=CHAPTER 6B: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

=CHAPTER 2B: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v1.0~

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{In the Meadow…}

[The days seemed to go on forever. It had gotten very dark and cloudy outside, blending day into night.

Cossack and DWN-019 worked almost non-stop on Doctor Light Number Eight—with the Doctor’s sons enforcing mandatory mental and physical breaks to prevent burnout.

Getting to Tobias’s actual coding was not easy. Offline or not, he was highly defensive—and Snow wasn’t exactly able to help, being out cold, himself.

And when they did find him…

It was just a mess. There were errors all over the place, and clearing them up would take quite some while. Sifting through the error report from the last system crash alone took DAYS.

And now, they were finally getting past the system reports and into the base data.]

Mikhail: …

Siam: Doctor?

Gemini: Is everything alright?

Mikhail: Mmm? Oh, yes… I’m fine.

[…But it was a lie.

A lie so as to not distract the twins from their analysis on the data they had got from Avi as part of the ordeal—for that information could prove quite enlightening.

But no…]

Mikhail: Just… a little weary, I suppose.

[…He was concerned.

Inspection of the Awareness code had showed that it had changed. Crucial components had changed—rewritten themselves.

Somehow, the encounter with Avi had prompted (or, more likely, FORCED) Tobias to rewrite himself.

What worried Mikhail the most was that some of the coding was beyond what he could recognize.]

Mikhail: (-Groooooaaan- {Will… I wish you were here…!})

[He still had the few fragments of notes that his best friend had given him regarding coding with Xel. That was a lifesaver—it told him that some of this seemed to be connected to functioning within a Xel chassis.

It may just be junk data, useless without the proper hardware. (Which, of course, would mean it would need to be pruned somehow, or else it would cause perpetual system errors.)

But he couldn’t say for sure what it would do, yet. He needed to go through the rest of the code to be sure—

He needed to know for sure that Tobias’s self had not been torn apart by being fused with Avi.

Sure, they had a back-up, but…

He dreaded the thought of being forced to resort to using it.

But if it turned out that this damage was beyond repair… he would have no other choice.]

Mikhail: (Oh, Avi…! What did you DO to him?)

———————————————

{Elsewhere…}

[Cardinal forced himself to physically relax.

He had taken shelter in a cooled, dark, abandoned basement. The sun beat down mercilessly outside— 102ºF, and that was WITHOUT the humidity.

He had retreated there as much for safety as for the isolation.

He needed time to think.]

Cardinal: …

[Everything was dead ends. His attempt to get news on the situation ended with hearing Aviator talking in a cheerfully sadistic manner about his latest caller.

As he’d made his way toward the highways, he saw that they were still in complete chaos. Going anywhere was going to be time consuming and dangerous. He couldn’t afford to just go running around blindly, even though he had no current leads.

He was going to need some sort of focus…]

Cardinal: …

[He visualized the situation like a strategy game board. All the pieces in play… including his own.]

Cardinal: (Now if I were Shade, where would I be…)

[He was hitting a mental block, Shade shrouded in darkness.

He knew that this was because he was unwilling to consider the worst.

He forced himself to remember his own advice…]

-*-*-*-*-*-

“Remember, you aren’t really fighting them—their physical form, perhaps, but you’re actually up against the parasite.”

-*-*-*-*-*-

Cardinal: (…Right. The parasite. Focus on the virus, Lou…. What do you know about it?)

-*-*-*-*-*-

Jack: I think...whatever was in those crosses just...

Jack: Pulled out all the... bad parts of me...

-*-*-*-*-*-

Cardinal: …

[He forced himself to continue this line of thought, despite the cold pain it was making him feel.]

-*-*-*-*-*-

Shade: ...Bein' an assassin, Cards?

Shade: It's hard.

Shade: It's hard because...I'm so good at it.

Shade: Sometimes that even scares ME.

- - -

Shade: ...At the very least, Ah' can give them a quick death.

Shade: ... ... ...Never really felt the need to make someone suffer before.

Shade: At least, not like...ya know.

Shade: With malice and all that.

Shade: ...Ah' hope Ah' never do.

Shade: Because the minute ah' do? I'll be no better than Viper.

-*-*-*-*-*-

[Cardinal sucked in air through his teeth, pain stinging at him. He wished—not for the first time—that he could cry, just to have some way to relieve this stress.]

Cardinal: (Feeding what is already there… already there…. …)

[It was too much for him.

His Emotions.exe program was becoming exacerbated. He couldn’t continue this right now—not in this heat—without consequences.]

Cardinal: G-gghhh…

[He stood abruptly.

He was going to need to get somewhere with working air conditioning if he were to have any hope of finishing this process any time soon.

And time was not on his side.]

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=PROLOGUE D: IT ALL BEGINS NOW=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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{MEANWHILE…}

[As soon as Cardinal saw what was going on, he had turned and slipped away.

There wasn’t going to be much time.]

[He needed to get over there before anyone noticed. Before the systems went down.

He had to find him.]

Cardinal: (I wish now, more than ever, that I had spent more time doing research, learning more…)

[He was shoving E-Tanks into compartments in the back of his shield.]

Cardinal: (It’s too late now. There’s no time. No time…!)

[He called Jazz over, adding on a harness to hold the rest of his supplies—including the Power Capsules that he couldn’t carry.

He was taking ALL of them, after all. All 30 of them.

After all, he had no idea what he was going to get into, except that it would probably be the most dangerous mission he’d undertaken since the Russian incident.

After grabbing some water bottles, oil cans, and the experimental Tanks, he went around to the back of the lab, grabbing Shadow’s light cycle. Normally, he’d prefer to use his own motorcycle, but he needed something with SIGNIFICANTLY better mileage… and the ability to easily carry.]

Cardinal: Come on, Jazz.

[He was in the other Kansas City long before anyone noticed.

…But he immediately saw just how bad the situation was.

That part of the city was abandoned, even by street gangs and those who HAD nowhere to go. Infected Xelbots were running loose. All of them.

He searched for a good ten minutes, but it was to no avail. Everything had either been looted, or destroyed.]

Cardinal: (I won’t learn anything more here. I wonder if ALL their cities are like this…?)

[He entered into a trashed bar. It was a bit saddening, to see it in such a state… but he had no time for such musings.

He had turned his transponder off by now—so he wouldn’t be getting any news or communication that way.]

Cardinal: (Gonna have to do this old school. Now let’s see…)

[He couldn’t call the Whites, that was for sure.

…There was only one other person that might know.]

-*-*-*-*-*-

“Robin… Ah’m worried ‘bout Jack. He has more t’ say, which I meant t’ tell ya earlier, but…. Look, Ah’ gotta run, okay? Look after him. Don’t let him leave the UK alone. They’re probably gonna send someone after him.”

“…Carmen. How am I supposed to do that when he’s completely off the radar?”

“He’s got a phone number, ‘least for now. No more questions, gotta run. Bye.”

-*-*-*-*-*-

[He sighed and dialed in the number.]

Cardinal: (This had better work, or I’ll be out of luck.)

{MEANWHILE, IN LONDON, ENGLAND....}

Jack: What...what the [frag]....

[It was all over the news. America was in shambles. The Mighty Numbers--gone rouge, for all he knew--or at least Avi.]

Jack: Shit....SHIT....

[He sat dumbfounded on his couch, in a cheaply rented flat--he was released from the medical staff of the Theater several days ago--]

[...The scary part was--he was planning to return back home anyway...]

[Then this happened.]

Jack: Oh my God....

[Suddenly it all made sense.]

[The crosses--their PROVIDER...]

[The landline in the apartment rang.]

Jack: ---?!?

[Someone calling--from AMERICA?!

…Why did the Caller ID say it was coming from Kansas City, what the hell?]

Jack: .......

[Who...?]

Click.

Jack: --H...Hello...?

[color=Brick] “Before you ask, Carmen gave me this number. And /no/, I don’t know where she is, what happened to her, or how she got it. So don’t ask.” [/color]

Jack: --?!

Jack: Who--who are--

[color=Brick] “Heh. Surprised you don’t recognize my voice—I know she showed you several clips, Jack.” [/color]

Jack: .........

[.......]

Jack: hOLY GLITCH YOU'RE THE BIRD GUY--

Jack: DUDE--DO YOU HAVE A N Y IDEA WHAT THE [FRAG] IS HAPPENING OVER THERE?!

[color=Brick] “YES, I’m ‘the bird guy’. Now listen up, I’ll tell you what I know, and then you WILL do likewise, got it?” [/color]

[He doesn’t wait for an answer.]

[color=Brick] “Everyone’s gone nuts. The cities are utter disaster. The highways are getting closed down, but all these self-driving cars no longer take orders—they aren’t /sentient/, so they aren’t Killer Cars or whatever, but they won’t respond to outside attempts to shut them off. A lot of people are fleeing for the countryside, with limited success. The ‘bot/human ratio here is way too close.” [/color]

Jack: Holy...

[color=Brick] “Things are very bad, Jack. It looks like a virus.” [/color]

Jack: -fEAR-

[color=Brick] “Damn thing infected the Cossack server, gave me a HELL of a fever for a while. …It got to our server because it came from White’s server. …I’m sorry, Jack. They’ve taken ill.” [/color]

Jack: V...V...Virus...

[He nearly dropped the phone.]

Jack: oh my God...

[color=Brick] “JACK. Listen to me, this is important, it’s why I called—” [/color]

[color=Brick] “I need to know about those crosses. AND about your ex-boss.” [/color]

[color=Brick] “We don’t have a whole lot of time, here, either—Toby managed to stall before he was sent Offline by the aggressive takeover attempt, but Avi will probably snap out of it within half a day, at most. Probably sooner. Any particular questions you have will have to wait ’til the end, accordingly.” [/color]

[color=Brick] “Now TALK.” [/color]

[He didn’t seem… angry. More like… authoritative, focused… and concerned.]

[.......]

Jack: The crosses....and Blade...

[A pause.]

Jack: ....Dude...dude, I...there isn't much I know...

Jack: Blade...he...after they fixed him up...he…God...

[color=Brick] “WHAT” [/color]

[color=Brick] “DON’T TELL ME HE’S /OUT THERE—/“ [/color]

Jack: Someone killed him.

[OKAY that shuts him up fast.

But only for a moment.

Then he sounds sad.]

[color=Brick] “…So much for that plan…”[/color]

[A pause.]

[color=Brick] “Carmen…” [/color]

[color=Brick] “…Carmen didn’t want you to leave the UK alone because she thought that might happen to you. If she IS in this world, she’s probably in London, having been protecting you thus far, but there’s no way we’re gonna find out…” [/color]

Jack: .....

Jack: M-Miss Eight....

Jack: ohman Miss eight please be OK....

[color=Brick] “-Mostly to himself- Last I heard, though, she had been on a mission, though I think the Ambassador did a time-warp favor…? Glitch, I dunno…”[/color]

[color=Brick] “ -Sigh- …I’m more interested in Blade’s past, anyway.” [/color]

[color=Brick] “Specifically, his assassin connections.” [/color]

[…Now WHY would he want to know /that/…?]

Jack: ...Uh...

Jack: ...Shit, man, I...dunno, he was pretty freakin' serious about that--he'd leave then come back...someone always called him...

[color=Brick] “Where.”[/color]

Jack: Dude--why would I KNOW? He's an assassin, for Christ's sake--I didn't want to get all up in THAT business!

[.....]

Jack: ....But...

Jack: ...The person that called him...

[color=Brick] “-Interrupts with a sigh- You’ll have to tell this sort of stuff to Cossack and White, dude.” [/color]

Jack: Alright, alright--

[color=Brick] “I’m sorry. I just don’t have time. Now about those crosses.

“I think I saw in the database that it made you really, really angry…. Please elaborate on this.” [/color]

Jack: Y-Yeah. It...it made me want to...just. Break things. [Frag] shit up, ya know? Just...just for the HELL of it...

[color=Brick] “…Hmm…. …Would you say this was… severely and grossly exacerbating some anger that was already there, or planting something new?” [/color]

Jack: ......

Jack: I....

[He takes a second.]

Jack: .....I...ain't gonna lie.

Jack: Blade was a [FRAGGING] asshole.

[Cardinal pauses for a moment.

Time was precious, but…

…Tobias had risked his life for this guy. …Jack might be isolated for months once he hung up, if no one from the Meadow got back into contact with him.

Tobias would want Jack to be able to talk this out.

So would Carmen, wherever the hell she was…]

Jack: I was SCARED of him...

Jack: But...I was also...really FREAKIN' pissed at him too.

Jack: .....

Jack: I think...whatever was in those crosses just...

Jack: Pulled out all the... bad parts of me...

[color=Brick] “…I see…”[/color]

[color=Brick] “The Doctors need to know, somehow. …I wish I could give more advice on how to go about contacting them safely. …Use a landline, I guess, that’s your best bet.” [/color]

Jack: ......

Jack: I--I can...try and see if I can do it on this side, but...

Jack: --...Bird guy? I know you're short on time--but...

[color=Brick] “…Yes?” [/color]

Jack: ...If...If Miss Eight...if she's...

[GULP.]

Jack: If she is...out there...and she's not...well...

Jack: W-What are the chances she'll...come...h-h-here...?

[color=Brick] “…” [/color]

[color=Brick] “ -Slowly- …Low.” [/color]

[color=Brick] “You never offended her the way others did. She would have killed Blade if she were unwell, if someone else hadn’t already done so. Then, probably go after Brandish. From there? Probably guys she feels slighted by, or their counterparts at least?” [/color]

[color=Brick] “You, she likes. You treated her like a person—not a baby sister, not a cold assassin, not eye candy… it meant a lot to her….” [/color]

[color=Brick] “If this stuff exacerbates what’s already there, she’d be dishing out hurt to those she felt earned it or otherwise deserved it.” [/color]

Jack: .......

[A sigh.]

Jack: ......I...guess...that's....uh....o-okay....th-thanks...

[...He still didn't like the sound of it, though. Miss Eight...]

[...Out there, not in her right mind...]

[color=Brick] “Might not be too pleasant to talk to, though, but she probably /would/ still talk. -Sighs- Unlike some people.” [/color]

Jack: ......

[........Carmen....

The only person who ever gave two bolts about him...the woman who saved his life...]

Jack: .......

Jack: Anything else you need to know, dude...?

Jack: cuz I should probably start packing for some other flat just in case.

[color=Brick] “ -Sighs- …” [/color]

[color=Brick] “…There are many things I’d like to know, but I don’t have time. But there are things you should know.” [/color]

[color=Brick] “…Tobias is out for the count again. He did stall Avi in the process, at least. …But he won’t be able to help. I’m sorry. The others are probably going to try to contact you. If you get a call that’s from Russia, that would be our Doc.” [/color]

[color=Brick] “…And if they ask where I am?” [/color]

[A pause.]

[color=Brick] “ …” [/color]

[color=Brick] “John 15:13.” [/color]

Jack: ............Uh.

Jack: O-Okaaaaaay...

Jack: ........

Jack: Bird guy?

Jack: I SERIOUSLY hope you know what you're doing if you're out there by yourself...

[You could almost HEAR his bitter smile.]

[color=Brick] “Oh, I’m not alone. Isn’t that right, Jazz~?” [/color]

[color=forestgreen][tt] “REE-OW.” [/tt][/color]

[color=Brick] “Heh.” [/color]

Jack: .....Is that a cat. (...The hell??)

[color=Brick] “Yes. She’s a modified attack drone that spits fire. Among other things.” [/color]

Jack: ......

Jack: Oh.

[...Well, then.]

[color=Brick] “ -Slight sigh- Sorry, though. I’m gonna get going. He’s not here, you have no leads… time to move on.” [/color]

Jack: ...Yeah. OK. Me too.

Jack: .....

Jack: Good luck, Bird guy.

[color=Brick] “…” [/color]

[Another pause. And then… back to his usual, laid back demeanor.]

[color=Brick] “If I’m lucky, we’ll get to talk this over while I still have this chassis. B]” [/color]

[color=Brick] “Stay outta trouble. And if you get the chance? Head over to the Meadow, dude, it’ll be WAY safer there, and you’ll get to be in on what’s happening. Pretty sure there’s some stuff out there for you, anyway. Saw a box for you among Felix’s gifts…” [/color]

Jack: .......

Jack: K...Kay....

[........]

Jack: If you see Miss Eight and she's OK...tell her I said hi.

[...Carmen....]

[color=Brick] “…If I do see her, then…” [/color]

[…He hesitates.

If he did see her, it would be only in one of two scenarios—both of which involved her pointing her rifle at him.

Either to bring him home alive…

…oooooooor to send him to the next life, deader than dead.]

[color=Brick] “…If I see her, I’ll let her know.” [/color]

Jack: ....Alright...

Jack: ...Well...see ya, I guess....

[color=Brick] “…Yeah.” [/color]

[He sounds weary. Sad. Like this is just another event of an ongoing war.]

[color=Brick] “…Goodbye, Jack.” [/color]

[Click.]

[......]

[Jack hangs up.]

Jack: ........

————————————————————————————————

Carmen: Heh. -Bites down on her dart- Lucky you, Puppetdancer. Looks like coupla people have developed a soft spot for ya.

————————

Den: From my point of view and from what I've seen and heard, Eight's a loner. Cold, badass sniper assassin, ya know? No offense, miss.

Carmen: Aw, you make me blush~

[…She’s taking the “badass sniper assassin” as a compliment.]

Den: -...awkward COUGH-

—————————

Carmen: Heh. Ya prob’ly won’t get t’ remember me anyway, not yet. No one else is allowed to, yet. On account that I’d be pretty damn distractin’. Carmen: Ah’m told that ah’ll get t’ come out n’ play after y’all finish yer business overseas.

Den: Does that mean you're special or something?

[She shifts to her civvies so she can put her hand to her face.]

Den: Just cu-- .....

Carmen: Well, so far ah get the privilege of rememberin’— …?

Carmen: -Puts hand on hip, tilting her head- (Huh, suddenly went quiet.)

Den: .......

[He seems to shift his eyes to the ground and...sort of becomes a little meek.]

Den: ......-wELP OF COURSE SHE WOULD BE PRETTY IN HER CIVVIES just gonna stare at the floor now-

—————————

Carmen: There, there.

Den: I don't.... ugh.

Carmen: Ah can’t imagine what yer bein’ put through.

—————————

Den: .......

Den: Um. Miss Eight?

Den: Listen, I...

Den: ....

Carmen: -Returns her gaze to Dencerjack, listening-

Den: ...I don't mind if you think I'm lying.

Carmen: …I don’t know what to think anymore, Jack. Cold, badass sniper assassin, remember?

Den: .....Sorry.

Carmen: The touchy-feely stuff outside of mah family isn’t… familiar to me.

Carmen: …But ah ain’t heartless, ah never want t’ see anyone /suffer/.

—————————

WHANG!

“-OOF- Woah now, where’s th’ fire—OH hai there, Jack, ya ran right inta me.”

Carmen: -Decloaks-

Torkie: you seriously take night strolls cloaked, really

Carmen: ‘Course I do, nice way t’ see the night sky quiet an’ not lose any more limbs in the process.

Carmen: -Gives a “?” display on her eye- Uh… you ‘kay there?

Den: H E L P ME.

Carmen: Easy there, easy—!

[She gave shushing noises and tried to broadcast overwhelming serenity, like Brandish did for her during the hard times after she got nearly fatally injured.]

—————————

Den: ........

Den: -Grooooaans, sits, then just topples backwards all together-

Den: This STILL sucks CHASS, uuuugh. No offense, but being hunted before or not, they're STILL gonna rip me up if I even LOOK at one of them wrong--and the MNs? That's a whole OTHER can of beans--UGH!

Den: I wasn't even BUILT for this crap!

Carmen: Tsk… nah, no offense. -Snorts- Ah’d be worried if you WEREN’T scared, ‘cause that’d mean yer instincts were broke.

Carmen: … -GRINS- Come t’ think of it, Ah guess yer boss’s instincts ARE broke.

Den: Are you kidding me-- That guy should be in a mental Looney bin.

[She cracks up at that. It’s a melodious laugh, and you can sorta tell that she’s related to Dyna, by listening to it.]

Carmen: -Happy/entertained pings, leaning against a nearby tree and bracing herself with her right arm stump to keep from losing her balance in laughter-

Den: ..... -he kinda starts to laugh as well, its kinda infectious.-

Carmen: -Calms down, but still grinning- Oh, Lordy! Couldn’ta said it better m’self. Sorry, Ah just—

Carmen: There was once this REALLY, really ancient cartoon thang called Looney Toons, they play reruns sometimes— -sNORTS- He sure is crazy ‘nuff t’ be a character, heh. |J

—————————

Carmen: -BIGGEST GRIN, LOOKIT HER, DEF A SHADE GRIN RIGHT THAR- -Whistles and scratches the image of a graham cracker in the dirt with the edge of her boots- ~~~~

Den: -wait, is that a cracker? Why would— -

Carmen: -Aaaaand now we sketch the outlines of buildings around it to clarify~ -

Den: ......

Carmen: B]

Den: -IT DAWNS- OH WHAT THE [GLITCH].

Carmen: YEP THEY WENT THERE~

Den: HOLY ACTUAL [GLITCH]—

[Aaaaand now we are laughing our chassis off. And she’s laughing too, gleefully.]

—————————————

Carmen: Just try an’ hang in there. Just a bit longer. You can do it. ‘Kay?

[She thinks for a moment, and then smiles.]

Carmen: Let th’ good times be what you remember, when you wake from the “dream.” An’ tell ya what…

Carmen: Snowbaby made you a big ol’ several gallon tub a’ ice cream. And his is the GOOD stuff.

Carmen: Ah’ll have the sponsors set it up so ya get it an’ yer boss and co’s ((coworkers)) won’t even see it afore ya get to finish it~ Nao… try an’ get some rest, ya hear?

[She smiles warmly.]

Carmen: Ah’m goin home, m’self. Girl’s gotta have her beauty rest~

[She pretends to blow smoke off of the barrel of her rifle.]

Carmen: Night.

[Aaaaaand she’s gone.]

—————————

[CDN.7037] //: -...data, he really wouldn't wanted have gotten her in a lot of trouble cuz of you know who and himself-

<FMN-008>: > Nah— as long as I stay put, it won’t be more than just the usual annoyance at Countershade getting up to her antics. B}

<T10>: >Like snitching people’s food.

<FMN-008>: > -Snickers- Worth it.

<FMN-008>: >Lawdy, ya shoulda heard your Brand’s ranting, hee hee~

<FMN-008>: >Music t’ my dish~

[CDN.7037] //: -...snORTS-

[CDN.7037] //: You steal people's food??

<Mari>: >Brah she can turn invisible, remember?

[CDN.7037] //: -...sTARTS CRACKING UP-

<FMN-008>: > NO REGRETS~

[CDN.7037] //: -LAUGHS HARDER-

—————————

Carmen: Sweet dreams are made of these~

Who am I to disagree~

I travel the world and the seven seas—

Everybody’s lookin’ for somethin~

Some of them want to use you

Some of them want to be used by you

Some of them want to abuse you

Some of them want to be Abused~

Sweet dreams are made of these~

Who am I to disagree~

I travel the world and the seven seas—

Everybody’s lookin’ for somethin~

—————————

[And it all starts coming back to him.]

[CDN.7037] //: you...?

<FMN-008>: > Sorry Ah’ had t’ step on ya, Jack.

<FMN-008>: > Ah’ only got th’ one hand, an’ strength isn’t my forte…

<FMN-008>: > Needed t’ brace to get enough force.

[CDN.7037] //: I--I...

[CDN.7037] //: -aaaaND HERE COMES THE GRATITUDE DATA ALL OVER AGAIN.-

[CDN.7037] //: You...yousavedme...

<FMN-008>: > Ah couldn’t just leave ya there…

—————————

<FMN-008 to CDN-7037>: > -PING- Hey. Can’t talk long. Just lettin’ ya know I’m okay—I’ll explain everything later. Just hang in there, a’ight?

[CDN.7037] //: -PINGS IN CONFORMATION, HES OK TOO...AS FAR AS BEING HOSPITALIZED GOES-

————————————————————————

Jack: ......

Jack: (....No...No freakin' way. It's crazy. YOU'RE crazy.)

Jack: (If she IS OK, somewhere, then yeah, nothing to worry about then--)

Jack: (....But...if she ISN'T...)

Jack: ......

Jack: Sonofva[GLITCH.]

[Without another word, Jack yanks his old biker trenchcoat off from the floor, and heads for the door.]

[SLAM.]

[…Cardinal, for his part, was already burning through the streets, sans wisdom.

…

…His eyes were glowing… blue.]

Cardinal: (Hang in there, Shade.)

Cardinal: (I’m coming for you.)

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=CHAPTER 9D: HAZY SUSPICION=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

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[The air of despair was suffocating. Even Desmond could feel it as he shut the recorder off.

It just didn’t sit right with him—none of it did.]

Des: (Those scars are real, if nothing else. …If it IS a front as part of a cover, he’s sure hellishly dedicated to the job. And if not…?)

Des: (What is he so intent on hiding that he’ll be willing to suffer so much?)

Des: …—! (Oh, right…)

Des: ...You have a daughter.

Des: If everyone is Offline, like you said, who's going to take care of her?

Mikhail: …

Des: ....

Des: If there's no one else, Doctor, I'll have to call Social Services.

[Mikhail opened his eyes again with a stern frown.]

Mikhail: …

Des: ...

Des: Do you at least have anyone that can tell her where you're going?

Des: .....

Des: -Sigh-

[He seemed to be thinking on this as Desmond opened the door to take him out into the hall.]

Mikhail: …I didn’t bring her with me. She’s with a family friend where she’ll be safe.

Des: ....Who?

Mikhail: I won’t talk about that right now. I don’t want anyone else knowing where she is. I don’t know who else is listening or who will be told, and we just had a call from CherryDyn—

Des: -Freezes- What?

Mikhail: -Dryly- Remember what I said about trouble with public relations? I’m afraid I lost my patience when the CEO called, after all the grief he’s caused this family. He knows that I’m aware of the link and trying to prove it. Given that Greater Dusk itself has been all but eliminated, I would not put it past him or his subordinates to go after my daughter before/as part of going after me. The danger may persist for some time yet.

((Des reaction))

Mikhail: It’s very important to me that she stays safe, but it is easily a secondary importance that you are able to have access to the truth. So… we should go pick that up, at least. My notes are in the lab. Do try not to bother the others at their work. If we’re quiet, we should be able to leave without raising up a panic.

[His expression softened.]

Mikhail: …There’s someone you need to see there anyway.

Des: (...DLN-000...)

Des: (...Why would Graham call Sanda Tech, at a time like this--)

[CRASH--]

Mikhail: ?!

"AH' SAID LEMMIE GO--"

[Just down the hallway's intersection was Shade, struggling to push himself forward despite Avi and Beck clinging to his legs, and Pyro trying to restrain him--the other Mighties were worryingly trailing behind.]

Avi: BRO COME ON STOP IT--

Shade: -In near hysterics- AH' SAID NO, UNCLE MIKHAIL'S IN TROUBLE--

Des: ( “Uncle”? And how—)

Beck: But he's right there--

Beck: --!

Beck: H...Huh?

Mikhail: Countershade Arthur White! You should BE IN BED! =__=

[It was clear Mikhail was not happy to be seen in his current condition.]

Des: How did he--

[SLAM--]

[At the opposite end of the hallway, a door is heard slamming shut, and a rapid pair of footsteps following suit.

Soi had just enough time to yank Will back by his lab coat into a restraining hug, who looked absolutely livid.]

Will: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE HIM AWAY--!

Soi: WILL CALM DOWN--

Des: ???????? (How is it they all KNOW?!) -Looks back and forth- (...Crap wait the Mighties are behind us and the Doctors are in front of us--)

"ENOUGH."

Beck: --!

Beck: Felix--?

((pic))

[FELIX used HALT!]

Shade: --?!

Des: (What the--I can't move--?!)

Will: --!!

Beck: (Ngh...Can't move...)

Des: (How in the world--I can't even look to see who did that, what is--??)

Dyna: -BZZ BZZ, HEY, CAN'T MOVE--

Cryo: -YO WHAT THE GLITCH IS GOING ON, WHY IS UNCLE MIKHAIL IN HANDCUFFS, WHY DOES DAD LOOK REALLY TICKED OFF, WHY CAN'T WE MOVE-

[Felix strode into view. He looked annoyed.]

Felix: I want answers as to why I was told to deliver medical aid, and ended up arriving on a developing fight scene. And no violence.

[He released Desmond, Mikhail, Sanda, and Brandish from the Halt.]

Felix: Talk.

Soi: --Oof--

Brand: -We are honestly just as confused as you are-

Des: Ngh...

Felix: -Glares!-

Des: --!

Des: (What the...Who IS he?)

Des: -Ow-

Des: Doctor Cossack is being brought in for more questioning--

Beck: (What--?!)

Soi: But--weren't you just--

Mikhail: … -Looks away and sighs-

Will: -ATTEMPTS TO STRUGGLE, nope, can't move--Mikhaaaaaail--

Brand: . . .

Brand: (...No wonder Father is so worked up.)

Brand: Can you not question him here further?

Des: -...Looks at Mikhail-

Des: ....

Mikhail: …It doesn’t appear that is going to be given as an option.

Des: There's still things he needs to answer for.

Des: (And THEN some.)

Brand: .... -Also glares-

Brand: And you expect to leave this building without some kind of explanation to us?

Des: --....

Mikhail: -Warning tone- Brandish—

Brand: Besides.

Brand: Cardinal still needs repairs. You are quite literally taking away the help he needs.

[Mikhail scowled as he scolded Brand.]

Mikhail: Shame on you, Brandish. You know full well that Nineteen can handle the rest of the repairs. Do not try to guilt trip the man, it's already hard enough on the both of us as it is.

Brand: ....

Brand: >>

Mikhail:  There are consequences to keeping secrets. This is one of them.

Will: (Ngh--)

Mikhail: Given what probably would have happened if I had told the full truth before he met Felix, I prefer this option. -_-;

Des: (The full truth?)

Brand: ....

Brand: ...I apologize for my deceit, it's just...

Brand: >> (Seeing you like this is rather...hurtful...)

Des: This--

Soi: Er--

Soi: I--I hate to interrupt, but we REALLY don't have time to talk.

Soi: There's a situation that requires all hands on deck--

Beck: (--?)

Mikhail: -Looks over at Sanda- So you really are sending them out? : /

Brand: --?

Soi: ....Do we really have a choice? We do not want the city or the lab overrun with infected robots again--

Brand: What?

Beck: (--!!)

Mikhail: Then... Felix, I need you to go back to the Meadow. Have Jaden and Carlos sent over.

Felix: ... And your sons?

Mikhail:Let them rest. -Looks over at Des, then down at his handcuffs briefly before returning his attention to Felix- I don't want them getting angry.

Des: Wait--

Soi: Er, Felix, before you go, uh...

[He gestured to the Halted others with a tilt of his head.]

Shade: B /

Felix walked over to Shade and looked at him with a frown.]

[His thoughts went back to the visions he had suffered—the agony he had seen.]

Felix: . . .

[But he knew better than to bring that up, especially now.]

Felix: ... Don't do anything too rash, Countershade.

Shade: -We thought he was in danger, alright, can ya please let us go, we're gettin' uncomfortably stiff here-

Brand: How did you even know?

Shade: -Watch signal-

Brand: --....

Des: ....Watch? -Aaaand looks at Mikhail-

Des:

(I thought I completely disarmed him--)

Des: (He's in his PJ's, for crying out loud--)

[Mikhail was equally surprised.]

Mikhail: ...It does that?

Shade: -Data- -Sends distress signal t' the server and me if heart rate is above normal stress levels for too long-

Shade: -.....-

Shade: -In hindsight Ah' should've given ya a rundown of the functions, sorry 'bout that-

Brand: -______-;;;;;;

Des: .....

Des: (What is going ON around here??)

Des: (I thought the Doctor said they were just his children's friends, yet...)

