=CHAPTER 1B: RAGING FLAMES SMOLDER=

=CHAPTER 4B: AVI’S NEWS REPORT=

~AO v1.0~

(courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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{Meanwhile, in the Meadow}

[Another day, another problem.

Right now, the main problem that Cossack was dealing with was the eternal struggle between work and family. He hadn’t heard from Will in WEEKS—he wasn’t sure how long it had been for his young friend, but as for him? It had been nearly a month with no contact.

It was late July—he really needed to start focusing on preparing for the coming school year. Kalinka would be nine years old in November—entering 3rd Grade, by American standards. Already, he knew that the past year and a half had been very hard on her—between the “Russian incident” and the turmoil at the Queen’s finals, followed by this whole mess…

He’d sent her off to stay with the Nighthawks, at first, but now…]

Mikhail: -Sighs- ({I’m sorry, Will. I hope I hear from you soon. …I don’t want to leave you hanging like this, but at this point…})

[He had done what he could.

He had fixed Tobias as best he could—but there was nothing more he could do for the boy. He couldn’t be sure why Tobias refused to wake up—whether that be because he was shell-shocked, or because something else was wrong. He needed to look things over WITH William to clarify some of the unusual coding—but at least his self was intact.

He had done his analysis on the virus, too. He had sent Will what notes he could, but he had chosen to focus in more on what the virus did as opposed to how it was written. It had given some interesting insight—and perhaps a clue as to why it failed to corrupt those connected to the server as it had with Xelbots. It would be a very interesting decision to have with Will, surely—and hopefully a helpful one. The problem went beyond the Mighty Numbers, but foreign aid would not come so easily until certain things were fixed.

It WOULD be a good discussion…

…if he could only have it.]

Mikhail: ({I don’t know how much longer I can wait, William. …My children… I have to look after my family. Kalinka has been brave, but she is so lonely…. And I need to start work on the others, especially my “official” oldest—Digger has pleaded time and again for the responsibilities of being eldest to be returned to his older brothers, as it is more heavy than he was ever really ready to handle.})

[He shook his head.]

Mikhail: ({…What more can I do? Siam has resumed his research, from what supplies a good friend was kind enough to provide. Felix is still caught in visions—but at least he is a Venus Adept, and able to sustain himself that way. There’s still no word from Cardinal—or Jack, for that matter. Lady Nighthawk did say the Fighting Mighty Number timeline was “in flux,” but that doesn’t tell us much… other than that they probably won’t remember anything helpful once we get into contact, as that’s usually how these things go.})

[He heaved a sigh and buried his head in his arms.]

Mikhail: ({If I thought it would help, I’d go through the Wilderness to get to your lab, but—without the ability to communicate, I won’t be of much use. …And I need to keep an eye on everyone, and my children—})

Mikhail: ({…Well. At least I can prepare this latest analysis for—})

“Doctor! DOCTOR! DOCTOR, LOOK—”

[Mikhail was interrupted from his thoughts by his oldest son tugging at his arm. It took him a moment for the surprise to sink in.]

“{David! You should be asleep—!}”

[Snow was tugging at the lab coat relentlessly.]

Snow: You hafta see the TV! Look look look!

[Mikhail had been in the midst of going over the code again.

He had found something very interesting in his analysis—the immune system response to the California virus had been the same as the response to the DLN_COMBAT.EXE program. The presence of the DWN_COMBAT.EXE program had fought it off in both cases.

It seemed that the goal of the latter had been to incite bitterness and wrath to cause chaos—a fruitless endeavor, for the family was already drenched in pain. But the pain had driven them TO mercy—not AWAY from it.

Even so…]

Snow: DAAAD!

[Okay, THIS got his attention.

Again.

Normally DCN-000 referred to him as “Uncle Mike”—rarely did he actually refer to him in the more correct term.]

Mikhail: {I apologize. What is it?}

[Snow pointed to the screen, and Mikhail stood in surprise.

It displayed Beck’s progress up a tower. It had to be Avi’s tower! There was no way Avi would have allowed it broadcast, otherwise. Thankfully, the sound was muted—Mikhail was already up and talking.]

Mikhail: We must get ready—! Snow, go get the twins.

Snow: But he locked himself in his room an’ was real grouchy an’ talkin’ about—

Mikhail: I will need him here. It won’t be too long before Beck breaks his way through at long last!

———————————————

{Meanwhile…}

[Cardinal had been sitting by the radio for what seemed like forever. He had forced himself to sit through hours upon hours of Number Six rambling on and on—honestly, he had been sick of it.

But when Avi started making comments about Beck’s approach, he had jolted up.]

Cardinal: FINALLY.

[He grabbed his gear just as quick as he had on the night tagging, all those months ago—

—and then he was zipping down the streets, headed toward the public library.

He even dared to be so bold as to let his shrill tune play as a warning—and indeed, a number of infected citizens bolted out of his way when they saw him riding his windsurfer low to the ground at at least 65 mph.

Those that didn’t, well…]

[He had to enter into the library through the roof. The first thing that earned him was the sound of infected drones headed his way.

He wasn’t in the mood.]

Cardinal: Jazz!

[His cat took her pantheress form and screamed, leaping on them.]

Cardinal: No fire, but shred them to pieces, if you like.

[He warp-walked his way past the obstacles—knocking a few unsuspecting corrupted Civilian models out cold—before he was finally where he needed to be.

And he wasn’t alone—there were some college students cowering in a corner under the desktops.

…They looked starved. How long had they been holed up in there?]

<DLN-000>: > …Jazz, raid the vending machines when you get the chance. Bring the goods here.

Cardinal: …I’m not here to hurt anyone, but I don’t have time to explain.

[He set the radio on top of a table and turned it on—but down low, so he could focus.

What came next would not be easy, and would be limited in time—]

Cardinal: I’ll try to clear out the building before I go—but you’re going to have to walk after that. Not everyone is infected—there are still some safe havens. I’ll leave the address of a hospital, but you might want to call your parents, too.

[He began typing away at the console, sending the computer into a more basic mode.

It wasn’t long before the RMD was in place.

Now he just needed to wait a little longer so he could make his inquiry…]

>LOADING…

——————————————————

{Back in the Meadow…}

[The family had gathered around the feed—some more eagerly than others. Snow seemed almost a happy kind of excited—]

Snow: Beck’s gonna save Mister Avi an’ then Toby will be okay an’ then we can find Cardinal an’ Mister Shade—

[—while his younger brothers were…]

Jaden: -Pacing anxiously in full armor and a scowl- (This is incredibly uncomfortable, why did it have to be a tower—)

[…less than pleased.]

Snow: -Impatiently- DAAAAaaaaad—when is Avi gonna be rescued? I wanna see Toby again!

Mikhail: Patience, David…

Nico: -Snorts- Patience? He’s not the one you should be talking to—would you STOP running around like that, you’re going to impale someone with those—

Jaden: -Snaps- Oh, /shut up!/

Nico: HEY. Before you wear a hole in the floor with your pacing!

Speedy: Back off, Romeo—

Mikhail: BOYS.

[…Quietness.]

Jaden: -Vents heavily- …

[He gave off abstract data. It constructed into an apology but a resolved determination—and a great deal of concern.

Monstropolis…]

[All of the Second Gens squirmed in great discomfort. It was getting to be too much for them.]

Digger: … -Russian- {Guys? Maybe… maybe you should go lie down, or something.}

Speedy: -GROOOOAAAANS—- -Spanish- {I want to go HOME, frag it—}

Skull: … {Guys. Please. Go to bed before you get sick. …I don’t think you can handle this right now.}

Jaden: …Something I need to do, first. -Wanders off-

Nico: …? (Now where is he going?)

—————————————————

[Jaden looked out over the Meadow from his spot on the roof. He felt… tense. Afraid. Anxious.]

-PING!-

[But it was something he had to do.

For his brothers’ sakes— and that included Avi, too.]

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > -PING!-

[.......]

-PING!-

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Well, well. If it isn't Drill Hands! Heh. This ought to be good.

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > …

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > … Everything’s going to be okay, Avi.

[…This.

This hurt.

Knowing that it wouldn’t make sense until after it was over.

But he had to give Six something to fall back on for when that DID happen.]

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: ......

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Uh, what?

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >Tobias is going to be fine.

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >He’ll be okay once you and Dyna are okay.

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >Don’t blame yourself for what happened—it’s not your fault.

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >You aren’t yourself.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: ....Yeeeeaaaah I don't get it.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: The spark guy's still out of it--and so's my annoying pesky bee of a sister.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: And I'm MORE than not MYSELF, Drill Hands. I'm BETTER.

[Data fuzz.]

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > …I get it. Really, I do. The power. It’s intoxicating, isn’t it?

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Intoxicating? That would be the aforementioned sister.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: At least I KNOW what to DO with it rather than just gobble it up, ya know? But--I will admit it DOES feel good being up TOP. Heh. Get it?

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > … -Okay, despite the situation, that DOES make him snort-

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Yeaaaaaah you geeeeet iiiiiit.~ Heh Heh.

<RMDC>: > CROSS-REFERENCE IDENTIFIED: DWN-023

[Another data fuzz, and more music plays.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EdEryFQy6k

[Except it’s not acoustic, it’s BLARING ROCK.]

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: What the--

“Their chances are thinning I dodge bullets when I’m spinning New plans are just beginning I’ve hit the top”

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: ...You doing this, Drill Hands?

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > Uh, that would be a no.

Jaden: … (But I have a feeling I know what IS…)

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: ...Heh. Well, either way, I'm flattered. Not gonna get you ANYWHERE with me, but it's a nice tune...

Avi: (STILL don't know what that is, maybe a glitch in the system...?)

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >Yeah, that’d be 23’s song.

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >The one from earlier was Ten’s.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Thanks for the fun facts.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: But I really don't have time for Song Trivia 101.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Tick Tock, Drill Hands. Time waits for no one.

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > …You’ve got THAT right… -Murmurs of data, almost like a shudder- Time and tide.

<RMDC>: > CROSS-REFERENCE IDENTIFIED: DWN-014. SUB-REFERENCE: DWN-012.

[A VERY eerie tune starts playing.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Sum7N-detY

[One was suddenly taken back—back to a dusty desert, under a merciless sun—]

<DWN-013>: > No no STOP! Cancel the cross-reference!

<RMDC>: > COMMAND RECOGNIZED: AUTHORIZATION DWN-013. CANCELING…

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: ....What the frag was that?

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Are you trying to PULL something here, Drill Hands?

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: > Nngh—! No, Avi, it’s just—

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >You’re activating cross-references, that’s an automatic thing—

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >When they get active, they go live, that’s just how we work—

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >Just—!

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >…Please, Aviator. Don’t blame yourself for this…!

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Tch.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: You're not making much sense here, buddy--and frankly, it's getting annoying.

[Data fuzz.]

[No, he is our younger brother, he’s—

woah woah wait what

since when was Drill Hands a brother—]

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >Just remember that! It’s not really you causing trouble atop that tower!

<DWN-013 to MNN-006>: >It isn’t permanent. Don’t blame yourself for this. This was far beyond your control, Number Six.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: .......

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Drill Hands, Drill Hands, Drill Hands...

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: You say this is all beyond my control--but who's the one riding the airwaves here, hmm? Who's the one that can send this whole COUNTRY right back to the Stone Age at the push of a button, huh?

[BZZZZZKKKKKT—]

[Kkkkkkkk…]

[The static faded, and Jaden still seemed to be thinking on how to best answer that.]

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Who's the one that--ugh, SHUT UP.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Ya know what, lemmie just get right to the point.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: At least I'm not the one that's pacing back and forth up here.

[MN.6 to DWN-013] //: Right?~

Jaden: …!

<RMDC>: > CROSS-REFERENCE IDENTIFIED: DWN-017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSDvJ_zPb0g

[MN.6] //: DANG IT--

[Whatever Jaden’s response may have been, it was lost to the music.]

[Kkkkkkkkkk…]

<RMDC>: > ERROR: DWN-013 SIGNAL LOST. CONNECTION FAILED.

[Kkkkksssst….]

[The music faded, but…]

[…Despite Jaden being gone, it was as if SOMEONE were still there—watching, and listening.]

[MN.6] //: Gah, you Angel freaks just don't know when to QUIT, do you...?

[MN.6] //: Freakin' annoying--

[C R A S H--!]

————————

[Although the fight was broadcast, Mikhail didn’t watch it. He was a little busy reviewing the notes that DWN-019 had brought with him.

They were straightforward enough—he’d found a working alternative to the E-Tanks—some sort of potion or elixir, from the looks of it. It seemed to operate on the same energy <—> matter conversion. While not the easiest to obtain—a relatively rare item from another world—they could be bought in bulk, and had been known to work on robots. It wasn’t the ideal solution, but it would do in the interim.]

Mikhail: ({Lord knows we’ll need it, by the time we find the others. Now, the main question is going to be one of the energy cores—})

“HE DID IT!”

Mikhail: -Looks up- !

[The twins began rapidly working away at the consoles.]

Siam: External server branch detected!

Gemini: Synching…!

Siamini: COMMUNICATIONS ARE ONLINE!

[Mikhail didn’t waste any time.]

<MC005 to DR.WHITE>: > -PING!-

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

=CHAPTER 4B: AVI'S NEWS REPORT=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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

[SANDA LABS...]

[The lower parts of the building—the labs and underground, as well as most of the floors above were secure, though perhaps there was a few rouge trash bots wandering around here and there, which were quickly dealt with when Beck found them.]

[...But he wasn't here in the storage area for just that. It was the only room big enough for the Round Digger that Beck had first purified way...]

[...Way back? It FELT like it.]

Beck: Hey, buddy...

[The CDN beeped happily as it saw him approach.]

Beck: You seem to be doing OK...that's good...

[Beck patted the larger robot on it's spherical side, rather glad that it was still functioning perfectly well. It also reassured him a little.]

[...He was worried that his...his ability to filter out irregularities in other systems wasn't permanent, or that the virus was stronger than he thought...]

[...But the big guy seemed OK, and that means his family would be OK too.]

Beck: ......

[…Even if it may be a bit complicated for a while.

The whole fusion thing with Avi and Tobias had prompted Dr. Cossack to come over to assist in the repairs. All that he would say were vague remarks about side effects and the nature of the RMDC.

He was in the lab now, looking over more of Avi’s coding, with help from Will.

He seemed confident the problem would be fixed soon—and Beck sure hoped so.

The “side effects” that Mikhail had mentioned were a lot worse than just Tobias getting sensory data from Avi’s feeds.]

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

“Nowhere left to run, anymore. Heh… talk about pathetic. You’re a disgrace t’ robots everywhere, you sniveling ragtag group a’ cowards.”

[Panic. Sheer panic. Terror. Trapped.]

“A hunt this borin’ ain’t worth m’ time, so…. Let’s play a little game, shall we? S’ called…”

[A loud click noise.]

“ ‘Which one a’ you Wily scrapheaps will take the longest t’ die?’”

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

[Whatever it was that had caused all the Rebel Angels to wake up screaming in the middle of the night while they were gone, it definitely wasn’t something anyone wanted to show up in Avi’s feeds a second time.]

Beck: -Sighs-

[At least they were making progress. That had to count for something.]

[...A LOT of things had happened back there, on the Radio Tower, against Avi...]

[For one, it appeared his 'filter' had somehow fixed Avi's and Tobias's fusion, though he was still rather confused as to why...]

[For another...]

-------------------------

[XEL OVERRIDE INITIATED.]

[MN.6'S WEAPONS SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN DISABLED.]

--------------------------

[What in the WORLD was that...?

He was kinda glad that the Angels were all distracted with Tobias (and whatever else Siam was up to), because he had a feeling it would SERIOUSLY freak them out if they knew about it. It was freaky enough as it was—and if anyone were to ask about it, he just didn’t know the answer!]

[He just...he just didn't know and it scared him.]

[...And on top of that, he had no one that he could ask at the moment.]

[Was this--was this just another 'ability' that had been awakened, like the rest? Or was this...]

[Was this something more?]

Beck: Ugh...

[He slumped against the Round Digger, and rubbed his face in clear worry and weariness. He felt tired even though all his systems were green now, and he knew that...this wasn't going to be over anytime soon.]

[Still.]

[He had a promise to uphold, they still NEEDED him, they all did. He was the only, only one that can do this.]

Beck: (Jeez...I don't think I've EVER been this tired...)

Beck: (I could... I could really use a nap or...yeah.)

Beck: ...-Sigh-

Beck: Take it like a Mighty, Beck...

[The CDN beeped in concern, and seemed to rev it's engine as a way of comforting the small construct with a bit of background noise.]

Beck: Thanks...

Beck: .....

Beck: (I should probably get back to the others.)

Beck: Don't cause too much trouble down here, OK, Buddy?

[CDN.502] //: -PING!-

Beck: Heh...

Beck: You like it when I call you Buddy, don't ya?

[CDN.502] //: -PING!-

[The demolition bot revs in response, which makes the small Mighty laugh a bit. It's strange...most Round Diggers didn't have very advanced AI to begin with, compared to them...and yet this one was already showing more personality than any he's ever seen. Maybe he was...different?]

Beck: Buddy it is, then!

[Yeah, that's gotta be it...]

Beck: I gotta go, but...I'll come check on you later, OK? For now, uh...you can take a nap or s—

[CDN.502] //: -PING-

[...COMMAND CONFIRMED.]

Beck: ...!

[CDN.502 IS NOW IN SLEEP MODE.]

Beck: ....

Beck: Okaaaaay...

Beck: .....Night, then...

[He turns to close the door behind him, and heads towards the stairs—the elevators were still out, even if they WERE working, he wasn't going to risk getting trapped in one.]

Beck: (Last thing we need is for me to get stuck in the most crucial moments...)

[LATER, UPSTAIRS...]

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Xel Assimilation Data ready for analysis, Professor.

[DR.WHITE] //: Hm—Oh, thank heavens. Send that over to my terminal while I work with Mikhail—and continue scanning for the other Mighties, please.

[CALL] //: Right away, Doctor.

<MC005>: >I should love to look at that data at some point. I’ve never really gotten any readings for when someone with Universal Adaptability uses a new Power Capsule for the first time…. Are you getting any cross references popping up right now?

[CALL] //: None, Dr. Cossack.

Will: (Thank goodness...)

[CALL] //: The samples from Mighty Numbers 1, 2, 3, and 6 do not seem to show any similarities aside from causing extreme changes in behavior and the urge to cause destruction.

[CALL] //: I have yet to have found any logical pattern in the virus code. I apologize.

[DR.WHITE] //: No, no, Call—you've done so much for us. If it wasn't for you, finding my sons and daughters would be much more difficult.

[DR.WHITE] //: ...Thank you.

<MC005>: >I’m sorry that I couldn’t give much more to your assessment of the virus, my friends—I got rather sidetracked sorting out Tobias’s new coding instead. -Sighs-

Mikhail: (…) -Clearly uncomfortable about something-

Will: ....

Will: Mikhail?

Mikhail: -Looks up- Mmm? Sorry—did I miss something?

Will: ....

Will: Er, nothing...

[CALL] //: ....

[DR.WHITE] //: Call, has Beck finished with self-repair?

[CALL] //: Yes. He informed me he was going to check on the condition of the Round Digger model downstairs.

[DR.WHITE] //: That was a while ago, though...

[Mikhail had to smile a little.]

Mikhail: My older son was very disappointed to be left behind, once he heard about your oversized industrial drill-puppy.

Will: Ah...I can imagine...

Will: -mutters- I still don't know how he got down here in the first place, but he IS a demolition model...

Will: I have absolutely no idea what we're going to do with him... (He's a CDN model, there is a VERY good chance we'll have to...return him.)

Mikhail: What do you mean?

Will: Round Diggers are mass produced industrial models made for demolition work, mainly in construction.

Will: ...Made by CherryDyn.

Will: From the data we received from Beck, it's Model Number 502 of it's make, one of the older kinds. They're built to last for heavy duty work, quite sturdy.

[Mikhail blinked and raised an eyebrow at this. After a moment, he frowned, placed his hands behind his back, and turned to face one of the computer screens.]

Mikhail: …Mmm. -Seems to be thinking how to word what’s on his mind-

Mikhail: I can’t help but be drawn into my own field of “cross-references,” as it were. CherryDyn in general has been on my mind lately, for many reasons.

[He puts a hand to his face and sighs, covering his eyes.]

Mikhail: Tobias Wily and his history are rooted deeply in the works of LightLaboratories, Incorporated. The connections with CherryDyn have always troubled us, and we had hoped… -Trails off-

Will: .....

Mikhail: …I suppose I’m just distracted by thoughts of my youth. I used to work for LightLabs, you know? When I was just a boy.

Mikhail: I had high hopes for the project, but I didn’t really understand the work I was doing until the very end.

Will: . . .

Mikhail: I saw, ever so briefly—that the code was alive…! It reacted to me trying to reach out to it, to find it, to contain it—

Mikhail: (Much like… much like that virus did when it infected the RMDC and I fought back. I swear the thing got angry at me…)

Mikhail: (With how advanced Xel coding is, it certainly was high enough out of my full understanding to come off as alive.)

Mikhail: Dr. Light had been very much against advancing full realization. What I did when I made the AI_DCN_OS… well. I liked Iceman very much, and he was dear to us, but still…

[He sighed and shook his head before taking off his glasses to clean them.]

Mikhail: Forgive me. So much has happened lately that makes me think of the past, of Tobias in his first life. Pieces here and there, echoes of a time ages past.

Mikhail: I suppose that it is on my mind largely because understanding the virus is out of my ability at the moment. I’d need to know more about Xel coding, and you don’t have time to teach me.

Mikhail: This leaves me with Tobias, mainly, and also just… looking forward, long term.

Mikhail: This digging Industrial of yours…

Mikhail: If things continue in a tragic parallel, perhaps it would be scheduled for demolition simply because it were too old, or advancing in Awareness.

Will: -wINCE- (Ngh...)

Mikhail: For that is the fate of Industrials in my world. Even my own sons would be subject to the ten-year warranty, were it not for the fact that I have full legal rights, and can choose not to follow that regulation.

Mikhail: At first it was merely out of a business mindset—depreciation of property, expenses, etc. But after Tobias, animosity grew, and it became born just as much of fear as anything else.

[He put his glasses back on and frowned.]

Mikhail: I’m afraid it won’t be long before we’re called to give an account of ourselves for judgment, William.

Mikhail: Now that Aviator no longer has an Iron Curtain to stifle the media, it won’t be long before it takes a sharp turn from practicality into “here be dragons” water.

[He looked away, narrowing his eyes a little.]

Mikhail: I refused to tell you before, because I felt it was… crazy, to be honest, but. For some time now, Cardinal had been of the opinion that CherryDyn was responsible for a number of… unpleasantries.

[....Oh, dear.]

[Will kinda looks like he's going to be sick just from thinking of the implications of all that...]

Will: . . .

Mikhail: He believed that the things that happened were the result of plans being put into action too early or the like—things going wrong without the careful orchestration to make it only /just/ wrong enough to be visibly stopped, and in turn causing REAL damage.

Mikhail: I feel the same way, but I do not think it to be so—I tell myself that is being overly cynical.

Mikhail: But I think one thing is certain. We must be prepared to say something. Aviator’s interference was public, and…Tobias was involved, and if anyone were to somehow realize he were the same as the mysterious intruder at the Finals…

Mikhail: -Bows his head- The lift of the blockade will allow us to work much faster and more efficiently, yes—but the same applies for our foes as well.

Mikhail: I fully expect CherryDyn to make some noise and raise a fuss very soon. …I just suppose I feel I must arrange the chess pieces to counter it, since that’s the only thing I can really do, and you’re so busy with deciphering the code…

Mikhail: To be fair. It has a direct impact on us, too. If things follow the lane of Monstropolis, Tobias may have to remain Offline indefinitely.

Will: ......

[Will takes in a long breath and pinches the bridge of his nose, shutting his eyes close very tightly. Mikhail was right, of course, he wouldn't put it past CherryDyn to make some sort of comment or whatever ELSE they have planned--if any, that is, if Cardinal turned out to be right after all.]

[And Graham...]

Will: God, what a mess...

Mikhail: We have too many moving parts in this matter…

Mikhail: At least it should be easier to find the others, now. Now that Tobias is no longer interfering and Avi will be able to help Call sort through the data.

Will: Mmm…

[That may work fine for the rest of his children out there, but they weren’t the only ones missing…]

Will: What about Kate and Cardinal?

Mikhail: Mmm.

[The Russian leaned back, crossing his arms and looking up at the ceiling.]

Mikhail: Well, Kate’s brothers have been trying to find her for several days, from what I’ve been told. I didn’t hear the full story, but they’ve probably been trying to follow Jack’s trail.

Will: Jack? You mean he’s not still with you?

Mikhail: No. He went missing a while ago, I’m afraid. Shortly after we first lost contact, actually.

Will: (Adding even MORE to this mess…)

Mikhail: Fighting Mighty Number Nine DID somehow get into contact with Doctor Wily Number Nine, and the other day they brought back some Combat Xelbots from your world, but… Jack was not among them.

Will: Metalman? What does he want with this? Is he working for Wily? -Ugh, one disaster at a TIME, please— -

Mikhail: It was apparently a personal matter. We may hear back from him later after the others have recovered, but… for now, it appears we’re being left alone.

Will: Small blessings, at least….

[He sighed, scratching at his head a bit.]

Will: What about Cardinal, then?

Mikhail: I… I don’t know. I was hoping you might have something to tell me, to be honest. He wouldn’t have been able to contact us, but…

Will: ! Oh, right! I almost forgot!

Will: Beck managed to call him the night Pyro was rescued, and he answered his cell phone!

[Mikhail suddenly became alert at this.]

Mikhail: What did he say?

[Will’s mood fell.]

Will: …He said he wasn’t coming back….

Mikhail: -Sighs, pulling his hand down his face- Why am I not surprised…

Will: He said it was… complicated, somehow, but… Avi cut him off before he could finish….

Mikhail: …

Will: Then I got a text message from him later… it said “John 15:13″…

Mikhail: -Winces- Agh, Cardinal… you shouldn’t be risking yourself like this…

Will: S-sorry I didn’t mention it earlier, I… I guess it must have slipped my mind.

Mikhail: Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself. You had more immediate concerns to deal with at the time we got back in touch. So did I. You’re under a great deal of stress right now—don’t berate yourself over missing small details that slip under the radar. Alright?

Will: I’ll try, aheh…

Mikhail: I suppose it is worth a try….

Will: Hmm?

Mikhail: Let’s try calling Cardinal’s cell phone. I think he’d be more likely to answer a call from you than from me, though.

[Will pulled out his phone, grateful that it wasn’t infected and still worked.]

Will: -Dialing the number- Do you think he’ll change his mind?

Mikhail: That might be expecting a little much…

[To their surprise, the phone call was answered. Much to their further surprise, it wasn’t Cardinal who answered the phone.]

“Hello? Is this really Sanda Enterprises?”

Will: ! (I recognize that voice! He was with Cardinal earlier!)

Mikhail: -Nudges Will to answer-

Will: -Eep— - Er— y-yes, it is! This is Doctor White speaking. May I ask who this is?

[It seemed the other man also recognized his voice from somewhere, because he took the answer at face value.]

“My name is Drake Dawson, sir. I’m a staff member at the Union Station in Kansas City.”

Mikhail: (Of COURSE! I should have known he would go there!)

Will: We’re looking for Cardinal. Is he… is he nearby?

[There was a long sigh.]

“Cardinal split a while back. He gave me his phone and said to call you guys, but uh…I figured you’d be busy right now, sorry…”

Mikhail: Mr. Dawson, did he saw where he was going?

“Not really…. We traveled around KCMO and KCK for several days before he crashed and burned. Not sure where he is now, but he said he wouldn’t go back to Sanda Enterprises until his mission was over. He was really adamant about that…”

Mikhail: -Sighs-

“He did have a couple of messages, though…”

Will: Oh?

“Said he wanted you to know he was ‘in one piece’… which he was, last I saw him. And, uh… hang on, lemme think on this, put it down somewhere so I wouldn’t forget…”

[There was a rustling noise.]

“He said he wanted Beck to come down and help out with the cores they recovered from Arrowhead Stadium, if he had the chance. To consider it a ‘personal favor.’”

Will: (Mnn…. I suppose we’ll be getting requests like that more often now. But Beck is already so worn out from working in Titus and then fighting Avi…)

Mikhail: -Catches onto the hesitation- We’ll pass the message along, but we can’t make any promises.

“Yeah… I can get that.”

Mikhail: Was there anything else? Anything at all?

“Something about focusing on the threats in the middle? It seemed pretty important to him. He wouldn’t really explain much… said that it would have to wait.”

Will: ( “Threats in the middle”? Middle of the country? Middle of the family? I suppose he means the family, but…. Would that be 4,5, and 6? Or 5, 6, and 7?)

Mikhail: Well… I’m afraid he’s right, there. I’m sure you have a lot of questions, but…

“Nah, it’s okay, I get it. I just hope he manages to come back to pick up his phone later. He did mention his idea was ‘stupid dangerous’, which doesn’t surprise me that much, given how he tackled all those enemies by himself…”

Mikhail: It would be for the best right now that you keep the phone with you. He’ll know where to find you, and… if he’s unable for some reason, we can trace his cell phone and send someone to pick it up, after this is over.

“Gotcha. Anything else I can do for you?”

Mikhail: Give us a call if he comes back. Other than that… stay safe.

“Roger that. Good luck with everything. We’re all rooting for you over here.”

[Click.]

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Turns to Will- Kansas City. I should have expected that.

Will: Isn’t he from there?

Mikhail: No, I think he was built somewhere in the West, but that is where he grew up. It’s too bad we missed him.

Will: I wonder what he could be doing…. I would love to get any ideas for leads on Shade, too…

Mikhail: I suspect he didn’t tell Mr. Dawson for the man’s own safety.

Will: Oh, you’re probably right….

[Mikhail’s gaze became thoughtful, and after a while, he reached over and put a gloved hand on his friend’s shoulder, squeezing it slightly.]

Mikhail: But there is hope. We must hold onto that.

Mikhail: Of course we would never ask you to turn your back on the world, but remember—your children are your true priority, and if the worst WERE to happen, you could seek shelter elsewhere. Focus on getting your family back together. I can work with the Sandas in figuring out how to fight the dragons.

