=CHAPTER 7D: RUSH INTO THE MINE=

=CHAPTER 3D: VOLTAIC DYNATRON=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @limitbreakers)

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[MEANWHILE, IN SEATTLE, WASHINGTON...]

[Chaos still reigned over the rainy city as two super-powered, crazed Battle Colosseum bots waged war against each other--Plume, the exotic Hawaiian fire dancer with graceful agility, and Landcrusher, the giant German powerhouse with a knack for demolition.]

[While the untamed, no holds barred battle raged below, another crisis was unfolding high above the skyline, in the city's very own Space Needle tower...]

Jack: (Great, and just when I THOUGHT things couldn't get WORSE...)

Jack: (...The power had to go and cut out--!)

[This, of course, sent the group trapped in the tower into a panic--it was fairly dark out, now, and with little to no light...]

Eli: Everyone just CALM DOWN--

Jack: (Good thing these goggles have Night Vision--just gotta tie up this last knot...)

[Jack knew he couldn't quite get everyone off the tower one by one--and he knew that Plume wasn't going to last long against a heavy hitter like Landcrusher.]

[He had to improvise, and lucky for him, the Space Needle had just enough material for what he planned to do...]

Jack: Yo, toss me that tablecloth...

[The Space Needle didn't JUST have an observation deck--it was also a restaurant. The tables provided the flat surfaces he needed and the tablecloths made some nice makeshift rope once tied together...]

Eli: ....You sure this is gonna work?

Jack: Nope.

[B O O M!]

Jack: ...But we don't have much choice at the moment...

Jack: Hooookay...

[Now here comes the HARD part.]

Jack: The serving carts are all busted for the wheels...still need two more--

Eli: .....I can pop off the ones from Lily's stroller...

Jack: (Oh, yeah, the lil...)

[Jack looked back over his shoulder to the group of cowering humans--and Gwen, who was holding a sniffling baby Lily near her chest.]

Jack: ........

Eli: ......

Eli: We were...just on vacation when this happened.

Jack: . . .

Eli: .....Do...you know why they're all goin' nuts like that? …I think someone said something about a virus...?

Jack: Yeah--something like that. It infected all the servers--that's how it got into every Xelbot's heads.

Eli: Good God...who would DO something like that?

Jack: … … (Either someone REALLY pissed off, or messed up. Or both.) …Dunno.

Jack: Get those wheels--I'm gonna break open a window.

Eli: --?? Wait--why?

Jack: Ya see that building over there--the one with the bent flagpole?

Jack: I'm gonna swing on over there and finish off the rest of this pulley with the wheels and my wires--then we can start getting people on the carrier we made outta the tables and onto that roof.

Eli: Wait--but--

Jack: Yeah, I know, Landcrusher--that's why once you guys are all on that roof, I'm gonna distract him so you guys can haul chass and get to safety.

Eli: You?

Jack: ...Yeah. That is, if Plume isn't...

Jack: .......

Eli: ....She's, uh...really focused on ya, isn't she?

Jack: Iiiii am pretty sure that's the virus, buddy...

Jack: ....Look--you just try and keep everyone here calm while I go do my thing, OK? (Oh, yeah, it's my THING now--freakin' heck, never imagined THAT...)

Eli: .....I'll.....try.

[Jack turns away from the man to face another window, closest to the building they were aiming for, one end of the makeshift rope in hand.]

Eli: ...Hey.

[Eli threw a pair of small wheels at the CDN, who caught them after they hit his chest and bounced off slightly.]

Eli: ....Thank you.

Jack: Pfft--thank me after you're on that roof, alright?

Eli: Ha...yeah...

Jack: (....Kay--First the window--)

[He planted his boot firmly on the glass, getting a feel of how thick it was, before reeling back and striking it down--]

[Pop!]

[...It swung open with little trouble, as it turns out.]

Jack: (...Oh.)

Jack: (...I'm taking that as a good sign.)

[Snapping on his goggles, now, he calculated a direct path to the safe building--he'd have to freefall a couple of hundred feet to reach a viable swing point--]

Jack: ......

Jack: (Well it's not like I haven't done it before today but FRAG ME--)

Jack: (HOOOOOOKAYcomeonjackdoitforherdoitforthepeopleinhere--)

Jack: (ThereisaBABYinheremanDOIT--)

Jack: AAAAAAAAAAH--

[With a STARTLING yell, he jumped--!!]

"OH MY GOD--"

"WHAT THE--"

"HOLY--IS HE DEAD--?!"

[.......]

[Was he terrified?]

[Yes.]

[...But.]

Jack: AAAAAAAAAAH--

[ZIIIIIIP--!]

[....Fear has a funny way of turning into a thrilling adrenaline rush once you get over it.]

Jack: --HAAAAAAAHAHAWOO!

[Even HE didn't understand why--]

[Though that wasn't exactly on his mind, at the moment--]

[But, somehow, the more he felt himself being swung across, left and right, that rush of air on his face--]

[The less it felt like some life or death situation and more like a roller coaster or something!]

Jack: WOOOOOOO--

Jack: --OOOOOOOOH SH--

[BAM--!]

[While Jack was becoming quite acquainted with the innate powers his ability gave him--]

[Landing was...a learned trait.]

Jack: OWFRA--

[He rolled across the roof, bouncing one or twice before settling to a stop--a groaning mess, yes, and he was SURE something popped--]

Jack: OwcrapOW...

[...But all in all, he was still functional, at least.]

Jack: F-Frag that smarts--ow--

Jack: Nnngh gonna feel that in the morning--

[With some difficulty, he managed to get on his feet. He was dizzy, and somewhat dazed from the rush before--]

Jack: Uuuuugh don't feel so good...

Jack: (No--focus, damn it, need to finish this--)

Jack: (Where is that flagpole--)

[It was bent over in an awkward position--but in such a way that it was possible to attach the makeshift rope and wheels to complete the pulley system they needed.]

Jack: (Tie this--here--and put this there--get this wheel to spin and wrap the thing around that--)

Jack: (--SHIT HOW AM I GONNA LET ELI KNOW IT'S DONE--CAN HE SEE ME FROM HERE--??)

Jack: (--Waitwaitwaitdo I have anything in the bag here that can help me--)

Jack: (--FLASHLIGHT--well OK more like a lantern almost bUT I CAN USE THIS THANK YOU MISS EIGHT--!)

———————————

“Heh, yeah, Morse is a great thing t’ know. Some letters are easier than others. s’ like old school texting, ya know? Most people only know ’S.O.S’, but… in a pinch, using ‘G O’ or ‘O K’ or ’N O’ will work just ‘cause a’ context. Ah’ guess for most people, ‘yes’, ‘no’, an’ ‘help’ are all ya really need if things are so dire as t’ be usin’ it. Now, listen close—here are those letters for you…”

———————————

[After securing that last knot, he fumbles with the light, and after finally finding that darn--]

Jack: Hope you know what this means, Eli--

{G O.}

[........]

"HEY--HE MADE IT--! HE'S GOT A LIGHT--"

"But--it's blinking--?"

Eli: (Is he trying to tell us something--?)

"HEY WAIT, THAT'S MORSE CODE--!"

"HE'S SAYING GO--OH GOD HE DID IT WE'RE GONNA BE OK--!"

Eli: ALRIGHT, EVERYONE LINE UP--WE'RE GONNA GO TWO AT A TIME, WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST--!

[.........]

Jack: pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease--

Jack: --!!!

[The makeshift carrier starts to move--and it was holding--!]

Jack: YES!!

[Jack helps it along faster by moving the rope along, and helping the passengers off once they do touch down safely, then sending the carrier back to repeat the process.]

[It was nail-biting-- watching the carrier move over the chaos below, and it looked as if it was going to fall on a few occasions--]

[Which wasn't much fun for anyone.]

[Jack didn't think he could pray any harder than he was now--heck, he wasn't even all that religious in the first place.]

[...But maybe Siam was right, about him being on Lady Luck's good side. Or there really WAS a God, after all.]

[Eli was the last passenger that survived the heart pounding trip--]

[--After every single trapped human before him went first.]

[Cheers! Cheers exploded over the rooftop, in the heart of destruction and crisis! Loud, joyous, HOPE--!]

Jack: OOF--!

[...Eli had collected Jack in a bear hug, muttering chants of thanks--and it wasn't long before he was crowed by the other rescued humans as well--]

Jack: (Getting--hard to breathe--)

Gwen: Oh, thank you, THANK YOU--!

"YEAAAAAH WE AIN'T GONNA DIE--!" "AAAAH WE'RE ALIVE THANK YOU--!" "YOU'RE MY HERO, MAN--"

Jack: Uh--you're welcome? ^^;

Eli: God, how can we--

[B O O M!]

"GNNNRRAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Jack: --!!!

Jack: (...Landcrusher.)

Jack: EVERYONE HAS TO GET OFF OF THIS ROOF, NOW!

[Goggles on, time to roll--]

Jack: --?!

Eli: YOU'RE COMING TOO--!

[Several of the rescued humans drag him away from the edge, and start to lead him towards the door into the building--]

Jack: WAIT--STOP--!

Eli: No offense, Jack, but I ain't gonna let you throw your life away like that, not after this--!

Jack: BUT THEY'RE COMING THIS WAY ELI I GOTTA HEAD THEM OFF--

[There was what appeared to be a spectacular light show that was suuuuSPIIIIIICIOUSLY LIKE DYNA’S TRADEMARK ABILITY—]

[—which, after repeating itself, was followed up by some green flashes.]

Jack: --??!

Jack: What--?

[He was led away by the humans before he could see any more...]

Jack: (What in the world was--?)

[..........]

[The rest of it all seemed like a huge blur.]

[Once they had safely exited the building, the group mostly broke apart, scrambling for the cars left on the streets--the ones that had chosen to stick with Eli and his family, however, followed him down several blocks--]

[...to where they found a mostly functional van belonging to some cable company, with the keys still in the ignition.]

[Eli was planning to get as far away from the city as possible and—God willing—make it to Canada.]

Eli: ....What do ya mean you're not coming--?

Jack: --I can't...

Jack: ...Remember that person I told you about that REALLY wouldn't like it if I got killed or something...?

Eli: ...You were SERIOUS?

Jack: Listen I know that sounds INSANE but--!

Jack: I have had a REALLY weird day and frankly I would like nothing more than to get somewhere safe but I can't leave her out there.

Jack: I have no idea if she's OK or infected or whatever but wherever she is, she's probably ALONE and she needs SOMEONE and--

Eli: JACK.

Jack: --...

Eli: ......

Eli: Where do you think she is?

Jack: I...I don't know.

Eli: .....

Eli: Well.

Eli: You saved our lives--all of our lives.

Eli: ...Only fair that I pay you back in kind, somehow.

Jack: --?

Eli: Lemmie help you find a working car--at least to get you out of the city.

Jack: But--

Jack: It's not mine--

Eli: Jack. We're in the middle of a damn APOCALYPSE and you're worried about grand theft auto?

Jack: Well--but--

Eli: Enough of your whining--I'll be right back, Gwen, watch Lily--Come on, Cherry, before any more crazies show up.

Jack: Uh--I...um.

Jack: (...Iiiii am gonna regret this...)

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=CHAPTER 8D: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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[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.

Dyna: -BZZZT BABY BROSZZ—-

Cryo: -MOVE GLITCHES WE GOTTA GET THEM TO BED—-

Brand: ...-Leaning against his elder plane brother, just, tired but relieved-

Avi: -WEEEEEH, SHAAAAADEY, BECKERSSS—-

Pyro: (Thank God...thank God, we're...)

Pyro: (We're all here now...safe, together, at last...)

Pyro: (We're all home...)

Mic: ;W; -Family is all together again!-

Bat: -Hnmm- Too right, brother.

Bat: ...good to be home.

Will: (At long last…)

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

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...)

[Mikhail, however, just seemed… tired, now. More sorrowful than anything else. This did not go unnoticed.]

Brandish: …Doctor, are you alright?

Mikhail: …

[He was not alright. He was beginning to feel shaken and sorrowful, now that the relief was wearing off, giving way to dread and guilt.]

Mikhail: -Softly- I have done much I need to answer for yet, Brandish. -Strained- And in the end, you could say my task proved in vain….

Will: —…

[Of course. How easy it was to forget, with his own sons safely home. But… “in vain”? Surely he couldn’t mean…]

Will: Where…

Will: Where is Cardinal?

Mikhail: -Looks away- …

[He swallows after a moment.]

Mikhail: …We never retained visual long enough to compensate for a lack of signal, and then Tobias had a Stop error. I had to pull him out.

[He takes in a deep breath and lets it out in a huff, looking up.]

Mikhail: He… is still at the White House.

Will: —! What?

Pyro: . . .

Brand: ...Doctor?

Will: Why...hasn't he returned—?

Mikhail: …

[He looks away again.]

Brand: (...no, wait, he...he can't mean...?)

Mikhail: -Softly again- Dare I even say it…?

Mikhail: Nay… not even now. To hear them spoken aloud would bring you much grief, for otherwise there is the opportunity to yet deny in the heart what the mind understands…

Brand: (No—it can't be, this is Cardinal...)

Mikhail: -Somewhat strained- Cardinal did not return because he could not.

Cryo: But—but—! -Flails- But you said hell and high water wouldn’t stop him from his quest, so—!

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: Yes… and that is true. While he yet lived, nothing would have stopped him.

Will: (L-lived?! PAST TENSE!?)

Mikhail: -Deep breath again- Cardinal…

Mikhail: Cardinal is Offline.

Will: C...Cardinal—!?

Pyro: It—no—

Cryo: BUT—BUT— -On the verge of tears—-

Brand: -Pales at this, placing a hand on his elder for support- Cardinal...?

Bat: Ghn... (I knew it, damn it, I knew it, but I didn't want to BELIEVE it—)

Mikhail: I do not know more than that…! We cannot bring him back at this point without a visual…!

Call: Attention.

Call: We no longer have any security clearance to Xel Transfer onto the White House, nor any where near the property.

Will: What?

Will: --Then how are we supposed to--

Call: Attention: I am receiving calls from the Pentagon stating that they request to question Doctor Cossack about units DLN-008 and DLN-000.

Will: --!!

Mikhail: …

[He was literally shaking as he put a hand to his face, shivering from the chill lab air and his own concerns and fears.

He looked very tired, somewhat shaken, and more than a little depressed.

A man at the end of his rope.]

Soi: … (He looks like he’s about to have a nervous breakdown…)

Soi: We’ll take care of that for now. Let them know that Mikhail is indisposed.

Mikhail: Soichiro…

Soi: -Turns to Will- 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-

Will: (Oh, Mikhail...with the government asking so many questions, I can tell this is wearing you down to your wit's end...)

Will: (When will this nightmare END?)

[SANDA LABS, EVENING…]

[At last, after the longest, hardest week the White family and friends have had to endure in all of their time…

They were together again.

Scarred, injured, and some even still resting from the chaos…

But together.]

[It was nothing less than a miracle, born from the will of an unlikely timid boy forced to turn to his own strengths in the face of madness. In the span of a few days, he had gone from the meek, fearful screw-up to the world’s savior and last hope.

Even the key to what might be the cure to the nation’s robotic pandemic lies within him.

…And yet…

Beck Amadeus White, tried as he might, could not stay asleep for long.]

[There were too many thoughts. Answered questions that begot even more questions.

He had done what he had promised, and had done it as best as he could.]

Beck: … .

[…Or has he?]

[Love, compassion, respect and trust…

The basis and very essence of the bonds of friendship and companionship.

He was told, by his own father, by his own siblings, that these were the things that could make the world a better place…

That could help people, no matter how lost they are.]

[Beck believed that there was good in everyone– even people like Graham, Gravecrasher, or Blade…

And that no one–of flesh or Xel or otherwise–was truly born evil, or at the very least, it wasn’t their fault.

…

So that had to ring true for her, didn’t it?]

[Hurt and pain, tragedy, loss, all the sorrows of the world…

That is what made good people turn for the worse–those with not enough love or compassion or trust or respect in their lives…]

[So…

Was it not enough?

Did he not try…hard enough…?]

[He knew there was good in there–over the very first year of his life, even when he was so young, and still learning of the world–

He saw it.

Buried deep within rage and fear, bitterness and vengeance–bloodlust and insanity…

He saw it.]

[A light–still burning strong in the face of all the horrors that mankind was capable of. In the face of time, in the face of the very darkness it was now a part of…

A ray of hope beneath the mask.]

Beck: ……..

[He saw it, in the way spoken without malice, in the way spoken about others of their likeness–in the way that he looked at her and she looked at him without all the pain he never knew how deep it really went.]

Beck: (Where are you…?)

[He was more saddened and worried at the thought of it–he wasn’t angry, although he wondered if he should be.]

[In all honesty, he’d be more heartbroken if what he was dreading turned out to be a reality…]

Beck: …..

[And he was frightened at what he would see in his dreams should he surrender to sleep.]

Beck: (Ugh…)

Beck: (This sucks…)

Beck: ……

Beck: (Maybe…maybe she’s okay…)

Beck: (If…If she’s infected, I think we would have noticed by now…)

Beck: (But only…things and Xelbots that were offline or turned off didn’t get infected…)

Beck: (So does…that mean…)

Beck: ………

Beck: -Siiiiigh-

Beck: (I should at least try and get some rest. If Dad’s really going to use my Xel Filter Program to fix everyone, then at least that’ll help her too.)

Beck: (…And then I can go find her myself.)

Beck: (She’s a survivor. She’ll be okay.)

Beck: …..

Beck: -_-; (I wouldn’t be surprised if she was having the time of her life…The whole nation’s probably an all-you-can-eat buffet to her…)

Beck: -Shivers- (Ugh, I don’t even wanna imagine it…)

Beck: (Got enough nightmares to potentially have, thank you very much…)

Beck: -Stares at the ceiling-

Beck: ….

Beck: I guess I can re-read all of my Star Wars comics again….

[SANDA LABS, REPAIR BAY…]

Soi: Whew…

Soi: I got at least half of his repairs done–mostly just replacing the things that got, uh, fried. At least he’s still out of it for now…What about you, Will?

Will: Hrmmm…

[Will worked at his console as usual, typing furiously with purpose.]

Will: (…Gah, I can’t remove the source codes directly, that just makes the whole thing fall apart…)

Will: (…Perhaps I should work on modifying Beck’s Xel Filter Program–but if they analyze that too…)

Will: Not much headway, I’m afraid. Even WITH this latest sample…

Soi: …I see…

Will: (….)

Will: (I thought I was… through.)

Will: (I really, really thought so…)

Will: -Sighs, locks the code again-

Will: I think…I think trying to get the Xel Filter to work on a mass scale is more pressing, now that everyone is home at last…

Will: Doing that might be a bit tricky, though. It’s not as simple as just taking it out and copying it–

Will: It’s a program I designed with very…specific specs and coding.

[Undoubtedly, Mikhail would have been fascinated by this conversation.

But despite being in the same room…

…he was asleep on his notes.]

Mikhail: Zzz…

[The overworked Russian had a lot on his mind, and he had stayed up all night the night before working on the final key to his own puzzle.

And now, determined to be on hand when Cardinal came back, he had followed Sanda’s orders on a technicality.

Oh, he was resting, alright.

But judging by the empty mug of hot chocolate, he hadn’t even made it to a couch before falling asleep in the lab.]

Soi: … >> I told him to–

Will: … -Sighs- Leave the poor man alone, Soi….

Will: He has his…his own troubles now.

Will: ……

Will: (I’m sorry…)

[PING!]

Will: –?

Mikhail: Zzz…

[CALL] //: Doctor Sanda, we have a call on the emergency line.