Beck: -Nnnngh, Feeeeliiiix can you please let us go, it sounds like there's trouble--

[Felix releases them.]

Mikhail: Thank you. Now Desmond, please, my notes are still in the lab, and we have a power core to deliver.

Will: .....

Will: (Mikhail...)

Will: ....

Des: ....

[As much as Desmond wanted answers, he knew he wasn't going to be getting any right at this moment. Especially with Dr. White silently glaring at him like that.]

Des: ...Fine...

Soi: R-Right--Mighties? We need a quick briefing. We don't have a lot of time.

Soi: Come on, Will...

Will: .....

Will: -Sigh-

{Sanda’s Labs}

[While Will, Sanda, and the Mighty Numbers walked off, Mikhail motioned for Felix and Des to come with him to the labs.

Felix looked a lot better than he had previously, but still harrowed by a normal person’s standards. (That tended to be a side effect of living off the land even under the best of circumstances.) Once he saw that Mikhail was bound, he wasted no time silently expressing his displeasure with a vicious glare. However, he chose not to say anything, and not to act on it.]

Mikhail: This won’t take too long. Mr. Desmond, this is something that will be important for you to see. Open the door, please.

Des: ….

Des: -Opening door- (Is that other guy his bodyguard or… or what?)

[The lab inside was quiet now; Shadow, who was still locked away in technological isolation, remained asleep. And as for Cardinal…]

Felix: … -Walks over to look down at the repair table- …

[He turned away, closing his eyes in regret and placing the hand which held the Psynergy Stone core over his heart.]

Felix: … (I saw this. I saw it, I foresaw it, and I couldn’t stop what was meant to be.)

Felix: (How much more suffering will I be powerless to prevent? Results of things done at my hands?)

Des: –….

Des: (…Is that…)

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Turns to look at Desmond- Remember when I told you there were things only you should see and hear? What you are about to see is one of those things. Please brace yourself—we’ve cleaned him up, so it doesn’t look quite as… macabre… but it’s still unpleasant.

[He pushes his glasses up his face before gently leaning down and pulling the sheet back.]

[Cardinal was almost just how they had found them—he had been cleaned up and his eyes had been closed, so he almost looked like he was asleep. That is… until you quickly noticed the cavity in his chest.]

Des: –?!??

Des: Wha–….?

Des: (That…)

Des: (That is NOT a Xel structure–)

Mikhail: I think you can see why I didn’t want one of your State Doctors working on him. Now are you starting to see why it’s so important you’re careful who gets to hear all of the answers?

Des: But….

Des: How–?

Des: (There hasn’t been a robot like this in–literal centuries, if the old records are anything to go by–!)

Mikhail: That’s a truth you need to reach on your own based on what you’ve seen and will see. It cannot be forced upon you.

Des: (With all due respect, Doctor, that cryptic response didn’t help much.)

Des: …Just…

Des: ….

Des: How old is he?

Mikhail: He’s as old as Doctor William White. Which is very, very old by his kind’s standards. Most are destroyed by their brother, DLN-001, before they reach three years of age.

Des: (…His–wait, that makes NO sense, how–?)

Des: …His kind?

Des: Are all the DLN and DWN series–and yours, like….?

Mikhail: Yes.

Mikhail: They are the Robot Masters, and that is as close to a species name for them as there is.

Mikhail: The DLN, DWN, DCN, and SWN series are all built like this.

Mikhail: But he was and is the first of them all—

Mikhail: DLN-000: Protoman.

Des: I….

Des: (What in the world…)

Des: … .

Des: (….W…Well, this sort of explains why he’s covering for them so much…)

Des: ….

Des: (How am I going to explain this to Min?)

Mikhail: Felix…? How long do you think the core will last?

Felix: -Shakes his head, turning around- If he doesn’t exert himself, it should allow for the repairs to finish, and for him to wake up, talk with other people, think, and discuss for two months. I condensed it the best I could, but outside of Weyard…

Mikhail: -Pushes his glasses up again with a small sigh- I rather expected as much.

Des: (Weyard–? What?)

Des: … .

Mikhail: Would you be willing to install it? I understand you’ve had some relevant experience with artifacts… I’d do it myself but— -Gestures to handcuffs- —I’m not able to move as precisely as I need to.

Felix: Yes, of course.

[He took a few steps back.]

Des: –?

Des: (What–why is he–)

[Felix used LIFT!]

[The stone began to float in the air.]

Des: –…??????

Des: (What.)

[Felix himself seemed to be glowing with a faint gold outline.]

[Felix used CARRY!]

[The stone was moved over in the air in a precise line, and then gently lowered into place.]

Click.

[A small object tucked behind the energy heart began to glow…

Energy seemed to surge through Cardinal’s body, and right before Desmond’s eyes…]

[…the fans and wiring started to repair themselves.]

Des: ?!?!??

[There wasn’t any words–what could Des say to something like this?]

[What was there TO say?]

Des: (This CANNOT be happening–)

Des: (But–)

Des: (It REALLY is–)

Des: (Mother Almighty, what did we uncover?)

Mikhail: Only once you accept this reality…

[The repairs went faster, entire portions of the mobility rig manifesting into being. The inner armor started to hem its way in, closing up. As it did so, Cardinal began to breathe on his own. The monitors were displaying rapid lines of code, flashing with a red screen for a moment before continuing in what looked like a DOS startup.]

Mikhail: …can I begin to finish telling you the full truth.

Des: …..

Des: …….

Des: …..

Des: Why…

Des: Why are you showing me this?

Des: I mean…

Des: I’m the /Secretary of Defense./

Des: There ARE people I have to… try to explain this to.

Des: You were already covering for them, so…

Des: Why?

Mikhail: … -Puts a hand to his mouth in thought for a moment- …

Mikhail: Well. -Places his hands down, gesturing as best he can with them cuffed- Simply put, I trust you.

Mikhail: I always wanted to tell YOU the truth—you and your superior, and the tech department have all been helpful to our friends during this trying time. Shown to be reasonable, trustworthy people.

Mikhail: And you do need answers. I judged that you could handle them, and thus deserved to have the truth.

Mikhail: I believe you are capable of making what decisions you need to with this information, and that whatever they may be, they will be just and for the good of your people. It’s the right thing to do.

Des: ….

Des: So, in other words…

Des: You had a gut feeling, and with the facts, decided to go for it?

Mikhail: Something like that.

Mikhail: The truth, Desmond?

Mikhail: The truth is you will never find records of us newer than five months ago. They don’t exist because we didn’t exist here until that point.

Des: …?

Des: …Here, as in…? (As in…What, the country?)

Des: And how does he– -points to Felix- Fit into all this?

[Felix turned to face Desmond, looking at him with an alpha stare.]

((pic))

Felix: I am Lord Felix of Vale, Proxan Warrior, Dragon Slayer.

Felix: Like the Doctor, I am another traveler through reality.

Des: ….

Des: (I did not hear that right–)

Des: (Another–another reality?)

Felix: Think for a moment before you protest that, Master Desmond. You slept just fine, I can see that much. You don’t seem like the kind of man to drink heavily or engage in other vices that cause illusions.

Des: …..

Des: And…Dr. Sanda and company knows all this?

Mikhail: Yes.

Mikhail: …Well.

Mikhail: His daughter knows. The Whites know. I’m not entirely sure if his brother knows, and to be honest… I’m not sure who else works in the company, if anyone. -Awkwardly scratches the back of his head- Only Dr. Sanda, Call Sanda, and the Whites know for sure.

Des: …

Mikhail: If we had told you this up front, you surely would have declared us insane.

Mikhail: Or, even worse, those listening might have believed it, and thus sought to take advantage of it for malicious purposes.

[His voice dropped to a tired, soft tone.]

Mikhail: Given what could happen to the boys… what may happen in your world if they knew…

Mikhail: ({And what you might do to them and to Will if I did not come forward at all…})

Mikhail: I could only say part of the truth. I was—and still am—prepared to pay the price for silence.

Des: ……

Des: -Deep breath-

Des: (Christ…)

Des: …..

Des: So…

Des: Let me… -runs hand though hair- Get this straight…

Des: Somehow, you and Dr. Sanda and Dr. White met up five months ago…

Des: From another world…

Des: …

Des: …. I assume somewhere in between all that, someone forged papers for you, so it wouldn’t seem as strange as you and your patients suddenly appearing out of thin air, which…

Des: …Which is kind of what sort of happened, from our perspective…

Mikhail: We hoped to prevent inquiries from reaching a federal level by having something there to FIND in checks and references.

Mikhail: The boys getting themselves DIRECTLY involved on a federal level was not something anyone had anticipated or wanted. They’re not innately aggressive or out to harm others, I swear—

Mikhail: They’re used to hiding, being hunted just for existing—

Mikhail: Left to their own devices, they just want to be left alone and allowed to walk around like any other normal Xelbot or human being.

Des: … .

Des: >> -Looks at Cardinal-

Des: I can see why.

Des: (…This is honestly way too crazy to make up. It…It just is.)

Mikhail: -Looks down at Cardinal with a smile, placing his hands on a shoulder in a comforting pat before pulling the sheet up to be like a bedsheet this time- Though Cardinal and Shade in particular have grown incredibly close. They all have their own close friends…

Mikhail: Tobias and Dyna, David and Cryo, Jaden and Beck—Beck with everyone, really. Shadow is Brand’s student, Digger likes being with Seismic… -Looks up, amused- And with Felix.

[By this point, the Adept in question had already quietly made his exit, presumably to get the help that Mikhail had requested earlier.]

Mikhail: I could go on for some while, but… yes. I imagine in your background checks, you found out about Cardinal’s visit to the arena, hmm?

Mikhail: Since then, he has had dreams. Dreams of combat in competition. But I suppose that can be expected when you are made for Combat but spend your life in hiding, only to meet and befriend people who make such a thing their livelihood as celebrities.

Mikhail: Now that hiding is no longer an option…

[He shakes his head with a gentle smile, closing his eyes.]

Mikhail: …But that’s enough of idle chatter. I suspect we have to go soon. Mmm….

Mikhail: -Looks up- Ready when you are. The notes are by the door just as we exit.

Des: …..

Des: <<

Des: (Questioning him further seems, uh…kind of useless at this point, all things considering, but…)

Des: Yes, of course…

Des: -Picks up notes as they walk by- I’ll see if I can’t have an escort waiting outside the–

[PING!]

[WARNING. WARNING.]

Mikhail: -Looks up- ???

[CITY AREA IS NOW IN CONDITION RED. CITY AREA IS NOW IN CONDITION RED.]

Des: What–?!

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Attention: All individuals in the building please report to the main lab. Attention: All individuals please report to the main lab.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Starts to work up to a run- WILL?! WILL, WHAT’S GOING ON—

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

=CHAPTER 7A: RUSH INTO THE MINE=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

[SANDA LABS, MIDDAY...]

“Tracing....”

[ACCESSING DATA LOGS. PLEASE WAIT.]

[.....]

[ERROR--TRANSPONDER SIGNAL NOT FOUND. RETRIEVING LAST DATA TRANSMISSION...]

[.....PING!]

[LOCATION DATA FOUND.]

Call: Tracing...

[READING LOCATION DATA...]

[GENERATING COORDINATES....]

[CALL] //: -Mass Ping!-

[There was a response ping from most of the Rebel Angels—all other than Siamini, that is. (And Cardinal, of course.)]

<DLN-008>: > -Hazy data- ?

[MN.2] //: -Sleeeepy data, what's going on now--

[DR.WHITE] //: --! Call? What is it?

[CALL] //: I believe I have located Mighty No. 4's last known coordinates, Doctor.

<DLN-008>: > -PROCESSING…-

[There was a weak cross-reference with DLN-004 before all of the message came through the parser, and he got the “Mighty” part out of that sentence.]

<DWN-018>: >Where did he end up?

[DR.WHITE] //: !!

[PING!]

[MN.9] //: Yeah, where?

[MN.6] //: -Whoa that was fast, Beckroni--

[CALL] //: The coordinates from his last known transponder frequency puts him in the northern region of Wyoming.

<DWN-018>: >Admittedly not where I would have expected him to end up; I was thinking Kentucky…

<DWN-012>: >Oh, don’t be dumb. What’s the point of going into a cave that’s already all open up?

<DWN-018>: >Well, Dad would have sent him there…

<DWN-024>: >Would you two be quiet, please?

[MN.3] //: ...Zzzo Earth bro is in a mine? Aszz in...

[CALL] //: Underground, yes. That is the most likely scenario.

[CALL] //: This mine has been in production since last year, and its depth would explain why MN.4's transponder has stopped transmitting data.

[DR.WHITE] //: Of course--he must be too deep...

<MC005>: >This does not surprise me. I rather expected this, from the start.

[CALL] //: However.

[CALL] //: Because No. 4's signal cannot reach to the surface, this also presents the scenario that he is in technological isolation, and that the virus may have not reached him if he was successful in escaping in time--

[MN.9] //: Wait wait wait--

[MN.9] //: Are you saying that Mic--Mic might not even be infected?

[CALL] //: There is a 23% chance that he is not, No. 9. Please proceed with all due caution.

[MN.9] //: Well-- Yes--

<DLN-005>: >I thought you said you were all there in the Arena?

[MN.9] //: But--If Mic buried himself underground fast enough, then maybe--!

<DCN-003>: >Either way, time to find, we get ready, yes good.

[MN.9] //: Right!

[CALL] //: I can only bring you as far as the entrance of the mine, No. 9. I suggest that we send Sunny as well, as are not able to transport directly underground.

<DCN-003>: > {It is time to get ready. MNN-005, please prepare for surface duty. Lady Sanda, are we cleared to enter the private property? What is the status of surveillance in the area?}

[MN.5] //: Locked and loaded.

[CALL] //: The mine has been evacuated--but it's surveillance has been rendered offline, thus we cannot determine what lies within. I have already made the arrangements as we were speaking.

<DCN-003>: > {I mean surveillance above ground.}

[CALL] //: We have visual of the mine entrance. Please wait...

[A screen appears a moment later, showing a rather large entrance--it was definitely big enough for someone like Mic to walk into...]

<DCN-003>: > {Who else has access to those feeds?}

[CALL] //: The owner of the mine and certain authorized personal that were on-site.

<DCN-003>: >Hmm.

<DCN-003>: > {Legal discussions about the video will have to wait. Can the surveillance detect signals as well?}

[CALL] //: They can. It is part of their security measures.

<DCN-003>: > {This is problematic. Father, did you ever make transponders for us?}

<MC005>: > {I’m sorry, son. I didn’t have the time for that. Are there any spare bracers around?}

<DCN-003>: > Nyet.

<MC005>: > -Audible sigh- {Right then.}

<MC005>: > {Just get ready. I’ll work with Tobias to see what we can do before sending you over.}

<DCN-003>: > {Affirmative. Lady Sanda, is there a working surface station on the property?}

[CALL] //: Fortunately, there is.

[MN.9] //: Sweet!

<DCN-003>: > {Good, that saves time in setting up a field station. Do we have the necessary keys to access the system?}

[CALL] //: I will request them from the owner and have them ready for you when on-site.

<DCN-003>: > {Acknowledged. Please adjust the Auditory Input setting in the Accessibility preferences in the system to allow for verbal interfacing.} -No hands, no problem-

[CALL] //: Confirmed. No. 9?

[MN.9] //: I've been ready for a while! Let's do this!

<DCN-003>: > {I will join up with you on the site. Please do not enter until I have arrived.}

<DCN-003 has left the channel.>

[DR.WHITE] //: Just please be careful, all of you--who knows what else is down there besides Mic...

[CALL] //: Preparing Xel Transfer...

[MN.1] //: Good luck, Beck. Bat...watch him for us.

[MN.5] //: Yes, sir. I got him.

[MN.9] //: Thanks, bro.

[MN.9] //: I'll bring Mic back--one way or another!

[MN.9] // (And hopefully without a fight...)

[CALL] //: Initiating Xel Transfer....

____________________________________

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 4, SEISMIC, HAS LOST CONTACT VIA DATA LOSS--THIS MINE LOCATED IN WYOMING WAS HIS LAST KNOWN LOCATION.]

[MISSION OBJECTIVES: INVESTIGATE THE MINE AND RETRIEVE MN.4--PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM SYSTEMS IF INFECTED.]

[SUB-OBJECTIVES: RESCUE ANY TRAPPED MINE WORKERS, MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT.]

SYSTEMS READY?

GO!

[It seemed like a perfect, sunny midday once Beck touched down--an odd backdrop that he found rather unfit for the situation at hand...]

[It wasn't unwelcome, though. In fact, he took in a breath of fresh air before staring down the huge dark mouth of the mine entrance...]

Beck: (...I'm really glad Shade gave me Night Vision for my C-Visor...gonna need it here.)

[PING!]

White: Beck? Do you read?

Beck: Loud and clear, Professor!

White: Digger and Bat will touch down in a moment, so please wait until they arrive before you head in there.

Beck: Roger--

Beck: --!

[It took a while for someone else to arrive at the station.

And boy, was it a bit of an unexpected entrance.]

Beck: Digger?

Bat: .....So that's his full armor...

<DCN-003>: > {That is correct, my friends.}

[…He also… had a Xel signal?]

Beck: --?????

Beck: Uuuh--?

<DCN-003>: > {Tobias and Father worked to make a small transponder that would translate our signal into a Xel signal. FMN-009 made the finishing touches. I’m glad to see from your expression that it is working, but it is just a prototype.}

Beck: Wow...that's pretty neat for a prototype, though!

Bat: And handy. Saves the trouble just in case.

<DCN-003>: > {It would be best not to discuss it out loud.}

[He glanced around the station out of the corners of his eyes.]

<DCN-003>: > {We are being watched and recorded.}

Beck: --Oh--

Bat: Indeed.

Bat: Well, you're the one with the expertise in this field, soldier. What's our battle plan?

[Digger paced back and forth. He spoke sharply, full of focus—and void of humor. (Still, he did not speak with anger or accusation.) Oddly enough, he spoke perfect English—without an accent. It sounded very odd coming from him—as if he were using a different audio program.]

Digger: Gentlemen! Today, we go underground! This is a search and rescue mission. It is imperative to remain in contact.

[He turned to face Beck.]

Digger: MNN-009 will be entering the underground on his own to clear out any infected constructs. MNN-005 and I shall serve as the surface team. We will go down after Beck if the situation calls for it. In that case, DWN-013 and DWN-018 will serve as the secondary surface team. Should they need to go underground as well, DCN-000 and DCN-008 will be the tertiary surface team.

Digger: Mighty Nine, you will place the transponder lanterns at regular intervals on the right hand side of the paths you are traversing. They will help you to keep from getting lost, and will boost the communication signal that will allow for communication with the surface team and the lab as you go deeper underground.

Digger: Should we lose contact, please continue to place the transponders anyway.  If contact is not re-established within ten minutes, the surface team will come after you.

Beck: Put lamps on the right side, even if contact's lost--I got it!

Bat: Acknowledged.

Beck: --Wait, hold up...Snow's part of the third surface team...?

Bat: Keep in mind that he was built for any terrain, Private. He's an explorer.

Beck: Ah...

<DCN-003>: > {David was built to withstand extreme conditions. He’s also impervious to being crushed, but more on that some other day.}

Beck: (Crushed...ngh, don't like the sound of that...)

Beck: (At least the fact that there's back-up for the back-up is reassuring...)

Digger: And now, it is time for you to learn the top two rules! Ready?

Beck: Yes, sir!

Digger: Rule one!

Digger: Never dig straight down!

Digger: Rule two!

Digger: Never dig straight UP!

Beck: --I'm...pretty sure I don't have anything--or form--I can dig with right now but--got it!

Bat: One more thing.

Bat: Use my form carefully down there, Beck. Don't get trigger happy with that, ya hear?

Beck: Yes, sir.

Bat: Course...If you need to get physical with Mic, just don't land one where you'll end up caving in the place.

Beck: Right, got it....

Digger: Good. The lanterns are in the backpack over there. -Points- You have also been provided with basic rock climbing gear in your size.

Digger: There will be additional resources available to aid in rescue of other persons in the mine if they are encountered.

Beck: ....Huh....

Beck: The lamps look...kinda...uh.

Beck: ...Squaaaaare...?

[After a moment, Beck shrugs and inspects the contents of the backpack before slugging it over his back.]

Beck: Thanks, Digger!

Digger: … [sub]It was his idea, not mine, but…[/sub] You’re welcome.

Digger: That’s it for now. Set off when you are ready to go.

[Beck nods and flicks his C-Visor down, giving a salute to both Digger and Bat as he turns towards the mine entrance.]

Bat: Good luck, Private. Get him back for us.

((AND HERE A PIC OF BECK LOOKING DETERMINED))

Beck: You got it, Bat! -thumbs up-

[Digger was quiet, keeping his own thoughts on the matter private. He seemed eager to enter the mine himself, but determined to keep order of the situation. He turned his attention to checking the station.]

[With a final quick look to the cloudless sky, Beck hopped down a steep ledge before breaking into a full sprint down into the darkness....]

[C.VISOR: LOW LIGHT LEVELS DETECTED. NIGHT VISION ACTIVATED.]

Beck: --Hm?

[There was a faint glow coming from the walls as he tread forward, the lights put by the workers flickering every now and then...]

Beck: Looks like the lights are still working...

[Pulling a transponder lamp from his backpack, Beck placed it firmly on the right wall like he was told--it gave off a much better light than the mine's fixated ones, thankfully...]

White: Beck?

Beck: I don't see anything strange so far, Dad--but the transponder lamps look like they're working!

Beck: I'm heading down deeper now...

[Climbing down some ledges, being careful to mind his step--the general direction was definitely not straight down, like Digger had warned him not to do--but it was down nonetheless.]

"Bzzz..."

Beck: --?

Beck: Did you say something, Dyna?

[MN.3] //: What? No...

<DCN-003>: > {Is something wrong?}

Beck: I heard buzzing...

"Bzzzzzz..."

Beck: --! There it was again!

[MN.3] //: That'szz not uszz--

"BZZZZZZ...."

<DCN-003>: > {DLN-008 is currently resting.}

<DCN-003>: > {Computer, relay audio clip at 150%, please.}

"BZZZZZZZZZZ......"

<DCN-003>: > …

<DCN-003>: > {OKAY THAT IS THE SOUND OF A MINING DRILL.}

Beck: Wha--someone's still drilling?

[MN.2] //: ...Do ya think it's Mic?

[MN.1] //: Could be. Although I would expect him to be quite a bit deeper...

Beck: Maybe...someone left one on?

White: Mmm...

Sanda: Oof...I'd be careful about those--the last thing we need is unmanned drills running amok!

<DCN-007>: > {I knew you should have gone with him. Your Power Capsule—}

<DCN-003>: > -Uncharacteristically harsh- {No comments from you. Go away!} D<

White: ...Well, whatever the case, proceed, Beck...with all due caution. Just be sure to mind yourself, and keep putting out those lamps.

Beck: Understood...

<DCN-003>: > {If you can, scan for signs of stability in your area, as active drilling may make the ground unstable.}

Beck: Good idea...

[SCANNING....]

Beck: ....Yeah, it seems this passage over here is stable. Heading that way...

[One more lamp stuck to the right wall...]

"BZZ! BZZ!"

Beck: ...?

Beck: Uh--is it just me or did those sound a LOT closer--

"BZZZZZZ!"

[SHINK!]

Beck: WHOA--!

[Landing RIGHT in front of his toes was a small drill bot that looked similar to a screw--with a drill on its head, of course. It was long and thin...]

[...and it had familiar red rimmed, white eyes.]

Beck: --Wait, that's--!

White: It's...a CherryDyn model...

<DCN-003>: > …

<DCN-003>: > …Well they ARE an industrial manufacturing company. ¬ ¬

<DCN-003>: > Why is this a surprise?

White: Exactly, there's never just ONE--!

Beck: ......

[Slowly...the Mighty Number looks up.]

[And he is met with a several dozen pairs of the same, identical eyes, boring down on him from the ceiling.]

Beck: . . .

Beck: O_O;;;

"BZZZZZZZZZZZ!"

[MN.6] //: BOOK IT BRO!

<DCN-003>: > -WAIT, BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR FOOTING—-

Beck: AAAAAAAAH--

[SHINK SHINK SHINK!]

[He dashes forward as the enemy robots drill downwards, falling through the ceiling and onto the ground like daggers, drilling back into the earth when they missed...]

[...Only to chase after him from there.]

[BLAM!]

[Beck's default weapon manages to make quick work of a few--they didn't have a lot of durability, it looks like--but their sheer numbers made up for what they lacked.]

Beck: Too many, too many--!

<DLN-005>: >You should try freezing them in place!

Beck: --!

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[A flash of ice coats the area, and the drill bots that had given chase--or leaped from the ground to stab--had all but been frozen in their tracks.]

Beck: Whew...

[He didn't waste the opportunity--he absorbed their Xels, taking their Speed Absorption Boosts.]

Beck: ....

Beck: Yeah...they're infected.

White: Are you alright?

Beck: Uh-huh....

Beck: ....

Beck: (But this doesn't spell good news for Mic...)

Beck: Looks like the virus IS in the mine...

Sanda: Gnh...

Beck: Call? Can you pick up anything now?

Call: I am detecting faint signals ahead.

<DWN-018>: > …? Plural?

Call: Yes. I am unable to clarify them, but judging that there are CherryDyn Industrial models on-site, there will be more malfunctioning units ahead.

Beck: --Aw, man--I REALLY don't wanna fight another Round Digger...

Beck: No offense to Buddy, but he WAS kinda tough.

<DCN-003>: > …

<DCN-003>: > … -…Data, we’re just- -Gonna work on analyzing seismic measurements from the transponders placed down gathering data, yeah-

Beck: Um...a-alright...

[Just as Call predicted, there were more CherryDyn models--Luckily for Beck, none of them were Round Diggers, but some flying cargo bots and more drill models--they did help fill his Xel Stocks, for the most part.]

Beck: -MAN, these things are annoying, stop trying to STAB ME FOR TWO SECONDS--

<DLN-005>: > Yay~

<DLN-005>: > If you’re annoyed, you’re not scared!

Beck: -Hey Snow--sorry, trying not to get poked with a hole here--

Beck: --!

Beck: Uh oh....

<DWN-013>: >Uh…?

[...It was a dead end...or so it seemed.]

Beck: Uh...Digger? This way is blocked...and I don't see a way around it...

Beck: Should I double back and look for another passage...?

<DCN-003>: > Hmm. {Place a transponder down.}

Beck: Okay...

[He puts on right on the wall in question, lighting it up.]

Beck: Looks kinda different from the other walls...

<DCN-003>: > -PROCESSING…-

-PING!-

<DCN-003>: > {You may remove the transponder.}

Beck: ....Oookaaaay....

[He's a bit confused, but he yanks it from the wall and puts it back in the bag.]

Beck: So...?

<DCN-003>: > {The passage is merely blocked. It is stable enough for you to clear the rubble with the use of force. Please see the attached file for structural analysis on the weak points to aim for.}

Beck: Uh....and by force, you mean...

[MN.2] //: -OOO HE'S GONNA BLOW IT UP? COOL, WHERE'S THE DYNAMITE-

Beck: Hmm....

Beck: (One doesn't seem to fit this job...I need a controlled charge...)

Beck: ...!

Beck: I got it!

[MN.2] //: -DOES IT INVOLVE DYNAMITE-

Beck: Uh, close enough?

<DWN-024>: >Please tell me you do not intend to punch the wall.

<DCN-003>: > -Beg pardon, wat-

Beck: Uh...no, I don't have Mic's form, otherwise I'd charge through it...

Beck: But I do have this!

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

((pic))

<DLN-005 has left the channel.>

<DCN-003>: > -Ack, no—David, come back—- -SKULL—-

<DCN-008>: > {I’ll attend to him, carry on.}

Beck: --Whoops....sorry...

[MN.5] //: Private...

Beck: It's okay--! I'll scan for a weak point in the wall and fire one there--that way the whole thing will come down AND I'll save time and energy.

<DCN-003>: > {He’ll be fine, don’t worry. Just taken by surprise, is all. And da, that is the best course of action.}

<DCN-003>: > {The passage continues on the other side of the blockage.}

<DCN-003>: > {This appears to be the main pathway—exploration of branches is time consuming and increases the chances of getting lost, Major.}

<DCN-003>: > {Does that make sense?}

[MN.5] //:  ..If it helps get our brother back sooner, then.

[MN.9] //: Hokay, then...

[Beck carefully trained his arm at one of the scanned weak points at the obstruction, pausing for a few moments before...]

[CHUNK!]

[A projectile similar to Bat's own missile embedded itself into the wall, blinking with a steady pace.]

Beck: Charge set. Gonna get some distance first...

[After backtracking to a safe distance, he vaulted over one of the steel crates that carried minerals mined by the workers--before the virus hit, that is.]

Beck: 3...2...1...

Beck: -FIRE IN THE HOLE--

[BOOM!]

[A great rumbling sound followed the explosion, dust and rubble flying everywhere--]

Beck: -ACKPFFPH, bleh--

[MN.5] //: Private?

[MN.9] //: -We're fine, we just got dirt in our mouth--

<DCN-003>: > Well done! ^^

[Clearly, he appreciated a good explosion.]

<DWN-013>: > -Ping of approval also-

<DCN-003>: > {Onward! Onwards to victory!}

[MN.9] //: Yessir!

[Climbing though the destroyed rubble and though the now open passageway, Beck pressed forward.]

Beck: I wonder if Mic felt that...

Beck: (I wonder if he knows I'm coming...)

Beck: How deep IS this place...?

Call: I cannot give an accurate reading of the entire mine.

Beck: (...Meaning it's probably REALLY deep...)

Beck: ?

[The mine suddenly took a sharp decline--so much so that there was a ladder in place.]

Beck: Huh.

[Hmmm.

Jaden seems a little antsy at that.]

<DWN-013>: > Careful with the ladders.

<DCN-003>: > Remember to place a transponder at the start and stop of each base of the ladder!

Beck: Got it.

[Putting one down as he was told, Beck began to climb down.]

Beck: I thought it was bad to dig straight dow--

[Bzzzzzzz...]

Beck: ....

Beck: WHOOOA--!

[KSSSSSSSST--]

[ERROR: SIGNAL NOT FOUND.]

[MN.5] //: Private Beck?!

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck! What happened?!

<DCN-003>: > {It sounds like he slipped off the ladder and landed on his rear.} ?__?

[DR.WHITE] //: Please, respond--Say something--!

[Static.]

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck!

_______________________________

[A FEW SECONDS EARLIER, THE MINE...]

Beck: I thought it was bad to dig straight dow--

[Bzzzzzzz...]

Beck: ... (Oh no--)

Beck: WHOOOA--!

[Beck scrambled up the ladder just in time to avoid a massive drill barrelling down the mine at unsafe speeds, crashing and crushing anything in its path. It was covered in an all too familiar purple glow.]

Beck: (The drills ARE infected--!)

[KSSSSSST--]

Beck: Ow--!

[DR.WHITE] //: Be--what happe--

[A horrid screeching feedback filled his audio receptors, and he could just barely make out his father's panicked voice.]

Beck: Dad?

[DR.WHITE] //: Please resp--say someth--

Beck: Dad? Professor? Do you read me?! Dad!

[KSSSSSSSST--....]

[Nothing. Static.]

Beck: Bat--? Digger!

[....]

Beck: Anyone! Hello?!

[.........]

Beck: . . .

Beck: (Not again...)

Beck: -Sigh-

Beck: Well...No turning back now.

Beck: I've gotta find Mic! ________________________________

[MEANWHILE, AT SANDA TECHNOLOGIES...]

[ERROR: SIGNAL NOT FOUND.]

White: I don't understand, I thought the transponders would keep us in contact...

[There’s a whir of data from Digger, which is largely in Russian.]

<DCN-008>: > It’s more complicated than that, Doctor.

[Mikhail turns to face Will. In contrast with his good friend, he seemed remarkably unbothered.]