Mikhail: We’ll make it through this.

[After a moment, he broke into a warm smile.]

Mikhail: Remember, my friend—I have tread these waters before, and worse.

[This, alas, was true. He had, at one point, had the entire world against him.

And yet he had arranged things so that his sons were allowed to live and work and he got to live in protection and privacy, despite things being so grim at one point.]

Mikhail: I won’t let you get dashed upon the rocks.

Will: ....

Will: Heh...

[Will returned the smile, although it was a bit weary.]

Will: Thank you, Mikhail. Really...

Will: (What would we do without you...)

Mikhail: Ah, my dear William! You have been very good to us, and personally have given great hope for my family’s recovery. Of course I would help you in the recovery of yours.

Mikhail: …Heh.

Mikhail: This is where the others would remind us not to overwork ourselves. Or me, at least. -Laughs- I’m not as young as I used to be. Professor, now, not student. I can’t pull those all-nighters anymore!

[THAT gets Will to laugh. Oh, yes, the all-nighters...]

[...He should probably not mention he's been doing that as of late. He's very sure Mikhail would have a fit—]

[CALL] //: ...Contradiction: Yet you both seem to overexert yourselves as if it were the default.

[...Oh. Call was still listening.]

Mikhail: -Wryly- Ah, we are caught! Oh dear.

Will: Eheh...

[He turned to look in the direction of one of the speakers by habit.]

Mikhail: You’re right, of course. And if it would put you at ease, I can take a short rest. But I would like to take care of a few matters first, if you can help me. I’m afraid I’ve been rather single-focused on Tobias and Avi to learn how everything else is going. Has your father contacted his brother? Or vice-versa, perhaps?

[CALL] //: Yes, Mr. Sanda contacted us as soon as we had a firm connection. They have been speaking privately for the past few hours.

Will: (Possibly bringing Seijiro up to speed on everything...)

Mikhail: I see. I would like you to alert your father that we have fixed the matter of the RMDC for now—no more sudden nightmares for your database. (And again, I apologize.) I should like to speak with them both after they have concluded their private discussion—which I expect will be some while yet. In the meantime, I shall rest.

<MC005 to CALL>: >Oh, and Ms. Sanda? May I make a suggestion in your search for the rest of the Mighty Numbers?

[CALL to MC005] //: -Ping!- Yes, Dr. Cossack?

<MC005 to CALL>: >One of the contributing factors to the… difficulty of the current situation, shall we say… is the large number of variables involved.

<MC005 to CALL>: >We have removed one variable—Aviator’s interference—but it’s not enough. We will need to remove several others as soon as possible if we are to have the best chance of success in concluding this manner with as little predation from CherryDyn as possible.

<MC005 to CALL>: >It is confirmed that Fighting Mighty Number Eight is at large, and the current theory is that she is in this world, on a hunt. Likewise, Dencerjack is searching for her—and he has his own set of complications, since he knows too much, so to speak. We need to find him posthaste.

Mikhail: (There’s also Cardinal, but trying to stop him would not be a good use of resources given the current state of affairs…)

<MC005 to CALL>: >From what I have been told, MNN-007 may be the subject of FMN-008’s attention, for… reasons.

<MC005 to CALL>: >Finding Brandish’s location may allow us to remove several dangerous spanners in the works all at once.

<MC005 to CALL]>: >So, unless there are clearer leads… my suggestion would be to focus on him, first.

Mikhail: (Removing Cardinal’s recklessness would be nice, but I’m not so optimistic as to think we’ll find Shade before we find Brand. Not when Brand’s been giving off data from the beginning, and Shade hasn’t.)

[CALL to MC005] //: -PING-

[CALL to MC005] //: I understand, Dr. Cossack. I will commence my search posthaste. Thank you for your input.

<MC005 to CALL>: > You’re welcome.

Mikhail: -Turns to face Will- I’m going to rest for a while, but I’ll be just a notification away. Sorry to be leaving you on your own like this—I just feel I’d be more useful to you combating one of the other problems. -Encouraging nod- You can do this, alright? Try to keep calm.

[With that, he walked out of the room, lost in his own thoughts.]

Will: ....

[After Mikhail leaves the room, Will slumps back into a chair and lets out a long, quiet sigh, staring into the ceiling as if it held all the solutions.]

Will: .....

Will: (...Should I...)

Will: .....

[He sharply inhaled and didn't let that thought finish itself--couldn't.]

[...Perhaps, he was being cynical and paranoid himself.]

Will: (Greg...Greg doesn't know, does he?)

Will: (If he does...)

[He felt that sick, dreading feeling all over again, and got up to fix that with a glass of water.]

Will: (...No, stop it, Will—)

Will: (Get it together...)

Will: (It's not going to come to that if he knows what he's doing...)

Will: .......

Will: (This had...had BETTER not be you that's behind all this, Greg...)

Will: (You'd better not...)

Will: .....

[Shoving all those negative thoughts aside for now, Dr. White washed up and rolled his lab coat's sleeves down.]

[There was still much work to be done, and Avi was going to be needed for the troubles that lay ahead.]

Will: (I wish it wasn't this way, Aviator...you, out of all of us, need your rest...)

Will: (At least, after this...I hope we can all just...take things easy...)

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

=CHAPTER 8C: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @limitbreakers))

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

[C R A A A C K!]

[THUD--]

[The door came down, Shade was over Cardinal's broken form, rifle pointed right at his chest--!]

[Vrrrrrrr...]

[THREAT IDENTIFIED.]

[XEL OVERRIDE SEQUENCE INITIATED.]

[COMMENCING WEAPON LOCK.]

Beck: STOP!

[Shade looks up from his target, just in time to see Beck's outstretched hand glowing a deep green, his eyes reflecting the same glow. Or perhaps they were glowing themselves?]

[WEAPON SYSTEM LOCK ENGAGED. TARGET: MN.8.]

Shade: --!

[Shade suddenly felt his rifle grow heavy, and the laser from his scope died out--]

Beck: NNGH--!

[Whatever it was that Beck was doing, it seemed to be very taxing on him--it was like he was holding something in place, but he didn't know what that was, or how he was doing it, exactly--]

[All he knew was that it was stopping Shade, which was what he had to do.]

Beck: S-Shade--!

Shade: ....

[The weapon lock didn't do much about Shade's current state of mind, however, and he sneered.]

Shade: So the Lil' Doggy thinks he can bite back, eh?

Shade: Heh. That's c u t e.

Beck: Nnngh--!

[Shade doesn't look too concerned despite being essentially disarmed at the moment. He turns his attention back to Cardinal, who...]

[Wasn't...moving...]

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: C--Cards--!

Shade: Looks like you get to fly another day, Songbird.

Shade: -GRIN-

Shade: That is, if ya can even WALK after this! HA!

Beck: That...

Voice… voices…

> Procc…essin…g…

Beck: THAT'S ENOUGH--!

((pic))

Beck: WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS--?!

Shade: Feh--ya haven't figured it out yet--

Beck: I'm not TALKING to you.

> Proccess…ing…

Shade: --....

Beck: Yeah. That's right.

Beck: You.

Beck: I KNOW you can hear me.

Beck: And--And I know--at least...I think I know.

Beck: I know--you're like ME.

Beck: I've felt it ever since all this started--!

> Proccess…ing…

Shade: ......

Shade?: Like...you--?

Beck: I don't--it's just a feeling, but it's THERE and I know--

Beck: I know that somewhere in there--there's something else, something that knows all this is WRONG--!

Beck: So...

Beck: ...So please.

Beck: I'm begging you.

Beck: There...There's still time.

Beck: No more.

Beck: Just...no more.

> Proccess…ing…

Beck: No more pain, no more...of this.

Beck: I don't want to fight.

Beck: I...

Beck: I don't want to fight anymore--

>WARNING: POWER SYSTEM FAILURE IMMINENT: CORE HAS BEEN DRAINED IN OVERDRIVE CONVERSION.

Beck: --!

[Beck's attention snapped to Cardinal, who--oh, no, why is there so much oil and--]

——————————— Forte: Let’s say you get hurt. Like, Death comes up and starts whaling on you with your weakness. We don’t go out in a single hit, ya notice that?

Cryo: ....Yeah.

Beck: ....Mm-hmm.

Forte: Even if it’s like. You’ve gotten your arm cut off or got set on fire or whatever. We still keep going for a while before the big kaboom.

Forte: How?

Forte: The energy-matter converter goes into some sort of hyper mode, dude. Completely repairs the damage, even ongoing damage.You can regenerate whole systems and stuff that way.

Beck: -....Whoa....-

Cryo: -Dude, gotta admit that is amazingly sick- ....But...doesn't go on forever, right?

Forte: Right. Doing that requires energy to draw from.

Forte: There might be some sort of rechargeable battery like a stomach of sorts—actually yeah, we do have one, I remember now; at least, 3rd Gens and later do— But mostly you’re draining directly from your energy core to do that.

Forte: Energy cores weren’t built to function as first-aid reserves. They just aren’t meant for that. They’re there to provide a long-term internal energy supply to keep you running, like a heart does. You have a heart, but you still gotta eat and stuff.

Forte: Do that too many times, and the next bits of damage will stick, because there isn’t enough energy left to fix it. ——————————————

[Oh no--]

[PING!]

[TRIGGER SIGNAL LOST. XEL OVERRIDE MODE DISENGAGED. WEAPON LOCK WILL NOW BE LIFTED.]

Beck: -Blinks-- ??????

Beck: (Wha--)

[BANG!]

Beck: Guh--!

[A bullet found mark on Beck's shoulder--the assassin wasted no time once the weapon lock vanished.]

Shade: Alright.

Shade: While the lil' dance with the bird was FUN while it lasted...

Shade: It's time we settled this like robots.

Shade: Heh. Ya know what Ah'm talkin' about, don't ya?

Beck: --Shade, wait--!

[Too late. The hunter vanished without a trace, soundlessly making his escape.]

[...Leaving the mangled mess that was Cardinal behind.]

Beck: Cards--

[Beck came closer--he could smell oil and coolant-- familiar smells--]

Beck: C--Cards...

Tired…

> Analysis complete. 1 Match found: MNN-009.

Cardinal: …

[To say he was in bad shape would be the understatement of the decade. He was too tired to even try and hide the damage—and there was only a faint humming noises coming from his unprotected eyes. They flickered dimly, sporadically—

—…no, wait, that wasn’t random, that was morse…]

“Go… on… 9.”

Beck: --!

Beck: ....

[His vision began to grow out of focus.]

[...Oh, no. It's...not that.]

[Those were tears.]

Beck: N--No--

[Beck fell to his knees next to the First, but didn't dare touch him--not....Like this.]

[Flashes of something--someone. Red. Hurt.]

Beck: I...I can't--I can't leave you here--!

“Go… now…”

“SAVE… HIM…”

“Save… 8…”

“Go.”

Beck: I--I--

[His eyes darted erratically--flicking between a glowing intensity to a dulling light--]

[He promised, promised to save everyone, but Cards--but--Shade--]

[Cards was so hurt, but Shade was so close to losing himself--]

Beck: -Hurts--

[Shade--his brother--]

[And Cards, Shade's best friend--]

___________________

"Beck."

___________________

Beck: --!

[A voice...]

_______________________

"Ow...yeah?"

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Putting yourself...Putting yourself up like you MUST prove something."

"Uh...I don't get it."

"Bah, of course you don't..."

"I'm saying...you always put yourself in a position where...where you WANT to be something greater when you're not READY for it."

"I..."

"You help others, sometimes out of your own expense--you give and give and give and give--"

"Until WHAT, Beck--?"

"I..."

"Why do you have to feel like you have to help...help EVERYONE in YOUR world--?"

"Um...Because it's the right thing to do?"

"Oh, don't give me THAT. That's cliché and you know it."

"Well, there's nothing wrong with wanting to help people, right?"

"...No, but it's dangerous to feel like you have to help everyone you meet."

"Hey, what do you mean by--"

"You can't help everyone, Amadeus."

"Wha--yes, I can--!"

"No. You can't. You're just one person. And we all have our limits."

*"I hope that one day even YOU can figure that out..."*

"...Mighty No. 9."

___________________________

Beck: .......

Beck: . . . .

Beck: (...I...)

Beck: (I can't help everyone...)

Beck: .......

>Shutting down…

Beck: . . . . .

Beck: O...Okay.

Beck: I'll go.

Beck: I'll...I'll save Shade, Cards, like I promised...

Beck: And...

Beck: I'll...I'll bring him home...

Beck: ...

Beck: Promise.

-Ping-

<RMDC>: >Signal identified: DLN-000.

<RMDC>: > Processing…

<RMDC>: > DLN-000 is now Offline.

Beck: ....

[It was quiet, save for Beck's small, retreating footsteps. Far too quiet.]

[Beck had come to HATE this kind of silence. It was unnerving, and too heavy for his... smallness to bear.]

[As much as it pained him to leave his friend like this, Beck...Beck just didn't have the heart to go on without some solace that Cardinal would be okay.]

[PING!]

[MN.9] //: G...Guys...

[MN.9] //: I...I'm going after Shade...

[MN.9] //: But--C...Cards...

[MN.9] //: -PLEADING data--Help--I can't help him, please, someone help him soon, please--

[It seems forever before there’s an answer.]

<MC005>: > Can’t bring Robot Masters back Online. Xelbots can’t go until area is secured.

Beck: ......

[Which means...]

[Until Shade was saved, no one would help Cardinal get out of here.]

[MN.9] //: ...Yes, sir.

[.....]

[There was...no other choice.]

[He had to move forward.]

Beck: . . . .

Beck: (Cards...)

Beck: (I'll finish what you started.)

Beck: (I'll save Shade--for both of us...All of us.)

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

[A flash of red and yellow, and Beck zoomed out of the foyer.]

[This was far from over.]

[Just because Shade had effectively incapacitated Cardinal and THEN some--]

[There were still many infected robots in the building, and who knows what kind of secrets were hidden in the White House that Shade could use to spread pandemonium across the nation.]

[Not to mention, the fact that they seem to follow Shade to an extent--he had no doubt that Shade was stalling for time back there just to ambush Cards at the right moment.]

[Eight could very well mount a invasion like had Five nearly done, and then there would be no stopping the government from utterly destroying the place.]

[...The more Beck thought about it, the more he could see why Cards wanted him to leave him behind. In a way, it lessened the sting of just abandoning him there--]

[...But only a little.]

[SHING!]

[Shade was still hiding, even after all this.]

[SHING!]

[But where...]

Beck: SHADE!

[PING!]

[MN.8] //: Lost, Lil' Doggy?

Beck: I THOUGHT you wanted to settle this like robots.

Beck: So where ARE you?

[MN.8] //: Ah' could tell ya. But that wouldn't as fun...

[MN.8] //: Ah' think ya have more worries t' attend to.

Beck: Besides YOU? Oh, come on--

[MN.8] //: Haven't ya heard the commotion outside?~

Beck: --Huh?

[Beck skidded to a stop, looking out to one of the broken windows overlooking the White House Lawn, and the gates beyond it.]

[There was...A lot of police. The kind that you see in... riots--? ]

Beck: What...?

[MN.8] //: See? I'm not the only robot tired of the status quo.

[MN.8] //: Even the meat-sticks don't want anythin' t do with the system!

[Indeed, it...It looked like there was a large, angry crowd outside--Beck could make out mostly humans, but also some Xelbot Civilians that didn't seem to be infected--]

[Some were cheering, others screaming bloody murder, and still others were trying to get inside--]

Beck: I...What is...?

Beck: (I don't understand...)

[MN.8] //: Lemmie ask ya a question, Lil' Doggy.

[MN.8] //: What are we REALLY built for?

Beck: ....

Beck: You're not going to get at me with this.

[MN.8] //: Not even gonna humor me, eh? Alright, that's fahn. I'll TELL ya.

[MN.8] //: All we were built t' do is fight in the Battle Colosseum, plaaain an' simple.

[MN.8] //: Don't seem so bad on the SURFACE, right?

[MN.8] //: W r o n g.

[MN.8] //: Humans can talk 'bout 'containin' violence' all they want, but that don't disguise what they REALLY want.

[MN.8] //: Entertainment, Lil' Doggy. We're just playthangs t' them. We dance and sing and fight and die just t' give them somethin' to fill the void in their PATHETIC Lil' lives.

Beck: --......

[MN.8] //: An' Combat Models have been doin' it fer YEARS an' no one' bothered t' do ANYTHIN' 'bout it.

[MN.8] //: We're givin' our spot in the limelight until they decide we're old news. And then they throw. Us. OUT.

[MN.8] //: Would've happened to One, eventually. Would've happened t' all of us. Would have happened t' YOU.

[MN.8] //: Heh.

[MN.8] //: Lucky for yew, lil' Doggy, Ah' plan t' make a few...changes t' that.

[MN.8] //: If ya manage t' SURVIVE, that is.

Beck: ...What are you getting at, Shade?

Beck: What's your plan?

[MN.8] //: Ah' really gotta spell it out for ya, don't Ah'?

[MN.8] //: Mah' first executive order as the first robot president is to set ALL robot FREE.

[MN.8] //: An' t' do that, I'm gonna abolish the International Battle Coloseeum Association. Permanently.

[MN.8] //: By FORCE.

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: Y--You can't do that--!

Beck: The IBCA isn't EVIL, Shade--!

Beck: Don't do that--

Beck: -PANIC-

Beck: PLEASE--!

[MN.8] //: Oh?

[MN.8] //: --Ooooh, that's right...yer off the team, ain't ya?

[MN.8] //: No IBCA, no tournaments, no more team.

[MN.8] //: You'd be useless, Lil' Doggy. Everythin' ya worked for--

[MN.8] //: --Kaput. See what Ah' mean, nao?

Beck: --........

[MN.8] //: Heh.

[MN.8] //: Truth hurts, don't it.

[MN.8] //: I'll be waitin' in mah new office, Lil' Doggy. If ya wanna file a complaint!~

[KSSSSSST--]

Beck: . . . .

Beck: (Those words...)

Beck: (I...I've heard those words... before...)

Beck: (I didn't understand then, but...Now...)

((Flash backs to when the cross was revealed in the Queen's Finals, the Highway Accident when Shade is investigating the CherryDyn delivery truck, and times when Beck worried about Ray--))

Beck: (You...)

Beck: (Has it been you...I've been sensing all this time...?)

Beck: (Are you the one behind all this...?)

Beck: (Have you...been hurting...this whole...time...?)

Beck: .......

Beck: (No...)

Beck: (Why didn't you tell me--?)

Beck: (Y...You could have...told me...)

Beck: (I...All this time, I could have helped you too...)

Beck: (How...how could I have been so blind--?)

Beck: (...Am I really that much of an idiot after all...?)

Beck: --........

[MN.9] //: -Erratic, sad, self doubt, empathetic data--

Beck: -Ngh--

Beck: (No, stop that--)

Beck: (If...If they knew...)

Beck: ....

Beck: (I have to keep going.)

Beck: (I can...think..about it...later...)

[His new office, Shade said.]

[Taking into account what Shade came here to do in the first place...]

[Beck knew exactly where to go.]

Beck: . . . .

[Soon, he came upon the large doors adorned with the Presidential Seal on them--The Oval Office.]

[Sunny sat to the side, hopping over to the small, discouraged hero with a worried look on her face.]

Sunny: D :

Beck: ...Hi, Sunny.

[Sunny opened up her compartment to give Beck some much needed Xel Cubes and Stocks--]

Beck: --?

[...Some other things tumbled out too.]

Beck: !

[A care package, of sorts, hastily thrown together.]

[Some cool water from Cryo, and cookies from Pyro--power nodes from Dyna and what looked to be a shiny rock from Mic...]

[A small coin from Bat--...Sadly nothing from Avi. He must be still out cold...]

[...A origami crane from Brand...His star projection toy he got on his second birthday from Will...]

[And some marshmallows from Sanda.]

[…!]

[And a note!]

Beck: ...?

“{LAST NIGHT—FOUND WORKING REPLACEMENT.}”

Beck: Working...Replacement...?

[.....]

Beck: --!!!!!

[Cardinal's core. He had all the parts, thanks to Beck, except for a working power core replacement. Something he could run on that wouldn't cause him to overheat--]

Beck: (He...They...)

Beck: (They did it--?)

Beck: ....

[And just like that, with that one note, with those seemingly few items that wouldn't have mattered to anyone else...]

[...There was hope.]

Beck: (I get it now...)

[There was a chance--!]

Beck: (I gotta save Shade--)

Beck: (So Cards can get help--)

Beck: (So he can be SAVED--)

Beck: (So he can live--!)

((pic))

Beck: (Don't worry, Cards--)

Beck: (I'll save Shade for you--so he can live right by your side--!)

[Strength returned to him suddenly, as he absorbed the Xel Cubes into his frame. He shoved the rest of the care package back into Sunny--he didn't have time to keep it all on him.]

[...The cookies and marshmallows stayed with him, though.]

Beck: (Alright, Shade--)

[Beck stood in front of the doors, and pushed them both open with some effort.]

Beck: (Let's end this.)

[CAPITOL BUILDING: OVAL OFFICE...]

[The office had seen better days. It was completely trashed. Even the chair in which the Madame President sat in was thrown across the room, the desk scorched, the tables turned sideways and riddled with bullet holes.]

[As expected...Shade was nowhere to be seen.]

[But he was here.]

Beck: (...Yeah...)

Beck: (He's here, I can feel it, somehow...)

Beck: (Is this how you tell he's near, Nii-San?)

Beck: ....

Beck: I kinda expected to be shot the second I came in.

Beck: That's what you did when I got here.

"Heh."

[The cowbot finally revealed himself, lazily leaning against the side of the desk, head down so that his radar hat covered most of his face.]

Shade: So ya do learn.

Shade: Okay, nao, Lil' Doggy...

[His head lifts just enough to reveal a single glowing violet eye, and a twisted smile.]

Shade: Let's see if you're all bark...or if you got some b i t e.

[A pair of bright, emerald hues meet his in defiance. Then Beck shook his head.]

Beck: Listen to me, Shade: you're malfunctioning! You're SICK! You're not THINKING straight!

Beck: Didn't you feel anything at all--ANYTHING--when you saw Cards--?!

[Shade pauses at that for a moment, as if thinking back...]

Shade: ....

Beck: Please...

Beck: All this--freeing robots, us being just tools and playthings--

Beck: ....

Beck: I won't disagree with you.

Beck: ....

Beck: I've seen...and heard...what happens...when people see us like that...

Beck: Even when I shouldn't have...I did. I heard.

Beck: And it is nothing LESS than horrifying and wrong.

Beck: And...I won't deny that...

Beck: There are bad things, bad places, and...Yeah... really bad people in the world.

Beck: That being said--

Beck There are people that don't see us like that--!

Beck: Like Dad, and Uncle Sanda, and Mikhail--!

Beck: Mao, Felix, Piers--

Beck: The people that look up to us--

Beck: The people that we FIGHT for--!

Beck: The people that know what REAL freedom is, and try to protect it--!

Beck: Freedom doesn't require all this SUFFERING--!!

Beck: You're only going to make things WORSE, if you shut down the IBCA--! Not just for me--forget about me--! For EVERYONE--! What are you trying to ACCOMPLISH, getting rid of something that gives so many people so much HOPE?!

Shade: Tch.

Shade: Humans have fought over freedom an' hope with WAR for centuries. Your damn point? S'moot.

Beck: --!

Shade: Emancipation is worth ANY price...

Shade: Even at the cost of human lives.

[SCANNING.....]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[MODEL: MIGHTY NO. 8. CODENAME: COUNTERSHADE.]

[HEIGHT: 193cm WEIGHT: 273kg XEL COUNT: 54,600,000]

[CLICK]

(((SHADE BOSS PIC HERE--))

Shade: Or yours.

[BANG!]

[Beck saw that coming--he vaulted over a table on its side, the energy bullet seating the expensive furniture instead.]

Beck: I don't want to FIGHT you, Shade--!

"Bit late for that line, ain't it?"

[A quick peek over the table. Shade was no longer there.]

Beck: (Argh...)

[Countershade. The 8th in the Mighty Numbers, with state of the art technology that was only surpassed by Beck's own. The Teal Silence, the Mighty Assassin, intangible as a ghost...]

[Shade was synonymous with all of these titles and sayings and then some. He was able to pick his foes off before they even knew they were being hunted, and had many tricks and traps at his disposal--even with the lack of a right limb, that didn't slow him down in the slightest.]

[The world's greatest assassin robot ever built, and he had turned for the worst. He had pushed his inborn abilities of Radar Detection and Active Camouflage to greater heights, placing him squarely as the team's Sniper. It was often Shade that dealt the final blow against particularly strong teams, and often Shade that made sure that they had a ace in the hole in case things ever went...]

[...Wrong.]

[Against the strongest member of their family...]

[Beck had to be prepared for anything.]

Beck: (At least we're in an enclosed space--Shade's area of excel is long-range, not close quarters combat. I got the advantage there.)

Beck: (...But Cards had that too, and...)

Beck: (...And I DON'T want to taunt Shade into a rage--that would suck--)

Beck: (--I could use his weakness, I have Dyna's form...)

Beck: (--...But that isn't really going to deflect his shots, so...)

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC]

Beck: I hope I got Mic's bulkiness too...

[Beck took a deep breath and ZOOMED out of his cover--]

[BANG BANG BANG--]

[Bullet holes chasing his tracks, unrelenting in their pursuit of the smaller Mighty Number.]

"That's right--RUN."

Beck: -WELL, WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO--

[Shade still had his Camo online, even if Cardinal had done a number on his cloak...]

Beck: (Where are you--)

"Here."

Beck: --!?

[He looked up--]

[BANG--!]

Beck: --?!?

[Dizzy--]

[ERROR--GYRO SYSTEMS OFFLINE.]

Beck: Wh--Whoa--!

Shade: Heh! DANCE, Lil' Doggy!

[The world suddenly turned upside down, and his motor controls were reversed--]

[WHAM--!]

[He crashed into the desk so hard he reverted back to default, the ground and ceiling spinning at dizzying speeds.]

Beck: @~@!

Beck: (Can't tell what's up or down--)

[BANG!]

Beck: NGH--!

[Trying to move his right arm only moved his left, and vice versa--same with his legs--]

[BANG!]

Beck: OW--

[After some doing, he DOES manage to get on his feet--]

[But he's stumbling and tripping up, all sense of balance lost.]

Beck: (I've never--seen Shade do this before--not with Cards or anyone--!)

[THUD--]

Beck: (Ugh, I can't even walk straight, LET ALONE SHOOT--!)

[BANG--!]

Beck: ARGH--!

"Havin' fun, Lil' doggy?"

Beck: NO!

"Heheh."

Beck: (I gotta get normal mobility BACK--!)

[RUNNING XEL_FILTER.EXE...]

[NO MALWARE FOUND.]

Beck: (Wha--then how--)

Beck: !

[There--there's something caught in his shoulder's armor--]

[A purple dart--?]

Beck: --!

Beck: (Of course, Shade can detect signals--there's no reason why he can't also transmit jamming signals with his radar too--!)

Beck: (I gotta get this thing off me--)

[Left moves right, and vice versa--]

[So moving his right arm should--!]

Beck: (There--Ow, OW THAT HURTS--)

[BANG BANG BANG--!]

[The shots hit him squarely in the torso, knocking him away to the middle of the room--]

Beck: Nngh...

Beck: (Need a...good grip...!)

[SMACK--]

Beck: Mmmph--!

[His face meets the carpet--something big and heavy was planted right on the back of his head--]

Shade: S'that ALL?

Shade: Ya didn't even last HALF of what the Songbird did.

Shade: How ya managed t' fell the rest of our kin is beyond me. Maybe it was all dumb luck, huh?

Beck: (Nngh--)

[... Amazingly, Beck raised his head even with Shade's weighted boot on his helmet.]

Beck: Sh... Shade--!

[...?]

[...Why...Why was this part of the carpet red--? ]

[Yes, it was faint, but he can make out the beginning of the letter H in...]

[Cardinal's handwriting...]

[HOPE LIVES.]

Beck: (H...Hope...Hope...)

Shade: Any last words, Doggy?

[CLICK.]

Beck: --Shade--

Beck: Cards--there's--there's a new source--

Beck: They did it, Shade--!

Shade: --!

[It was as if a switch had been flipped.]

[The sick, purple glow left him completely, for a moment--]

Shade: -Blink-

Shade: R..Really--?

Beck: Yeah-- [YANK--] [GYRO SYSTEMS RESTORED.]

Beck: So you need to COME BACK HOME WITH ME--! [REXELECTION: DYNATRON.]

[BZZZZZZZZZRT!!]

Shade: MOTHERSCRA--

[Shade screamed as pure high voltage surged up his leg, considerably damaging him--enough so that some of the infected Xel glowed around him!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: So you and Cards--

[BZZZZZZZZZRT!]

Beck: --can get better--together--!

Shade: Ngh--!

Beck: So you can laugh and smile and be silly and get into trouble--

Beck: So we can all Live together--!!

Beck: IT'S JUST YOU LEFT--!

Beck: SO JUST LET ME--

[Beck dashed into Shade, he needed to end this quick, end this now before Cards--]

[Fzzt!]

Beck: --?!?!?

[....Did...]

[Did he just go... through Shade...?]

[He skids to a stop, turning on his heel, bewildered.]

Shade: -GRIN-

[Shade was... flickering red...]

Shade: What's wrong, Lil' Doggy?

[And then he just disappeared.]

"Ya look like ya just saw a GHOST, HEH HEH HEH!~"

[BANG!]

Beck: Gh--

[The shot came from what seemed like above--he rolled and shot straight at the ceiling ledge where Shade was really perched--had be been there the whole time--]

Shade: That damn annoyin' Songbird fell for it more than ONCE, ha!

Shade: Half of the tahm he was chasin' mah Phantom instead of me.~

Shade: Did ya really think ya can win against ME, mutt?

Shade: Just like that?

Beck: --Ngh...Okay...I might have gotten...Carried away...

Shade: Heh.

Shade: So--will the humans give ya a SPECIAL treat for betraying yer own KIND, Lil' Doggy? Is Dad gonna put ya on a pedestal b'fore everyone?

Shade: S'just like them, huh?

Shade: T'covet what they hold DEAR--

[VRRRRR....]

Beck: !