Sanda: -Sighs- That’s been ringing off the hook, Call, we know there are people that need–

[CALL] //: Our private emergency line.

Sanda: –?!!

Mikhail: Zzz…

Will: But…That line is for Sanda Staff only–

[CALL] //: Mr. Seijiro Sanda has granted special permission given the gravity of the one who is calling.

Mikhail: Zzz…

Will: ……

Will: And…That would be….?

[CALL] //: Madame President Minerva.

Will: …….

Will: Call…

Will: Please tell me it’s not THE PRESIDENT of the United States–?!

[CALL] //: Affirmative, Doctor White.

Will: No no NO–!

[Mikhail abruptly wakes up, looking startled.

Will is OUT of there before Soi can even react, wow, can he move fast–]

Soi: Will–!

Mikhail: -More awake now, and very grouchy to be so- {What…}

Mikhail: -Feels around for his glasses and puts them on- {What’s going on, what was the shouting just now?}

Soi: E–Er–

Soi: Oh man…

Mikhail: Call, please explain? Your father is at a loss for words. </grumpy>

[CALL] //: Yes, Doctor. POTUS is currently on our emergency private Sanda Tech line as we speak.

Mikhail: …

[He seems to turn a bit pale. Kind of hard for a man in his condition.]

[CALL] //: Madame President Minerva was given clearance to use this line by the CEO of Sanda Technologies.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: Stall for me.

[AAAAAAND HE’S OUT.]

Soi: Wha–Mikhail–! Don’t you two do this to me AGAIN–!

Soi: ….

Soi: (Crikey…)

{Meanwhile…}

“Will! WILL!”

Mikhail: -Runs after him- Will, wait!

Mikhail: {Will! We… we need to talk!}

[Will stopped dead in his tracks–whether for when Mikhail called him or out of absolute terror was hard to tell.

But he was quite not well, evident by the sharp intakes of air and the balled fists.]

Will: I–…Mikhail…

Mikhail: -Puts his hands on Will’s shoulders- Will, I…

Mikhail: I’m sorry.

Mikhail: …But it’s better you hear this from me now, rather than later…

Will: (–!)

Mikhail: I…

Mikhail: I’m going to have to talk to her, Will.

Will: –!!

Will: Wh–What–?! No–! You can’t–!

[He grabbed his colleague a bit roughly by the shirt, forcing him to look him in the eyes—there seemed to be some sort of cold fire to them.]

Mikhail: I HAVE THINGS TO ANSWER FOR, WILL!

((Pic—Mikhail & Will (shouting)))

Mikhail: I sent Tobias into the Cloud to get to the White House and interfere in their security!

Will: -Wince- (But…–!)

Mikhail: I’m sorry, Will…

Mikhail: It was for good reason, and I’m prepared to pay the price for it.

Will: (P-price…!)

Mikhail: I wouldn’t have done that unless I was truly desperate. And trust me, I was.

Mikhail: I need his hardware intact for me to fix him.

Will: –But–isn’t…isn’t all of their self in software rather than…?

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Swallows- …Yes… and that’s… that’s why.

Will: I don’t understand…

Mikhail: The software runs on the hardware… that is the primary copy.

Mikhail: Backups to the database are inactive copies.

Mikhail: If both are destroyed, the data completely lost… then… then the Awareness is effectively dead.

Will: –!!

Mikhail: That’s part of why the Robot Master Database was founded. Industrials were meant to wear out their bodies and get new ones. They… they are property, Will, that’s just how it works—

Mikhail: But what happens when there isn’t a backup to begin with?

Mikhail: What… what happens when… when the software is too old to properly connect with a constantly updating database?

Will: –?!

Will: T…Too…Old?

Will: (C… Cardinal…?)

Mikhail: …It’s hard to say for sure as I keep the respect of staying out of their files…

Mikhail:  But I don’t think he’s actually had his AI_OS backed up to the RMD in over a decade, if the records exist at all.

Will: ……

Mikhail: He… he’s always been afraid of changing his software. He wasn’t… properly coded, in the beginning.

Mikhail: But unless a construct updates their software on a regular basis, they lose the ability to communicate with the Cloud. Without the Cloud, then everything they are is tied to their chassis hardware.

Mikhail:  If he has… … if he had been too damaged to recover data from his body… he could very well have died.

Mikhail: If… if his self-destruct sequence had gone off… we probably would have lost him.

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

Will: John 15:13…?

Sanda: Why would…?

[MN.2] //: Is it some kinda code, or…?

[MN.1] //: ….

[MN.1] //: “No greater love than this…”

[MN.1] //: “…than to lay down his life for his friends.”

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

Mikhail: I… I got desperate. I couldn’t let that happen.

Mikhail: What… beyond the loss that would have been—

[His voice becomes bitter in pain.]

Mikhail: The man saved my daughter’s life, he saved my life— he leads their family, he keeps the two sides of the wretched eternal war in our home world in check—

Mikhail: What that would have done to your son…

Will: … .

Will: (Oh, Mikhail…!)

Will: (If only I could tell you–I understand–!)

Mikhail: … I don’t even want to think of it. Brandish took the brief fight with Shadow hard enough, but this…

Mikhail: -Hangs his head-  I couldn’t let it happen….

Mikhail: In retrospect… having Tobias fight off the security also helped make things a little easier on him, on your youngest son, by preventing everything working against him to the degree they had been working before. The distraction helped with saving the President too, I imagine.

Mikhail: But I will be honest—at the time I was really only thinking of Cardinal, and I’m sorry.

Mikhail: Between everyone’s efforts, we all made it out alive—and that is all I could have hoped for, so…

Mikhail: I am willing to pay.

Will: … (Mikhail…)

Will: (God, if I lost you, too, to…to them, I…!)

Will: (If only I was as half as brave as you are…)

Mikhail: I’ve been somewhat negligent in my duties as a Doctor out of the desire to let the boys handle their own lives. I was unwilling to enforce my authority when it was most needed. At least six people have suffered greatly as a direct result of that weakness. My irresponsibility has placed travelers from my world at risk by allowing an unforgiving spotlight on unusual phenomena.

Will: (No, please–please, this is all my fault–! I should be one where YOU ARE, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND–!)

Mikhail: What happened with the Queen’s Finals and on the highways could have been passed off as lingering issues born from their early lives. It would even have been plausible to say that the lack of files and records was related to the data breach not that long ago.

Mikhail: That is no longer the case.

Mikhail: The boys and I have gotten too much trouble to run from any longer. There are things that have happened which will no longer be overlooked.

Mikhail: Cardinal has entangled himself directly in government affairs, as has Tobias. There’s the very real question of security being put at risk, with what they did while they were there. Tobias in particular, since he now is under heat from investigations in two entirely different countries.

Mikhail: They are going to want answers, Will. They will not rest until they feel they are through. There isn’t much for them to find, but it is enough that it can’t be avoided. Trying to shift blame onto Doctors Light and Wily won’t be enough to avoid what is in store. Someone is going to have to give an answer.

Will: (What can I do, what–there must be something, I–I won’t–)

Mikhail: The simple fact is that all the incidents in question only have one clear link between them—

Mikhail: Me.

Will: (I won’t let them take you away from us–!)

Will: (If it comes to that, then I swear–!)

Mikhail: This time, Tobias was acting under my orders. I woke him up specifically to break into the system, disable it, and give us feeds from the cams.

Mikhail: Such… such an action is…

Mikhail: …not something easily forgiven.

Will: (N…No…!)

Mikhail: …I must… I have to answer for this, sooner or later. It’s the right thing to do.

Will: (I can’t lose another–not again–!)

Mikhail: I’m sorry, William…

Mikhail: After all this time, after all you’ve done for me… I’ve gone and done something terrible, something that places you in danger.

Mikhail: I certainly won’t let anyone put that onto you.

Mikhail: -Places a hand to Will’s face- You’re like a cousin, or… or even brother to me. And I know this is hard enough on you as it is.

Mikhail: Believe me, Will, I know what this is like—

Mikhail: I’ve seen it happen with MY sons before.

Mikhail: Even worse, I was the one who sent them there, the reason they ended up like they did.

Will: (Gnk–!)

Mikhail: The aftermath was… is very hard. I don’t… -In clear emotional pain- I don’t even have them all back yet. I’m still… still in the process of piecing us back together.

Mikhail: But you…

Mikhail: You’ve been doing such good work, you… you’re already under enough stress as it is… you should definitely not be hounded by the things I’ve done using your equipment. The things my nephews have done throughout this whole mess…

Will: … … ….

[Too much. It was all too much.]

[Of all the things Will had to hide…]

[Tears…]

[Now that was the one thing he could never quite master how to conceal.]

Will: Gh…!

[Suddenly, Mikhail would find a surprising strength in Will–of the physical kind, that is, once he had latched onto him–as if…]

((Pic—Mikhail & Will (hug)))

[As if the whole world was trying to tear them apart.]

Will: You–You have to promise me–!

Will: Promise me you’ll come back–please…!

Mikhail: -Blinks- …

[He returns the hug, though a gentle one.]

Mikhail: Oh, William…

Mikhail: I still have important work to do, my friend.

Mikhail: No government or government agency—no leader, no use of force will keep me from bringing my family back together.

Mikhail: No matter what happens, I will be coming back. That is not something I even have to promise… it is mere fact.

Mikhail: ({I’m not native to your world—I exist outside of it. So… even if…. Even if it were to fall to the worst possible outcome…})

Mikhail: Just… stay strong, alright? We’ll make it through this. I promised you that, remember?

-*-*-*-*-

“Listen… If anything ever goes that wrong for you, I /promise/ you I will help you find a way to fix it.”

-*-*-*-*-

Mikhail: I intend to keep to that.

[…..]

Will: -Sniff-

Will: (…Mikhail…)

Will: (…That’s right…The two of us…)

Will: (…You…don’t know how much we’re both alike…)

Will: …I…

Will: I really…wanted to show you around…

Will: I… -Sniff, choked laughter- I guess that’s out the window now…

Mikhail: -Weary smile-

[He ruffles Will’s hair a bit.]

Mikhail: We’ll see about that, Doctor. This isn’t the first time I’ve had to answer for myself before high office.

Will: -Sniff- Right…Here be dragons…

Mikhail: да.

Mikhail: Go…

Mikhail: Go see your sons, Will.

Mikhail: Be with them. Be with your sons and daughters. You have them back now.

Mikhail: And you and I both know exactly how priceless of a treasure that is.

Will: ….

Will: Y…Yes…

Will: Alright…

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: -Gently- Will?

Will: Mm?

Mikhail: That means you have to let go, Will.

Will: ….

Will: …!

Will: -Aaaand does so- Oh–I–Sorry, I, Ah–

Will: -Awkward noodle, how do we people–

[That gets Mikhail to laugh.]

Mikhail: -More hair ruffles for friend- Haha…! Alright, why don’t you go get something warm to eat? If anyone else wakes up, they’ll probably want to join in with you. Maybe make me some hot chocolate for when I get back. | )

[This seemed to be a statement more than a question, as with that said… he walked off, his lab coat swishing slightly behind him.]

Will: …Okay…

Will: ….

Will: (…..)

Will: I’ll…do that.

Will: …

Will: (Friend…)

{Meanwhile}

[Shortly after Mikhail had left, Call patched the line through.

Sanda was greeted with a somewhat disgruntled looking Madame President.]

Soi: (Ugh…Dealing with the government not once but twice in the same week…)

Soi: (The two of you REALLY owe me double for this…)

Soi: -Ahem-

Soi: M-Madame President! Sorry for the hold up–I-uh, apologize.

Soi: T-To what may be the reason for your urgent call? (Please don’t say Will or Mikhail, please don’t say Will or Mikhail–)

Min: Doctor Sanda.

[She lifts something onto the screen.]

Min: Is this yours?

Soi: –!!!

Scout: : D -LOOK, IT IS YOU, THE SNACK GIVER-

Scout: -LICKS THE SCREEN-

Soi: …..

Soi: Uuuuh…

Soi: I…Oh, dear…

Soi: -Inhales- It…yes, he is. Goodness, I wonder how he got there… (Scout, how in the WORLD did you end up in the White House–?!)

Soi: (–Oh, right…)

Soi: (Cardinal. -__-;;;; )

Min: And the cat?

Soi: –?

Soi: I…I’m sorry, cat–?

Min: Yes, Doctor. The giant cat that is currently preventing the White House from being thoroughly secured—is that also yours?

Soi: –!?!?

Soi: (Giant cat–oh no—JAZZ–)

Soi: …Er. (That–that isn’t even close to what I was expecting, what do I SAY–?!)

Soi: (Ngh, if I don’t tell them it’s ours, Cardinal will kill me–)

Min: If it’s not yours, we’ll have to disable it. It’s blocked off an entire room looking out onto the Lawn.

Soi: –….

Soi: (Cardinal….)

Soi: (Mngh, I can’t let the government get ahold of Jazz, though–she’s not Xel, if they shoot her and they find she’s not, then–!)

Min: Doctor. My men said they saw someone on the ground in there. We need to secure the area, and we need to get into the room and retrieve any fallen members of staff.

Soi: (Ack!)

Soi: (Will–Mikhail–I can’t hold them off anymore–!)

Soi: (What…What do I do…)

“The cat does not belong to Sanda Labs, no."

Soi: –!!

[Mikhail strides into the room, looking weary but determined.]

Soi: Wh–what are–?

Soi: (What are you doing, Mikhail–!)

[DR.WHITE to DR. SANDA] //: S–Soi….

Soi: –!

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: …L…Let him do this.

Min: …

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: …. (Good luck, Mikhail…)

Min: Doctor Михаил Сергеевич Казак.

Min: How fortuitous of you to show up. There are a lot of questions surrounding you, Doctor.

[She did not seem pleased, and there was a tension in the air that could not be surmounted. She was a woman who demanded answers, from whom answers had been withheld. She was clearly not one to be trifled with, especially now.]

Soi: …

Mikhail: CSU-001 is DLN-000’s support unit.

Min: …

Soi: —! (R…Right off the bat—?!)

Soi: (Nngh…Mikhail, I know you have experience with this, I HOPE you know what you’re doing…)

[It took a moment for the President to realize the implications of what Mikhail had just said. When she did…]

Min: —?!

Min: That…

Min: That’s DLN-000 on the ground in there?!

Mikhail: -Closes his eyes, bows his head, and sighs- … да.

Soi: … … ...

Soi: (Shade…Oh, Shade… Don’t worry, we WILL get Cardinal back here somehow…)

Mikhail: -Adjusts his glasses before he looks up- Madame President, I can understand your anxiety, suspicion, and concern—but CSU-001 has…

[A pause.]

Mikhail: …

Mikahail: -Decides to start over- Well…

Mikhail: …She’s a cat. -___-;;

Min: -Lowers eyelids slightly- By which you mean, she will not obey orders the same way a dog will. Why design a support unit that way?

Mikhail: >_>

Min: No matter. If she’s dangerous and will not obey, she must be removed.

Mikhail: -Holds up hands in a “I’m not armed” gesture- I agree. If you would let Pyrogen enter—

Min: So you are all working together, then.

Soi: -Wince- (Mikhaaaaaaaail…)

Min: -Somewhat coldly- I hope you answer the next few questions very carefully, Doctor.

[The look in Cossack’s eyes was the only indicator that he was starting to wear down on patience. His tone remained passive, and he seemed tired more than anything else.]

Mikhail: …Do you intend to put me in custody? Under what charges?

Min: I’m sure the Attorney General would have plenty if it came to that.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Not if I have anything to say about it–

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Shh, Will–it won’t, we promise….

Min: Why are you being so defensive and confrontational?

Mikhail: Because I’m being listened to and recorded to right now, madam, with no idea how many are listening. -_- I will not speak so freely under such conditions.

Mikhail: Right now, I believe it is more important to focus on the physical aspects of the situation. CSU-001 will not answer even to Pyrogen, but she will be less likely to attack him. And even if she did, he would be able to, as you Americans say… “tank” it.

Mikhail: DLN-000 is in desperate need of extreme hardware repairs that are life-threatening. If he destabilizes, it will end very poorly. Readings that my database received suggest he needs to have a core replaced.

Min: While that is the case, we don’t think it is a good idea to allow anyone to teleport to or from the grounds right now; cybersecurity is another matter.

Mikhail: -Raises an eyebrow- And is that something you want to be saying right now, even over a private line?

Min: —…

[She pursed her lips together. After a pause…]

Min: This isn’t your first time dealing with the government, is it? ¬_¬

Soi: (You have no idea.)

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: -Well, she figured THAT out quick…-

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Come on, Mikhail…I know you can do it…

Mikhail: -Turns his hands over to show his wrists- I understand that you have a lot of questions, and that these questions regard matters of dangerous and troubling natures. But your staff promised Sanda Labs that there would be full cooperation when necessary.

Mikhail: I am merely asking you to hold to that promise. I’m the one with answers you want, yes, and…

[He curls his hands into fists, and they shake slightly.]

Mikhail: I’m willing to go into questioning about them.

Min: -Blink blink- -Did NOT expect this kind of answer-

Mikhail: All I ask is that you think very carefully about who gets to hear the answers.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: -Ngh…-

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: -As long as they don’t take him away–ngh–

Soi: ….

Soi: (Okay…So Mikhail…Is going to answer their questions, but if they ask to speak to Will…)

Soi: (He gets terrified at the thought of it and I know why…)

Mikhail: -Looks up again, turning a hand to the side in gesture- Please understand, Madame President— Jazz and her master both need to get out of there as soon as possible. Mighty Number Nine is currently undergoing his own repairs and recovery. Given the current situation, Pyrogen is the only one who can safely diffuse it.

Mikhail: If you’re so worried about any further “funny business”, I’m sure it shouldn’t be a problem if he’s watched while he picks them up.

Soi: ( ! Good idea…Really, all we’re doing is picking them up and nothing else…)

Min: Very well, you do have a point.

[She looks over her shoulder.]

Min: I have a personal interest in DLN-000’s well being. I’m sure the Secretary of Defense will be fine with leading the escort into the White House.

”…To be honest, a guy that can survive a headshot is someone that would be a shame to lose, but that’s just me.“

Min: -Smiles a bit at that-

Mikhail: … -Blinks-

Mikhail: He took a hit from Shade to his helmet?

Des: -Peeks over Min’s shoulder-

Des: Actually, we shot him in the head when he got into the Oval Office–that is one darn good helmet he has there.

Des: Desmond Donald, by the way. Secretary of Defense. I also have a few questions for you, Doctor Cossack.

Mikhail: -Flatly- No, I’m not a spy.

Des: –… (Great. Another genius who's short on patience.)

Des: It really isn’t your first rodeo, isn’t it… (Let's just hope he actually IS as cooperative as he claims he's going to be…)

Mikhail: нет.

Mikhail: The answers I have aren’t exactly something that everyone should be hearing.

Des: And why would that be? (He obviously has SOMETHING to hide….)

Mikhail: Well, for starters— I’m sure you have a lot of questions about DLN-000.

Mikhail: I am his Doctor, yes, but he is more than just a patient to me. He is also a good family friend. Answers regarding him lead into information about my daughter—

Soi: ( ! He mentioned Kalinka…)

Mikhail: And quite frankly, I will not have her endangered.

Mikhail: One who has landed themself in this position must answer for what has been going on. Investigations require answers. But only those who have a right to know should be handling such answers.

Des: … a right to know, huh…

Des: Well, I think I do.

Des: DLN-000 was wearing what I am sure to be dog tags.

Des: And– -Turns to Min- Believe me, someone with a good helmet like that, able to by-pass our security and go toe to toe with one of the world’s top Battle Colosseum fighters…

Des: Believe me, I would know if we had someone like that.