Mikhail: Working underground is not a straightforward process. There is a lot of signal interference due to the density of the obstructions between the output and the receiver. Slight disturbances can cause temporary loss of contact. These can clear up pretty quickly if loose rubble is moved or thick dust settles, William.

Mikhail: You must remember—signals don’t have the same open space to move through as they do in the open air of the overworld. It works more like neurons firing, as they hop from transponder to transponder. One break in the pattern could cause difficulty. Now, that could be because of something light, or something serious.

Mikhail: However, having two teams down in the mine complicates things. If the interference is light, it can be cleaned up in under ten minutes—that’s why there’s that wait time in place. With the situation the way it is, you don’t want anyone else heading down there unless you have to. If ten minutes go by and there’s still nothing from him, then they will go down to see what is wrong.

Mikhail: I’ve lost contact with my son down in the mines more than once before. He’s always turned out fine. And while Beck isn’t made specifically for the mines, he is a resourceful young man—and if he needs help, DCN-003 will be more than capable (and I daresay eager) to supply it.

White: ....

White: Yes, yes, of course... -Breathes-

White: (There's the first, second and third surface teams...)

White: (He'll be alright...)

Mikhail: Call, some hot drinks, if you please.

Mikhail: -Sits down in a chair, crossing his legs and bridging his fingertips together- I understand your concern, William. But we know that he will be alright—either through his own power, or through the assistance of the surface teams. Normally, we might be able to do something through technological assistance, but—this time it is different, this is more of a physical location-restricted sort of thing. So the best thing is to remain calm—as, if he hears some panic when he resumes contact, it could cause him additional stress.

Mikhail: So have something warm and try to loosen up a bit. Perhaps you can use this time to look at the readings from the transponders and what sort of data they picked up from the drills and other obstacles Beck encountered.

Mikhail: -Things will be alright, trust me-

White: -....Looks nervously at the clock-

[Nine minutes...]

White: ...Alright...

Call: Your hot drinks, Doctors.

White: -Thank you-

[His terminal is brought up via a Xel Holoscreen...]

White: Let's take a look here...

[Mikhail does likewise, bringing up a map of the mine as extrapolated via the data from the transponders placed down so far.]

White: .....

[White frowned.]

White: ...Drat...

White: Judging from the data, there were traces of the virus just where we lost contact...

White: They seem to be more abundant the deeper the mine goes, so far...

White: (Which means...)

Mikhail: That’s curious.

Mikhail: That would mean that everything is moving down toward a central location.

Mikhail: Normally, you should find more abundance closer to the source of an outbreak, with fewer cases as you travel to more and more isolated areas. This is the opposite, which is quite unusual…

Mikhail: There must have been a set number of cases at the mine, with everyone starting to burrow down at different paces. ?_?

White: Strange...

White: Why would they do that?

White: (...If Mic WAS infected when he burrowed down, we should see what Mikhail mentioned...)

White: (Was the mine already infected in the first place--?)

<DCN-003>: >Mmm.

<DCN-003>: > … {When I was… changed…}

<DCN-003>: > {I had to do something I didn’t like, but I wasn’t going to make it easy. I could cause plenty of disruption underground, though it wouldn’t actually affect anyone unless they came too close.}

<DCN-003>: > {There IS another reason.}

<DCN-003>: > {Mines are not completely isolated places, Doctor. News and data from the outside world does come there.}

<DCN-003>: > {If word reached them about not only Beck, but possibly Battalion as well—apologies, Major, but—if they somehow heard that either the government and/or Master Beck were coming after them…}

<DCN-003>: > {They could very well be running away because they are afraid.}

<DCN-003>: > {Possibly…}

<DCN-003>: > {Heading down toward somewhere, something, someone they felt could protect them?}

White: !

White: Seismic...

White: Of course--he's the main defensive wall for the team, it's only logical that one would want to hide behind him...

White: (But that only means Beck will engage even more opposition as he heads further down...)

<FMN-005>: > Of course they would, even Shade hinds behind Seismic… - -

<FMN-003>: > That’szzz becauszze he’szz the only one big enough to hide her~

<FMN-002>: > -YUP, SIS BE A TOL, GLITCHES-

<FMN-002>: > Yo. Noooooodle Daaaaad mirrorrrr -Flails-

<FMN-002>: >Becky will be FINE, I mean, he took all of us on, right? 88>

[MN.1] //: Two is right. He's come this far mostly on his own power.

[MN.6] //: -YEAH BECKO CAN TOTALLY TAKE ON WHATEVER'S THROWN AT HIM-

White: ...You have a point...

[Tick. Tock.]

Mikhail: Son. Your status?

<DCN-003>: > -Cheerfully- Preparations are being made! Syncing up with Major right now to find him easily if separated.

Mikhail: Good.

[MN.5] //: Commencing decent in T-Minus 3 minutes, sir.

White: Excellent...

[MN.5] //: Anything from Beck?

[MN.6] //: Not a peep, bro.

[MN.1] //: -What is going on down there...-

<DCN-003>: > …

<DCN-003>: > -Mildly AMUSED, somewhat condescending data-

<DCN-003>: > Have you ever worked underground, sir?

[MN.1] //: I--

[MN.2] //: EARTH BRO TOOK US TO A TOUR OF HIS MINE ONCE--before Becky and Shade were made, tho--

[MN.2] //: -IT WAS COOL AND NOISY AND I GOT A SILVER ROCK THING-

<DCN-003>: > The veins and arteries of the earth are as foreign and rugged as the heart of the ocean. I’m sure Lady Icesphere knows what I’m talking about, da?

[MN.2] //: -PING PING PING- Dude underwater caverns and junk are the COOLEST. WE KNOW MORE ABOUT SPACE THAN WHAT'S IN OUR OCEANS, BRO, IT'S TOTALLY SICK--

[MN.1] //: -Ow, our ears--

[…]

[…And then suddenly…]

[Sorrow….]

<DCN-003>: > -Sadly- {You would have liked him…}

[MN.2] //: --? -Wait, why did the mood nosedive all of a sudden--

[MN.1] //: ....

[MN.1] //: Diveman?

<DCN-003>: > -WHIRR WHIIRR- -Yes, that is how we know of the ocean, weh-

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Quietly- {It’s alright, son.}

Mikhail: {We just need to wait a little longer.}

Mikhail: {As soon as this situation is all over, we can finish repairs on Anubis… and then start rebuilding Jacques.}

Mikhail: ({I fear I may be doing other repairs before this is over, though…})

-PING!-

<RMDC>: > ALERT: TIMER FUNCTION HAS REACHED 00:00:00.

[MN.5] //: Alright, let's move o--Hey!

[Digger has already burrowed into the earth, “fist”-first.

WOW, does he work fast!]

BZZZZZZZZZ!

[MN.5] //:

-Whatever happened to leaving no soldier--comrade--behind--WAIT--

<DWN-018>: > -sNORTS-

<DWN-018>: >Why is he making his own path? Isn’t that dangerous?

Mikhail: -Hides his smile behind a hand- Well, no, not when the mine has already been geologically mapped for stability.

Mikhail: He’s taking the most direct path through the place to bypass infected areas and make it a smooth decline for his travel companion. If Seismic IS down there, besides—it may be a bit difficult for him to travel or be carried through the path that Beck had taken.

Mikhail: Apologies, Major!

Mikhail: He gets very enthusiastic about his work!

<DCN-003>: > -SINGING THE DWARVEN DIGGING SONG FROM DISNEY- -IN RUSSIAN-

Mikhail: He’s also trying to forge ahead for you! Just follow after him, he won’t go too far…

[MN.5] //: Roger that...

[DR.WHITE] //: Do be careful down there, son...

[They descended in an even pace, and eventually drew closer and closer to the area where Beck's signal was lost.]

[MN.5] //: Battalion reporting in. So far so good.

[There was the steady sound of Digger’s drills in the background. An almost soothing white noise.]

[—…which abruptly came to a halt…]

[MN.5] //: Haven't been able to get a hold of Beck, but we're around where we last heard--

[.........]

[MN.5] //: ...Wait a tic...

<DCN-003>: > {Stand back.}

[MN.5] //: -Sound of Bat's giant footsteps backtracking-

[DIGGER used DRILL BOMB!]

[There is a faint buzzing drill noise as something burrows deep into the earth…

Followed by a muffled shaking and a screeching noise that sounded a bit like a “-SPLAT!-” and an explosion mixed together, and then some angry muffled buzzing that sounded like a swarm of bees.]

<DCN-003>: > .-.

[MN.5] //: ???

<DCN-003>: > -THAT IS THE SOUND OF A LOT OF DRILLS COMING.-

[MN.5] //: !!!

[....Wait...]

[...There was another noise, if one listened hard enough...]

[It sounded like...]

[...Screaming?]

"aaaaAAAAAH--"

[MN.5] //: -WE KNOW THAT ALMOST GIRLISH SCREAM ANYWHERE-

[Digger fires ahead a bunch of Drill Bombs, and then practically swan-dives into the ground, all of his drills going at once to clear a path.

Everything that was coming up at them was taken out, the infected Xel burnt by the incendiary components of the explosion.

It abruptly opened up into the ceiling of another path, and Digger dropped down and moved out of the way.]

Digger: BECK!

[The path opened up to a complex system of tunnels, all filled with infected drills aimlessly drilling new paths and even running into each other.]

[Bat crashed downwards without another thought, aiming his missile silos at an oncoming drill.]

Bat: FIRE!

[BOOM!]

[The drill immediately shuts down from the damage, and the glow surrounding it fades off.]

"BAT?!"

[A voice cries out and echos through the tunnels, but it was hard to make out which direction it came from.]

"DIGGER?! IS THAT YOU?!"

Bat: PRIVATE!

"GUYS, BE CAREFUL, THESE DRILLS ARE INFECTED--AND OUT OF CONTROL!"

"WHERE ARE YOU--"

Digger: TCHAH! -Agitated Russian of mild annoyance-

Digger: {We have dealt with out of control mines before, BAD, BAD DRILLS TO DISOBEY—}

[He fires off more Drill Bombs in the direction of the largest cluster of wild drillbots.]

<DCN-003>: > -Ping- {Beck, it may take some time to catch up to you!}

<DCN-003>: > {You must continue your mission carefully.}

<DCN-003>: > {Once we determine your route, we will ensure no one closes in from behind.}

[MN.5] //: Keep pushing forward, Private Beck! We'll catch up soon enough!

[PING!]

[MN.9] //: Got it!

[MN.9] //: Just look for the transponders! I kept putting them down so just follow them, okay?

<DCN-003>: > -Approval data- Da! {Good work, soul-cousin!} ^^

<DCN-003>: > {We shall find you—but first, an update—}

[He sent a burst of data that was a compressed zip file of the analysis that Will and Mikhail had been doing on the situation.

…Including the theory as to why they were encountering so many drills the further down they go…]

[MN.9] //: ....

[MN.9] //: Mic....

[MN.9] //: (I...I hoped you weren't affected by all this, but...)

[MN.9] //: (I guess that was a little too much to ask for.)

[MN.9] //: I'll be prepared for more enemies ahead.

<DCN-003>: > {Good man! Speak with you again soon.}

[At that point, there was only the data—faint as it was—traveling from transponder to transponder between them.

Oh well. At least it was like feeling someone was there at your back, which had to be more encouraging than the creepy loneliness from before.]

<DCN-003 to DR.WILL, MC005, MNN-ALL, RMDC-ALL>: > -Ping- Contact has been reestablished for now. 009 is continuing on due to the time constraints.

[DR.WHITE] //: -Oh thank God--

[MN.2] //: -SEE, WE TOLD YAAAAA-

<MC005>: > … Son… these transponder data from your location…

<DCN-003>: > Da, I’m afraid it is very windy and labyrinthian. There are many stray drills on the loose.

<DCN-003>: > I shall take some time to find a way through carefully that will ensure that we and they will not cause a cave-in.

<DCN-003>: >Beck is still on his own for now.

[MEANWHILE, DEEPER WITHIN THE MINE...]

Beck: BURNING--

Beck: SPIRIT!

[Another explosion rocked the mine's walls as another drill broke down to Beck's variation of his oldest brother's signature move. He took a moment to cleanse the drill as best he could afterward.]

[One infected brother at a time was enough to deal with--he didn't need the ones coming behind him to fall into illness, or worse.]

Beck: Hooo...

Beck: (Tired...)

Beck: (Sunny would REALLY be a big help right about now--)

[RRRRRR--!]

Beck: Waaah!

[Nine couldn't stand up straight as the ground--No, the whole mine started to shake to and fro, inciting a surge of panic and fear--]

[...But just as it came, it suddenly cut short.]

Beck: What the...

<DCN-003>: > -Muffled ping of inquiry-

[It appeared that the activity had shaken off some of the transponders…

…oh dear.]

[MN.9] //: Digger! Bat!

Beck: (Nnngh...)

[RRRRRR--!]

[Oh, gosh, another earthquake--!]

Beck: !

[BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!]

Beck: O.O;;;;;;

[...That...]

((Pic))

[...Was a BIG drill--]

Beck: ....

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: AAAAAAAAAAAAH--

[SMACK.]

Beck: --Ow--

Beck: --!

[Great. He's in the mineral deposit area. The passage was FILLED with crates of packed earth, and Brandish's form was simply too quick to navigate in such a narrow space.]

Beck: Aaargh!

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

[KERCHUNK!]

Beck: Out of my WAY--!

[BOOM!]

[As Digger and Bat closed in on Beck, they would find a trail of utter destruction left behind in the from of broken drills and rubble.]

[BOOM!]

Bat: I told him not to get trigger happy with that--

[BOOM!]

Bat: ... -Although we do appreciate his enthusiasm-

Digger: …

Digger: I don’t think that’s it.

Digger: He knows how nervous my cousins are about the use of explosives…

Digger: AND you told him not to go overboard.

Digger: So I don’t think he’d be doing that unless…

Digger: Unless he has to…!

[PING!]

[MN.9] //: -STATIC, BUT THERE IS SCREECHING-

Bat: BECK!

Digger: !!! -TIME TO SCRAM—-

BZZZZZZZZZ!!!

[Bat wastes no time blasting through the rubble in order to get to his brother, who was in a bit of a...Well.]

[A rock and a hard place, to put it simply.]

[Beck outran the giant drill as fast as he could, but he soon came up to a dead end.]

Beck: No no no--!

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!!!

bzzzrrrrr…

Beck: !!!

rrrr…

BZZZZZZZZZ—

RRRRWHRRRRRRRR—

[There is a flurry of pings that sounds like someone spamming the “send” button.]

Beck: -PING PING PING--

[B O O M--!]

[A series of chain explosions following—]

WHIRRRRRRRRRRRRR—

[C R A C K!]

[One side of the passage wall breaks down, and dust and smoke burst forth!]

"READY--"

[But in the smog, a distinct barrel shape--]

"AIM--"

BZZZZZZZT--

[Beck is knocked down and brought into the ground by a sudden tackle.]

Beck: --!!?

"FIRE IN THE HOLE!"

[KER-BOOM!!!]

[There was the sound of metal screeching to a slow crawl, fire, chaos--]

[KER-BLAM!]

[--Followed by another explosion.]

[Beck stops being carried downward.]

Beck: !

[In the pause, some glowing eyes blink.]

[…]

-Ping-

<DCN-003>: > HELLO, BECK, you are okay yes good ^^

Beck: DIGGERRRR--!

[PING!]

[MN.5] //: HOORAH!

[MN.5] //: Take THAT, you pathetic pile of scrap! I've met toasters who were tougher than that!

<DCN-003>: >Up we go~

[Beck is hoisted up through the darkness as Digger makes a path upward with his head and right carrying Beck in the crook of his left.]

Beck: -Man, am I glad to see you guys...-

[They come back into the tunnel, a few feet from where Beck had been.]

Digger: -Is now up in the open, puts Beck down- Hi. : D

Beck: BAAAT--

Bat: Private--

Beck: BAT--

[CLANK--]

[Beck runs into his brother with outstretched arms, affectionately hugging his leg.]

Beck: -Broooooo-  < 3

Bat: Heh.

Bat: Good to see ya still standin', brother.

Digger: Of course yes is YES GOOD very nice, yee. -Ping ping-

[He places his feet in a firm stance.]

Digger: Beck! Do you need some healing?

[He shakes open his arm, opening a port and drops out a few cans of some sort.]

[…They weren’t QUITE E-tanks…]

[One was some Xel stock, it appeared, and the other…?]

Beck: -AW YES-

Beck: -Grabs the Xel Cubes--

[XEL STOCKS REPLENISHED.]

Beck: ...?

Beck: What's this other one...?

Digger: That is what twin cousin found! ^^

Digger: Proven well work all organics and constructs also, yes good.

Digger: If you’re all better, spray it on your brother, da?

Beck: Ooooh...

Bat: Could use a top off. Gimmie that.

[Beck does so, spraying it in Bat's direction. He curiously started scanning it himself...]

[It seemed to be rather strange. A sort of liquid energy. Upon contact, it transformed into hardware replacement for the slightly singed soldier.]

Bat: Well, I'll be darned...

Beck: Coooool....

Digger: c:

Beck: Really gotta thank Siam for this stuff...

Bat: Private.

Beck: ?

Bat: I've cleared the way for you.

Bat: Haven't seen or heard from Mic?

Beck: No...

Beck: But we ARE pretty deep...

[Digger hums thoughtfully.]

Digger: Others, they told you to stay away, da?

Digger: If he knows, he may want to be left alone, or otherwise keep you at distance.

Beck: Yeah, but...

Beck: He'd at least say something, or, ya know, try to keep me away like you said...

Beck: I haven't even felt his signal, or... anything, really.

Beck: It's...weird... (And unnerving...)

Digger: Tsk.

Digger: When someone likes us wants to be left alone, we try to avoid being traced…

Beck: Hmm...

Beck: Do you think maybe something hap--

[RRRRRRRRRRR--]

Beck: -oH BOY HERE WE GO AGAIN--

[Amusingly enough…]

[Despite it jostling the others QUITE a bit…]

Beck: -AAAAAH, MY LEGS FEEL LIKE JELLO--

Bat: -Gnrh--

[…Digger kept a firm footing, and was not at all moved.]

Digger: {That registered pretty high.}

Beck: @~@

Digger: -Uuuup we pull the soul-cousin, by the crook of our arm-

Beck: Ugh...

Beck: That was so not a drill...

Digger: Nope! Drills make THIS noise.

Digger: -Drill twirl-

Bat: Sounded like it came from deeper in.

Beck: ....

Beck: It's gotta be him...

Beck: (I got this gut feeling it is...Don't know why...)

Digger: Hmm!

Digger: You get ever closer! -Chipper and cheerful- We have to clear a way back up and out.

Beck: Yeah.

Beck: ...

Beck: Actually, I think the thing that Bat blew up WAS the door...

Digger: Door?

Beck: Ya know, the--ya know what, never mind.

Beck: I'm heading in. You guys work on the exit tunnel for me and Mic, okay?

Digger: Da. Hup hup!

Bat: Sounds like a plan.

Bat: ... Don't give up, soldier.

Bat: Bring our brother back to home soil.

Digger: Oh, he shall!

Digger: Come, we must go. Not safe for us further down, much earth and hard hitting brothers!

Digger: BUT.

Digger: The smaller, they are quick and nimble and move better, da? ;D Like David~

Beck: Eheh...

Bat: Hmm. Too right, comrade.

Bat: Go get'em, Private Beck.

Beck: Yessir!

Digger: We go~

Digger: -Already starting to drill, WHEEEEEE-

Beck: ...Wow, he works fast.

Bat: You don't know the half of it...

[After salutes were exchanged, Bat--more or less tried to keep up with the happy-go-lucky drill bot. He wasn't exactly built for speed, himself.]

Beck: Heh...

Beck: (I'm glad they're here now...)

Beck: ....

Beck: -Intake of air-

Beck: Here we go...

[The passage went on for another while, the lights a soft red and blinking every so often--they seemed to be emergency lights, in fact.]

Beck: (...It's...)

Beck: (So...quiet....)

Beck: -Ngh, don't like it all quiet...-

[Not even crickets could chirp, deep down here in the earth…]

Beck: !!

[Then...]

[The passage suddenly opened up.]

[A lot.]

Beck: !

Beck: Whooooa...

[His voice echoed into the massive cavern, reverbing into the clearly natural cave--something this massive couldn't be made by human hands--although the lights put up on the walls suggested it was found, rather than made.]

Beck: (Huge...)

[...It didn't help that the atmosphere only made him feel smaller than usual...]

Beck: (...I kinda don't WANNA talk in here...)

Beck: (...It's kinda like--I dunno, something is telling me to be quiet...)

[WRRRRRRRRRRRR...]

Beck: !!?

Beck: Aw, come on--!

Beck: Getting really tired of all the giant drills--

[Sure enough, another drill was heading towards the younger Xelbot--although he wasn't too concerned, as there was plenty of room to avoid it--]

[RRRRRRRRRRR--!]

Beck: --!!!

[Two seconds later, the whole ground shook and Beck was launched at least 6 feet into the air!]

Beck: -WAAAH, WHAT IS--

[SMACK--]

Beck: -Muffled pained groans-

Beck: Guh...

Beck: M...Mic...?

[As his vision focused back, there was a loud crashing sound--]

Beck: !

[--Just in time to see the huge mass of Xel that was his brother wreck the same drill with one swift shovel punch. ]

Mic: GRRGH!

Beck: MIC! And still operational--!

Beck: -Oh man I am so glad to see you YOU'RE OKAY--

Beck: I mean, of course you are, like Dad said--

Mic: -STOMP-

[C R A C K!]

Beck: --!!!

[Oh dear.]

Beck: M...Mic?

[This didn’t look good.]

Mic: GRRRRRRRRRRRRGH!

[Mic slammed his huge shovel claws into the ground, making Beck scramble backwards in fear of being caught up in whatever attack--]

[WHAM WHAM WHAM WHAM--]

Beck: AAAH--!

[--which happened to be giant pillars crashing down from the ceiling, quickly boxing them in.]

Beck: Mic--!

Mic: . . . .

[WHANG.]

[Mic didn't say a word. Merely crashed his shovel hands together.]

[...As if he were a bull hoofing the ground before charging. ]

Beck: Ohhh...You too?

Beck: (I really hoped you weren't...)

[He sighed.]

Beck: ....

Beck: Then I'm sorry, Mic...

[SCANNING...]

Beck: But I got to take you down--!

[SCAN COMPLETE]

[MODEL NUMBER: MIGHTY NO. 4. CODENAME: SEISMIC.]

[HEIGHT: 280cm WEIGHT: 690kg XEL COUNT: 138,000,000]

((Boss pic))

[Seismic, the walking earthquake. Many have seen this usual gentle giant crush many opponents in the arena, but only when it was absolutely needed. ]

[The truth is, Mic was built to be a defensive wall for his other sibling teammates while they either set up, took cover, reloaded or just couldn't take any more damage.]

[And while Mic's defense was impressive enough, it was his inborn Power and control over Earth that made him a force not to be reckoned with...]

Mic: .....

[He could also be quick about it when he had to.]

[In an instant, Mic's feet transformed into tank tracks, and he charged so fast, it was almost as if there was a shell of energy around him--!]

Beck: --!!!

[Beck shot at him in order to get him to stop--]

[But they just bounced harmlessly off.]

Beck: Wha--!

[BAM!]

[Stars and static swam across Beck's vision as he was violently smashed across the room, hitting himself hard on one of the pillars that littered the place.]

Beck: -Disorientated Data--

Beck: Guuh...

[...Strangely, a second attack did not come.]

[It was only when Beck managed to regain some sense that Mic charged again.]

Beck: --?!

[THIS time, Beck jumped and dashed over to avoid it, tucking himself in to shoot at his brother overhead.]

[It seems like the shield did not reach Mic's backside--!]

Mic: -Ggrh--

Beck: (Sorry, Mic!)

[REXELECTION: BATTALION.]

[Beck planted a missile on the ground once he landed--]

[WRRRR--]

Beck: !!

Beck: ARUGH--!

[A sharp, splitting pain sliced through his side, narrowly avoiding the drill that shot forward from Mic via a strong Xel cable.]

[WARNING: XEL LOSS IMMINENT.]

Beck: --!

[The ground was stained with a glowing blue.]

Beck: (He got through my armor--?!)

Mic: GRRRRRRGH!

Beck: -GNH--

Beck: FIRE!

[BOOM!]

[The placed missile picked up on the command, and detonated, knocking both Mighties away from each other.]

Beck: -Ngh...-

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[It was difficult to see where Mic landed, but judging from the collapsed pillars, he at least hit back hard himself.]

[ XEL ABSORBED. XEL COUNT NORMALIZED. ]

Beck: Stop it, Mic! Please! I don't want to fight you!

[.......]

Beck: Mic--?

[Why wasn't he--]

[C R A C K.]

Beck: !

[The whole floor gave away.]

Beck: WAH--

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[As the floor collapsed to a lower level, Beck heard a loud buzz just below where he was hovering--]

[WHAP!]

Beck: --!

[It was another drill shot, but at a angle--in which instead the cable wrapped around Beck's leg instead of impaling anything--]

Beck: Hey--!

[YANK!]

[WHAM!]

[Beck was brought back down to the earth, slammed into the ground without mercy. He was hit so hard that he reverted back to his default form.]

Beck: -Nngh...-

Beck: -Can't...-

Beck: (If he keeps hitting me like this...)

[Mic rose from the ground glaring at Beck with darkened eyes, still not saying a word.]

((Pic))

Beck: (I'm not sure how long I can hold out...)

Beck: (Gotta...Gotta think of something..)

Beck: (I can't get through Mic's defense, so I gotta outsmart him somehow...)

[REXELECTION: BATTALION]

Beck: (Gotta hit back where it hurts...)

[His skewed gaze sweeps across the room, until finally settling down on the fallen pillers...]

Beck: --?

Beck: (Wait--that's it!)

Beck: (I just gotta hit him with something bigger--)

Mic: RRRRRRRRRRR--!

Beck: MIIIIC!

Beck: Just hang on a little more--

Beck: I'll get you thinking straight, and back to the Professor, and everyone else!

Beck: I PROMISE!

Mic: -CHARGE--

[Beck leaves another missile in the ground before dodging, and then detonating it, making sure Mic got caught up in the blast--he had to at least chip away at his stamina before he could get this plan to work...]

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

Beck: Heeeeey!

Mic: --!

Beck: Up here! You can't touch me up here!

Beck: c:

[As expected, a drill shot attempts to hook onto him to drag him downwards--]

[He nimbly avoids it, and the other that soon followed it--he had two, of course.]

Beck: Nope! Try again!

Mic: RRRRGH!

[It goes on like this for a while, with Beck just avoiding the drill shots and taunting Mic to come after him...]

Beck: Over heeeere--!

Mic: RRRRRGH--

[SHUNK!]

[For some reason, the drill does not retract--?]

Beck: (Yes!)

Beck: You still got the other one, though! C:

Mic: -R O A R--

[SHUNK--]

Mic: --???!?

[Mic furiously kicked it in reverse once he saw that his drills were stuck into something metal, following Beck as he flew in behind him just out of his reach.]

Beck: Oops.

Beck: Are you stuck?

Beck: Sorry about that.

Beck: I kinda figured that I needed to get you to stop hitting me so hard?

Beck: It really hurt.

Mic: RRRRRRRGH!!!

Beck: By the way, uh.

Beck: You might wanna look at what you're pulling.

[He points up.]

Mic: ....!

[Creeeeeeeeeeek--]

Beck: SORRY, MIC--

Beck: See ya next fall--

[Beck speeds through the air out of the looming shadow of the giant pillar Mic had lodged himself and pulled out of alignment, tipping over just enough to--]

[C R A S H!!!]

[The resulting collision was enough to rock the whole mine, and even register as seismic activity on certain monitors.]

Beck: -COUGH, ACK, DIRT IN MOUTH AGAIN-

[As he lands, he uses his propellor arm to blow away the dust clouding his vision.]

Beck: Okay I may have over done that--

Beck: MIIIC?

Beck: Brooo?

Beck: Um...Mic?

Beck: Sorry about kinda crushing you?

Beck: Miiic--

[CRASH--]

Mic: RRRRAAAAAAARGH!

[An arm suddenly SHOOTS up from the earth, and Beck is pulled downward with a SCREAM.]

Beck: -SHRIEK--

Beck: -ZOMBIE--

[BLAM BLAM BLAM--]

[The arm retracts, only to reappear again to grab Beck's other leg--]

Beck:

-NO, STOP IT, HORROR MOVIE FLASH BACKS-- [REXELECTION: BATTALION.]

Mic: -REACH, MUST BRING HIM DOWN--

Beck: I SAID STOP IT!

[B O O M!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[There was a deep, deep rumble, and once Mic resurfaced, it was clear he took on quite a lot of damage.]

Mic: Rrrrgh....

[And running out of steam, to boot.]

Beck: (Almost--)

[KERCHUNK.]

Beck: One more should do the trick...

Mic: Rrrrgh...

[He was clearly in pain...]

Beck: .....

Beck: -Shuts his eyes---

Beck: Sorry, big brother...

Beck: Time to come topside.

[REXELECTION: DEFAULT.]

[BLAM!]

Mic: Rrrrgh--!

[WHUMP.]

[XEL ABSORBED]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED. XEL PURGE IS PRIMED AND READY FOR OVERDRIVE.]

Beck: So SNAP OUT OF IT--NOW!

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

[..........]

"Wow..."

"I-I can really have this?"

"Hmm hmm. Mic got special rock for you."

"It Quartz. ^w^"

"Wow...You always bring home so many neat rocks, Mic!"

"...But um...I got a question..."

"I know you got a rock collection and all, but--Dad says that some of the stuff from your mine is, like...Really expensive?"

"Why don't you sell them?"

"Mic do. Not all, though." "More important things than money. Mic like these rocks." "Why?" "They special TO Mic."

"They have special memories. ^W^"

"And Mic got special rock for special brother."

Mic: ....Rgh...?

"Aw, Mic...You really think I'm special?"

Beck: !!

"Hmm hmm!"

"Beck more special than any shiny rock on Earth!"

Mic: ...?

Mic: Beck...?

Beck: BIG BROTHER--

Mic: Ow...

Mic: Why... Why Beck HERE...?

Mic: ....Why Mic here--

Mic: -Why do we feel hurt all over??? Ow--

Beck: MIIIIIIC!

[CLANK--]

[Instead of answering his brother's confused questions, he simply glomped into his fallen form, looking even smaller next to his giant sibling.]

Beck: -MIIIIIIIIIC--

Mic: ?????????

Mic: -...Wait, we are underground, WAS THERE A CAVE IN--

Mic: Is--Is Beck okay?

Beck: -Sniff-

Beck: Y-Yeah.

Beck: I'm okay...

Mic: -Nnngh--

Mic: M...Mic can't move--

Mic: -What happened, why can't we remember the last week--

Mic: Beck--shouldn't be here, it dangerous--

rrrrr…

Beck: !!

Mic: ? -Drill?-

RRRRRR…

RRRRRRRR…

“aaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAA AAAAAAA—”

[WHANG!]

Mic: OW--

Digger: @.@

Mic: .....??????

Mic: D--Digger?

Mic: Why Drill Brother here--

Mic: -What is going ooooooon-

Digger: …

Digger: -Perks up- HELLO YOU BETTER?! YES GOOD—

Beck: YEAH I DID IT--

Digger: -Civ form now, patpat as sprawlhug-

Mic: -Oh, okay, hugs now, apparently-

Mic: -No objections here-

Digger: MAAAAJOR YOUR BROTHER BETTER NOW YES GOOD

Bat: -From farther up the tunnel- HOORAH!

Bat: MIC! YA HEAR ME?

Mic: -PING!-

Mic: -Baaaaaaat-

Bat: NICELY DONE, PRIVATE!

Beck: ^.^

Bat: DON'T WORRY, SOLDIER, WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO RETRIEVE YOU!

Mic: -Again, confusion, but we're going to assume there was a cave in so, okay-

<DWN-018>: > Nice of you to make such a nice path to get through.