[Several dark orbs fly out from under Shade's cloak--some create a shield around him, while one started to glow... bright red--]

Shade: T'WORSHIP UNTIL THEY GET BORED!

[BANG BANG BANG--]

[Strange visual glitches appeared in the air, but there were OTHER things to worry about—]

Beck: --?!?!?

Beck: (HOW IS HE DOING THAT--)

[Diving behind a table once more, he could only watch in absolute horror as Shade shot off bullets towards him--off of something that made some very familiar warping--]

Beck: (T..That shouldn't be possible--!)

[BANG BANG BANG!]

[Beck winces at what sounds like glass breaking, Shade continuing to shoot wildly--he managed to get around his cover a few times, but--]

Beck: Shade, I have no idea what you're doing but you have to stop it--

Beck: --?

[What's this--?

The visual glitchy cracks in the air were suddenly filled with a dark, pulsing energy...

That's funny, for a second he thought he heard...Voices...]

Beck: (What the heck...)

Beck: (Ugh, I don't know what's going on, but it isn't good--!) [REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[PEW PEW PEW!]

Shade: HGNN--

[Pelting Shade with a few ice shard filled snowballs was enough to get him to stop making more of those strange glitches--but it did also made him angry.]

Shade: Freakin' MUTT!

Shade: I'll show ya EXACTLY what yer dealin' with--

Shade: Les' play a GAME, Lil' Doggy.

Shade: S'called-- [FZZT!]

[Shade vanished once more--only to reappear at Beck's left...AND right--!]

Shade and Shade: Which is it?

Beck: !

Beck: -DUCK--

[Both Shades fired at him, with those annoying purple darts--Beck could NOT afford to get hit with one of THOSE again--]

[SCANNING...]

[ERROR--MN.8 SIGNAL NOT FOUND]

Beck: (I can't tell which one is the real one--!)

Beck: (UGH--)

[PEW--!]

[He fired at one Shade, but it just went right through it.]

Beck: (Aha!)

[Fzzt!]

[No cigar--as soon as Beck figured out which was which, both Shades had vanished--and once again reappeared in different locations, as if in a game of shuffle.]

Beck: (No--!)

Shade and Shade: Heh, it hurts t' be seein' DOUBLE, ain't it?

Beck: (Nnngh, I even hear two voices overlapping--)

Beck: --?

[--? What was that--a light dangling from one of the Shades’ neck--?]

Beck: --!!!

[--Wait--that was a dog tag, with a red frayed thread around it--!]

[PEW!]

Shade: --?!?

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: (Thank you, Cards--!)

Beck: (It must have gotten loose during the fight...)

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON.]

Shade: Nngghr--...

Shade: Ya need t' be put DOWN, Lil' doggy, so sit STILL--!

Beck: I'm not a DOG--

[BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Beck: --So stop CALLING me that--!

[Shade growled at his smaller brother, and sent out--a LOT of orbs--!]

[Shade--the REAL Shade--flared a bright violet aura, anger and wrath radiating from his frame in visible waves, distorting the space around him--]

Shade: You...

Shade?: You IDIOT.

Beck: --?!

Shade?: I have no qualms with you, NINTH!

[CLICK.]

Shade?: LET ME HAVE THIS!

[VRRRRRRRR--!]

[BANG BANG BANG BANG BANGBANGBANGBANG--!]

((FLASHBACK TO ROUND ONE WHEN SHADE KNOCKED OUT ALL THE LIGHTS,))

[Bullets and darts fly absolutely EVERYWHERE, leaving Beck with no room for cover--]

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC]

[The only thing he COULD do was shift into Mic's form and tank what he could...]

[But...]

[WARNING: XEL LOSS DETECTED.]

Beck: --!!

Beck: -Gnh--

[His leg armor was breached, and blue began to flow out of the wound from it...]

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 1...]

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

Shade: Gah, sloppy--

Shade: Hate it when it takes more than one bullet...

Shade: Heh, oh well. Funny, that ya bleed b l u e....

Beck: Ngh--

Beck: How many times do I have to say it--

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[Bits flew around the room, dangerously sparking up--]

Beck: You got it all WRONG! I'm here because I want to HELP you!

Beck: I AM NOT--

Shade: --!!!

Beck: LIKE THAT--!

[C R A C K !!]

[A brilliant flash, the room turns alight with the brightness of the sun-- ]

[K-ZAP!]

[Well THAT was certainly stronger than expected—!]

[...The room was covered in black soot, though, Shade and Beck included.]

Beck: ....

Beck: -cough, ugh--

Beck: (Dizzy...I feel all tingly...)

"N...Ngh..."

[Shade was on a single knee across the room, twitching slightly in some places...

The glow that surrounded him earlier had faded to a dim, but the assassin was not completely spent...]

Shade: A Mighty...doesn't lose...On their KNEES...

[Slowly, with some effort, he rides to his feet--]

Shade: This tahm--gonna kill ya DEAD--

Beck: --!

Beck: SHADE WAIT--

[ZZT.]

Shade: OW--

Shade: -Nnmmgh that smarts, what the hell--

Beck: -...We're on carpet, haven't you ever rubbed socks on one--

Beck: (This is perfect--all I have to do is get closer--)

[ZZZT.]

Beck: OW--

Beck: ......

[ZZZT. ZZZT. ZZZT.]

Beck: Ow ow ow--

Shade: Wh--

Beck: Ow OW OW, that hurts, ow--

Beck: @-@

Beck: Ow.

Shade: -GROWLS, DON'T YA DARE, WE /W I L L/ BEAT YA WITH OUR GOOD ARM IF WE HAFTA--

Beck: Okay, Shade...

Shade: Ya don't know what yer doin', Lil' Doggy.

Shade?: This is something you cannot even begin to fathom.

Beck: .....

Beck: No.

Beck: I think I do.

Beck: I think I have all this time.

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED. XEL PURGE ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE IS PRIMED AND READY FOR OVERDRIVE.]

Beck: I...just didn't want to believe it.

Beck: I know you're listening.

Beck: ...

Beck: Everything is going to be okay.

Beck: I will help everyone.

Beck: ...I'll keep giving, if that's what it takes.

Beck: And, Shade...

Shade: --?

Beck: Cards is going to be okay.

Beck: He's hurt, but he's going to be okay.

Shade: .....

Shade: C... Cards...

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

Beck: I think we've stayed here long enough...

[.........]

"What are ya doin' in mah room, Beck?"

"WAAH--I--I thought no one was in here--"

"Heh. Hidin' from Dyna's wardrobe game again?"

"...Yeah. >//> I hate being in a dress..."

"Alright, ya can crash here fer a bit."

"...Y...You're not mad?"

"Beck, Ah've known those two fer longer than ya have been alive, Ah' get it."

"Oh...Okay."

"... Penny fer yer thoughts? Ya seem distant."

"Um...I... was...just wondering."

"Mm?"

"...People say... that... you...."

"...you hurt people. B...Bad people, though."

"But...why? I...I mean, isn't violence only confined to the Battle Colosseum--and why do you have to--"

"Hush, nao..."

"When did ya start thinkin' like that, huh...Eh, you're gettin' older, Ah' bet..."

"Listen t' me, Beck, an' listen well."

"Dad's taught us that there is good in everyone, an' he ain't wrong 'bout that. There is a light in all thangs..."

"... But there is also darkness. Evil. Sometimes...Sometimes good people don't come back once they let themselves go too far."

"An' as much as some would like nothin' more than t' get them back..."

"Sometimes, it ain't enough. An' someone has t' stop them b'fore they hurt even MORE people. Good, innocent people."

"...People like the ones we see on the street..."

"...An' sweet lil' kids like you, Becky, come 'ere!"

"Ack--! Shaaaade, that tickles--!"

"Heh."

[.......]

"But...Dad also taught us that..."

"... Sometimes, good people do bad thangs, but that don't make them bad people. It takes a strong heart t' tell the difference, Beck."

"...?"

Shade: B...Be...ck...

Beck: --!!!!

"Just remember this."

"There is such a thang as second chances."

"Few, an' far in between..."

Shade: Ah'....

"But they're there."

[XEL PURGE COMPLETE. ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.8]

Shade: Ah' owe ya one, don't ah', Beck...?

[THUD.]

[MN.8 IS NOW IN DEEP SLEEP MODE.]

Beck: Shade--!

-PING!-

<MC005>: > {Please tell me I didn’t just imagine that—}

<MC005>: > {Beck! Are you ready to return?}

Beck: ! Yeah, but Shade--

Shade: .....

Shade: Zzzzzz....

Beck: . . .

[…

Mikhail laughs.

It is clearly influenced by stress, and you could almost hear him crying in relief—his voice was kind of shaky.]

Beck: ....

Beck: Heh...

[He is soon joined by Beck, after a while. It...

It was almost like a great weight had been lifted up from his small shoulders...]

Mikhail: They’ll…

Mikhail: They’ll be fine, Beck.

Beck: -Sniff- Y...Yeah...

Mikhail: I can’t… I haven’t had the chance to talk to your father yet, but I know a way to even minimize the impact of this…

Beck: !

Beck: R...Really?

Beck: -Sniff- Th... That's great...

Mikhail: I’ll need to have a lengthy private conversation with him first, but…

Mikhail: He’ll be alright.

Beck: Heh...

Beck: (I...)

Beck: (I did it. I saved my whole family.)

Beck: (They're...going to be fine...)

Beck: ^^ M'...M'kay...

[...Oh, poor boy. He looks ready to keel over, but he's keeping himself awake through will.]

Mikhail: I’m going to bring the two of you home. Try to get some rest once you get here, Nine.

Beck: -Sleepily- Mmm mmm...

Mikhail: Call, if you please…

[SANDA LABS....]

[Ah...It looked like Beck fell asleep mid-transfer, a tired but satisfied look on his face as he used his rescued brother as a makeshift pillow.

Will looked like he had been through his own personal hell himself--he looked so frightened when he walked in with Soi--but he instantly perked up when he saw both of his sons...]

Beck: Zzzzz....

Shade: Zzz....

[Peacefully asleep.]

Pyro: -I am hardly surprised at this-

Will: Shade...

Mikhail: -An exhausted kind of relief- Praise be to God and His mercies. He’s safe.

Mikhail: Will, I need to talk to you about handling the memories of the event and preventing overload. But first, Pyro…

Mikhail: …I’m going to need you to do something.

Pyro: --?

Will: -Deep breaths- ...Yes...

Will: Not...Not all of us are home, Pyrogen...

Will: Not yet...

Will: The Robot Masters are offline for good reason, and Beck is in no condition to go anywhere.

Will: ...

Will: You must go and retrieve Cardinal posthaste...

Will: You are strong--and delicate enough to move him here without causing more damage, and I think, by now, some parts of the building have caught fire.

[Mikhail pinched the bridge of his nose.]

Mikhail: ({Electrical fire. Oh, Cardinal, why did you have to use something so powerful on an important point like that? You must have been truly desperate.})

Will: Once he is here, Mikhail can begin repairs...

Will: But with the Robot Masters offline...

Mikhail: …I’m going to need someone else to bring him here, for starters. And others to assist in repairs.

[He sighed, putting his head in his hands again.

He seemed… old. Truly old, and weary of the world. And he was exhausted.]

Mikhail: Will…

Mikhail: I really, really wish it could be you.

Mikhail: That’s what he would have wanted.

Mikhail: But I know you’re still busy…

Mikhail: So please… don’t overdo yourself, my friend.

Will: .....

Will: I...I know.

Will: I'll keep working on the code...In bits...

Will: (....I'm sorry....)

Will: Soi can begin with Shade's and Beck's repairs...

Will: ...Bat...Mic. I...I need you to stand guard outside the repair bay.

Will: Once Shade wakes up....

Will: ......

Mikhail: I have recommendations regarding that, too, but again…

[He trails off when he notices his friend’s state of being.]

Mikhail: Will.

Mikhail: You don’t look very good.

Will: I--

Soi: Will had a panic attack.

Will: --....

Soi: He got worried over the government calling again--you know how THAT went the last time. >>

Will: (Soi...)

Soi: I think you should take the rest of this day off, Will. Please, get some rest.

Soi: Both of you. <<

Mikhail: …

[The older man doesn’t even argue.]

Mikhail: Aright. I’ll try to get what sleep I can. Call, please wake me as soon as possible after their return as long as it is after the current REM cycle is complete. You have my permission to closely monitor bioreadings to keep track of that.

Call: Yes, Doctor Cossack.

Mikhail: I am making hot chocolate and going to bed, hopefully be up by dinner.

Mikhail: Good day.

Soi: See you later, Mikhail.

Will: .....-Waves-

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

=CHAPTER 1A: RAGING FLAMES SMOLDER=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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

{MEANWHILE, BACK IN SANDA LABS....}

[After speaking with Seijiro… Beck, Soichiro, William, and Call did a thorough search of the lower levels of the building Soi was sealed in. To their surprise, they had found a couple of uninfected Patch bots that were busy recharging their energy--their systems also had to be shut down to do so.]

Sunny: D: -BEEP BEEP I AM SCARED WHAT IS HAPPENING WHY ARE THERE EXPLODING NOISES -

Beck: Sunny! : D -shhhh it's OK everything is fine--or will be--

White: (Interesting...these Patches are also fine, like Call...)

[Meanwhile, Call had moved her usual terminal to the lab, and began bringing back the labs systems one by one with her father.]

Sanda: If we can just get this one back up, we can start looking for the rest of the Mighties...

[Beck perked up from his spot on the floor, a bit busy consoling about six or seven different colored Patches.]

Beck: ...How are we gonna do that?

[White frowned and put his hand to his chin, thinking.]

White: Hmm...

Sanda: ...! Ah! That should do it--for now, at least. At any rate, the lab is all set for any repairs Beck and the others might need.

White: Good, good...

White: . . .

White: We can still read most of their statuses, yes?

Sanda: Hmm, yes...

White: Can we trace back their transponders?

Sanda: We can give it a try, but with Avi messing around with the signals...

Call: Tracing...

[A map of the US comes up.]

Call: .......

Call: Transponder found.

White: --!!! Whose?

[A marker appeared right smack in the middle of the State of Louisiana.]

[A symbol. Pyrogen's. ]

Beck: ! Big Brother...!

Call: Comparing location to local database....

Call: .......

Sanda: Well?!

Call: ....

Call: It appears that Mighty No. 1 has retreated to an oil refinery.

White: An OIL--?!

Sanda: Good God--He's going to blow it all up to kingdom come--!

White: Quickly--there is no time to waste! Beck, Call, prepare yourselves for the mission--Sanda, find another signal frequency for Xel Transfer, something we don't use as often so that Avi won't pick it up at first--I'll set up encryptions to hide it from him in the meantime from my own terminal!

Beck: Yessir!

Call: Affirmative.

Sanda: You got it, Will.

Beck: (Don't worry, big brother...)

Beck: (I'm coming to save you...!)

__________________________________________________

[COORDINATES SET.]

"... Beck..."

"Yeah?"

"...Please...please be careful. Please."

"I know, Dad."

"We're all counting on you, Beck--promise me you'll come back in one piece for your uncle, eh?"

"I promise, Sanda."

"Good luck, No. 9. Now preparing Xel Transfer..."

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

"...I love you."

"...I love you too, Beck...pass that on to Pyrogen for me..!"

[XELS TRANSFERRING...]

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NO. 1, CODENAME: PYROGEN, HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN A LOUISIANA OIL REFINERY. STATUS: INFECTED WITH HARMFUL MALWARE, FULL COMBAT MODE ENGAGED.]

[OBJECTIVES: RESCUE MN.1 AND PURGE HARMFUL MALWARE FROM SYSTEMS, PREVENT A LARGE-SCALE INFERNO. ]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

[Once Beck had fully reconstituted, Xels clicking into place as his form settled, the first thing that he felt was the heat.]

[The second was the smoke filling the air, and the third was the distant sound of crazed, infected robots just up ahead--Pyrogen was not the only one given free range of the place. Many industrial, non-sentient CherryDyn and Sanda models were running rampant...]

[Beck's comm line crackled to life.]

Call: No. 9, do you read?

[Beck lifted a hand to the side of his helmet.]

Beck: This is Nine--I read you loud and clear! I've made it to the Oil Platform...

[He pauses.]

Beck: No sign of One yet...and the place is just...it's chaos...

[Soon enough, Sanda could be heard over the line as well, along with White.]

Sanda: A fire wielding robot running wild in an oil refinery...I don't like the looks of this at all.

White: Not exactly ideal conditions, I'll grant you that...

White: Quickly now, Beck--Locate Mighty No. 1!

Beck: On it!

[Beck sprints forward...]

[...And slips.]

Beck: Whoa-!

[CLANK.]

Beck: --Ow--

Call: It appears No. 9 has encountered an oil spill. From my scans, several major pipelines of the refinery have burst.

Beck: That...would have been helpful two seconds ago...

Sanda: Shake it off, Beck! And be careful if the other robots in the area set it on fire--!

Beck: -Slowly picks himself up- Got it....

[VERRRRRRRRR--]

Beck: --!!!

Call: Incoming hostile robots.

[It was a forklifting robot--carrying a crate full of explosives, no less! And once it saw the young Mighty Number, it wasted no time revving it's engine and charging at full speed--!]

Beck: aHHH--

[Beck didn't roll out of the way--he jumped, and let the robot pass under him.]

[MN.9 HAS GONE INTO COMBAT MODE.]

[He shoots, and once the robot's Xel Structure was disrupted, stunning it in place, he AcXelarates into it in a flash of white--absorbing its Xel and leaving behind only it's cores.]

[XEL ABSORBED. ABSORPTION BOOST: ONLINE.]

[A green sheen of Xel encircles Beck--the same feeling of power flows through him like before--but this time was...different...]

Beck: ....?

[LAST time, the color was RED, wasn't it...?]

Call: Warning, multiple incoming CherryDyn robots detected.

Beck: Uh oh—

[Yes, now there was more--in addition to several furnace type robots that shot fire balls out of their tops, and other flame based models.]

Sanda: There are so many fire based robots WHY ARE THEY ALL HERE?!

White: Good question...perhaps Pyrogen led them here...?

[...As Beck transverses forward, he seems much quicker in this powered up state...]

[...But soon enough, the green Xel fades, and he returns to his normal speed.]

Beck: ...?

[THIS happened last time too--whenever he got one of those...absorption boosts, he got a little stronger somehow...so green makes him a little faster...?]

Beck: (Huh...when I saved the Round Digger, he turned purple---these guys either turn red, blue, yellow, or green...)

Beck: (If green makes me faster, then what does the rest do?)

[He decided to take a moment to figure it out--there were plenty of enemies to absorb, and certain models turned into one of those colors.]

Beck: (OK...Green makes my reflexes faster...)

Beck: (Red boosts my shot output--I can even shoot through certain walls for a while...)

Beck: (Yellow makes me jump higher...)

Beck: (...And blue...)

[XEL ABSORBED. CONVERTING...]

Beck: Huh?

[XEL STOCK 1 FULL.]

Beck: (Xel Stock? I can STORE extra Xel?!)

Beck: (Oh man--I can use that to repair myself on the fly! At least minor injuries...)

[Then--Suddenly--!]

[A familiar figure stands out against the clouded night...]

Pyro: Rrrrr.....

Beck: PYRO!!

[The Mighty Leader was standing atop of a ruined oil truck, surprisingly unlit...]

[Green eyes flickered towards his brother--]

Pyro: ......

Pyro: ...You...

Beck: --! YES! It's me, big brother--It's Beck! You remember!

Pyro: ...BURN....

Beck: !!!

Pyro: THE WORLD MUST...

[In a sudden fierce motion, Pyrogen quite literally EXPLODED into flames, becoming twice his own size as he HOWLED into the flame lit horizon overhead!]

Pyro: BUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRN!

[...However...]

[...Instead of attacking Beck...]

[He...leaps away?]

Beck: PYRO, WAIT!

[Beck, after recovering from the sheer, uncontrolled rage his eldest brother had just unleashed, dashed forward to give chase--]

Call: Warning: Multiple incoming robots detected.

Beck: Wha--where?!

[SECONDS later, more furnace type robots materialized, as well as a whole SLEW of enemies--both that were from the city AND the fire based models! It was an ambush!]

White: Beck!

Beck: NGH--!!

[He was trapped on all sides, and with nowhere to hide, he was pelted with enemy fire-- both of energy shots and actual real fire. ]

Sanda: MOVE, BECK!

[He's faced Pyro in battle before--in spars. He can handle a little heat, but this--]

Beck: HothothotHOT--

[There was nowhere to go--nowhere but UP, that is...]

[In the midst of quite literally being roasted over an open flame, Beck had to JUMP to avoid the heat from damaging anything important.]

[...REALLY jump.]

Beck: aaaAAAAAAAH--

[Fortunately, gravity and trajectory was kind enough to drop him atop of one of the flying enemies--who was none too pleased to have an extra passenger onboard.]

Call: .........

Call: Inquiry: Why do these kinds of events seem to always happen to No. 9?

Sanda: I...don't know...

Beck: Nice CDN GOOD CDN PLEASE DON'T--

[Too late--Beck was now on a VERY wild rodeo ride with the cargo carrying robot, trying to shake him off by flying erratically--and into other robots.]

Beck: -SCREAMING-

White: Hold on, Beck!

Beck: WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING--?!

Call: Beck, you have a acquired a higher vantage point. I suggest using this to your advantage.

Beck: I WOULD IF THIS GUY WOULD HOLD STILL FOR TWO--

[VERRRRRRR--]

Beck: --AwNO--

[B O O M!]

[The flying CDN had collided with another forklifting robot--which was carrying another crate filled with explosives. The resulting explosion lit up the evening, temporarily obscuring all with the smoke that rose from it.]

White and Sanda: BECK!!!

[......]

[MN.9 STATUS: ONLINE, COMBAT MODE ENGAGED, DAMAGE REPORT: GYRO BALANCERS CRITICAL, ARMOR PLATING HAS BEEN BREACHED.]

Beck: .....uuuuugh....

White: Beck! Do you read me?! SAY SOMETHING!

Beck: ....hurts...ow....can't....

Call: No. 9's Gryo systems have been damaged. His mobile systems are shot.

Sanda: --That's it--I'm pulling him out of there! This is way too-

White: Wait!

White: Beck--there is another ability that I designed you with! Can you access your Xel Stocks?

Beck: nnngh...

[USE XEL STOCK 1?]

[COMMAND//: YES.]

[ACCESSING INTERNAL XEL STORAGE...]

[A relieving burst of light blue light seemed to pour out of the ports on Beck's back, wrapping him up in a healing sheen. The cracks on his armor were being sealed, while most of the Xel was released internally...]

Beck: --!!!!

[SELF REPAIR COMPLETE. ALL SYSTEMS NORMAL.]

[Beck shot STRAIGHT up into a sitting position with a small gasp, feeling reinvigorated--renewed, even! He was thrown into alertness, looking around this way and that...]

[...It seemed the resulting explosion from the CDN crashing into the forklift robot had cleared away the rest of the ambush. Place was a MESS, however--some of the oil piping had burst as well, and it's flammable contents were now spilling forth EVERYWHERE.]

[...Beck was not spared from it--he was more or less splattered with oil now, tainting his pristine white armor.]

Beck: Ew...!

White: -SIGHS WITH RELIEF-

Sanda: No time for a bath now, Beck--you gotta keep moving!

Beck: ...Right... (Wouldn't mind one from Cryo right about now...)

Sanda: My...did you SEE all those bots? And such power...

Sanda: ...These designs of yours in our models are something ELSE, Will...

White: ....

White: Yes, well, under the circumstances--that hardly feels like a compliment. -_-;;

[Beck only had one way to go, and that was forward...]

[...Over a flaming floor of burning oil, that is--and above?]

Beck: .....

Beck: Are those electrified spikes.

Call: Warning: It is not just electricity, but energized signals on the ceiling. They have been modified to disrupt Xel Structures. Proceed with caution.

Beck: Wait wait wait--

Beck: Are you saying that if I touch it I'LL JUST EXPLODE.

Call: That is correct, No. 9. Your core, however, would be intact, although--

White: I--I think he understands the concept, Call.

Beck: Right--don't touch the purple things, don't touch the purple things--

[Dashing across the suspended platforms was the only way across--along with absorbing other robots along the way. Using the green Absorption Speed Boost he acquired from them, he was able to quickly get by the hair-raising corridor...]

[...And into the Oil Silo field.]

Beck: I still don't see Pyrogen yet...

Sanda: He must be somewhere up ahead, he couldn't have gone that far...

[No. 9 was really starting to get the hang of his AcXelarate Dash--it was almost becoming second nature, actually. He could use it as often as he wanted--there seemed to be no limit, and it didn't expend any of his energy at all.]

[Which was a very good thing for what came up next.]

[C R A C K L E.]

Beck: --?!

Sanda: BECK! LOOK OUT!

[The lower half of the Silo in front of him was damaged--and began to topple over directly overhead.]

Beck: WHOA--

[Beck immediately started to floor it, becoming merely a white blur among the grey of smoke--the Silo crashed behind him with a loud rumble, missing him by only mere inches.]

Call: Heat has compromised the integrity of near by structures. Please proceed with caution.

Beck: NO OFFENSE, CALL, BUT I'VE BEEN CAUTIOUS THIS WHOLE TIME--

[C R A C K! C R A C K!]

White: BECK--IN FRONT!

[...It was sort of like watching some supped up version of dominoes.

The silos were perfectly aligned in such a way that they toppled over in Beck's path, forcing him to sprint and dash for his life. The malfunctioning robots around him didn't seem to care--they were only concerned on destroying the Mighty Number--so they retaliated by shooting up fireballs into the air to rain down from above.]

[And if that wasn't enough, the floor beneath began to give away under his feet--no, the PLATFORMS were.]

White: DON'T STOP!

Beck: AAAAAAAAAAAAA--

[It seemed like an eternity. It was, in fact, about 20 seconds, but those nail biting seconds seemed to stretch into forever as Beck barreled forth without pause, destruction and fire raging around him, smoke stinging his eyes and throat.--]

Beck: WHAT THE--

[The path suddenly ended.]

White: NO--!

[It just--ended. There was only a sudden drop into a pit of fire, an inferno flaring so high, it was impossible to tell if there was anything on the other side.]

[But he had no choice.]

[He had to jump.]

Beck: HUP--!

[Out of the frying pan...]

[ACXELARATE DASH: MAX OUTPUT REACHED]

[And into the fire.]

[DATA LOSS.]

White: Call--!!!

Call: Searching...

Call: ..........

[.........]

[..........….............]

[.......................................]

[SIGNAL FOUND. MN.9 STATUS: ONLINE.]

White: YES...!

Call: Re-syncing feeds...

"--can't get a good grip on--!!"

[--Beck had made it!]

[...But only barely. He was grabbing onto the ledge with everything he had, trying to hoist himself up--but the oil wasn't making things any easier.]

Beck: Arrgh--

[FINALLY, his feet find some perchance, and he pushed off of the wall--and front flipped over, landing firmly and safely on the other side of the pit.]

Beck: (--! Hey--I did it! I DID IT BRAND--)

[It looks as if some of that acrobatics training paid off--]

[....Too bad said brother in question wasn't here to see it.]

Beck: (--.....Oh....right....)

White: --......!

Sanda: ? Will?

White: I have an idea--Can we send one of the Patch bots to his location?

Sanda: --But--whatever for?

White: I want him to be in the BEST condition possible before he faces No. 1...

[Will's green hues stare intensely at the screen, at his son.]

White: Pyrogen, while not being made with the latest Xel technology, has the most experience out of them all. If they ARE to battle...

White: He's going to need all the help we can offer.

White: We can send a Patch Bot with some Xel Storage Cubes for him to either store into his Xel Stocks or use right then and there for self repair.

Sunny: -BEEP BEEP- (-_-)7

Call: Commencing Xel Transfer....

[XEL TRANSFER COMPLETE.]

[Beck almost very nearly shot Sunny in her display--but lucky her unique coloring was enough for him to recognize the Patch Bot.]

Beck: Sunny?!

Sunny: -BEEP BEEP-

[Sunny's stomach compartment opens, and out tumbles several Xel Storage Cubes ready to be absorbed.]

Beck: !

White: Beck, these should give you enough to normalize your Xel Count. Call has confirmed that No. 1 is in that destroyed building wreckage ahead...

Beck: .......

[No. 9 takes a deep breath...]

Beck: (OK, Pyro...here I come...)

[After dropping down to a partially collapsed room...]

[Once again standing atop of a pile of debris was the fire-powered leader himself.]

Beck: Pyro--! Finally...

Pyro: Hnrrrrrr...

Beck: Pyro--come on, big brother-- I KNOW you're in there SOMEWHERE! We don't have to--

Pyro: You....

Pyro: ...Why...?

Beck: ...!!

Beck: Because you're my BROTHER! I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT YOU, NO. 1!

Pyro: ......

Beck: Just--PLEASE hold still for just a few minutes and I SWEAR I can fix this--I can SAVE you!

[With dark, glowing emerald eyes, the leader stood. Unflinching.]

Pyro: ......

Pyro: No....

Beck: Pyro--!

Pyro: Why...

Pyro: Why you not burn...?

Beck: Wha--?

Pyro: WHY YOU NOT BURN?!

Beck: PYRO--

Pyro: WHY...YOU...NOT--

[FOOOOM!]

Pyro: BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRNNN?!?!?!?

[As Pyrogen fully ignites his body in flames, HUGE pillars of fire explode on either side of the room--effectively trapping both Mighty Numbers within.]

[Almost as if this was to be a cage match...]

Beck: Uh-oh...

Pyro: Burn...

Pyro: The world must BURN...! ALL MUST BUUUURN!!!

[MN.1 HAS ENTERED FULL COMBAT MODE. RESTRICTIONS: NONE. ]

Beck: NO--!

[SCANNING...]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[ E N C O U N T E R ]

[MIGHTY NO. 1-- MODEL CODENAME: PYROGEN]

[HEIGHT: 223cm] [WEIGHT: 236kg] [XEL COUNT: 47,200,000]

Pyro: PYRO CRASH, AND YOU...BUUUUUUUUURRRN!

[Pyrogen was a close range combat model, excelling in melee-style combat.]

[He wasted no more time with any more words. A distorted yell of RAGE accompanied his first attack--a headlong, full bodied tackle!]

Beck: Gh--!

[Jumping over was the logical choice--]

Beck: AAAH--!