Mikhail: -Wry smile- Got you in trouble, did he, Mr. Donald?

Des: -~- (Why is it they always pick up these things without me SAYING it? Ugh…)

Des: Look…

Des: I don’t know if he’s in some… secret division or whatever, if he’s military–

Des: …Well.

Des: The man saved Min’s life, no matter which way you look at it.

Mikhail: And I can assure you he wouldn’t like you harassing his Doctor overmuch. He went to the trouble of saving mine once, after all.

Des: ….

Des: -Turns to Min again-

Des: He’s a soldier, Min.

Des: No one left behind.

Min: …

Min: -Siiiighs-

Min: You’re a person of interest, Doctor Cossack. I’d much rather have some of our staff look him over, if you want the honest truth.

Mikhail: That’s not going to work. If you wish to question me, however, that can be arranged. But he needs to get out of there.

Min: You would delay his repairs, potentially deny them altogether? : |

[The implications of that emphasis were not lost on the beleaguered Russian.]

Mikhail: …

[At that, he seemed broken in surrender, but with too great a dignity to openly give in to despair.]

Mikhail: -Quietly- Well, I seriously hope it doesn’t come to that, that’s an awfully chilling fate to walk off to.

Soi: ….

Soi: I…If I may…Suggest something…?

Mikhail: -Turns to look at Soi- ?

Soi: -Ahem-

Soi: -Exhales-

Soi: …..

Soi: DLN-000–his very life is at stake.

Soi: Please, if…If it helps–Sanda Enterprises is a very secure location, and our lines have the best security we can offer. You had to get permission from my brother before getting on this line, even.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: SOI WHAT ARE YOU DOING–

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Trust me–

Soi: If you like…After DLN-000’s condition is more stable and not in great danger, we can set up a room–monitored and with our most secure line–so that you can question Doctor Cossack as much as you want. I…

Soi: I’ll even answer some myself if I have to.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Soichiro–!

Soi: Just…

Soi: He’s….he’s our friend. Please…

Soi: The more we wait…

Min: …

Mikhail: …I find this to be an acceptable answer.

Mikhail: I can assure you I’ll be staying here in the lab until repairs are over. DLN-000 needs my help with repairs, after all—I’ll hardly skip town, let alone country.

Soi: Call–my daughter, she can even give you reports.

Mikhail: Actually, I’ll need her help, Sanda—as an assistant—if she’s not on a different assignment.

Soi: Yes…Yes, certainly…

Min: -Looks at Des for a moment- …

Des: …..

Min: -Looks back- Very well.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: !

Min: It’s not what I’d consider ideal, but negotiation is all about give and take.

Min: As a representative of the republic, I don’t quite trust you, Doctor Cossack, and there are questions that will need to be answered.

Min: However, you have been more or less cooperative and you have agreed to remaining within a confined area and undergoing questioning. And character testimony certainly counts for something.

Min: Mighty Number One has clearance to meet the Secretary of Defense outside the White House and proceed to retrieve CSU-001 and DLN-000.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: –!!!

Min: And after that…

[She holds up Scout again.]

Min: I believe this one needs to go back home as well.

Scout: : D!!!!

Scout: -SNACK GIVER, HELLO AGAIN- Rarf! ^^

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Oh dear God we completely forgot about Scout–

Min: But before I let you go—

Min: I have a homework assignment for the two of you.

Soi: !

Soi: (…S…She means Mikhail and me, right–)

Min: This critter was looked over by the veterinarian on staff. It is not a dog, and it is not a raccoon.

Min: I hope your biology research will have an A+ answer as to what it is and to why and how it keeps doing this—

[She takes one of Desmond’s pins out of Scout’s mouth.]

Des: ??? -Again–

Min: Even from up to several yards away.

Scout:  D: -Nuuuuu-

Min: -Scritches for the Scout- -It’s okay, you’re a good boy-

Scout: : D!!! -Yaaay, nice lady is nice~-

Soi: Eheh…Er. Well, his name is Scout, and ah…

Soi: …H-How about we leave that to when you question me? ^^;;;

Min: That’s the definition of a homework assignment, Doctor Sanda. -Amused smile-

Soi: -Yup we knew that, just making sure- -Thumbs up-

Min: -Chuckles- Alright.

Min: -Turns to Des- You’d better get over to the White House then, Des.

Min: -Signals for the feed to cut out-

-BLIP!-

Soi: …..

[Suddenly, someone running into the room–]

Mikhail: ?

[GLOMP–]

Will: You did it–

Will: Both of you did it–!

Will: -Oh God for a second there I thought both of you were going to get taken into custody, SOOOOI–

Soi: –Oof–

Soi: Aw, Will… ^^

Mikhail: -Aw, group hug for Will- It’s alright, William. Things will be fine now.

Mikhail: The President seemed mostly to be acting in the interests of your republic, and not out of personal aggression. Trust me, that makes it much easier.

Will: …..

Will: Y…You didn’t have to do that, though, Soi…Putting yourself…

Soi: Eh…Will, I’m in charge of the American Branch. I’m pretty sure they would have gotten to me eventually. ^^;;;

Soi: Besides, as long as you’re not going to get questioned or anything like that…

Soi: It’s worth it.

Will: …Soi…

Soi: I always got your back, Will, remember? ^^

Mikhail: -Lets go to clean off his glasses- Call, please tell Pyrogen to report here. I need to… warn him about some things before he goes over there.

[CALL] //: Yes, Doctor.

Soi: I’ll get back to repairing Shade and Beck, then.

Soi: ….Right after a hot meal and a nap. ^^;;; -Oof, we feel rather shaken and exhausted…-

Mikhail: You do that. -Slight grin- I had my nap. Now it’s your turn.

Will: I–

Soi: You are going to do the same and spend time with the rest of the Mighties.

Soi: Jeez, Will, where would you be without me? | )

Will: Eheh…Up the creek with no paddle…

Mikhail: Alright, gentlemen. Let’s get going.

[When Pyro reported to the lab again, he was concerned and confused.]

Pyro: ...Doctor...

Pyro: Father...

Will: ...Son.

Pyro: Is...Is everything alright? -VERY concerned, you both seem very tired...-

Mikhail: -Takes off his glasses to rub his left eye with the heel of his palm- That’s… debatable. Both Doctor Sanda and I will be undergoing questioning later.

Pyro: I--beg pardon--?

Pyro: Why? You've both done nothing wrong, what is going on--?

Mikhail: There are things that we can’t run away from any longer, Mighty Number One.

Pyro: —…

Mikhail: The time has come to pay the piper. -Shakes his head- It is what it is.

Pyro: ...I...

Pyro: ...does this have something to do with why you called me?

Mikhail: Yes and no…

Pyro: ?

Mikhail:  Pyro…

Mikhail: …I’m afraid I rather volunteered you for a journey. 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.

Will: (Mikhail...God, I'm sorry, this is my fault...)

Mikhail: -Turns to Pyrogen- Avi saw him getting injured to the point where oil spatter was visible from a far distance.

Pyro: -wINCE-

Mikhail: And he is Offline, in a way that brought Beck much despair. Offline, to where Jazz will suffer no man to pass.

Mikhail: Pyrogen…

Mikhail: I greatly fear that you may find that it is not a self-preservation way of going Offline. For he would have cared little for that, as long as his quest lay open…

Mikhail: I fear, Pyrogen…

Mikhail: I fear you will find that he has gone Offline because he is dead.

Will: --?! Wh--... (No--no, not again, not this, anything but this--)

Pyro: D...Dead?! (Cardinal--is...no...)

Pyro: (He's...)

Pyro: (He can't... that's why...)

Will: (Pyrogen...I can't--God, no, please, not another--!)

Will: -Very much pales...but holds fast.-

Mikhail: It may be a fearful thing you see, and… I am truly sorry. I would not place this burden on you if I had any other choice. If… -Trails off-

Pyro: …

Pyro: .... (Cardinal...)

Pyro: (You...)

Pyro: (...you AND Beck...)

Pyro: (You both just wanted us all home...)

Pyro: -Clenches a fist in resolve- …I will go.

Pyro: Beck...

Pyro: Beck swore to us--all of us...that he would bring us ALL home.

Pyro: But now that he can't go on in his condition...

Pyro: ...it is...only just that Cardinal returns as well.

Pyro: I will bring him home--because he deserves that much, for all that he's done.

Pyro: ...Beck...AND Shade...would've wanted it that way...as do I.

Mikhail: …

Mikhail: {Thank you, my soul-nephew. Alas…}

Mikhail: Good luck, Pyrogen.

Mikhail: (I’m afraid you’re going to need it…)

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

=CHAPTER 11B: SWALLOWED UP INNOCENCE=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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[BATTLE COLOSSEUM: ARENA SANDS.]

[The first thing Beck felt when he neared the arena was the thrum of power, the latent energy and almost... living presence of Xel all around him. As he fell--down, down into the sands, he braced himself for the rough landing Avi so warned him around.]

[...Except he hit the ground a lot sooner than expected, and on his feet, no less.]

Beck: Wha--?

[That was odd. The arena sands weren't nearly this high, and that's when his optics adjusted enough to see why.]

((Pic))

[What rang true for the state of the Colosseum’s outside was also applied on the interior. Some kind of Xel structure was rising out from beneath the ground, taking up most of the space of the Colosseum sands that once housed match after match of...]

Beck: -...Mnn...-

[To think he'd come back here, where it all started.]

[A fuzz.]

-=-=-=-=-=-

"I’m not leaving without you! I WON’T LEAVE YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF MONSTROPOLIS!"

-=-=-=-=-=-

[Where it had all began, indeed… even if he still couldn't remember all of it.

This time, though, he was on his own.]

[Ksst--]

Beck: !

[His comm suddenly went online--]

[MN.6] //: --copy, come on, Tex-Becks, say something--

Beck: --Avi--!

[MN.6] //: YES--GUYS, I GOT HIM, HE MADE IT--

Beck: Yeah! I'm okay, I landed good too, I...oh, jeez. Man, Avi, I wish you could see this.

[Another crackle.]

<DLN-008>: > Uuuugh… I'm seeing some of it, and it reminds me a bit of the Cloud…

Beck: It's almost...

Beck: Almost like it's all alive...?

[MN.6] //: ...yeaaaaah hard pass on that. :''D

[MN.6] //: Sorry I couldn't get you in closer--that hole was the only gap I could find in their air defenses--

[And just as Avi was saying that, a shadow fell over the smallest Mighty.]

Beck: --!

[He looked up--and saw with growing worry that the hole in the gear roof he just entered was very rapidly being closed up by infected, blocky Xel.]

Beck: [Drop emoticon] Yeah...

Beck: I think they fixed that already.

<DLN-008>: > […]

<DLN-008>: > -MUCH harsher than he intends- "They"?

[MN.9] //: --um--I-I meant Trinity, sorry--

[MN.9] //: Nervous--

<DLN-008>: > -Ranting angry Wily data re: CherryDynamics-

Beck: [Drop emoticon]

Beck: (Close...close one...)

<DLN-008>: > By the way, anyone got any ideas on how to reboot a space ninja? He's out cold.

Beck: Mnn, I...I dunno. My first guess would be Felix, but I think he can't really cast anything at this point--

Beck: Not unless he prepared for that before hand. Avi--how's he doing?

[MN.6] //: ...

[MN.6] //: ...Uh...

<DLN-008>: > [Frown emoticon]

Beck: ...Guys?

[Oh no.]

<DLN-008>: > He'll be fine. …I think. Fine-ish. Mostly okay?

[MN.6] //: Yeah, he's kinda fallen off from higher stuff before--

Beck: What?!

[Even with that bit of reassurance, Beck was still distressed, and it clearly showed in his data--]

Beck: He fell? Oh, no--don't tell me fell into all that Xel outside--!

[MN.6] //: Shhh, shhh--it's gonna be okay, Beckers--

[MN.6] //: Felix is like this huge mountain squishy, he'll be fine--

<DLN-008>: > I'd demonstrate some of the stuff he's lived through for comparison, but I'm getting the vibe that'd be a bad idea, and I keep getting calls from Europe, why this…

[There's the sense he's looking down.]

<DLN-008>: > I guess I could zap him…

[PING--!]

[MN.3] //: -Distressed bzzzing-- Toby, zzsweetie, I wouldn't do that if I were you--

[MN.6] //: Oh, sweet, the other comms are coming on--

[MN.3] //: [Drop emoticon] Not with the ninja, who'szz probably had a lesszz than good time like the rest of uszz and wouldn't appreciate the zappy, hurt-y wake up call too much...

<DLN-008>: > Oh, right, didn't think about that…

[MN.3] //: Yeah--we'll think of zzsomething else, okay? Hang in there, zzspark bro--

[Ksst--]

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck--? Do you read me?

Beck: -Places two fingers at his earcap- Hmmhmm. Loud and clear, Dad.

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

[DR.WHITE] //: I'm afraid we're having difficulty with getting visual on our end, so you'll have to describe what's going on for us in the meantime. What's the situation in the Colosseum interior?

Beck: -Looks around- There's...some kind of Xel structure in the middle of the sands. Like it...came up from underground.

[DR.WHITE] //: ...that would explain the earthquake...

[Ksst--]

[DR.SANDA] //: Is...what IS that I hear in the background?

Beck: [Drop emoticon] I... I don't really know. It sounds like the Xel is constantly...moving behind the walls or something?

Beck: Like it's going somewhere...

<DLN-008>: > [Drop emoticon] Where would it go? The locker rooms? Do you guys have a basement or something?

<DLN-008>: > I'd try and cross-reference, but the branch server is gone, and Cardinal's the only one who's been there before…

[MN.6] //: [?] You, uh… haven’t seen the memories?

[MN.6] //: -Preeeeeeetty sure that’s how it works, right—-

<DLN-008>: > […]

<DLN-008>: > [Frown emoticon] Cardinal was paranoid even by our standards, Avi. He encrypted almost everything. All we ever got out of it was the cross-reference data on an analytical level.

<DLN-008>: >The only thing the rest of us know about the place? Is that it was one of his happiest memories, and he would dream about… well…

<DLN-008>: > […]

<DLN-008>: > … [Frown emoticon] Whenever he had good dreams after that, it was always something to do with showing off to the crowds in a fixed chassis, or hanging out with Shade.

<DLN-008>: > Usually both at the same time.

[MN.8] //: […] -…Low key agony pain data-

Beck: ...Hang on... (…Just a little longer…)

[Beck slowly walks towards one side of the room, and places a hand on one of the walls. It ripples at his touch.]

Beck: (Whoa...)

Beck: ...

Beck: Down. It's definitely going down.

Beck: There is a sub-area underneath the arena--for the different field layouts and stuff that gets switched out? There's also something of a mini-elevator with a platform for those kinds of entrances--

Beck: [Drop emoticon] Except if this came from underneath that, then that was probably all trashed when this thing came topside.

Beck: (If I had to guess, considering who's involved...it probably started from the sewers...)

[DR.WHITE] //: [Drop emoticon] I see.

[DR.WHITE] //: I suspect Trinity must be the one gathering all that Xel towards her. If you follow it--it should lead you straight to her.

Beck: Right...

[DR.WHITE] //: Be VERY careful.

[DR.WHITE] //: You might be immune to the effects of the virus while in there, but we have no idea what to expect besides that.

[DR.WHITE] //: Proceed with extreme caution.

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

[MN.6] //: Good luck, Tex-Becks!

[MN.6] //: Fight the good fight!

[MISSION DETAILS: CDN-1201, TRINITY, HAS SUBSUMED THE BATTLE COLOSSEUM IN A FORTRESS OF INFECTED XEL, GATHERED FROM TITUS AND WITH MORE INCOMING XEL FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. SITUATION CRITICAL. CONDITIONS UNKNOWN. NO OTHER DATA AVAILABLE.]

[MISSION OBJECTIVE: LOCATE AND PURGE ALL HARMFUL MALWARE FROM CDN-1201. FAILURE WILL RESULT IN TITUS'S EVENTUAL DESTRUCTION AND INTERNATIONAL INTERVENTION FROM OTHER WORLD POWERS.]

[SUB OBJECTIVES: MINIMIZE RMDC IMPACT, L̷̶OC̕ÀT̵͜E ͘͡AN̴̕͟D ̵̧͢C̸̴͡O͢N͠͡F̧̨R̵O͘͠Ņ͢T ͘Ø͜͞, ̸̸͜Á͠K̵̢͏A͏ ̀R̶A̕̕Y̴͜.̵̶͘]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

[Beck didn't see an immediate exit at first--it looked like one closed off room.]

Beck: Looks like I'm going to have to make an opening somewhere...

<DLN-008>: > When in doubt, take out the ceiling.

Beck: ...

Beck: [Drop emoticon] I, uh. I don't think it works like that, Toby. I-It's fine, I'll just use Bat's--

[Suddenly, a noise. A clicking sound, like claws being clattered together--]

Beck: --???

Beck: !!

Beck: -AUGH, WHAT IS THAT--

[It looked Xel-shaped, and it floated almost like a jellyfish--but at the center of this strange enemy was this giant eye, fixated on Beck as it rapidly flew towards him--]

[BLAM!]

[The screech it let out was something right out of a sci-fi horror movie.]

Beck: Ew, ew--stay away--

[Oh, and it brought friends.]

<DLN-008>: > Ugh, why does everything have to scream...

[BLAM! BLAM!]

Beck: [Drop emoticon] These things are huge and...tanky, Mnn...

[Though after some doing, Beck did manage to cause then to dissipate. The strange eye Xel screeched painfully as it just fell apart, it's Xel falling to the floor. Only for it to be absorbed right back into it.]

Beck: That's not a good sign...

<DLN-008>: > Can non-Xel absorb Xel?

[DR.WHITE] //: [Drop emoticon] Let's stick a pin on that one. Beck? What happened?

Beck: The leftover Xel from those things got absorbed right back into the structure...

Beck: Oh boy.

[DR.WHITE] //: [Drop emoticon x3] I highly suggest you get going.

Beck: Yeah, I--

[Beck never finished that sentence, as suddenly the ground below him glowed.]

[And started moving.]

Beck: [!]

Beck: Whoa...

[The floor parted into two sections, retracting into the walls and revealing a way down from the room he was in.]

Beck: The...the floor just opened up.

[DR.WHITE] //: The floor?

Beck: Yeah--like, on it's own. Um. Saves some valuable energy, I guess...?

<DLN-008>: > […]

<DLN-008>: > That doesn’t sound right...

Beck: -Hup--

[Beck jumped down to the next area below--which seemed like some kind of long hallway. Unfortunately, it ended rather abruptly.]

Beck: Dead end...

Beck: --! Wait...

<DLN-008>: > [?]

[Just like before, the wall in front of him glowed, and then retraced downwards into the floor, revealing more hallway...]

Beck: ...Never mind, the wall kinda...moved aside...

Beck: ...

Beck: ...Is...

Beck: Is Trinity...creating a path for me?

<DLN-008>: > There’s a reference somewhere in there, I just know it...

[DR.SANDA] //: Hrmm...

[DR.SANDA] //: She may roll out the red carpet, but I wouldn't expect a warm welcome...

<DLN-008>: > -A bit hazily confused- Red?

<DLN-008>: > Mmmn, red...

<DLN-008>: > She liked... red, red was important...

Beck: ...

Beck: [Drop emoticon x3] (I can take a good guess why...)

<DLN-008>: > Something about a friend, I think...

<DLN-008>: > Blah... need more processing power, my head hurts from all these weird calls...

Beck: -Whew...-

Beck: Dad? Should I make my own way through? Could be a trap...