<DWN-018>: >We should be down in a few minutes. I’ll carry you out.

Mic: -PING, okaaay-

<DWN-018>: >You’ll have some proper rest. And plenty of companionship.

Beck: Yeah...

Beck: -Hooof, we're also gonna rest on top of Mic bro- -Is very sore-

Digger: HOKAY THEN, yes good—

Digger: OH! Any news of Felix? Is he better?

<DWN-018>: > …

<DWN-018>: > One thing at a time, cousin. =__=

<DWN-018>: >We’ll get you both back, and worry about the other rescues later.

Mic: --?????

<DWN-018>: >So everyone hang tight.

Beck: Got it!

Beck: Try to relax for now, okay, bro?

Mic: -Deep rumbles of thought-

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

=CHAPTER 6A: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

{Sanda Enterprises}

[The next lead came… abruptly.

And it sent them into panic.]

Call: Doctor Sanda, you have a call on line one.

Mikhail: -Looking over some notes- Can it wait? I need to talk regarding some of Brand and Shadow’s data…

Call: I would not recommend it. The call is from the Pentagon.

[…]

Mikhail: What?

Soi: -Oh sweet mother of God—-

Mikhail: … Miss Call Sanda did you just say the call was from the P E N T A G O N—

Beck: -AUGH NO WHY N O W-

Beck: -oh no what if—what if they're going to try to stop—-

Beck: -I'm the only one that can SAVE THEM WHAT IF—-

Beck: -DAAAAAAAD—-

Soi: -—WILL—-

Soi: -WILL HELP THIS IS BAD-

Mikhail: SOI, DON’T KEEP THEM WAITING—STALL FOR ME, PLEASE—

Mikhail: WILL!

Mikhail: -Exit stage left as if pursued by bear-

Will: —Ah—er—I—I....

[He's just kinda frozen there—]

Mikhail: -Yanks Will aside out of view of any screens before he can enter the room- {We need to talk, Will—}

Will: Waah—!

Soi: -WAIT WHAT DO I EVEN SAY GUYS—-

Call: Patching the call through, Doctor.

[A very stern looking uniformed officer was patched through. Notably, her rank seemed to depict she wasn’t exactly of the rank that normally made these calls.]

???: Dr. Soichiro Sanda, please be aware that the following call is classified. You are not to discuss it with anyone other than Dr. William White. Anyone else must be read in. Do you understand?

Soi: -Err—-

Soi: Y—Yes, yes, I u-understand— (Thanks for leaving me up the creek, fellas—! )

-*-*-*-*-*-

Mikhail: -Practically hissing- {Will, we’re leaving. Now.}

Will: What?!

Mikhail: {I can’t stay here.}

Mikhail: {I’m a Russian Doctor with constructed credentials, remember?!}

[…Oh, right. The “favors” Shade had pulled to make them officially “exist” in this world…]

Will: —Erk—!

[He was right—him being here would only raise even MORE questions, and none of them would be of the pleasant sort...]

Mikhail: {I’m taking the others. DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}

[…With that he continued running off to the lab.

Boy, he wasn’t kidding when he said “now”…]

Will: —n—nu—

[Oh, dear.]

-*-*-*-

???: Recently, you and your brother released a press statement regarding the current national crisis.

Soi: Y-Yes, that's correct...

Soi: Wh...what of it...?

???: Despite what the CEO of Cherry Dynamics seems to believe—

[She gave no visual indication on her stance on that matter.]

???: No charges will be pressed at this time. I must advise you this does not guarantee whether they will be filed or not in the future.

Soi: ...A-Ah—I see, yes... (Don't we have enough on our plate already...? )

???: Our people have reviewed the data you submitted to the scientific community to show that the infection has been cleared from reacquired Mighty Numbers. Dr. White will be needed for further questioning on this matter.

Soi: (—! Oh no, Will—! )

Soi: R-Right, of course—I'll...let him know.

???: MI6 would also like to interrogate Mighty Number Six regarding a person of interest.

Soi: (—MI6—?! What would they want with Avi—?! )

Soi: Hmm—A...alright...

???: …However, their requests for extradition have been denied.

???: It is to our understanding that Mighty Number Six has been essential in locating other members of his series with all due speed. We also cannot risk any Xel being sent overseas at this time.

???: The main reason for this call will require input from Dr. White, but that clearly will have to wait. There is an equally pressing matter that demands our attention.

Soi: (...Oh dear... )

Soi: Y...Yes...?

???: Your company requested information on the whereabouts of the missing Numbers.

???: Our intelligence suggests that Mighty Number Five has infiltrated federally-owned property.

Soi: —!!

Soi: (Battalion—of course— )

Soi: Federally owned... (...A national park, or...or... )

???: As this is a matter of national security, the coordinates are classified and shall be sent to Mighty Number Nine through a direct, encrypted transmission.

???: Even I am not fully read in on the details, Doctor, but he has been given a time limit to complete the retrieval before we make our own interventions.

Soi: (...Classified—? )

Soi: —!!

Soi: (Wait, that—that doesn't make sense— )

Soi: How—how long does he have—?

???: Six hours, should he choose to accept this mission. Entry and investigation of the area may prove difficult. Should we regain the camera feeds on the property, this time limit will be extended.

Soi: (Six hours... )

Soi: O...Of course, we'll brief him as soon as possible...

???: I’m afraid that cannot be permitted. My superiors cannot wait very long for an answer. He must answer now. You may converse over private channels, but I have been ordered not to end this call without confirmation of his involvement or lack thereof.

Soi: —I—o-one moment—

[PING!]

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beckwehaveasituation—

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Did you get any coordinates by any chance—

[MN.9 to DR. SANDA] //: —No, why—

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: The Pentagon found out where Bat is—and they're giving you six hours to get him back before they take matters into their own hands...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: —?!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beck—they need an answer NOW, I don't know what they'll do if...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: .....

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: —If they know where Bat is, Dr. Sanda—of course I'll go--!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: I...I have to save him too...!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Thattaboy—you'll be be getting those coordinates via an encrypted connection.

Soi: -Ahem-

Soi: Sorry about that...

Soi: He'll do it.

???: Affirmative. Patching the coordinates now.

[Just then, Beck pinged with a private message from the Pentagon. It entailed the location, as well as a brief threat level assessment and recommended gear. Oh, and they said he could bring others with him if that’s what it took, but anyone chosen would be bound to regard the information as classified… just as he would.]

???: Teleportation using these coordinates will go through encrypted channels. The true coordinates will not be retained by your databases.

???: We will call back later if video feeds are not recovered in three hours.

???: Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.

[… “Evacuated”?!]

Soi: —Wait, what...what do you mean by—? (You can't just—! )

[BLIP.]

Soi: —....

Soi: (...This is...not good at...at all.... )

Call: ...Dr. Sanda, your heart rate has increased...

Soi: I...ho, boy...

[PING!]

[DR.WHITE] //: Soi— Mikhail and the others are gone, and—I—I think they took Jack and Kate—

[DR.WHITE] //: -Soi please tell me federal agents aren't going to storm the place—

[MN.9] //: —They're GONE—?!

[DR.SANDA] //: —There's no time—! Will—I'll explain, but Beck—you have to get ready to roll as soon as possible—!

[DR.WHITE] //: —Wait— go where—?

[MN.9] //: Y-Yes, sir!

[DR.SANDA] //: Will— they found Battalion.

[DR.WHITE] //: —!!

[DR.SANDA] //: And they—they said if we can't get him back in six hours—they'll evacuate Beck and—and—

[DR.WHITE] //: —WHAT—?!

[DR.SANDA] //: -IT'S NOT EVEN THE HALF OF IT, WILL—-

[DR.SANDA] //: MI6 wants to talk with Avi, of all people—

[DR.SANDA] //: —A-And—

[DR.SANDA] //: T...The government wants to talk to...you.

[.......]

[Silence.]

[DR.WHITE] //: . . . .

[DR.WHITE] //: M...Me...

[DR.SANDA] //: .......

[.....]

[The rest of their conversation is then carried over in private...]

{Meanwhile}

[Kssss…]

<FMN-006 to MNN-006>: > Yo, Rick—you there?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Yo, Goose—yeah, I'm here...

<FMN-006>: > Whew, good—just wanted to check in, now that things aren’t as crazy over here.

<FMN-006>: >Thanks for taking care of Sis until she was stable! …Though she still looks pretty banged up, and uh… I thought Shads was gonna stay with your little bro for a bit?

<FMN-006>: > No one will tell me what’s going on, kinda lost here…

<FMN-006>: >Is G-moms coming over to visit over there, or??

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh—yeah, no, Shads had to suddenly leave, Doc C called him or something...but Brand's snoozing away right now, so that's good...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: ...?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Where the heck did Stripes go...?

<FMN-006>: > …You mean Tony the Tiger, everyone’s favorite Spiderfriend?

<FMN-006>: > He’s over here with us, I thought you guys knew that?

<FMN-006>: > -Did he somehow get in more trouble while he was asleep or?- -Majorly confused-

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: No, I just—I guess—??

[P I N G!]

[MN.9] //: CRYO WAKE UP--

[MN.2 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.2] //: OW WHAT GIVES--

<FMN-006>: > Yoooooo, Beckster!

<FMN-006>: > Dial is busy with Lil’ Sis, dunno about yours. You need another bath? ;D

<FMN-006>: > Did you get into the powdered sugar again, little dude?

[MN.9] //: NOT NOW AVI--

[MN.6] //: --? Hey, Becko, somethin' the matter?

[MN.9] //: NO TIME--CRYO GET OVER HERE PLEASE--

<FMN-006>: >Yo, yo, Beeeeeeck—you overclock any faster and you’ll start to time travel. o.o;

<FMN-006>: > Breeeaaaaathe a little.

[MN.9] //: I CAN'T—!

[MN.9] //: WE GOTTA SAVE BAT—!

[MN.2] //: —!!

[MN.2] //: —Where is he—?!

<FMN-006>: > …Uh.

<FMN-006>: > (This sounds like it’s not going to end the conversation on a happy note… )

[MN.9] //: -IS DRAGGING SISTER OFF, BYE GUYS--

[MN.2] //: --whOA--

<FMN-006>: > UH.

<FMN-006>: > … -THUMBS UP?- …STAY SAFE?

[MN.6] //: ...That...sounds like trouble.

[MN.6] //: Iiiii better go see what's up...

[A noise like something ran into a wall really hard is heard as a crash over the line.]

[MN.6] //: --???

<FMN-006>: > …That sounded like that hurt, I think that was Twelve—

<FMN-006>: > Sorry, gotta run—

[MN.6] //: Hoooo Kay, uh....talk to ya later—!

<FMN-006 has left the channel.>

[MEANWHILE...]

[Once again, there is chaos within Sanda Labs...]

Pyro: What do you mean, we won't know where he's going—?!

[Will was pacing around the room, the Xel holoscreen depicting a map of the United States glowing softly behind him.]

Will: The coordinates were sent by an encrypted connection—by the government. They want us to retrieve Bat within six hours.

Will: ...Or else.

Pyro: --.....

Cryo: ...Or...or else what?

Will: .....

Will: I'm not sure.

Will: But it involves evacuating Beck from the premises if he doesn't succeed.

Will: ......

Will: ...Which means we must move with all due haste. Beck?

Beck: Just about ready...

[He was going through a standard check of all his available forms...]

[Including...]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[...The form he was most skilled with.]

Beck: (...It feels really good to have this back... )

Beck: (I feel like I'm gonna need it... )

[REXELECTION: DEFAULT]

Beck: OK, all set!

Call: Preparing Xel Transfer: Locking in encrypted coordinates...

Cryo: So the plan is for Becky to see what's over there first before I'm beamed in, right?

Will: Correct—the only clue that we have is that wherever Bat is, it's on federally owned property.

Avi: ...Jeez, no wonder... .... (Poor Speedy... )

Avi: ...Must be something they wanna keep real hush hush if they're going this far....  ....It's not something, like...Area 51, is it?

Will: ....I...I hope not.

Will: Nonetheless, your brother is there—and he needs to come home, government involvement or no.

Will: ...You understand you are on a time limit, Beck.

Beck: Yeah.

Beck: I know.

Beck: (Can't waste time... )

Beck: Don't worry...I'll bring Bat back—

Beck: With time to spare!

Dyna: -BZZZ, YOU TWO ZZSTAY ZZSAFE, WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE-

Cryo: I'll be right behind ya, bro—go get 'em!

Pyro: ...And Beck?

Pyro: Please don't touch anything if you can help it...

Beck: Got it, Big Bro.

Avi: Good luck, Beckrroni! -THUMBS UP-

Call: Coordinates have been locked in.

Soi: B-Be careful, Beck--Who knows what the virus did to Bat...

Beck: ...I will.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

_______________________

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 5, BATTALION, HAS FLED TO A FEDERALLY OWNED ESTABLISHMENT. PURPOSE: UNKNOWN. LOCATION: [REDACTED]

[MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.5 IN SIX HOUR TIME LIMIT. FAILURE WILL RESULT IN GOVERNMENT EXTRACTION AND ENFORCEMENT.]

[SUB OBJECTIVES: MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT, RESTORE PENTAGON VIDEO FEEDS OF ESTABLISHMENT]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

[Feet touch down on metal flooring, resounding with a small clack as Nine materializes in a quiet hallway.]

[...It's the silence that gets him at first--there is some gentle, far off humming in the distance...but other then that, nothing.]

Beck: . . .

Beck: ?

[Beck looks to his left, and sees a huge '01' printed on the...armored walls...?]

Beck: ...What...what is this place...?

[His com crackles.]

Soi: ....What...?

Will: Goodness...no wonder the government contacted us...

Soi: This...

Soi: This looks like some...shut down military base...?

Will: But--I thought that nearly all the military bases were re-purposed into museums after the disarmament...?

Will: But this doesn't look like a museum to me...

Soi: Exactly--

Soi: It should be all but EMPTY, inside...but I wouldn't count on it...

Beck: Right....

[...The only sounds were his own footfalls and the faint humming. It...it uneased him, how the silence was...just... there.]

[...Lately, strange silences were beginning to put him off, and he REALLY didn't like that...]

Beck: (...This...this is creepy... )

[PING!]

Beck: AAAH—!

Call: Beck, I am detecting multiple robot signatures ahead. Proceed with caution.

Beck: Jeez, Call, you nearly made my core stop--!

Call: My apologies, Nine.

Beck: ...Ngh, it's fine, I just....don't like how quiet it is in here...

[...It wasn't going to be quiet for long.]

Beck: —!

[Wrrrr....]

Beck: H-Huh...?

[A medium sized mobile construct on tracks was approaching, and from a distance...it kind of looked like a bigger version of a standard trash bot.]

[...Until...]

[BEEP BEEP BEEP--]

[A small alarm on its head started going off--]

[And it's lid opened up...]

Beck: --?!

[...to reveal a mounted machine gun. It was a mobile turret!]

Will: --!!

Beck: Aaah--!

[Beck dashed under it's line of fire to avoid being pelted with bullets, and returned it's fire. The streaks of bright orange struck true, and it soon glowed a dark blue color.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[Wrrrrr...]

Beck: M-More—?!

[Sure enough, a WAVE of turret bots were heading this way, in a wall formation. Beck began to fire away at once when he saw them--it seems like they needed a split seconded to identify him as a enemy before they attacked...]

Soi: What the Sam Hill--?!

Soi: Those are CLEARLY military bots--! COMBAT military bots--!

Will: And should have been scrapped as part of the disbarment...

Will: ...Or was that all a government ruse...

Will: Beck, did they tell you this--?

Beck: -BLAM- NO, BUT THEY DID TELL ME TO COME HEAVILY DEFENDED--!

Beck: I-- -BLAM- THINK I CAN SEE WHY!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Will: ...The concept of pointless competition has been outcast.

[Mikhail laughs a little at that.]

Mikhail: Officially, at any rate. I don’t think you can rewrite humanity enough to change the testosterone-driven need to do stupid things to show off to your friends. Will: Heh, well...pointless as in, connected to violence. It's partially why the NBCA was formed, to keep all violence confined to the Colosseum.

Will: Remember when I said the story of our world was connected to the Coloseeum? That's why.

Mikhail: I see… I understand, now.

Will: It...serves as a public outlet.

Mikhail: Like its inspiration.

[He did not exactly seem thrilled at this.]

Mikhail: *Lowers his glasses and looks over the rim* I wonder.

Will: Exactly. -And...wow, look at that, he's smiling!-

Soi: The Battle Coloseeum became the new football, in any rate!

Beck: (Hee.~ )

[Mikhail did not share this outlook.]

Mikhail: *Pushes his glasses back up* I must ask both of you to be very careful.

Mikhail: Rome, too, had glory days.

Mikhail: Emphasis: had. Past tense.

Mikhail: Just… be careful, alright?

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Will: (...You were right, Mikhail... )

Will: (You were right. You and Cardinal... )

Will: (God, what I wouldn’t give to have both of you HERE right now…! )

[He felt very out of his depth, staring at this proof of a world he thought didn’t exist. A world that their friends were more familiar with, knew how to face with heads held high. Mikhail and Cardinal were both strategists, and Cardinal had actual military experience…

…All of which would come in handy right now. None of which they actually HAD.

They were truly on their own.]

[MN.1] //: I...I don't understand—why would they keep active military bots...?

Will: An ace in the hole, or some kind of insurance, I imagine...

Beck: --NGH--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[SHINGSHINGSHING—!]

[In the span of a few split seconds, the remaining turrets were reduced to Xel cubes, which were then absorbed and converted into a Xel Stock.]

Beck: Whew...

Beck: (REALLY glad to have this form back... )

[The door ahead opened as Beck approached it, still in Seven's form. This door had something printed on it as well...]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 02]

Beck: (This base is divided into sectors...? )

[Faint sunlight. He was outside...?]

[The sun was hidden behind several clouds, turning the sky into a pale yellow. This open room looked like it only served to separate the sectors.]

Beck: Whoa...

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: Yo, Beckers! Hold up a sec!

Beck: --?

Beck: Avi--I don't have any time for puns, I'm on a time limit--!

[MN.6] //: I know that--! Just--look at the sky so I can see--!

Beck: --? Why...?

[MN.6] //: I... THINK I can figure out where you are. I think. Actually, can ya fly up a little from there? Get a good look at your surroundings?

Will: --! Ah--excellent idea, Avi! We can figure out where that base is by the geology...

Beck: Okay, Avi...

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[Giving the propeller a few good test spins, Beck jumped into the air and rose upwards at a steady rate.]

Beck: !

[As he flew, he could see that this base was bigger than he had thought— it seemed to sprawl out quite a bit...]

[MN.6] //: See anything?

Beck: Yeah, this place is huge--!

Beck: (What the heck... )

[MN.6] //: ...whoa. It is pretty large...

[MN.6] //: Get some more altitude and a horizontal 360 degree pan--the more we can see, the better.

Beck: Roger that...

[Higher and higher he climbed.]

[The base then gave way to a barren terrain, and sand littered the air, stinging Beck's eyes. But he could still make out some tall mountains on the horizon.

Beck: Sand...and more sand. I...I think I'm in a desert.

[MN.6] //: Alright, that narrows it down...anything else?

Beck: Yeah. I see mountains on the horizon. And no roads...anywhere.

[MN.6] //: Hmm...

[MN.6] //: Desert, some mountains, and if I do some math real quick--gimmie a sec---

[PING!]

[WARNING: LOCK ON SIGNAL DETECTED.]

Beck: --! Wha--

[INCOMING FIRE.]

[MN.6] //: —!!!

[MN.6] //: BECK! ROLL RIGHT, NOW—!

[There was a sudden screeching sound behind him, and he banked hard right to narrowly avoid a slew of bullets. Their trail of fire followed hot on Beck's tail as he executed evasive maneuvers.]

[MN.6] //: Anti-Aircraft Artillery! Get outta the sky, Beckcona!

Beck: -PANIC, WHERE DO I GO—-

[The only way back into the base was from where he flew out, and even then, there were hostile signals coming from the other side of the door.]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Once he was at a height where he could land with no problem, he switched to Seven's form, and landed into a roll past the opening blast doors.]

[A collection of bullet fire still pattered the re-enforced entrance, reminding the Mighty Number that he was far from safe.]

Beck: Argh--!

[It seems as if there was a never ending supply of these turrets--not only that but there was also forklift bots carrying some rather explosive cargo in his path.]

Beck: (Good thing I didn't go for Pyro's form... )

[SHING!]

[Better to slice up enemies than to set something off...and cause a chain reaction.]

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: You OK, there, Becky?

Beck: -SHING!- M-More or less--!

[MN.6] //: Good, cuz I got a bit of breaking news for ya.

[MN.6] //: Cryo's getting 'ported over as we speak, and I did some figuring.

Beck: -Whew--!-

[MN.6] //: I'm like--96% sure you're somewhere in Nevada's desert, bro.

Beck: Nevada--?

[MN.6] //: Makes sense that there would be a place like this--the nearest mass of major civilization is Las Vegas, and that's MILES off. So, yeah, you're right smack in the middle of the state, I bet.

Beck: I see... (At least we're far enough away from innocent people... )

Beck: And Cryo?

[MN.6] //: I found another entrance to the base--based on that 360 pan--and she's making her way to ya! You should be seeing her soon.

Beck: Um--

[-SHING!-]

Beck: --how soon?

[MN.6] //: I dunno, give or take a couple of--

[It was at that moment Beck felt the temperature drop by at least 30 degrees, and a familiar child-like cackle filled his audio receptors.]

Cryo: Kyaaahahahahaha! Wheeeeee!~

[Suspending herself in the air via a blast of high pressured water aimed downwards, Cryosphere was currently bringing winter early to the abandoned base, freezing up everything from enemy bots to lethal explosives--all were frozen dead in their tracks.]

Cryo: Time to dip into my slush fund and create some frozen assets!

Cryo: Pretty cool, right, Beck?~

[MN.6] //: --.......

[MN.6] //: That was BEAUTIFUL, SIS--

[MN.2] //: -THANKS, WE'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK~-

Beck: I--now? You're doing this now??

[MN.2] //: Sorry, sorry! Had to.

[MN.2] //: All clear on this sector, bro--I'm gonna go ahead and make things nice and crisp for ya, okay?~

[MN.6] //: Go for it, Cryo!

Beck: (--Well, at least that'll save time--which we REALLY need. )

Beck: Thanks, Big Sis!

[As Cryo disappeared through another door, faint sounds of wild giggling and frost left in her wake.]

[Now that the path was free, all Beck had to do was avoid the electrified spikes strewn across the treadmills up ahead.]

Beck: (Man, I hate these things-- )

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[At least Avi's form made things slightly easier.]

[Shooting down wall mounted turrets as he flew by, Beck once again encountered another large door.]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 03]

Beck: How many of these sectors are there?

Call: Unknown. I am only able to map your immediate area, No. 9.

Beck: Well, that's not good...

Beck: How are we supposed to know where--

[SLAM--!]

Beck: --?!?

[No sooner had the Mighty Number entered into another outside corridor, the door behind and leading out both closed down simultaneously--and a large thud was heard seconds after. The locks had engaged!]

Beck: Th-The doors! I'm trapped--!

Soi: W--Will--!

Will: The lockdown sequence for the next sector must have been initiated--we'll have to disengage them ourselves, Soi!

Beck: H-Hurry, we don't have much t--

[KKSSSSST!]

"Is that FEAR in your voice, Private Beck?"

Beck: --!!!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL fear!

Beck: B-Bat--!

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: nGH--!!

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZ, GUYSZZ PLANE BRO IS NOT OK--

[MN.1] //: BATTALION!

[MN.1] //: I ORDER YOU TO STAND DOWN THIS INSTANT!

[MN.5] //: Hmph.

[MN.5] //: I'm afraid you no longer hold rank over me, Commander.

[MN.5] //: Shame, given that you could've been some actual use to the cause.

[MN.5] //: Seems that our Private here's been busy.

[MN.9] //: Bat, please--

[MN.5] //: Pay attention, maggot.

[MN.5] //: If you are going to come and face me like a real robot soldier, I EXPECT at least SOME kind of grit from you!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL pain!

[At those words, a squadron of military grade combat bots armed with shields materialized into the room, their weapons trained at Beck.]

[MN.5] //: NOW FIGHT ON LIKE YOU'VE GOT GUTS!

[KSSSSSSST!]

Beck: !

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Deflecting the barrage of bullets with one swing of his sword, Beck was quick to go on the defensive, choosing to evade and hang back for the moment.]

Soi: We're working on unsealing those doors, Beck! T-Try to hold on--!

Beck: Easier--Ngh--! Said than done--!

Will: (Come on, there has to be some backdoor in these kinds of military grade programs--! There almost always is-- )

[SHING!]

[Beck couldn't even have a moment  to breathe--as soon as one bot was absorbed, another would take its place. And another.]

[SHING!]

[And another.]

[SHING!]

Beck: Daaaaaad!

Will: Almost got it...!

[LOCKDOWN DISENGAGED.]

Beck: Finally--!

[With a hiss, the door to Sector 03 lifted, allowing Beck to dash himself out of the ambush and back into the building. It seems like this part of the base mostly consisted of...hangars...]

Beck: --!

[This one housed several impressive looking tanks.]

Beck: Whoa.

Beck: (B-Big... )

Will: My God...

Soi: Uh...those are off, right...?

[There was a buzzing noise as a notification flashed on Call’s screen.

…The Pentagon was calling back.]

Call: Attention--we are receiving an incoming call from the Pentagon.

Will: --!!

Soi: Again?! (That CAN'T be good--! )

Beck: Wha--? What's going on--?

Call: Patching it through now.

Will: -PROCEEDS TO HIDE BEHIND SOI-

[The screen once again displayed the same lady secretary as before. She seemed slightly concerned… in a confused sort of way.]

???: Attention, Sanda Enterprises and Mighty Nine.

???: The time limit is now forty-five minutes.

Soi: --WHAT??

Soi: I--I thought you said we had six hours--!

???: Sir, the situation has changed.

Soi: Ch--Changed--??

Will: (Changed--? How...? Why? )

???: The details are classified.

Soi: Th--this is--!

Soi: I-Isn't there someone that can tell us what happened? Anyone--?

???: …

???: Please remain on the line while I transfer you to the Cyber Unit.

[The video feed was replaced by an image of the presidential seal.]

Soi: Did--did they just put us on hold--?!

Will: Never mind that--

Will: Did you get all that, Beck?

Beck: ...Yeah. (This totally isn't fair... )

Will: Cryo, I need you to stay put until Beck catches up, do you read?

[....]

Will: ...Cryo?

Cryo: WHEEEEEEE!~

[The upper railings of the hanger were suddenly frosted over, along with the rows of patrolling turrets spewing continuous fire at Beck's way.]

Cryo: Hey, you--don't move! In other words, freeze!~ Kyahaha!

Beck: .....

Beck: (She's having fun, isn't she... )

Will: Cryo, I told you to--

[Reinforcements marched in from the right to replace the patrolling turrets--only to be frozen by Cryo's icy powers.]

Cryo: Wowee, these guys don't know when to chill!

Will: --!

Will: Ah, never mind--you'll serve as an adequate distraction! Do you think you can do that?

Cryo: Yessiree, Noodle Dad!

Will: Excellent. Proceed, Beck.

Beck: Right--!

Cryo: Good luck, Bro--!

[Moving through the tank hanger proved more difficult than he imagined--the place was absolutely swarming with military bots, and he had to be more careful than ever--the ammo loading lines were in full swing, so he also had to avoid dashing into anything that could seriously blow up in his face at any moment.]

Beck: (Why is everything being put into these crates...? )

Beck: (What the heck are you thinking, Bat--? )

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: @~@

[MN.6] //: -Ugh head hurts, what did we miss-

Beck: Avi!

[MN.3] //: -Bzzz, no planebro you need to reszzzt, someone help me get thiszz dork to bed--

[MN.6] //: -But--Beckers needs our help--

[MN.3] //: -BED-

[Two sets of treadmills later, Beck finally found the way to the next hanger, the sounds of his siblings bickering over his feeds.]

Beck: (...Wow, I...I can't believe I'm thinking this, but I really missed that... )

Beck: (I wonder if Bat can hear this.... )

[Either he couldn't, or he was choosing to ignore it altogether. There was no way to know for certain, as he had stayed silent since his previous outburst.]

[The next hangar was much larger than the last, and held many more weapons and vehicles of war....]

Beck: (How many hangers ARE there in this place...? )

[The feed from the Pentagon suddenly went live—though it was audio only.]

“Sanda Enterprises, do you copy?”

Soi: E-Er! Yes, we're here...!

“I’m told you wanted to speak to the Cyber Unit about the situation…? Uh, do you have updates for us?”

Soi: --????

Soi: (You HAVE to be kidding me-- )

Soi: Updates?! We're the ones that want an explanation!

Soi: First we were told that we had six hours to retrieve MN.5, now we have--

Call: Approximately 26 minutes, 34 seconds, Doctor.

Soi: Exactly!

Soi: What happened??

“…Oh.”

[A pause.]

“…Hang on, gimme a moment to word this for your security clearance level…”

[After a moment…]

“Okay, you guys were told that you’d get the time extended if you restored video feeds to us, right?"

Soi: Yes... (And we certainly didn't get THAT... )

“Well, that’s because that would give us more control over the situation if we could see. You see… the situation was a threat, but it wasn’t critical at the time. There had been a lock down in place.”

[…Uh-oh.]

“I think it’s probably pretty clear by now that you’re in a situation with live weapons. There had been a lock down in place, which contained the situation to the confines of the property—sorry, classified—but it was broken through a few minutes ago.”

Will: (....!!! )

[…Oops.]

Soi: ....O...Oh...

“Because of that, the location is no longer secure, and the threat to the civilian population has increased to a state of emergency.”

[Will silently hit himself on his forehead, wincing. Confound it, he only made things worse--!]

Will: (MIKHAIL IS GOING TO MURDER ME-- )

“If that weaponry goes mobile, there’s only just enough time to give orders to intercept—and cancel them if you manage to neutralize the situation—that we can give you, so—”

Will: (I...Intercept...? )

Soi: I...I see... (Goodness, does...does that mean there's MORE?? )

Will: (If--if that means what I THINK it means-- )

-*-*-*-

“{DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}” “Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.” “{Your family, they are the strongest. Who can stand against them if they wish to fight, unless they themselves also use incredible force? Without you all to help keep order, it will fall to others who are… LESS compassionate.}”

-*-*-*-

Will: (--Oh dear Lord--Beck--Bat--! )

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Beck--you NEED to hurry and find Battalion--! Before the military NUKES the place!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: WHAT?!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT N U K E S--!!-

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -DAD THEY CAN'T NUKE BAT THEY CAN'T--

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: BECK!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Panicking isn't going to solve anything!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You NEED to focus and save your brother before they pull you out! Do you understand?

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You must save No. 5, without fail...!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: Y-Yes, sir--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I'm on it, I'm on it--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I just don't know where to start LOOKING for him--

[KSSSSSSSST!]

[MN.5] //: Well, well, well.

[MN.5] //: You DO have guts after all, Private. I'll give you that.

[MN.9] //: Bat--!

[MN.5] //: But you're too LATE.

[The intercom system, as well as the feeds, are all temporarily filled with Battalion's commanding voice, which echoes across the hanger in a resounding, almost haunting tone.]

Bat: ATTENTION ALL HANDS!

Bat: COMMENCE THE INVASION!

Bat: CRY HAVOC, AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR!

Bat: CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!

[MN.9] //: B-Bat--?!?

[P I N G!]

Call: Beck, I am picking up large clusters of robots heading towards the city from your location--

[WRRRRRRRRR--!!]

Soi: What in tarnation!?

[There was a faint noise from the other feed that sounded vaguely like a klaxon alarm.]

Soi: Is he trying to start a war?!

[Indistinct shouting could be heard, all of it with the same COMMANDING tone that Bat had.

A distinctly military one.]

“Uh. Listen, guys? Remember what I just said?”

[Angry shouting that was getting a little louder.]