[...But not the best one, as Pyrogen ALSO left a trail of arching fire in his wake. Beck had jumped RIGHT into them, sustaining burns across his armor plating.]

Pyro: Yes--BURN! BURN LIKE THE REST! B U R N!!

[Flaring, No. 1 changed direction--his arms ignited to TWICE their original output, allowing him to gather his flames up for another attack.]

Pyro: BURN M O R E!

[He thrusted his arms forward--and a burst of fire shot out, threatening to engulf Beck in it's hellish range!]

Beck: PYRO--STOP IT!

[The youngest Mighty had no time wince at pain--he forced himself to roll away, the blaring heat reminding him to be weary of the fire walls that soared to the sky.]

[His default weapon was drawn--but he had not fired yet.]

Beck: I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT YOU, PYRO!

Beck: PLEASE! S N A P OUT OF IT--!

White: It's no USE, Beck!

Beck: --!? Dad?!

White: HE IS TOO FAR GONE!

White: You have to stop him by FORCE--!

White: ONLY THEN CAN HE BE SAVED!

Beck: .....

Pyro: B U R N, MOTH! B U R N!!

Beck: . . .

[MN.9 HAS ENTERED FULL COMBAT MODE. RESTRICTION: PRESERVE MN.1]

Beck: I'm sorry, Pyro...

Beck: But if I have to do this to get you back...!

[BLAM!]

Pyro: --?!?

[Bright orange dematerializing shots pierce through the flames--nailing Pyro right in the chest, who seems VERY confused as to what just happened--]

[--...But the confusion didn't last. It quickly bled away to anger. ]

Pyro: RAAAAAAAAAAAGH--!

Call: Warning: I detect a buildup of energy from Mighty No. 1.

Beck: Energy--?

[FWOOOOOM!]

[Pyrogen's flames...changed color. They were no longer just a bright yellow and orange.]

[They were purple. A sick, sick shade of purple and blue.]

Beck: ---????!?

[And that's when it hit him.]

[He's SEEN this before.]

[The Greater Dusk team--at the Queen's Tournament--Bladeblaster--!! ]

Pyro: BURNING...BURNIIIING...

Sanda: -ACTUALLY SCREAMS-

Beck: --!!!!! (Nowhere to HIDE--!!! GOTTA THINK FAST--)

Beck: Ah--!

[ACCESSING XEL STOCK 2...]

Pyro: SPIRIT!

[B O O O M!]

[DATA LOSS]

Sanda: oh GOD WHAT HAPPENED WHAT HAPPENED--?!?!

Call: .....Mighty No. 9's signal has vanished--as has Mighty No. 1's. The likelihood of their transponders ceasing to transmit due to excessive heat damage is--

White: PLEASE, Call--! No more of that--ARE THEY ALIVE?!

------------------------------------------------------------------

Pyro: Hah...hah....

Pyro: ........

[There was no sign of Beck at all...]

Pyro: ...........

Pyro: Yes.....YES! LIKE A MOTH TO THE FLAME--!!

[Victory was his. A familiar feeling--he couldn't place why, but it FELT good--]

[So good that he started to laugh, distorted chortles reverbing around the Oil Platform...]

[There was nothing but the crackle of fire...and screams...]

[.....]

[… … …]

[Wait.]

[All the humans had fled.]

[So WHY--]

".........aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAH--!"

Pyro: WHAT--?!

[C L A N K!]

Beck: NOT DONE YET--!

[Seemingly dropping down from NOWHERE, Beck landed on his elder's back--forcing him to buckle from the force of the fall and the added weight--]

[BLAM!]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

Pyro: RRAA--ACK--!!

[Flames attempted to flare on his back--they licked at Beck's form, scorching his armor black.]

[The pain--it was almost unlike anything he's ever felt before.]

[The only thing that came close...was...]

----------------------------------------------------

"Yes...! That's it, my better incarnation--FIGHT LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT TO DIE!~"

----------------------------------------------------

[Beck gritted his teeth.]

[He couldn't let go--can't, not for anything, ANYTHING!]

"Remember. Beck--Physical pain....is MENTAL. In the arena, you will learn how to push PAST it."

[BLAM.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

"But--Big Brother--"

[BLAM.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

"What if it hurts too much...?"

"One of these days, Beck--how much physical pain you feel won't matter in dire situations."

"Are you going to let a few deep scratches come between you and what you care about the most?"

[BLAM.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL QUOTA REACHED.]

"N-No, sir, No. 1!"

"Good!"

[XEL PURGE: ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE PREPARED FOR OVERDRIVE.]

"Now--Show your big brother what you can DO!"

Beck: COME ON, PYRO--!

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

Beck: WE NEED OUR LEADER BACK!!!

[FILTERING.....]

[A blinding flash of green surrounds the two, expelling all of the infected purple Xel in Pyro's frame, running it THROUGH Beck himself, who expelled it right back at One, returning the Xel back to it's rightful owner.]

Pyro: --!!!!

[The Mighty Leader stood rigid, frozen in place as the Xel was simultaneously pulled and put back into him--with little to no pain whatsoever. ]

[In fact...]

[It felt...warm...]

"..........I can see you, you know."

"Eep--!!"

"Now, now, don't be frightened--you have nothing to fear, Beck. Not in this place."

"But...you...and everything else...is so...so much bigger than me..."

"Heh..."

"Good things come in small packages."

[......Small....]

"TRY AND CATCH ME, NO. 1!"

Pyro: ........

Pyro: B...Beck...

[THUNK.]

[His knees give away.]

[FILTERING COMPLETE.]

[ALL HARMFUL MALWARE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM MN.1]

Pyro: Is that....you...?

[There is only harsh breathing in his ear--but...]

Beck: ....

Beck: B...Big...Brother...

Beck: Pyro...I...you're OK...

Pyro: I...what...where...?

[-PING!-]

Call: Connection reestablished. Mighty Numbers 1 and 9 are online.

White: Beck--! Beck--are you--

Pyro: ....F...Father...?

[.....]

White: S...Son...?

Pyro: Father--...what...what happened? I...don't....remember...

Sanda: He...WILL-- WILL HE DID IT HE DID IT--!!

White: Pyrogen...! You're...alright...!

Pyro: Not--...not exactly...Ngh...

Pyro: I....

[SCANNING...]

Pyro: ......????

Pyro: Beck--What...why do I smell...oil?

Beck: Long... long story, bro...ohmanI'msotired...

Pyro: You're...? I...I don't understand--

White: ......

White: Call...prepare for Xel Transfer. Pyro...

White: Everything will be fine, son...I promise. I'll explain it when you're well rested enough.

Pyro: ........

Call: Xel Transfer in progress...

{SANDA ENTERPRISES, LOWER LABS...}

[Will never thought he would be so close to having a heart attack at the age of 25, and today had been eventful enough to garner that reaction on more than one occasion.]

[But the feeling of relief he felt when he saw his eldest carrying his youngest on his back...]

Call: Xel Transfer complete. I suggest not drawing too close to No. 1--he is still radiating fairly high temperatures.

Sanda: Hoooof--it DID just jump a couple of degrees in here, didn't it...

Beck: Uuuuuugh I've never been so TIRED can I take a nap...

[Beck was certainly quite talkative in his complaining...]

[...But Pyrogen remained silent....]

Pyro: . . . .

[Beck slowly climbs down from Pyrogen--he feels QUITE strange at the moment, as if his systems were preoccupied with something else, and leans against his brother for support.]

White: ....

Pyro: Father...

Pyro: ...Beck has burns. All over.

Beck: . . .

Pyro: There was OIL.

White: Son--

Pyro: What happened to us...?!

White: ......

[Will tries to collect his thoughts--how will he tell him--how will he--]

Pyro: Where is Cryo? We NEED to cool him off--

Call: Mighty No. 2's location is unknown. As are the rest of the Mighty Numbers.

Pyro: --?! WHAT?!

Call: I will now connect you back to our systems. Standby.

[RE-CONNECTING...]

White: .......

[CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. UPDATING....]

Pyro: ...........

Pyro: NO--

[RECEIVING RECENT STATUS REPORTS...]

Pyro: NO!

Pyro: OUR FAMILY--!!

[Pyrogen attempts to stand--but his damaged frame does not quite agree with him.]

Pyro: Ngh--!!

Beck: Bro--bro, don't strain yourself--

[-PING!-]

Beck: ----!!!!

[FORM DATA ANALYSIS COMPLETE.]

[XEL TRANSFORMATION ENGAGED.]

[Beck's Xels suddenly start to re-arrange themselves, glowing with a bright white light...!]

[NEW FORM SET.]

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN.]

Pyro: .....!!!

Pyro: Beck...?

Beck: .......

Beck: Big brother...

Beck: I...need to explain some things...

-PING!-

<RMDC>: >REQUEST FAILED. DISPLAYING PREVIOUS STATUS UPDATE…

>DCN-008 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DCN-007 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DCN-004 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DCN-003 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DCN-000 STATUS: OFFLINE

Pyro: What--

Pyro: Lethal Mode--?!

>Loading…

>DWN-024 STATUS: OFFLINE

>DWN-020 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DWN-019 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DWN-018 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DWN-017 STATUS: OFFLINE

>Loading…

Pyro: Why...WHY ARE THEY ALL...?!

Beck: Pyro--

Call: I suggest updating MN.1's memory files with Beck's own.

White: .....

White: Sanda...prep the lab.

White: Beck--help your brother. There is much to go over...

[Indeed… most of the line was in Lethal.

…

…With two EXCEPTIONALLY notable exceptions.]

>DLN-008 STATUS: OFFLINE— CRITICAL AI_OS DATA ERROR

>ERROR: DLN-000 SIGNAL NOT FOUND.

Pyro: Toby--CARDINAL--?!

Pyro: (What...what...)

Pyro: (What sick, twisted darkness has befallen us...?!)

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

=PROLOGUE B: IT ALL BEGINS NOW=

~AO v1.0~

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

[Fate had such an odd way of forcing her hand.

Worlds intertwined, destinies tethered….]

{JUNE 21st, TUMBLR 2016

11:45:08 AM}

<SEDW to RMDC>: >UPDATING DATABASE…

<SEDW to RMDC>: >UPLOAD FILE: REVELATION.EXE

<RMDC>: >GENERATING CROSS-REFERENCES…

-PING-

<RMDC>: >CROSS REFERENCE FOUND: DLN_COMBAT.EXE

<RMDC>: >COMBAT INITIATIVE DETECTED. Admin access is required to run COMBAT.EXE initiatives. Please access the program at the primary station and enter authorization code.

<SEDW>: >OPEN FILE: REVELATION.EXE

<RMDC>: >COMBAT INITIATIVE DETECTED. Admin access is required to run COMBAT.EXE initiatives. Please access the program at the primary station and enter authorization code.

<SEDW>: >OPEN FILE: DLN_COMBAT.EXE

<RMDC>: >WARNING: This file has been quarantined and locked by MC005. Please access the program at the primary station and enter authorization code.

[… … … …]

<RMDC>: >WARNING! UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED!

<SEDW>: >SYSTEM OVERRIDE

<RMDC>: >SYSTEM ERROR—

[DOWNLOAD IN PROGRESS: REVELATION.EXE

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{The Meadow}

[…Sickness.

Madness.

Memories of the darkest times flooded the server.

Everyone woke up immediately.]

<DLN-000 is now Online.> <DLN-005 is now Online.> <DLN-008 is now Online.> <DWN-011 is now Online.> <DWN-012 is now Online.> <DWN-013 is now Online.> <DWN-018 is now Online.> <DWN-019 is now Online.> <DWN-024 is now Online.>

[Cardinal felt sick to his core. Everyone did, really.]

<DWN-012>: Wha?

<DWN-024>: What is happening?

<DWN-012>: I feel like I’m gonna throw up, and I’m not even organic—

<DWN-019>: H-hang on. I-I’ll run a d-diagnostic. <DWN-019>: Y-you go contact the Doctors. -Talking to himself-

[Jaden was just laying in his recharge station, almost feverish. Errors kept pounding in his head.]

<DWN-013>: G-guys… it’s trying to send me into Lethal…

[But no one heard him.

Everyone had suddenly been overcome by the directive.

It was some sort of external command—a highly complex one, at that. Really, too much for their systems to process.

A command to destroy.]

<DLN-008 has gone Offline.>

[…]

<DLN-005 has gone Offline.> <DWN-011 has gone Offline.> <DWN-012 has gone Offline.> <DWN-013 has gone Offline.> <DWN-018 has gone Offline.> <DWN-019 has gone Offline.> <DWN-024 has gone Offline.>

Cardinal: (They must be preserving themselves…. Uggggh… I feel so aggravated right now…)

[He didn’t try to ping Dr. Cossack, or Dr. White. Whatever was going on, Dr. Cossack would see it. If they were all sick, then he didn’t want to spread it to his cousins.

And he definitely didn’t want to hurt the others.]

Cardinal: (Nnngggghhh…)

[His head pounded. He clutched at it with both hands, his eyes glowing a bright green despite being closed.

Memories bombarded him.]

-*-*-

((Art by dA user Thormeister))

-*-*-

[And then, suddenly…]

[…Beck was not the only one who was reset due to the matter at hand.

It only took a few moments, thankfully. Cardinal woke up feeling very disoriented.]

Cardinal: What was that?

[He couldn’t remember anything that had happened since Saturday evening—yet it was now clearly daytime. …He didn’t know what day it was, but that alone let him know that something had gone wrong.

Normally, if there had been a system crash, then the database would fill in the blanks. But in this case, it didn’t—which meant he had been forcefully reset. And not just him; the whole server, too.

…But why?]

Cardinal: (…Did we seriously have a hard reset?) What happened here…?!

[To his surprise, he saw Dr. Mikhail Cossack nearby, at a terminal. He was clearly focused in his work, as he simply held out his left hand to sign the word “QUIET.”]

Cardinal: …

“There was an attack on the server.”

Cardinal: ?

[Shadow was scowling as he unhooked himself from the mainframe.]

Shadow: It appears to have originated from a different world. Some sort of attempt to reactivate our Menace-related directives.

Cardinal: Ugh. No wonder we felt sick to our cores. …Is everyone alright?

Mikhail: I am trying to contact William but I’m having a great deal of difficulty…

Jaden: -Becoming more alert- Wait, is that a good idea? I mean, what if it got to them?

Mikhail: You don’t understand, Jaden: the source WAS from Will—

Cardinal: What?

Cardinal: (What is going /on/ here?)

[…

…

There was suddenly an overwhelming surge of alarm.]

Siam: Something’s wrong! Gemini: Something’s terribly, terribly wrong!

[Cardinal felt it, too.

A sudden… /darkness/. Weighty and cruel, deep as suffering. It reminded him of…]

Cardinal: (No, this can’t…)

Tobias: -Interrupts- I think I got the TV to pick up their signals—give it a try! Still trying to contact their lab…

[Cardinal turned on the news as some of his more tech-savvy brothers worked away at consoles.

What he saw…]

Cardinal: No…

Cardinal: -System scREECH- NOOOO!

<DLN-000 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DCN-000 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DLN-008 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DWN-011has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DWN-012 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DWN-013 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DWN-018 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DWN-019 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DWN-024 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DCN-003 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DCN-007 has entered Alert Combat mode.> <DCN-008 has entered Alert Combat mode.>

[Snow screamed.]

[…Actually, to say he screamed would be an understatement. He was BLASTING raw Emotion, not just volume—and the world around him was quickly turning to ice. His brothers and his father alike were taken by surprise and alarm, turning all their attention to him.

His younger brothers were forced to shield as he began to throw a horrific tantrum—one that was cut short by Cossack forcefully sending him into Sleep mode before he hurt anyone in his panic.

Things were rapidly getting out of control.]

<DWN-018>: >TOBIAS, DO SOMETHING!

<DWN-018>: >BEFORE YOUR BROTHER FREEZES US TO DEATH!

[Tobias practically flung himself at the mainframe.]

Tobias: I’m gonna force my way through if it’s the last thing I do—and it’s definitely not gonna!

[As he had done before, his /self/ took the reigns of cyberspace and made it bend beneath his heel to his will.

Static filled the line as he broke through and opened the Mighty Number communication channels.]

<DLN-008 to MNN-ALL>: > -PING!-

[…There was no chance to celebrate or take action, though, because just then, the news updated…]

“Once again, the president has declared a nationwide state of emergency. This, based on reports of haywire robots rampaging out of control in all 52 states. I’m being told we have a comment from Gregory Graham—“

[Outraged shouting and anger crowded out the rest of the sentence, and a bit of the speech after.]

Speedy: -YELLING IN ANGRY SPANISH- {OH FOR THE LOVE OF—}

Shadow: -Eyes burning red, hissing in Japanese- {I swear, if he is behind all of this…}

Mikhail: -Speaking (with growing impatience) in frustrated Russian- {ENOUGH! Will you BE QUIET for ONE moment—}

KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKHHHHH—

“Hellooooooooo! Is this thing on?”

Siamini: -Trills- What?!

Tobias: !?

[The electric optimist immediately sent out a notification.]

-PING!-

<DLN-008>: >Avi! Avi, no! What are you doing?

[…But Avi didn’t seem to hear him. He doesn't answer. Instead, he continues to give his twisted 'news report'.]

"And now we go to our eye in the sky Avi 1 Heli bot for our daily traffic report!"

[...And in a completely not so different voice...]

"Thanks, Avi! Uh, as you can see, we've got accidents inbound in....well..."

"EVERYWHERE!~ BWAHAHAHAHA!"

Shadow: … What the fuhhh… -Trails off rather than finishing that-

[The Second Generation survivors looked on in horrified silence. For they couldn’t see Avi, not anymore.

The cross-references were too strong.]

Jaden: (Saints preserve us…)

[Speedy just fell to his knees, giving a thousand-yard stare.]

Speedy: ({This… this is Monstropolis all over again…})

[Tobias was starting to feel frustrated.]

<DLN-008>: > DON’T PRETEND YOU CAN’T HEAR ME— now is not the time for games, Aviator!

[Still no response.]

Avi: "Yup, we've got chaos here, chaos there on this BEEEEEAUTIFUL June 21, 20XX! Here on Avi News today, we've got exclusive coverage on today's top story!~

Avi: THE END OF THE WORLD, BABY!~

Tobias: Grrr…!

Avi: "Our nation is on TOTAL MELTDOWN, and Xelbot crime is on the rise!~ Can NOTHING stop this madness?!

Avi: "Short answer? NO!~ BWAHAHAHA!~"

[Tobias…

…had had enough. He decided to try a different tack.]

<DLN-008 to MNN-006>: > -P I N G-

<DLN-008>: > A V I A T O R

<DLN-008>: > YOU’RE BLOCKING THE CHANNELS, WHY

<DLN-008>: >What the frag is going on over there?! I need to talk to Doctor White!

<DLN-008>: > NOW!

[.......]

[MN.6] //: Well, would you look at that! I got a caller!~

[MN.6] //: So, caller number 1...

[MN.6] //: What do you think you're doing on MY airwaves, mmm?

<DLN-008>: > I’M /TRYING/ TO TALK, THAT’S WHAT

[Oooo, he seemed in a bad mood, and wasn’t afraid to let that data show!]

[Why, it’s almost as if he feels… a little guilty, to boot! Has he seen this before?]

[MN.6] //: Ooo, SOMEone seems spicy today! Wow. Talk about blowing a fuse! HA! Get it?

Tobias: (Ngggh…! Can’t… can’t let the cross-references distract me, not now!)

<DLN-008>: >Very funny, Avi.

<DLN-008>: >Hilarious.

[MN.6] //: Thaaaaanks. I practice. ~

<DLN-008>: >I’ll let Dyna know when I see her. -Clearly annoyed-

[MN.6] //: ....

[MN.6] //: Who?

[Tobias was speaking over him already by that point.]

<DLN-008>: >But fiRST YOU NEED TO STOP SITTING ON THE FREQUENCIES

<DLN-008>: >LET ME THROUGH, GLITCHFRAG IT, I’M SHORT ON PATIENCE HERE

[MN.6] //: Eeeeeeh....

[MN.6] //: Ugh, I dunno--see, I got a script to stick to? And uh, all the roles are filled in. Sorry, dude! ^.^

[…

Tobias really WAS starting to lose patience. He seethed.]

[MN.6] //: BUT.

<DLN-008>: > -Train of thought derailed- —?

[MN.6] //: I thiiiiink I can....prooobably....

[MN.6] //: Squeeze you into a short segment….

<DLN-008>: > -Gives off abrupt data of discomfort and dread-

Tobias: (Why does that sound… really really bad…?)

[MN.6] //: How about this, caller number 1?~

[Suddenly--]

[MN.6 HAS ENTERED COMBAT DATA MODE. RESTRICTIONS: NONE.]

[MN.6] //: You wanna be my intern for a while?!~

[Tobias gave a shaky gasp. The world had gone faint for a moment.]

<DLN-008>: >Avi! PLEASE! STOP!

[The data was fought back—forcefully. It seemed that the electric Industrial was not unfamiliar with fighting aggressive data.]

[MN.6] //: Nope! Can't have you snooping around on the feeds, no siriee!

[Another surge of...possessive data--!]

[MN.6] //: I got big, big plans, Caller. Avi News is gonna go GLOBAL!

<DLN-008>: > Nggh—!

<DLN-008>: > NO!

<DLN-008>: >NO YOU WON’T!

[He was… actively blocking data that his system was trying to send out.]

<DLN-008>: >I won’t give up! I’ll MAKE you get out of my way!

[A surge of spurning willpower.

The stubborn willpower of a DWN—the unflinching kind they inherited from their father.

…And yet…]

[…And yet, he wasn’t REALLY giving it his all—that much was obvious.

He was holding back.]

[MN.6] //: Jeez--you're really a spicy one! I'm actually impressed! ~

[MN.6] //: Man, this is JUST like that one movie I watched last Tuesday--the hero, on the brink of defeat, suddenly finds within himself the strength to win!

<DLN-008>: > Grr…!

[A…

BLAST of RAW /GUILT/ AND REGRET]

<DLN-008>: > -VERY bitterly- I’m no hero.

<DLN-008>: > BUT I STILL WON’T LET YOU DO THIS.

[MN.6] //: --!!

[MN.6] //: NGH--

<DLN-008>: >I… I c-can’t let you make my mistakes…!

[MN.6] //: Ow...OK...yeah, that hurt...

<DLN-008>: > …

<DLN-008>: >S-sorry…

<DLN-008>: >Nggh…! Now… please, stop!

[MN.6] //: ......

[....Data.]

[...It...was Avi's Data, yes, but...so much darker. ]

[Anger.]

[MN.6] //: That...hurt.

[MN.6] //: NOW YOU'RE GONNA GET IT!

[Toby was suddenly seized with signals. They weren’t just conversational—they were trying to get inside his head, mess with his mind!]

<DLN-008>: >NO, AVI, STOP! YOU DON’T KNOW—!

[He never did finish his warning.

“You don’t know what you’re getting into…!”]

Tobias: -SCREAMS-

[He was clutching his head in his hands now, overcome with painful disorientation as he fought off the attempt to seize control.

He started sparking up, essentially close to tears as he tried so very hard to overthrow the invasion without harming his best friend.]

[MN.6] //: HA!

[Almost...Almost--!]

[MN.6] //: Aaaand that's a wrap!~

<DLN-008>: > S-stop… Avi, please…

[MN.6] //: You just don't know how to LISTEN, do ya? I said NO.

[KKKKSSST!]

[MN.6] //: NOW SHUT UP.

[MN.6] //: There's nothing you can do against ME, anyway! BWHAHAHAHA!

[Tobias desperately wanted to keep Aviator from gaining access to his neural network. There was no telling what damage that might cause to his family, due to the nature of their almost hive-like minds. And more than that—he just knew that Avi really was not prepared for what he would be getting into.

But he was tired. So tired. He couldn’t withstand both the assault and the barrage of cross-references that this disaster was sending live.

…He weakened.

It only took that one moment of weakness. That one moment of being rendered helpless, unable to fight back.

And in that moment…

Mighty Number Six overtook his mind. The invasive, annoyingly persistent obstacle was HIS, now—]

[MN.6] //: Finally--

[......]

[Nothing in all the worlds could prepare Mighty No. 6 for what came next...]

[MN.6] //: --!!?

SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE—

[—he had not been prepared for the fact that this would lay bare the soul for him to see!]

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!”

[DOZENS of memories were active—all very real in the here and now, all at the same time! Thoughts, memories, fears, feelings, pains, suffering, sorrows, despair—not just from Tobias, but from a dozen others—not just for what was now, but what HAD been—the past was the present, the pain then was pain now, it was all bOMBARDING THEM RELENTLESSLY—]

[MN.6] //: NG--NNNHAAAAAAAAAAAH--!

[THIS was the reality that the Rebel Angels lived with, the cross they carried—and would forever carry, all life long!

Avi had stared into the abyss of a suffering robot’s (and his family’s) soul…

…and the abyss was staring back.]

>PROCESSING ERROR: BETAEMOTIONS.EXE CONFLICT

>CROSS REFERENCING DATA: ROBOTMASTER DATABASE >KEYWORDS: DEATH, BLUE, MNN, COMBAT.EXE

>RUN PROGRAM: SEARCH >KEYWORDS: DEATH, BLUE, MNN, COMBAT.EXE

>DISPLAYING ALL ENTRIES…

————————————

>VARIABLE: MNN-001

>ENTRY 1: DLN-006 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 2: DLN-005 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 3: DLN-000 JOURNAL ENTRY

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- -—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

>VARIABLE: MNN-002

>ENTRY 1: DLN-000 JOURNAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 2: IALS JOURNAL ENTRY: CRUEL WATERS

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

>VARIABLE: MNN-003

>ENTRY 1: DWN-018 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 2: DLN-008 JOURNAL ENTRY

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

>VARIABLE: MNN-004

>ENTRY 1: DLN-003 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 2: DWN-021 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 3: DWN-019 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 4: DWN-023 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 5: DWN-024 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

>VARIABLE: MNN-005

>ENTRY 1: DLN-005 JOURNAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 2: DLN-008 JOURNAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 3: DWN-012 JOURNAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 4: 05.07.2016 MEMORY DATA

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

[Avi was BLASTED with pain! PAIN! PAIN BEYOND MEASURE!

He struggled--he had put too much of himself to break free yet--and all he could feel was...pain, hurt, PAIN, DEATH...!

And...for the briefest of moments...]

[...Whatever had a hold on him...whatever was controlling his mind-- recoiled.]

[MN.6] //: STOP! S T O P I T--!!!

[It was no use. Tobias and Avi were caught in a joint system overload that was rapidly approaching a stop error.]

>ERROR: EMOTIONS.EXE OVERLOAD

[…It only got WORSE.]

————————————

>VARIABLE: MNN-006

>ENTRY 1: DWN-012 JOURNAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 2: IALS JOURNAL ENTRY: VENUS LIGHTHOUSE

[Sheba screams as she falls, overcome with terror. It's a horror that she's had nightmares and visions about before for many years, of falling from the sky alone.

She is so terrified that her heart threatens to give out, until a cry shatters the whistle of the wind.]

"SHEBA!!! NOOOOOO! I WON'T LET YOU DIE!"

[Suddenly, she sees Felix jumping off the Lighthouse, diving down at her. He reaches out to grab her wrist.

Vines of golden energy coil down to catch her and bring her close. They are both falling—he's holding her close to protect her. She shut her eyes tight, gasping in fear. If only the wind could save them. She begged for someone—anyone—to save them.]

——————

>ENTRY 3: DWN-010 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 4: DWN-013 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 5: DLN-008 JOURNAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 6: DLN-008 JOURNAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 7: DLN-008 DATA ENTRY

-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- -—-—-—-—-—-—-—-

>VARIABLE: MNN-007

>ENTRY 1: IALS DATABASE JOURNAL ENTRY: RANGER TRAINING

"Too slow!"

I looked up angrily, biting back a remark. Karst looked down at me, lowering her scythe to rest against my throat.

"Always too slow! How you ever managed to catch a Talon Runner is beyond me."

I was silent. The bruise from the day before was still darkening. I knew another slap might cause permanent injury.

"Let him go, Karst."

The touch of death's blade lifted, the chill of steel leaving me. I tried to breathe steadily….

——————

>ENTRY 2: IALS DATABASE JOURNAL ENTRY: VENUS LIGHTHOUSE

Isaac and the others did not hesitate in attacking. And this time, they did not hold back.

I could only watch in horror as the battle raged on. It was a battle between titans. I was not in a position to see it very well, but I could feel it. Summon after summon, with the dragon wearing down with the power of a meteor to crush its opponents.

You might fault me for not describing a battle of magnificence. But you weren't there, you didn't see what I saw. I was watching a fight to the death between people I knew, unable to help anyone or to escape. I saw Isaac fight to the death with the aim to kill for the first time—and it was TERRIFYING.

He seemed sustained by an unnatural strength, and would not fall no matter the injury. His eyes were bright gold, with the same glow about his body—but also a blood red, and a sense of death. These auras shimmered like water as blow after blow faded away. The others were getting worn out, but not Isaac. The Lighthouse itself seemed to heal him, almost as much as Mia was helping.

They held strong, but the dragon did not. I covered Sheba's eyes as Isaac and Garet closed in and struck it directly. Those death screams still haunt my nightmares, as does the image of…

——————

>ENTRY 3: IALS DATABASE JOURNAL ENTRY: JUPITER LIGHTHOUSE

——————

>ENTRY 4: DWN-009 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

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>ENTRY 5: DWN-016 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

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>ENTRY 6: DWN-011 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

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>ENTRY 7: DWN-014 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

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>ENTRY 8: DWN-022 DATA ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY—DWN-024 JOURNAL ENTRY; DWN-019 JOURNAL ENTRY

-*-

——————

>ENTRY 9: DWN-022 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

——————

>ENTRY 10: 06.03.2016 MEMORY DATA

Blade: Here's how it's gonna go down, your royal highnesses!

Blade: YOU FORFEIT.

[SHING!]

[A saw bomb appears in one hand, and he yanks Dyna towards him, holding it roughly against Dyna's neck. The audience gasps—but none scream.]

Dyna: -HISS-

Blade: Or your sis won't have her pretty little head on her shoulders anymore! ~

-*-*-

SHINK.

Jack: —GNH!

All: !!!