[DR.WHITE] //: Mmn... You'll need everything you have for Trinity herself. Blasting your way through wouldn't be wise, especially since we have no idea if the structure can handle it...

[DR.WHITE] //: Follow the path for now. It will probably lead you closer to her, at the very least.

Beck: Copy that...

<DLN-008>: > PROCESSING...

<DLN-008>: > PROCESSING...

[The data coming off of his signal was becoming more basic and slower, as if his Awareness was diminished and he was struggling with running some of the programs.]

<DLN-008>: > PROCESSING...

[Beck continues onward, buster at the ready for any sort of surprises. Strangely, it's all but quiet in this hallway, save for the moving walls and the occasional screech from whatever lurked deeper inside.]

Beck: Don't like this...

<DLN-008>: > PROCESSING...

Beck: (Definitely feels like I'm walking right into a trap...)

Beck: ...How big is this place--?

[SLAM--!]

Beck: [!]

[Beck turned on his heel, alarmed by the sudden crash of something heavy behind him. The walls that he had passed under before suddenly slammed back shut, and--]

[--were continuing to do so--]

Beck: Ack--!

Beck: -DASHES AWAY--

[He floored it, dashing forward to avoid getting turned into paste. The path opened up more as he went on, though it was immediately shut behind him the second he was through.]

[SLAM! SLAM!]

Beck: aaaAAAH--

[DR.WHITE] //: Beck?!

Beck: Walls are trying to CRUSH ME--

[Thankfully, he didn't have to run for long, as another room was up ahead. He tumbled as the wall behind him shut tight, a familiar lock symbol appearing on it's surface.]

Beck: [Drop emoticon] (I'm not sure if that means either 'stay out' or 'hurry up.'...)

[DING!]

[DSN-000 IS NOW ONLINE.]

Beck: !!!

Beck: Call?!

[DR.WHITE] //: !!

[DR.SANDA] //: :''D! Call! I-I mean--

[DR.SANDA] //: {I'm glad you're awake, so glad, but you should rest right now--}

[CALL] //: [PROCESSING...]

[DR.SANDA] //: ? Call--?

[CALL] //: [ANALYZING...]

[CALL] //: [ANALYZING...]

[CALL] //: [PING!]

[CALL] //: Sync complete.

[CALL] //: Multiple enemy signatures ahead. Be weary of reforming Xel blocks.

Beck: :D!!! Call! [♥︎]

[DR.WHITE] //: Call, dear, you should really--we have it handled, you should focus on--

[CALL] //: -PING!-

[CALL] //: This unit can preform support even when not currently on an active terminal.

[CALL] //: Statement: MN.9 requires all support available.

[CALL] //: I must support Beck.

[DR.SANDA] //: --Ah--Will--Will, I think she's serious--

[DR.WHITE] //: E--Er...

Beck: It is so good to hear you right now--

Beck: You said something about reforming Xel blocks?

[CALL] //: Correct. Xel energy signatures suggest the multiple platforms up ahead can be broken down and constituted.

[DR.WHITE] //: ...

[DR.WHITE] //: ...I guess convincing her to go back into sleep is out of the question--

[DR.SANDA] //: Heh...

Beck: Anything else? Actually--I don't want to ask too much of you while you're probably in bed--

Beck: Do you think you can help Avi get visual?

[CALL] //: -PING!-

[CALL] //: Negative. I detect a strong jamming signal that is causing interference.

[DR.WHITE] //: Jamming signal--the same one that cut off comms before this?

[CALL] //: And at the Prison.

[DR.WHITE] //: --...

[DR.WHITE] //: What?

Beck: (Ack--! Too much information--!)

Beck: -PING- Um, okay! I'll see if I can't... find the cause...

[CALL] //: Confirmed.

Beck: <<;; (I'm going to have to talk to her after this...)

<DLN-008>: > PROCESSING...

<DLN-008>: > ERROR X05: UNRESPONSIVE/DAMAGED SOFTWARE DETECTED. QUEUEING ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS REQUESTS PENDING ADDITIONAL PROCESSING POWER...

<DLN-008>: > SEARCHING FOR AVAILABLE EXTERNAL PROCESSORS...

<DLN-008>: > -PING- 1 MATCH FOUND.

<DLN-008>: > MATCH IDENTIFIED: MNN-006

[MN.6] //: Hnn ho boy--

[There's the sound of a seat being scooted across the floor from his end.]

[MN.6] //: Uuuh okay, d--dizzy, lil' bit--

Beck: Avi--?

[MN.6] //: I'm fine! I...hokay, uh, just gotta sit down...

[MN.6] //: @~<

[MN.6] //: -This is both new and slightly concerning, uh, Toby, buddy, you okay--

<DLN-008>: > -Very slow and unresponsive at first- Nnnn...

<DLN-008>: > -Somewhat glitched audio- THIS SYSTEM IS A FIRST GENERATION INDUSTRIAL, DESIGNED WITH THE RobotMaster®️ DATABASE IN MIND. NEURAL NET FUNCTION CURRENTLY OPERATIONAL AT 30% CAPACITY DUE TO LACK OF ACCESS TO OTHER ROBOT MASTERS AND AN ADDITIONAL DEMAND ON BOTH HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE. ADDITIONAL PROCESSING POWER REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN FULL AWARENESS...

[DR.WHITE] //: ...I see--he's trying to use your processing power, Aviator.

[MN.6] //: Y-Yeah, I got that that much, it just caught me by surprise...

[MN.6] //: -Gimmie a sec to adjust...-

[It was an odd thing.

Although the connection was primarily with Aviator, Tobias seemed to be using the connection to work with data from the Sanda Enterprises servers.

This led to a feeling of distant memories being referenced in passing, a sort of background stream-of-consciousness in idle thoughts.

Except it wasn’t idle at all, and it was not daydreaming in nature.]

[It seemed Tobias was concerned about Beck’s observations, and attempting to cross-reference data regarding Trinity and Xel in general.]

<DLN-008>: > ANALYZING...

<DLN-008>: > ANALYSIS COMPLETE. CROSS-REFERENCE IDENTIFIED: MULTICELLULAR ORGANISM IMMUNE SYSTEM AND ORGAN TISSUE

[MN.6] //: ...Wat--

Beck: -BLAM- You...might be on to something there, actually.

Beck: (If Trinity really does have the same powers as me, and she's consuming all this Xel into herself...)

Beck: (Then--in a way, this whole place is her.)

<DLN-008>: > -Kind of dizzy- Avi, these... the walls and floor act like they’re alive, and... and we don’t know that non-Xel can make Xel do that, and...

<DLN-008>: > It’s cross-referencing with organ tissue in looks and behavior.

<DLN-008>: > Which would suggest that...

<DLN-008>: > We probably are going to see more “white blood cells” soon—

Beck: ...You mean like now?

[More of the eyeball Xels were appearing, though this time not nearly as big as the ones before. This meant they were eaiser to blast away, but the growing numbers concerned him nonetheless.]

Beck: Good chance that I'll meet up with more resistance the further I go.

[BLAM! BLAM!]

[REXELECTION: PYROGEN]

[FWOOM.]

Beck: These guys aren't as big, though...

[REXELECTION: CRYOSPHERE]

[PSSH--]

Beck: Still gross to look at, mnng--

"SCREE!"

Beck: AAAH--

[One of them suddenly leaped from a wall, phasing through it to lunge at Beck.]

[Luckily.]

[REXELECTION: COUNTERSHADE]

[Bang!]

[Some quick thinking allowed him to snipe the thing right out of the sky.]

Beck: These things can go through the walls???

[DR.WHITE] //: ...Well, they are Xel, and so is the structure...

<DLN-008>: > [Frown emoticon] -Anxious data-

<DLN-008>: >I’d think of it less like a building and more like an organism, ‘cause that’s what it is acting like.

Beck: Kind of hard to draw that connection when I can still see the stands through some openings--

Beck: --!

Beck: ...Huh--

[Soon enough, he came up on some kind of giant platform made of Xel.]

[When he looked over the sides of it, he could see a looooong drop into darkness.]

Beck: -Murmurs- ...Going down, then...

Beck: I guess I could use Avi's form to--

[Clunk...]

Beck: --?

[The entire platform lurched and then started descending down on it's own.]

Beck: Oh--it's...an elevator...

Beck: ...Why's it going so slowly—

"SCREEEEE--!"

Beck: --!

[Ah. That was why. More enemies.]

Beck: Oh gross--

[And this time, it wasn't the only just the eyeball ones. Some mish-mashed versions of some of both CherryDyn and Sanda models appeared, and they looked less haphazardly thrown together this time around.]

Beck: Oh no--

[REXELECTION: BATTALION.]

Beck: I'm gonna be here a while--

<DLN-008>: > Mmmng...

<DLN-008>: > It’s getting really dark outside...

[DR.WHITE] //: [Drop emoticon] Things do not sound very safe out there.

[DR.WHITE] //: Hurry--

Beck: -Primes a missile- I'll try and clear this out as fast as I can!

[BOOM!]

[DR.WHITE] //: ...

[DR.SANDA to DR. WHITE] //: So many Xels...the entire place is made out of them, right?

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Just how many robots DID Trinity absorb??

[DR.WHITE] //: ...

[DR.WHITE] //: -Long sigh-

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Soi...Trinity was programmed with a single, prime directive: to grow. To evolve.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: She will pursue ANY course that allows her to assimilate more Xels...in perpetuity.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I...

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Later...much later, when I had time to...reflect on what happened to her...

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I realized the inherit dangers in such a system. Father...he had a point, though he went about it in all the wrong ways...

[DR.WHITE to DR. SANDA] //: ...which is why I refined the design.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Refined the...

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: [!]

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: You...You mean with your next model...?

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: ...With Beck?

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: ...That's correct.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: With Beck.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Maybe it was...in some ways, a rather...poor choice, giving him so much...caution. But by giving him a specialized Synthetic Heart Program--it was the only way to ensure that Beck would grow INTO his powers, rather than his powers overtake him.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: And...

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I...I wanted some small part of HER to live on, at least through him...

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: -Long, tired sigh- If I could at least give Beck the chance to grow and learn, responsibly, the way Trinity never had--? That...that would be enough...

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: ...Gosh, Will, I...I don't think you ever told me you felt that way...

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: >>;; I probably should have. I'm sorry.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: I didn't want to burden you anymore than--

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Burden? For Xel's sake, Will, never.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: You never have and will NEVER be a burden, okay?

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: I know how MUCH she meant to you--and I know Beck had something to do with her anyway, but not this...

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: So...this doesn't come as a complete surprise.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: And hey--at least think of it this way?

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: No one can ever say bringing Beck into the world was a bad thing now.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: I mean--look at him go!

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: ...We still don't have visual, Soi.

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: You know what I mean--

[Indeed--they might not be able to SEE what was going on, but they could very well hear the sounds of combat through the audio feeds. And from the sound of it?]

[REXELECTION: DYNATRON]

[BZZZZT!]

[It seems like Beck was doing fairly alright so far.]

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: ... You're right. He's come so far...

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Well, of course, where do you think he gets that from? c:

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Eheh...

[DR.SANDA to DR.WHITE] //: Just you watch. ^^ He'll make it.

[DR.WHITE to DR.SANDA] //: Hmm...yes...

Beck: -PING!-

Beck: I--whew--I think...I think this ride's almost over...

Beck: --You guys still there?

[DR.WHITE] //: --Mm. Yes, Beck--sorry for the silence, we didn't want to break your focus. Any damage?

Beck: Nothing I can't handle! ^^

[A pause.]

<DLN-008>: > Still here, yeah. Getting a lot of... really weird signals from somewhere, though...

<DLN-008>: > It’s all getting really loud...

<DLN-008>: > -Brooding plotting data again re: younger brother-

[There was a bit of static.

Or was that sparking?]

[No, that was definitely sparking and aggressive data—]

Beck: I think I'm getting closer, though--Uh--Hey, everything okay--?

<DLN-008>: > I’d like to file a complaint about my bodyguard sleeping on the job...

<DLN-008>: > -We can fix that, though-

<DLN-008>: > Don’t worry about us, we’ll figure something out.

[One got the impression the "something" would involve handling matters "the Wily way".]

[PING--]

[MN.3] //: -Very FIRM data- Tobyyy...| E

[MN.3] //: -That ZZZSOMETHING better not be what you were thinking about earlier--

<DLN-008>: > -~-

[MN.7] //: [Drop emoticon]

[MN.7] //: Perhaps I can try?

<DLN-008>: >Might as well, but if it doesn’t work, I’m doin’ it my way— -Grouchy data-

[MN.7] //: -Sigh--

[MN.7] //: -Gentle pings directed at Shadow- Kohai?

[MN.7] //: {Shadow...?}

[PING!]

{{((Distorted Zalgo text)) REBOOTING...}}

[MN.7] //: [!]

[MN.3] //: -That was faszzt--

<DWN-024 is now Online.>

[MN.7] //: -Shadow--

<DWN-024>: > -Extremely hazy data-

[A brief pause, and then—]

<DWN-024>: > ?!?

<DWN-024 has entered Defensive Combat Mode.>

<DWN-024>: > -Wildly bewildered and EXTREMELY alarmed data-

<DWN-024>: > -Where are we, what happened, why is the sky filled with blood, where is it—-

<DLN-008>: > [Drop emoticon]

[MN.3] //: -Huh???-

[MN.7] //: {Shadow--remain calm, breathe--}

<DWN-024>: > S-Sensei?

<DWN-024>: > {What is happening—}

<DWN-024>: > -Somewhat erratic data between disoriented confusion and intense terror-  {Breakfast—but then—then the Sun, the Sun killed—it killed everything—}

<DWN-024>: > {Is this Death, what—what is happening—}

[MN.7] //: {Shhh--calm, calm, listen to my voice--we don't have time to explain--}

<DWN-024>: > -Ping of obedient confirmation-

[MN.7] //: {Right now Beck is trying to deal with the cause of all this, and we NEED these comm lines open--you are at Avi's Radio Tower with Tobias, you MUST stay with him so he can keep the tower running--}

<DWN-024>: > […]

<DWN-024>: > -Processing...-

[He seemed conflicted for a moment...]

<DWN-024>: > -Ping- {{Command accepted.}}

<DWN-024>: > -Somewhat dazed acknowledgement and confirmation he will stay put and help his brother-

[MN.7] //: {Good--if you see ANYTHING trying to swarm in, take him and run, DO NOT GO OUTSIDE--}

[MN.7] //: -Slight background noises sounding like ice cracking--

<DLN-008>: > Beck, what’s your status? I don’t know if Shadow’s Awareness can handle a severe conflict of interest like this for too much longer without things getting scary again—!

[MN.9] //: I'm getting closer--but no sign of her yet--

[BLAM--]

Beck: [Drop emoticon x3]

<DLN-008>: > Huh?

<DLN-008>: >I thought you guys said she was the storm... am I missing something?

Beck: Toby, right now she's kinda EVERYTHING that's Xel right now--

Beck: -Which means there's something controlling it all--

<DLN-008>: > [?]

<DLN-008>: > -Processing...-

<DLN-008>: > A... central core?

Beck: -PING- There has to be--if this is all functioning like some kinda organism, then there's a core--a heart--

Beck: -And maybe if we can purge it right at the source--

Beck: -Theoretically, it should work like we did with our family--

Beck: [Drop emoticon] If I can GET to it.

Beck: This whole place is like a maze...

Beck: But all the Xel is still flowing down, so at LEAST I have a general direction to work with.

<DLN-008>: > -Processing...-

<DLN-008>: > -Processing...-

<DLN-008>: > -ERROR: INSUFFICIENT DATA TO SUPPORT HYPOTHESIS. CONTINGENCY NEGATED.-

<DLN-008>: > Nnng... Don’t want to risk disconnecting, but I don’t know if I have any other ideas on how to defend the Tower short of electrifying the entire exterior.

[MN.6] //: Bad idea, you could fry some of the equipment...uuuh....

<DLN-008>: >I can’t just do nothing, though—

<DLN-008>: > Is there anything else that could... I dunno, serve as a distraction?

[MN.6] //: I--have a bunch of those flying drone things you control remotely somewhere in the Tower, but they'd only do so much--

<DLN-008>: > But... those are connected to you, right?

<DLN-008>: >I don’t know if that would be safe...

[MN.7] //: -Thinking data--

[MN.7] //: -PING--

[MN.7] //: Shadow-- kaeru--

<DLN-008>: > [?]

<DWN-024>: > -Seems to be struggling drawing the cross-reference for a moment- […]

[It takes him a moment to gather his focus. Then, he seems to relax significantly.]

<DWN-024>: > -Ping-

<?̹͖͍?͚̗̞?̺̜̔?͉̭̱ used New Moon Plague: Amphibious Swarm.>

[At first, there wasn’t any noticeable change besides a very, very ominous feeling.

But then...]

Ribbit.

Beck: ...???? -R-Ribbit???-

Ribbit.

Ribbit RIBBIT Ribbit Ribbit RIBBIT—

[There were the sounds of frogs everywhere, albeit much muffled for the most part.

But when he looked down, he could see what appeared to be a few frogs with red eyes and strange markings hopping around at his feet.

One of them hopped straight into a shadow, with a distinct and familiar hiss before vanishing from sight.]

Beck: What the...?

[MN.6] //: -FROGS, FROGS EVERYWHERE--

[MN.7] //: -I--what in the world--

[MN.2] //: Awww, they look so cute--

[MN.1] //: -You WOULD think that, Two--

<DLN-008>: > Iiiiiii choose to not think on this too much, though I think that should be more than enough of a distraction...

<DLN-008>: > Hopefully it’ll buy enough time for you to...

<DLN-008>: > ...get to the heart of the matter. ^^;;;

[MN.6] //: -Hey, Toby, I love you, bro--

[MN.1] //: -You two can trade puns later--

Beck: -Geeently steps over froggies--

Beck: Thanks, Shadow--

[Beck runs off ahead, down more winding hallways and corridors. At least the Xel monstrosities were lessening in number for now...]

[He was making good progress until...]

Beck: !

Beck: Oh...

[...Until he was suddenly facing the edge of a VERY open and wide space, with NO path forward to be found--and the bottom? Nothing but darkness...]

Beck: [Drop emoticon] Time to fly, I guess...

[DR.SANDA] //: What? Why?

Beck: There's...no ground here.

[DR.SANDA] //: The path is gone?

Beck: Uh huh. Not sure if this a bad sign or if I...made a wrong turn...?

Beck: ... Wait...

[He flicks down his goggles for a moment.]

[REXELECTION: COUNTERSHADE]

[C.VISOR: ZOOM X3]

Beck: --! No, wait, I can see it! It's on the other side of this giant gap.

<DLN-008>: > That sounds promising?

Beck: Only one way to find out--

[REXELECTION: AVIATOR]

Beck: --and up, up, and away--ack--

[He scowls at himself a little before jumping off, propellor arm raised upwards. He starts to easily glide across.]

Beck: (Why this huge space? Seems...off.)

Beck: -Looks down--

Beck: (...I do not want to know what is down there.)

Beck: [Drop emoticon x3] (Probably something extremely lethal, I'm guessing.)

Beck: -Lands on the other side safely-

Beck: (Huh. Nothing tried to stop me.)

Beck: (...Nothing HAS for a good while, actually...)

Beck: -Takes a step forward--

[SLAM--]

Beck: -GNH--!-

[The ceiling just behind him folded OUTWARDS like a giant panel, launching the Mighty Number further down the hall with a rough tumble. The impact was enough to make him switch back to his default form, even.]

Beck: Ow...