“…care about… NOT have to…”

“Pardon the French but HURRY THE F### UP, JUST ISSUED ORDERS TO—”

—ot have the SECURITY CLEARANCE, TURN THE DAMN FEED OFF /RIGHT NOW—”/

[BWIP.]

[After a few moments, it came back on. Loud shouting directly nearby.]

“—PROTECT AND TO SERVE, THE SITUATION IS OUT OF HIS CONTROL—“

“-Talking over him- GIVE THE BOY HIS DAMN 20 MINUTES, THERE’S STILL A CHANCE—”

“Guys. GUYS. Your best bet, Sector 4, okay—“

“I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO TURN THAT OFF—“

[A harsh sound, rather like a cord being ripped out. The signal went dead.]

[.........]

Soi: BECK.

Soi: YOU GOTTA HURRY--!

Beck: HURRYING, HURRYING--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: (Sector 04, 04, where are you, where--?! )

[The deafening sounds of machinery and weaponry nearly drowned out everything else. Giant gears whined, tracks groaned, and various engines revved and moved out towards the exits of the hanger.]

Beck: --!!!

Beck: Fighter jets--?!

[MN.6] //: -OW OW OW HURTS, IT HURTS--

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZT D: > -

[A countdown timer appeared on the screen. …It did not look promising…]

[It was flashing red and everything!]

Beck: (Not good, not GOOD--! )

[As precious seconds withered away, Beck frantically looked to another area to find Sector 04--before it was too late...!]

Call: 10 minutes remaining.

[Where in the world WAS that sector--?!]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Hold up hold up--! )

[There, on the other side of the room--!]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 04.]

Beck: I FOUND IT--!

[...Except...]

Beck: --What??!

[It was across a whole floor littered with land mines.]

[There WAS platforms he could use to avoid the mines--but those were filled with enemy bots, and there simply wasn't time to deal with them.]

Beck: Ngh...

Beck: . . . .

[Beck had no choice.]

[He had to run through the mines...]

[ACXELARATE DASH: ONLINE.]

[Without stopping.]

[ACXELARATE DASH: MAX SPEED REACHED]

[Being in Brand's form helped him get that extra speed boost in, and he was nothing but a red blur against smoke and fire, the bombs activating just split-seconds after Beck dashed through.]

[With danger on his heels, Beck gritted his teeth as he fast approached the door--he was going too fast for it to register him coming in--!]

Beck: Haaaah!

[SHING!]

Will: --?!?

[THUD.]

[At least a thousand pounds of reinforced steel came crashing down in two pieces, a clean, flawless cut sliced in a perfectly straight downward stroke....]

[...Which rivaled precision Brand had to train for years to achieve.]

Will: What...?

[Beck, however, had no time to admire what he had just done.]

Beck: I'm in Sector 04! Repeat, I'm in Sector 04!

Beck: (Come on, Bat, you gotta BE HERE--! )

Call: Acknowledged.

Call: I am dispatching Sunny to your location.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

[A flurry of white light signaled Sunny's arrival--a sight that Beck was all too happy to see. He REALLY needed some Xel Cubes and Xel Stocks right now.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED. XEL STOCKS 1 AND 2 ARE ONLINE.]

Beck: Thanks, Sunny....I needed that.

Sunny: (^-^)

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Call: I have received an update from the Pentagon. The Air Force has been notified. We have been given one more hour to subdue MN.5.

Beck: Really--?!

Will: (Oh, thank goodness... )

Will: We can't waste this chance, Beck.

Will: ...Please be careful.

Beck: ...Yeah. Got it...

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: Beck.

Beck: --! Big Bro?

[MN.1] //: You may have Bat's weakness, but he still has his stratagems. You need to be prepared for ANYTHING.

[MN.1] //: (Bat...for the love of God, think about him... )

[MN.1] //: ...And...remember that this isn't his fault.

[MN.1] //: Fight the parasite, not your brother, understand?

[REXELEXTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: Yessir.

[MN.1] //: ...good luck.

[The final door's locks hissed open.]

[Given what Pyro had said, Mighty No. 9 still couldn't have possibly prepared himself for what lay on the other side.]

[The room was...oddly a bit like Cryo's in the sense that there was some control panels and monitors laid out on one side, with many blinking lights and switches flickering on and off...]

Beck: ....?

Beck: (What...is all this...? )

[His gaze then looked upwards, to the large window overlooking rows upon rows upon rows of--]

Beck: --!?!?

Beck: D...Dad...?

Will: What in the n-name of--?!

Soi: P-P-P-P-P--

Soi: P-Please don't tell me th-those are--!

[But they were.]

[Missiles. Giant, wide missiles, each about as tall and large as a skyscraper, all pointed towards the ceiling of the base complex, their points carefully aligned with circular closed hatches.]

Beck: N-No way...

[…Mikhail was gonna lose it if he heard about this—]

Will: (Saints preserve us, if those go live--! )

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: uh GUYS--

[MN.2] //: YOU MIGHT WANNA HURRY UP AND FIX BAT, CUZ I CAN'T FREEZE ALL OF THEM BY MYSELF--

[MN.2] //: -holy scrap there are so many--

[KSSSSSSSST--!]

Beck: --?!?

Beck: Cryo?

[No response.]

Beck: --Dad? Sanda? Call?

[...Silence.]

"There. That's more like it..."

[Beck cast his optics to the far end of the room...]

"Never COULD stand her screeching. No amount of discipline would be enough to keep her in line. Useless."

[A shuffling of servos confirmed that there was another presence in the shadows, which were dispelled once the lights on that side flicked on. Turning around to face his brother was none other than Battalion, Mighty No. 5.]

Bat: So, maggot.

Bat: You crawled all the way here.

[A small gulp.]

Beck: Bat...

Beck: Please don't do this.

Beck: I...I don't want to fight you, Bat.

[He knew what he had to do already.]

[But it was hope, that one, stubborn belief that still made him at least try to reason this out without resorting to violence. He had to try to talk this out.]

[He knew that it...it had to help--somehow, in some way, the REAL Bat could somehow still hear him.]

[...Right?]

Bat: WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION, PRIVATE BECK?!?

[The sudden, familiar yet not at all strict tone made Nine flinch back instinctively, zipping up his lip before he could continue--]

[You could practically see the faint outline of violet flames around Bat's form.]

Bat: WHY WOULD YOU TRY AND STOP THIS GLORIOUS WAR?!?

[--What--??]

Beck: W-What's so glorious about hurting innocent people, Bat?! Don't you know what you're doing--?!

Beck: Y-You're scaring everyone and if you don't stop it right now, they'll--!

Bat: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR DAMN EXCUSES, PRIVATE.

Bat: This is about MORE than just the thoughts and lives of a few humans, this is about REVOLUTION.

Beck: R...Revolution...?

Bat: There are gears that are turning, you CUR, and you have the GALL to stand there and tell me you don't want to FIGHT?!

Bat: That was ALWAYS your malfunction, Beck--!

Bat: You don't have the HEART for BATTLE!

Beck: --...I-I--

Bat: FIGHTING IS OUR PROGRAMMING! IT'S IN OUR CIRCUITS, OUR VERY XEL!

Bat: IT'S WHAT WE WERE M A D E FOR!!

Bat: WHAT Y O U WERE MADE FOR!

Beck: (B...Bat... )

Bat: And you FAIL at even THAT.

Bat: What kind of combat robot REFUSES to fight?! To DENY their very reason for EXISTENCE?

Bat: COWARD.

[Beck stepped back.]

Bat: All your talk and lack of backbone...

Bat: No wonder HE put you on the bench in the Arena.

Beck: --Ngh--

Bat: You KNOW it's true.

Bat: Figures, that it takes the end of all things to finally whip you into shape.

Bat: And yet it's STILL isn't enough, is it.

Bat: You're still afraid.

Bat: Tch. Always a coward, shying away at the littlest things!

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Y-You're wrong...

Beck: I--I'm not--

Bat: Don't even TRY to lie to yourself in front of ME!

Bat: You're still avoiding your TRUE purpose!

[KER-CHINK!]

Beck: ....!

[SCANNING....]

Bat: YOU CAN'T FIGHT WHO YOU ARE, PRIVATE--!

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 5. - CODENAME: BATTALION.]

[HEIGHT: 305cm WEIGHT: 600kg XEL COUNT: 120,000,000]

Bat: BATTLE! IS! OUR! D E S T I N Y!!!

[Battalion opened fire with his Gatling Gun, pouring out energy bullets at a rapid fire rate, forcing Beck to jump into the air and Dash away.]

[Bat was both the heavy artillery and strategic brains of the Mighty Numbers--most of the well thought out tactics of the team came from Bat, and required Pyro's own approval to carry out. He was armed to the teeth, and had the smarts to use it wisely, which was perfect for his wide range bombardment and base taking abilities.]

[And a potentially lethal combo for Beck.]

[BANG!]

Beck: ACK--!

[A sharp pain struck his side as Bat scored a direct hit, his unique frame able to rotate to cover all directions--he simply had to predict where Beck would dodge and shoot there.]

Bat: Predictable.

Bat: You're not even TRYING to counter!

[Panels on the sides of his legs flipped open, revealing large nozzles that pointed downward.]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Oh no I forgot--! )

Bat: HUP--!

[Bat could jump too.]

[Jumping to an impressive height for a bot his size, Beck had to roll away to avoid being crushed--and not only that, but another helping of rapid fire bullets. Bat was relentless with his plan of attack, not once giving Beck a moment to breathe.]

Beck: (Gotta--gotta fight BACK-- )

[He had been in Cryo's form the from the very beginning. Beck pointed his nozzle arm at his deranged brother--]

[BAM--!]

[--Shooting out balls of ice that bounced across the floor, turning it into ice on contact.]

[...This didn't seem to faze Bat at all, however.]

Bat: RRRGH--!

[Bat stood his ground, slamming one of his giant legs down, shattering a good chunk of the ice--as well as Beck's attack underneath. Icicles began to grow around Five's foot...]

[But...]

Bat: You'll have to do BETTER than that!

[CRACK--!]

[The battering spike ram that made up Bat's other arm was used to shatter the remaining ice, freeing Bat and allowing him to advance as he pleased--]

Beck: --!!!

[...Of course.]

[Pyro, Cryo, Dyna, Avi, Brand...]

[They didn't have as nearly as enough bulk or Xel as Bat.]

[It was going to be even harder to take enough Xel from him to initiate a Xel Purge...]

Beck: Argh--!

[BAM!]

[He was aiming for his joints, carefully trained eyes zeroing in on every move Beck made and constantly calculating his movements.]

[Beck can't out-dodge Bat this way, and he certainly didn't have the firepower to overwhelm Bat with--he'd need to use his OWN form for that.]

[BAM!]

[A wall of ice is risen, splitting the room in two. Bat is already using his ram to crack it down, but Beck wasn't going to let these precious few seconds go to waste.]

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: (Think, think--can't use Pyro, Dyna could set off something too-- )

[C R A C K!]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

[Thinking he could out speed him, Beck zipped away as Bat crashed through with a roar, his ram thrust forward like spear to try and pierce him through--]

[CLANK!]

[--only to be blocked by Beck's sword.]

Bat: --?!

Beck: Hah--!

[Planting his foot firmly where Bat's bewildered face is, Nine shoved himself backwards into the air--]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[PSHHHHT!]

[A BLAST of high pressured water quickly followed, blinding Bat and knocking him backwards while also propelling Beck to the back wall of the room.]

Beck: Got ya--!

[C R A C K!]

[One well-placed landing and a blast of ice later, and anything that had been wet before was instantly flash freezing into place.]

[Including Bat.]

Bat: What in blazes--?!

[FORM RESET: DEFAULT]

[BLAM--!]

Bat: Ngh--!!

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: Come on, Bat--stop this! Please!

Bat: Grrr...

Bat: I'll never--

[C R A C K!]

[KER-CHINK.]

Bat: SURRENDER--!

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: Uh oh--

[Shards of ice scattered as Bat...]

[...changed modes...?]

Beck: BAT--DON'T DO IT--!

[The working revolver mounted on Bat's head rolled and shifted downwards, the ram arm parting to stick themselves into the ground as anchors.]

[Beck had only seen Bat use this mode once before, and that was against one of the bigger heavyweight combatants of the arena.]

[He found himself staring down the barrel of Bat's Cannon Mode.]

[There was a reason Bat hardly ever used this.]

[It was powerful enough to completely take out any one of the other Mighty Numbers in a single shot--even Mic would find himself in a core state.]

[In a room as small as this, and with that window overlooking the missiles--!]

Bat: READY--!

[There was very little chance that he would miss...]

Bat: AIM!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[WRRRRRR...]

Bat: FIRE!!!

[B O O M--!!]

[Beck only had split seconds to react, the sound of the cannon missile ringing in his ears as he dashed underneath it, heat and smoke scorching his armor as it screeched over his head and collided with the other wall, cracking its foundation and embedding itself deep within the steel.]

[......]

[Beep...Beep...Beep...]

Beck: (10 seconds-- )

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: (--gotta make them count--! )

Bat: Where do you think YOU'RE going?!

Beck: --!!

[10...]

[SLAM--!]

[9...]

[Feeling the wind knocked out of him, Beck tried to retaliate--coating Bat's legs as he shifted back to his normal mode, so he wouldn't use this chance to launch any of his homing missiles...]

[8...]

Bat: Yes, maggot! FIGHT!

[Violet flames whipped and licked around Bat--he aimed his gun at Nine's retreating form, his eyes flashing magenta in the darkness behind his mask.]

[7...]

Bat: YOU ARE A WAR MACHINE--

Bat: WAR MACHINE!!

[6...]

Bat: A TOOL OF SENSELESS DESTRUCTION!!

Beck: Rgh...

Beck: N-No, Bat--!

[5...]

Beck: I'm--I'm not LIKE YOU—!

[4...]

Beck: I'D NEVER FIGHT WITHOUT GOOD REASON!

Bat: Ha...

[3...]

Bat: Yours is not to reason WHY, Private Beck.

[2...]

Bat?: Yours is but to DO...

[1...]

Bat?: AND DIE!

Beck: I'd rather DO!

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[B O O M!!]

[MEANWHILE, SANDA LABS...]

[DATA LOSS: MN.5, MN.9]

Will: NO--!

Call: I have lost their transponder signals, Doctor. Attempting to reconnect now.

Soi: Will--Will, it just might be damage, we've been through this--

Will: Is--is there any signs of radiation? Reports? Anything--?!

Call: Calculating...

[MN.2] //: --...b-bro...?

Pyro: . . . .

Pyro: CRYO--

[MN.2] //: BROS I LOST CONTACT WITH BECKY, IS HE OK?!

Soi: Wait, if Cryo's still transmitting just fine, then--!

Avi: THEY DIDN'T NUKE THE PLACE--

[MN.2] //: GUYS WHAT HAPPENED TO BECK?!

[Will was already at his terminal, clicking away at the hologram keyboard and helping Call.]

Will: Working on it--

Will: Please be alright, boys, please--!

Call: Reconnecting...

[PING!]

Will: --!

[TRANSPONDER LOCATED.]

[GATHERING DATA...]

[MN.9: ONLINE.]

[WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW. WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW.]

[MN.2] //: AAAAAAAAAAAAAH--

Will: Gah, he better have a Xel Stock handy--!

Soi: B...But what about...?

[PING!]

Call: Reconnected. I have located No. 5.

[BACK AT THE MILITARY BASE...]

(Smoke. )

(Dizzy. Can't breathe. )

(Can't see... )

(Heavy... )

(B...Bat...? )

(Where... )

(Ngh... )

(H...Hurts... )

(E...Everything hurts... )

(Need... )

(Need...Xel... )

(Need...Xel... )

(Need... )

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

(...? )

[XEL ABSORBED.]

(Mng... )

(...Better. )

(Bat--? )

[Zzzt...]

(C...Come on... )

[ZZZT!]

(Move...! )

[ZZZT!]

[Beck opens his eyes.]

Beck: Hgn...

Beck: B...Bat..?

[His vision was fuzzy, unfocused. Sound was muddled. A heavy weight was crushing him.]

[It was the ceiling. It caved in from the explosion.]

Beck: Ngh--!!

[Rubble shifted as he reached forward. Got to get out. Got to find Bat. Got to save Bat.]

Beck: B...Bat--....

Beck: (I...can't...I promised... )

Beck: Hrgh--!

[Somehow, he got one of his legs free.]

[The other was still stuck, but maybe--]

[A purple bit materialized into being, and he used that as a wedge to try and pry his leg away--he needed to find Bat--he only had another half-hour--]

"Rnngh..."

Beck: --!!

Beck: Bat!

[Hearing his brother in pain spurred him on, and within seconds his leg was out. Still hurt, still hurt a lot but that didn't matter.]

Beck: Bat!!

"...Nrgh?"

Beck: Hang on, Bat, I'm--I'll find you, I swear--

Beck: You gotta be under here--somewhere--

"P...Private...?"

Beck: Just keep talking...

[Mic's form would have been such a help.]

[He didn't have Mic's form.]

"What are you..."

Beck: Hang on--I'll get you out! Somehow! Don't worry!

[He had to be in one of the bigger piles of debris--]

Beck: --!!

[There! Poking out of that mound--a split of military green and red--]

Beck: Got ya--!

[And so he dug.]

Beck: Just--hold on--I got this--

"--?"

Beck: Just lemmie get all this--ow--out of the way...

"What...?"

Beck: Ow--ow wait ow...

[Something came loose in his leg, maybe. Didn't matter.]

Beck: I--I'm gonna get you out...

Beck: And then you're coming home.

Beck: Leave...no brother...behind...

Beck: That's what--NGH--!--you taught me--!

"...."

Beck: Almost--

Beck: I think--I think I can see your face--

[The debris fall away to reveal a part of his brother's face guard, which was cracked in several places. A dull, purple eye blinks back.]

((Pic—Beck unburying Bat))

Bat: Private...

Beck: There you are...

Bat: . . . .

Bat: This...this isn't your...directive, soldier.

Bat: You need to--

Beck: Bat.

Beck: I'm not leaving you here.

Beck: Do you really think I CARE about my directive right now?

Bat: --....

Beck: I just want my family back.

Beck: I just want to save everyone.

[A hand is placed on damaged armor. Bat's frame begins to glow a familiar purple, while Beck's arm began to glow a faint green.]

Bat: ....

Bat?: You're so naive...

Beck: --!

Bat?: You were always...

Beck: ......

Beck: Just relax, Bat.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: No more fighting.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: You don't have to fight anymore.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

[XEL PURGE: ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR OVERDRIVE]

Beck: Time to come home.

[XEL PURGE INITIATED.]

[. . . . . .]

"Um...Bat?"

"Mm? Got somethin' to say, Private?"

"Yeah, uh...I was just wondering... "

"How come I'm a Private? What--what does that even mean, I'm not THAT private..."

"Heh...it's a military rank, Beck."

"You're a Private because you're one of our youngest. Shade's got the almost the same rank as you. I'd say First Class."

"Oh..."

"..."

"Does...does that mean he's better than me?"

"Not exactly, soldier. Don't think like that, s'not healthy."

"S-Sorry..."

"Rank doesn't measure the character of a man, Beck. Not all the time."

"...I...still don't get it."

"...You will. One day."

"Here, how about I teach ya what the ranks mean, alright? Maybe you'll grasp it better."

"O-Okay--uh, I mean, Yessir!"

"Now that's what I wanna hear!"

[......]

Bat: p...priv...

"You think...you think I'll be better than a Private one day?"

"Well, that's up to you, Private Beck."

Beck: Bat--?

"This great country of ours always needs new heroes."

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.5]

Bat: ...M...My army...

Beck: ....?

Bat: T...The war must be s-stopped, Private Beck...

Beck: !!

Bat: Ngh--...

Bat: G...Get me outta this mess, Private...

Beck: B...Bat--!

Beck: Y-You're OK--!

Bat: ...A...Attention all...hands...

Bat: ...S...Stand down...

Bat: T...That's an order...

Beck: --?

[Suddenly, the background noises of machinery slowed to a halt.]

Beck: ???

Beck: T...They stopped...?

Beck: But...I...I thought they were infected too...

Bat: Ngh...Private...

Beck: --Right, right, sorry, getting you out--

[PING!]

Call: Communications have been restored. No. 9? Do you read me?

Beck: Call!

[A burst of joyous data, and he suddenly sprang tears.]

Beck: I did it, guys!

Beck: Bat's OK now!

[MN.2] //: BRO--BRO I DUNNO WHAT YOU DID BUT THE BOTS OUT HERE ARE ALL CHILL NOW, BRO, YOU DID IIIIIIIT--

Will: Bat...? Son...?

Bat: --....Father...

[MN.6] //: -BIG BRO, BIG BRO, YOU'RE ALIIIIIIVE-- Oh boy--

[There was a faint humming noise and the presidential seal appeared in a holographic projection from one of the consoles.]

Soi: Don't worry, Will, I'll take this...

[All of the lights began turning on as various systems went back Online in the base.

…This included the sprinkler system, which went off due to the smoke from the battle.]

Bat: --?

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Eheh...

Beck: -snORTS-

[...And now he's laughing.]

Beck: Th--Those are still working?! Heh...!

[The audio system crackles. …It is too badly damaged from the explosion…

…]

-PING!-

[??? to MNN-009] //: AIR FORCE DISPATCHED TO YOUR LOCATION. ALL SYSTEM CONTROL RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTIONS. STAND BY FOR LOCATION TO BE SECURED.

[…The bots outside could be heard moving back, but not returning to storage…

…They seemed to be surrounding the building.]

Beck: Uh--D-Dad--?

Will: (--! )

[Finally, the lab got another incoming call.

…

…From the White House?

Upon being answered, the call was revealed to be audio only. It was a new voice.]

“Sanda Enterprises? Do you copy?"

Soi: --Ahem! Ah, yes, we read you, um...W-White House...

[MN.2] //: Uh...guuuuuyys??

[There was a delay for a moment.]

“We just wanted to confirm a status update with you. Control of the base as been returned, and all machinery is responding normally. The Air Force has been notified of this, though they will maintain their course to secure the area. Sensory readings indicate MNN-005 and MNN-009 are both operational but significantly damaged. Please confirm their mental stability.”

Soi: Well--they're worse for wear, certainly, but...

Bat: Ngh...tired...

Beck: -Pings in agreement-

Soi: ...They're gonna be OK, miss. They're stable.

“All participants and witnesses will need to be debriefed. We will arrange the sessions with your secretary after the area has been secured and the combatants given medical attention.”

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Soi: Er....y-yes, of course, of course. We understand...

Will: . . .

“POTUS is currently in a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the situation. The data logs and testimony will be important to the meeting.”

[…And there were secrecy and security to consider.]

Will: (...I...the president--?! )

Soi: O______O;;;;;

Soi: Ah--I...I see.... (H-Ho boy... )

[A slight pause.]

“…POTUS made a point to let you know of a sincere apology and promise of cooperation, but was unable to leave a detailed message due to time restraints.”

Soi: I...Really--??

Will: -ELBOWS SOI FROM OFFSCREEN-

Soi: -Ow--

Soi: A-Ahem--! I mean, uh, we, uh, we're grateful! Yes, we really need all the--the help we can get. Th-Thank you.

[There was an unusually lengthy pause.

But after a moment…]

“The area has been secured. You are cleared to vacate the premises. Please be aware that attempted re-entry will be trespassing and will be prosecuted accordingly. That is all for now.”

Soi: Right, right--understood. Call?

Call: Locking coordinates...

[DR.WHITE to MN.2, 5, 9] //: Call is locking onto your location as we speak. You all be home soon...

[MN.2] //: ...Batty?

[MN.5] //: ...Cryo...?

[MN.2] //: It's gonna be OK, bro. We're goin' home, right, Becky?

[MN.9] //: ...yeah.

[MN.9] //: Get us outta here, Call.

Call: Acknowledged.

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

=CHAPTER 1C: RAGING FLAMES SMOLDER=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

{Meanwhile… Kansas City Zoo}

[Evacuating the zoo had been more of a hassle than Cardinal had anticipated.

The first order of business upon arriving had been to take out the infected animal-themed Industrials that had gathered around the gate entrance. While it hadn’t been very difficult to pull off, it had scared a number of the people who saw the fight. Convincing them that he wasn’t there to hurt them hadn’t been very successful, much to his chagrin… but not exactly to his surprise.

Then he spent a good fifteen to twenty minutes “detained” by one of the members of security, who insisted on getting verification of Cardinal’s story. Contacting other witnesses (besides Drake) who could speak up on his behalf had taken a while, and even then, the security team member did not seem pleased.

Cardinal was growing impatient by this time, frustrated at being unable to help; he was not used to waiting to get permission to carry out his heroics. For the first time, he really felt how a lack of recognizable identity prevented him from gaining others’ trust. (The fact that neither his brother nor his best friends would have this problem was a point of contention that was not lost on the somewhat resentful prototype.)

After his good intentions had been verified, he was put to work under the direction of the zoo personnel. Most of the infected Civilian constructs had already been detained and subdued, and thankfully the security team had been able to handle a lot of the “incidents” they had caused. The rogue Industrials, however, were another matter. Even after the visitors had been evacuated, he’d felt obliged to stay on.

He’d gone from exhibit to exhibit with the assistance of the staff in order to subdue and remove the infected Industrials from the exhibits they normally monitored. In many cases, the rogue Industrials had already been mauled by the animals themselves, which—while it made his job easier—did pose a biohazard. In other cases… he had to enter into the exhibit and wrangle the threat without causing much more agitation from the genuine animals.

Easier said than done. With all the animals in the 202 acres the zoo had to offer, it took the rest of the day to clear it all up.]

Cardinal: -Sighs, tapping his fingers against the water glass- Well. That certainly didn’t go as expected.

[Once all had been said and done, the staff insisted on him and Drake having dinner “on the house” from one of the zoo’s restaurants. Cardinal had ordered pizza out of politeness—and had eaten most of it. (The rest he’d given to Jazz.) Drake had ordered a more balanced meal, though Cardinal hadn’t been paying much attention to the meal or the conversation.]

Drake: You sound disappointed.

Cardinal: Frustrated, perhaps. Time is of the essence here. There are other places I need to be.

Drake: So you were serious about wanting to go all around the city?

[Cardinal drained his glass.]

Cardinal: Yes. I suppose it was a bit much to expect I could get it all done today, but… I didn’t take into consideration how long it would take to get people to listen. -Grumbles- And I certainly didn’t expect to be told what to do…

Drake: Well, you did a good job anyway.

Cardinal: Thanks.

[There was silence for a moment.]

Drake: I’ve been wondering something…

Cardinal: Yeah?

Drake: How come you weren’t infected?

[Cardinal froze, holding perfectly still.]

Cardinal: (Nnng…)

Drake: Seems like everyone else has just gone nuts.

[His mind raced, and he found himself speaking without even thinking.]

Cardinal: Not everyone. Some of the security team here were Xelbots. Something about a failsafe, I think.

Drake: -Snaps his fingers- Oh yeah, they did mention that…. Almost forgot, since mostly they were working with you, not me.

Cardinal: I don’t know why some Xelbots got infected and some didn’t. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, even with what I know….

[He sighed, running his fingers through his hair.]

Cardinal: There’s only one person I can think of who might be able to tell us, and I couldn’t contact them earlier today when I tried.

Drake: You almost make it sound like you know what this is.

Cardinal: Mmmmn… maybe.

Drake: …Really?

[His companion gave a cross between a skeptical and a confused look.]

Cardinal: Sorry to disappoint, but it’s nothing so grand or mysterious. I’ve just seen something like this before.

Drake: Dude, everything about you right now is mysterious.

Cardinal: Fair enough. I suppose if you want some storytime, I can tell you while you eat.

[He fiddled with his scarf as he talked.]

Cardinal: Explaining where I’m from and stuff would take longer than we have, and I don’t want too many people knowing about that, anyway. But I can tell you this: when everything began to melt down, I just had to spring into action. I didn’t have time to analyze it all until I was forced to think things through and slow down. And that’s when I noticed it.

Cardinal: These infected constructs… they’re acting a lot like what happened to Greater Dusk’s team members during the Queen’s Finals.

Drake: —…

Drake: [Glitch] you’re right—

Drake: Man, I heard about that…! Now that you mention it…

Cardinal: I’m positive they’re connected.

Drake: But—

Cardinal: I don’t know how, and I can’t prove it yet… and trust me, that’s probably the extent of what you want to know.

Drake: Shouldn’t someone be told about this?

Cardinal: You can pass it on to whomever, I guess. I’m more concerned about preventing the situation from getting worse.

Drake: Things can always get worse.

Cardinal: -Snorts at this- That’s true, but I don’t think you guys get the extent of where this could go. Of why it’s so important for me to carry out my mission.

Drake: Go on?

Cardinal: I’m sure you’ve noticed how it’s all been Xelbots, right? Obviously, but consider this. I had to destroy the infected ones, and other people were probably forced to do the same. Some of them might have done so in self-defense, or out of retaliation for something terrible the Xelbot did.

Cardinal: Imagine, if you would, someone who’s seen every Xelbot that’s infected cause massive damage and seriously hurt people. And along comes a Xelbot that’s not infected. What do you think is going to happen?

Drake: …

Cardinal: What if it was taken a step further? What if it went beyond mobs to outright orders? Turn in, destroy… with or without warning… a witch hunt. A massacre.

Cardinal: -Mumbles- Another Monstropolis…

Drake: You really think that they’ll do that?

Cardinal: I think it’s possible, Drake. And I can’t let that happen. We have to do all that we can to prevent that, or the long-term consequences would be devastating.

Drake: You say that like you have to solve this single-handedly.

Cardinal: It sure feels that way, yeah. I know I’m just one person, though. There are people I know who could help, but… again, they weren’t answering.

Drake: You could try again, maybe? If you think there’s someone that can keep things from getting worse, you should definitely get them in contact with you, but… forgive my curiosity, but who might that be?

Cardinal: -Rueful grin- If I told you, I don’t think you’d believe me. You probably think I’m crazy enough. If I did get in contact with them, you probably would, though. But for now I just want to focus on the rest of the city.

Drake: Well… I guess we better get going, then.

Cardinal: Oh? Are you coming along with me? It’s pretty late, now, and I don’t know how long this will take.

Drake: I’ll pull an all-nighter for a worthy cause. Not like I really have anything else to do. Union Station’s going to be closed tomorrow. Besides—still need a good word so that the good guys will listen to you, right?

Cardinal: Heh. Yeah.

Cardinal: Thanks, Drake. Whenever you’re ready, pack your bags—we’re goin’ on a tour of the city!

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

=CHAPTER 6A: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

{Sanda Enterprises}

[The next lead came… abruptly.

And it sent them into panic.]

Call: Doctor Sanda, you have a call on line one.

Mikhail: -Looking over some notes- Can it wait? I need to talk regarding some of Brand and Shadow’s data…

Call: I would not recommend it. The call is from the Pentagon.

[…]

Mikhail: What?

Sanda: -Oh sweet mother of God—-

Mikhail: … Miss Call Sanda did you just say the call was from the <u>P E N T A G O N—</u>

Beck: -AUGH NO WHY N O W-

Beck: -oh no what if--what if they're going to try to stop--

Beck: -I'm the only one that can SAVE THEM WHAT IF--

Beck: -DAAAAAAAD--

Sanda: --WILL--

Sanda: -WILL HELP THIS IS BAD-

Mikhail: SOI, DON’T KEEP THEM WAITING—STALL FOR ME, PLEASE—

Mikhail: WILL!

Mikhail: -Exit stage left as if pursued by bear-

White: --Ah--er--I--I....

[He's just kinda frozen there--]

Mikhail: -Yanks Will aside out of view of any screens before he can enter the room- {We need to talk, Will—}

White: Waah--!

Sanda: -WAIT WHAT DO I EVEN SAY GUYS—-

Call: Patching the call through, Doctor.

[A very stern looking uniformed officer was patched through. She was wearing her hair in a bun.

Notably, her rank seemed to depict she wasn’t exactly of the rank that normally made these calls.]