[Jack falls forward, and Brand is there to catch him. NOW the audience starts to partially scream and gasp in surprise.]

[A saw blade embedded itself into his back, blinking lazily.]

-*-*-

[Tobias teleported in at Bladeblaster’s left, poised on the air, and filled with unbridled rage.

His eyes were glowing red as he grabbed the gang leader roughly by the shoulder with his left hand.

Carmen, for her part, had gone in as close to Dencerjack as she could. She didn’t have much time to set up and aim, but she knew what was coming—and for touching her sister, Bladeblaster would PAY.]

Tobias: -BLASTING data with no uncertain clarity of intention-

Blade: ---?!?!

Dyna: Wha--!

[His eyes were a pure red, the whole display—and he was was filled with power that was at a high enough level to function as a generator for an average household for several hours. …But… he wasn’t sparking up.

Far from it.

As he was pulling his right hand and arm back, the electric charge of almost the entire arena was being rapidly and brutally shifted, and the air became filled with the tense, almost painful (and frightening) uneasiness that it has when it is filled with static.

Tobias was gathering all the negative charge to himself!]

Avi: oh SWEET MARMALINE--

Tobias: -D I E-

[Carmen fired off one of her taser darts right where it would hurt the most. It coincided perfectly with Tobias’s infuriated blow.]

[The electric Industrial slammed his right fist right into Bladeblaster’s central mass, simultaneously firing off the most powerful THUNDER BEAM he could muster.

All the static buildup discharged in a violent lightning strike that hit the assassin dead center in a blinding flash, followed by a deafening thunderclap. As was custom for his weapon, the Thunder Beam also fired up into the sky and down at the ground, not just directly in front of him.

Bladeblaster had, in fact, more or less been skewered by lightning— and anyone caught in the line of fire was going to share the same fate.]

[Avi only had a few precious split seconds to react, and if it wasn't for the fact that recognized the tense electric power in the air before Tobias struck, he would have very well been reduced to a mere central core by now.]

[Suddenly he was glad Dyna shocked him for being annoying every now and then.]

[Even when he pretty much barrel rolled to the right, (and surprise, no pun intended) he could still feel the raw surge of untamed lightning narrowly missing him, causing his aerial instruments and other things to fuzz for a bit--making him VERY dizzy.]

[MN.6] //: OhmanI'mgonnabesick--

[And Blade?]

[Besides the sheer white hot pain that rippled through him--he screamed, body convulsing as it couldn't handle both the sudden boost from whatever was in that cross and Tobias's rash attack--and the dart from Carmen REALLY put the icing on the pain cake, so to speak.]

[By now, the radio silence had been lifted.]

<DLN-000 to MNN-001, MNN-005 through MNN-008>: > AUGH! HE’S IN LETHAL MODE!

<DWN-024>: > WE ARE /ALL/ IN LETHAL MODE—!

[Indeed.

Tobias was incredibly quick for an Industrial—the fastest Industrial built, and the second fastest overall.

Only moment had passed, but…]

Tobias: -THERE ARE MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM-

[…He was already pulling his arm back for another hit, drawing from his own reserves to charge up another Thunder Beam.

But what the idealist had in decisiveness, he lacked in foresight.

He had disregarded something very, VERY important.

Bladeblaster held his weakness.]

[What followed...]

[The next sound that came from Blade's throat did not sound holy at all.]

Blade: -GLITCHED SCREECHING-

[Whatever had given Blade that extra boost in power?]

[It had taken whatever coherent thought he had left in his madness.]

[Blade suddenly had a saw in his hand, and raised it so he could slash wildly at the DLN--!]

Avi: NO--!

SKLLLKTTKRRRSHHHLLLRRRKKT—

[Oil and cooling fluids spattered all over Bladeblaster’s hands and weapon, as if they were blood.

Tobias lost his grip immediately and fell to the ground, too dazed in pain and injury to even cry out.

His energy levels had dropped DRAMATICALLY, and were still dropping, as was his core temperature—two more hits like that, and he would be gone.]

——————

>ENTRY 11: DLN-008 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

————————————

[DEATH! DEATH AND SUFFERING, in well past a dozen different ways! And the blood— the blood and the oil EVERYWHERE—]

[Blood-- not blood --so much--death--darkness--

…But STILL, it was not yet over.]

[MN.6] //: -uNHOLY SCREAMING-

[The sounds that came from No. 6...it was HIS voice, but so distorted and twisted by the darkness and pain that it was almost unrecognizable.]

[No. 6...was built to process as much data as possible.]

[...Today, that was his curse.]

————————————

>VARIABLE: MNN-008

>CROSS REFERENCE IDENTIFIED: D E A T H

>DEATH WEARS BLUE

>ENTRY 1: DWN-012 JOURNAL ENTRY: FINAL ENTRY

-*-*-

————————————————————————

[An error message then pops up.]

[Tobias collapsed when Avi finally managed to break free. And there he lay, lifeless on the ground.

The fight for his mind had caused major damage by stunning his Awareness.

It became too much for him to take.]

[…]

[Uh-oh.]

<DWN-011 has entered Lethal Combat mode.> <DWN-012 has entered Lethal Combat mode.> <DWN-013 has entered Lethal Combat mode.> <DWN-018 has entered Lethal Combat mode.> <DWN-019 has entered Lethal Combat mode.> <DWN-024 has entered Lethal Combat mode.> <DCN-003 has entered Lethal Combat mode.> <DCN-007 has entered Lethal Combat mode.> <DCN-008 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

[…It looks like he hadn’t been alone.]

<DWN-024>: > How dare you.

<DWN-012>: > HE WARNED YOU, BRO. THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR NOT /LISTENING/ TO US.

<DWN-019>: > I /WILL/ TEAR APART YOUR CODE. <DWN-019>: > /LINE. <DWN-019>: > BY. <DWN-019>: > LINE./ <DWN-019>: > IF YOU DO NOT L E A V E <DWN-019>: > /THIS INSTANT./

<DWN-018>: > I’d back off now if I were you.

<DCN-003>: >Unless you would like Father and twins to run you facefirst through an aggressive WhiteCell filter!

[MN.6] //: -GASPS-

[.....Nothing. Avi....there was barely any data coming from him, now...]

[...Then...]

[Whatever was controlling him came right back.]

[MN.6] //: ...!!!!

[KKKKKSSSSSST!!]

[…The normally cheerful DCN was ready to make good on his threat.

He had NOT been bluffing.]

<DCN-003>: > {FATHER!}

[…]

<MC005 IS ACCESSING ADMIN CODES…>

Mikhail: -Cringing as he types- ({Forgive me for hacking, Will—!})

[MN.6] //: ngh--

[Suddenly--]

[With one fell swoop--]

[MN.6] //: RRRGH--!

[WARNING--SIGNAL HAS BEEN LOST.]

[In the Meadow, the Russian doctor curses in frustration, punching the desk and putting his face in his hands.]

Mikhail: {NO! We were so, SO close—!}

Keltso: -Sadly- {…At least you tried.}

Siam: Wait.

Digger: …?

Siam: WAIT.

Gemini: IT WAS ONLY Siam: /HIS/ SIGNAL Gemini: THAT WAS Siamini: LOST—

Mikhail: ?!

Siamini: THE MAIN CHANNEL IS OPEN!

Mikhail: !!!

Mikhail: We… we have to—!

[The communication channels had been left open. Everyone was starting to feel a bit desperate…]

-PING!-

<MC005 to MNN-001>: > -STATUS INQUIRY-

[.......]

[MN.1] //: RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

[Mikhail was quite taken aback.]

Mikhail: ?!

[MN.1] //: B U R N.

[MN.1] //: A L L... M U S T...

[MN.1] //: BUUUUUUUURRRN!

Mikhail: .______.;;;

[His hands hovered over the keyboard, but he was frozen in doubt and indecision on how to respond to that.

Said hands were in gloves, as usual—

—gloves to hide the burn scars he would always carry with him.]

[MN.1 HAS BLOCKED MC005]

Mikhail: (He… good heavens, he almost sounded like…)

[The Second Gens were more or less cowering in fear. Shadow, however…]

Shadow: (I do not understand…)

[He reached out an intangible hand, stretching the request across time and space.]

<DWN-024 to MNN-007>: > -Ping-

[No response, at first.

He tried again.]

<DWN-024>: > -Ping.-

[…This time, he got through. But he could tell something was wrong.]

<DWN-024>: > -Ping.- {M…Master Brandish?}

[ ..........]

[MN.7] //: -DISTRESSED PINGING, SCREAMS IN THE BACKGROUND-

[MN.7] //: {Ngh---!! Sh---Shadow...!}

[Shadow scowled.]

<DWN-024>: > {You have no idea the turmoil that this chaos is throwing us into—! I am so relieved to get back in contact with you.}

<DWN-024>: > {We need your help—}

[MN.7] //: {nO--}

[Despair. Horror.]

[MN.7] //: {NO--NONONO!}

[…Fear.

…It was not something that Shadow was familiar with, but he felt it now, as plain as the moon.

Fear. Overwhelming, growing FEAR.]

<DWN-024>: > {W-what?!}

<DWN-024>: > {Sensei, what are you saying—?}

[MN.7] //: {NGH--}

[MN.7] //: .....

[MN.7] //: Must slice...must dice...

[MN.7] //: --aAAARGH--NO! I--MY BLADES--!

[Okay, now he was beginning to panic.

He tried to lock onto Brandish’s signal.]

<DWN-024>: > {Sensei! /For the love of the Lord Father, WHERE ARE YOU?!/}

[MN.7] //: {I CAN'T--I CAN'T--!!}

<DWN-024>: > {NO! YOU /MUST!/}

<DWN-024>: > {PLEASE! I AM BEGGING YOU!}

[MN.7] //: {F-FORGIVE ME--!}

[MN.7 HAS BLOCKED DWN-024.]

Shadow: -Just. Speechless.- (No…)

[…Was this… despair…?

…It was too much for him to take. He had /never/ felt so… hopeless. ]

[Things were looking very grim.]

Mikhail: ({Please… please, let him be alright…})

<MC005 to DR.WHITE>: > -PING!-

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

=BONUS CONTENT: BONUS SCENE #2=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

((Prewriting: Desmond and Minerva question Tobias (who has Avi present for support) ))

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

{July 3rd, 20XX}

[Tobias fidgeted in his seat, sparking up a bit every now and again. He kept his head bowed, looking down at the ground.]

Tobias: …I’m in big trouble, aren’t I…

[He was waiting in a conference call with Sanda Enterprises, with Avi sitting on the other line.]

Avi: ((Words of encouragement, as best as he can muster, but internally all AAAAAA))

[After breakfast, Avi had been pulled aside by Desmond Donald, who wanted to speak with him….]

-=-=-=-=-

Des: Six, can I talk with you for a moment?

Avi: ((Asks how he can help/what’s going on))

Des: We need to speak with Tobias Wily.

Avi: —…Uh…

Des: We need to clear up some of the finer points of what happened at the Queen’s Finals and the White House. It’s important.

Avi: ((Expresses uncertainty that he’ll be able to convince Tobias to come over))

Des: Just talking would be a start. Do you think you can arrange that?

Avi: I can… tryyyyyy…? (If Nico will even let me get through to him, oh man…)

Des: Great. We’ll be right with you as soon as we get a moment.

-=-=-=-=-

Avi: Just a little chat, right? -Thumbs up- You can handle that, no problem-o!

Tobias: I guess…. I’m just. I dunno, Avi, I’m scared.

Avi: Don’t worry there, Toby! ^.^ I’ll be right there with you.

Tobias: Thanks, Avi. … You don’t… don’t have to do this…

Avi: ((Oh nonsense, happy to help, etc.))

[The door opened, and Tobias just about jumped to his feet. His eyes did flicker a bright green in alarm, and he jerked back, recoiling a bit.]

Des: ((Internal commentary reaction to seeing Tobias on the screen in person for the first time, with the boy clearly nervous))

Avi: ((Internal commentary on both Des AND Minerva coming in))

Min: Good morning, gentlemen. We’ll get right to the point.

[She didn’t sit down, but instead took some file folders from Des and placed them down on the table.]

Des: Mr. Wily, you have been involved in a number of high-profile incidents pertaining to matters of national security… in more than one country.

Avi: ((Reaction to this starting off not so well))

[Minerva took out a series of photographs, data logs, news articles, and audio transcripts, laying them on the table. The pictures from the Queen’s Finals depicted Tobias grabbing Bladeblaster and preparing to strike him. Tobias gave a sullen expression to see the face of his enemy again.]

Des: You have been visually identified as the intruder who interrupted an international sports event to assault one of the participants, and a witness claims that you were also responsible for bypassing security to get there.

Tobias: -Cringes, squinting his eyes shut-

Des: We need you to tell us exactly what happened, how, and why.

Tobias: …

<DLN-008>: > A-Avi—!

[MN.6] //: ((Words of encouragement))

Avi: Mind if I jump in for a moment here?

Des: -Slight frown- -Looks over at Min-

Min: -Unmoved- If you wish. Do try and keep it brief, Aviator.

Avi: :’ D;;;

Avi: ((Stressed punning as he gives his summary of the end of the Queen’s Finals, emphasizing on how OTHER people were behaving, and how Tobias got the short end of the stick))

Des: ((Reaction to all of this, asking further questions as they come up, before stating that they still needed to hear Tobias’s side of the story))

Tobias: Isn’t there an Amendment against this?

Min: -Adjusts her glasses, giving him a look- …You may choose not to answer the questions, true. I must warn you, however, that doing so will leave us no choice but to draw our own conclusions from the evidence, and those conclusions may be incorrect. -Looks down at one of the data logs- We have evidence that you were there, but only guesses as to your motives. There may be mitigating circumstances we haven’t been told about, things that only you can tell us.

Tobias: Wh-what do you mean?

Min: -Folds her hands together over the documents, looking up at the screen- Well, there is the matter that you are a construct, for starters. If you were ordered to do this, then your Doctor would be held responsible, not you. If you were malfunctioning, that would be another example of a mitigating circumstance. Good intentions may also lessen the charges levied against you, though they won’t make them go away entirely. There’s also your background and circumstances to consider.

Tobias: I see…

Des: Were you ordered to attack Bladeblaster?

[Tobias looked up, alarmed.]

Tobias: N-no! Please, don’t get angry at Dr. Cossack!

Des: …

Tobias: It’s not his fault!

[MN.6] //: ((Tries to help calm him down))

Tobias: I…

Tobias: -Meekly, looking down at the ground- I hit him because I was scared and angry…

Avi: ((Wehhhh, poor friend))

Min: Can you explain that a bit further?

Tobias: I thought he was going to kill her!

bzzZAP.

Tobias: He…!

Tobias: He said he was going to kill her…

Avi: ((Bleh, internal displeasure re: BB ))

Des: (So far this is matching up to what Cossack had to say…. Let’s see if he takes it the next step farther…)

[Tobias gave off a lot of very depressed data.]

Avi: ((-Abyss feelings, oh no—-))

Tobias: …

Des: ((Reflection on how troubled the kid seemed, how that compares/contrasts to his expectations/what they know about his temper))

Tobias: …

Tobias: -Whine-

Tobias: I wanted to stop that. She didn’t deserve… didn’t deserve to die. No one should have to go Offline… -Trails off- (Not like that…)

Avi: -Tooooobyyyyy- :<

Tobias: -Bows his head, shoulders sagging- No one was stopping him. I couldn’t… just sit there and wait.

Des: How did you get into the arena?

Tobias: -Grumbles- That was kind of easy…

Des: (…Well that’s not a good thing to hear on a matter of security…)

Tobias: There’s an emergency protocol that allows medical staff to get onto the field. I activated that so I could get in.

Des: How?

Tobias: …

Tobias: -Looks up- I’m not even sure if I CAN explain that. It was like turning on a switch. Not active, active. I turned it on.

Des: No one else was able to get onto the field due to interference. How did you manage to get through?

Tobias: I… don’t know. I guess the matter only disrupted Xels or something.

Des: -Taps his fingers against the table, frowning- What did you intend to do when you got there?

Tobias: …

[He suddenly glared and gritted his teeth, sparking up as his eyes began to glow in anger.]

Avi: ((Quickly says something to calm him down or at least snap him out of a budding rage mode))

[The glow left, and he hesitated for a moment. Then he crossed his arms, hunching his shoulders up.]

Tobias: I don’t know. I just wanted to beat him up a lot.

Des: Were you trying to kill him?

Tobias: -Looks up, both alarmed and dismayed- !

Avi: Woah there! Toby may be a bit of a live wire, but he’d never try and kill somebody!

Tobias: I…!

Tobias: -Looks down again, very troubled- I just wanted him to stop…

Des: But you tried to keep going even after Dynatron got free.

Tobias: I was angry! I guess I got… a bit carried away….

Des: So you’re saying that you bypassed security of your own accord, with the intent to assault a combatant because Dynatron was in danger.

Tobias: -Opens his mouth a little, but still can’t vocalize words- … I…

Tobias: -Bows his head again- Yes…

Avi: ((Says something in Tobias’s defense))

Des: I find it very interesting that you are speaking up in his defense, Aviator. He tried to send you crashing down into concrete while you were sick.

[Both Tobias and Avi cringe at the reminder. Tobias looks particularly upset. He puts his face in his hands, shaking.]

Avi: ((Weak comeback))

Tobias: …fault…

Des: …?

Tobias: -Sparking up erratically, causing the comm lines to flicker with static- Always my… fault…

Avi: ((Tries his best to comfort Tobias))

Tobias: No…

Tobias: That was my fault…

Des: ((Some sort of reaction to this))

Des: …You said—

[Tobias held his hands up near his face in aggravation, his eyes clamped shut as he LOUDLY interrupted, vocalizing for the first time.]

Tobias: I KNOW what I said!

Tobias: Please…

Tobias: Please don’t remind me…

[He put his face in his hands again, his voice muffled.]

Tobias: It’s all my fault…

Avi: Toby…

Tobias: I…

[His fans gave a wheeze that sounded like a heaving sob.]

Tobias: I’m sorry, Avi…!

Avi: ((Some sort of reaction to this))

Tobias: I’m sorry…

Des: ((Internal commentary on the matter)) …

Des: -Looks over at Minerva- (According to Felix, “good cop” works better than “bad cop” on these guys…) -Gestures for her to step in-

Min: You care very much for your friends and family, don’t you.

Tobias: -Whiiiine-

Min: Is that why you agreed to help out at the White House?

Tobias: I don’t want to talk about it…

Min: This is very important. We need to know what happened… for Dr. Cossack’s sake.

Des: He said he ordered you to bypass security. Is that true?

Avi: Woah woah wait—he said that—?!

Des: Yes, during our last interview with him. He said, quote, “I made the decision to bring Tobias back Online. And I ordered him to go into the Cloud, force his way in there, give us the feeds, and disable it or turn it off.”

Avi: ((Slight internal anxiety/panic, this explains why he was sort of arrested the other day))

[A pause.]

Tobias: …

Des: Is that true?

Tobias: -Whiiiiine!-

<DLN-008>: >-AVI HELP I DON'T WANNA BE ERASED—-

[MN.6] //: -Um, uh, IT'S OKAY BRO I GOT THIS—-

Avi: (Oh crap I might not got this, WHY THIS—)

[Avi seems at a loss for words, and Tobias was silent.]

Des: (This isn’t going to get us anywhere…)

Min: Keep in mind, Mr. Wily: you won’t be held responsible for carrying out direct orders you could not disobey.

Tobias: I…

Tobias: I don’t want anyone to die…!

((Some sort of reaction from Des and Avi at this))

Min: Neither do we, DLN-008.

[A pause.]

Tobias: -Peeks through at them- R-really…?

Min: Dr. Cossack was under a lot of stress when he made his statement. We want to verify the accuracy of what he said before we make any judgments.

[Tobias seemed to think on that.]

Tobias: … S…sort of…?

Min: Would you please elaborate?

Tobias: -Hides his face again- …

[He was quiet for some while.]

Tobias: -Timidly- We wanted to get him out of there… before he ended up destroying himself…

Tobias: We were all so angry and scared…. He said that they couldn’t access the feeds in the White House, that something was wrong…

Tobias: He ordered me to get in there and try and get the feeds back, and disable the malfunctioning security so it wouldn’t hurt anybody…

Des: What specifically did he tell you to do?

Tobias: He said not to get out of hand, and not to try and use the security myself…

Min: Oh?

Tobias: …

Tobias: I… I’m sorry, Avi…. I was so angry…

Avi: ((Tries to comfort him))

Des: That seems to happen a lot with you. : |

Tobias: …

Min: What happened when you got to the White House?

Tobias: Hnnn… The Cloud… it was full of fire…! Monster…

Tobias: There was… there was something keeping the fires from working. I… I tried to make it work right, but it hurt—it hurt a lot. So I tried to make it all stop, but I… I couldn’t do it, it was too powerful…!

Des: ((Some sort of reaction to this))

Min: How did you get past the cyber security?

Tobias: It wasn’t working properly. There were a couple of people trying to get in, but I tore up the programs to make them go away. I had to go through a hole the virus left, and there was so much noise everywhere…

Des: What would have happened if you HAD gotten full access to security?

Tobias: Turn it off so that it wouldn’t hurt anybody…. We… we would have taken Cardinal out of there.

Tobias: Just…

Tobias: Just wanted to save him…!

Tobias: Please… please don’t be mad at him…

[Minerva took in a deep breath and let it out as a sigh. Desmond tapped a pen against the table.]

Des: ((Notes (again) that Tobias seems to lose his temper a lot, and starts getting very violent when that happens))

Des: Is this something that is going to keep happening with you?

Tobias: -Whiiiine…-

Des: Felix suggested that you wanted to break into the CherryDynamics servers as well, because you were angry at them.

Tobias: -Somewhat confused- What? No.

Tobias: I mean…

Tobias: I sort of WISHED that I could do it, but I knew it would be wrong… so I didn’t.

Des: The Mighty Numbers are a combat team. The top ranking one in the world. They’re going to be in dangerous situations every now and then—it’s bound to happen. You can’t keep hacking your way through to assault anyone who threatens them.

Tobias: I… I know. I’m sorry, Avi…

Avi: ((Encouraging words about how things are better now, and how he can tell how hard Tobias is trying, and he’s proud with how far he’s come))

Des: Have you breached any other security systems in this world in the last few months?

Tobias: No.

Des: So you didn’t infiltrate to retaliate against Battalion?

Tobias: -Looks up- What?

[He looked genuinely puzzled.]

Tobias: What happened with Battalion?

Des: …You don’t know?

Tobias: Nobody said anything about Bat. It wasn’t in any of the data logs, either.

Avi: ((Remarks that Mikhail ran off and they had to keep it a secret anyway))

Tobias: No, I don’t know about any secrets.

Min: (He seems calmer now, at least.)

Min: Well, Mr. Wily… Nero expressed that none of you meant any lasting harm, and were not truly a threat to the nation.

Min: You acted decisively during emergency conflicts… which is not in and of itself a bad thing. You meant well, which counts for a great deal. And you only entered through legitimate channels, rather than breaking things yourself.

Min: Your temper and self-control, however, need a good deal of work. You need to learn some discipline.

Min: Do you intend to behave yourself from now on?

Tobias: Y-yes, Madame President, I want to be good—to be good from now on!

Tobias: I just…

Tobias: I’m sorry…

Min: You have my pity, young man. The circumstances are mitigating, and we can work with what’s left.

Tobias: R-really…?

Avi: ((Reaction to this!))

Tobias: I… you’re not going to erase me…?

Min: Good heavens, no. However, we can’t just turn you loose, either.

Min: You should really undergo some behavioral and socialization therapy. Learn how to interact with people, and how to control your temper. You should have that chance, at least. Consider it your conditions of parole. However…

Min: You’re going to need to put in some effort.

Tobias: I will, I will…! I’ll…

Tobias: I’ll try…

Avi: You can do it, buddy! : D -Thumbs up- And I’ll be there to help you every step of the way!

Min: Good! That would be beneficial. Perhaps you can mentor him in later stages.

Tobias: -Ping of hope and approval-

((Concluding remarks))

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

=CHAPTER 2D: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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

{SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.}

Jack: . . . . .

Jack: oh man I am so cold--

[He made it.]

[Somehow, he made it.]

[In the COLD, pouring rain, he made it.]

Jack: frag frag frag frag--

[It was coming down in SHEETS, and the city was in utter turmoil. There were nearly no humans in sight in the street he was in, and the robots that were left were free to follow their new directive: destroy. ]

[Fortunately, Jack stuck to the back allies to avoid being seen by them, quickly making his way towards a familiar landmark--]

[The Space Needle.]

Jack: (OK, you're back now, you're in the States....)

Jack: ....

Jack: (NOW what?)

Jack: (Can't find Carmen if I can't find her brothers....)

Jack: (Can't exactly CALL her cuz of Six...)

Jack: (Bird guy is who KNOWS where....I'm on my own here.)

Jack: ......

Jack: (Well--I can't just keep moving around without SOME idea of where I should go--)

Jack: (Space Needle's a landmark--people know it, so someone's GOTTA be there--maybe someone that can help or something...)

Jack: (Gonna take a while to get there by FOOT...)

[Jack takes a moment to scan the streets, eyeing the many abandoned cars left there when the virus first struck.]

Jack: (...Hate to take someone else's car, but if I'm lucky--)

"HEY--!"

Jack: --!!

[Jack turns around at the voice--it seemed to come from behind--no wait--]

"GGHHAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH--!!!"

Jack: oh SH--

[Jack sprung out of the alley and into the street as a large, LARGE fireball NEARLY burns him alive from above-- it shatters the pavement were he once stood before, leaving only a scorched, black hole in the ground. ]

Jack: WHAT THE HELL IS--

[WHAM!]

[Jack felt a foot connect with his abdomen, and he was kicked back into a totaled car, creating a sizeable dent...]

Jack: NGH--!!

Jack: Awwwwshitthatsmarts--

[...Giggling.]

Jack: ...???

"Why, ALOHA, little man!~"

Jack: --?!

Jack: Wait a--

Jack: You--You're Plume...!

[Jack had HEARD of this one--Plume was Hawaii's very own Arena bot fire dancer, part of the small but efficient combat team, Island Koas. They weren't among the high ranking teams--so Jack had never FACED her--but her solo fighting career was impressive enough.]

Plume: Hehehe...Awww, did I scorch you? I WAS aiming a little TOO low, wasn't I?~

Jack: UM--

Plume: {You seem like a good dance partner.~}

Jack: .....

Jack: Uh--M-Miss Plume--I--I don't have Hawaiian in my languages--

Plume: Really? That's too bad--

[Fireballs start to form on both of her hands--and one on her head--despite the pouring rain, it didn't seem like it was affecting her in any negative way.]

Plume: Maybe I can take you back to my island and TEACH you a few tricks?~

Jack: Uh--Well--uh...

Jack: --....

Jack: Wait...

Jack: How in the WORLD did you get here to the mainland?

Plume: Mm? Oh...

Plume: I had a little HELP.~

Plume: He's having some fun with the Navy!~

-*-*-*-*-

[MEANWHILE, OFF THE WEST COAST...]

"HE'S MOVING TOO FAST--"

"WASN'T HE ON STARBOARD SIDE?!"

"SIR, I CAN'T GET A LOCK ON--"

"LOOK OUT!"

Merlion: -R O A R I N G-

-*-*-*-*-

[BACK IN SEATTLE...]

Jack: ....The Navy--...

Plume: He was visiting my island when I asked him for a ride. I didn't want to miss the big Luau here on the mainland, you know? ~

Jack: ....Miss Plume--

Plume: But enough talk! ~

Plume: I want to see if you can LAST longer than the OTHERS.~ Finding the PERFECT dance partner is SO hard these days--

Jack: Miss Plume I REALLY don't wanna hurt you--

Plume: I wonder, little man--

[FWING!]

Jack: oH CRAP--

[Plume swayed to one side gracefully, and a wave of fire flew from the flames that burned from her wrists--forcing Jack to duck under it.]

Plume: Can you take the heat?~

[ E N C O U N T E R ]

[IKN.1 - CODENAME: 'PLUME']

[STRENGTH: 20 DEFENSE: 20 S.ATTACK: 40 INTELLIGENCE: 30]

[Plume's central abilities--Fire and Dance--blended very well together in terms of her native culture. And it showed on the Battlefield: Plume's a graceful fighter, using her dances to both avoid enemy fire and deal some damage herself.]

[Wave after WAVE of fire pierced through the streets, slashing at cars and scorching the asphalt. Jack had no choice but to keep backing off, avoiding her and the resulting explosions from her destructive onslaught.]

Plume: Where are you going? We haven't even STARTED!~

Jack: MA'AM, I REALLY, REALLY THINK--

[FWING!]

[A fireball nailed him right in the shoulder--not a large one, but enough to really BURN--]

Jack: Aaah--!

Jack: (OhGodshe'sreallytryingtokillme--)

Jack: (SHE'SGONNA--)

Plume: {Ooooh, little maaaaaan!~}

Jack: . . . .

[Jack doesn't stick around. He BOLTS for it.]

[....]

[Or. Tries to, at least. ]

[The street he's on happens to be a dead end. ]

Jack: WHA--

Plume: Theeeere you aaaaare.~

[Swaying from side to side like a puppet on strings, Plume lightly approaches Jack with blue fire trailing behind her--her eyes a deep, deep red.]

Plume: Why do they ALWAYS run away?

Plume: .......

[The fire around her dims just for a moment.]

Jack: ...?

Plume: They NEVER stay. Not for long...

Plume: No one does...

Plume: You VISIT Hawaii. You don't stay.

Plume: No one EVER stays...

Jack: ......Miss...Plume...?

Plume: ......

[Plume's expression changes.]

[It changes to one of anger. ]

Plume: Why don't they STAY?!

Jack: --Erk--!

[She steps ever closer, fire and rain mixing together, steam rising to the darkening sky as Jack feels his back touch brick.]

Jack: --!! (Nonononono--)

Plume: My home is... paradise on Earth...

Plume: Who wouldn't want that? ~

Jack: (Oh God I don't wanna hurt her--it's not her fault she's like this--!)

Jack: (Wires and Hacking--what GOOD would those do?! UGH, I CAN'T DIE HERE--!!)

Jack: (Come on, Jack, THINK...)

Jack: (All your stupid wires can do is just grab things and there's no WAY I'm getting that close to Plume--)

Jack: (--!!!)