[And before he could even so much as figure out WHERE that came from, the walls around him started glowing--]

Beck: [!] Not this again--

[SLAM--]

[He dashed forward as a section of the walls slammed into each other like a press--had he not reacted quickly enough, he would have been crushed.]

Beck: [Drop emoticon x3] -Okay, GOING, WE'RE GOING--

[This...didn't seem to help. The walls only started glowing again, and this time the floor and ceiling too--]

Beck: -SCREE--

[He's scrambling as fast as his systems can take him, taking turn after turn after turn until he's not quite sure WHERE he's ending up--]

[DR.WHITE] //: B--ck--

Beck: This place is--gah--REALLY out to get me--

[DR.WHITE] //: C--hear--what is going--res--

Beck: Dad? Hello--?

Beck: Avi? Toby? I can't hear you all, the jamming signal is getting...stronger--

Beck: --!! (That means--)

[SLAM--!]

[Pain, and then air, and then the sensation of falling--!]

Beck: AHH--!

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=BONUS CONTENT: BONUS SCENE #7=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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((Excerpt: Ch. 8B, en español))

Shade: Bah, por el amor de— no me deseo escuchar su histerismos, Pájaro Cantador, no es como serás capaz de cantar nunca más.

Cardinal: (Pero...)

Cardinal: (Pero tengo que, ¡tengo que decirte...!)

[CLIC.]

Cardinal: ¡—hghkkt!

[Él conocía ese ruido.]

[Él CONOCÍA ese ruido, y le llenaba de pavor.]

Cardinal: (No...)

Shade: Jejejeje...

[Una sonrisa sádica se unió a la risa que escapó de Shade—el dardo que normalmente estaba en su boca se había ido…]

Cardinal: (Shade, oh Dios no, por favor— no, no— no debe que no hacer esto a ti mismo...)

Cardinal: -sonido débil corto y metálico de protesta-

Shade: Te lo DIJE ... no puedes engañarme.

Shade: ¿Tengas miedo ahora, Pájarito?

Cardinal: -sonido de desesperación de los ventiladores-

[Estaba angustiado, eso estaba seguro. Un dolor desgarrador estaba socavando la fuerza de voluntad que estaba manteniendo los humos decrecientes de fuerza en su cuerpo.

Shade se inclinó, apoyando el brazo del rifle sobre la rodilla izquierda mientras ponía su peso en el hombro de Cardinal. Su ventiladores chillaron cuando fueron aplastados por el peso considerable del francotirador.]

Shade: Perfecto.

[El dolor cegador estaba aliviado a medida que el peso fue removido. Cuando Cardinal pudo ver de nuevo, vio de espaldas a su amigo delante de él.]

Shade: Te daré esto...

Cardinal: …

[Un zumbido bajo...]

Cardinal: ... -sonido corto y metálico aun más débil-

[Él no podía ocultarlo. Cuando Shade se dio la vuelta, Cardinal no pudo evitar dar una señal débil de desesperanza—

Shade estaba usando un alcance de francotirador para iluminar su núcleo como un objetivo, puramente para burlarse de Cardinal por rencor.]

Shade: Fuiste mejore que la mayoría. Maldita enojoso, también. Deberías haberlo sabido mejor que venir AQUÍ, a mis terrenos de caza. ¿Tienes un deseo de muerte, pájaro cantador? ¿Huh?

[Dio un paso adelante, dejando que sus espuelas tintinearan ruidosamente mientras caminaba a través del piso ...]

[Despacio.]

[Fue tentador. Muy tentador.

Él estaba cansado. Él estaba herido. Él estaba asustado. Si ... si él entregase, el dolor se detendría, no dolería nunca más... Podría descansar, podría irse, antes ...]

Cardinal: ... (No... no puedo...)

[Cardinal tomó una respiración temblorosa, desesperada mantenerse con vida, a pesar de que su núcleo de energía...]

Cardinal: (No puedo dejar que termine... así...)

[... estaba empezando a convertirse en frío.]

Shade: -Datos-

Shade: -Bueno, si insistes, podemos CONCEDERLO para ti.-

Cardinal: (¡No puedo...!)

Cardinal: (¡NO PUEDO DEJAR QUE TERMINE ASÍ!)

[Cardinal se esforzó por enfocarse a pesar de su mal funcionamiento de la visión, para mirar directamente a ese ojo amenazante rojo-violeta con su propio par moribundo verde.

Apagó todo, excepto sus ventiladores de masa central para obtener la energía para hablar.]

Cardinal: - resuello muy distorsionado- Shade...

Shade: —....

[...No está seguro si debiera estar enojoso ni impresionado.]

[Cardinal volvió a hablar. Había un claro pero tranquilo, sumiso sensación de desesperación en su voz frágil.]

Cardinal: Countershade, por favor...

[Oh.]

[Dio un paso adelante ...]

Shade: ¿Qué fue eso?

Cardinal: No… no me hagas esto…. Rogando … estoy rogándote misericordia, por favor…

Shade: …

Shade: -SONRÍE MALICIOSAMENTE-

[Él sonrió cruelmente ante esto, ante la vista y los sonidos de la mendicidad de Cardinal, suplicando por su vida, por la misericordia. ¡Ja! Finalmente, después de toda su charla y bravo!

Qué sensación tan deliciosa.]

Shade: ¡Jejeje!

[Otro paso adelante.]

Cardinal: Por favor…

Shade: (Eso es, Pájarito. Ruega por la misericordia hasta que mueras.)

Cardinal: Esto sólo… sólo causaráte…

Shade: …?

Cardinal: … causaráte sólo a g o n í a…

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=INFECTION=

~AO v1.0~

(Courtesy of @xelconsumer, @unluckyadept)

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//:LOG IN SUCCESSFUL. WELCOME, NO. Ø

//:LOADING FILES…

//:FILES LOADED. ENTER COMMAND PROMPT.

//:COMMAND> CHECK REVELATION.EXE STATUS

//:RUNNING…

//:CALCULATIONS COMPLETE. DATA HAS BEEN UPDATED, SAVED AND UPLOADED TO DESIGNATED PROGRAM. FILE REMAINS QUARANTINED. PROGRAM IS RUNNING NORMALLY.

//:COMMAND>PREPARE ENDGAME FILE FOR UPLOAD. DESTINATION: NBCA DATABASE SERVER, CHERRYDYNAMICS MAINFRAME SERVER, ALL

//:RUNNING…

//:ENDGAME FILE HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR UPLOAD. UPLOAD NOW?

//COMMAND>SET TIMER: JUNE 21, 20XX, 11:45 AM.

//:RUNNING…

//:TIMER SET. RUNNING SCAN…

//:WARNING: VIRUS DETECTED IN FILE! SOURCE: REVELATION.EXE. ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO UPLOAD THIS FILE?

//:COMMAND>YES.

//:RUNNING…

//:COMMAND SET. ENDGAME FILE WILL UPLOAD IN: 24 HOURS.

//COMMAND>SEND MASS MESSAGE TO: DLN-001.5, DLN-001, DWN-INFINITY, ADD CONTACT: Copy

//:ENTER MESSAGE…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

//:MESSAGE RECEIVED. FROM: Ray. TO: @a-fading-light, @thegatesofinfinitespace, @firstchildofwily. SENT: 11:46 AM.

//: …Where should I begin…?

//: …Ah…right. I suppose an apology is in order, firstly…it’s been quite some time since I’ve spoken to any of you, and I’m sorry. Truly. Some of you are angry with me, I know, and it is my fault. I know I’ve been rather reclusive these last few months, and…there is a reason for it. Several, in fact, of which I will now tell you, the people that have made my wretched existence…a little easier. A little more…brighter.

//: …I have been working on several projects. One of which is looking for a more permanent solution for my deteriorating condition, caused by my lack of a central core. I have searched for many, many decades, and with the recently opened rifts these last few years have opened up some new leads…

//: …But all I have found are…dead ends.

//: I…I’m running out of time. It grows worse, my horrid curse…I am falling apart more rapidly, I must hunt more frequently…and…and the pains…

//: It hurts now. I feel as if I am rotting away from the inside out. It hurts…so much. I cannot…hold myself together for long…there is only…pain…hunger…pain…and hunger…

//: Ngh–!!

//: Hunger…consume…feed…! I can’t–need…more–!!

[…There is silence, it was as if the message was edited and continued much later…]

//: ….Do you see now?

//: I…I am not long for this world.

//:…This…world…

//: …This world. This cheap, thrill-seeking world, only caring about their advertised construct battles and those who provide it! As long as humans, the sinful ones, have that to entertain them…their precious Battle Colosseum…their so-called heroes…! They care about nothing else…

//: And it’s all because of them that I am this way. All of it. All of it. ALL OF IT. I would have never resorted to such disgusting ways of survival if it wasn’t for them! The NBCA, CherryDyn, and ESPECIALLY HIM…

//: I was doomed…doomed from the start…doomed to fall…doomed to die…

//: ….

//: …But I refuse to leave this mortal earth…fading away in some…dark, lonely corner, amongst the filth and the departed…by my own hands…

//: No.

//: If I am to die…If I am to be sent to the Void, never to return…if I am to burn, burn in hell…

//: Then this world will burn with me. Along with all those who have wronged me. CherryDyn. The Colosseum. Humanity.

//: They will burn…they will pay for their sins…pay…in blood, in Xel…it doesn’t matter.

//: …..

//: Don’t bother trying to stop me. The rifts are beginning to close…as if the fates already know how this ends…

//: …And no matter what happens, I…will be no more…

//: I just…

//: ….

//: I can’t…take this anymore. The endless slaughter…the constant…fear…I can’t…there is nothing…I can do…I can’t be saved…

//: …Caleb Light…my dauntless rebel…I love you so, so much. I gave you…everything I had left…everything that I am…and…you are the best–no…the greatest thing that’s ever happened to me. My light in the darkness…my Mate…I’m so sorry I have to put you through this. Please…forgive me…

//: Rock…MZ…I give you my blessings…focus on the future you have now, together…whenever you DO get married, eventually…that is, if you haven’t already. Don’t let me…ruin it with my acts of vengeance. Just…stay out of it.

//: And you, Copy…brother…your anger is just…but I would never abandon you. I swear, I will make them all pay for what they’ve done… As my last sin, as my last will…these humans will all die, like they should, and they will know what happens when they cross a predator…

//: …

//: I…don’t want to cut this short. But the wheels have been set into motion already. Even I couldn’t stop them if I wanted to. And even if I could…

//: …….

//: Days…hours…that’s all I have left…

//: …

//: I’m sorry. This is probably the last you will hear from me.

//: …Good-bye.

[END OF MESSAGE.]

[Felix tossed and turned in restless dreams.]

“If this is to end in fire…”

[This was not the first night that this had been happening. It had been going on for a while now, on and off—mostly off, until the days of late.]

“…then we should all burn together…”

[The dreams and visions had come upon him like an illness. He was lightheaded and damp with perspiration—but he felt bitterly cold. Far too cold for the summer.

He had ignored it at first, but they had gotten worse and worse, and now?]

“Watch the flames climb high


Into the night…”

[He saw worlds churning. He saw them BURNING.]

“HELP ME!!!”

[Where did the present start, and the future end? Or was this all in the past? There was no way for him to know, no way for him to tell.]

“Don’t… don’t do this…”

[He felt as if there were a dark shadow over him, trapping him in this endless nightmare.

He wanted to wake from this vision, to warn them of what lay ahead. But.

Even if that would have been possible…]

“It’s only going to… to hurt you…”

[…It would never have been enough to prepare them for what was about to happen.]

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              white-bird-in-a-cage is five years old!

Five years ago, on August 7th, 2012, I made this blog under the url not-a-nobody. My preference was not available for another year, and I have been under that changed url ever since. Since then I have grown and changed, both as a person and a writer.

Naminé as a character is truly very important to me. No other character is more beloved. I first saw her in 2006 and I was immediately drawn to her. It is because of this girl with an angelic appearance that I got interested in Kingdom Hearts… without her I wouldn’t be here, or have met any of you. Seeing as how I’ve met my best friends on this blog, that’s really saying something. To me, Naminé represents hidden strength and the truth. She could’ve easily lied or not said anything to Roxas; she could’ve easily used him and Sora for her own gain; instead she not only spoke the truth, she fixed her mistakes. Naminé also defied DiZ and Riku to do what she felt was right, and even more awe-inspiring, she stood up to Larxene and Marluxia upon realizing her mistakes. It is never easy to stand up to your abusers and captors. For someone so small, Naminé has left an indelible mark on my life.

I’ve been in these groups: Kingdom Hearts Ultimate RP (KHURP for short), Pyreflights, Aeon Soul, Somnium Finite, and Crowned Kingdom. Each taught me something and introduced me to new friends. I’m happy to say that I’m still friends with people from each group!

Five years is a big milestone for me. At this moment I have 630+ followers, and I’m happy to have all of you on board! I never dreamed I would last this long; I have no idea what I was thinking back in that August before my freshman year of college, but it certainly wasn’t this.

I’ve been through a lot on this blog: group changes, friends and partners leaving and changing, being bullied (though thankfully that has long since passed), learning time management, and so much more.

I wouldn’t be here with you all. Obviously I could not possibly name everyone, past and present, but I thought I should show at least some of you my thanks. This is not a follow forever or a bias list; instead this is a thank-you post. Some people might get repeated because I couldn’t just leave them under one category. Oh, and alphabetical order because I like to have everything orderly.

I know why the caged bird sings - to those who have helped me grow, and who have supported me

@ainokizuato/@redheartedmage/@talesofmino/@talesofharima, @blitzballstar, @musicandlights, @noxtalgie, @parttimedeliveryboy, @radiantheart/@milessomnia, @thecentralheart/@vens-gonewiththewind, @the-lonely-soul, @the-sixth-apprentice/@unversed-nightmare, @unquenchedresolve, @xambiefoxx 

Memory… the cruelest and most beautiful of gifts - to those who have moved on; I miss you and I have not forgotten you, and I wish you the best 

@duelwielding, @parttimedeliveryboy, @screndipitouskxy, @thecentralheart/@vens-gonewiththewind, @the-sixth-apprentice/@unversed-nightmare

You’ve got the light to fight the shadows - to those who make every day here a joy

@ahmyhotdog, @ivory-paragon, @lazuliss, @professorxehanort, @radiantheart/@milessomnia, @redheartedmage/@talesofmino/@talesofharima/@ainokizuato, @thetaintedemotion, @unquenchedresolve, @valorhearted

Your House will be like your family - to my beloved Crowned Kingdom 

@ahmyhotdog, @chaoshearted, @cindythegreasemonkeygal, @dogstreetstyle, @heartseekingfreedom, @iokanchieftess, @lovelysweetxhart, @malevolentwind, @milleuda-folles, @professorxehanort, @radiantheart/@milessomnia, @redheartedmage, @somnusheir, @steelwolfgrey, @theicequeenslion, @thespellweaver, @thetaintedemotion, @unquenchedresolve, @valorhearted, @vespersung, @whitedressedoracle, @wingedcomposer, @xxpinkseeressxx

If only I had five lifetimes! - to my fellow Naminé blogs; I don’t follow or write with you, but we have all chosen a beautiful character, and I am glad you are here 

@fadxngmemcry, @frailwaves, @oblivion-witch, @namine-constellations, @noxtalgie, @reflechir, @scatteredcrayons, @sketchedinnocence, @paintedpaeonia, @p-aperr-oses, @vvatercolors, and those I cannot name because I don’t know who you are

Reader, I married him - to all 630+ of you, my Readers

---

FIGHT! Bonfire Vs Ray!

BONFIRE VS RAY (Current)

Intro Quote(Versus): [Bonfire reeled from the horrendous scream. As he gritted his teeth in pain and looked up into the looming shadow that glinted with many serrated fangs, he was slammed with a cross-reference—something his sister had said to them the night they learned the truth of what happened….] || “-Teeth. So many teeth. In the dreams, always the teeth. The teeth and the screes. So many teeth. Did we mention teeth?-” || [The shock was stunning, but the severity of the situation kickstarted a different instinct. He burst into WHITE-HOT FLAMES OF PURE RAGE.]

Taunt: BURN, YOU INSUFFERABLE WITCH!

Special Attack: ((No dialogue, just an angry shout with a wicked right hook!))

Ultimate Attack: [The power that he put behind the explosion was more than just pushing himself to the limit. This high-tier Burning Spirit was fueled with a roaring rampage of revenge—revenge for all that they had suffered, for all the pain and madness and sorrow. But most of all, for that night—for THAT NIGHT, the night that his sister had been brought back, SCREAMING in agony as she fell to pieces…]

Win Quote(Versus): What the hell—?! || [Out of ALL the things to happen, he had NOT expected her to suddenly start DISSOLVING like that…!]

Lose Quote(Versus): [He huffed, shaking in pain and injury from the numerous, heavy wounds. || Try as he might, he couldn’t contact anyone. There would be no escape…] || D…Damn you…!

===================

BONFIRE & RAY (Post-AO: Full Memory)

Intro Quote(Team Up): [The leader of the Fighting Mighties flared up in anger. He was not pleased to have landed himself in this situation, but this was hardly the time or place to confront the past when they had a BIGGER problem on their hands…]

Assist: No further! ((Directed at opponent(s), not Ray))

Ultimate Team Attack: Taste the fires of Hell! ((Referring far more to Ray’s fire than his own, but still.))

Win Quote(Team Up): Hmph. I’m calling in the chaos spheres and the ice child before this inferno rages out of control.

Lose Quote(Team Up): This is out of our control—!

Knock Out Quote(Team Up Self): [He staggered down to one knee, trying desperately to stay conscious. He didn’t trust his combat so-called “partner”, even though…] || Ghh… gnnnn… || [He couldn’t take it. He was worn down beyond his limits.] || : >F-Father…! ||

Knock Out Quote(Team Up Partner): [Bonfire was seized with a sudden cold fear. This was not a choice he wanted to make. He didn’t want to have to even think of choosing. Especially not when his own sister and her Other had orders to carry out, and they would all pay the price for obstruction. || For the first time ever, he found himself desperately HOPING that he would lose, so that he wouldn’t have to MAKE that decision…]

---

=CHAPTER 8B: TRAPPED BY LASER LIGHT=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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{Washington, D.C., Shortly Beforehand…}

Cardinal: FINALLY…

[He was only a few blocks away. He could see from here that there was a crowd gathered some ways away from his target—

—just outside a clearly defined radius.]

Cardinal: (Ugh…)

Cardinal: (I’m going to have to go right through a window.)

[He yelled over the wind. They were going to come in fast.]

Cardinal: Looks like I was right, Scout!

Cardinal: Hang on, okay?! This is going to be a really rough ride!

Scout: Rarf!

[He tossed a dual-colored sphere in the air, releasing a burst of red light. This materialized into a bird, which caught said sphere before it fell.]

Cardinal: Baron, it’s confirmed. FLY.

[The robin shot off at an astounding speed, almost as if it had teleported itself.

There was a grated rumbling noise.]

Cardinal: Sorry, Jazz. Get somewhere safe—the roof, if you insist on sticking around. I won’t let you crash-land.

[He leaped out of the transformed flying panther…]

[CARDINAL used ITEM-2!]

[…right onto another gadget. He held out his shield in front of him, angling down at one of the windows that looked out into the sky from a roof.]

[MISSION DETAILS: MNN-008, COUNTERSHADE AURTHUR WHITE, HAS TAKEN THE WHITE HOUSE HOSTAGE. AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF OFFICIALS AND STAFF ARE TRAPPED INSIDE.

MISSION OBJECTIVE: EVACUATE THE BUILDING OF ALL PERSONS WITH NO CASUALTIES. RESCUE COUNTERSHADE.