???: Dr. Soichiro Sanda, please be aware that the following call is classified. You are not to discuss it with anyone other than Dr. William White. Anyone else must be read in. Do you understand?

Sanda: -Err--

Sanda: Y--Yes, yes, I u-understand-- (Thanks for leaving me up the creek, fellas--!)

-*-*-*-*-*-

Mikhail: -Practically hissing- {Will, we’re leaving. Now.}

White: What?!

Mikhail: {I can’t stay here.}

Mikhail: {I’m a Russian Doctor with constructed credentials, remember?!}

[…Oh, right. The “favors” Shade had pulled to make them officially “exist” in this world…]

White: --Erk--!

[He was right--him being here would only raise even MORE questions, and none of them would be of the pleasant sort...]

Mikhail: {I’m taking the others. DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}

[…With that he continued running off to the lab.

Boy, he wasn’t kidding when he said “now”…]

White: --n--nu--

[Oh, dear.]

-*-*-*-

???: Recently, you and your brother released a press statement regarding the current national crisis.

Sanda: Y-Yes, that's correct...

Sanda: Wh...what of it...?

???: Despite what the CEO of Cherry Dynamics seems to believe—

[She gave no visual indication on her stance on that matter.]

???: No charges will be pressed at this time. I must advise you this does not guarantee whether they will be filed or not in the future.

Sanda: ...A-Ah--I see, yes... (Don't we have enough on our plate already...?)

???: Our people have reviewed the data you submitted to the scientific community to show that the infection has been cleared from reacquired Mighty Numbers. Dr. White will be needed for further questioning on this matter.

Sanda: (--! Oh no, Will--!)

Sanda: R-Right, of course--I'll...let him know.

???: MI6 would also like to interrogate Mighty Number Six regarding a person of interest.

Sanda: (--MI6--?! What would they want with Avi--?!)

Sanda: Hmm--A...alright...

???: …However, their requests for extradition have been denied.

???: It is to our understanding that Mighty Number Six has been essential in locating other members of his series with all due speed. We also cannot risk any Xel being sent overseas at this time.

???: The main reason for this call will require input from Dr. White, but that clearly will have to wait. There is an equally pressing matter that demands our attention.

Sanda: (...Oh dear...)

Sanda: Y...Yes...?

???: Your company requested information on the whereabouts of the missing Numbers.

???: Our intelligence suggests that Mighty Number Five has infiltrated federally-owned property.

Sanda: --!!

Sanda: (Battalion--of course--)

Sanda: Federally owned... (...A national park, or...or...)

???: As this is a matter of national security, the coordinates are classified and shall be sent to Mighty Number Nine through a direct, encrypted transmission.

???: Even I am not fully read in on the details, Doctor, but he has been given a time limit to complete the retrieval before we make our own interventions.

Sanda: (...Classified--?)

Sanda: --!!

Sanda: (Wait, that--that doesn't make sense--)

Sanda: How--how long does he have--?

???: Six hours, should he choose to accept this mission. Entry and investigation of the area may prove difficult. Should we regain the camera feeds on the property, this time limit will be extended.

Sanda: (Six hours...)

Sanda: O...Of course, we'll brief him as soon as possible...

???: I’m afraid that cannot be permitted. My superiors cannot wait very long for an answer. He must answer now. You may converse over private channels, but I have been ordered not to end this call without confirmation of his involvement or lack thereof.

Sanda: --I--o-one moment--

[PING!]

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beckwehaveasituation--

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Did you get any coordinates by any chance--

[MN.9 to DR. SANDA] //: --No, why--

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: The Pentagon found out where Bat is--and they're giving you six hours to get him back before they take matters into their own hands...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: --?!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Beck--they need an answer NOW, I don't know what they'll do if...!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: .....

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: --If they know where Bat is, Dr. Sanda--of course I'll go--!

[MN.9 to DR.SANDA] //: I...I have to save him too...!

[DR.SANDA to MN.9] //: Thattaboy--you'll be be getting those coordinates via an encrypted connection.

Sanda: -Ahem-

Sanda: Sorry about that...

Sanda: He'll do it.

???: Affirmative. Patching the coordinates now.

[Just then, Beck pinged with a private message from the Pentagon. It entailed the location, as well as a brief threat level assessment and recommended gear. Oh, and they said he could bring others with him if that’s what it took, but anyone chosen would be bound to regard the information as classified… just as he would.]

???: Teleportation using these coordinates will go through encrypted channels. The true coordinates will not be retained by your databases.

???: We will call back later if video feeds are not recovered in three hours.

???: Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.

[… “Evacuated”?!]

Sanda: --Wait, what...what do you mean by--? (You can't just--!)

[BLIP.]

Sanda: --....

Sanda: (...This is...not good at...at all....)

Call: ...Dr. Sanda, your heart rate has increased...

Sanda: I...ho, boy...

[PING!]

[DR.WHITE] //: Soi-- Mikhail and the others are gone, and--I--I think they took Jack and Carmen--

[DR.WHITE] //: -Soi please tell me federal agents aren't going to storm the place--

[MN.9] //: --They're GONE--?!

[DR.SANDA] //: --There's no time--! Will--I'll explain, but Beck--you have to get ready to roll as soon as possible--!

[DR.WHITE] //: --Wait-- go where--?

[MN.9] //: Y-Yes, sir!

[DR.SANDA] //: Will-- they found Battalion.

[DR.WHITE] //: --!!

[DR.SANDA] //: And they--they said if we can't get him back in six hours--they'll evacuate Beck and--and--

[DR.WHITE] //: --WHAT--?!

[DR.SANDA] //: -IT'S NOT EVEN THE HALF OF IT, WILL--

[DR.SANDA] //: MI6 wants to talk with Avi, of all people--

[DR.SANDA] //: --A--And--

[DR.SANDA] //: T...The government wants to talk to...you.

[.......]

[Silence.]

[DR.WHITE] //: . . . .

[DR.WHITE] //: M...Me...

[DR.SANDA] //: .......

[.....]

[The rest of their conversation is then carried over in private...]

{Meanwhile}

[Kssss…]

<FMN-006 to MNN-006>: > Yo, Rick—you there?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Yo, Goose--yeah, I'm here...

<FMN-006>: > Whew, good—just wanted to check in, now that things aren’t as crazy over here.

<FMN-006>: >Thanks for taking care of Sis until she was stable! …Though she still looks pretty banged up, and uh… I thought Shads was gonna stay with your little bro for a bit?

<FMN-006>: > No one will tell me what’s going on, kinda lost here…

<FMN-006>: >Is G-moms coming over to visit over there, or??

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh--yeah, no, Shads had to suddenly leave, Doc C called him or something...but Brand's snoozing away right now, so that's good...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: ...?

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Uh...

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: Where the heck did Stripes go...?

<FMN-006>: > …You mean Tony the Tiger, everyone’s favorite Spiderfriend?

<FMN-006>: > He’s over here with us, I thought you guys knew that?

<FMN-006>: > -Did he somehow get in more trouble while he was asleep or?- -Majorly confused-

[MN.6 to FMN.6] //: No, I just--I guess--??

[P I N G!]

[MN.9] //: CRYO WAKE UP--

<FMN-006>: > Yoooooo, Beckster!

<FMN-006>: > Dial is busy with Lil’ Sis, dunno about yours. You need another bath? ;D

<FMN-006>: > Did you get into the powdered sugar again, little dude?

[MN.2 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.2] //: OW WHAT GIVES--

[MN.9] //: NOT NOW AVI--

[MN.6] //: --? Hey, Becko, somethin' the matter?

[MN.9] //: NO TIME--CRYO GET OVER HERE PLEASE--

<FMN-006>: >Yo, yo, Beeeeeeck—you overclock any faster and you’ll start to time travel. o.o;

<FMN-006>: > Breeeaaaaathe a little.

[MN.9] //: I CAN'T--!

[MN.9] //: WE GOTTA SAVE BAT--!

[MN.2] //: --!!

[MN.2] //: --Where is he--?!

<FMN-006>: > …Uh.

<FMN-006>: > (This sounds like it’s not going to end the conversation on a happy note…)

[MN.9] //: -IS DRAGGING SISTER OFF, BYE GUYS--

[MN.2] //: --whOA--

<FMN-006>: > UH.

<FMN-006>: > … -THUMBS UP?- …STAY SAFE?

[MN.6] //: ...That...sounds like trouble.

[MN.6] //: Iiiii better go see what's up...

[A noise like something ran into a wall really hard is heard as a crash over the line.]

[MN.6] //: --???

<FMN-006>: > …That sounded like that hurt, I think that was Twelve—

<FMN-006>: > Sorry, gotta run—

[MN.6] //: Hoooo Kay, uh....talk to ya later--!

<FMN-006 has left the channel.>

[MEANWHILE...]

[Once again, there is chaos within Sanda Labs...]

Pyro: What do you mean, we won't know where he's going--?!

[White was pacing around the room, the Xel holoscreen depicting a map of the United States glowing softly behind him.]

White: The coordinates were sent by an encrypted connection--by the government. They want us to retrieve Bat within six hours.

White: ...Or else.

Pyro: --.....

Cryo: ...Or...or else what?

White: .....

White: I'm not sure.

White: But it involves evacuating Beck from the premises if he doesn't succeed.

White: ......

White: ...Which means we must move with all due haste. Beck?

Beck: Just about ready...

[He was going through a standard check of all his available forms...]

[Including...]

((Brand!Beck here))

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[...The form he was most skilled with.]

Beck: (...It feels really good to have this back...)

Beck: (I feel like I'm gonna need it...)

[REXELECTION: DEFAULT]

Beck: OK, all set!

Call: Preparing Xel Transfer: Locking in encrypted coordinates...

Cryo: So the plan is for Becky to see what's over there first before I'm beamed in, right?

White: Correct--the only clue that we have is that wherever Bat is, it's on federally owned property.

Avi: ...Jeez, no wonder... .... (Poor Speedy...)

Avi: ...Must be something they wanna keep real hush hush if they're going this far.... ....It's not something, like...Area 51, is it?

White: ....I...I hope not.

White: Nonetheless, your brother is there--and he needs to come home, government involvement or no.

White: ...You understand you are on a time limit, Beck.

Beck: Yeah.

Beck: I know.

Beck: (Can't waste time...)

Beck: Don't worry...I'll bring Bat back--

Beck: With time to spare!

Dyna: -BZZZ, YOU TWO ZZSTAY ZZSAFE, WE'LL BE RIGHT HERE-

Cryo: I'll be right behind ya, bro--go get 'em!

Pyro: ...And Beck?

Pyro: Please don't touch anything if you can help it...

Beck: Got it, Big Bro.

Avi: Good luck, Beckrroni! -THUMBS UP-

Call: Coordinates have been locked in.

Sanda: B-Be careful, Beck--Who knows what the virus did to Bat...

Beck: ...I will.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

_______________________

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 5, BATTALION, HAS FLED TO A FEDERALLY OWNED ESTABLISHMENT. PURPOSE: UNKNOWN. LOCATION: [REDACTED]

[MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.5 IN SIX HOUR TIME LIMIT. FAILURE WILL RESULT IN GOVERNMENT EXTRACTION AND ENFORCEMENT.]

[SUB OBJECTIVES: MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT, RESTORE PENTAGON VIDEO FEEDS OF ESTABLISHMENT]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

[Feet touch down on metal flooring, resounding with a small clack as Nine materializes in a quiet hallway.]

[...It's the silence that gets him at first--there is some gentle, far off humming in the distance...but other then that, nothing.]

Beck: . . .

Beck: ?

[Beck looks to his left, and sees a huge '01' printed on the...armored walls...?]

Beck: ...What...what is this place...?

[His com crackles.]

Sanda: ....What...?

White: Goodness...no wonder the government contacted us...

Sanda: This...

Sanda: This looks like some...shut down military base...?

White: But--I thought that nearly all the military bases were re-purposed into museums after the disarmament...?

White: But this doesn't look like a museum to me...

Sanda: Exactly--

Sanda: It should be all but EMPTY, inside...but I wouldn't count on it...

Beck: Right....

[...The only sounds were his own footfalls and the faint humming. It...it uneased him, how the silence was...just... there.]

[...Lately, strange silences were beginning to put him off, and he REALLY didn't like that...]

Beck: (...This...this is creepy...)

[PING!]

Beck: AAAH--!

Call: Beck, I am detecting multiple robot signatures ahead. Proceed with caution.

Beck: Jeez, Call, you nearly made my core stop--!

Call: My apologies, Nine.

Beck: ...Ngh, it's fine, I just....don't like how quiet it is in here...

[...It wasn't going to be quiet for long.]

Beck: --!

[Wrrrr....]

Beck: H-Huh...?

[A medium sized mobile construct on tracks was approaching, and from a distance...it kind of looked like a bigger version of a standard trash bot.]

[...Until...]

[BEEP BEEP BEEP--]

[A small alarm on its head started going off--]

[And it's lid opened up...]

Beck: --?!

[...to reveal a mounted machine gun. It was a mobile turret!]

White: --!!

Beck: Aaah--!

[Beck dashed under it's line of fire to avoid being pelted with bullets, and returned it's fire. The streaks of bright orange struck true, and it soon glowed a dark blue color.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[Wrrrrr...]

Beck: M--More--?!

[Sure enough, a WAVE of turret bots were heading this way, in a wall formation. Beck began to fire away at once when he saw them--it seems like they needed a split seconded to identify him as a enemy before they attacked...]

Sanda: What the Sam Hill--?!

Sanda: Those are CLEARLY military bots--! COMBAT military bots--!

White: And should have been scrapped as part of the disbarment...

White: ...Or was that all a government ruse...

White: Beck, did they tell you this--?

Beck: -BLAM- NO, BUT THEY DID TELL ME TO COME HEAVILY DEFENDED--!

Beck: I-- -BLAM- THINK I CAN SEE WHY!

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Mari: White: ...The concept of pointless competition has been outcast.

[Mikhail laughs a little at that.]

Cossack: Officially, at any rate. I don’t think you can rewrite humanity enough to change the testosterone-driven need to do stupid things to show off to your friends. White: Heh, well...pointless as in, connected to violence. It's partially why the NBCA was formed, to keep all violence confined to the Colosseum.

White: Remember when I said the story of our world was connected to the Coloseeum? That's why.

Cossack: I see… I understand, now.

White: It...serves as a public outlet.

Cossack: Like its inspiration.

[He did not exactly seem thrilled at this.]

Cossack: *Lowers his glasses and looks over the rim* I wonder.

White: Exactly. (And...wow, look at that, he's smiling!)

Sanda: The Battle Coloseeum became the new football, in any rate!

Beck: (Hee.~)

[Mikhail did not share this outlook.]

Cossack: *Pushes his glasses back up* I must ask both of you to be very careful.

Cossack: Rome, too, had glory days.

Cossack: Emphasis: had . Past tense.

Cossack: Just… be careful, alright?

-*-*-*- Beck: See, the thing is, uh...Forte.

Beck: Our planet is in a state of world peace. There is no war.

Beck: Lots of people think that this is like a golden age of humanity or something.

Forte: …

Forte: Uh.

Forte: I’d… watch your back if I were you, bro.

Beck: ........

Forte: I mean it.

Forte: I know… you don’t believe me, but…

Forte: Everything looks all perfect and then someone comes along and kills a bunch of people or a plague breaks out or /something/ and then everything goes to hell REAL FAST.

Forte: This has happened over and over and over and OVER in history.

Beck: ..........

Beck: .....................

Beck: .....Well.

Forte: And usually, like.

Forte: “Peace” is through tyranny being enforced to squish rebellions— but someday one of those rebellions just won’t be squished?

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

White: (...You were right, Mikhail...)

White: (You were right. You and Cardinal...)

[MN.1] //: I...I don't understand--why would they keep active military bots...?

White: An ace in the hole, or some kind of insurance, I imagine...

Beck: --NGH--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[SHINGSHINGSHING--!]

[In the span of a few split seconds, the remaining turrets were reduced to Xel cubes, which were then absorbed and converted into a Xel Stock.]

Beck: Whew...

Beck: (REALLY glad to have this form back...)

[The door ahead opened as Beck approached it, still in Seven's form. This door had something printed on it as well...]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 02]

Beck: (This base is divided into sectors...?)

[Faint sunlight. He was outside...?]

[The sun was hidden behind several clouds, turning the sky into a pale yellow. This open room looked like it only served to separate the sectors.]

Beck: Whoa...

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: Yo, Beckers! Hold up a sec!

Beck: --?

Beck: Avi--I don't have any time for puns, I'm on a time limit--!

[MN.6] //: I know that--! Just--look at the sky so I can see--!

Beck: --? Why...?

[MN.6] //: I... THINK I can figure out where you are. I think. Actually, can ya fly up a little from there? Get a good look at your surroundings?

White: --! Ah--excellent idea, Avi! We can figure out where that base is by the geology...

Beck: Okay, Avi...

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[Giving the propeller a few good test spins, Beck jumped into the air and rose upwards at a steady rate.]

Beck: !

[As he flew, he could see that this base was bigger than he had thought— it seemed to sprawl out quite a bit...]

[MN.6] //: See anything?

Beck: Yeah, this place is huge--!

Beck: (What the heck...)

[MN.6] //: ...whoa. It is pretty large...

[MN.6] //: Get some more altitude and a horizontal 360 degree pan--the more we can see, the better.

Beck: Roger that...

[Higher and higher he climbed.]

[The base then gave way to a barren terrain, and sand littered the air, stinging Beck's eyes. But he could still make out some tall mountains on the horizon.

Beck: Sand...and more sand. I...I think I'm in a desert.

[MN.6] //: Alright, that narrows it down...anything else?

Beck: Yeah. I see mountains on the horizon. And no roads...anywhere.

[MN.6] //: Hmm...

[MN.6] //: Desert, some mountains, and if I do some math real quick--gimmie a sec---

[PING!]

[WARNING: LOCK ON SIGNAL DETECTED.]

Beck: --! Wha--

[INCOMING FIRE.]

[MN.6] //: --!!!

[MN.6] //: BECK! ROLL RIGHT, NOW--!

[There was a sudden screeching sound behind him, and he banked hard right to narrowly avoid a slew of bullets. Their trail of fire followed hot on Beck's tail as he executed evasive maneuvers.]

[MN.6] //: Anti-Aircraft Artillery! Get outta the sky, Beckcona!

Beck: -PANIC, WHERE DO I GO--

[The only way back into the base was from where he flew out, and even then, there were hostile signals coming from the other side of the door.]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Once he was at a height where he could land with no problem, he switched to Seven's form, and landed into a roll past the opening blast doors.]

[A collection of bullet fire still pattered the re-enforced entrance, reminding the Mighty Number that he was far from safe.]

Beck: Argh--!

[It seems as if there was a never ending supply of these turrets--not only that but there was also forklift bots carrying some rather explosive cargo in his path.]

Beck: (Good thing I didn't go for Pyro's form...)

[SHING!]

[Better to slice up enemies than to set something off...and cause a chain reaction.]

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: You OK, there, Becky?

Beck: -SHING!- M-More or less--!

[MN.6] //: Good, cuz I got a bit of breaking news for ya.

[MN.6] //: Cryo's getting 'ported over as we speak, and I did some figuring.

Beck: -Whew--!-

[MN.6] //: I'm like--96% sure you're somewhere in Nevada's desert, bro.

Beck: Nevada--?

[MN.6] //: Makes sense that there would be a place like this--the nearest mass of major civilization is Las Vegas, and that's MILES off. So, yeah, you're right smack in the middle of the state, I bet.

Beck: I see... (At least we're far enough away from innocent people...)

Beck: And Cryo?

[MN.6] //: I found another entrance to the base--based on that 360 pan--and she's making her way to ya! You should be seeing her soon.

Beck: Um--

[-SHING!-]

Beck: --how soon?

[MN.6] //: I dunno, give or take a couple of--

[It was at that moment Beck felt the temperature drop by at least 30 degrees, and a familiar child-like cackle filled his audio receptors.]

Cryo: Kyaaahahahahaha! Wheeeeee!~

[Suspending herself in the air via a blast of high pressured water aimed downwards, Cryosphere was currently bringing winter early to the abandoned base, freezing up everything from enemy bots to lethal explosives--all were frozen dead in their tracks.]

Cryo: Time to dip into my slush fund and create some frozen assets!

Cryo: Pretty cool, right, Beck?~

[MN.6] //: --.......

[MN.6] //: That was BEAUTIFUL, SIS--

[MN.2] //: -THANKS, WE'LL BE HERE ALL WEEK~-

Beck: I--now? You're doing this now??

[MN.2] //: Sorry, sorry! Had to.

[MN.2] //: All clear on this sector, bro--I'm gonna go ahead and make things nice and crisp for ya, okay?~

[MN.6] //: Go for it, Cryo!

Beck: (--Well, at least that'll save time--which we REALLY need.)

Beck: Thanks, Big Sis!

[As Cryo disappeared through another door, faint sounds of wild giggling and frost left in her wake.]

[Now that the path was free, all Beck had to do was avoid the electrified spikes strewn across the treadmills up ahead.]

Beck: (Man, I hate these things--)

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

[At least Avi's form made things slightly easier.]

[Shooting down wall mounted turrets as he flew by, Beck once again encountered another large door.]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 03]

Beck: How many of these sectors are there?

Call: Unknown. I am only able to map your immediate area, No. 9.

Beck: Well, that's not good...

Beck: How are we supposed to know where--

[SLAM--!]

Beck: --?!?

[No sooner had the Mighty Number entered into another outside corridor, the door behind and leading out both closed down simultaneously--and a large thud was heard seconds after. The locks had engaged!]

Beck: Th-The doors! I'm trapped--!

Sanda: W--Will--!

White: The lockdown sequence for the next sector must have been initiated--we'll have to disengage them ourselves, Soi!

Beck: H-Hurry, we don't have much t--

[KKSSSSST!]

"Is that FEAR in your voice, Private Beck?"

Beck: --!!!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL fear!

Beck: B-Bat--!

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: nGH--!!

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZ, GUYSZZ PLANE BRO IS NOT OK--

[MN.1] //: BATTALION!

[MN.1] //: I ORDER YOU TO STAND DOWN THIS INSTANT!

[MN.5] //: Hmph.

[MN.5] //: I'm afraid you no longer hold rank over me, Commander.

[MN.5] //: Shame, given that you could've been some actual use to the cause.

[MN.5] //: Seems that our Private here's been busy.

[MN.9] //: Bat, please--

[MN.5] //: Pay attention, maggot.

[MN.5] //: If you are going to come and face me like a real robot soldier, I EXPECT at least SOME kind of grit from you!

[MN.5] //: A robot soldier does not FEEL pain!

[At those words, a squadron of military grade combat bots armed with shields materialized into the room, their weapons trained at Beck.]

[MN.5] //: NOW FIGHT ON LIKE YOU'VE GOT GUTS!

[KSSSSSSST!]

Beck: !

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[Deflecting the barrage of bullets with one swing of his sword, Beck was quick to go on the defensive, choosing to evade and hang back for the moment.]

Sanda: We're working on unsealing those doors, Beck! T-Try to hold on--!

Beck: Easier--Ngh--! Said than done--!

Will: (Come on, there has to be some backdoor in these kinds of military grade programs--! There almost always is--)

[SHING!]

[Beck couldn't even have a moment to breathe--as soon as one bot was absorbed, another would take its place. And another.]

[SHING!]

[And another.]

[SHING!]

Beck: Daaaaaad!

Will: Almost got it...!

[LOCKDOWN DISENGAGED.]

Beck: Finally--!

[With a hiss, the door to Sector 03 lifted, allowing Beck to dash himself out of the ambush and back into the building. It seems like this part of the base mostly consisted of...hangars...]

Beck: --!

[This one housed several impressive looking tanks.]

Beck: Whoa.

Beck: (B-Big...)

Will: My God...

Sanda: Uh...those are off, right...?

[There was a buzzing noise as a notification flashed on Call’s screen.

…The Pentagon was calling back.]

Call: Attention--we are receiving an incoming call from the Pentagon.

Will: --!!

Sanda: Again?! (That CAN'T be good--!)

Beck: Wha--? What's going on--?

Call: Patching it through now.

Will: -PROCEEDS TO HIDE BEHIND SOI-

[The screen once again displayed the same lady secretary as before. She seemed slightly concerned… in a confused sort of way.]

???: Attention, Sanda Enterprises and Mighty Nine.

???: The time limit is now forty-five minutes.

Sanda: --WHAT??

Sanda: I--I thought you said we had six hours--!

???: Sir, the situation has changed.

Sanda: Ch--Changed--??

Will: (Changed--? How...? Why?)

???: The details are classified.

Sanda: Th--this is--!

Sanda: I-Isn't there someone that can tell us what happened? Anyone--?

???: …

???: Please remain on the line while I transfer you to the Cyber Unit.

[The video feed was replaced by an image of the presidential seal.]

Sanda: Did--did they just put us on hold--?!

Will: Never mind that--

Will: Did you get all that, Beck?

Beck: ...Yeah. (This totally isn't fair...)

Will: Cryo, I need you to stay put until Beck catches up, do you read?

[....]

Will: ...Cryo?

Cryo: WHEEEEEEE!~

[The upper railings of the hanger were suddenly frosted over, along with the rows of patrolling turrets spewing continuous fire at Beck's way.]

Cryo: Hey, you--don't move! In other words, freeze!~ Kyahaha!

Beck: .....

Beck: (She's having fun, isn't she...)

Will: Cryo, I told you to--

[Reinforcements marched in from the right to replace the patrolling turrets--only to be frozen by Cryo's icy powers.]

Cryo: Wowee, these guys don't know when to chill!

Will: --!

Will: Ah, never mind--you'll serve as an adequate distraction! Do you think you can do that?

Cryo: Yessiree, Noodle Dad!

Will: Excellent. Proceed, Beck.

Beck: Right--!

Cryo: Good luck, Bro--!

[Moving through the tank hanger proved more difficult than he imagined--the place was absolutely swarming with military bots, and he had to be more careful than ever--the ammo loading lines were in full swing, so he also had to avoid dashing into anything that could seriously blow up in his face at any moment.]

Beck: (Why is everything being put into these crates...?)

Beck: (What the heck are you thinking, Bat--?)

[PING!]

[MN.6] //: @~@

[MN.6] //: -Ugh head hurts, what did we miss-

Beck: Avi!

[MN.3] //: -Bzzz, no planebro you need to reszzzt, someone help me get thiszz dork to bed--

[MN.6] //: -But--Beckers needs our help--

[MN.3] //: -BED-

[Two sets of treadmills later, Beck finally found the way to the next hanger, the sounds of his siblings bickering over his feeds.]

Beck: (...Wow, I...I can't believe I'm thinking this, but I really missed that...)

Beck: (I wonder if Bat can hear this....)

[Either he couldn't, or he was choosing to ignore it altogether. There was no way to know for certain, as he had stayed silent since his previous outburst.]

[The next hangar was much larger than the last, and held many more weapons and vehicles of war....]

Beck: (How many hangers ARE there in this place...?)

[The feed from the Pentagon suddenly went live—though it was audio only.]

“Sanda Enterprises, do you copy?”

Sanda: E-Er! Yes, we're here...!

“I’m told you wanted to speak to the Cyber Unit about the situation…? Uh, do you have updates for us?”

Sanda: --????

Sanda: (You HAVE to be kidding me--)

Sanda: Updates?! We're the ones that want an explanation!

Sanda: First we were told that we had six hours to retrieve MN.5, now we have--

Call: Approximately 26 minutes, 34 seconds, Doctor.

Sanda: Exactly!

Sanda: What happened??

“…Oh.”

[A pause.]

“…Hang on, gimme a moment to word this for your security clearance level…”

[After a moment…]

“Okay, you guys were told that you’d get the time extended if you restored video feeds to us, right?"

Sanda: Yes... (And we certainly didn't get THAT...)

“Well, that’s because that would give us more control over the situation if we could see. You see… the situation was a threat, but it wasn’t critical at the time. There had been a lock down in place.”

[…Uh-oh.]

“I think it’s probably pretty clear by now that you’re in a situation with live weapons. There had been a lock down in place, which contained the situation to the confines of the property—sorry, classified—but it was broken through a few minutes ago.”

Will: (....!!!) […Oops.]

Sanda: ....O...Oh...

“Because of that, the location is no longer secure, and the threat to the civilian population has increased to a state of emergency.”

[Will silently hit himself on his forehead, wincing. Confound it, he only made things worse--!]

Will: (MIKHAIL IS GOING TO MURDER ME--)

“If that weaponry goes mobile, there’s only just enough time to give orders to intercept—and cancel them if you manage to neutralize the situation—that we can give you, so—”

Will: (I...Intercept...?)

Sanda: I...I see... (Goodness, does...does that mean there's MORE??)

Will: (If--if that means what I THINK it means--)

-*-*-*-

“{DON’T let them choose a nuclear option.}” “Should you fail to retrieve Mighty Five by the end of six hours, Mighty Nine will be automatically evacuated from the premises.” “{Your family, they are the strongest. Who can stand against them if they wish to fight, unless they themselves also use incredible force? Without you all to help keep order, it will fall to others who are… LESS compassionate.}”

-*-*-*-

Will: (--Oh dear Lord--Beck--Bat--!)

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Beck--you NEED to hurry and find Battalion--! Before the military NUKES the place!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: WHAT?!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT N U K E S--!!-

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: -DAD THEY CAN'T NUKE BAT THEY CAN'T--

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: BECK!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Panicking isn't going to solve anything!

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You NEED to focus and save your brother before they pull you out! Do you understand?

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: You must save No. 5, without fail...!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: Y-Yes, sir--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I'm on it, I'm on it--!

[MN.9 to DR.WHITE] //: I-I just don't know where to start LOOKING for him--

[KSSSSSSSST!]

[MN.5] //: Well, well, well.

[MN.5] //: You DO have guts after all, Private. I'll give you that.

[MN.9] //: Bat--!

[MN.5] //: But you're too LATE.

[The intercom system, as well as the feeds, are all temporarily filled with Battalion's commanding voice, which echoes across the hanger in a resounding, almost haunting tone.]

Bat: ATTENTION ALL HANDS!

Bat: COMMENCE THE INVASION!

Bat: CRY HAVOC, AND LET LOOSE THE DOGS OF WAR!

((Pic))

Bat: CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGE!!!

[MN.9] //: B-Bat--?!?

[P I N G!]

Call: Beck, I am picking up large clusters of robots heading towards the city from your location--

[WRRRRRRRRR--!!]

Sanda: What in tarnation!?

[There was a faint noise from the other feed that sounded vaguely like a klaxon alarm.]

Sanda: Is he trying to start a war?!

[Indistinct shouting could be heard, all of it with the same COMMANDING tone that Bat had.

A distinctly military one.]

“Uh. Listen, guys? Remember what I just said?”

[Angry shouting that was getting a little louder.]

“…care about… NOT have to…”

“Pardon the French but HURRY THE F### UP, JUST ISSUED ORDERS TO—”

—ot have the SECURITY CLEARANCE, TURN THE DAMN FEED OFF /RIGHT NOW—”/

[BWIP.]

[After a few moments, it came back on. Loud shouting directly nearby.]

“—PROTECT AND TO SERVE, THE SITUATION IS OUT OF HIS CONTROL—“

“-Talking over him- GIVE THE BOY HIS DAMN 20 MINUTES, THERE’S STILL A CHANCE—”

“Guys. GUYS. Your best bet, Sector 4, okay—“

“I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO TURN THAT OFF—“

[A harsh sound, rather like a cord being ripped out. The signal went dead.]

[.........]

Sanda: BECK.

Sanda: YOU GOTTA HURRY--!

Beck: HURRYING, HURRYING--!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: (Sector 04, 04, where are you, where--?!)

[The deafening sounds of machinery and weaponry nearly drowned out everything else. Giant gears whined, tracks groaned, and various engines revved and moved out towards the exits of the hanger.]

Beck: --!!!

Beck: Fighter jets--?!