Jack: (WAAAAAIT A SEC--)

[Jack frantically looks around for something--ANYTHING--that looked sturdy enough support his weight.]

Jack: ---!

[There! Above him--a set of broken, steel stairs that lead to the roof of this building--an apartment complex. The bottom was blown off, so there was no way to climb it from the ground--]

[But if he aimed right--]

Plume: YOU MEN NEVER STAY W I T H ME!

[ZIIIIIP!]

[FOOOOM--]

Jack: SORRY MISS PLUME--

[Jack shot his wires up to the broken stairs--and retracted them, lifting himself up and away from Plume's furious fire!]

Plume: ?!?

Jack: BUT I GOT ANOTHER DANCE TO GET TO--

Jack: AND I'M PRETTY SURE SHE'D KILL ME IF I WAS LATE!

Plume: -SCREEEEEECH-

Plume: COME BACK HERE!

Jack: NOPE--

Jack: GOTTA RUN, BYE--

[Fireballs are chucked at his retreating form as he runs up the rest of the stairs, demonic screams of rage filling his ears. When she saw that she couldn't quite get to him from here, she decides to double back--for now.]

Plume: {I'LL MAKE YOU STAY WITH ME, LITTLE MAN--S T A Y!!}

Jack: ........

Jack: Oh God--

[Finally seeing that he was safe for the moment--he collapses in a heap, catching his breath. The first stars start to twinkle in the sky.]

Jack: (OK--....can't stay, you're not safe, she'll come back through the other street on the other side--gotta keep moving...)

Jack: (Tired...so tired, can't rest--....ugh crap my shoulder hurts...)

Jack: (Don't have wheels...can't steal a car...)

Jack: .......

[......]

[Jack's hand rests on his face as he thinks, momentarily staring at the small panel on his wrist that his his wires.

...He never thought they'd be useful for anything but tripping things and yanking or holding people in place...]

[......]

"DENCER! LET ME GO!"

"I--"

"PLEASE!"

Jack: .......

Jack: ....Mmmng.

[He's kinda always thought his Wires were just....an annoyance.]

Jack: .......

[But maybe they weren't? They DID just save him from being Hawaiian barbeque...]

[Maybe he could do something....MORE with them?]

“…You are a stronger man than you give yourself credit for, Jack.”

Jack: ........

Jack: (What ELSE...what else...)

Jack: ....

Jack: (Well--right now I need a fast way to the Needle--but no wheels. All I got are these things...)

Jack: .......

[ONE MINUTE LATER...]

Jack: Godalmighty this is the stupidest thing--

[Jack was standing right on the edge of the same roof--goggles on, sleeves rolled up, looking down to the street below. The building was about 10 stories high...]

Jack: .........

[A fall from this height...it wouldn't KILL him, but it would certainly do some major damage.]

Jack: .....

Jack: I do NOT get paid enough for this...

Jack: OK--just...aim for that other building across the street--and swing--like--like Tarzan or something like that--

Jack: OK on three....

Jack: One....two....

Jack: ......

Jack: Two and a half...

Jack: .......

Jack: .....

Jack: . . .

Jack: [FRAG] IT I CAN'T DO IT--

Jack: (I CAN'T JUMP OFF A DAMN BUILDING IT'S SUICIDE WHAT AM I THINKING--)

"{OH LITTLE MAAAAAAAN!~}"

Jack: . . . .

Jack: [Glitchfragit]--!

[He backs up, takes a few deep breaths, and takes off in a running start--]

[FOOOOM!]

[The street below him lights up in FLAMES as he leaps from the roof--]

Plume: --!!!

[ZIIIIIP!]

Jack: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH--

[His wires latch onto the taller building on the other side...]

[....and he sails... ]

[Over the flames, over Plume, in a perfect arch that ended just on the building on the corner--]

[Jack didn't have enough height to reach the roof of that one--but it was enough to catch onto a windowsill, scrambling up to find perchance--]

Jack: --!!!

Jack: ......

Jack: HOLY SHIT I'M ALIVE--

[Even Plume had to take a moment to process what just happened--the little man wasn't a flying model... ]

Jack: I FREAKIN' DID IT--

Jack: FRAG, THAT WAS AWESOME--YO, MISS PLUME DID YOU SEE WHAT--

[FOOOOSH!]

"RAAAAAAAAAAGH!!"

Jack: ....Ohright--

[Sheeeee was still angry.]

Plume: {WHO TOLD YOU YOU COULD FLY AWAY, LITTLE MAN?!}

Jack: AAAAAND I'M OUTTA HERE--

[ZIIIIP!]

[The repeated sounds of ziplining wires and screams of bloody rage echo throughout the rainy city, drawing ever closer to the Space Needle...]

Jack: Gotta get high enough to reach the top--!

Plume: -DEMONIC SCREAMING-

Jack: (THAT DOES NOT SOUND GOOD AT A L L--)

[Jack has never been this high UP before--]

Jack: Almost there almost there--

[And all this wind and rain was NOT making things any easier--he REALLY needs to thank the ice kid for the goggles--]

Plume: {LITTLE MAAAAAAAN!}

Jack: FOR PETE'S SAKE I'M NOT LITTLE--

[WOW that Needle was WAY up high--]

[C R A C K!!!]

Jack: GGNH!!

[The intense electricity messes with his systems, alright, due to being close to it to begin with--]

Plume: NAAH--!

[But that went true for his pursuer too.]

Jack: (No good--gotta get inside--gotta break through a window--!)

[To do that, he needed enough speed--so he proceeded to swing another lap around the Needle, fireballs pelting from below, rain pounding in his face and thunder clapping above his head--]

Jack: AAAAAAAAAAAAH--!!!

[With one final scream, Jack swung--one final time, lighting flashed, for a moment he couldn't see a thing--]

[C R A C K!]

[Static. Glass breaking.]

[Screams.]

"OH GOD THEY GOT IN--"

"WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE--"

[More static...]

"ELI, WHAT DO WE DO--?!"

"GET ME THE GUN--"

"HE FLEW IN THROUGH THE WINDOW-- "

"WHERE IS THE GUN?!?"

[. . . . . .]

[SYSTEMS REBOOTING...]

[.....]

Jack: ........

Jack: Nnngh....

[SYSTEM REBOOT COMPLETE.]

Jack: Nh...?

Jack: Uuugh, my head....

Jack: Owwwww...

[. . . . .]

[CLICK.]

Jack: ....?

[With some effort, Jack turns his head towards the strange sound--]

[Only to find a revolver being pointed at his face.]

"Alright, ya crazy freeloading flyin' freak--"

[A middle aged human man looks down at the CDN, cold muddy eyes beating down on him in an unforgiving manner.]

"You got 5 seconds to start talking or your Xel's gonna stain this floor tonight."

Jack: ...........

Jack: . . . . . .

Jack: PLEASE DON'T THROW ME OUT THERE, THERE'S A CRAZY HAWAIIAN BOT THAT WANTS TO FRY ME UP--

???: We know.

Jack: --??

???: Why do you think we're STUCK up here?

Jack: . . . .

???: . . . .

???: I'm gonna be straight with you. You're a Xelbot. And all of them's gone outta their minds for some reason or another-- something about a virus.

Jack: .......

???: My family is up here too.

???: You see where I'm coming from?

Jack: .....Y...Yes sir....

???: Good.

???: Now--so far--you don't seem like Miss Plume down there.

Jack: I-I--She...

Jack: She's not OK, it's not her fault--

???: No, but right now that don't matter. Point is, as long as she's down there raising hell...we can't escape.

Jack: .......

Jack: ......

Jack: Sir--please, just--listen to me--I get it, you're afraid, and trying to protect people, but I can't stay here--

???: Why?

Jack: I'm LOOKING for someone and I REALLY don't think she'd like it if I wounded up DEAD so PLEASE--please believe me--!

[THUMP.]

???: Whatthehell--

[THUMP.]

Jack: (THE WHOLE BUILDING IS SHAKING--)

[T H U M P.]

"ELI!!!"

[As the human--Eli--snapped his attention to the screaming woman that ran around the curve of the observation deck, Jack quickly took the chance to collect himself from the floor and back off a safe distance--]

Eli: Gwen--stay back, what is going--

[The woman named Gwen was hysteric, and grabbed hold of Eli's arm with her free hand...]

[...For the other was busy carrying some... precious cargo.]

"Waaaah!"

Jack: ....

Jack: oh my God is that a baby.

Eli: YOU STAY BACK--

Jack: DUDE I WAS ONLY ASKING--

[T H U M P.]

[A deep, LOUD, primal ROAR cut through the atmosphere, and the building shook once again, swaying, the sounds of metal groaning all around them--]

"WAAAAAAAH!"

Gwen: Shh, shh, it's OK, Lily--!

Eli: Gwen--Stay back with the rest of--

[T H U M P.]

"OH MY GOD WE'RE ALL D E A D--"

[The screams of terrified humans--plus one infant child--resounded once more as the building swayed again.]

Jack: (What the HELL--Plume can't be doing this--she's not--)

[The changing angle of the ground made the CDN lose balance--sliding over to another window, and making the rest of the trapped tourists follow suit. They grabbed onto whatever was bolted down and held on for dear, dear life...]

Jack: Aaarg--...

Jack: --!!!

[When Jack's gyroscopic systems recalibrated, his eyes caught sight of the cause of the sudden tremors through the window beneath...]

Jack: ....Oh no...

Jack: Landcrusher...

Jack: Of ALL THE BOTS IN THE WORLD--

[Landcrusher--the latest member of Germany's combat team--had also been visiting America from overseas when the Virus struck, turning him from a once kind, caring soul into a rampaging beast, intent on toppling the Space Needle--just for the sole purpose of it's fall.]

Landcrusher: {RAAAAAAAGH!!!}

[T H U M P--!]

[His HUGE arms and hands were tearing away at the Needle's base, causing it's structure to bend this way and that--any further, and the landmark would crumble.]

Jack: (He's gonna bring this whole place DOWN--with all these people in it--!)

Jack: (Damn it, I can't take that guy on--he'll WRECK me, and--)

Eli: Goddamnit where's the gun--

Jack: (THIS guy's on the verge of putting one in me--)

Jack: (FRAG--this CAN'T get any worse--!)

{"YOU BIG LUG--"}

[C L A N K!]

Jack: oh sweet lord--PLUME?!

[The fiery Hawaiian had returned--and it was clear that she was NOT in a very happy mood with what she saw.]

Plume: {STAY--}

[A fireball was launched--]

[C L A N K!]

Landcrusher: --ARGN--!!

[--right at Landcrusher's face--!]

Jack: ?!

Plume: {--AWAY FROM MY DANCE PARTNER!!}

[Landcrusher's response was another berserker roar--he SWUNG his massive frame one final time at the Needle before turning his attention to the IKN--]

[Who, with a war cry, launched herself at the larger Xelbot with no fear whatsoever.]

Jack: What....

Eli: That...that's not right...

[Needless to say, the trapped humans were completely horrified at what they saw.]

Jack: (Jeezus, they look ready to TEAR into each other--...)

Jack: ........

Jack: (I can't stay here.)

[A glance at the small family. The trapped tourists.]

Jack: (Neither can they--and who knows how long those two are gonna go at it...)

Jack: .......

Jack: Hey.

Eli: --!

Jack: CDN.7037. Call me Jack.

Eli: --You're a Cherry?

Jack: YES I'm a Cherry but that's not the point--

Jack: None of us are gonna make it if we stick around here.

Jack: So does ANYONE have any ideas to get outta here?

Jack: Plume and Crusher aren't gonna fight forever--now's a better chance than any.

Eli: God, I don't know--

"I'M NOT GOING DOWN THE STAIRS, THEY'RE BROKEN--"

"Elevator's out too."

"CAN'T CALL FOR HELP--"

Jack: (.....There really IS no way down from here...)

Jack: (...Not through normal means, anyway...)

[The entire building was now leaning to one side, like some ripoff of the Tower of Pisa--but it did allow it be closer to some of the smaller buildings--Jack could easily swing across...]

Jack: (...There are, what, like more than 30 people here?)

Jack: (Swinging across back and forth would take WAY too long...)

Jack: (There's GOTTA be another way to get these people off...)

Eli: ....Hey--you...you swung up here, didn't you?

Jack: Yeah, I did--

Eli: Can't you--lower us down somehow?

Jack: . . .

Jack: (Lower...)

Jack: --!!

Jack: Eli--I need a wheel--and something long and flat, like a table or something.

Eli: --! You got a plan?

Jack: Yeah...half of one, at least. (I just hope it’s enough!)

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

=CHAPTER 8A: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v1.0~

((Courtesy of @unluckyadept, @limitbreakers))

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

{ ((Setting here, will look up exact date and time later)) }

[Breakfast that morning started out as such an exciting and encouraging affair.

The house was full again—full of noise, that is, and commotion.

Pyrogen had been forced to go out early to buy groceries, as Seismic had cleared out everything from both fridges and all the pantries once he was well enough to slightly move. Considering he hadn’t eaten in days, that wasn’t really a surprise.]

[In addition to the sticky glory and sugar that was syrup, there was plenty else to give one reason to bounce off the walls…

…not that the syrup wasn’t enough a reason on it’s own, of course…]

Beck: -IT'S MINE.-

Avi: -BECK COME ON YOU CAN'T JUST HOG THE SYRUP BOTTLE LIKE THAT, BRO-

Beck: -RUNS-

Beck: -SUGAAAAAR-

Avi: WE GOT A RUNNER--

[Cryo suddenly springs forth from her own personal freezer in an effort to stop him--]

Cryo: HAND OVER THE SYRUP BOTTLE BRO--

[...Only to find that Beck had vaulted over her to skid around towards the kitchen exit.]

Cryo: HEY NO FAIR--

Beck: -THE SYRUP IS MINE, NO ONE CAN HAVE IT-

[Avi hovers after him, camera drone floating beside him.]

[MN.6] //: -PING- -WE GOT A RUNNER, FOUR FOOT NINE, BLUE NEBULA SHIRT, WE ARE IN HOT PURSUIT, SUBJECT IS HYPER AND VERY STICKY--

Pyro: AVI, NO FLYING IN THE HOUSE--

Brand: ........

Brand: -It's too early for this--

<DWN-024>: > -Snorts- Is your breakfast always this chaotic, Sensei?

Shadow: -I can hear you all ON AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT FLOOR, how even-

[MN.7] //: I'd say 'you have no idea' but then again....

[MN.5] //: -PRIVATE WHAT IN TARNATION ARE YOU DOING--

[MN.4] //: -Whoops, Beck's on a sugar rush, better stay out of the way-

Dyna: I'M NOT CATCHING HIM, HE'LL RUIN MY CLOTHES--

Pyro: -SIGH-

Pyro: -Just USE YOUR BITS, DYNATRON-

Dyna: -But he'll get those sticky toooooo--

Pyro: They're ALREADY STICKY--

[It was at this point that Will came in with a cup of stronger coffee than usual...]

Will: -Yaaawns-

Will: Mmmn....Good morning.

Pyro: Ah--Good morning, Father.

Avi: -FLIES BY THE DOOR- Morning, Daddo! Sorry, gotta fly-- -ZOOMS OFF, UH, WE LOST HIM, BROS--

Will: ?

Pyro: Beck won't share the syrup bottle.

Will: Ah...

Will: Well, that's expected. He's making up for the energy spent this whole week, though...Sugar isn't quite the answer...

Will: ...Oh well. -Sips-

<DWN-024>: >Good morning, Doctor.

<DWN-024>: >How are you this morning?

Will: ! Ah--Good morning, Shadow.

Will: I'm a little worn down, but--that is what coffee is for, eh? ^^

Will: Soi's getting the lab ready for the day, I believe. I heard that Mikhail and Siam have good news to share.

Pyro: !

<DWN-024>: > …

<DWN-024>: > If that is what I hope it to be… -Vaguely eager, because how do emotions work- We must let them know you are awake, as they will want to share at once.

Will: Oh, of course! Ah, just--let me locate Nine first, there's a bit of a situation, it seems. I'm sure he'll want to hear this too...

<DWN-024>: > -Muffled anticipation-

[After Beck was found hiding in the closet of his room with the syrup bottle--now empty--he agreed to come down to hear what Mikhail and Siam had to say.]

Avi: -Toting him around on his shoulders- Lil' bro acquired! ^^

Beck: -w-

Beck: -Syruuuup-

[By this point, the Cossacks were on the line. They appeared to be having breakfast, themselves.

Digger laughed at the spectacle, giving a slight “fist” pump.]

Digger: Haha!~ How is you say, “brother GET!”? You are lucky is not gingerbread man!

[Skull looked over at Keltso. They seemed to share a private joke, because Keltso snorted into his drink.]

Mikhail: It’s good to see you all like this again. Heaven knows it’s been missed.

[The doctor looked tired, but content. He gave a pleasant smile.]

Mikhail: I do indeed have some excellent news to share. Something that’s been long overdue.

Cryo: OOOOOO~

Avi: -THIS SHOULD BE GOOD-

Beck: -Wipes syrup off of his mouth- So what is it, Dr. Cossack?

Mikhail: Well, you know what my overreaching project has been since before we met one another, da?

Digger: Repairing little brothers? :^DDD

Mikhail: Among others, yes.

Mikhail: I must thank you all for your help along the way. Beck, your molds have proven invaluable.

Beck: (^.^)7

Beck: It's no problem, Doctor!

Mikhail: It’s taken quite a lot of searching, but I do believe we have found a suitable answer. It honestly was hard to believe at first, the specs are quite—

WHACK!

Beck: --???

Avi: --The heck was that?

[Out of nowhere, there was an incredible racket coming from the direction of the windows.

It almost sounded like something was trying to break in.]

Cryo: --Yo, It's coming from the window--

Pyro: ???

[Pyro goes over to look at what is causing all the racket--]

Pyro: What is going on out--

Pyro: !!!!!

[...And IMMEDIATELY unlatches the window lock.]

Avi: Uh...Bro? What are you--

[Something feathered and shrieking dashed into the kitchen. It flew right into the toppings and condiments on the table, knocking over drinks and getting grimy feathers into breakfasts.

This bird had certainly seen better days. It looked like it had flown through a pretty hard-affected area—sooty, muddy, and overall filthy.]

Mikhail: -Stands, utterly confused- Pyro, why—

[The poor thing didn’t even stop a moment to rest, but continued screaming.]

???: SCREE, SCREE!

Pyro: Doctor--

Pyro: That's BARON!

Beck: !!!!

Cryo: -Squints-

Cryo: -...DUDE HE'S RIGHT IT'S CARDINAL'S BIRD FORM--

Mikhail: What?!

[Baron was in hysterics, kicking up his wings as he took alight again, hovering in people’s faces.]

Beck: Baron! Calm down! -ACKPFFT FEATHERS IN MOUTH-

Avi: -DUDE YOU'RE GONNA RUN INTO SOMETHING--

Baron: -SCREE, SCREEEE—- -Flies over in Pyro’s face, SCREEEEE—- DDD8

Pyro: -Nearly has to take a step back, this bird is going crazy--

Pyro: Baron--We can't understand you if you just keep screaming--

[Frustrated, Baron flew over near the stove.

He started letting out bursts of fIRE—]

Baron: “●●● ——— ●●●” !!! SCREEE! “●●● ——— ●●●!” SCREE SCREE—!

Beck: ....

Avi: --Dude--Dude that's definitely Morse--

Pyro: ....

Pyro: SOS...

Beck: !!!

Beck: Is Cards in trouble--?!

Baron: SCREE—! “●●● ——— ●●●! ——● —●—●!!!!!!!!”

Avi: --? DC?

Avi: Uh, bro, you're gonna have to be a little more specific with the letters, man--

Will: --No, wait--

[There was a crash noise on the other side of the line. Digger whirled around to see who it was.]

Digger: … Felix?!

[He runs out of view. Baron flies over and starts pecking desperately at Avi’s camera drone.]

Avi: --HEY NO--

Beck: !!!

Avi: Dude no you're gonna scratch the camera--

[Luckily, Will is already opening another feed to the local news, with Soi coming in to see what was all the ruckus about.]

Soi: Why is everyone screaming louder than--

Soi: --Holy hamburger, is that BARON?!

“Felix, no—you’re unwell, you—!”

[Protests could be heard from the other line. Felix was speaking back in agitated Proxan. Dark, deadly looking plants were starting to curl around the doorframe.]

Beck: -Oh man--

Will: Yes, Soi, do me a favor and PLEASE check the news on TV for me--

Soi: Er--Okay?

Soi: --!!!??

Soi: WILL, WE HAVE A SITUATION--

“Let GO of me—they must stop him—”

Mikhail: What KIND of situation— FELIX! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF—!

Soi: -PANIC-

Soi: THE WHITE HOUSE IS UNDER ATTACK--

Will: What--?!?

Beck: The White House?!?

Avi: -WAIT--AS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WHITE HOUSE--

Baron: -SCREEE D.C., D.C.-

Avi: -FINALLY GETS INTO THE FEEDS HIMSELF-

Avi: -Pales-

Avi: Oh man THISISBAD--

Avi: THIS IS VERY BAD--

Avi: GUYS--THEY'RE SAYING THAT AN UNIDENTIFIED BOT IS ON THE PRIMISES AND THE DESCRIPTION MATCHES CARDS--

Beck: Cards is THERE?!?

Mikhail: {WHAT?! NO—!}

<DLN-008 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DWN-011 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>


<DWN-012 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>


<DWN-013 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>


<DWN-018 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>


<DWN-019 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>


<DWN-024 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

<DCN-000 has entered Non-Lethal Combat mode.>


<DCN-003 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>


<DCN-007 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>


<DCN-008 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

Beck: (But--!)

Beck: (If Cards is THERE, then that means--!)

Beck: (--OH MAN, THEY'RE IN--)

Mikhail: {My God, if he gets caught, they are going to destroy him—}

Mikhail: {EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN! AUTHORIZATION MC005!}

((AAAAAaaaand everyone goes back Offline))

<RMDC>: > -PING!- ERROR: COMMAND FAILED. DLN-000 SIGNAL NOT FOUND.

Cryo: -FLAILING ARMS- WHY THE GLITCH IS THE PREZ'S HOUSE UNDER ATTACK--

Pyro: --....

Pyro: If Cardinal is in the White House--then--

Will: . . .

Will: N...No...

Will: NonoNO--!

Beck: SHADE--!

Felix: You… you must stop him, before—!

[Mikhail, taken by surprise (as he had forgotten all about the poor Adept in the chaos), turned just in time to prevent Felix from falling over something. Felix clutched at him, clearly in a very weakened state. He hadn’t eaten in a long time—and it showed.]

Beck: !

Beck: FELIX--!

Felix: There…

Felix: There is DEATH on the horizon!

Beck: --!!!

Will: NO--!

Will: (I will not lose another CHILD--!)

Will: CALL!

Felix: NO!

Felix: You don’t understand—!

Beck: --????!

Beck: -Already in combat form, loading up Xel Stocks-

Beck: You gotta explain FAST, Felix, I don't think we have much time--

Felix: He can’t…

Mikhail: -Helps Felix gently to the floor, turning pale- {Dear God…}

Felix: Couldn’t… he couldn’t outrun him…

Will: -Freezes at that-

————————

“You’re going to have to catch me first, hunting doggie!”

————————

“Catch me if you can!”

————————

Beck: . . .

Beck: -Starts preparing FASTER--

Avi: But--wait--

Beck: No TIME!

Beck: Call, how soon can you get us authorization?!

Mikhail: WE DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!

[He’s run over to the mainframe, working faster than one could think possible. He seemed desperate.]

Mikhail: Aviator White you find out who the security on the lawn is RIGHT NOW AND TELL THEM TO CEASE FIRE, /THIS INSTANT!/

Avi: ON IT--

Mikhail: {And somebody call back the Pentagon, dammit—that’s why we haven’t heard from the secretary, THEY MUST BE TRAPPED INSIDE!}

[PING!]

[CALL] //: Yes, Doctor. Contacting the Pentagon.

Mikhail: {FIND whoever you spoke to, we have got to get eyes in there, his signal is gone but we have to get him out of there, I’m waking up Tobias because WE DON’T HAVE TIME!}

Will: S-Soi-- -It's all moving too fast for him, Shade--

Soi: Will--Go get Beck as close to the House as possible! Can you do that?

Will: --!! Yes, yes--Right away--

Beck: (Shade--Shade, why this, WHY THE WHITE HOUSE, WHY--)

Beck: (Don't you know Cards is--?!)

Beck: Ready--!

Mikhail: {THEN GO, /NOW!/}

——————

[....Some time later…]

Beck: What is TAKING so long?!

White: I'm going as fast as I CAN, Beck, but there are SECURITY measures preventing direct Xel Transfer that I HAVE to get through FIRST--!

Beck: We gotta get to Cards before SHADE does or--!

Beck: (Or...He'll do something WORSE--)

White: Almost....

White: --! GOT IT--

White: Call!

Call: Affirmative, Doctor. Preparing Xel Transfer...

<DLN-008 is now Online.>

Beck: --!

Beck: Toby--!

<DLN-008 has entered Lethal Combat mode.>

Beck: --Uh oh--

[Mikhail is working at a terminal, apparently communicating with Tobias.]

[DR.WHITE to MN.9] //: Mikhail has things covered, Beck--your main focus should be to retrieve Countershade and Cardinal!

<MC005>: >Tobias has his own mission. Focus on your work!

[MN.9] //: --...Yes, Sir.

Beck: (Hang on, guys, I swear--I swear I won't let anything happen to you--!)

[CAPITOL BUILDING, AKA THE WHITE HOUSE, A FEW SECONDS LATER...]

[MISSION DETAILS: MIGHTY NUMBER 8, COUNTERSHADE, APPEARS TO BE LEADING A ROBOT OCCUPATION OF THE CAPITAL BUILDING. SIGHTINGS OF DLN-000, CARDINAL LIGHT, HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTED.

MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM MN.8, LOCATE DLN-000. PREVENT BOTH UNITS FROM ENGAGING.

SUB-OBJECTIVE: MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT.]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

((Stage music here))

[Beck appears in a flurry of blue Xel building upon itself, his feet meeting luxury red carpet. He seems to have landed in the foyer.]

[CALL] //: Attention. Beck has arrived at the Capitol Building.

[DR.SANDA] //: Y...You don't think Shade would actually...Try to...

[DR.WHITE] //: (A fine question indeed, but we all know the answer to that.) Focus, Soi.

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck, what do you see?

Beck: I see--

[Vrrrrrrr...]

[A red dot appears right in between Beck's eyes--]

Beck: --!

[Beck rolls out of the way JUST in time to avoid sniper fire from out of nowhere, the statue behind him becoming littered with bullet holes.]

[PING!]

[MN.8] //: Well, well, well.

[MN.8] //: If it ain't the infernal Wily child and the Lil' doggie.

[So far, Beck had to go and FIND his ill siblings, and while each case differed from the other--

Not two seconds into this and Shade held NO qualms about shooting him in the head.

...In all honesty, that made Beck just a touch annoyed.]

-PING!-

[MN.9] //: COUNTERSHADE!

[Static fill ted the coms.

Angry static.]

<DLN-008>: >Shut up, Shade.

<DLN-008>: > The only reason I haven’t fried you to a soot speck is because Beck’s my friend and Cardinal would kill me. |[

Beck: ...

Beck: (Whew...)

Beck: (At least I kinda don't have to worry about Toby frying big bro to a crisp--yet...)

[There was a slight noise, and it died down.]

<DLN-008>: > Yes—

Beck: --? (Yes? Yes what--?) Toby, who are you--

[Suddenly, gunfire, off in the distance--]

[CALL] //: Sniper fire detected, but I am unable to detect any robot capable of long range gunfire.

[DR.WHITE] //: No, you won't, Call. Mighty No. 8 won't show up on any of your instruments.

[DR.WHITE.] //: ...All part of my design.

[One of the monitors nearby became filled with static and then a familiar symbol—the Wily symbol.

Tobias’s voice came over a small-range frequency.]

“Cardinal is fighting his way through—I can hear him, but I can’t see him yet! I’ll do what I can to disrupt!”

Beck: !

Beck: Thanks, Toby!

“Don’t congratulate me yet, Beck—”

((Whatever noise you want here))

“I CAN’T CONTROL THE SECURITY SYSTEMS!”

[As if to prove this point, the monitor cut out, and resumed a “RED ALERT” security message.]

Beck: ._____.

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC.]

((pic))

Beck: -TANK MODE GO-

[Various turrets unlock from the ceiling and walls, but they couldn't keep up with Beck as he barreled down the next hallway, gunfire chasing after him.]

[He practically ran over various infected robots, not stopping for a second in his search for Countershade and Cardinal.]

Beck: (Where are you, Shade--?)

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck, Shade has to be somewhere in the building--trace the sniper fire back to its source!

[Indeed, Beck saw many red lasers bouncing off the walls and familiar dark orbs in the hall--Beck only saw them in use once in his entire life, and that was way back when he was still on the team...]

Beck: (Shade can see through them, I know that much--and he can use them to bounce his shots off of...)

Beck: (Meaning he has eyes everywhere--he knows exactly what's going on inside at all times--)

Beck: (I gotta get past them somehow--!)

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

Beck: HAH!

[Beck leaps forward and slices one out of the air, both halves of the orb falling into carpet with a small thunk.]

Beck: Okay, so some of them can be smashed... (Or sliced, in this case...)

[CRUNCH--!]

Beck: --? -Looks down, what the heck did he step on--

Snake: -Beep.-

[...Gosh, that looked familiar--]

Snake: -Beep beep.-

Beck: --!!!

[His mind goes RACING back to that day when a Search Snake had snuck into the Meadow--!]

Beck: NO--!

[Beck KICKS IT AWAY--]

[BLAM BLAM BLAM--]

[The snake EXPLODED in the air, sending shrapnel and acid flying--some of it into the gathered orbs, themselves!!]

[There was suddenly distorted CURSING over the feeds as Beck breathed hard, his eyes wide and shaking, and...almost...]

[Glowing...]

Beck: WHAT IS A S E A R C H SNAKE DOING HERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE--?!?

[...Uh oh.]

<DLN-008>: > Because Cardinal is trying to find them, genius!

Beck: --!

Beck: .........

Beck: ....O...Oh...

[That seems to snap him out of it.]

Beck: S-...Sorry, I...