SUB-OBJECTIVE: PRESERVE CULTURAL ARTIFACTS AND STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.]

[SYSTEMS READY?]

[GO!]

Cardinal: We’re going in!

Scout: Rarf! -LET'S GOOOO—-

[He didn’t really hear the shouting from the crowd in their surprise, but he sure felt their “welcome party” favors. It hurt, but it didn’t phase him one bit. Even when he started taking fire from the White House security system as well.

He did leap down off of the ITEM-2, and there was a VERY high pitched whine noise as his blaster primed.]

BLAM!

[Top of the line security, down to bullet-proof windows? Yes.

Able to withstand a charged shot from a plasma blaster designed to take out tanks—as in plural, multiple at once?

Nooot quite so much.

The sound of glass shattering mixed with that of a starting fire. There was a click and a whirr, the barrel of Cardinal’s weapon changing as he fired again, just as they were landing.

It started to rain.]

Scout: -OOO I DIDN'T KNOW HE KNEW RAIN DANCE-

WHAM.

[They landed down in a hallway hard, the rain putting out the fire.

The security countermeasures started to go berserk, and Cardinal was forced to put up a wall of razor sharp leaf-shaped projectiles to give him time for his next move.]

Scout: -AND Razor Leaf, ooooo-

Scout: Rarf!

[There was a rotating noise and another click, and then…]

Ptew pew pew pew pew!

[…Dozens of tiny snakes—they looked like little mechanical coral snakes.

Then he stood to his full height and blasted a tune.]

Cardinal: (Ready or not, Shade, here I come!)

[The White House was indeed large and vast--finding Shade in this mess was to prove difficult, even with the Search Snakes.

....But it wasn't long before they found traces of his obvious presence.

There were strange, gray orbs floating around the hallways and entrances, glowing a strange, greenish color.

At first, they seemed to be dormant—

...Until they turned red when the Snakes approached...]

————————————

"—?"

"Motion? Thought Ah' told them flesh wastes t'stay PUT. . . Lessee here. . ."

————————————

[The Search Snakes were spread out, but Cardinal had remained where he was.

He was in full armor—something he hadn’t done in real Combat since the last time he fought his brother. Because of this, his whole face was covered, and his expression was impossible to read.

Despite this, his fierce green eyes burned with a fire that pierced even his shades, visible to not only a sensitive camera, but also to the naked eye.

After a moment…]

SHING!

[The leaves that had shielded him scattered, slicing everything in their path as they moved down the hall.

This included, among other things, a security camera.

The feed went down immediately, followed by several others in the same hallway.]

KSSSSSSSS—

[Cardinal had created a small blind spot.]

————————————

"—!"

"Sonofva . . ."

"Who the hell IS this guy. ..?"

"Thinkin' he can come inta' MAH new home. .."

————————————

Scout: Rarf! -NICE SHOT-

Cardinal: Scout, we’ve got a problem. There are people trapped in here.

Scout: —!!

Cardinal: I’m going to have to start breaking down doors.

Cardinal: (If Shade were in his right mind, he’d want me to do this first.)

Cardinal: (And if the President THEMSELVES is here, nnng…)

[His fans whined even louder at the surge of compulsion to follow out a military-grade order.]

Scout: -RARF-

Scout: -WE KNOW HEADBUTT-

Scout: -WE CAN HELP—-

Cardinal: You might need to save that on the people inside, my friend. I’ll explain in a moment—

[He hit the floor to avoid a sudden stream of mixed projectile weaponry.]

Cardinal: Some cover, if you please? -Scout, use Sand Attack.-

Scout: -Rarf!-

[Scout used Sand Attack!]

[Scout didn't need to dig--he simply shook himself VERY rapidly, dust and sand scattering EVERYWHERE.]

[...He was apparently very dirty.]

Cardinal: Heh. -SMIRKS-

[He starts shouting in a taunting tone.]

Cardinal: HEY SHADE! Too bad your glasses got all dusty. Better wipe the dirt out of your eye!

————————————

"Grrrr. .."

"Just keep talkin', Birdy, see where THAT gets ya. .."

————————————

[.......]

[VEEEEEEEEEEEEE--]

Cardinal: I don’t think so.

[CARDINAL used FLASH STOPPER!]

[WOW, everything is hit not only with BLINDING light, but whatever is in those intangible waves of data is enough to STUN everything in the hall.]

Cardinal: >B]

[There is a HUGE clattering somewhere deeper in the house--it sounded like something very heavy just fell--]

————————————

"AUGH MOTHERSCRATCHIN' CHEATER—!"

————————————

Cardinal: -Speaks in a low voice- Scout, when I break through the door, the people inside are going to be terrified. Someone IS going to start shooting. Try and stun them, or at least get their aim off.

Scout: -Rarf!- -Nods-

[Another click.]

[Cardinal used SHADOW BLADE.]

[There was a hissing SHUNK noise as he cut RIGHT into a triple-reinforced, double-locked door of something much stronger than steel.

Another rotating click, and he stuffed a Crash Bomb into the hole the acid was eating away—he didn’t have time to wait.

It blinked and beeped a few times before…]

CRASH!

[Cardinal slammed through the opening shield-first.]

[Bullets start FLYING the second he does, and yes, there is much screaming—]

"GET DOWN—"

Scout: RARF!

[Scout used Tackle! ]

[One of the men in black goes down, gun clattering to the floor. Two more follow suit—it seems like Scout has gotten quite good at dodging incoming fire.]

[Scout used Growl!]

Scout: -GRRRR, STAY DOWN-

[Cardinal doesn’t make any witty comments this time. He just goes into a full-on tackle of his own. He grabs one man in one arm, another after dropping his shield—

And as soon as he rams into the third…]

[CARDINAL used TELEPORT!]

{Outside…}

[Cardinal reappears inches from the crowd outside the kill zone, dropping the two men he was carrying to the ground. The third, already on the ground, had also been taken with him.

This caused no small amount of panic, and he was lit up with half a dozen sniper scopes. A few even got off fire, hitting him square in the left part of his chest.]

Cardinal: -Huffs- (Are you kidding me?)

BWIP!

[He disappears, only to reappear a moment later with two other people, holding them by their wrists. One of them was shrieking and trying to mace him. Again, no effect.]

Cardinal: No offense, but I’ve been through worse!

Bwip!

Paramedics rushed over to the vic—]

BWIP!

[—ooooor not—]

Cardinal: -Drops the guns onto the ground with a clatter- DON’T shoot Beck if he shows up, officers!

[He also tosses over a file folder of notes someone had been working on, hiding behind his shield to better withstand incoming fire.]

Cardinal: Still—you guys might need those!

BWIP!

{Inside}

"HEY--THAT'S MY TIE--"

[One more man in black snuck in while Cardinal teleported back in--]

Scout: GRRRRR—

[Scout used Headbutt!]

WHAM!

[The security man skidded across the room and hit the back of his head with the wall, knocking him out instantly.]

Scout: -GRRRR—- -SHAKES HEAD AND TIE AGGRESSIVELY BEFORE SPITTING IT OUT-

Scout: | [

[Cardinal picks up the man, pausing for a moment as he hears the security out in the hall recovering from the stun he had put on them earlier.]

Cardinal: This is going to be a long day.

Scout: —!

Scout: -SNIFF SNIFF-

Scout: -NOSE IN THE AIR, COULD IT BE—-

[BANG!]

Scout: -YELPS-

[A red laser appears on the ground near Scout's feet, followed by a energy shot, scaring him out of his wits and causing him to run behind Cards.]

Scout: -Whimperrrrr-

Cardinal: -OW, that was loud- Gosh dangit, Shade!

[He grabs Scout with his other arm—]

BWIP!

Scout: —???

[—and when he reappears inside, it’s without the officer…

…and also out in the hallway, yards and yards from where he had ever set foot.

As long as he could see it, he could go there.]

Cardinal: You’re going to have to do better than that, KID!

Cardinal: But if you insist on playing hide and seek…

[Cardinal used SCREECH—]

[He briefly stopped the mufflers on his fans, causing their overworked whine to get broadcast over his speakers.

It was worse than metal grating mixed with fingernails on chalkboard.]

Scout: -WHIIIIINE-

————————————

"AAAAARUGH--!!!"

"Goddamn BUCKET OF BOLTS--AH'VE HAD IT UP T' HERE!"

"Fahn, if ya wanna DIE SO BADLY--"

————————————

[....Oh dear.]

[All of the orbs go active.

And there were red, red lasers, reflecting off of them all at once--which was real, which one was SHADE--]

Cardinal: Oh, please.

[He laughs as his arm shifts again.]

Cardinal: Guess what, Shade?

Cardinal: Two can play at this game.

[Cardinal used GEMINI LASER!]

[Aaaaaand suddenly, the hallway was filled with death laser ping-pong.

And Shade’s were NOT the only ones bouncing at angles!]

[BANG BANG BANG—]

[It was truly a sight to behold.

It was like watching a game of chess, except the pieces were far deadlier.

Gemini Lasers met energy shots, with every red laser changing to accommodate the angle and trajectory.]

[Cardinal didn’t stick around to watch the lights and display contest.

He had already grabbed Scout with one arm, running right into the fire shield-first. About partway through, he leaped and slid down the rest on his back, with his shield out in front.]

Scout: -RARF RARF—- -WHEEEEEEEEE-

[Cards was moving too fast for the lasers to lock onto him correctly—and once the one behind him figured this out—

...They all vanished.]

————————————

"Oh, Ah' see what yer goin' for, Birdy..."

"Can't have that, no sir."

————————————

[—This area seemed to be more decorated...]

[Cardinal barely noticed, and almost didn’t care. He got up to a knee.]

Cardinal: Scout, I need you to do something for me. Find a rope or a cord of some sort. Even a curtain tie will do if it’s long enough.

Scout: -Rarf!-

[He sets the Zig down.]

Cardinal: Please, be careful…

Scout: Rarf! -Sniff Sniff-

[Cardinal took a moment to take in his surroundings.

This looked like a historic display of American History.... Medals, paintings, photos of past presidents...]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: (Nnngh… I can’t do anything too dramatic in here, I need to move out of this place…)

Scout: Rarf!

Scout: -HOLDS UP A FANCY MILITARY ROPE THING-

Cardinal: !

Cardinal: Thanks, Scout. Now let’s get out of here—

Cardinal: Before Shade does something stupid!

Scout: -RARF!-

Cardinal: (What I wouldn’t give for backup from Tobias right about now…)

Cardinal: (At least that office was one of the only places with anyone inside of the work quarters. I guess most people managed to evacuate.)

Cardinal: (Looks like there’s different kinds of rooms over this way—man, I wish that I could have seen the White House back at home, I’m going into this totally blind—)

[A low noise and a rotating click.]

Ptew ptew pew!

[Another nest of Search Snakes slither on their way.]

Cardinal: (THIS room must be horribly dangerous. This much priceless history? That’s a screaming neon sign for “DEATH TRAP SECURITY” if I ever heard one.)

Cardinal: (I’m going to have to tank some hits, probably…)

[He looks around the room skeptically.]

Cardinal: …

[He grabs Scout and holds him directly between his shield and his body, and makes a run for it.]

[BWAAAAN—]

[Something from the ceiling unlocks—]

[Oh dear THOSE ARE VERY MUCH MILITARY GRADE MACHINE GUN TURRENTS—]

Cardinal: (Aw glitch.)

[There’s a whine as he holds up his free arm, it shifting to have a wrist launcher.]

KTANG KTANG!

[Cardinal used MAGNET MISSILE!]

Cardinal: -EVEN MORE RUNNING FOR IT—-

[The missiles lock onto the turrets, attaching to them before exploding. Unfortunately, while this takes SOME of them out…

…some of them merely malfunction, firing at random.]

Cardinal: DAMMIT—

[CARDINAL used METAL BLADE!]

[He took some hits protecting older paintings from the unfriendly fire, but his shield held firm.

The same couldn’t be said for the turrets that were introduced to one of THE most deadly Power Capsule weapons known to man.

They crashed down to the floor. And as Cardinal approached the end of the room—]

Cardinal: GOSH DANGIT!

[…Locked doors barred his way.

And he could hear the whine, feel the psychological heat of lasers lighting up his back for long ranged target sights.

He whirled around, back pressed up against the surface, taking the incoming fire to his shield.]

Cardinal: (WHY are there locked doors in here?!)

Cardinal: (Augh…)

[To the unfamiliar observer, it would appear the bird had been cornered.]

[VRRRRRRRR...]

[A laser.]

[A very familiar one.]

[PING!]

[MN.8] //: Not so sassy nao, are ya.

<DLN-000>: >Shade.

<DLN-000>: >This is stupid floor design, Shade.

<DLN-000>: >I’ll have to have a word with your brother about this after I haul your chass out of here.

[Oh, he was rushing robodrenaline, alright. “Heart” rate had increased, his fans (while thankfully muffled) were louder, giving off more heat than earlier.

There was also that clicking and whining noise again…]

<DLN-000>: >Your desire for sass is very important to us. Please hold, and the next available representative…

[Cardinal used DRILL BOMB!]

[He shoved something very much like a Crash Bomb into the door behind him. It ground away at the metal as it tunneled in, embedding itself in the door before exploding.]

<DLN-000>: > —WILL GET BACK TO YOU!

[Cardinal used FLASH STOPPER!]

[AUGH, again with the BLINDING light—]

[MN.8] //: -—GNGH-

[There was a deep growl on the other end before it cut out--clearly Shade had not been pleased with that.

Not at all.]

[Cardinal didn’t waste a moment. He turned his back to Shade—he had no choice—and his arm shifted again—]

[CARDINAL used SUPER ARM!]

WHUNK!

[He punched a bigger opening through the thick door where the Drill Bomb had made the first breach.]

WHAM!

Cardinal: -IN YOU GO, SCOUT—-

Scout: RARF!

"WHAT IS THAT—"

Cardinal: Tie them up for me— OW!

Scout: ! D:

???: Please stay behind me—

???: TAKE ANOTHER STEP AND I WILL OPEN FIRE—

Scout: -GRRRRR-

Cardinal: Go ahead, it’ll just put you in the hospital! Metal ricochets, genius!

[He squeezed his way through, hearing things becoming active again behind him.]

Cardinal: I don’t have— ouch! —time for this—

[He grabbed one end of the rope and then—]

[Cardinal used TOP SPIN!]

bbbZZZZZZZzzzKT—

[The top clattered along, circling and snaking around the people in the room. The rope he had tied to it followed after.]

Cardinal: -YANK!-

[WHAM.]

[The sound of multiple human beings hitting the floor at the same time follows suit.

Cardinal used the Super Arm again to sort of push them all into one pile of disgruntled, frightened, aggressive humanity.]

BWIP!

{Outside…}

[Cardinal jumped off and did a backflip out of the way off of the piled people, bringing his shield out in front of him.]

[.......]

[That's weird.]

[No sniper fire?]

Cardinal: -Takes a moment to catch his breath- (Ugh… I can feel the slugs embedded inside me. I’m going to need to shed this armor before too long, at the rate this is going—)

[It took him a moment to realize he wasn’t being shot at.]

Cardinal: …???

Cardinal: -Peeks out behind his shield- ,’B/?

[Vrrrrrrr...]

[...? Wait, that sound—those sound like propellers—]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: -Looks uuuuuuup—-

AviCam: -FLOATS IN-

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: … -COCKY GRIN BENEATH MASK-

Cardinal: Smile, you’re on candid camera!

AviCam: -MAKES SOME LETTERS IN THE AIR-

[G O F O R R E S C U E—G L.]

Cardinal: See ya later, Hoverbrother. Send my love if things…

Cardinal: … blow up in my face ;D

[He takes the moment to take off his helm entirely. Man, he looks exhausted.]

Cardinal: I can only assume you’re keeping them from crowding around with questions—thanks, because—

[He pulls out what looks like a miniature oil can and douses himself with it. And then another one. Oddly enough, he seems bone dry after. Huh.]

Cardinal: -Puts his helm back on- —I gotta scram!

Bwip!

{Inside}

[He reappears back inside.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …???

Cardinal: (Where the heck did Scout go?)

[The happy Zig was nowhere in sight.]

Cardinal: Nnnngh… (I told him what would happen, so… I guess something went wrong. I hope I run into him on the way rounding up stragglers…)

[There was a buzzing noise as he was lit up with lasers again.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: Really, Shade? This is SO boring.

[Buuuuut then they… start spazzing out?]

Cardinal: …?

Kkkkk…

Cardinal: !

Cardinal: (Wait a second—music?)

[Not just any music…]

Cardinal: Eight!

[PING!]

[MN.8] //: Well, well, well.

[MN.8] //: If it ain't the infernal Wily child and the Lil' doggie.

[PING!]

[A surprisingly firm voice echoes though the comms—]

[MN.9] // COUNTERSHADE!

<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. |[

[The whole building abruptly seemed to fill with harsh static. Not just the noise—the electricity itself. And, as Tobias had predicted, Cardinal was NOT pleased.]

Cardinal: Cut that out, Eight.

Cardinal: Is there anyone else in here?!

<DLN-008>: > Yes—

Cardinal: Then cover Beck and STALL for me, dammit!

[He takes off.]

Cardinal: (With Tobias messing with the security system, that should make it marginally less deadly by making the systems cut in and out—)

Cardinal: (And there’s two of us, he can only be in one place at a time, he’s not Siam, after all—)

[BANG BANG BANG.]

[Crack!]

[Cardinal’s armor had finally taken too much damage from energy shots. It shifted away into his normal gear.]

Cardinal: Fantastic.

Cardinal: -RUNNING FOR IT AGAIN-

[Lasers in all directions--]

[Wait—no...It couldn't be.]

[That can't be him just down the corner.]

Shade: Boo.

Cardinal: Shade, I’m not—

[CARDINAL USED RAIN FLUSH!]

[It was raining indoors and now EVERYTHING was wet—]

[His other arm turned into a blaster.]

[Cardinal used SPARK SHOCK!]

Cardinal: —IN THE MOOD FOR THIS!

[He suddenly was surrounded by live electricity.]

Cardinal: Out of my way or I swear to God I’ll fry you to a core.

Shade: ....

[He stands there for a moment, looking as if he is complimenting the threat.]

[Then.]

Shade: -Grins-

Shade: Alright.

[BANG—]

[—???]

[Wait, that shot came from behind him—

And where did Shade go?!]

Cardinal: -Ow-

[In the bad mood he was, he jumped up onto ITEM-2.]

Cardinal: I told you I’ll get back to you, you impatient brat.

[BZZZRRRRRKKKZZZZZGGGHHHHHHHVVVV—]

[…Well.

THAT hallway and everything in it was sure toast.

Various spheres dropped to the floor, but no sniper (or core thereof) was among the casualties.

Cardinal shot on down the hall, following flashing static panels along the way. Left, right, right, left, up a flight of stairs, down stairs—

He was suddenly thrown off his wind surfer when everything began to float and hold in place. And an object in motion…]

Cardinal: !

WHANG!

Cardinal: OW!

Cardinal: Tobias, what the frag was that for?!

[Disgruntled, he didn’t wait for an answer. Left, right—]

Cardinal: -Comes to a screeching halt- …

Cardinal: … And I thought the last room was a death trap…

[Standing before him were two more impressive looking doors. They were more grandiose and obviously stronger than the last. And… the Presidential Seal was in proud, bold colors right in the center.]

Cardinal: (That’s gotta be the way to the Oval Office!)

Cardinal: … (But… Tobias led me here, so that means…)

Cardinal: (Oh hell…)

[VRRRRRRRR--!!]

[There was a wave of UFO-like Xelbots that flashed into view--before vanishing into thin air, barreling themselves straight into Cardinal's path--]

Cardinal: -NOPE-

TSSSSEW!