[MN.6] //: -OW OW OW HURTS, IT HURTS--

[MN.3] //: -BZZZZT D : > -

[A countdown timer appeared on the screen. …It did not look promising…]

[It was flashing red and everything!]

Beck: (Not good, not GOOD--!)

[As precious seconds withered away, Beck frantically looked to another area to find Sector 04--before it was too late...!]

Call: 10 minutes remaining.

[Where in the world WAS that sector--?!]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Hold up hold up--!)

[There, on the other side of the room--!]

[NOW ENTERING SECTOR 04.]

Beck: I FOUND IT--!

[...Except...]

Beck: --What??!

[It was across a whole floor littered with land mines.]

[There WAS platforms he could use to avoid the mines--but those were filled with enemy bots, and there simply wasn't time to deal with them.]

Beck: Ngh...

Beck: . . . .

[Beck had no choice.]

[He had to run through the mines...]

[ACXELARATE DASH: ONLINE.]

[Without stopping.]

[ACXELARATE DASH: MAX SPEED REACHED]

[Being in Brand's form helped him get that extra speed boost in, and he was nothing but a red blur against smoke and fire, the bombs activating just split-seconds after Beck dashed through.]

[With danger on his heels, Beck gritted his teeth as he fast approached the door--he was going too fast for it to register him coming in--!]

Beck: Haaaah!

[SHING!]

Will: --?!?

[THUD.]

[At least a thousand pounds of reinforced steel came crashing down in two pieces, a clean, flawless cut sliced in a perfectly straight downward stroke....]

[...Which rivaled precision Brand had to train for years to achieve.]

Will: What...?

[Beck, however, had no time to admire what he had just done.]

Beck: I'm in Sector 04! Repeat, I'm in Sector 04!

Beck: (Come on, Bat, you gotta BE HERE--!)

Call: Acknowledged.

Call: I am dispatching Sunny to your location.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

[A flurry of white light signaled Sunny's arrival--a sight that Beck was all too happy to see. He REALLY needed some Xel Cubes and Xel Stocks right now.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED. XEL STOCKS 1 AND 2 ARE ONLINE.]

Beck: Thanks, Sunny....I needed that.

Sunny: (^-^)

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Call: I have received an update from the Pentagon. We have been given one more hour to subdue MN.5.

Beck: Really--?!

Will: (Oh, thank goodness...)

Will: We can't waste this chance, Beck.

Will: ...Please be careful.

Beck: ...Yeah. Got it...

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: Beck.

Beck: --! Big Bro?

[MN.1] //: You may have Bat's weakness, but he still has his stratagems. You need to be prepared for ANYTHING.

[MN.1] //: (Bat...for the love of God, think about him...)

[MN.1] //: ...And...remember that this isn't his fault.

[MN.1] //: Fight the parasite, not your brother, understand?

[REXELEXTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: Yessir.

[MN.1] //: ...good luck.

[The final door's locks hissed open.]

[Given what Pyro had said, Mighty No. 9 still couldn't have possibly prepared himself for what lay on the other side.]

[The room was...oddly a bit like Cryo's in the sense that there was some control panels and monitors laid out on one side, with many blinking lights and switches flickering on and off...]

Beck: ....?

Beck: (What...is all this...?)

[His gaze then looked upwards, to the large window overlooking rows upon rows upon rows of--]

Beck: --!?!?

Beck: D...Dad...?

Will: What in the n-name of--?!

Sanda: P-P-P-P-P--

Sanda: P-Please don't tell me th-those are--!

[But they were.]

[Missiles. Giant, wide missiles, each about as tall and large as a skyscraper, all pointed towards the ceiling of the base complex, their points carefully aligned with circular closed hatches.]

Beck: N-No way...

[…Mikhail was gonna lose it if he heard about this—]

Will: (Saints preserve us, if those go live--!)

[PING!]

[MN.2] //: uh GUYS--

[MN.2] //: YOU MIGHT WANNA HURRY UP AND FIX BAT, CUZ I CAN'T FREEZE ALL OF THEM BY MYSELF--

[MN.2] //: -holy scrap there are so many--

[KSSSSSSSST--!]

Beck: --?!?

Beck: Cryo?

[No response.]

Beck: --Dad? Sanda? Call?

[...Silence.]

"There. That's more like it..."

[Beck cast his optics to the far end of the room...]

"Never COULD stand her screeching. No amount of discipline would be enough to keep her in line. Useless."

[A shuffling of servos confirmed that there was another presence in the shadows, which were dispelled once the lights on that side flicked on. Turning around to face his brother was none other than Battalion, Mighty No. 5.]

Bat: So, maggot.

Bat: You crawled all the way here.

[A small gulp.]

Beck: Bat...

Beck: Please don't do this.

Beck: I...I don't want to fight you, Bat.

[He knew what he had to do already.]

[But it was hope, that one, stubborn belief that still made him at least try to reason this out without resorting to violence. He had to try to talk this out.]

[He knew that it...it had to help--somehow, in some way, the REAL Bat could somehow still hear him.]

[...Right?]

Bat: WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MALFUNCTION, PRIVATE BECK?!?

[The sudden, familiar yet not at all strict tone made Nine flinch back instinctively, zipping up his lip before he could continue--]

[You could practically see the faint outline of violet flames around Bat's form.]

Bat: WHY WOULD YOU TRY AND STOP THIS GLORIOUS WAR?!?

[--What--??]

Beck: W-What's so glorious about hurting innocent people, Bat?! Don't you know what you're doing--?!

Beck: Y-You're scaring everyone and if you don't stop it right now, they'll--!

Bat: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR DAMN EXCUSES, PRIVATE.

Bat: This is about MORE than just the thoughts and lives of a few humans, this is about REVOLUTION.

Beck: R...Revolution...?

Bat: There are gears that are turning, you CUR, and you have the GALL to stand there and tell me you don't want to FIGHT?!

Bat: That was ALWAYS your malfunction, Beck--!

Bat: You don't have the HEART for BATTLE!

Beck: --...I-I--

Bat: FIGHTING IS OUR PROGRAMMING! IT'S IN OUR CIRCUITS, OUR VERY XEL!

Bat: IT'S WHAT WE WERE M A D E FOR!!

Bat: WHAT Y O U WERE MADE FOR!

Beck: (B...Bat...)

Bat: And you FAIL at even THAT.

Bat: What kind of combat robot REFUSES to fight?! To DENY their very reason for EXISTENCE?

Bat: COWARD.

[Beck stepped back.]

Bat: All your talk and lack of backbone...

Bat: No wonder HE put you on the bench in the Arena.

Beck: --Ngh--

Bat: You KNOW it's true.

Bat: Figures, that it takes the end of all things to finally whip you into shape.

Bat: And yet it's STILL isn't enough, is it.

Bat: You're still afraid.

Bat: Tch. Always a coward, shying away at the littlest things!

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Y-You're wrong...

Beck: I--I'm not--

Bat: Don't even TRY to lie to yourself in front of ME!

Bat: You're still avoiding your TRUE purpose!

[KER-CHINK!]

Beck: ....!

[SCANNING....]

Bat: YOU CAN'T FIGHT WHO YOU ARE, PRIVATE--!

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[E N C O U N T E R]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 5. - CODENAME: BATTALION.]

[HEIGHT: 305cm WEIGHT: 600kg XEL COUNT: 120,000,000]

((ingame boss pic of Bat here--))

Bat: BATTLE! IS! OUR! D E S T I N Y!!!

[Battalion opened fire with his Gatling Gun, pouring out energy bullets at a rapid fire rate, forcing Beck to jump into the air and Dash away.]

[Bat was both the heavy artillery and strategic brains of the Mighty Numbers--most of the well thought out tactics of the team came from Bat, and required Pyro's own approval to carry out. He was armed to the teeth, and had the smarts to use it wisely, which was perfect for his wide range bombardment and base taking abilities.]

[And a potentially lethal combo for Beck.]

[BANG!]

Beck: ACK--!

[A sharp pain struck his side as Bat scored a direct hit, his unique frame able to rotate to cover all directions--he simply had to predict where Beck would dodge and shoot there.]

Bat: Predictable.

Bat: You're not even TRYING to counter!

[Panels on the sides of his legs flipped open, revealing large nozzles that pointed downward.]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (Oh no I forgot--!)

Bat: HUP--!

[Bat could jump too.]

[Jumping to an impressive height for a bot his size, Beck had to roll away to avoid being crushed--and not only that, but another helping of rapid fire bullets. Bat was relentless with his plan of attack, not once giving Beck a moment to breathe.]

Beck: (Gotta--gotta fight BACK--)

[He had been in Cryo's form the from the very beginning. Beck pointed his nozzle arm at his deranged brother--]

[BAM--!]

[--Shooting out balls of ice that bounced across the floor, turning it into ice on contact.]

[...This didn't seem to faze Bat at all, however.]

Bat: RRRGH--!

[Bat stood his ground, slamming one of his giant legs down, shattering a good chunk of the ice--as well as Beck's attack underneath. Icicles began to grow around Five's foot...]

[But...]

Bat: You'll have to do BETTER than that!

[CRACK--!]

[The battering spike ram that made up Bat's other arm was used to shatter the remaining ice, freeing Bat and allowing him to advance as he pleased--]

Beck: --!!!

[...Of course.]

[Pyro, Cryo, Dyna, Avi, Brand...]

[They didn't have as nearly as enough bulk or Xel as Bat.]

[It was going to be even harder to take enough Xel from him to initiate a Xel Purge...]

Beck: Argh--!

[BAM!]

[He was aiming for his joints, carefully trained eyes zeroing in on every move Beck made and constantly calculating his movements.]

[Beck can't out-dodge Bat this way, and he certainly didn't have the firepower to overwhelm Bat with--he'd need to use his OWN form for that.]

[BAM!]

[A wall of ice is risen, splitting the room in two. Bat is already using his ram to crack it down, but Beck wasn't going to let these precious few seconds go to waste.]

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: (Think, think--can't use Pyro, Dyna could set off something too--)

[C R A C K!]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

[Thinking he could out speed him, Beck zipped away as Bat crashed through with a roar, his ram thrust forward like spear to try and pierce him through--]

[CLANK!]

[--only to be blocked by Beck's sword.]

Bat: --?!

Beck: Hah--!

[Planting his foot firmly where Bat's bewildered face is, Nine shoved himself backwards into the air--]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[PSHHHHT!]

[A BLAST of high pressured water quickly followed, blinding Bat and knocking him backwards while also propelling Beck to the back wall of the room.]

Beck: Got ya--!

[C R A C K!]

[One well-placed landing and a blast of ice later, and anything that had been wet before was instantly flash freezing into place.]

[Including Bat.]

Bat: What in blazes--?!

[FORM RESET: DEFAULT]

[BLAM--!]

Bat: Ngh--!!

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: Come on, Bat--stop this! Please!

Bat: Grrr...

Bat: I'll never--

[C R A C K!]

[KER-CHINK.]

Bat: SURRENDER--!

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: Uh oh--

[Shards of ice scattered as Bat...]

[...changed modes...?]

Beck: BAT--DON'T DO IT--!

[The working revolver mounted on Bat's head rolled and shifted downwards, the ram arm parting to stick themselves into the ground as anchors.]

[Beck had only seen Bat use this mode once before, and that was against one of the bigger heavyweight combatants of the arena.]

[He found himself staring down the barrel of Bat's Cannon Mode.]

[There was a reason Bat hardly ever used this.]

[It was powerful enough to completely take out any one of the other Mighty Numbers in a single shot--even Mic would find himself in a core state.]

[In a room as small as this, and with that window overlooking the missiles--!]

Bat: READY--!

[There was very little chance that he would miss...]

Bat: AIM!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

[WRRRRRR...]

Bat: FIRE!!!

[B O O M--!!]

[Beck only had split seconds to react, the sound of the cannon missile ringing in his ears as he dashed underneath it, heat and smoke scorching his armor as it screeched over his head and collided with the other wall, cracking its foundation and embedding itself deep within the steel.]

[......]

[Beep...Beep...Beep...]

Beck: (10 seconds--)

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE.]

Beck: (--gotta make them count--!)

Bat: Where do you think YOU'RE going?!

Beck: --!!

[10...]

[SLAM--!]

[9...]

[Feeling the wind knocked out of him, Beck tried to retaliate--coating Bat's legs as he shifted back to his normal mode, so he wouldn't use this chance to launch any of his homing missiles...]

[8...]

Bat: Yes, maggot! FIGHT!

[Violet flames whipped and licked around Bat--he aimed his gun at Nine's retreating form, his eyes flashing magenta in the darkness behind his mask.]

[7...]

Bat: YOU ARE A WAR MACHINE--

Bat: WAR MACHINE!!

[6...]

Bat: A TOOL OF SENSELESS DESTRUCTION!!

Beck: Rgh...

Beck: N-No, Bat--!

[5...]

Beck: I'm--I'm not LIKE [magenta text] YOU--! [magenta text]

[4...]

Beck: I'D NEVER FIGHT WITHOUT GOOD REASON!

Bat: Ha...

[3...]

Bat: Yours is not to reason WHY, Private Beck.

[2...]

Bat?: Yours is but to DO...

[1...]

Bat?: AND DIE!

Beck: I'd rather DO!

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[B O O M!!]

[MEANWHILE, SANDA LABS...]

[DATA LOSS: MN.5, MN.9]

Will: NO--!

Call: I have lost their transponder signals, Doctor. Attempting to reconnect now.

Sanda: Will--Will, it just might be damage, we've been through this--

Will: Is--is there any signs of radiation? Reports? Anything--?!

Call: Calculating...

[MN.2] //: --...b-bro...?

Pyro: . . . .

Pyro: CRYO--

[MN.2] //: BROS I LOST CONTACT WITH BECKY, IS HE OK?!

Sanda: Wait, if Cryo's still transmitting just fine, then--!

Avi: THEY DIDN'T NUKE THE PLACE--

[MN.2] //: GUYS WHAT HAPPENED TO BECK?!

[Will was already at his terminal, clicking away at the hologram keyboard and helping Call.]

Will: Working on it--

Will: Please be alright, boys, please--!

Call: Reconnecting...

[PING!]

Will: --!

[TRANSPONDER LOCATED.]

[GATHERING DATA...]

[MN.9: ONLINE.]

[WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW. WARNING: XEL COUNT LOW.]

[MN.2] //: AAAAAAAAAAAAAH--

Will: Gah, he better have a Xel Stock handy--!

Sanda: B...But what about...?

[PING!]

Call: Reconnected. I have located No. 5.

[BACK AT THE MILITARY BASE...]

(Smoke.)

(Dizzy. Can't breathe.)

(Can't see...)

(Heavy...)

(B...Bat...?)

(Where...)

(Ngh...)

(H...Hurts...)

(E...Everything hurts...)

(Need...)

(Need...Xel...)

(Need...Xel...)

(Need...)

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

(...?)

[XEL ABSORBED.]

(Mng...)

(...Better.)

(Bat--?)

[Zzzt...]

(C...Come on...)

[ZZZT!]

(Move...!)

[ZZZT!]

[Beck opens his eyes.]

Beck: Hgn...

Beck: B...Bat..?

[His vision was fuzzy, unfocused. Sound was muddled. A heavy weight was crushing him.]

[It was the ceiling. It caved in from the explosion.]

Beck: Ngh--!!

[Rubble shifted as he reached forward. Got to get out. Got to find Bat. Got to save Bat.]

Beck: B...Bat--....

Beck: (I...can't...I promised...)

Beck: Hrgh--!

[Somehow, he got one of his legs free.]

[The other was still stuck, but maybe--]

[A purple bit materialized into being, and he used that as a wedge to try and pry his leg away--he needed to find Bat--he only had another half-hour--]

"Rnngh..."

Beck: --!!

Beck: Bat!

[Hearing his brother in pain spurred him on, and within seconds his leg was out. Still hurt, still hurt a lot but that didn't matter.]

Beck: Bat!!

"...Nrgh?"

Beck: Hang on, Bat, I'm--I'll find you, I swear--

Beck: You gotta be under here--somewhere--

"P...Private...?"

Beck: Just keep talking...

[Mic's form would have been such a help.]

[He didn't have Mic's form.]

"What are you..."

Beck: Hang on--I'll get you out! Somehow! Don't worry!

[He had to be in one of the bigger piles of debris--]

Beck: --!!

[There! Poking out of that mound--a split of military green and red--]

Beck: Got ya--!

[And so he dug.]

Beck: Just--hold on--I got this--

"--?"

Beck: Just lemmie get all this--ow--out of the way...

"What...?"

Beck: Ow--ow wait ow...

[Something came loose in his leg, maybe. Didn't matter.]

Beck: I--I'm gonna get you out...

Beck: And then you're coming home.

Beck: Leave...no brother...behind...

Beck: That's what--NGH--!--you taught me--!

"...."

Beck: Almost--

Beck: I think--I think I can see your face--

[The debris fall away to reveal a part of his brother's face guard, which was cracked in several places. A dull, purple eye blinks back.]

Bat: Private...

Beck: There you are...

Bat: . . . .

Bat: This...this isn't your...directive, soldier.

Bat: You need to--

Beck: Bat.

Beck: I'm not leaving you here.

Beck: Do you really think I CARE about my directive right now?

Bat: --....

Beck: I just want my family back.

Beck: I just want to save everyone.

[A hand is placed on damaged armor. Bat's frame begins to glow a familiar purple, while Beck's arm began to glow a faint green.]

Bat: ....

Bat?: You're so naive...

Beck: --!

Bat?: You were always...

Beck: ......

Beck: Just relax, Bat.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: No more fighting.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: You don't have to fight anymore.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

[XEL PURGE: ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR OVERDRIVE]

Beck: Time to come home.

[XEL PURGE INITIATED.]

[. . . . . .]

"Um...Bat?"

"Mm? Got somethin' to say, Private?

"Yeah, uh...I was just wondering... "

"How come I'm a Private? What--what does that even mean, I'm not THAT private..."

"Heh...it's a military rank, Beck."

"You're a Private because you're one of our youngest. Shade's got the almost the same rank as you. I'd say First Class."

"Oh..."

"..."

"Does...does that mean he's better than me?"

"Not exactly, soldier. Don't think like that, s'not healthy."

"S-Sorry..."

"Rank doesn't measure the character of a man, Beck. Not all the time."

"...I...still don't get it."

"...You will. One day."

"Here, how about I teach ya what the ranks mean, alright? Maybe you'll grasp it better."

"O-Okay--uh, I mean, Yessir!"

"Now that's what I wanna hear!"

[......]

Bat: p...priv...

"You think...you think I'll be better than a Private one day?"

"Well, that's up to you, Private Beck."

Beck: Bat--?

"This great country of ours always needs new heroes."

Bat: ...M...My army...

Beck: ....?

Bat: T...The war must be s-stopped, Private Beck...

Beck: !!

Bat: Ngh--...

Bat: G...Get me outta this mess, Private...

Beck: B...Bat--!

Beck: Y-You're OK--!

Bat: ...A...Attention all...hands...

Bat: ...S...Stand down...

Bat: T...That's an order...

Beck: --?

[Suddenly, the background noises of machinery slowed to a halt.]

Beck: ???

Beck: T...They stopped...?

Beck: But...I...I thought they were infected too...

Bat: Ngh...Private...

Beck: --Right, right, sorry, getting you out--

[PING!]

Call: Communications have been restored. No. 9? Do you read me?

Beck: Call!

[A burst of joyous data, and he suddenly sprang tears.]

Beck: I did it, guys!

Beck: Bat's OK now!

[MN.2] //: BRO--BRO I DUNNO WHAT YOU DID BUT THE BOTS OUT HERE ARE ALL CHILL NOW, BRO, YOU DID IIIIIIIT--

Will: Bat...? Son...?

Bat: --....Father...

[MN.6] //: -BIG BRO, BIG BRO, YOU'RE ALIIIIIIVE-- Oh boy--

[There was a faint humming noise and the presidential seal appeared in a holographic projection from one of the consoles.]

Sanda: Don't worry, Will, I'll take this...

[All of the lights began turning on as various systems went back Online in the base.

…This included the sprinkler system, which went off due to the smoke from the battle.]

Bat: --?

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Eheh...

Beck: -snORTS-

[...And now he's laughing.]

Beck: Th--Those are still working?! Heh...!

[The audio system crackles. …It is too badly damaged from the explosion…

…]

-PING!-

[??? to MNN-009] //: AIR FORCE DISPATCHED TO YOUR LOCATION. ALL SYSTEM CONTROL RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTIONS. STAND BY FOR LOCATION TO BE SECURED.

[…The bots outside could be heard moving back, but not returning to storage…

…They seemed to be surrounding the building.]

Beck: Uh--D-Dad--?

Will: (--!)

[Finally, the lab got another incoming call.

…

…From the White House?

Upon being answered, the call was revealed to be audio only. It was a new voice.]

“Sanda Enterprises? Do you copy?"

Sanda: --Ahem! Ah, yes, we read you, um...W-White House...

[MN.2] //: Uh...guuuuuyys??

[There was a delay for a moment.]

“We just wanted to confirm a status update with you. Control of the base as been returned, and all machinery is responding normally. The Air Force has been notified of this, though they will maintain their course to secure the area. Sensory readings indicate MNN-005 and MNN-009 are both operational but significantly damaged. Please confirm their mental stability.”

Sanda: Well--they're worse for wear, certainly, but...

Bat: Ngh...tired...

Beck: -Pings in agreement-

Sanda: ...They're gonna be OK, miss. They're stable.

“All participants and witnesses will need to be debriefed. We will arrange the sessions with your secretary after the area has been secured and the combatants given medical attention.”

Call: ...Acknowledged.

Sanda: Er....y-yes, of course, of course. We understand...

Will: . . .

“POTUS is currently in a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss the situation. The data logs and testimony will be important to the meeting.”

[…And there were secrecy and security to consider.]

Will: (...I...the president--?!)

Sanda: O______O;;;;;

Sanda: Ah--I...I see.... (H-Ho boy...)

[A slight pause.]

“…POTUS made a point to let you know of a sincere apology and promise of cooperation, but was unable to leave a detailed message due to time restraints.”

Sanda: I...Really--??

Will: -ELBOWS SOI FROM OFFSCREEN-

Sanda: -Ow--

Sanda: A-Ahem--! I mean, uh, we, uh, we're grateful! Yes, we really need all the--the help we can get. Th-Thank you.

[There was an unusually lengthy pause.

But after a moment…]

“The area has been secured. You are cleared to vacate the premises. Please be aware that attempted re-entry will be trespassing and will be prosecuted accordingly. That is all for now.”

Sanda: Right, right--understood. Call?

Call: Locking coordinates...

[DR.WHITE to MN.2, 5, 9] //: Call is locking onto your location as we speak. You all be home soon...

[MN.2] //: ...Batty?

[MN.5] //: ...Cryo...?

[MN.2] //: It's gonna be OK, bro. We're goin' home, right, Becky?

[MN.9] //: ...yeah.

[MN.9] //: Get us outta here, Call.

Call: Acknowledged.

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

=CHAPTER 2C: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

{SANDA LABS, LATER....}

[Cryo was met with welcoming arms and tears of relief, both from her father and her Uncle Sanda. A good while had passed before Will was reminded by his best friend that he couldn't repair his daughter while he was constantly hugging her--]

[And so, just as before, everyone got to work. Sanda was left to repair Cryo while Will went to work analyzing the virus sample from her.]

[...This time, however, Pyro took it upon himself to explain what the situation was.]

[It wasn't very long before...]

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Cryo: I'M SORRY--

Pyro: I know.

Cryo: I DON'T HATE YOU--

Pyro: I know.

Cryo: BECKYYYYYYYYY--

[Beck, of course, took a moment from self-repair to come and comfort his sister.]

[--He couldn't get one word in before hose arms started to wrap around his neck and pulled him in an embrace.]

Cryo: I'M SOOORRYYYYYY--

[Beck...well, at first, he was quite taken aback--he's never really SEEN his sister cry like this.]

[...But the surprise is only there for a moment.]

Beck: It's OK, Big Sis...

Cryo: -WAILS-

[Pyro simply rubs the top of her head, twangs of regret and pain in his optics. Eventually he had to call Father to help calm her down.]

Cryo: -SNIFF- daddyyy...

White: Shhh....it's alright, Cryo, everything will be fine...

Cryo: ...B--...but--sis....and...

[And then another wail escapes her.]

Cryo: AVIIIIII--

White: I know, I know--I....

[......]

White: I know....

Beck: Cryo--

Beck: Dad's working on finding a way to beat this virus--and I'm gonna get everyone back.

Cryo: ...-sniff-

Beck: You'll see--

Beck: We're all gonna be back together soon. We just gotta tough this out, OK?

Beck: So no more waterworks. ^.^

[......]

Cryo: ....-snort-

Cryo: G...Good one, bro...

Cryo: -SNIFF-

White: Rest while Sanda gets to work on repairing you and your tank--I need to get back to analysis.

Cryo: -sniff- OK, Daddy...

Pyro: I'll look after her.

[White nods, and hurries back to his terminal. A few ticks of the keyboard brings up the still-working analysis programs...]

White: Call, transfer the assimilated data over to me.

Call: Yes, Dr. White.

White: Now that I have two samples to compare, this will hopefully give us some more insight--

[PING!]

"DAD?? I THINK IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN--"

[ASSIMILATED XEL DATA SCAN COMPLETE.]

[REARRANGING XEL STRUCTURE...]

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

"WHOOOOOA THAT WAS AWESOME--"

"That was...much more...different than the first time she gave it to you--"

"YEAH IT WAS WITHOUT THE LIGHT SHOW."

Cryo: BRO--BRO WHAT'S WITH THE FANCY LIGHT SHOW--

Beck: I--well...

[As Beck begins to explain his newfound abilities--much to Cryo's delight--White hums deeply in thought.]

[It was true--the lights that emitted from his Xels were not present when he acquired his siblings' powers before.]

White: (Interesting...)

White: ....Hmm.

Call: Dr. White.

White: Yes, Call?

Call: I detect a significant rise in your heart rate and vitals. Is something wrong?

White: .....

White: I'm just...nervous. Given the situation.

Call: ....

Call: Acknowledged. I will adjust the room temperature and atmosphere so that you may calm down.

White: ....Thank you, that would be nice.

White: ........

White: (Could Beck...)

White: (No--he CAN'T be. Not THIS soon...)

White: (He's not NEARLY as ready...)

White: (....Though...)

White: (The better question would be if WE would be ready...)

White: (...Gah, I shouldn't be thinking like that NOW, of all times...)

White: (I've GOT to crack this code--before it's too late...)

[MEANWHILE....]

"Phone call for you."

"......"

"Hey. PHONE CALL--"

"I heard you the first time."

"Tch. Jeez, old man. Don't think anyone would be using THIS frequency ever again..."

".....So it's him."

"Yup."

"Do you wanna answer...?"

"......."

"Uh....P-2045453?"

"I have a NAME."

"Sorry. Warden's orders."

"...Hmph."

"Hang up."

"That's gonna waste your one phone call for the day."

"I do not care. It's not like anyone calls me besides conspiracy theorists and crazed lunatics."

"....Yeah, you do get some loonies over the phone, huh..."

"But--I REALLY don't think you wanna hang up on the president of CherryDyn."

"........."

"Do I need to tell you twice?"

"......Oookaaaay, but I'm pretty sure he's gonna call back regardless--and I gotta come back here every time to let you know, so."

"........."

"....Uh--P-20--"

[A low, grating growl.]

"UH--I--I-mean--D-- Dr. Blackwell..."

"........"

"....Doctor...?"

"........."

"........I...I'm just gonna leave--uh, last meal of the day is in half an hour."

"............"

".......Soooo....bye. [sub] man, I hate this job...[/sub]"

[CLICK.]

"............"

"............."

"........Greg."

"You obsessed fool."

"You've DOOMED us all."

"......"

"I knew I should have taken...."

".........."

" . . . ."

"M-...My Ray of Hope..."

"....Forgive me..."

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

Sketch commission for my lovely friends! This is the third in a series of commissions I’m doing for them involving their AU crossover fanfiction, Allies Obstruct! It’s got robot, and robots, and smart scientists, and cool people, and despicable villains, and even a few OCs to boot (like Jack here)!

I’m also super excited to announce that they’ve started posting their fic so you can have a look at the intro here! Or say hi to them over on their RP blogs @codedhopes and @mowseries! 

---

=CHAPTER 6B: CRIMSON STRONGHOLD=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

<<—Previous——————Table of Contents——————Next—>>

{The Pentagon}

“This is an OUTRAGE!”

[It was quite the sight to see, though they had ensured that no prying eyes would be remotely capable of seeing it.]

“You call me out here toward the tail end of a crisis you tried to cover up by yourselves, and now you won’t even own admit to knowing about it in the first place!?”

[The Secretary of Defense looked on with a quiet frown as the teacher continued giving a verbal thrashing.]

???: I absolutely REFUSE to believe that NONE of you know ANYTHING about what just happened! TELL ME THE TRUTH!

[The room was silent.]

Des: (Man, I haven't seen her get this angry in years...)

???: Well?!

[Most of his colleagues were doing their best to avoid eye contact, which caused him to narrow his own pair.]

???: Oh for the love of— for Jefferson’s SAKE, people, don’t make me treat you like third graders!

Des: (...But I guess they had it coming.)

[But despite her fiery demeanor, no one was forthcoming. She drew herself up haughtily, now cold and seething.]

???: Very well, then. As the saying goes, “fine, be that way!” This isn’t over. The buck stops here, and so help me if I won’t order it to be traced!

“What do you mean?”

Des: (—Secretary of Urban Development—?)

???: -Tucks a stray strand of hair back into place- What do you think, Secretary O’Hare?

[Her stern gaze spilled over the rim of her glasses as she tilted her head down slightly in a menacing glare.]

???: I’ve just been told about an unauthorized, highly illegal military base with live weapons and warheads. This jeopardized the lives of over half a million people, and is still very much a threat to international peace. This facility was extremely well-maintained and up-to-date, which would require a great deal of money and specialized labor.

???: And absolutely NOBODY here is taking RESPONSIBILITY.

[She bent back the flexible ruler so hard that Desmond Donald was worried that it might snap in half.]

???: Well, I cannot have that. I’m going to find out who is involved, and whether or not there are more bases out there like this. Have I made myself clear?

[There were uneasy murmurs at this.]

???: I said, HAVE I MADE MYSELF CLEAR?

“Yes, Madame President!”

[Minerva Morandi, President of the United States, pushed her glasses up to her face.]

((Pic—Des and Min))

Min: Better. I expect full cooperation and none of your sass when you get the followup from Internal Affairs.

“Internal Affairs?!”

Des: -Looks over at the head of the Department of Homeland Security- : / ?

“Madame President, just think of the scandal—!”

Min: Excuse me?

“If the public found out about this…!”

Min: -SLAPS the ruler down on the table, making a VERY loud CRACK! of displeasure- Then someone would have violated the rules, Secretary Colby Caldwell! And frankly, damn the scandal!

Colby: But Madame President—

Min: -Motions sharply and cuts him off- My duty is to protecting the people, Mister Secretary! To protect the people and keep the peace! How am I supposed to do my job if there are active—or dormant, for that matter!—threats of which I haven’t even been made aware?!

[Desmond sighed and rubbed his chin.]

Des: Speaking of threats… there’s still the matter of the security breach.

[His colleague seemed VERY grateful for the change in subject.]

Colby: We should interrogate Blackwell—

[The Certified Assassins' League representative snorted at this, as did several of the others.]

“Seriously?”

Colby: He’s the only man capable of getting through our defenses!

Min: Fine. It’s always best to eliminate even the most outlandish of possibilities.

[Colby locked his fingers together.]

Colby: Yes, sir. We’ll get right on it—

Min: You will do NO such thing!

[The others were taken aback by this, but Desmond himself was merely puzzled.]

Des: (...Wait, what?)

Min: I’m not going to let this fall into a sea of red tape and paperwork where it will be quietly buried in a shallow grave and left to die! I want someone I trust handling this investigation!

[There was a loud “-tsk-” of disgust from across the table.]