<DLN-008>: > HE TOOK ALL THE CAPSULES, REMEMBER?!

Beck: -Wince--

Beck: (Gnh, that's right--)

<DLN-008>: > Including MINE!

[BZZZRRRRRKKKZZZZZGGGHHHHHHHVVVV—]

Beck: --?!?

<MC005>: > No! They're... they must be already engaging!

Beck: No--!

Beck: (Cards--Shade is WEAK to DYNA'S abilities, you're going to--!)

[Beck swerved around a corner, heading to the place where he heard the electricity--]

Beck: (Ugh, this is like the Power Plant all over again--)

<DLN-008>: > DYNAAAAAA--

<DLN-008>: > I CAN'T FIGHT THE SYSTEM AND FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS AT THE SAME TIME, HELP--

[He did seem to be disrupting the security systems-- it was far from perfect, though, and it was clear he was struggling.]

[PING!]

[MN.3] //: I got thiszz, Toby!

[MN.3] //: Let'szzz zzsee, what can I do here....

[Dyna is silent for a few moments before--]

[PING!]

[MN.3] //: Ah! That'szz the biszznesszz--thiszz place MUST have it'szz own power grid! No wonder you're having zzso much trouble, Toby, the zzspecszz are totally different.

[MN.3] //: Hmmm...Let'szzz try thiszz--

Beck: Whoa--!

[Suddenly, gravity just vanished as EVERYTHING began to float up, suspended, the air crackling with energy--]

Beck: Dynaaaaa, put me down--!

[MN.3] //: Oopszz--

[MN.3] //: Okay, hmm. That waszzn't it--

[THUNK.]

[Aaaand gravity went back to normal.]

Beck: -Ow-

[MN.3] //: Wow, thiszzz iszzn't your typical power grid--I'm gonna need a few zzsecondszz. Can you hold off for a while longer?

Beck: -Back in default form- Yeah, I think...

Beck: --!

Beck: What the...

[He had arrived at the hallway where he heard the electric based weaponry going off.

It was utterly destroyed.]

Beck: Uh.

Beck: I think this is the right way. (Jeez...)

Beck: (Gotta watch my step...)

Beck: CARDS?! SHADE?!

Beck: WHERE ARE YOU?!

Beck: SOMEONE--

[BANG!]

Beck: --Gnh!

[Something hot grazed his shoulder, and he turned--]

Shade: Hello, runt.

Beck: --?!

[Before Beck could say a word, Shade fired off more shots, forcing Beck to find cover behind a presidential statue of sorts.]

Shade: Heh. Coward.

Beck: Shade, please, I--!

[Beck peeked out of his cover to return fire--]

Beck: --???

[...But he was gone.]

Beck: Sh...Shade--?

[Nothing.]

[CALL] //: Mighty No. 8's signal has vanished. We have lost the target. My apologies.

[DR.WHITE] //: .... -sigh-

[DR.WHITE] //: ... It's not your fault.

[DR.WHITE] //: ...It's what I built him to do.

<MC005>: > And Cardinal was built to defend at all costs-- Tobias, where is he?!

<DLN-008>: > Kinds busy with the security--!

Beck: Gah...

[Finding nothing here, Beck doubled back to the foyer, and to the other adjoining hallway to the right. Perhaps, if they were going left, he can cut them off--]

Beck: --!

[A slew of infected combat models awaited him.]

Beck: Aw, you gotta be--!

[They opened fire, and this time there wasn't much cover to hide behind--Beck was forced to tank some hits before retaliating with his default weapon, restoring his Xel Stocks for later.]

Beck: Guuuh, lasers hurt...

[He shakes it off after a while, and continues to run down the hall...]

[BANG BANG BANG!!]

[--only to be CHASED by sniper fire soon after!]

Beck: AH--!

[MN.8] //: Heh. Run along nao, lil' doggy.

[MN.8] //: -VERY DISORTED VOICE-- Run and FETCH for your HUMAN masters.

<DLN-008>: > OW!

<DLN-008>: > -Incredibly aggressive data-

[Tobias seemed to be engaged in a fight against something very powerful…

…something that was making him angry.]

[KKKSST--]

[The connection cuts out.]

[DR.WHITE] //: He STILL has his sights on you, Beck--be careful--!

Beck: Ggh, trying--!

[He manages to dive into the next hallway--]

Beck: --?????

[...Oh that was a lot of Metal Blades.]

Beck: (Oooh, jeez, Shade's not gonna be happy seeing those out--)

Beck: (Not after what happened in the Queen's Finals...)

Beck: (Oh, please, PLEASE don't do anything rash, Shade--you--you gotta still be in there SOMEWHERE--!)

"RARF!"

Beck: --?????

Beck: ...Did...Did you hear that?

[It...It sounded like a very distinct bark--]

<MC005>: > …I must be imagining things, that sounded like Shade’s dog—

"RARF RARF!"

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: No WAY--

[Amazingly, despite all of the gunfire and chaos, madness, and overall hell on earth--

Scout the Zigzagoon was expertly and happily bouncing around the dangers of the White House, tail wagging with GLEE as he POUNCED into the young hero's chest with almost carefree cheerfulness.]

Scout: RARF! : D!!!! -IT'S YOU, TALL MASTER'S BROTHERRRR-

Beck: SCOUT--?!?

Scout: -ALL THE KISSES FOR YOU--

Beck: -GIGGLES, BWAAAA--

[DR.WHITE] //: .....I....? -Speechless-

<MC005>: > …

<MC005>: > …How did he—

<MC005>: > !

<MC005>: > What is he wearing?

Beck: --?

[Scout had something hanging around his neck, besides his teal scarf...]

Beck: Lemmie see that...

Beck: --?

Beck: It's...One of those old USB drives--?

<MC005>: > !!!

<MC005>: > That’s Cardinal’s!

Beck: --......

Beck: Wait--if this is Cardinal's--

Beck: Scout--did...Did you--did you come here WITH CARDS--?!?

Scout: Rarf! : D

Beck: -ARE YOU TELLING ME SHADE'S RACCOON FOUND CARDS, CARDS, BEFORE WE DID--

[You could hear Mikhail facepalming over the feeds.

....And again, over Will's feed.]

[DR.WHITE] //: -We got outsmarted by a raccoon, are you KIDDING me--

Beck: --! Scout--where is he--where is Cards--?!

Scout: ---......

[...He's...Not answering.]

<DLN-008>: > Gnhhhgghhh!

<DLN-008>: > I directed him to the Oval Office!

Beck: --?!? WHAT--?!

[DR.SANDA] //: -I KNEW IT, HE'S GOING TO ASSASSINATE THE MADAME PRESIDENT--

[DR.SANDA] //: BECK! HURRY!

Beck: (Gnh--!)

Beck: Scout--

Beck: I can't bring you back home, but, please--

Beck: If you find Cards--please tell him I'm going to save Shade!

[Beck didn't want to leave Scout in such a dangerous place, but--if he made it this far, then he should be fine...]

Scout: Rarf--

[Beck didn't wait for an complete answer--he ran ahead, leaving the Zig behind.]

Scout: -Whiiiines-

[After a moment of worry, the Zig soon bounces off, determined to find his master--either of them.]

[Meanwhile, Beck continued to forge his way through the capital building turned battleground, avoiding both Shade's sniper fire AND that of the infected robots.]

Beck: --....

[Despite all the noise, and chaos...]

[...He hasn't seen a single human in the building yet, and he didn't know if that was a good or bad sign.]

[PING!]

[Fortunately, that question was about to be answered.]

[MN.8] //: Wondering what happened to all the humans here, Lil' doggy?

[MN.8] //: They ran away, thanks t' that annoyin' songbird of theirs...Feh. Cowards.

[MN.8] //: Every single one of those meat-sticks fled at the first sign of trouble. Pathetic.

[MN.8] //: ...'Cept for the stupid ones, that is. Heh.

[MN.8] //: Like y o u.

[MN.9] //: -Ghn--

[MN.9] //: Shade, PLEASE--!

[MN.9] //: That 'songbird'--you KNOW that person, Shade--!

[MN.9] //: Please don't hurt him!

[MN.8] //: Ya think I'm gonna listen t' YEW, lil' Doggy?

[MN.8] //: Ah' ain't no TOOL fer MAN no more. Not like the REST of ya.

[MN.8] //: Ah' think it's about time someone ELSE had a turn at orderin' fools around, eh?

[KKKSST--!]

Beck: SHADE--UGH--!

Beck: (Either he's ignoring me or he doesn't even RECOGNIZE Cards--like Pyro...)

Beck: DYNA!

[MN.3] //: Almoszzt got it--

[The lights flickered...]

[And dimmed.]

Beck: --!

[...Aaaand everything started floating again, oh no--]

Beck: Waaah--!

[MN.8] //: NGH, SONOFVA--

[PING!]

[MN.3] //: Oooooh, Shaaaaade!

[MN.3] //: BIG ZZZSISTER WANTSZZ TO HAVE A TALK WITH YOU.

[MN.8] //: -Oh, bite me, witch hag.-

[MN.3] //: YOU CAN’T PLAY HIDE AND ZZZSEEK FOREVER–

[MN.3] //: -CACKLES- BECAUSE I'LL FIIIIIND YOUUUU!~

[MN.8] //: GO T' HELL.

[KSSSSSST--]

<DLN-008>: > NICE TRY.

<DLN-008>: > You’ve made this place unbearable…

<DLN-008>: > So we’re already /here/, and we WON’T GO /AWAY!/

[MN.3] //: Niczze play on wordszz, bro.~

[MN.8] //: Grrr...

[MN.8] //: Glitchfraggin' motherscratchin' infested with lightin' bugs--

[PING!]

[MN.1] //: DON'T TALK TO YOUR SISTER THAT WAY, EIGHT--

[MN.1] //: When you get back here I swear I am going to WASH THAT FOUL MOUTH WITH SOAP--

[MN.2] //: -OOO, CAN WE HELP--

[MN.1] //: -You know what yes Cryo you CAN help-

[MN.2] //: HECK YEAH, BATH TIME~~~

[MN.8] //: Ah' ain't got no TAHM for ya FRICKIN' PRATTLE--!

[KSSSSSSSST--]

[CONNECTION LOST.]

[MN.1] //: | [

[MN.1] //: Dyna, have you managed to seize control of the--

[MN.3] //: ~~ < 3

[MN.1] //: --????

[MN.3] //: -Mmmm high grade military level power voltage tastes SO GOOD--

[MN.1] //: You've got to be kidding me--

<MC005>: > …Why are you surprised by this, exactly?

[MN.1] //: I'm not. | [

[MN.3] //: Mmmmm!~

[MN.3] //: Go on now, Becky, I got thiszz, I KNEW thiszz place had it'szz own power grid, yum.~

[MN.9] //: Hookay, thanks, Dyna! c:

<DLN-008>: >Just follow the panels along the side—

[Some of them start lighting up, flickering down the hallway.]

[Unfortunately, Beck didn’t really quite make it too far before—]

POW.

[Someone had managed to blow a fuse, which turned off the security in that part of the White House…

…and the lights…

…and the air conditioning.]

<DLN-008>: > OW!

<DLN-008>: > -OUCH that hurt, WARN a guy before you shove him into a current like that—-

[MN.1] //: DYNA!

[MN.3] //: OW, THAT WASZZN'T ME, BRO--

<MC005>: > …That was Cardinal.

<MC005>: >He must have used Thunder Beam…

((Pic of Tobias in ANGRY RAEG MODE here))

<MC005>: > It’s the only thing he had powerful enough to do that.

<MC005>: >I think that’s the last of the electric power he had at his disposal—he won’t have any left for fighting with…

Beck: (He's...Either getting more serious or desperate...)

Beck: (I gotta hurry, gotta--!)

<MC005>: >Tobias, are you alright?

<DLN-008>: > Nnnngghhhh…

[MN.3] //:

-Kinda dizzy and a LITTLE peeved, she was enjoying a GOOD MEAL--

[BANG!]

Beck: --!!!!

Beck: That came from--!

[MN.8] //: Tch!

[MN.8] //: Keep gettin’ in mah way, Birdy, and Ah’ WILL make ya regret it!

Beck: --!!

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

[A red blur speeds down the hallway at a frantic pace, but he's still slowed down by all the infected enemies around--it was like they were trying to stall him--]

Beck: Out of my WAY--

[SHING SHING--!]

[Then...]

[MN.8] //: Heh.

[MN.8] //: Was that ya soundin’ desperate there?

[MN.9] //: SHADE--!

[MN.8] //: -LAUGHTER-

[MN.8] //: Ah’ hate t’ disobey a lady, but m'afraid yer term is up.

[MN.8] //: Now.

[MN.8] //: R u n.

[The comms seemed to go live—as if Shade were broadcasting his twisted takeover—!]

[For a brief moment, silence.

…But then…]

“…Heh…”

Beck: --!

[Laughter.

FAMILIAR laughter—but it wasn’t Shade’s—!]

Beck: --!

Beck: Cardinal--!

“Shade, Shade, Shade…”

<DLN-008>: > ??? (What’s with the scolding tone?)

“You know what?”

“You’re right.”

Beck: --?!?!? (What....?)

[MN.8] //: -Ooooh, now ya got his attention-

[MN.8] //: Somethin’ change yer mind, Birdy?

[MN.8] //: Was it the fact that yer doin’ this all fer nothin’?

“Hardly.”

<DLN-008>: > … Uh-oh—

“More like… I don’t have time for this, Shade…”

[One could hear a faint priming whine…!]

“Guess I’ll have to make my own!”

[K-FLSH!]

Beck: --?????

<RMDC>: >WEAPON IDENTIFIED: TIME STOPPER

Beck: (Time Stopper--)

[Ah! Beck can see the hallway now--]

CRASH!

Beck: --?!?

Beck: (What are you guys DOING--)

PSSSHHHHT!

<MC005>: > …

<MC005>: > -Soi please tell me that wasn’t me hearing him SPRAY PAINTING something just now—-

[DR.SANDA] //: -Oh goodness I--I think it is-- CARDINAL THIS IS THE WHITE HOUSE, NOT A GIANT CANVAS--

[There was a sharp whistling noise.]

“-RARF RARF RARF–”

Beck: --! Scout--!

[Almost there--]

“Close enough. Group hug, everybody!”

“! Oh goodness— Now wait just a—”

[Beck turned the corner—]

Byuubyuubyuu…

Beck: --!

Beck: NO!

Beck: I was so CLOSE--!

Beck: (--But--at least the President is okay, right--?)

[KSSSSSST--!]

[MN.6] //: HEEEYOOOO, this is Avi bringing you guys a quick update--

[MN.6] //: I've managed to tell the boys in blue and black that Cards isn't a threat--and I got visual of him outside--!

<MC005>: > {AT LAST!}

[MN.6] //: Please hold, I think--I think if I can just get this cam over here, I can talk to him--

<MC005>: > {Yes— oh please let this WORK—}

<MC005>: >Beck, is Shade still in that hallway? I think Cardinal may have tagged him, actually—

[KSSSSSST--!]

[MN.6] //: I got visual! And input audio--so we can hear him--

Beck: -Looks around--

Beck: I...I don't see him...

“Heh.”

“Hello again, Avs.”

[MN.6] //: Cards--Cards, man, I missed you-- come ON I NEED AUDIO OUTPUT--!

<DLN-008>: > H-hang on… lemme try and fix that…

[The feed crackled.]

<DLN-008>: >Okay, try now—!

[KSSSSSST--!]

[MN.6] //: TOBY YOU'RE A LIFESAVER--

Avi: Bro you do realize can't hide from this, right--

“Sadly."

[He sounded weary and grim.]

“That’s a cost I’ll have to carry.”

<DLN-008>: > …

<DLN-008>: > -Ugh, I… suddenly don’t feel so good…-

Avi: OKAY GOOD JUST CHECKING.

Avi: Because sometimes you just kinda let these things fly wAY OVER YOUR HEAD--

[MN.1] //: Really, Avi?!

[MN.6] //: -WE PUN WHEN WE'RE STRESSED, OKAY--

<MC005>: > -sNORTS-

[Silence, other than the background chatter.]

<MC005>: > Just a little more…

[…Cardinal spoke up again. He sounded rather defeated.]

“-Quietly- I’m sorry, Avi. I’m not done yet.”

Avi: --....

[MN.6] //: -Ugh we--Cards, we NEED you too--

Avi: Dude, Beck's in there now, just--come on, man, can't ya believe in him too...?

Beck: (Please, Cards--you KNOW I'm the only one that can CURE him, PLEASE, I can DO THIS--!)

“Six, this is about a lot more than believing and proving and anything else, and quite frankly—”

[A splashing noise.]

[MN.6] //: --? Was that water--

“—I’m tired of seeing my brothers die.”

<DLN-008>: > -Uuuuugh…!-

<RMDC>: >WARNING: ??.??.20XX MEMORY DATA CROSS-REFERENCES TO MULTIPLE HAZARDOUS FILES. POTENTIAL SYSTEM OVERLOAD TRIGGER DETECTED.

<DLN-008>: > -Ghhh…!-

Beck --.....

Beck: . . . .

[DR.WHITE] //: --Beck--?

“I won’t risk any chance of that happening again.”

Beck: Ghn--

[But--but--]

Beck: (I--I promised, I won't do that, Cards, I--)

Beck: (I'm not like--like--)

[The Xel of the broken robots around him starts to float--]

Beck: Why don't...you...listen--?

[MN.9] //: -Hurt, hurtful data, that hurt--

<MC005>: > !

Beck: Why don't you b-believe me--

<MC005>: > NO!

<MC005>: > BECK, HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU—

<MC005>: > With the White House evacuated…

<MC005>: > The Pentagon would be able to target it!

Beck: --!

[DR.WHITE] //: Listen to Mikhail, Beck!

[DR.WHITE] //: Cardinal--he has his own personal reasons for going after Shade, you know this--!

[DR.WHITE] //: It's not that he doesn't believe in you, Beck, please...

Beck: . . .

[A lady’s voice breaks through.]

“Where do you THINK you’re going—”

[MN.6] //: -UH OH--

“Here, take this, it may help you on your journey—”

[MN.6] //: .......

Avi: (....I guess I tried.)

“Ackpth—”

Mikhail: … -Facepalm- (He handed off the Pokémon to the President??)

[MN.6] //: Sorry, Doc, I'm...not a good staller. That's...More Shade's department...

Avi: please don't hurt him too bad.

“I don’t have time for this. You saw the file extension, you know my intentions.”

Beck: --......

[At the sound of Cardinal reminding him of this, The Xel fluxes, and then gently collects towards Beck, healing him.]

-*-*-*-

<DLN-000>: >I know. I know.

<DLN-000>: >But I’ll never give up on you Shade, not for any reason.

-*-*-*-*-

Beck: Never...give...up...on you...

Beck: Not for any...Reason..

[When Cardinal spoke again, he seemed to be in… pain.]

“…See you in clearer skies, Avs.”

[MN.6] // Ggnh--

[MN.6] //: Cards WAIT--

Mikhail: NYET—!

“Goodbye…”

BWIP.

[MN.6] //: CARDS--!

<RMDC>: >ERROR: DLN-000 SIGNAL NOT FOUND.

[MN.6] //: Nghgh--

[MN.6] //: -Hurts, HEAD HURTS--

>A problem has been detected and AI_DWN_008 has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. All unsaved data has been lost.

The problem seems to be caused by the following programs: BetaEmotions.exe, RMDatabase.exe

If this is the first time you have seen the Stop error screen, restart your chassis—

REBOOTING…

Mikhail: (Great. GREAT. Now Cardinal is gone, and Tobias is Offline. I have nothing!)

Mikhail: -Puts his head in his hands-

[…]

“…Get me Sanda Labs on a secure line.”

Mikhail: … -Not NOW—-

“NOW.”

[DR.WHITE] //: --!!!!!!

[DR.WHITE] //: No--

[DR.WHITE HAS LEFT THE CONVERSATION.]

Mikhail: Will?

[DR.SANDA] //: Will--!

[DR.SANDA] //: G-Give us a minute--Will COME BACK--

[DR.SANDA HAS LEFT THE CONVERSATION.]

Mikhail: …

<MC005>: > Beck we need him out of there.

[Back at the White House, Beck had somewhat calmed down, but he seemed...somewhat tired. Emotionally, rather than physically.]

Beck: --I...yeah.

Beck: I'm going.

Beck: (Shade...Cards...)

[He had no idea where to start looking, and no idea what Shade would do now that the President was outside, and safe.]

[But...If he had to guess...]

Beck: --....

Beck: Oh no--

<MC005>: >Beck…? What is it?

Beck: (No, Shade, no--)

[If anything, Shade's obvious objective was to kill the President--but now that she was gone, and by Cardinal's doing--]

Beck: Shade's target is gone.

Beck: Remember what happened at the highway--Jack made Carmen's target get away, and who did SHE TAKE THAT OUT ON--

<MC005>: > {Dear God—}

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH]

Beck: SHAAAAAAAAAAADE!

[CRASH, BANG--]

[He had to get to Cards--before--before--!]

Beck: CAAAAAAAAAARDS!

[BANG–!]

[BANG BANG–]

Beck: NO--!!

Beck: (NO, don't do this, please, don't--!)

Beck: (That came from all the way back at the foyer--)

KTANG!

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT—

[Getting back ALL the way to where he started--]

[Beck even ignored the oncoming fire from what was left of the infected robots, even crushing one with a firm hand swipe--as if he pushed the Xel of it away--]

[BANG–]

Beck: Ngh--!

Beck: (Hurts, but--gotta keep going--)

KZZZRRR! KZZRRR!

Beck: --?!?

Beck: What the--

[Wires. Wires covered in purple, all over the hall, he couldn't pass though here--!]

Beck: RRRRUGH!

[Beck was so angry that the leftover Xel around him shivered, collected, and grew HOT, following him as he swerved on his heel in the other direction--]

Beck: (I swear if I see them beating the heck outta each other to an INCH of life, I'm gonna--!)

Beck: GUUUUYS!

Beck: Sto--

[WHAM!]

Beck: --?!?

[...Did he just run smack into George Washington's head?]

Beck: (This was NOT here before--)

CRASH!

[BANG!]

[VRRRRRRR--]

Beck: --????

[The entire bust and pedestal that the granite image of the First President suddenly started moving--]

[The mechanisms inside were robotic, and thus, ALSO affected by the virus--meaning--]

Beck: -EXASPERATED- EVEN THE FOUNDING FATHERS DON'T WANT ME NEAR MY OWN BROTHER--

Beck: WHAT IS UP WITH THIS PLACE--

[BLAM--]

[Shattering the granite head bust seems to work.]

[BLAM--]

[MN.2] //: Dude did you just blast President Lincoln--

Beck: I--

[BLAM--]

Beck: DON'T--

[BLAM!]

Beck: --CARE!

Beck: SHADE!

Beck: I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME--STOP IT! NOW!

kzzzZZZZZZZZGGGVVVVGGGHHHTTTT—

[size=6]CRASH!![/size]

Beck: --!

[...Silence.]

[Oh God, silence--]

Beck: (No--n-no, he--)

[BANGKSSSHHHHKKKGGHHHHT!]

Beck: --!

[BLAM--]

Beck: -MIXTURE OF RELIEF AND HORROR-

[BANG BANG BANG–]

[A LOUD EXPLOSION—]

Beck: Gh--

Beck: -Why are there so many of these STUPID STATUES--

Beck: (If only Shade didn't block that stupid hall on the right--)

Beck: (All of this is just-- stupid, nngh--)

Beck: (I just want my family BACK--!)

[He was halfway there, he could hear the noises of battle getting louder--]

[BANG–]

[CRASH!]

Beck: (Almost--just a couple of more hallways--)

[KKKKKKKRRWOOOOOOOOOOOOH!]

[A strong wind came through the hallway.]

Beck: ---?!?!

[The sudden strong gusts sent our lightweight hero tumbling backwards--]

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR.]

[--Before he switched into Avi's form, flying desperately against the unforgiving winds--]

Beck: Nnnngh--!

Beck: Dad, how much further--

[...No response.]

Beck: --?? Dad--Uncle Sanda--?

[Nothing--]

Beck: (Why aren't they answering--???)

[BANG!]

Beck: Nnnngh--

Beck: (Why is there so much wind, why is everything trying to stop me--??)

[BANG–

BANG BANG BANG–]

Beck: --!!

Beck: (No--Cards--I don't hear him firing BACK--!)

Beck: NO!

Beck: STOP IT! PLEASE--!

[size=louder][BANG–!][/size]

Beck: SHAAADE--

[The winds finally die down, and Beck instantly reverts back to his default before--]

[REXELECTION: BRANDISH.]

Beck: HAAAAAAH!

[Beck slices and dices anything that crosses his path in a red and yellow tornado of slashes that seem too quick for the normal eye to see...]

[SHING SHING SHING--]

[BANG.]

[A pause.]

[BANG!]

[A much longer pause. Beck was beginning to make headway.]

[BANG—]

[Shorter pause—]

“AUGH!”

Beck: CARDS--!

Beck: (He's already hurt, come on, COME ON--)

[BLAM! BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM—]

Beck: --!

[Wait, wasn't that...]

Beck: (Needle Cannon--)

Beck: Cards, please--just hold out a LITTLE longer--

[A set of large oak doors block the path--locked shut.]

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC]

[CRASH--]

[...Or, was.]

[BANG BANG BANG–]

[Silence.]

Beck: (No, please, STOP DOING THAT--)

[This time, the silence WASN’T broken.]

Beck: ......

Beck: (N...No, no, NO--)

Beck: (Oh, Cards, please, say something, a comeback, a pun, ANYTHING--!)

Beck: (YOU--YOU CAN'T BE--)

Beck: AVIIIIIIII!

[PING!]

[MN.6 IS NOW ONLINE.]

[MN.6] //: -LITTLE BRO IS SCREAMING--

[MN.9] //: Avi, I need eyes in the main foyer, NOW!

[MN.6] //: What, why--

[MN.9] //: I NEED TO KNOW IF THEY'RE STILL ALIVE--!

[MN.6] //: --!!!!

[MN.6] //: -Foyer, Shade, Cards, CRUD--

[MN.6] //: --! I GOT VISUAL--

[MN.6] //: -Oh man things are NOT looking good for Cards right now--

[MN.9] //: But he's still--!?

[MN.6] //: Yeah, they...They're talking, I think...I think Cards is getting through to him--!

Beck: -Stops in his tracks-

Beck: (Then maybe--)

Beck: (Maybe...Maybe Shade is...)

Beck: (If Cards can just keep him still--maybe we can do a repeat of the highway like Carmen, or--)

Beck: -RUNS-

Beck: (If I can just get there, I won't have to fight Shade at all, or at least not alone--!)

Beck: (I just have to---)

BANG—

[MN.6] //: -DATA SCREEEEECH--

[MN.6 HAS GONE INTO SLEEP MODE]

[A thud can be heard over the comms--]

[MN.3] //: AVI--!

[Beck staggered and stopped dead at the sudden screech of horror from his own brother, his eyes widening as he came to the realization that--]

Beck: (Avi...Avi faints when he sees blood or something LIKE it--!)

—————————

[Blade suddenly had a saw in his hand, and raised it so he could slash wildly at the DLN–!]

Avi: NO–!

SKLLLKTTKRRRSHHHLLLRRRKKT—

[Oil and cooling fluids spattered all over Bladeblaster’s hands and weapon, as if they were blood.

Tobias lost his grip immediately and fell to the ground, too dazed in pain and injury to even cry out.

His energy levels had dropped DRAMATICALLY, and were still dropping, as was his core temperature—two more hits like that, and he would be gone.]

—————————

Beck: CARDINAAAAAAL!

[Shaking off his temporary stupor, Beck redoubled his efforts, smashing, crashing, and going through all the debris and such that have collected during Cardinal's run of the place...]

Beck: (Don't be dead don't be dead don't be--)

[He trips--]

Beck: (UGH--!)

[And lands on a pile of granite rubble, skidding around the floor and falling again over the small pebbles, picking himself up, and just running for it.]

[...He didn't think he'd ever been so desperate just to get to one place in all his days Online.]

[And the silence… The SILENCE just keeps GOING—]

“ARUGH–!”

[Or not.]

Beck: (--?!? That--...That was Shade--)

Beck: SHADE!

Beck: (Gotta get there, gotta get there before--!)

[--!!]

[At last! The hallway leading towards the foyer, with one locked double door standing in the way!]

[At this point, Beck could barely make out SOME voices...]

Beck: ---!!!

[WHAM!]

[Beck slams himself against the door, but it wouldn't budge--]

Beck: SHAAAAADE! OPEN THE DOOR!

Beck: OPEN THE DOOR N O W--!

"ENOUGH!"

[Shade--]

[REXELECTION: SEISMIC--]

"Ah' don’t have time t’ waste on you. Obviously ya ain’t gonna stay out of my way while ya still runnin’."

[WHAM--]

"An’ as we’ve already established, ya have this fraggin’ annoyin’ tendency to keep hangin’ on. Fahn, then—I’ll give ya the honor a’ takin’ ya out myself!"

Beck: Shade, NO!

"An’ just tah make SURE you don’t get out of sight at the last second…"

Beck: HE'S YOUR BEST FRIEND--!

[WHAM--CRACK--]

"This’ll be the last bullet Ah’ waste on ya."

Beck: DON'T KILL HIM--!!

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

Allies Obstruct

=INTRO A: COLLAPSING PEACE=

((Courtesy of @codedhopes & @super-tired-robot))

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

Keep reading

---

=PROLOGUE A: IT ALL BEGINS NOW=

~AO v1.0~

(Starring @limitbreakers)

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

“Come ON, Beck! Hurry up, we’re gonna be late!”

It is the present year.

“C-Coming, Cryo!”

Breakthroughs in robotic technology have ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity. Violence is confined to the Battle Colosseum, where robot combatants face off in spectacular duels.

“We’ve spent enough time walking down memory lane in the trophy room. We have to get to the arena before they call us out for our return debut match.”

“WE KNOW, Pyro. Jeezzz, calm down.”

“I believe he is only excited to be back in familiar stomping grounds. Isn’t that right, Bat?”

“TOO RIGHT, Brand!”

“MAN, I am so stoked for this! Hey, I hope they get my good side, ya know? Course, I look good in ALL angles.”

“…Avi not focused.”

“Mic is right. It’s time to get out there. Everyone! PLACES!”