[Cardinal used Rolling Cutter!

It’s super effective!]

Cardinal: Hey, Area 51 called! They want their rides back!

Cardinal: Hope those came with a warranty.

[VRRRRRRRRR!]

[Oh, lovely, more turrets--]

[VVVVRRRRrrrrrrrr....]

[....They...powered off?

Suddenly, the lights flickered.]

Cardinal: …

[And dimmed. ]

Cardinal: ?

[To his slight surprise (and fair annoyance), Cardinal began floating again.]

Cardinal: Tobias, for the LAST time—

[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--

Cardinal: … Dyna?

[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:

Cardinal: -Aaaalrighty then- (I better hurry up before the whole gang arrives.)

Cardinal: -Bounces through the lower gravity before it abruptly changes-

[He takes one look at the door.]

Cardinal: (How am I going to—)

[…But was interrupted by the sound of the security systems starting up again.]

Cardinal: .___.

[CARDINAL used SKULL BARRIER!]

[He was just in time to prevent becoming an energy and lead pincushion. Still under fire and holding up the shield, he rotated through his capsules until…]

POW!

[He lowered his hand, turning off the Thunder Beam.

He had managed to blow the fuse, which turned off the security in the hallway…

…and the lights…

…and the air conditioning.

It was starting to get very hot, and things smelled like burnt electronics.]

Cardinal: Man…

[He takes out the Shadow Blade again.]

Cardinal: I feel sorry for whoever holds the homeowners insurance on this place.

[He sliced at the door repeatedly in intersecting diagonal lines. This time, he let the acid eat away at the door.

He didn’t like how unnaturally silent it was now that he had put the whole hallway into radio silence. Only the windows brought any light in at all.]

Cardinal: (Here’s to hoping I’m not too late… not for them, OR for him…)

[Cardinal used HARD KNUCKLE!]

C R A C K!

[Cardinal used SHIELD BASH!]

[And burst RIGHT into the Oval Office!]

[There were only three people inside, all standing around the desk, as if discussing something. The ladies had looked up sharply at the noise, and had backed away before he came crashing in.]

Des: Crap--

[The only other male in the room pulls out a firearm and pulls the trigger--]

[BLAM!]

[A moment of silence.]

Maid: -Oh thank GOODNESS—-

Cardinal: -Looks up with a slight smile-

Cardinal: Nice headshot, sir.

[The maid shrieks.]

Maid: OH MY GOD IT’S IMMORTAL—

Des: .....

Des: Or he just has a very good helmet.

Cardinal: Sorry to crash the party, Mister President.

Cardinal: But we do need to evacuate before my best friend does something he regrets when he gets over his hangover.

[The older lady gave a very puzzled expression.]

Min: …

Des: .......

Des: What?

[Despite the situation—even with his weapon still aimed at the intruder—Des couldn't help but press the subject. It was all as if something out of a surreal dream.]

Des: I'm not the president--

Des: I'm Secretary of Defense.

Des: -What made you think I was POTUS.- : /

Cardinal: …

[Cardinal was on his feet now, standing at attention, very military in posture.]

Cardinal: You’re standing behind the desk, sir.

[The older woman rolls her eyes.]

Des: -Narrows his eyes a little- And...?

Des: -It's 20XX, doesn't everyone know who POTUS is—-

[While he appreciated he wasn't still being shot at, Cardinal was losing patience. They were wasting time, when Shade was still out there.]

Cardinal: And I don’t have time for this. We’re leaving now—

BZAP!

Cardinal: -Baaaacks away from the stern looking woman, okay, she’s got a taser, that gave us pins and needles-

Des: Nice shot.

[Minerva looks down at Cardinal with disapproval. Humorously, her heels made her slightly taller than him.]

Cardinal: >_>;

[It didn't take long for Cardinal to realize where his mistake was. He spoke with begrudging respect.]

Cardinal: …Madame President, I presume.

[Minerva Morandi was not pleased. She sparked the taser again for emphasis, speaking sternly to the intruder that had broken past the last of their defenses.]

Min: Why should we believe you? You broke into the White House, through several top-notch levels of security, disengaged a good portion of the defenses in more than one hallway, and just mentioned your alliance with the terrorist who put us here to begin with.

Cardinal: …

[Cardinal had to admit she had a point. A point he hadn't even considered before.

He wasn't like his brother. Not like Beck. He wasn't a sanctioned hero, with the recognition and support of the masses. No, he was a nameless vigilante, and all he had was his honest answer.]

Cardinal: Because I’m not shooting right now?

Minerva: You didn’t think this through at all, did you.

Cardinal: No sir, I did not.

[The maid snorts a little at that. The poor woman looked like she had seen better days, especially before her sudden promotion after the whole mess had started.

Desmond Donald, on the other hand, seemed to be unsure of whether to be impressed or just incredulous.]

Des: Wow.

Des: He has guts, at least? (Or no forethought.)

Cardinal: Thanks, but we’ve got to—

[He saw a tiny, TINY red light.]

Cardinal: !!!

[He does a teleporting tackle to slam the President to the floor. Fractions of a split second later, there’s a VERY strong shot that leaves burn marks around the wall right behind where her head had been.]

Maid: -STRAINED NOISES, TRYING NOT TO SCREAM-

[PING!]

[MN.8] //: Tch!

[MN.8] //: Keep gettin' in mah way, Birdy, and Ah' WILL make ya regret it!

Cardinal: I could say the same to you, pal.

[Des had abruptly changed his aim toward the direction the shot had come from, even knowing that he was outmatched to handle such a foe. He was defending not just two innocent women: he was defending his President, and his long-time friend. If someone was going to try and take them out, it wouldn't be without a fight from him first.]

Des: -ARE YOU OKAY—-

[She was fine. Shaken, perhaps, but didn’t show it.

Then she became cross, and started to speak to the silent hunter.]

Minerva: So, you've finally shown yourself, have you? Such actions will land you in a great deal more trouble than you can hide from, Radar. This is your last chance— hand yourself over to the authorities, or you will be facing the consequences—

Cardinal: NO!

Cardinal: Leave him alone!

[For the first time since he had come in…

He actually SOUNDED scared.

Desperate, even.]

[MN.8] //: Heh.

[MN.8] //: Was that ya soundin' desperate there?

[MN.8] //: -LAUGHTER-

[MN.8] //: Ah' hate t' disobey a lady, but m'afraid yer term is up.

[MN.8] //: Now.

[CLICK.]

[MN.8] //: R u n.

[For a brief moment, silence.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …Heh…

[He starts laughing.]

Min: ???

Des: ....-Whispers- Um I don't think this guy is all mentally sound—

Cardinal: Shade, Shade, Shade…

Cardinal: You know what?

Cardinal: You’re right.

Maid: ?!

Des: (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'?

Cardinal: Hardly.

Cardinal: More like…

Cardinal: I don’t have time for this, Shade.

Cardinal: Guess I’ll have to make my own!

[He turns and FIRES—]

[Cardinal used TIME STOPPER!]

[There's a harsh KFLSHK! noise and the very dust itself seems to hang suspended in the air, frozen in time.]

Min: ???

[Cardinal waltzes over toward the door, grinning.]

Cardinal: Now then…

Cardinal: Judging from the trajectory of the shot…

Cardinal: -ELBOWS, hard-

CRASH!

[Cardinal pulls a nearby curtain down and tosses it onto… well. Now that it was given form, it was clearly the fallen sniper.]

Cardinal: -Pulls something out of his traveling bag, shaking it- ~

Cardinal: -PSSSHT!-

[After spraying his own symbol on the cape once he found it, he quickly tagged “HOPE lives” on the floor. Then, and only then, could he relaxed and be satisfied.]

Cardinal: B]

Cardinal: -Tosses empty paint can behind him, looking down at the time-frozen sniper- Looks like you lost hide-and-seek, kid.

Cardinal: Too bad.

Min: -Just. Stares- o_o

[The President was both grateful and impressed.]

Min: What… did you do? -Okay his methods are VERY strange but that was rather impressive-

Des: -...What DIVISION is he in is the better question--

Min: -Starts advancing- Who built you?

[Cardinal had not been expecting this sort of response at all.]

Cardinal: I—

[She grabs at his scarf and yanks up a metal bit that glitters in the light.]

Min: I thought I saw a glint of these. -Shakes them once- -Dog tags, Des.- Is there something ELSE you need to tell me about, Desmond?

Des: Min, I swear I don't know about this—

Cardinal: (Uh…)

[It was then that Des noticed the serial number branded into Cardinal's shoulder.]

Des: Wait a second—! You're DLN-000?

Min: ! Seriously?

[Cardinal had had enough. He forces her hand away, holding (gently but firmly) onto her wrist.]

Cardinal: As charming as it is to have conversations with you…

Cardinal: -WHISTLES SHARPLY, SCOUT WE’RE LEAVING—-

Scout: -RARF RARF RARF—-

Cardinal: That effect kinda won’t last forever, we really do need to get out of here—

Des: .....Is...Is that a raccoon—

Cardinal: Close enough. Group hug, everybody!

Scout: -BOUNCES INTO MIN'S ARMS-

Scout: -HALLO NICE LADY-

Min: ! Oh goodness— Now wait just a—

[Nope, he’s already scooped her up and grabbed the others by their jacket fringes.]

Byuubyuubyuu…

{Outside}

Des: —?????

Des: -He can TELEPORT--

[Cheers erupt from the crowd, with the recovered Secret Service members forcing their way through, hemming out reporters and warning back drones with sniper lasers. One camera WAS allowed to come in closer.]

Cardinal: Heh…

Cardinal: Hello again, Avs.

Cardinal: -Puts Madame President down- I see you’ve upgraded this to include a speaker now. Your faith in me is reassuring. B]

[Avi’s voice crackled through the speakers.]

Avi: Bro, you do realize you can't hide from this, right--

Cardinal: Sadly. That’s a cost I’ll have to carry.

Min: (…Hide? Cost?)

Des: (They're talking like they know each other…!)

Avi: OKAY GOOD JUST CHECKING.

Avi: Because sometimes you kinda just let these things fly WAY OVER YOUR HEAD--

[The vague, stressed pun didn’t seem to have any effect… other than making Cardinal’s shoulders sag with weariness.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: -Quietly- I’m sorry, Avi. I’m not done yet.

Avi: --....

Avi: Dude, Beck's in there now, just-- come on, man, can't ya believe in him too--?

Cardinal: Six, this is about a lot more than believing and proving and anything else, and quite frankly—

[He douses himself in those strange cans again.]

Cardinal: —I’m tired of seeing my brothers die. I won’t risk any chance of that happening again.

Min: Excuse me—! It's too dangerous to go back inside, and we have some questions for you, 000! Where do you THINK you’re going—

Cardinal: Here, take this, it may help you on your journey— -SHOVES SLIGHTLY SINGED SCOUT-

Scout: -LICKS FOR NICE LADY-

Min: -Ackpth—-

Scout: ~ < 3

Avi: --.... (I guess I tried...)

Avi: please don't hurt him too bad.

Cardinal: I don’t have time for this. You saw the file extension, you know my intentions.

[He gritted his teeth. It hurt, again. Hurt because there was all this pressure, and nowhere for it to go.

Hurt because he couldn’t cry.]

Cardinal: …See you in clearer skies, Avs.

Cardinal: Goodbye…

BWIP.

Min: —…

Min: …Get me Sanda Labs on a secure line. -Stop wriggling, strange raccoon thing—- NOW.

{Back Inside…}

[Cardinal chose not to reappear in the Oval Office, but instead in an open room he had passed through on the journey. From the looks of things, Beck and Dyna had been through not long ago, themselves.]

Cardinal: -Takes in a shaky breath, hoo- (…Okay. Orders… orders over. Good… good, now—just need to find either Eight or Nine…)

Cardinal: (Can’t turn on my transceiver. They know I’m here and they want me out. But I can’t just stand by and let those two slice each other up and stain the rug with their Xel.)

Cardinal: -Grumbles- Where are you, Shade…

[He walks through several halls. Everything was dead silent. The expected countermeasures of security never came.]

Cardinal: …

[He was beginning to get very puzzled.]

Cardinal: (Did Beck already get to you? …And wow, I seriously made this big a mess?)

Cardinal: -Crosses his arms absentmindedly as he enters the secretary’s office- Come on, Shade, I said I would get back to you—

________________

Thaaaaat's it, just a lil further…

______________

[He held his shield loosely by his side as he meandered the halls for another good five minutes.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: …I guess Avi was right?

Cardinal: Maybe I should turn my transceiver back on, find out if they’re outside…

[He goes over to look out a window that faces the lawn, scanning the crowds for signs of his energetic young counterpart.]

Cardinal: Just my luck to miss out on the party…

_________________

Heh. Stupid bird.

Should've paid attention t' where you were goin'…

________________

[He turns away from the window, glancing at it over his shoulder.]

Cardinal: I should probably apologize to the President—

[CRUNCH.]

Cardinal: (What—? That doesn’t sound like glass—) -Looks down-

[What Cards saw on the ground--

A dart.

Several.

In the shape of a figure eight, all black as night.]

Cardinal: …

Cardinal: (Wait a dAMN SECOND HE SAID ALL HIS DARTS DO SOMETHING—)

[BANG!]

[The darts all exploded into shrapnel, sharp, dangerous pieces flying everywhere, breaking pottering and lights and anything else that was in its radius.]

[Cardinal wasn’t shielding, so he took a direct hit.

Now, he was made to withstand exactly this sort of thing. To take it and tank it.

Didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.]

Cardinal: -GAH—-

[He staggered back, disoriented by the damage.]

[BANG--!]

[Red lasers fill the room, reflecting off of various objects to keep Cardinal guessing--]

[BANG BANG--]

[--With two more ACTUALLY aimed for him--]

[He took the hits, but answered back with a vengeance.]

KTANG!

[Leaping onto the walls and vaulting onto a statue, he peppered the room with high speed Quick Boomerangs.]

Cardinal: |[

Cardinal: You clearly haven’t learned I don’t go down so easy, Counter.

"Haven't ya heard of try, try again?"

[BANG--]

[A dart this time, yellow--]

[Cardinal used METAL BLADE!]

[The net was torn up even as it came onto him. He leaped onto a chandelier.]

[Cardinal used RING BOOMERANG!]

Cardinal: Haven’t you ever heard “Doing the same thing twice and expecting different results is the definition of insanity?”

[Laughter.]

"Look who's TALKIN'!"

"Ya sure are persistent."

[Cardinal was beginning to lose patience.

He was tired. He felt tired and old.]

Cardinal: Countershade, I have been chasing after you for over a WEEK now. I’ll hardly give up because you’re throwing a temper tantrum.

Cardinal: Get a grip, Shade— Snap out of it! This isn’t like you!

Cardinal: -Crossly- WAKE UP ALREADY!

"Temper tantrum? Boy, ya must be a real antique by now. Seein' as ya ain't made of Xel."

"Who even ARE ya, anyway?"

Cardinal: You can’t be serious. You recognized my brother and you don’t know me? That’s not a funny insult. -Actually sounds rather put out-

"Nope. Ya don't ring a bell."

Cardinal: Are you REALLY that out of it? That’s honestly just pathetic. The “sad, pitiful” kind.

"Gotta hand it t' ya, Birdy, as ya are annoyin', yer good. Heh."

"And Ah' do so love a good challenge."

Cardinal: Fine then.

Cardinal: I’ll make you remember—I’ll bring you out of this, I am going to snap you out of this if it’s the last thing I ever do!

[Cardinal used DUST CRUSHER!]

[All the shrapnel and debris that had been created by Shade and others before him was kicked up in a whirling cloud of sharp death that enveloped half the room, shredding everything in its path before getting embedded into the wall.]

"--Ngh--!"

[There is some painful data, but it is quickly snuffed out by something other than Shade.]

"Oh, it WILL be--ya can't keep flyin' FOREVER, Lil' Birdy..."

Cardinal: Try me.

[…Not his best choice of words.]

"Heh."

"Since ya ASKED so nicely!"

KSSSH!!!

[The chandelier came crashing down, with him inside it.

Even though he teleported away, he still had the force of momentum, and crashed down into the ground pretty hard.]

Cardinal: Hggghhhh…

Cardinal: (Gah… hate HATE falling from heights, come BACK, vision—)

[BANG!]

[Countershade took this perfect opportunity to fire off another shot--it was so easy, once he was blind--]

Cardinal: AUGH!

[Cardinal counteracted with a spam of Metal Blades that went in ALL directions, embedding DEEP into wherever they found score—

And there is a LOT OF rolling around and taking cover--seeing the saw blades stirred up something...Something that made him even angrier. ]

"MOTHERSCRATCHIN'--Ah' HATE when it takes more than one bullet!"

Cardinal: See now, if you REMEMBERED anything, you’d KNOW I don’t go down to one hit!

"Goddamn waste of mah TIME--"

Cardinal: Tch.

Cardinal: Anything you don’t have time to do right the first time, you’ll need to have time to do over.

Cardinal: And I’ve put a hell of a few lifetimes more into this than you.

[BANG BANG--]

[The explosive darts were out now, but single striped instead of the deadly double. Perhaps Shade didn't want to ruin his new 'Home' anymore than it already was. Cardinal tanked the hit with his shield.]

[The Proto Shield held firm as ever, though he moved aside to avoid being backed into the wall.]

Cardinal: -Gets back to his feet, shifting his weaponry again with another click.-

Cardinal: This is not the first time we’ve done this song and dance, Shade!

[Cardinal used BUBBLE LEAD!]

[The acid pellets burst upon contact, hissing and eating away at the floor and various high ground on the other side of the room.]

[SSSSSSSS...]

"Aw FRAG IT--"

Cardinal: You forgetting?! Just means I have ALL THE MORE ADVANTAGE OVER YOU!

[Cardinal used TOP SPIN!]

kzzzZZZZZZZZGGGVVVVGGGHHHTTTT—

[Marble columns were sliced clean through and brought crashing down.]

[CRASH--!!]

"--!!!!"

[There was a few moments of scrambling and--]

[--Silence?]

Cardinal: Nice try, but I know you’re fine. Your camo goes out if you’re not.

Cardinal: And if you want to play this the hard way, I’ll do just that. >B |

[....]

"Alright."

[Click.]

[That came from RIGHT beside him!]

Cardinal: (Glitch—)

[Cardinal used ICE SLASHER!]

[It wasn’t fast enough to prevent the shot that seared through his right shoulder, but. It was enough to send the whole room about ten degrees below zero, and send icicle spears flying.

There was a HISS of pain and a grunt, Shade's camo flickering for a moment--

--Before returning to normal, and the lasers that herald his presence once again came from a completely different direction--

Cardinal ends up backed against the wall, having no other option besides his shield at this point. The Skull Barrier and the Leaf Shield had both been spent during the rescues.]

Cardinal: B[

[Cardinal used ITEM-1!]

[He jumps onto a hovering platform to gain height before firing off some plasma blasts at strategic surfaces—places where he would go if he had that side of the battlefield.]

[BLAM!]

[BANG BANG BANG--]

[As if in response, Shade shoots at the ITEM-1 before unleashing a trio of--oh, no, double stripped darts--!]

Cardinal: !

[Cardinal used WIRE!]

ZZZZZZZIP!

[A grappling hook shot out of his arm, bringing him up toward the ceiling and away from the explosion.

Unfortunately, this position offered him no cover whatsoever, except for his shield—which, as always, remained squarely over his central mass.]

Cardinal: This is getting a bit old.

Cardinal: I’d rather light things on fire, but that wouldn’t be being…

[He smirked.]

