just like new. Somehow, the cellular structure of the affected part increases its function remarkably.
Mauzarella: You mean it gives us super strength?
Dr. Braun: So to speak, yes. In your case the muscle fiber and the bone must now be much stronger than before.
Mauzarella: And… Is it permanent?
Dr. Braun: I do not know. If you allow me, we can run some tests.
Mauzarella: Uh… Sure, Doc.
Doc Braun finishes eating and they both prepare to leave the restaurant.
Dr. Braun: By the way, I saw on the news that Catnip managed to escape.
Mauzarella: We are still looking for him.
Dr. Braun: Mice chasing cats…. I wish I could do something to help.
Mauzarella: Maybe you can. Did Catnip ever tell you about his plans?
Dr. Braun: Now that you say so… When I told him about my research, he was very interested in the ancient texts I found, which mention civilizations and hidden ruins in the galaxy. He might as well be looking for one of them right now.
Mauzarella: Those texts… Do you still have them?
Dr. Braun: Of course, but... I haven't been able to figure them all out. It's complicated stuff.
Mauzarella: I think I know who can help...
Saying this, a sudden pain causes Mauzarella to fall to her knees.
Mauzarella: UUGHHHHH!
Dr. Braun: Mauzarella, are you okay?
Mauzarella: Yeah, but lately I've been having these pains that come out of nowhere!
Dr. Braun: Your discomforts seem worse than mine. We'd better run those tests as soon as possible.
Mauzarella: Yeah, Maybe!
Dr. Braun: Come to the lab tomorrow and don't worry, we'll find a solution to everything.
Back home, Mauzarella goes to bed thinking about everything that has been happening until she falls asleep.
That dream of the tree surrounded by the arch of light, returned as in previous nights, ending in the same way; with a big fire and she waking up very upset and unable to sleep afterwards.
This time, the first thing she sees when she wakes up is the plant that sprouted from the seed that Blup gave her, and that had already grown so much that it was even beginning to bloom.
Mauzarella walks over to the plant and touches it a bit, remembering her dream.
Mauzarella: I need answers…
The next day, Mauzarella returns to Dr. Braun's lab, accompanied by Hazel.
Mauzarella: Good morning, Doc. You already know Hazel.
Hazel: HEY, you said it would be a date.
Mauzarella: I said an appointment, not a date.
Hazel: I feel betrayed.
Dr. Braun: Haha, ha ha! Welcome Hazel. I need your help with some old texts.
Hazel: You said… Ancient Texts? Where!?
Dr. Braun: Come this way…
Mauzarella: I'll let the kids have fun, while I...
Dr. Braun: While you go with my assistant, so that we can do the necessary tests.
Mauzarella: Oh… yes, I forgot.
Dr. Braun: Don't worry, it won't hurt… much.
Mauzarella: Heh, heh… I'm starting to regret this…
Mauzarella's had all sorts of things to done to her arm, from poking her fingers with needles, to X-rays, CT scans, and force measurement by hitting a round cushion attached to a weird machine. Once the tests are over, the Ranger approaches the Doctor and Hazel, who continue to analyze the texts.
Mauzarella: That was… interesting, not to say painful… Is there any progress here?
Dr. Braun: This mouse is a genius! He was able to decipher patterns that would have taken me years to get right.
Hazel: It's like computer code, you just have to know the instructions and the rest is very simple...
Mauzarella: If you say so. And… What did you find?
Dr. Braun: The location of some ruins on a planet that is not on the star charts. According to this, it's near the event horizon of the center of the galaxy.
Mauzarella: Sounds dangerous.
Dr. Braun: If we follow the maps, we should be ok.
Mauzarella: Great. When do we leave?
Dr. Braun: The sooner the better!
Soon after, at the R.O.E.S. spaceport, Mauzarella, the Doctor and Hazel are making preparations for takeoff, when Maple arrives at the platform where the ship in the form of a computer mouse is docked.
Maple: Everything is ready, the Chief approved the mission and told me to tag along.
Mauzarella: Cool! Welcome aboard.
Hazel: I don't know how you keep convincing me of these things.
Mauzarella: Admit it, you love the thrill of adventure.
Hazel: As much as a toothache.
Doctor Braun puts his arm around Hazel and gently forces him into the ship.
Mauzarella: Thanks, Maple.
Maple: You owe me one.
Maple and Mauzarella board the ship, which quickly takes off and disappears from sight as it enters a cosmic portal.