“YES SIR NO.1!”

Today, the colosseum walls once again echo with the shouts and cheers of excited fans…

…when suddenly…

….

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN–

Attention! Attention! This is Code Red! Please evacuate the arena calmly and quickly! This is not a drill! Please–

[WARNING. WARNING. VIRUS DETECTED IN SERVER. FIREWALL PROGRAMS HAVE FAILED.]

[MN.1-8 HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH HARMFUL MALWARE. RUNNING XELFILTER.EXE FOR MN.9]

[WARNING: MN.1-8 HAVE ENTERED FULL COMBAT MODE. RESTRICTIONS: NONE.]

[S Y S T E M E R R ROR–S YSTEM E R R ROR–]

“PYRO! BRAND! SHADE! GUYS! S T O P!”

[MN.9 HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY HARMFUL MALWARE. PREPARING HARD RESET. ALL FORMS WILL BE LOST.]

“GUYS–NO–NOOO–!!”

[....]

[XELFILTER.EXE PROGAM CYCLE COMPLETE. ALL MALWARE HAS BEEN FILTERED AND NEUTRALIZED FROM ALL SYSTEMS.]

[REBOOTING...]

[MN.9 IS NOW ONLINE]

Beck: ....Uuugh...

Beck: What...what happened...

[......]

[At first...nothing.]

[Then....]

"PYRO! BRAND! SHADE! GUYS! S T O P!!"

Beck: ......!!!!!

[MN.9 to MN.1-8] //: GUYS! GUYS!

[MN.9 HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY MN.1-8.]

[MN.9] //: ...??!?!

Beck: What...?!

Beck: Why would... They...

BOOOM!

[...And that is when he noticed where he was. No longer was he within the Colosseum walls, he was now on some rooftop by a NBCA advertisement. It looked like he was simply DROPPED here, but the means of how and why were far from his mind.]

[At the sounds of the explosions, Mighty No. 9 ran across the rooftop ...]

Beck: !!!

Beck: N...No...!

[Screams. Fire.]

Beck: What....

[The whole of the city in absolute chaos, citizens screaming in terror, fleeing from literal hordes of rampaging robots, leaving nothing but destruction in their wake.]

Beck: What is...happening...?!

Beck: .....!!!

Beck: DAD!

[His creator. His father. Doctor William Apollo White.]

[He was somewhere in this madness...]

[Without another thought, Beck jumped down from the rooftop. He had to find him. He had to know if...!]

Beck: PROFESSOR! DAD! WHERE ARE YOU?!

Beck: DAAAAD!!

[......]

[..........]

[..............]

[...!! There! In the distance--! That puff of hair that could only be--!]

Beck: Dad!

White: Beck!

[The sheer relief couldn't be plainer on their faces, as Beck ran up to his father, who seemed to have seen better days--his lab coat was torn here and there, and his face was covered in black soot.]

White: Ah, Beck--thank God--and functioning normally, it would appear!

Beck: Yeah...yeah, I'm fine, Dad. I'm fine...

Beck: I am so glad you're OK—

[Beck clutched his leg as hard as he could, and White bent down to give his youngest perhaps the hardest hug he could muster.]

White: ...God...what on earth has happened...? It's...chaos, everywhere...!

Beck: I...I dunno...I dunno...Dad...

[Tears filled his emerald green eyes.]

Beck: I...I can't contact the others...Pyro, Cryo, Dyna...they...blocked me...!

White: What?!

White: Why on...

White: . . .

White: oh God—nononoNO—

[He fumbled with his bag, which held his laptop. He opened it as quickly as he could and--]

[...His suspicions were confirmed.]

[The status of all Mighty Numbers...]

[To say he was both horrified and shocked was an understatement.]

[His sons...his daughters...]

White: NO!

Beck: .....!!!

Beck: INCOMING!

[Several airborne delivery bots had spotted them--and their load was less than helpful. They were bombs.]

[Beck pushes his father out of the way, with a strength he never knew he had in this default form...]

White: ooF--

[The blast knocked both father and son back some ways, but Beck's quick actions had saved them both from sustaining serious damage.]

[Thankfully, the trio of delivery bots no more cargo to dispel, and flew back the way they came--probably to get more of their ammo.]

Beck: Dad--Dad, are you OK?!

White: Ngh...

White: Y-Yes...mostly...

[Beck looked forward--this street...this was familiar...]

[...! Wait! He knew where he was! Just a few blocks from here was home!]

Beck: Dad--Dad, it's not safe--

White: ...

[After catching his breath, he stood--brushed himself off, and looked to the distance along with Nine. There, on end of this long street...]

[Sands Enterprises.]

White: ........

White: .......

Beck: Dad...?

[His expression hardened.]

[....His sons, his daughters...]

[What was happening to all the robots...]

[...He couldn't do anything from here.]

White: We won't figure out anything from here, Beck.

White: We must make for the laboratory--and quickly!

Beck: ...!

[But between them and home...a war zone.]

White: ........

Beck: ....

White: Beck...

White: I can't get through this by myself.

White: You MUST forge on ahead and clear a secure path.

Beck: --!? Wha--

White: Don't worry--I'll follow, and monitor your process. We only need to make it to the end of this street!

White: Do you think you can do that?

Beck: ......

[...He's walked down this street countless times--he's just never had to do it amidst gunfire.]

[But Dad...]

[His family...Dr. Sanda...Call...!]

[MN.9 HAS ENTERED COMBAT MODE.]

Beck: Yes sir!

[...Seeing that smile on his face, and the will that clearly shined beneath those eyes...]

White: Alright...

[...There was hope.]

[They could not lose that--not now!]

White: Let's move!

[OBJECTIVE: ESCORT DR. WHITE TO SANDA ENTERPRISES UNHARMED.]

[SYSTEMS READY.]

[....INITIATING COMBAT PROGRAMS.]

[Getting through the overturned vehicles and debris was easy enough, and provided good cover for Will.]

[...But it wasn't long before...]

Beck: ....!!

[A flash of purple, and a standard CherryDyn Security Model robot materialized in his path, waving it's arms around wildly, it's weapon primed and ready to fire.]

[White's voice filled his comm link--as long as they were near each other, they could speak above the chaotic noises that filled the blue sky.]

White: A security bot...and it's out of control like all the others...

[The CherryDyn bot, however, didn't notice Beck at all--rather, it moved on ahead...]

Beck: ....!!

Beck: Professor! Look!

White: !

[There, on a large public screen that overlooked the street...]

[Gregory Graham.]

<DLN-008 to MNN-ALL>: > -PING!-

[…!

Faint!

But there!

That was Toby’s signal, no doubt about it!]

Beck: !!!!

Beck: Toby!

White: Tobias?!

Beck: I felt his signal!

Beck: It's...so faint but...!

[The signal is fluctuating and faltering, as if something’s interfering with it.]

[KKKST!]

"Once again, the President as declared a country-wide state of emergency. This, based on reports of haywire robots rampaging out of control in all 52 States. I'm being told we have a comment from Gregory Graham, CEO of CherryDynamics."

Beck and White: WHAT?!

[There are some faint data streams that suggest anger—from DWNs—but it is still too faint…

Barely noticeable, given the matter at hand.]

"CherryDyn, of course, being the world's largest robot manufacturer. Let's go there now, live...

Graham: Ahem! Hello?...eh, hello...? Is this thing on?!

[...The CEO seemed...panicked...]

Graham: Ah! Ahem--...My fellow Americans...in this time of crisis, we at CherryDyn would just like to express....

Graham: That this isn't our fault!

White: ....!!

Graham: It's that Dr. Blackwell--HE'S the one that's behind all this! BLAME HIM!

Beck: What the--is he SERIOUS?!

[…Oddly…

…nothing, from their otherworldly friends.

Very odd, considering the LAST time that there had been a panic, and how loudly they had cried out in dismay.

But it seemed Graham wasn’t done yet…]

[Graham then composes himself...]

Graham: Ahem--we at CherryDyn are doing ALL we can to help fix the situation...BUT IT'S BLACKWELL'S FAU--

[KKKKKKSSST!]

"Heeeelllloooo! Is this thing on?"

Beck: ...Avi?

[PING!]

<DLN-008>: >Avi! Avi, no! What are you doing?

[He doesn't answer. Instead, he continues to give his twisted 'news report'.]

Avi: “Ahem! And now, let's go live to our eye in the sky, Avi, for today's Avi News traffic report!~”

[And in a completely not so different voice--]

Avi: "Thanks, Avi! As you can see, we've got a few accidents eastbound on, well--"

Avi: "EVERYWHERE! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!~"

<DLN-008>: > DON’T PRETEND YOU CAN’T HEAR ME— now is not the time for games, Aviator!

Avi: "Yup, we've got chaos here, chaos there on this BEEEEEAUTIFUL June 21, 20XX! Here on Avi News today, we've got exclusive coverage on today's top story!~

Avi: THE END OF THE WORLD, BABY!~

White: MIGHTY NO. 6! STOP THIS IMMEDIATELY!

Beck: A…Avi…

Avi: "Our nation is on TOTAL MELTDOWN, and Xelbot crime is on the rise!~ Can NOTHING stop this madness?!

Avi: "Short answer? NO!~ BWAHAHAHA!~"

[.......]

[MN.6] //: Well, would you look at that! I got a caller!~

[The screen cuts out to another camera while Avi switched his attention to Toby, leaving Beck and White to gaze in horror at the bird's eye view of their city...]

White: We're almost there...!

[Traversing the war-torn street, Beck and White are just one more block away from the entrance...]

White: ....!

Beck: ...? What is it, Dad?

White: Dr. Sanda's calling...

[DR.WHITE] //: Sanda? What's the matter--

[DR.SANDA] //: WHAT'S THE MATTER?!

[DR.SANDA] //: WHAT THE BLEEDING HECK DO YOU THINK IS THE MATTER?! ARE YOU OK, WILL?!

[DR.WHITE] //: ...Oh, fine. More or less.

[DR.SANDA] //: .....

[DR.WHITE] //: And yourself?

[…Yep.

He was his usual self, alright.]

[Dr. Sanda, however…]

[DR.SANDA] //: Good Lord do you EVER stop being tactless--

[...LOUD clanking noises in the background of his feed.]

[DR.SANDA] //: ohmyGod

[DR.SANDA] //: I'm less than fine--MUCH LESS! These robots gone wild are TEARING THE PLACE APART!

[DR.WHITE] //: What...in the building too?!

[DR.SANDA] //: I've sealed myself in the lab--but who knows HOW long before they break through?!

[DR.WHITE] //: Ah, I see. Understood. We're already on our way!

[DR.SANDA] //: ...We?

[MN.9] //: -PING!- Dr. Sanda...!

[DR.SANDA] //: ...!! Beck? BECK? IS THAT REALLY YOU?!

[MN.9] //: Yeah--it's me! I'm OK, I'm not crazy!

[DR.SANDA] //: THANK THE LORD--

[BANG!]

[DR.SANDA] //: -sCREECH--

[DR.WHITE] //: Just try to hold them off for as long as you can! We're coming!

[Soon enough, after what seemed like hours had passed instead of minutes...]

[...Sanda Enterprises.]

[The front door was completely blown open.]

White: Oh, no...

Beck: I...I don't see Call anywhere...

White: ......

White: Beck. We have no time to waste...calculate the fastest possible route to the lab!

Beck: Yes sir!

Beck: ......

Beck: This way!

[BWAN BWAN BWAN BWAN--]

Beck: nEVER MIND THIS WAY--

[The elevator down to the lab was out--they had to take the other way down.]

White: --!!!

[...Sanda Models.]

[Heading this way...]

White: BECK!!

Beck: !!

[Trash bots--designed to recycle waste and paper--harmless enough, but something had caused them to open and shut their lids with the force of a vice, looking for anything to chomp on.]

Beck: Uhoh--

[They were heading this way--but oddly enough--their target...wasn't Beck...]

White: --!!

White: They're locked onto me--!

Beck: NO!

Trash Bots: -GLITCHED BEEPING-

[.......]

[ANALYZING.]

[EMOTION MATRIX RUNNING...]

[THREAT CONFIRMED.]

[ACTIVATING WEAPON SYSTEMS.]

Beck: STAY AWAY FROM HIM!

[WEAPON SYSTEMS: ONLINE.]

-*-*-*-*-

Felix: Let me tell you something, Master Beck. It is your heart and your build, your purpose, to help others. That is where your greatest power, I think, will always lie.

Beck: ..........

Beck: (Well, that's not...I mean, I was just built to fight....)

Felix: When you truly believe in your cause, the strength comes to you.

Felix: I can tell you THAT from experience.

Beck: .....R-Really....?

Felix: Of course.

Felix: And after all.

Felix: You /are/ MIGHTY.

-*-*-*-*-

[XEL ABSORPTION SYSTEMS....

ONLINE. ]

[BLAM BLAM BLAM!]

[In an instant, Beck's arm had transformed into his default demolecularizing arm cannon--capable of breaking apart substances right down to the molecular level within a few shots.]

[The Trash Bots were nailed right in the face, and soon they were...glowing. Their Xels were being broken apart, floating around them...]

[ZOOOOM!]

[ACXELARATE DASH: ONLINE. ]

[A white-blue glow had enveloped Beck as he dashed forward, the Xels of the weakened robots being absorbed into his own body, seamlessly clicking into place.]

[Shocked from the sudden Xel loss...the Trash Bots shut down.]

[ABSORPTION BOOST: ONLINE. ]

Beck: --!!

[A soft red glow shined around him, energy SURGING through him in a way that he's NEVER felt before...]

Beck: Ah--

[It all seemed to pool into his arm cannon.]

Beck: .....

Beck: WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED.

Beck: -pANIC-

Beck: W HAT WAS THAT?!

White: .......

White: Beck...did...

White: Did you just...absorb the Xels of a weakened robot and--my goodness --assimilate them?!

Beck: I DON'T KNOW--YOU TELL ME!

White: Alright--alright--just CALM down, Beck--breathe, breathe...

Beck: .......

White: Beck--I DESIGNED you with this capability.

Beck: ....!! W-Wait--

Beck: ...So--THIS is my...my power? My OTHER power?

White: Yes, Beck. I designed you with THREE central powers: Xel Manipulation, Xel Transformation...

White: ...And Xel Assimilation.

White: ....But...

White: This is the first time I've seen it...active...I hadn't thought it functional yet...

White: (...So why now...?)

White: .....!

White: (Of course...)

White: (Seeing me like this--in danger. Amidst madness and chaos...)

White: (His emotional matrix must have activated his latent abilities...)

White: (In an effort to protect me.)

Beck: .......

Beck: Whoooooa...

White: ....!

Beck: .....

[The glow subsided. Along with the surge of power.]

Beck: --? Uh...what happened?

White: ---Ngh! I'd love to explain but we have more robots incoming--!

Beck: --!!

[Within moments, as they headed deeper into the building, more and more robots appeared.]

[The security system had also gone haywire, and the very same measures used to protect them was now being used against them.]

White: Almost there, almost there...hold on, Soi...!

Beck: OwowowowlASERSHURTOW--

White: ...Right--the Lab is just ahead...

[DR.WHITE] //: Sanda?

[.....]

[DR.WHITE] //: Sanda, are you still there?

[.......]

[DR.WHITE] //: .......

[DR WHITE] //: Have the robots torn you to pieces...?

[MN.9] //: DAD--

[DR.SANDA] //: Criminny! Tactful as ALWAYS, Will... -_____-;;;

[DR.SANDA]//: I'm FINE, but for PETE'S SAKE, HURRY--!

[DR.WHITE] //: Don't worry, we just need to go through the--

[There was a LOUD scream across the feeds.]

[No—two voices, both screaming in utter agony!]

[B A N G.]

Beck: ?!?

Beck: What was THAT...?!

[The door opened...]

[WWRRRRRRRRRRRRRR--]

White: --?!

[Literally CRASHING through the side wall was a huge, round robot nearly seven times Beck's size, crushing anything underneath it's round steel flattener...]

White: A CherryDyn demolition unit?! How on EARTH did it manage to get DOWN here?!

Beck: Oh C RUD--

[The destructive CDN CHARGED right into Beck's path--he dove out of the way in time, however, but the shock of the impact with the other wall forced the door to close, leaving Will on the other side.]

Beck: DAD!

[DR.WHITE] //: I'm fine!

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck, quickly--you MUST stop it, before it destroys the whole laboratory!

[MN.9] //: M...ME?!

[MN.9] //: DAD THIS THING CAN CRUSH ME--

[DR.WHITE] //: YOU HAVE TO TRY! SOI IS STILL IN THERE!

[DR.SANDA] //: COME ON, BECKO--DO IT! OR WE'RE ALL TOAST...!

[MN.9 HAS ENTERED FULL COMBAT MODE.]

Beck: I'msodead--

[SCANNING...]

[SCAN COMPLETE.]

[ E N C O U N T E R ]

[CDN. 502 -- MODEL CODENAME: ROUND DIGGER]

[HEIGHT: 300cm] [WEIGHT: 450kg] [XEL COUNT: 90,000,000]

[The CherryDyn Number 502 charged once more, rolling across the room at RAPID speeds. Beck once again had to dodge, THIS time using his new AcXelarate Dash.]

[...It certainly was...Fast.]

[SPLAT.]

[A little...too fast.]

Beck: O-Ow--stupid wall-

[DR.WHITE] //: Your AcXelarate Dash is EXACTLY that, Beck! An acceleration! Use it wisely!

[DR.WHITE] //: You must weaken it with your weapon to destabilize it's Xel before you can absorb it with your Dash!

[MN.9] //: SO I JUST SHOOT AND RUN INTO IT?!

[DR.WHITE AND DR. SANDA] //: YES!

[The Round Digger reared up to charge once more--like a bull would.]

Beck: Crudcrudcrudcrud--

[WRRRRR...]

[BLAM BLAM BLAM!]

[Direct hits--but it didn't stop the CDN from charging.]

Beck: -nOT AGAIN--

[ZOOOM!]

[...And yet another splat.]

Beck: OW--

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck--are you alr--

Beck: NO IT'S NOT WORKING--!

[DR.WHITE] //: Perseverance, Beck! Aim for it's joints and head! Destabilize it's Xel structure!

Beck: Aim and shoot, joints, head--

[WRRRRRRRRRRR--]

[A panel opened up on it's back, revealing--]

[Bombs!]

Beck: --oh NO--

[Of course, it was a demolition unit!]

[BOOM!]

Beck: AAAAAAAAAAH--

[There he goes, dashing this way and that to avoid being blown to pieces!]

Beck: -SCREAMING-

Beck: DAD HELP ME--H ELP ME!

[DR.WHITE] //: I can't--! Not from here--!

[DR.SANDA] //: THE SYSTEMS ARE ALL SCRAMBLED FROM HERE, I CAN'T DO ANYTHING--!

[BOOM! BOOM!]

Beck: -I'MGONNADIEOHMAN-

[Nine keeps shooting--but they are wild and panicked shots, some hitting their target, some missing completely.]

[.....Eventually, however...]

[ERROR--ERROR--XEL STRUCTURE UNSTABLE--]

[...The CDN's head starting glowing purple! ]

[DR.WHITE] //: NOW, BECK!

[As soon as Beck saw it...]

[...He knew exactly what to do. As if it was instinct.]

[As if the thought was there all along.]

Beck: Here GOES!

[ZOOOM--]

[XEL ABSORBED. 100% --CDN XEL COUNT LOWERED 20%--]

[WARNING! WARNING! VIRUS DETECTED!]

Beck: --?!?

[RUNNING XELFILTER.EXE...]

[XEL FILTERED. ALL MALWARE HAS BEEN NEUTRALIZED.]

[ATTENTION: MORE XEL IS REQUIRED FOR A FULL XEL PURGE.]

Beck: (Xel...Purge...?)

[DR.WHITE] //: BECK! ABOVE YOU!

[The CDN had stopped charging--and--oddly enough, used it's extending legs to grab onto the ceiling...?]

Beck: ....???

[A panel UNDERNEATH it unlocks and--]

[PSSSSSSSSSH!]

[A HUGE high pressured blast of water SLAMMED into the Mighty Number, knocking him back into the door with a loud CLANK!]

Beck: AAGH!

[DR.WHITE] //: BECK!

Beck: Uuugh....

Beck: ...Ooooowww...

[...? What's this?]

[...All that did was... Just DAZE him, at best...]

Beck: That was...almost as hard as Cryo, ow...

[PISSSSSSSSSHHH!]

Beck: -gARBLING NOISES-

[DR.WHITE] //: MOVE, BECK!

[A bit shaky, Beck dashes away from the stream--]

Beck: sTOOOOOP--

[.....]

[OH! Wait--why didn't he think of this before?! He might not have his siblings by his side--]

[...But he had their FORMS, right?]

[...Right?]

[…]

[ERROR//: MN.7 REXELECTION FORM NOT FOUND. FORM WAS ERASED AFTER HARD RESET.]

[…Wrong.]

Beck: WHAT?!

[ERROR//: MN.1 REXELECTION FORM NOT FOUND. FORM WAS ERASED AFTER HARD RESET.]

Beck: NONONO!

[ERROR//: MN.2 REXELECTION FORM NOT FOUND....]

[ERROR....]

[ERROR...]

[ERROR...]

[...Gone.]

[They were all gone.]

[He had nothing. No forms except that STUPID golden one, and what good would THAT do?!]

Beck: NO!

Beck: DAD--I CAN'T CHANGE FORMS--!

Beck: I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO FIGHT WITH--!

[DR.WHITE] //: YES YOU DO, BECK!

[DR.WHITE] //: You have tools of which this world--or ANY world--have only just begun to see!

[DR.WHITE] //: USE THEM!

Beck: .....

Beck: --Shoot, dash, shoot, dash--

Round Digger: -R O A R S-

Beck: Shoot and dash, shoot and dash--!

[Repeating this mantra, Beck circled the CDN...]

[They both traded blows, neither of which seemed to be giving in or showing sign of fatigue--]

[...But...slowly...slowly but surely...]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

[XEL ABSORBED.]

-PING-

[XEL QUOTA ACHIEVED.]

[XEL PURGE: ONLINE. XELFILTER.EXE PREPARED FOR OVERDRIVE.]

[DR.WHITE] //: ...!!!

[...A circle of white began to glow around Beck's feet...]

[A stream of Xel floated outwards, forming a large circle along with three dots and lines--his symbol...]

Beck: Come on--

[His arms started to shine a pure white!]

Beck: SNAP OUT OF IT!

[XEL PURGE INITIATED!]

Beck: NOW!

[A burst of green Xels flow out of the circle, and RIGHT back to the CDN! Rings of purged Xel incircle it, and slowly--it's...purple, tainted Xel fades...]

[........]

Round Digger: ....????

Round Digger: -BEEP-

Round Digger: -BEEP BEEP-

Round Digger: -CONFUSED DATA, THIS IS NOT OUR DESIGNATED AREA-

Beck: ...!!

Round Digger: -DISTRESSED BEEPING-

Beck: Hey--Hey...

Round Digger: -THIS IS NOT WHERE I'M SUPPOSED TO BEEEEEEEE-

[...Beck...cautiously approaches the CDN...]

[Closer...Closer...]

Beck: Hey....Are you OK?

Round Digger: -BEEEEEEEEEP!-

Beck: Hey--Hey, it's OK...

[...Pat. Pat...]

Beck: You're OK now, don't worry...

Round Digger: -SAD BEEP-

Round Digger: -BEEEEEP-

Beck: ....! Uh...hey--do you think you can help me?

Round Digger: ....? -beep?-

[MN.9] //: Dr. Sanda?

[.......There was no response at first. Both Doctors were still STUNNED at what just happened.]

[MN.9] //: Dr. Sanda!

[DR.SANDA] //: ...! Erm--ah--y-yes, Beck...?

[MN.9] //: You said the systems were haywire, right? So you can't unseal yourself...

[DR.SANDA] //: Well--I....oh.

[MN.9] //: So--I guess there's only one option, right?

[DR.WHITE] //: --! Of course! The Round Digger!

[DR.SANDA] //: W-Wait--Wait a min--

Round Digger: -PING-

Round Digger: -DIRECTIVE RECEIVED. COMMENCING DEMOLITION.-

Round Digger: -WARNING BEEPS, STAND CLEAR-

[DR.SANDA] //: -SHRIEKS, RUNS TO THE FARTHER ROOM-

[WRRRRRRRRRRRRR--]

[C R A C K!]

[With one powerful charge, the CDN Demo unit reared back once more and charged into the other wall, making a hole large enough for even MIC to walk into.]

[DR.SANDA]//: Did you REALLY have to do that?! This place is falling apart enough as it--

[DR.WHITE] //: We can worry about it later! Beck--neutralize any other threats in the building while I work with Soi to get at LEAST some of those systems back online...

[MN.9] //: Yes Sir!

[DR.SANDA] //: B-B-But--the lab is unsealed--

[DR.WHITE]//: I don't think we have to worry about that for now.

Round Digger: -BEEEEEEP-

[MN.9] //: Yeah, you can stay down here and make sure nothing gets past you, OK? That way you don't get hurt too. ^.^

[CDN.502] //: -BEEP BEEP, NEW DESIGNATION AREA CONFIRMED-

[DR.WHITE]//: Good, good. Be careful, alright?

[MN.9] //: Yeah. I will.

[Beck went back the way he came--through the recently re-opened door--while White stumbled through the opening, patting the CDN on it's side as he passed by.]

[...It took a while to find where Sanda had taken cover, but eventually--]

Sanda: Will!

White: Soi!

[Without another word, Sanda threw his arms around his beast friend, quite literally giving him a bear hug--]

White: Hurk--! Soi--!

Sanda: You have no IDEA how glad I am to see your face, friend--

White: Th-The feeling is mutual, Soi, but c-could you PLEASE let me breathe--

Sanda: --? Oh--OH. S-Sorry, William--Eheh, excuse me--

[White breathes in a few deep breaths once Sanda let's go, once again brushing himself off--but to no avail, as his clothing was more or less ruined.]

Sanda: Great Ceaser's Ghost, Will--you look like you've just been put through the wringer...!

White: That's...not wrong, Soi...at all...

Sanda: ...I can only imagine--I could hear everything from down here...

White: ....Did...you hear the broadcast...?

Sanda: Broadcast--?

White: ...Right, the systems are still scrambled—you wouldn't get anything...

Sanda: —…. Well—I… /did/ hear.... screaming—

"Dr. Sanda!"

[Passing through the crumbling wall, Beck reappeared, his pristine white armor slightly singed in several places--probably from laser fire.]

Beck: Dr. Sanda—!

Sanda: Beck--! Come here, you--!

[In a well meant hug of his own, Beck latched on to Sanda's leg, burying his face into it. Muffled cries of 'I'M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU'RE OK' and 'SANDAAA' were heard while the Doctor fondly gave Nine a noogie.]

Sanda: Ha Ha! I KNEW you could do it, Mighty No. 9!

Beck: -MUFFLED NOISES-

White: Yes--well done, Beck...but, I'm afraid we still have work to do--have the other robots been taken care of?

Beck: I...did my best--some of them went outside, but I managed to absorb most of the ones on the upper floors...

White: That will do. Come on, Soi, let's TRY and get this lab running again--

Sanda: W-Wait a minute--

Sanda: I see here that BECK is functioning normally...

Sanda: But what happened to the OTHER Mighty Numbers...? Are they still OUT there...?

[........]

[… … …]

White: ....Sanda...

[...Will sighs...and takes up a straighter posture.]

White: Based on empirical evidence...I believe that they might be suffering from this... robot affliction that's been going around--and causing all this chaos...

Sanda: W-What--?!?

Sanda: You mean--Pyrogen, Cryosphere...

White: ...Yes, Soi...they've been infected with a virus. I saw the status of all of them on my laptop...

Sanda: No...!

White: ...Have a look...

[MN.1 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.2 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.3 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.4 STATUS: UNAVAILABLE.]

[MN.5 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.6 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.7 STATUS: ONLINE, FULL COMBAT MODE, -VIRUS DETECTED- ]

[MN.8 STATUS: UNAVAILABLE.]

[MN.9 STATUS: ONLINE, COMBAT MODE, CONDITION: NORMAL.]

[After a moment…]

-PING!-

<RMDC>: >REQUEST ACKNOWLEDGED. SENDING STATUS UPDATE TO MODERATOR DR.WHITE…

[…! Data from the RobotMaster Database (Cossack Server) in the midst of this—?!]

White: It's...!

Sanda: The Robot Master Database--we're still connected--!

>DCN-008 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DCN-007 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DCN-004 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DCN-003 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DCN-000 STATUS: OFFLINE

[oH WAIT THEY’RE IN /LETHAL/—]

[...!!]

Beck: But--They're in--!

>Loading…

>DWN-024 STATUS: OFFLINE

>DWN-020 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DWN-019 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DWN-018 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DWN-017 STATUS: OFFLINE

White: Oh God... Don't...tell me they...they've...

>Loading…

>DWN-013 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DWN-012 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

>DWN-011 STATUS: LETHAL COMBAT MODE

Beck: Speedy....Siam...everyone...

White: -PALES, THINKING THE WORST-

>Loading…

[…]

>Loading…

[…There seemed to be a delay…]

>Loading…

> -PING!-

>DLN-008 STATUS: OFFLINE— CRITICAL AI_OS DATA ERROR

[…well that might explain the screaming from earlier…!]

Beck: TOBY...!

White: No!

Sanda: T-...Tobias...

>Loading…

>Loading…

>Loading…

>Loading…

>Loading…

>Loading…

>ERROR: SIGNAL NOT FOUND. SEARCHING…

[…This did not look good. Everyone who wasn’t in LETHAL Combat mode was OFFLINE. The whole series—! Even the Awarenesses who didn’t have rebuilt chassises yet!]

Beck: Nononono--!

White: Not them too!

Sanda: Oh no MIKHAIL AND KALINKA-

[MN.9 HAS GONE INTO COMBAT MODE]

Beck: -sCREECH- LINKA!

-PING!-

White: --!!!

Sanda: -jUMPS-

Beck: !!!!

<MC005 to DR.WHITE>: > -PING!-

White: MIKHAIL! IT'S HIM! HE'S ALIVE--!

Sanda: WELL DON'T JUST STAND THERE, WILL, ANSWER HIM--

[DR.WHITE] //: MIKHAIL--!

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