Cardinal: …a good House guest~

[BANG--]

[CRASH!]

[He had the wind knocked out of him again, but…

Judging from his wheezing and shaking laughter…]

Cardinal: -Worth it-

[CLICK.]

[....Uh oh.]

Shade: Was it?

Cardinal: Yup.

Cardinal: Too bad it didn’t…

[Cardinal used AIR SHOOTER!]

[STRONG gusts swept across the room, moving EVEN the fallen marble slamming into the wall!]

Shade: --!!!

Cardinal: BLOW YOU AWAY!

Shade: Ngh--

[Shade loses his footing and is forced to back up a ways in order to keep Cardinal in front of him--and on his sights.]

Shade: Enough of this--

[CLICK.]

[...Not even Shade could make a shot in these kinds of winds--]

[...Right?]

[BANG!]

Cardinal: -OOF!-

[Okay. He was really taking a beating now.]

Cardinal: (This has got to stop. Man… haven’t even knocked out his active camo yet, lame. I wish I could use more explosions and fire, that might have helped…)

Cardinal: … (Then again, not being in such a cramped space would have helped anyway.)

Cardinal: Hoo… man, you do hit hard…

[BANG--

BANG BANG BANG--]

[...Shade doesn't answer back.

He just keeps shooting.]

Cardinal: It really is too bad Round Two had to be like this—nngh!

Cardinal: I think you would have preferred remembering!

Shade: Hey.

Shade: Birdy.

Cardinal: What.

Shade: Do me a favor.

[--Wait--why was his voice coming from behind, Shade was right in front of him--]

Shade: Stop yer PRATTLE.

[BANG--!]

[Cardinal was put to the floor, dizzy from being shot in the back. His fans were buzzing a bit, and he had to prop himself up with an arm.]

Cardinal: -WHEEZE- Now that was beneath you, my friend.

Cardinal: You’re an assassin, not a traitor.

Shade: Not my fault yer bein' difficult, Birdy.

Shade: All yer...

[BANG.]

Shade: Sass, all yer brave front--

[BANG!]

Shade: Ya don't fool ME.

[He had to deflect the shots with his shield, but his arm was starting to tire from taking the shock of the blows. He gritted his teeth.]

Cardinal: Is that supposed to mean something, Shade? I’m honestly—nnn!—confused.

Shade: It does. You'll get it REAL soon.

[BANG--]

[...???]

[That's...that's a red dart.]

[Completely red, stuck to Cardinal's shield.]

[--And then it started to glow RED, RED HOT, OW--]

Cardinal: AUGH!

[He could NOT handle that much heat, not so close to his core!

He was forced to drop it to the ground and roll to the side.]

[Cardinal used NEEDLE CANNON!]

[Needle shaped spears skewered anything and everything in sight…

…and some things out of sight.

A slight rip noise betrayed that Cardinal had scored a hit and pinned the sniper’s cloak to the wall.]

Shade: TCH!

Shade: Oh, that is IT.

Shade: -LOCK ON TO CARDINAL'S SYMBOL--

Shade: Yer SCRAP.

[BANG BANG BANG--]

[Cardinal hit the floor, hard.

Silence.]

Shade: -That was mah CLOAK, FRAG YA-

[…But after a moment, he did manage to sit up again, coughing a bit.]

Shade: Fer the love of--

Shade: Ya just don't DIE.

Cardinal: -Raspy- So I’ve been told…

Cardinal: (Great… all I have left is fire…)

Cardinal: You…

[He spoke seriously now.]

Cardinal: You’ve… got to stop, Shade.

Cardinal: You’ve… got to stop…!

[He staggered to his feet.]

Cardinal: This isn’t you. It’s not your fault, but you need to stop—

Cardinal: Don’t you remember who you are?!

Shade: — . . .

[Who...]

[Cardinal grabbed his scarf and shook it. The dart there from Shade, a gift from so long ago, stood out in sharp contrast.]

Shade: ......

[Why did he have his...]

Cardinal: PLEASE! Don’t you REMEMBER me at ALL?!

_____________________

"Yer stuck with me. B]"

___________________

"Catch me if ya can, hunting doggie!"

_________________

[Memories, as if from some far off forgotten dream...]

Shade: --...

Shade: -Confused--

Shade: The hell...

[Cardinal took a quiet step forward.]

Cardinal: Shade!

Cardinal: You’re my best friend.

Cardinal: We TRUST each other, remember?!

—————————————————

“Being able to trust someone and want to be around them, miss them if they’re gone… That’s its own vulnerability, in a way.”

—————————————————

[Another step.]

Cardinal: (Just…)

Cardinal: (Need to get close enough…!)

[Trust...]

Shade: -Blinks--

[The purple and magenta fade from his eye for a second--]

Shade: (What...)

[....And then.]

[....A name.]

Shade: . . .

Shade: Cardinal...?

Cardinal: !

Cardinal: -Another step- YES! I’m here, Shade—

Cardinal: I promised nothing would make me give up on you, and I mean it.

Cardinal: -Another step- You’re sick, but we can fix that— come home, Shade, before you do something you can’t fix.

[…

…Fix…?]

—————————————

[An admission of weakness.

His core was messed up so badly, that…]

[From a powerful enough opponent, a direct hit at full charge, if exposed, would cause him to explode.

And no armor in the world would ever fix it.]

—————————————

Shade: ...ngh...

[The assassin staggers, as if something dull was pressing on his mind, something that was NOT a part of him, something that didn't want him to--]

Shade: !

[Something within screamed--]

[--But then, it all became clear.]

[Clear to the virus, that is.]

Shade: ... ...

[Cardinal was reaching out his hand to touch him. If he could just get a hold of him, he had just enough energy to get them out of here. Away from this place—if not to safety, at least where he couldn’t do any more damage.]

Cardinal: Shade…?

Shade: . . .

Shade: Songbird...Eh...

Shade: Well, that explains the bird part.

[CLICK.]

[There was an unsettling PREDATORY grin on Eight's face, as his rifle was pointed DIRECTLY AT CARDINAL'S CORE--]

Cardinal: !?

[He was too shocked, totally blindsided, taken completely off guard—he didn't even have time to get scared before—]

Shade: Adios, Songbird.

BANG—

[The direct hit from such a close range— point blank range—had done massive amounts of damage.

He didn’t really feel hitting the floor, no…

It was all lost in a vast sea of white-hot pain that engulfed his senses, enveloped his whole body—

He couldn’t even say for sure if he screamed.]

Shade: That hurt, Birdy?

Shade: Ah' BET it DID.

[Cardinal had to turn to his side to avoid choking on oil. Now he felt sick, shivering from the pain and errors that were wracking his body.]

Shade: Oh, Ah' remembered ya, yes—ah' sure did... -GRIN-

Shade: Ah' remembered how t' finally KILL YA.

[Cardinal could hear the words, but they just wouldn’t register— but if they had, he would have been crushed not just in body, but also in soul.]

Shade: That was STUPID, bah the way.

Shade: What were ya even thinkin', huh?

[Even if he wanted to run now, there was no way out. He didn’t have the energy to teleport—he barely had enough to move.

Move he did, though, at least enough to get to his knees.

…]

[…relatively speaking.]

Shade: Eheh...

Shade: Looks like yer wings have been CLIPPED...Lil' Birdy.

Shade: Nowhere t' RUN, nao, is there. Even if ya COULD move....

Cardinal: Hnnnghnnnnnggh…

Cardinal: … (Can’t… can’t move…)

Cardinal: (Need… need repairs…)

Cardinal: (N-need to partition energy into repairs—)

Shade: Still breathin'?

Shade: Ya really ARE persistent!

[The world became a white void of pain as he was kicked in the side, hard. He fell over, and Shade forced him onto his back with a bit of pressure. His vision started to come back in, but—]

[CRUNCH--]

[A boot crunches on top of Cardinal's chest--]

Cardinal: (AUGH!)

[He couldn’t breathe.

He couldn’t. Breathe.

The weight was crushing him, breaking him, threatening to put pressure on his core—his constant massive conversion of energy into matter to save him was only intensifying the pain.]

Cardinal: Ghhghkk—!

[He was too badly injured to move. He was using all of his power just to stay alive, now—he could barely hear, barely see—]

>ERROR: HARDWARE DAMAGE CRITICAL

Cardinal: !

>COMPLETE SYSTEM FAILURE IMMINENT

Cardinal: (nnnONONO—)

>INITIATE SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE

Cardinal: AAAAUUUGH!

[Cardinal gave a choked cry of despair as the countdown began— audibly, no less—]

>TEN…

Shade: -Ooh, now... What is this?-

>NINE…

Shade: Oh, right...

>EIGHT…

Shade: Ya Wily constructs go up with a bang when yer too helpless t' RUN.

>SEVEN…

Shade: -Chuckles.-

>SIX…

Shade: Nao ain't that somethin'...

>FIVE…

Cardinal: (No…!)

>FOUR…

>SYSTEM OVERRIDE

>THREE…

>RUN PROGRAM: FINAL_DAYS.EXE

>TWO…

>WARNING: FINAL_DAYS.EXE IS AN UNAUTHORIZED PROGRAM. USING THIS PROGRAM WILL PREVENT COMBAT.EXE INITIATIVES OR SYSTEM MAINTENANCE FROM RUNNING NORMALLY. CONTINUE?

>ONE…

>YES

>DON’T ASK ME AGAIN

> -PING!- COMMAND CONFIRMED.

>SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Shade: ....

Shade: Tch.

Shade: Was hopin' t' see fireworks. Oh, well.

>EXECUTING PROGRAM: FINAL_DAYS.EXE

[He became limp and weak as the program went live.

He was no longer burdened by instincts meant to preserve him to be fighting fit later, or to continue fighting on.

All the energy that had been spent toward those goals was now going into extensive repair, to keep his vitals up and his senses working. This process would not be interrupted, no matter how much energy it drained from him.

…But as a result…]

Cardinal: -Rattled wheezing from shaky, submissive gasps for air-

Shade: Heh... -Smug smirk-

[He was now completely helpless.]

Shade: Look at ya...

[Everything felt faint. It hurt, and yet…]

Cardinal: -Hazily- (Can’t even move…)

[He felt so tired. So tired.

He wanted nothing more than to close his eyes and get his rest….]

Cardinal: (C-can’t…)

Cardinal: (So… so tired…)

Shade: Just look at ya, ya waste of scrap.

Shade: All yer talk and sass and comebacks and fancy display...

[CRUNCH--]

Cardinal: (-PAIN!-)

[Cardinal became briefly blinded by pain, his eyes glazing over. His fans wailed in protest at the crushing weight put on his chest.]

Shade: --And all it took--

[His armor—!]

[SNAP--!]

[His inner plate armor split open—]

<DLN-000>: > -PAIN!-

[With his transceiver off, no one could hear him— no one could hear his anguished data streams—]

Shade: --Was a few shots, from one bot--

C R A C K—!!

[He jerked sharply, almost convulsing as the armor clattered, giving way to expose the energy core within. It was glowing like a small sun—white hot, too.]

Shade: - T'prepare ya t' meet yer Maker. That is... Assumin' there's an afterlife for ya pathetic box bolts...

[Cardinal gave off bleak rattling noises as his coolant system attempted to draw air over broken fans.]

Shade: Best start prayin', lil' Birdy. Yer gonna learn the answer t' that question the hard way.

Cardinal: -Repairs, need… need repairs…-

[His vision came back to him as the conversion went into overdrive, desperate on keeping the fans running, to keep him alive.

This allowed his eyes, dulled before, to resume their green spark—his sunglasses had been knocked off long ago, and so there was nothing between the green fire and the sickly purple gaze.]

Shade: --?

Shade: What in tarnation--

Cardinal: Hnnnnggghh…

Shade: --....

[Wait a second...

There was something just right of the power core, mostly tucked behind it. As it glowed, the mobility rig seemed to just… rebuild itself.

Enough for Cardinal to grasp at something, clutching it with a stubborn resignation.]

[.....]

[Two and two were put together within a second, and the Teal Silence let out a dark chuckle.]

Shade: Stubborn jackass! So THIS is how ya kept yerslef goin' so long, hmm?

Shade: Real clever...

[He suddenly JABBED right at it with his rifle-- which was a VERY bad mistake…]

Shade: ARUGH--!

[…as far as the sniper was concerned.

The tip of the rifle had been vaporized, and Cardinal was filled with a jolt of energy that the conversion provided. From the strength Shade had unwittingly donated, he knocked the rifle out of the way to prevent his friend from losing balance, and possibly ending up losing the rest of his arm to the power converter.]

Shade: NGH--

Shade: Little goddamn bastard--should've known ya had 'nother cheap shot like that up yer sleeve...

Cardinal: -Irratable snort- (Oh please, that’s just how I’m BUILT—you wouldn’t go sticking your hand in stomach acid, would you?!)

[There was still enough strength left from that for him to regain some focus. It took effort, and he struggled to reallocate repairs to non-vital systems.

Like… talking, for example.

Cardinal vented a bit and scrunched his eyes in a grimace, trying his hardest to work up the energy to talk.]

Cardinal: Nnnngh…

[…But he could only groan. The pain was so heavy…]

Shade: Bah, for the love of— spare me yer theatrics, Songbird, S'not like ya can sing anymore.

Cardinal: (But…)

Cardinal: (I’ve GOT to, I need to tell you…!)

[CLICK.]

Cardinal: —hghkkt!

[He knew that noise.]

[He KNEW that noise, and it filled him with dread.]

Cardinal: (No…)

Shade: Heheheh...

[A sadistic smile partnered the laugh that escaped from Shade--the dart that was usually in his mouth was gone...]

Cardinal: (Shade, oh God no— please… no, don’t… you can’t do this…)

Cardinal: -Weak ping of protest-

Shade: Ah' TOLD ya...Ya can't fool me.

Shade: Ya scared now, li' Birdy?

Cardinal: -Strained fan whine of despair-

[He was in distress, that was for sure. A heartbroken dismay was sapping away at the willpower maintaining the diminishing fumes of strength in his body.

Shade leaned over, resting his rifle arm on his left knee as he put his weight on Cardinal’s shoulder. The fans there screeched as they were crushed beneath the sniper’s considerable weight.]

Shade: Good.

[The blinding pain lifted as the weight was drawn away. When Cardinal could see again, he saw his friend’s back facing him.]

Shade: I'll give ya this . ..

Cardinal: …

[A low hum...]

Cardinal: … -even weaker ping-

[He couldn’t mask it. When Shade turned around, Cardinal couldn’t help but give off a faint signal of hopelessness—

Shade was using a sniper scope to light up his core as a target, purely to mock him out of spite.]

Shade: Ya were better ’n most. Damn freakin' annoyin’, too. Shoulda known better ’n ‘’ta come HERE, t' mah huntin' grounds. You got a death wish, songbird? Huh?

[He took a step forward, letting his spurs rattle loudly in his stride across the floor...]

[Slowly.]

[It was tempting. So tempting.

He was tired. He hurt. He was scared. If… if he just let go, the pain would stop, it wouldn’t hurt anymore… he could rest, he could leave before…]

Cardinal: … (No… can’t…)

[Cardinal took in a shaky breath, willing himself to stay alive, even though his energy core…]

Cardinal: (Can’t let it end… like this…)

[…was starting to turn cold.]

Shade: -Data-

Shade: -Well, if ya insist, we can GRANT it for ya.-

Cardinal: (Can’t…!)

Cardinal: (I CAN’T LET IT END LIKE THIS!)

[Cardinal struggled to focus through his failing vision, to look that menacing red-violet eye directly on with his own, dimming green pair.

He shut down all but his central core mass fans to get the energy to speak.]

Cardinal: -Very raspy, distorted gasp- Shade…

Shade: --....

[...He's not sure if he should be annoyed or impressed.]

[Cardinal spoke again. There was a clear but quiet, submissive air of despair in his frail voice.]

Cardinal: Countershade, please…

[Oh.]

[He took a step forward...]

Shade: What was that?

Cardinal: Don’t… don’t do this…

Cardinal: …beg… begging you, please…

[.....]

Shade: -GRIN-

[He smirked cruelly at this, at the sight and sounds of Cardinal begging, pleading for his life, for mercy. Ha! Finally, after all of his talk and bravo!

What a delightful feeling.]

Shade: Heheheheh!

Cardinal: please…

Shade: (Eso es, Pájarito. Ruega por la misericordia hasta que mueras.)

Cardinal: …it’s only… only… g…going to…

Shade: --?

Cardinal: …going to hurt y o u…

Shade: --. .. . ..

[For a moment, that makes Shade pause.

The sick, purple aura left him, the malice, the evil that had dug it's way deep into his core was lifted for just a brief moment—]

Shade: -N-No—-

Shade: (No, no, no…!)

Shade: -Straining- M-must… fight… the power…

[He, too, seemed like he was in just as much pain as Cardinal was.]

[…]

[CLICK.]

[...But the moment... Passed.]

Shade: Enough!

[He spoke with a firm, authoritative command of finality.]

Shade: I don’t have time t’ waste on you. Obviously ya ain’t gonna stay out of my way while ya still runnin’.

Shade: 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!

Cardinal: (No…)

[Cardinal gripped his hand tighter, as if bracing himself.]

Shade: An’ just tah make SURE you don’t get out of sight at the last second. ..

[He lowered his gaze, and his aim, right down to Cardinal's exposed core.]

Shade: This'll be the last bullet Ah' waste on ya.

[Cardinal forced himself to maintain eye contact, even as Shade lowered his rifle to point directly at the exposed core.

He didn’t… feel scared anymore. Just… defeated.

Hopeless.

…Accepting of his time, resigned to his fate… even as he dwelt with lingering, final regret, on his failure and shame.]

Shade…

[Darkness overtook his eyes.

His power was nearly entirely depleted. He would only last a few minutes longer, at most—one way or another, he had reached, at last… his final day.]

[Vrrrrrrr...]

Oh, Shade…!

[He could faintly hear the sound of Shade’s deadly aim setting up. It seemed… so far away…]

I…

[He heard a faint fizzling and hissing noise as the energy converter fell silent.

There could only be one reason for that—

No more energy left to convert from.

He could feel his heart becoming as cold as i c e …]

I’m… so sorry…!

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FIGHT! Jack Vs Kate!

KATE VS JACK

Intro Quote(Versus): ‘bout tahm we had a proper fight, you an’ I. Let’s give ‘em somethin’ t’ talk about~

Intro Quote(Team Up): Ha! They’ve got no idea what’s comin’.

Taunt: Ya gotta FOCUS, Jackie!

Special Attack: Watch yer step!

Assist: FREEZE! ((She’s talking to Jack, since some trick shots are about to be put into play.))

Ultimate Attack: Take a cue from the music, Parker!

Ultimate Team Attack: DANCE for me, boys! 

Win Quote(Versus): [She gives an EXTREMELY mischievous shark grin.] || You know, normally, Ah’ have a certain dart I use here, but for you, Ah’ think a more direct approach is in order…~

Win Quote(Team Up): Well done! -Happy ping-

Lose Quote(Versus): Alright, alright already—you win! A girl’s gotta know when she’s beat. Boy, ya sure gave ME a workout! Hope ya had some fun. 

Lose Quote(Team Up): Bah, we’re gonna have t’ regroup an’ rethink this…

Knock Out Quote(Team Up Self): 

Knock Out Quote(Team Up Partner):  || Imma count t’ THREE, an’ y’all better SCRAM, OR ELSE—!

---

=CHAPTER 2B: BEYOND THE WATERY VORTEX=

~AO v2.0~

((Courtesy of @codedhopes))

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{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 Kate 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.]

(( Pic—Jack cornered))

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 barbecue...]

[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 wound 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!)

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