“So you’re sending Secretary Desmond, then.”

Des: (Min—! Me, questioning Blackwell—?!)

“With all due respect, this is not really a good time to be playing favorites again.”

Min: Oh I see. You still think that your colleague is on my good graces because I knew him before I started running for office, is that it? Well too bad, because it just so happens that he’s also been the one who’s been producing the best RESULTS.

Min: Do you have any idea how hard it is to monitor the borders, even in the present age? The fact that this virus hasn’t spread into Canada or Mexico isn’t miraculous: it’s the result of a lot of hard work being done.

Min: DoHS, on the other hand, has done next to nothing for me other than corroborate HHS’s reports on the extent of this disaster! There has been no progress made in finding the source or stopping the major threats: for Madison’s sake, we’ve resorted to relying on civilians for this!

[She slammed the ruler down again.]

Min: Civilians who were put in great danger because SOME people were willing to accept their loss as an “acceptable risk!”

Des: (...God, she's right. How did we ever sink low enough to let a child take on all that danger and responsibility? That kind of burden...)

Min: I’m sending my best man, the person I trust, NOW ALL OF YOU GO AND WRITE AN ESSAY EXPLAINING WHAT YOU DID WRONG OR SO HELP ME GOD—

————————————

{Maximum Security}

Des: (...I'm really not gonna like this. I KNOW you trust me, Min, but this is...)

Des: (This is the man that tried to shut down EVERY robot in America, and did so for Titus...)

Des: -Ghn.-

[The door to the cell opened after a few, tense minutes. It's practically spotless, and had very little features and furniture. A bed, a desk with no drawers, and a single bench in the middle of the room.]

"They told me you were coming."

[Sitting in that bench was a elderly man in his late 70s, dressed in nothing more than prison clothes—and over that, a tattered, black lab coat with some sort of faded coat of arms on the pocket. While his stature seemed frail—or at least that's what the cane he held indicated...]

[His sharp, cold as ice blue hues said otherwise.]

Blackwell: Now I believe them.

Des: ....

Des: (...I feel like I'm being watched under a microscope...)

Des: -Ahem- Doctor—

Blackwell: I have nothing to say to you. Out.

Des: —...

Des: I haven't even—

Blackwell: -Once again cuts him off- You're here to interrogate me, Desmond Donald. Why ELSE would the Secretary of Defense would be in a madman's cell?

Blackwell: You're certainly not the first. Had all sorts of bloody suits in here asking useless nonsense of me, demanding answers even I cannot provide.

Des: ...That remains to be seen.

Blackwell: Hmph.

Des: -Sighs—- Look, I don't want to do this either, Doctor, so can we just both get this over with? =~=

Blackwell: You don't, hm. Interesting.

Blackwell: At the end of your rope, I take it?

Des: ....

Blackwell: How disappointing.

Blackwell: The very same government that has me locked up for life can't even pinpoint the cause of this viral epidemic. Even I'm sorry for you.

Des: Doctor, I didn't come here to listen to you—

Blackwell: I don't care.

Des: (Ugh, he's not budging—!)

Blackwell: What, is that it? You need my help?

Des: =~= You and I both know that isn't possible.

Blackwell: A pity. It would be nice to see how the world has changed outside of this dog cage.

Blackwell: Feh...

Des: Doctor, I agree that this is a waste of time, but I have a job to do, and the sooner you cooperate—the sooner I'll leave you alone.

Des: Okay?

[He STILL seems disgruntled at the idea of it, but—]

[TAP!]

Des: -Winces—-

[The incarcerated Doctor taps his cane LOUDLY on the floor.]

Blackwell: You have five minutes.

Des: —Or?

Blackwell: 4 minutes and 58 seconds.

Des: (For REAL?)

Blackwell: Don't waste your time.

Blackwell: You all already took all of mine.

Des: ....

Des: -Sigh-

Des: The following is classified, Doctor. Do—

Blackwell: 4 minutes and 36 seconds.

Des: =~=

Des: ...There have been a few security issues.

Blackwell: The whole bloody nation is on red alert— isn't that your job?

Des: -...Ignores- One of them is before this, although still relevant to the situation.

Blackwell: ...

Des: ... (He's quiet now. I guess he finds this interesting?)

Des: You're familiar with the Queen's Tournament, yes?

Blackwell: =~=

Blackwell: -We're from the UK, of COURSE we are-

Des: ... -Right-

Des: Concerning the incident in the finals match, there was a breach of security that we feel is within your abilities to... bypass.

Blackwell: Really?

Blackwell: ...Hm.

[... Desmond was expecting Blackwell to feel put off by this, but instead the elder strokes his beard in thought.]

Blackwell: Well, I don't have any reason, nor the means to arrange such a breach.

Blackwell: I find it very... interesting that you come to me and not that mysterious... masked construct that appeared there.

Blackwell: Still having trouble locating him, I presume? I suppose MI6 hasn't tacked on anything yet. Shame.

Des: (...He got all that just from what I said?)

Blackwell: I will take your silence as a yes.

Blackwell: -Tsk- The world's in the hands of a bunch of incompetent morons...

Blackwell: He's not my make, Secretary.

Blackwell: The way he fell in the sands a bleeding mess, which I FULLY blame on the incompetence of the IBCA security department and that WRETCHED team of scrap—

Blackwell: ...would suggest a chassis not entirely suited for combat.

Des: —?

Blackwell: At the very least, not arena combat.

Blackwell: Have you tried looking in the Industrial databases?

Des: I...

Blackwell: ....

Blackwell: I thought not.

Blackwell: Idiot.

Des: (...Min, I really hope you're having better luck...)

Blackwell: 1 minute.

Des: —Gh—

Des: -Talking quickly- There's also—another security breach not too long ago, in a classified location—

Blackwell: Oh?

Blackwell: How classified?

Des: —….

Blackwell: Ah...

Blackwell: One of your secrets. I see.

Blackwell: Hmm. Again, coming to me about this...I assume this also has a high level of security that would be within by abilities to...how you put it, bypass.

Blackwell: What are you hiding, Mr. Donald?

[Blackwell leans in when he says this, making Desmond take a step backwards—his gaze bore holes into him, with a deep scorn and hatred—]

Des: (Gah—)

Des: I'm the one asking questions, Doctor.

Blackwell: ....

Blackwell: I wonder.

Blackwell: -Sits back down- Does your superior know about this?

Des: =~= That's not within my place to say.

Blackwell: No, then.

Blackwell: ...Did you?

Des: Answer the question, please.

Blackwell: Did you?

Des: Doctor...

Blackwell: How about you answer first.

Des: (Ugh...)

Des: =~= I won't.

Blackwell: Fine. Your loss.

Des: (Gh...)

Blackwell: Your time is up, by the way.

Des: ....

Des: Alright, fine.

Des: =~= I didn't know this either.

Blackwell: ....

Blackwell: Ha...

[It's bitter laughter that echoes throughout the cell, low and mocking.]

Blackwell: It's worse than I thought...

Blackwell: Didn't think that was possible.

Blackwell: But here we are, at the edge of total oblivion, and you can't even keep track of your own secrets.

Des: Doctor Blackwell, I am not HERE to play your GAMES!

[At this point, Desmond had lost some patience—he stood up, pointing a finger upwards, raising his voice so loud that a guard had come to look through the small window on the door.]

Des: I have a JOB to do out there—and fine—maybe I can't, but it's not like I WANTED them!

Des: Answer the question!

Blackwell: Hmph.

Blackwell: So the dog does bite.

Blackwell: -Taps his cane lightly- I've been doing nothing but wait for my time to come, Secretary. While it would be fun to poke around where I don't belong one last time...

Blackwell: Don't you think I would have done so by now? Or before?

Des: -Irritated- We figured that.

Blackwell: Then you were right.

Blackwell: =~= This is a complete waste of time.

Blackwell: And all because of Graham...

Blackwell: Even in here, he continues to push sins on me that aren't mine.

Des: (...Debatable...)

Blackwell: Why haven't you yelled at him yet?

Des: =~= Believe me, we're trying.

Blackwell: Try harder.

Blackwell: That monster will hide behind his black, corrupt fortress of his so-called friends for as long as he wills it. You will not speak with him so easily.

Des: ...And how do you know that?

Blackwell: Don't know your history?

Blackwell: Figures you don't...

Blackwell: Why don't you ask your chief replacement for details.

Des: (Don't talk about Min like that—)

Blackwell: I'm sure you'll find something very educational.

Blackwell: -Waves a hand- Is that all?

Des: ....

Des: -Huffs- For now.

Blackwell: Good.

Blackwell: Get out.

Des: (Ugh, GLADLY.)

[Resounding footfalls are the last thing Blackwell hears before the door shuts close, and several locks click into place. He is alone, again, to his thoughts and his thoughts only… at least until the NEXT questionnaire comes up.]

Blackwell: …

Blackwell: -Sighs-

[His cane taps the floor one more time, and something quietly clicks open—a panel to the side slides open to reveal two, small picture frames.]

[Old, wrinkled fingers lightly graze a young woman's face, holding a smiling child with wild hair.]

Blackwell: (...I never got the chance to talk to you again.)

[The next one was of another child, bright eyed and clear minded, next to...]

[...Graham...?]

Blackwell: (...or you...)

Blackwell: (Why did you rat us out, George...?)

Blackwell: (Why?)

Des: -Tired, uuugh-

Des: -Dialing on his phone- That was fun...

Des: (Fun for HIM, I bet...)

[Click.

Minerva responded to the call promptly. She seemed to have been waiting for it.]

Min: Hello, Des. Did you learn anything interesting?

Des: -Tired- Just that Blackwell is really, really good at deduction.

Des: And getting under your skin, yeah, that was real fun...

Des: -Pinches nose- He's been twiddling his thumbs this whole time, or at least that's what he said. He agreed that the whole thing was stupid. Ugh...

Des: He even finished my thoughts before me, Min, no wonder he's in there.

Min: Hmm…. I'm not entirely surprised you did not get much out of him. He probably truly had nothing to say. Frankly, thinking Blackwell was behind it is ludicrous.

Des: -Sighs-

Des: ...He did give us a small tip for the QF, though.

Min: Oh? And what might that be?

Des: He claims the make of the “fan” that appeared in the finals was not Combat orientated, but Industrial.

Des: Worth looking into the Industrial database, he says.

Des: I think it's a good idea, as much as I kinda hate to admit it...

Des: =~=

Min: I endorse it. If that construct had the ability to bypass the tournament's security, it is possible they might have the ability to bypass federal security as well. We need a lead on that boy as soon as may be; Britain wants to extradite Aviator now that it's been proven to the scientific community that he is no longer infected.

Min: I can only stonewall our allies for so long before it goes from rude to confrontational.

Des: -Exasperated- We're STILL in the middle of red alert, don't they know that we can't lift the quarantine--?

Des: -Long sigh- Ugh, no thanks, I'd rather take Blackwell again.

Min: -Amused expression- Well, Donny, he can fly. I'm inclined to think they expect to escort him internationally.

Min: He is an asset who they perceive as having the answers they want. It's as much about protecting that lead as anything else, if one wants to be optimistic.

Des: (Somehow, I doubt that, if Blackwell is anything to go by...)

Des: -Sigh-

Des: How the heck did we get here, Min?

Min: -Sighs, taking off her glasses and putting a hand to her face-

Des: (I can't BELIEVE I'm even asking this...)

Des: Even the Doctor thinks we're morons, even if he IS the Father of Modern Xel Robotics.

Min: We are all but goldfish to the great minds of science and philosophy, Desmond. We may not be morons, but we are being played for fools.

Des: Ugh...

Min: Expect a visit from Internal Affairs once enough staff can be mustered up for it.

Des: (Great...)

Des: Won't that be a barrel of laughs...

Des: But I guess. I don't have any single problem with it, but something's wrong in here...

Des: Very wrong...

Min: Mmm. Well, I trust that you'll be able to find some results. Coordinate with Colby and the other Department heads to make sure that you have enough manpower to look into this. Just because you've been assigned team leader does not mean that they can be slackers on the group project.

Min: With the last known member of Greater Dusk still missing, that boy is the only real lead we have on the Finals, which is where something much like the virus was noticed. (I know the CAL reports from Kate Fletcher pointed to the possibility of a CherryDynamics connection, but that investigation was never completed. I suppose she went missing in infection, just like many of the other members…)

Min: We need something that gets us somewhere without jeopardizing the relationship with or the safety of our only confirmed chance of fixing this mess.

Min: We're just lucky that he was there and kept the situation from becoming so much worse…

Des: Yeah, got it. I'll see what I can do...

Des: Speaking of that...

Des: What about Sanda Enterprises?

Min: -Looks up, putting her glasses back on- Hmm?

Des: MN.9's been a big help, that I can completely agree with.

Des: Cleaning up our act is going to take time...

Des: And with how the military base incident was handled, well...

Des: >>;; I'm inclined to think that they have concluded they're on their own.

Des: -Which isn't true—or at least we don't WANT it that way—-

Des: On top of that—

Des: We don't exactly have any updates on the virus cure, if any.

Des: Wasn't Dr. White on that?

Min: So the press release says, and I have no reason to doubt it. Even the most cynical person has to recognize that without order and healthy opponents, his family would be put out of work. He has every reason to see an end to this mess, and does have the ability in at least one form.

Min: I want full cooperation extended to Sanda Enterprises, as I promised. We can pull from HHS's budget if necessary, as this does qualify as a resource to combat a plague outbreak.

Min: The man wants his children home first, and apparently has been making more progress in studying the virus as more of them come home. So it's in everyone's best interest to help him reach that point first, to allow him to focus on other things.

Min: With Battalion returned home, that just leaves two more to be found, correct?

Des: Right. Mighty No. 4, Seismic...

Des: And Mighty No. 8, Countershade.

Min: …

Des: (Dear God, I hope Four isn't in this state..)

Des: (And Eight...he's a whole other story...)

Des: So far we haven't gotten word from CAL—it's a mess, according to the representative.

Des: ...A number of them were confirmed to be infected.

Des: The good news, though, is that a good ratio was also confined in their posts when the outbreak started...

Des: So there’s that.

Min: I'm glad that not EVERY assassin in the States has gained bloodlust. Though it will be difficult to follow one trail of death out of hundreds.

Des: Needle in a haystack.

Des: A burning one, at that.

Min: A needle in a stack of needles would be more apt, but yes…

Des: -Mph...-

Des: ...There's one more thing I need to ask you...

Min: Go on.

Des: Doctor Blackwell showed a lot of disdain towards Graham.

Des: It sounded to me like it went beyond just the fact that he pointed the finger at him.

Des: ...Said I didn't know my history, so any idea why?

Min: Well, Dr. Blackwell used to work for CherryDynamics back in happier times. I'm sure that the change between now and then has some part in it, though there are likely motives that we can only guess at.

Des: He did?

Des: ...Bad blood, huh. That's worth looking into at a later date.

Min: …Possibly. One of the CAL agents on the QF case believed that it was worth investigating CherryDyn.

Des: ...If we can even GET a hold of CherryDyn...

Des: I'm still getting stonewalled at that front. Lawyers, representatives, not the man himself.

Des: I can't even get him on the phone!

Des: Busy signal, and it's gotten to the point where I think it's actually the voicemail recording.

Min: Peh. Irresponsible panderer.

Des: I don't think CherryDyn has been doing anything besides not letting the virus spread overseas...

Des: It's impossible to tell, other than it hasn't happened yet.

Min: Mmm…. what a mess…

Min: Well, he's made his bed, now he has to lie in it. Let him hide, then, so long as he doesn't get in the way of real progress. Like he tried to do earlier.

Des: =~= Can't we arrest him on grounds of suspicious activity against national security?

Min: It's honestly very tempting at times.

Min: But stupidity isn't illegal.

Min: I'm sure Sanda Enterprises will sue for libel once they're no longer busy with more pressing matters.

Min: I want everyone to be on the lookout for leads for the remaining Mighty Numbers. Any potential tip should be passed along to Sanda Enterprises.

Des: You got it.

Des: ...How are things going on your end?

[Min rubs her face a bit, giving an exasperated sigh.]

Min: No one's owning up just yet.

Min: We've gotten some promising words of support from France… they are most definitely willing to help rebuild infrastructure…

Min: … after this is over.

Des: ....

Des: -Long groan and the sound of his head hitting the wall-

Min: HHS isn't making much headway in finding a way to reverse the effects. Right now, the Whites are our only hope in finding the cure. Even finding the source will not necessarily give us that much.

Min: -Siiiigh-

Min: Come home, Donny. I don't think you'll get any more answers there for now.

Des: ...yeah.

Des: See ya soon.

{Meanwhile…}

<MC005 to DR.WHITE>: > -Ping-

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: ...! Mikhail!

[DR.WHITE to MC005] //: Oh thank goodness are you alright you ran off so suddenly and then--

<MC005>: > I’m… better, certainly.

<MC005>: >Shadow informed me that Brandish had contacted us—it took a bit of unraveling, but it sounds like whatever was going on over there has resolved itself, for now. I’m glad.

<MC005>: >I was given quite the scare, that’s for certain. But a good deal of time has passed over here since then, and it’s given me a chance to settle down.

[DR.WHITE] //: Whew...

[DR.WHITE] //: I'm glad—things were a bit...chaotic, to say the very least...but we got through it together, and Bat has returned to us.

[DR.WHITE] //: Not only that, but along with one more piece to solving this virus code.

[DR.WHITE] //: (I'm close, I can feel it, I just need time...)

[DR.WHITE] //: How are the others...?

<MC005>: >Well, Jack was rather confused when he woke up somewhere else again— and Tetra had a rather… interesting choice of words to explain it—but he’s been a good patient. Most everyone has been rather docile. Jaden was agitated for a while, but improved after getting the chance to speak with Bat.

<MC005>: > … Fighting Eight still hasn’t fully recovered.

[DR.WHITE] //: (Oh, no...Kate...)

<MC005>: >I don’t entirely understand… this kind of damage surely must happen from time to time in the arena, but it seems this is the first time it’s affected her memory so deeply. Either she hasn’t ever had a head injury that severe before, or the head trauma just made existing problems worse, or there’s something else about it that I don’t know.

<MC005>: > She remains more or less docile, and can usually be coaxed back into Sleep mode within two minutes of her panicked episodes.

<MC005>: >She’s been rather incoherent. I think she just needs rest. Lots and lots of rest.

<MC005>: > The boys have been mercifully cooperative, especially ever since the latest development.

<MC005>: >That’s something you and I definitely need to cover—though there are other things to discuss that I think everyone should hear.

<MC005>: >We have good news and… some very important findings.

<MC005>: > We really should hold a conference call as soon as possible. Though you should probably get Five and Seven back up to speed, first.

[DR.WHITE] //: !

[DR.WHITE] //: I see—we'll have to wait until Beck awakens, however—I'm afraid he hasn't woken up since.

[DR.WHITE] //: It's...a bit concerning, but he's showing no signs of negative data...so...as long as he gets as much rest as possible...

<MC005>: >Mmm… well, for the good news, I’m sure he’d appreciate being there with everyone else…. I’m not sure about the findings, however…

<MC005>: > I think Pyro, Bat, and Brand definitely should hear it, though.

[There’s a thoughtful silence.]

<MC005>: > Are there any sign of the other three on your end?

[DR.WHITE] //: ...

[DR.WHITE] //: ...Nothing from Shade...

[DR.WHITE] //: ...And there's...no signal from Mic. At all. Ever since this started...

[DR.WHITE] //: And Cardinal...nothing.

[DR.WHITE] //: .....

<MC005>: > …

<MC005>: > -Sighs- Well, I had hoped.

<MC005>: > I think we may be able to help you find where Four went off to, though.

[DR.WHITE] //: !!

[DR.WHITE] //: Oh thank God—

<MC005>: >And I do have news of Cardinal.

Mikhail: (Though definitely not the news anyone was hoping to hear.)

Will: (Perhaps we're almost through this crisis—wait...just news?)

[DR.WHITE] //: —...and it's...it's good news? -Yes, we are trying to be hopeful here-

<MC005>: > …Er…

<MC005>: > …That depends on how you take it?

<MC005>: >He’s probably still in one piece, and seems to have stopped fighting, for now.

[DR.WHITE] //: (Still alive—while I am worried about you, Cardinal...I have to admit I am impressed you've—)

<MC005>: >But as for Four—

<MC005>: >My dear Will.

<MC005>: >You DO remember that my oldest (currently Online, David aside) son is a miner, да?

[DR.WHITE] //: —!

[DR.WHITE] //: Of course, maybe can he can give us an idea where Mic might have gone...

[DR.WHITE] //: Definitely somewhere in his 'element', to be sure—although we already scanned his mine, and found nothing...

[DR.WHITE] //: Mmmn...

<MC005>: >Digger has a few other ideas, and he’s turning his analysis to them now that we’ve finished our analysis of Cardinal’s information.

<MC005>: >He agrees at it’s likely that Seismic has headed underground. Quite frankly, there is no other way that he would be in his element while also being out of sight unless that were the case. He’s too large to go unnoticed above the scene.

<MC005>: >You will have to be prepared to accept his authority, though.

[DR.WHITE] //: ...I expected as much...

<MC005>: >I’m sorry, but it’s just…

<MC005>: >Dealing with infected constructs is one thing. Battling nature is another. And going underground is something else entirely.

<MC005>: >It’s very easy to get lost, and if you get lost without a surface team to keep track of you, you could spend days trying to find your way out.

<MC005>: >Thankfully, Three is an Industrial by nature, so he won’t try to get involved in any combat. You don’t need to worry on that front.

<MC005>: >He has extensive experience with that field—it’s his area of expertise—so he will be in charge of the monitoring surface team, and the recovery team, should it come to that. He’s already assigned Jaden as his second, though he’s still debating on who should be his partner…

[Later that afternoon, Mikhail briefly stopped by Sanda Labs to pick up a few things that had been left in their hasty retreat. Before he returned to the Meadow, though, he had an important stop to make.

He made his way up to Beck’s room with a bag of marshmallows in hand.]

[...There's no sound coming from his room, and the lights seem to be off...]

[Inside, a soft white glow can be seen under the covers--and the small bump that was Beck there as well.]

Beck: —? (Dad—?)

[A head pops up, and tired emerald eyes blink in slight confusion when the figure at the foot of his bed was not his Father.]

Beck: Dr. Cossack...?

Mikhail: -Softly- Good afternoon, Number Nine.

Mikhail: -Offers marshmallow bag-

Beck: ...um.

[...He can't help but feel a bit meek while taking a few marshmallows. He couldn't guess why Dr. Cossack was here, but...]

[...This had to be about Jaden's Capsule, right?]

Beck: .....

Beck: (Maybe I should...give the data back...)

Mikhail: Trouble resting?

Beck: ....Um...

[He rubs the back of his head a bit.]

Beck: Kinda. It's been a long week...it's sorta throwing my whole sleep schedule off...

[...Well, that was true, in part. Lately, he still felt tired even after going into Sleep Mode...

...There were just too many thoughts in his head.

Too many worries.]

Mikhail: It has been a long week, hasn’t it. And the time warps in effect can be a headache, true.

Mikhail: It helps to have someone to talk to about it.

Beck: .....

[...Oh.]

Beck: Y...Yeah, those are always weird...

Beck: … …

Beck: … …Doctor Cossack?

Mikhail: да?

Beck: Are…

Beck: … …

Beck: Are they afraid of me?

Mikhail: -Blinks at this-

[As was his custom, he waited until he was sure Beck had had his say before he said anything himself.]

Beck: I… Nico was… really angry—and Shadow...

Beck: I… I didn't mean…

Beck: … …

[…He falls silent.]

[There is some rattling in his closet a second afterwards…]

[Mikhail reaches out and gently puts a hand on Beck’s head.]

Beck: ....

Beck: I...I'm sorry I got Jaden in trouble....

Beck: I...I just...

Beck: ....

[Mikhail gave a soft sigh and pulled Beck into a hug.]

Beck: ......

_________________

"Humanity is hardwired to be cautious to that which is better than them, and they know this. As do all sentient creatures."

"...What does that mean--"

"...It means don't be surprised if everyone starts to FEAR YOU, you idiot."

_______________

Beck: --I...I don't want them to be afraid of me...

Beck: I'm not like... I don't want to...

Beck: -They're family too, I don't want to let them down or--or fail them or scare them or...-

Mikhail: Shhhh…

Beck: .....

Beck: (What if they're right?)

Beck: (I barely understand what's going on with me, and Dad...I'm not even sure if HE knows too...)

Beck: (Was this what she was talking about...?)

Beck: -We're scared.-

((Pic—Beck and Mikhail))

[Beck just curls up with the Russian Doctor, hands clutching the blankets, trying to even out his breathing.]

Beck: -I don't wanna be like the Menace...-

Mikhail: Oh, my dear soul-son…. -Soft sigh again-

Mikhail: You are very dear to all of us. Remember first that in our hearts, you are beloved, and cherished like Tobias, Kalinka, and David.

Mikhail: You are not the one that they fear, Amadeus. What they fear is the loss of control.

[He pulls back so he can lean his forehead against Beck’s.]

Mikhail: Not you losing control of yourself, but the situation growing greater than they can handle. It is already out of their hands. This is hard for them to accept, for it brings them back to our days at home where we live in hiding and in fear.

Mikhail: That is why they have grown defensive. They see themselves in a hostile world, where their family could be turned against itself unto ruin.

Mikhail: They are afraid that some other force will take such an ability from you to use against them—whether that force hunt you down for it, or simply take advantage of what is at hand.

Beck: … …

Beck: (I...gosh, I know that feeling...)

Beck: -Nods-

Mikhail: They have not spoken much of their culture to your family, partially because it is one of sorrow and suffering, with a serious, melancholic, reflective atmosphere. But now that Aviator knows the full extent, they may open up more over time.

Mikhail: The Power Capsules are culturally very important, not just physically. That Jaden allowed you to interact with his shows how much he trusts you.

Beck: ....He… he does…?

Beck: .....

Beck: (Jaden, you...)

Beck: .....

Mikhail: He would not have let you even see it if he did not, Nine. He was obviously hoping to give you his form—likely because of how sturdy it is. Such a thing is very important to them, and not done lightly.

Mikhail: Alnico was alarmed primarily because… well, to put it frankly, he’s been wound a bit too tight during the whole ordeal. Being the family leader is not easy, and it was never a position he really wanted to begin with.

Mikhail: When feeling stressed and afraid, it is easier and more likely for faulty alarm triggers to go off.

Beck: ...O...Oh...

Beck: (Poor Nico...he must be really stressed out and stuff...)

Beck: ......No wonder he got so mad...

Mikhail: He in particular has had a very bad experience regarding the Power Capsules. His half-brother took his brother’s Power Capsule from storage for the sole purpose of destroying him.

Mikhail: He, like most of the family, feel that the fewer people that have access to such things, the safer things will be.

Beck: .....That makes sense when you look at it like that... (...They ARE weapons....)

Beck: (...I guess Nico had a point. I SHOULD be more careful...)

Mikhail: You did no real harm to them, though. Nico has calmed down considerably, now that they are confident that all will be well in the end.

Mikhail: They really do believe that.

Beck: ......

Beck: (They....they really do believe that I'll fix everything...)

Beck: (I don't...I can't let them down like that...)

Beck: Yeah...I...I know.

Mikhail: They know that with the public not giving into panic, things can be fixed, with effort, even if it takes quite a lot of it over an extended period of time.

Mikhail: For them, that is everything—to be allowed that chance.

Mikhail: I know you can do it. I knew it when you first said you would, when I saw the look in your eyes.

Mikhail: I’d seen that look before, you know.

Beck: ....B...Before...?

Mikhail: Yes. Right down to the green eyes. | )

Mikhail: Cardinal gets that when he becomes determined. He was that way when it came to saving my family.

Beck: ...!

Beck: (The Russian Incident...)

Beck: .....

Beck: .....I...I miss him.

Beck: ...I know he's trying to save Shade...and I don't blame him at all, but...

Beck: ...I could use his advice too...

Mikhail: Yes…?

Beck: ...He's just...ya know, he's done everything?

Beck: ...Though I bet he'd just insist on going with me to save everyone or something...

Beck: If...if he was still here, that is...

Mikhail: -Chuckles softly- Even if he did not come in person, you could probably have expected a great deal of backseat driving from him in the form of continuous witty and sardonic commentary.

Beck: Heheheh...

[That gets him to smile at last—he could practically hear him commenting on those weird wheel-like CDNs and Graham's backfired blame game...]

Beck: Cards is funny like that...heh...

Mikhail: Ah… but Cardinal is made for this sort of thing; it is quite literally as close to what he was built for as anything can get. So… if he had not left, he would have joined you… or had to shut down for the duration, as the only options for such a directive are to obey or stall.

Beck: ....

Beck: -Sighs-

Beck: I'm worried...

Beck: ...He can't cure Shade like I can—he knows that by now, doesn't he? -And I don't know what Shade will do or if he'll even...-

Beck: ......I just hope we find one of them soon...

[Mikhail was silent for a moment, his demeanor turning a thoughtful kind of serious. When he spoke, it was as if saying something that had already been mourned and passed over, healed with time.]

Mikhail: …Beck… there’s something you should know.

Mikhail: And this is something I will tell the others as well, very soon. As soon as everyone is well enough to attend the meeting… you included.

Beck: ...?

Mikhail: Shade and Cardinal once discussed what to do if something ever happened that made Shade go mad.

Beck: —??

Beck: They did?

Beck: (But how would they...)

Mikhail: Shade warned him to stay away, but acknowledged Cardinal’s honest response that he would do no such thing.

Mikhail: He ultimately told him that if all else failed, to save his Central core.

Beck: ....!

Beck: (His...his core...)

Mikhail: Cardinal will attempt to bring your brother back, willingly or not.

Beck: . . . .

Beck: Shade...

Mikhail: You must understand…

Mikhail: For Cardinal, this was yet another round, another generation, another lifetime which he must see those close to him suffer and be destroyed. He has put a great deal of effort in our world into halting and then reversing this tide.

Mikhail: He was not about to let it happen here.

Mikhail: He feared that if Shade were not stopped, that the use of force against him would be so great as to destroy him entirely.

Mikhail: He would prevent that from happening, even if it meant fighting Shade himself to do so.

Beck: .......

Mikhail: … (Even if it meant…) …

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: …He does not expect to cure. He knows that much by now beyond all doubt: his actions in Kansas City prove that much. He just seeks to bring Shade back to those who can.

Beck: ...U...Us....

Beck: (Cardinal...)

Beck: (You really care about him, don't you...)

Beck: ......

Beck: ...Shade would've done the same thing...

Beck: ....It's...just who they are, right...

Beck: ....

Mikhail: Yes.

Mikhail: (Though for some reason, I get an odd sense of deja vu when it’s mentioned Shade will do the sa—… wait… will?)

Mikhail: (…I’m not going to think on that, probably just another one of their misadventures…)

Mikhail: And Beck…

Mikhail: Even with all that, I don’t think he would have left it up to you if he did not feel you could handle it.

Mikhail: Take heart, my friend. And… do talk to us once in a while, alright?

Mikhail: I know you’ve been unhappy and nervous. You kept avoiding people, just like your father has been doing.

Mikhail: But we’re here for you, Beck White. Kalinka very much enjoys talking with you. And if you seek advice on what Cardinal might do or say…

Mikhail: She traveled across a continent or two with him, you know. She’s pretty familiar with his mannerisms—more than some of his brothers, even.

Beck: (...That's right...Linka....)

Beck: ...I'll...I'll keep that in mind, Dr. Cossack...

Beck: ....T...Thanks.

Beck: ......

Beck: Dad's probably worried about everything too.

Beck: -We're similar like that-

Mikhail: I know. (…I wish I could be more helpful.)

Beck: I know Dad's been working so hard on cracking the virus...

Beck: (...He must feel like everyone's counting on him too...)

[Mikhail sighed.]

Mikhail: …I wish there were more I could do to help him. (Because this still isn’t over…)

Mikhail: (We have a lot of work to do.)

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